The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-14 00:00:00

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PRICE 4D. STAMPED , SD.

TEE FRENCH NAVY.

Considerable interest having been excited, bath
in this country and on the continent, by the details
we recently gave, relative to the materiel of the
French navy, we now propose to make a; few ob-
servations upon its internal economy,which will be
found to merit consideration, since it is universally
conceded that important changes are imperatively-
needed in our own service.
The French marine comprises five distinct depart-
ments, the first including only officers of the navy,
properly so called; then come the naval engineers,
commissariat inspectors, and a sanitary board.
The first of these grades-commences with naval
cadets, of which there are two classes, and ascending
through the successive ranks
-of Midshipman, 'lieu-
tenant, captain of frigate, captain of line-of-battle
ship, rear-adiniral and vice-admiral, culminates in
that of admiral. ;

The- engineers, are all obliged in the first instance
to pass 'through the Ordeal of apprenticeship, after
which they become successively sub-engineers of the
third, second, and first classeS, then -engineers of
the second and first Class, above -whom the director
of naval construction- and the inspector-general
presides . • • - • ,
The lowest denomination in the Commissariat is
the commis (or clerk) ; above' him 'in- succession'
come the assistant-commissary, the Under-cenimis-
sary, the commissaire-adjoint, the commissary of the
:second and first classes respectively, and,- the coni-
:missary-general. 'The inspector is-chief is assisted
in the discharge of his .functions itspecturS,,
assistant and d.eputy7inspectors.- -An inspector-.
general preside's, over the board of health,liaving
under him a first physician;• or surgeon., or apothe-
cary-in-chief; styled. ``.professor," besides surgeons
or apothecaries of the first, second, and third
classes.
A French admiral ranks with a field-marshal ; a
vise-admiral and an inspector-general of naval
engineers with a general of division. A rear-
admiral is "considered equal in rank to a director of
naval construction, to a commissary-general, an
inspector in chief, (of the corps of naval inspectors),
or to the head of the board of health.

Captains of line-of-battle ships, first-class engi-
neers, first-class commissaries, and first-class physi-
cians, are upon an equality; as arc captains of
frigates, second class engineers, commissaries, and
physicians ; the last three being considered upon
a par with lieutenant-colonels. The conzmissaire
adjoint, assistant inspector, professor of medicine or
of surgery, correspond to the chefs de bataillon in
the army. Lieutenants of a line-of battle ship, sub-
engineers of the first and second classes, and sub-
inspectors of surgery, medicine, &c., are upon the
footing of military captains; while midshipmen of
line-of-battle ships, sub-engineers of the third class,
assistant-commissaries, &c., are considered .to be
equal to lieutenants in the army. Lastly, naval
cadets, engineer apprentices, and other inferior
officers not already specified, correspond in social
position to second lieutenants in the land forces.

All the regulations respecting naval promotion
were carefully revised last summer; and it will be
perceived from the few we shall presently select
that they have evidently been well considered, and
indicate the maintenance of salutary discipline. At
any rate, the system, as now constituted, is found to
work well, and will in all probability serve to bring
forward the most meritorious officers, while encou-
ragement is given in every way to those who mani-
fest especial qualifications and a well-directed zeal
for their profession.
An aspirant to the rank of lieutenant on board a
, frigate must either have served two years as a first
class cadet, or as an auxiliary lieutenant or chief
master ; in the latter case he must have passed a
very severe examination in the theory of naviga-
tion, as well as in all matters connected with the
practical working of a ship. Having obtained that
commission, he must proceed to serve two years
more on board a frigate before he can be promoted
to a line-of-battle ship. After four years in the
latter capacity he becomes eligible to be captain of a
corvette. Four years' service as captain of a cor.
vette, qualifies him for the command of a frigate,
frigate but two years must yet elapse before he can
hope to be appointed to a line-of-battle ship.
Rear-admirals are eligible only from captains of
line-of-battle ships of eight years' standing, during
four of which, at least, they must have been actually
afloat. From the time, therefore, that a Lieuten-
ant has eliminated himself from the rudimentary
stages of his profession until he reaches the dignity
of admiral, an interval of 20 years must have
elapsed.
A rear-admiral must have had the entire com-
mand of a squadron of not less than five vessels be-
fore he can become vice-admiral. Half the appoint-
ments on board frigates and corvettes and two-
thirds ot:those on board ships of the line are given
according to seniority.
The Emperor reserves to himself power (in war
time) to abridge by one-hall the different periods of
service of all officers ; but with that sole exception,
no promotions whatever can take place out of the
prescribed course, and no one under any circum-
stances can obtain an honorary appointment. In
the various ships now in commission there are be-
tween 58,000 and 60,000 seamen constantly em-
ployed afloat. A regular routine of exercise is
observed on board every vessel, whether she be
attached to a squadron of evolution or in harbour,
and every exertion is made by the officers to have
each duty performed with the greatest smartness
and precision.
It is not an unusual performance, even on board
a line-of-battle ship that has not been more than
six months in commission, to heave in 90 fathom of
chain and make all sail, within fourteen minutes of
the appearance, on board the flag-ship, of the signal'
to " weigh anchor." A topsail will be shifted by an
expert crew in little more than seven minutes and a
half, and a whole squadron have been known in a
gale, with a heavy sea running, to strike topgallant
masts in nine minutes. The Bretagne, not long ago,
was observed to lower her three topsails, to take in
a reef in each, and hoist them again, in rather less
than two minutes and twenty-five seconds—a feat
which probably the smartest ship's company in our
own service would not readily surpass. Half a
century ago the interior of a French man-of-war
afforded a very different aspect from what it now
presents. Everything that was worth adoption has
been scrupulously copied from English ships, at the
dame time that some few obvious improvements of
various kinds have been introduced. The spirit of
the nation has evidently been roused ; by indomit- '
able energy and lavish expenditure theyhave created,
almost from nothing, a stupendous navy ; with un-
tiring perseverance they are adding to it from day
to day. We have already shown how, by means
of the " Inscription," a certainty of obtaining any
requisite supply of men can be ensured, and ifever
the two greatest nations of the world shouldnfinun(i-
happily be involved again in war, we she
that, so far from tamely acknowledging our supre
maey on the ocean, France will be fully prepared
to dispute it, and at all hazards to engage in a
death-struggle, before resigning her pretensions to
the brilliant prize she so ardently longs to clutch.
—Daily News.