The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-28 00:00:00

211 E NAVY.

It is reported from Paris that, at the request of
the Spanish Ambassador, the French Government
has placed materials of war at the disposal of Spain,
and that the Emperor has declared his intention of
supporting the operations against Morocco by ad-
vances to the Government of Madrid similar to
those made to Piedmont in the late war. Whether
or not this news be literally true, there cannot be
much doubt that France is preparing to intervene
in the quarrel more actively than was originally
expected. The commanders in Algeria have con-
centrated strong bodies of men on the frontier under
pretence of checking the incursions of certain un-
ruly tribes, and it is quite possible that the French
and Spanish forces may combine to carry out other
plans than the obtaining redress for insults at Ceuta
or the plundering of an African model farm. If we
were disposed to feel cause of satisfaction in finding
gloomy anticipations realised, we might remind our
readers of the many times that we asserted the
impossibility of a period of quiet following upon
the Martial successes of the French army. Whe-
ther it be from the necessity of the Emperor's po-
sition, or the wants of his soldiery, or the tempta-
tions of absolute power, Europe is witnessing, and
seems doomed for a long time to witness, a series
of international troubles. Those who affect to
believe that it is only the plain speaking of the
English press which causes the general disquietude
should ponder over the events of the past year, in
which the English press has taken little or no part.
The attack on Austria, the sudden peace and half-
desertion of the Italian cause, were matters in which
we had no part ; and now we find France and Spain
leagued against a Mediterranean State, with possi-
ble results which may be of a grave character. As it
is only within the last few days that this question
has been discussed in England, it cannot be said
that any act of ours has provoked the present com-
plications.
No one in this country has the smallest wish to
save the Bill pirates from chastisement, to prevent
a semi-barbarous Court from being taught respect
for the rights of man and of nations, or even to forbid
a harmless State like Spain from taking as much
ground as will make her African possessions secure.
Spain has considerable grievances against the Malio-
medans of Western Africa, and we arc only glad to
see a country so long torn by intestine war and ex-
hausted by misgovernment thus asserting once more
a position among military nations. That Spain
has a good army, a fair navy, and officers fit to
command both ; that the Government is strong
enough to use its soldiers for other purposes than
repressing factions at home; and that there is
mosey enough in the treasury to carry a force
across the Straits and into the untilled regions of
Morocco, must be a matter of Congratulation to
every one who remembers what Spain was, even
in the memory of men now living. If Queen
Isabella's army could learn in warfare with the
Moors how to defend Cuba, and how to bid defiance
to an enemy in the Pyrenees, no one would rejoice
at it more than Englishmen. But the case is dif-
ferent when the Cabinet of Madrid undertakes
operations under the direction and with the_
help of a great and ambitious Power. We
cannot avoid perceiving that in these alliances
the stronger State must have complete control
over the weaker, and that it is not Spain
which goes to war, but France, under the,shelter
of her name, and, perhaps, with the intention of
reaping the fruits of the war.
We have before said that this country should
avoid tho slightest meddling in this dispute,
should it result only in the punishment of an
obstinate Court, the taking of securities for
the future, and such an addition to the Spanish
territory as will make Ceuta secure. That
more than this will be willingly undertaken by
Spain is not to be believed. Nothing could make
the Spanish Government attempt so absurd an
enterprise as the conquest of Morocco, except the
injudicious interference of this country. A British
Minister making feeble remonstrances, which
public opinion would not allow him to follow up
by action, would be certain to put the continental
nations on their mettle. They would do any-
thing to seem regardless and disdainful of English
influence. If the Spaniards were alone in this
affair, and were undisturbed by any foreign in-
terference, for or against them, we might be sure
that three months would put an cud to the whole
quarrel. It is the obligations under which Spain
lays herself by accepting French assistance which
constitute the chief evil of the present alliance.
Against such an alliance, of course, we can say
nothing diplomatically, Spain has a right to ally

A notification was yesterday circulated in Wool-
wich Dockyard, by order of the Lords of the Admi-
ralty, announcing that a considerable augmentation
of the departments would take place forthwith, and
that numbers of the following workmen would be
entered immediately—namely, shipwrights, saw-
yers, riggers, caulkers, engineers, factory men,
labourers, &c. A bounty of 10s. will be given to
any one introducing riggers, caulkers, &c. It was
likewise announced that the pay of the first and
second class riggers is to be augmented 9d. per day,
commencing on the Ist of November next, and the
pay of the leading men of the department 6d. per
day ; that of the former being raised to 4s. and 3s.
6d., and the latter to ss. 6d.. per day.
The following commendatory letter from the Se-
cretary of. the Admiralty was also received yester-
day at the Dockyard, 'Woolwich, in reference to
the assumption of the sentry duties of the yard by
the military in garrison, and the consequent with-
drawal of the metropolitan police from those duties.
" Admiralty, Oct. 24.
" A report has been received from 'Woolwich Dockyard,
stating that the -Police, under the immediate superintend-
ence of Mr.. nallalieu, have performed the duties of the
guard since the 4th of May last in a most satisfactory man-
ner, and that the conduct of the whole force has been ex-
emplary, their duties having been discharged very effectu-
ally. lam commanded by my Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty to state that they have received this report
with great satisfaction, and I am to beg that it may be
communicated to Mr. Mallalieu and the force under his
ordors.—l am, &c.,

"W. G. ROMAINE, Secretary.
" To Sir Richard Mayne, K.C.8., &c."
A letter dated Gibraltar, October 16, received at
Plymouth by a naval officer, says :
" The opinion hCre is that the French are to co operate
with the Spaniards against the Moors, bnt that England
objects to French interference. The Spaniards have here
one liner, three corvettes, one sloop, and three paddlewheel
steamers. The French have one three-decker, four two-
deckers, and tierce smaller vessels. The British forces con-
sist of the Marlborough, flag of Admiral Fanshawe ; the
Edgar, flag of Admiral Erskine ; the Neptune, the Orion,
the Princess Royal, the Centurion, the Victor Emmanuel,
the Conqueror, the Comer, the Doris, the Scylla, the Cad-
' mus, the Scourge, and the Lapwing. The Vulture is at
Tangiers. The Edgar, Neptune, and Princess Royal are
expected to sail shortly for England, and tho Caesar for
Malta."

---
Her Majesty's paddlewheel steam sloop Alecto,
under heavy repairs at Woolwich, yesterday re-
ceived new boilers, end is otherwise in a forward

state.
The screw steam sloop Mutine, recently off the
stocks, vs as yesterday unlocked at Woolwich, and
the gunboat Louisa replaced in dock. The iron
paddlewheel vessel Dover was taken into basin
for examination and repairs, and the paddle-
wheel steamsloop Prometheus, recently commis-
sioned by Commander Skipworth for service on
the West Coast of Africa, was hauled into the river

in readiness for sea.
By the launch of the fine line-of-battle screw
steamship Irresistible, 80 guns which took place
from No. 4 slip at Chatham Dockyard yesterday
afternoon, the British navy has received another
addition to its fleet of large line-of-battle screw
steamers. The Irresistible has been upwards of five
years in hand, having been commenced in May,
1854, and the history of her construction up to the
present time is another instance of the faulty system
in which the shipbuilding department of the Royal
Navy is conducted. She was originally designed
by Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker, the Surveyor of
the Navy, for a sailing ship, and her lines and
plans wore prepared with that view. After she
had been a short time in hand and when approach-
ing towards completion the Admiralty decided on
having her converted into a screw steamer, which
of course necessitated considerable alterations in
her original lines. These, however, were carried
into effect under the direction of Mr. Lains, the
former master shipwright at Chatham Dockyard,
and the Irresistible havilig been slightly lengthened
was finally completed by Mr. 0. W. Lang, the
present master shipwright. Although the Irresis-
tible is in many respect inferior to several large
line of battle-ships lately launched from Chatham,
she is, nevertheless, a fine specimen of naval archi-
tecture, and will prove a valuable acquisition to
that class of vessels belonging to the navy. The
following are her principal dimensions :Ft.
in.
Length between perpendiculars l9O 0
Length of keel for tonnage
Extreme breadth 56 9
Breadth moulded
Depth in hold
Burden in tons, 2,642 38-94ths.
The Irresistible is pierced for 80 guns, which
number she will carry, all being of the heaviest
metal. The machinery with which she will be
supplied will be of 400 horse-power (nominal). Her
figure-head is a fine colossal bust of the ocean
monarch Neptune, who is armed with his traditional
trident. As everything relating to the British
navy has just now a peculiar interest in the minds
of the public the launch yesterday served to draw
together an immense concourse of spectators, who
tookup their position on each side of the building
slip, every foot of which that provided a view of
the launch being crowded. The timbers of the
Bulwark, 91, and the Undaunted, 51, which are
building on the two adjoining slips, also had their
occupants. Immediately in front of the ship a
spacious gallery was erected capable of accommo-
dating a large number of persons, and this was
also crowded, chiefly by the gentry belonging to
the neighbourhood. There was also a booth for
the Lords of the Admiralty and members of Parlia-
ment, but none of the members of the board were
present. Directly facing the bows of the ship a
booth had been erected for the chief officers of the
garrison and the principul officers of the dockyard
required to take part in the launch, Major-General
Eyre and most of the officers of the garrison being
present. The ceremony of christening the ship was
performed by Miss Williams, a relative of Col. M.
Williams, commanding Royal Eng ineer at Chatham.
The Irresistible is to be immediAely supplied vitli