The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-21 00:00:00

The condition of our navy is a matter of such
paramount importance that we are glad to find it
brought under discussion. Last evening Mr.
SAMUDA, no mean authority, called attention to the
small progress which we had made of late years with
our men-of-war, and declared that our inequality
in this respect with the ironclad navies of France,
Russia, and America, filled him with alarm. The
statistics /lc b." u calla pc./LIA4, C.c.r.caturj
went far to confirm his assertion, more especially
with regard to France and Russia. Every
country in Europe had recently engaged
themselves with an amount of energy quite
disproportionate to their efforts of former
days to restore their fleets, replacing wood and
iron. Even Spain and Turkey were exerting them-
selves in a surprising manner, while the United
States had effected wonders during the last five
years. Mr. SA3II7DA declared that, in face of the
possible combinations which might arise, he thought
that we should possess a fleet not only superior to
every other nation, but equal to all the fleets of
Europe put together, seeing that we relied on our
fleet exclusively for protection, while every other
nation was purely military. This suggestion Mr.
BARING scouted as altogether ridiculous, and cer-
certainly the Government with which he was con-
nected appeared to regard any such effort as very
unnecessary. It is impossible, says Mr. BARING, by
merely balancing numbers against numbers to
arrive at a sound conclusion, and in this he is no
doubt right ; but when we come to examine more
closely into the facts they are no more satisfactory.
Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, while passing a very unneces-
sary eulogy upon the administration of the Duke of
SOMERSET, admits that America has no less than 73
ironclads, while England has but 33 ! No doubt much
allowance must be made for the transition state
of naval architecture as a science ; but how is it
we have taken so much longer than anybody
else to make up our minds as to the merits of
the new systems ? Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, ami-
able as he is towards the action and inaction
of his predecessors, is forced to admit his sur-
prise that, since the Government admitted four
years ago the turret system was worth trying,
the experiment should have been so long deferred.
It is satisfactory at all events that our new First
Lord should express himself decidedly as to the
value of turret-ships. A supplementary estimate for
the construction of one is already on the table, bu
we hope the Board of Admiralty will take care that

it is built according to the most approved principles
—not in compliance with the crotchets of any par-
ticular individual. It is no good to build ships that
figure well in the estimates if they are not really ser-
viceable. We have been building rams, which, it
seems from a recent experience, are as likely to sink
themselves as the enemy they attack. Similar blun-
ders in the new turret-ships would not only be ex-
travagant in the immediate outlay, but possibly
entail serious consequences in war. The country can
no longer allow this to be neglected. The Admiralty
ought not only to construct one turret ship, but to
give orders to have one laid down in each of the
yards. We ought to have turret ships for sea, and
turret ships for harbour service, and if we wish to
bring our Navy at all on a level with the fleets of
other nations we must waste no more time. It
needs great exertion and energy to make up for
lost ground, and we hope that the new officers at
the Admiralty will strain every nerve to put our
Navy on a proper footing.

AIR. GEORGE GROVE, the eminent Biblical scholar,
is, we are delighted to learn, just now busily engaged with
the Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund, in pre-
paring for publication the account of the exploring party.
The photographs taken in the Holy Land will also be
published. These will be accompanied by the report,
drawn up by M. Deutsch at the instance of the Committee,
on the pahoographical and historical value belonging to
some of the specimens submitted to him for examination.

A new mode of smuggling cigars has been
dis-
covered by the custom-house authorities at Paris. Some
large blocks of stone, weighing about a hundred weight,
having arrived from S witzerland, it was found on inspec-
tion that they were hollow, and that they were stuffed full
of Cigars of the finest brands.

II affair, and has interposed the most unnecessary
r objections from the outset and yet who can
say what she is gaining by a prolongation of
the war, either as regards honour or profit ?
The best that can accrue to her, at the close of the
war, will not leave her in a better position than she
would have been had she agreed to the cession of
Venetia, latterly proposed by Austria.
The Moniteur seems to have great faith in the
EMPEROR'S powers of conciliation, and if we are to
trust its intelligence, we may think that the battle
so eagerly looked to will not be fought after all.
That will be of course a great advantage if only in
the cause of humanity, but it will have other benefits
as well direct and indirect; but our doubt is if Prus-
sia will be amenable to reason. ' Perhaps the King
of PRUSSIA and Herr von BISMARCK may have
heard something they do not like about the future
intentions of the French EMPEROR, and therefore
they may prove more moderate in their proposals
than was at first anticipated. At any rate, there
seems a little breathing-time afforded to all parties,
of which we trust they will make the best use—the
one in reflection, and the other in preparation.
Sometimes the delay of a few days changes the whole
aspect of things ; and so this temporary respite
may alter the future destinies of Austria.
We are glad to think, however, that the chances of
the Empire do not rest entirely upon the good
offices of mediators, but that there seems a strong
determination to resist to the uttermost the en-
croachments of Prussia. A new state of things
seems to have arisen in Vienna, and the former un-
certain rule has given place to bold and vigorous
action. The Emperor has set the example of re-
sistance, and has decidedly given his opinion that
the interests of the State call upon him to set his
face against the demands of his imperious foe. The
people have responded to his call, and there can be
no doubt that if Austria lose in the contest sup-
posed to be approaching it will not be because she
has shown want of spirit or want of confidence.
Neither can she be said to be ignorant of the high
import of the prize for which she fights. The Arch-
duke ALBERT has issued an address to the army,
in which he declares that a very large force has
been collected, and exhorts them to courage and
confidence. The Archduke has indeed succeeded
to the command at a period of great trial, but he
seems in many respects equal to its requirements.
In this address he truly says that, " Success belongs
to men of head and heart, to men of coolness and
energy, and that whomsoever fortune favours, he
alone is lost who permits himself to be intimidated
and to despair." These words breathe a spirit of
determination eminently needed at this juncture,
and it may fairly be said that whether peace or
war ensue after the period of the armistice be over
that Austria seems to be in a better position than
she was. It is to be regretted that Archduke
ALBERT was not at the head of the army in Bo-
hemia, and then a different result might have
awaited the Austrian arms. At any rate the Em-
peror FRANCIS JOSEPH seems resolved to make a
stand, and not to lose his high position before the
eyes of Europe for want of timely efforts to avert
his doom, and all must respect and ad mire his
courage and constancy in such adverse circurn.
stances.

qll PARIS,

'AYE!.