The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-17 00:00:00

THE NAT/Y.

The plan contained in the bill introduced by the
Duke of Somerset for forming a reserve of officers
from the mercantile (marine, to do duty as lieuten-
ants, sub-lieutenants, &c., in the Royal Navy, on
occasions of emergency, will not be detrimental,
but advantageous to naval officers. Persons belong-
ing to the reserve force will only serve on special
occasions, and then be discharged. Some may ob-
tain promotion for daring acts of bravery, but these
will be additional to the usual promotion. Instead
of rearing up vast numbers of young men who can-
not be promoted in reasonable time, no more cadets
need he admitted than can be advanced in proper
season. The reserve officers, having acquired great
experience at sea, and being duly drilled, will be
far more useful than youngsters. It was by the
employment of a class of this kind that the Ameri-
cans were so strong in their crews during the last
war. They drew their mates, midshipmen, and
even lieutenants from the merchant service, and
dismissed them when the peace came. When offi-
cers have been long on half-pay captains will not
take them for first lieutenants ; they select a young
officer for this post, and old ones, of greater senio-
rity, cannot be employed under them ; hence the
number of officers placed on the retired list. Of
course, proper discrimination must be exercised in
the selection of officers for the reserve, but there
arc plenty of intelligent, respectable men in the
mercantile marine who are anxious to render their
services in time of need.

Port-Admiral Sir H. Stewart, K.C.8., went on
Saturday morning from Mount Wise to Plymouth
Sound and mustered and inspected the crew of the
screw steam frigate Ariadne, 26, Capt. W. Vansit-
tart, which got up steam in the afternoon, and at
half-past Bin the eveningleft for the North American
station, taking supernumeraries for the Nile and
Challenger, and a small detachment of marines for
distribution among the ships of the squadron.
The Esk, Capt. Sir Robert M'Clure, arrived last
night at Spithead from China and the Cape. She
sailed from Simon's Bay on the 18th of April.
The undermentioned gentlemen have been nomi-
nated to naval cadetships :—The Hon. Cospatrick
Howe, Mr. Henry Moore, Mr. E. D. B. Locke, and
Mr. Edward West. _

Admiral James Pattison Stewart, C. 8., who died
at Pisa on the 3d inst., entered the navy in 1797.
He had served in the flagship of Rear-Admiral
Cochrane at the aeon of St. Domingo. In 1811,
in the defence of the Island of Anholdt, he distin-
guished himself by the intrepidity and skill with
which he gave chase to 16 of the enemy's gunboats
and armed vessels, two of the former of which he
succeeded in capturing. From 1813 to 1815 he
-was employed on the Baltic and North Sea stations
in the Dictator. In November, 1813, he was at-
tached to the in-shore squadron off Walcheren, and
volunteered to command the boats of the fleet under
Admiral Young, and to attempt the capture of four
French frigates at Flushing. He was appointed a
Commander of the Bath in 1815.

The following appointments were made ox Satur•
day at the Admiralty :—Charles Hobart, midship.
man, to the Dragon ; and Edward T. Boys, assist..
p Aymaster, to the Dragon.