The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-19 00:00:00

OUR NAVAL DEFENCES.

(From the Daily News)
No apology can be necessary for reverting as
often as need may be to the naval affairs of this
country, a subject on which reliable information is
of the first importance. We lately took occasion
to condemn the practice which has so long prevailed
of paying off a ship after she has been for three
years in commission, and at the very time that he-:
crew have been brought to the highest possible
state of efficiency. To a landsman, the difference
between the crews of two similar vessels will not be
very apparent, though he may be informed that
one ship's company mustered at quarters for the
first time yesterday, and that the other has been
for two years afloat in the Mediterranean. But if
the opinion of any naval officer be taken, he will
be found to express in very unqualified terms his
conviction that the untrained, undisciplined men
who have as yet no knowledge of their officers nor
of their duties, no confidence in one another, and
lack almost all the qualities of men-of-war's-men,
excepting, pdrhaps, animal courage—are wholly
unfit to be taken into action. He knows full well
that, had they to encounter in earnest an enemy's
ship of even inferior size, the result might be
humiliating to the flag under which they fought.
A graphic description has been penned of the
scene which would infallibly ensue were the finest
line-of-battle ship in the service, under the above
state of things, to be suddenly brought into action.
The exhortations, the invectives, or the entreaties of
her officers, however great the valour or the courage
of their men, would be of little avail to avert the
fate of the Java, captured by the Constitution in
August, 1812, under the precise circumstances to
which we allude. On that disastrous day the Bri-
tish frigate, manned almost entirely by raw lands-
men, was in 30 minutes reduced by the superior
Funnery.of the American to a sinking state, hav-
ing lost in that brief space 100 killed and wounded,
while the Americans had but seven killed and as
many wounded. The Java, from sheer inexperience
and want of skill, missed the opportunity which
the seamanship of her gallant captain (Lambert)
had gained for her, and failed at a critical juncture
to pour a raking broadside into the stern of the
Constitution. It would not, unhappily, be difficult
to cite from our annals more than one similar mis-
fortune springing from the same sad cause. But it is
scarcely possible to explain to the non-professional
reader the actual difference between trained and
untrained crews, because no real comparison can be
instituted as to the relative efficacy of their fire.
It may, however, be assumed that men who have
been regularly exercised at quarters for two years
will with ease work their guns with three times
the rapidity which gunners could display who have
not had the advantage of their discipline and prac-
tice. In future it may be assumed that almost
every naval engagement will be decided by gunnery
alone, a point upon which the French at least have
long since been thoroughly convinced. Can any
one, then, hesitate to admit what would be the
effect of a fight between two frigates, each carrying
an equal weight of metal, but one receiving three
broadsides in reply to each one that she discharged ?
Another, and scarcely less important consideration,
is the one already enumerated, arising from that
bond of union which necessarily springs • up in
every well-trained body, accustomed to act to-
gether. Far differently' do men either work of
fight who have been long accustomed to each
other, and can rely for support upon one
another, from those who have been hastily collected
at hazard and find themselves suddenly placed by
chance under a commander of whose skill and
abilities they know nothing. It will naturally be
asked, what remedy can be found for the evil ?
The obvious and the only rational experiment
would be to have at each port where a man-of-war
is paid off, one or more vessels ready commissioned
for the reception of volunteers after their run on
shore. Jack is naturally a social animal, and will
always far more readily sling his hammock on board
a craft where he has former associates to mess with,
than he will ship amongst a crowd of strangers.
Much may certainly depend upon the character of
the " Skipper ;" for a good captain will easily ob-
tain plenty of good hands, while one who has a bad
name can seldom procure any that deserve the name
of sailors. This difficulty is, however, easily to be
obviated, by appointing no officer to the command
of a ship who has deservedly earned the reputation
of being unpopular amongst the men. Their judg-
ments are singularly shrewd, and in most matters
connected with their profession usually correct.
They very speedily " take the measure " of every
officer who may be set over them, and it soon becomes
known fore and aft whether their commander be a
true seaman, upon whom they can rely in the sharp
hour of need, or whether he be a mere noisy bully,
arrayed only in the garb of a sailor.
The French, for the last 12 or 15 years, have been
bestowing the greatest pains on the education of
their officers. Indeed, a writer in a German periodi-
cal of some considerable circulation and influence on
the Continent has gone so far, while instituting a
comparison between the navies of England and
France, as to maintain that French naval officers
are far ahead of the English in all that pertains to
theoretical training and tutored intelligence. Many
of our own officers, too, who have had ample oppor-
tunities of judging, do not scruple to admit that in
seamanship no less than in other professional ac-
quirements they have found themselves, to their
surprise, fully equalled by the members of the
Imperial naval service.
It has been urged as a defect in the education of
midshipmen that they may be raised to posts entail-
ing much responsibility without being necessarily
qualified to navigate a ship, and for the following
reason. The institution of Masters, who occupy a
subordinate position between the warrant and the
commissioned officers, and who usually do not re-
ceive promotion beyond their own grade, is the
alleged cause of the gravamen. To the aster is
entrusted the " working " of the ship ; he must,
therefore, be proficient in every branch of naviga-
tion—be able to take accurately both terrestrial and
celestial angular distances, to " procure the rates "
for the chronometers as well as to take charge of
those instruments, and he must also have a compe-
tent knowledge of marine surveying. In short, so
numerous and important are his functions that the
captain, as a celebrated admiral once truly re-
marked, " can -scarcely move without him." Now
all the above duties of a Master are,. on board a
French ship, discharged either by a junior lieute-
nant or by the captain himself, the commissioned
officers being all equally qualified in that respect.
It is true that our modern naval colleges are in-
tended to supply a deficiency which has been
allowed to exist too long. The instructions in theo-
retical navigation inculcated in these institutions
will achieve as much as can be aceomplished by such
means ; but so long as the young cadet knows that
in after life he will be relieved by the "master" of
the necessity and responsibility of navigating his
ship, he is not likely to pick up more information
on that subject than will suffice to take him through
his examination.
In the Ecoles Navales, the science of navigation
is deemed of paramount importance, and each
aspirant for future fame must previously pass
through a severe ordeal before receiving his
diploma.

With respect to the general discipline of a French
, man-of-war suffice it to say that, as in all that re-
gards her internal economy, great improvement has
of late been introduced, and the most perfect order,
regularity, and cleanliness in every department is
rigidly enforced. In the performance of all evolu-
tionary duties it is easy to perceive that our own
routine has been attentively studied, and often
closely copied; while in lieu of that noisy jargon
that in former times invariably assailed the ear,
between decks, one voice and one pipe alone are
now heard, conveying each successive command ;
the truth of the old adage that "Silence is the soul
of subordination" being at last admitted by the
garrulous Gaul.
Nor is the French merchant seaman wanting in
a knowledge of that stricter discipline absolutely
essential in the navy. In the course of nine years
the entire body of merchant seamen passes through
the navy. Every individual is consequently a
trained man-of-war's man, available at any subse-
quent time for his country's service, and only
requiring a few days' practice to resume the duties
he
has already learnt. Besides this wise regula-
tion, which maintains inexpensively a vest reserve,
there is another of scarcely less moment, which
renders it imperative for every master mariner to
serge for a specified period on board a ship of war
before he can be entrusted with the command of
the smallest trading vessel. He thus becomes
acquainted not only with the proper methods of
mounting and dismounting artillery—housing and
securing guns for sea service—training, pointing,
elevating, and depressing variety of ordnance
used afloat—but he is also everyade conversant with
th
the laws of projectiles and all necessary know-
ledge requisite to constitute thee
These are points upon which the navalerdi artillerist.
of an English merchantman would be narY
master
about as likely
to possess correct information as a Sussex plough-
boy or a Spitalfields weaver.
We have dwelt somewhat in detail upon these
facts, because they relate to matters of th moste
vital interest, and as the manning of the navy is
without question the most important subject thatls
can occupy public attention just now, it becomes
us earnestly to consider how far a system which
works admirably across the Channel can be made
to answer here. _ _ _

It is agreed on all hands that some decisive steps
must be taken, and that soon, if we wish as a nation
to retain our "E afire of the sea."

LAW INTELLIGENCE—Ian. 18.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.

Sittings in Banco.—(Before Lord Chief Justice
Cockburn, and Justices Williams, Crowder, and
Willes.)
GRAFTON T. RING-BREACH OF PROMISE OF
MARRIAGE.
This was an action to recover damages for breach
of promise of marriage, and at the trial before the
Lord Chief Justice the jury awarded the plain-
tiff £l,OOO. _ _

Mr. Skinner subsequently applied for a new trial
upon the ground that the damages were excessive,
and that untrue evidence had been given for the
plaintiff. The learned sergeant stated that the
plaintiff's family had resided many years in Lon-
don in the same house as the defendant's family,
but afterwards the plaintiff had taken a situation
as nursemaid, and subsequently had become nursery
governess. It was represented to the jury that
these parties had been engaged for 16 years, the
plaintiff being 32 when the action was brought.
The defendant had been a lawyer's clerk, but after-
wards obtained a situation in the Chancery-office,
the salary being £6OO a year down to 1852, and £5OO
since, and his office was now awaiting abolition. The
learned counsel produced extracts from some letters
written by the plaintiff to the defendant's sister, and
which he submitted were inconsistent with the
supposition that she considered herself engaged to
the defendant. In one she said, " For though lam
for ever cut off from every enjoyment, yet I like to
hear of others partaking of them." There was no
suggestion that she was likely to be married, and
she concluded with " kind regards to the rest of the
family." In NoveMber, 1854, she said, " I am
rather amused about your remark as to the young
men leaving us out. I have been left out long ago,
you have scarcely time to be left in yet, as you are
in a great hurry. As to myself, I have made up
my mind to be contented with my lot, as ',what can't
be cured must be endured,' and I expect I shall be
an old maid to the end of the chapter." Having
left her situation in Ireland, she wrote on the 29th
April, 1855, " My dear Fanny—Perhaps you will
be able to get me a situation. I can churn the
butter, and milk the cow, not to say anything
of the pigs. Seriously, I think if I leave Ireland
I will not come back, for there is nothing to
induce a woman to take up her abode here except
a good husband, which there is no chance of my
getting here."
Mr. Slade and Mr. Fitzgerald now appeared to
show cause, and Mr. Lush and Mr. Quain to sup-
port the yule.

Mr. Slade submitted that the verdict ought not
to be set aside, and that the facts fully justified the
amount of damages which the jury had given.
The Lord Chief Justice said the courtship had
continued almost from childhood; and it certainly
was a very heartless case. He was not prepared to
say that he was dissatisfied with the verdict.
Mr. Slade—The defendant had resided in the
same house with the plaintiff's family for a long
time, and had frequent opportunities of seeing her.
He had kept up a simmer of affection for a long
time, until at last he boiled over and promised her
marriage in the presence of Mrs. Clarke. (Laughter.)
It was true that this rule had been granted upon
three letters trom the plaintiff to the defendant's
sister, which served to show that she did not ex-
pect to marry the defendant.
The Lord Chief Justice—No doubt the statement
that these parties had been engaged for 16 years
had a great effect with the jury ; and now there
were letters a year or two old to the effect that she
had no hope of a matrimonial alliance with the
defendant.

Mr. Slade—They were idle letters from one girl
to another, and it was part of the plaintiff's case
that the engagement was to be kept secret. If the
case went down for a second trial he did not despair
of again getting £l,OOO. He had an affidavit of
W. Clarke, a relative of the plaintiff, who stated
that, on the Monday after the trial, the defendant
called on him to ask him to see the plaintiff, and
induce her to accept £5OO in settlement of the
action. He also said it was true that he had some
years ago made the promise of marriage deposed to
by Mrs. Clarke, but he had made it in a joke ; and
the defendant at this interview treated the matter
with great levity.
After some further observations, terms of settle-
ment were agreed upon between the learned counsel.
It was arranged that the rule should be absolute to
reduce the damages to £6OO and costs, or £750,
including costs, the plaintiff to have the choice of
these alternatives.
Rale absolute.
Sittings at Nisi Prius in Middlesex.—(Before. Mr.
Justice Byles and a Common Jury.)
TARRANT v. REERIE.-RUNNING-DOWN CASE.

This was an action to recover damages in conse-
quence of a horse and cart of the plaintiff's having
been driven against, as he contended, through the
negligence of the defendant.
Mr. T. Atkinson appeared for the plaintiff, and
Mr. Shaw for the defendant.

The plaintiff is in the employ of the London
General Omnibus Company, as stable-keeper, and
the defendant is a cart-grease manufacturer, at
Stepney. On Sunday, the Bth of August last, the
plaintiff was driving his family in a cart along the
Mile-end-road. It was evening, and they were
returning from a visit to a friend in the country.
According to his case, he saw two carts coining
towards him at a rapid pace, driven by men who
had been drinking. He called out, but before he
could do so a second time the defendant's cart came
in collision with his with such violence that they
were all thrown out. The plaintiff himself was
pulled by a policeman from between the horse's
legs, whilst his wife was thrown one way and the
baby she had held in her arms went another. The
shaft of the defendant's cart entered the neck of the
plaintiff's horse, and hurt it so much that it had to
be killed. The shafts of the plaintiff's cart were
broken, and the cart was otherwise damaged, and
the harness was broken.

For the defendant, it was said that as he passed
the Plough, in Mile-end-road, there were a number
of vehicles outside, so that he had to pass on to his
wrong side to pass, leaving, however, ample room
for anything to pass on his off-side. Just as he
had got by the Plough, the plaintiff's horse, from
some cause or other, swerved across the road, and
so caused the collision. It was contended that this
view of the case was supported by the fact that the
plaintiff's horse was struck on the left side and not
on the right, as it would have been if it had not
turned in the direction of crossing the road.
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for
£2B.