The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-15 00:00:00

Ship-money, in a new sense of the term, seems
destined once more to alarm Englishmen for their
rights and their purses. We have spent upon ships
such incredible sums of money, and we are asked
for such large additional sums every year, that the
country has at length passed from bewilderment to
impatience, and from impatience to clamour. It is
hard to say how many commissions or committees
are sitting or have been sitting upon various sub-
jects connected with our naval expenditure; and a
new committee, charged with a more comprehen-
sive mission than any of its predecessors, has
just now been appointed. If it be really
true, as stated in the debate, that " the ship-
building of the navy is completely managed
by the First Lord in a private room with the
" Surveyor," we can form some idea of the way in
which the money goes ; but the real source of ex-
travagance we believe to be this—that we are
always in arrear of the age as respects our models,
so that we first lavish vast sums upon obsolete pat-
terns, and then incur fresh expenses for the purpose
of precipitate reconstruction. The history
.of our
dockyards for the last 10 years would make this suffi-
ciently plain. We might have saved at least
infl veearss
outlay upon sailing ships, but persistedwe
build-
ing them after steam had been established, and con-
sequently had to pay for our work twice over. We
again clung tenaciously tothe
proved,paddlewheel and the
after the
superiority of the screw had been
result is that, a considerable portion of even our
steam fleet is still of doubtful efficiency, so that we
divide our frigates and sloops and screws and
paddles with a mark of disparagement, if not con-
demnation, against the latter class. At last, how-
ever, we seemed to be emerging from these embar-
rassments, when the new question of iron against
-wood plunged us once more into the old difficulties.
It is, we fear, but too plain that we have again
fallen into our old errors; but something may yet
be saved by timely warning, and it is on that
account we revert to the subject.
Iron appears now to be so far recognised as to be
preferred to wood for all the ships of war above the
rating of a frigate. That was the doctrine recently
expressed in Mr. Lindsay's resolutions, and pointed
at in Mr. Corry's motion for a return of all the
wooden ships of two decks and upwards now build-
ing. To a certain extent, indeed, the principle
seems to have been accepted even at the Admiralty,
for Lord C. Paget informed the house on Monday
evening that whereas they had intended to build be-
tween three and four line-of-battle ships in the year
1860, they only built actually between two and three
of these vessels. Nevertheless, it is clear enough
that we have only seen our way after much of the
mischief was done, for within the last two years
we have doubled the numbers of this very class of
ships, and, indeed, only a few months ago were
pluming ourselves upon the achievement. The
French had not laid down a wooden ship of the
first or second rate since 1856, whereas we started
in 1859 with a sudden resolution to launch a whole
fleet of these vessels at any cost. After what has
been admitted in Parliament, it must be perfectly
obvious that if we had commenced our ironsides in
1859 as we are beginning them now, and had aban-
doned the old pattern as no longer serviceable, we
should have saved the cost of some 25 line-of-battle
ships, and possessed ourselves of a strong fleet of the
new model to boot. We may say much the same of
our frigates. The Secretary of the Admiralty de-
scribed our position in this respect as being " ex-
tremely satisfactory," meaning that by our recent
exertions we had raised this department of the
fleet to a good standard of strength and efficiency ;
but what will be the result if it should be proved
that frigates also are the better for being cased in
iron ? We shall then find ourselves with a nume-
rous squadron of these vessels just as they are super-
seded by a fresh model, and it will be the old story of
the sailing ship and the paddle over again. With
regard to smaller vessels the case is still more strik-
ing, inasmuch as this is the particular point upon
which we are engaged at this moment. Lord C.
Paget, having prudently said little about line-of.
battle-ships, and rather prematurely congratulated
his hearers in the matter of frigates, observed that the
energies of the Admiralty would for the ensuing
year be devoted " mainly to the construction of
those most useful ships—sloops, and gun and de-
spatch vessels." No doubt these are very useful
ships indeed, and we dare say the " improvements
which are taking place in this class" have had a
natural effect in urging on the Admiralty to " the
completion of a great number of them," according to
the Secretary's promise. But unluckily we have a
great number of them already, and find ourselves,
as usual, with a splendid stock of the very vessels
which " improvements" have rendered obsolete. It
was but five or six years ago that the " energies of
the Admiralty" were " devoted to the the comple-
tion" of an immense flotilla of this identical class,
and at the present moment upwards of 300 out of
-the 505 vessels composing our Steam Navy are
sloops, small vessels, and gunboats. Of sloops alone
we have nearly 100, 58 of them being screws. It
will be said that we built this flotilla in haste for
the Russian War, and that if the model has been
since improved we must needs keep pace with the
times. Granted; but is it quite certain that we are
taking the best model at this minute ? Is it cer-
tain that iron armour will not be found applicable
with decided advantage even to gunboats ? We
can only say that the French have built some iron-
eased gunboats, and that Lord C. Paget himself
spoke of those vessels in terms of admiratien.
They certainly do manage these things better in
France, and for the simple reason, apparently, that
there is no obstructiveness at headquarters, and no
indisposition to accept a new discovery. The con-
sequence is that there is no money thrown away on
useless work. The French build their ships of the
most modern type, and, indeed, set the fashion in
this, as they do in other matters. We are always
two or three years behind the world. We ought to
have had our screw deckers in 1857, when they were
the best line-of-battle ships known, instead of in
1860, when they had been superseded. We ought
to have our ironsides now, in 1861, instead
of in 1863, when they will probably be finished.
It is confessed now that the theory is a sound one,
but how was it that we, with all our mechanical pre•
tensions, took so long a time to make the discovery ?
It could not be accident, for the thing has occurred
over and over again; in fact, it invariably happens
in the case of any new invention. We persist in
shutting our eyes to conditions which other people
. have accepted, and then, as a necessary conse-
quence, we spend our money over again in efforts
to recover lost ground. At this very moment
we have only overtaken our neighbours just
when it would have been better not to have
done „ so. Assuming, as the aspect of the case
most -favourable for us, that for all vessels except
line-of-battle ships wood is still the best material,
and limiting our view, therefore, to this class alone,
what is it that we discover on a comparison of the
two Navies ? We find that, whereas France has 35
screw line of battle ships afloat and 2 building, we
have 53 afloat and 14 building or converting,
or nearly twice as many as our neighbours.
If, however, an iron-cased ship is the only ship
~for the line of battle, it follows that our supe-
riority is a superiority in encumbrances only.
We have succeeded by two years of tremendous
efforts in stocking our harbours with twice as
many inefficient vessels as the French possess.
That is the result of our recent expenditure—the
upshot, in this branch at least, of the " reconstruc-
tion of our Navy." The moral, we think, is plain.
We must keep our minds, as well as our eyes,
more open to the progress of things around us.
We must be more ready to accept new inventions,
instead of clinging with bigoted tenacity to estab-
lished models. We cannot shut out improvement
if we would, for what others do we must needs do
also, and we do but lose the lead by delay. After
all, a more liberal system need not cost us an
additional penny. As we are incessantly building
ships on some model or other, we have only got to
build them on the best model known sit the time,
by which simple plan we shall save our outlay on
exploded patterns, and keep ahead of the world
besides.-2inzes.

21118 DAPS SHIPPING.

LONDON March 15.—Wind this day at noon—N.W.,
'moderate breeze and fine.
Poirrsuou'rn, March 11.—Wind N.N.W. to W..—Ar-
ri7ed—liereules from Shields, for Lisbon. Sailed—Major
Wolf, for St. Thomas ; Alexander, for Gibraltar.
m°l4' ,PoaTsltourn, March 14.—Arrived—Irnperatrice
ni"-en', from Table Bay ; Thurald, from Grangemouth,
for Ravana,

-----
NY tialeTuic TELEGILIPII.)
SouTuAMPTON, Friday Morning.
Arrived, March 14—Alowe, steamer, from Bremen; Le
cog, from Cherbourg ; Havre steamer, from Havre;
Courier, steamer, fro, Jersey; 2_
iteaper, from Cork ; Duke
of Cornwall, steamer, frota Loudon ; Ally and Woodlands,
from Sunderland. s
Dom Saile
ingo; d—Twenty- econd
fo a December, steamer, for San
steamer, for Dublin.
Ocean Bride, r Aberdee, ; Duke of Cornwall,

(BY SIIRMAILINE AND MAGNETIC
GRAVINEND, pi4EckitAPlL)
Arrived—Revel:7, from New York; Maria
morning..
Tara; Frederick, from Antwerp ; Boreal, frolegarn Bowe
DEAL, Pliday
Pasised—li.ll, S. .egtera, from the westward, iirn
.Zg g*
river.
Anelmred—Faith, for Barbados; Idalia, for Swansea
both from London.

Brussels advices mention the stoppage of the
mercantile house of M. Leon Gochez for DOO,OOO.

At the annual meeting of the Van Diemen's Lar
Company to-day a dividend of 52. per share was declared

IMPERIA

vote the men and then refuse their pay and allowances. Ile
should certainly take the sense of the house on this vote.
The house divided--
For reporting progress
Against it
120-98
Major S. KNOX moved to reduce the vote by £41,337
for the depot battalions.
Mr. BARING said it was right to call attention to the
depot battalions, but they formed part of the next vote.
Col. KNOX then moved that the vote be reduced by
£50,000 for medical staff and hospital charges.
Mr. BARING said that both those items would also
form part of another vote. (Laughter.)
Colonel DICKSON observed that what was taking place
showed the inexpediency of going on with the committee.
Besides he had read the noble viscount's speech the other
night, in which he promised only to take the-number of men'
Mr. A. SMITH thought the Government ought not $0
proceed further to-night. This was a large estimate Of
£4,000,000 and upwards, and it ought to be divided into
several parts.

Lord PALMERSTON said he should be very unwilling
to ask the committee to decide at once on a matter which,
might be open to discussion. Suppose they took a vote ea
account of one-half. The money was much wanted.
Mr. CHILDERS said there was a large addition to the
medical staff, and there were other appointments to which
many hon. members objected; and if they agreed to the
vote, it might prevent them discussing the items.
Mr. BARING said there would be no new appointments
made before the full vote was agreed to.
The sum of £3,000,000 was agreed to on account, the
chairman reported progress, and the house resumed.
THE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Lord PALMERSTON said it might be convenient in
state that the Government proposed to take the Bankruptcy
Bill first on Monday evening, and if that should be over
about 10 o'clock, they would go on with the Navy Esti-
mates.

Mr. COLLINS asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department when the Appropriation of Seats' Big
would come on.

Sir G. C. LEWIS said he should not bring on that Bill
before Easter.
. Mr. G. HARDY wished to know when the Highvili6
Bill would be brought on.
Sir G. C. LE WIS said he hoped on Monday evening
after the Bankruptcy Bill.
Mr. MOWBRAY asked when the Local Government
Bill would be proceeded with.
Mr. CLIVE said he proposed to postpone it to the 14th
of May.

WAYS AND MEANS.
The report of the committee on ways and means WO
brought up.

THE EXCHEQUER BILLS BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
RED SEA AND INDIAN TELEGRAPH BILL.
This bill was read a third time.

LONDON COAL AND WINE DUTIES.
The house having resolved into committee,
Sir G. C. LEWIS moved a resolution on whioh 0
found a bill for the purpose of continuing for 10 years this
coal duties and the port duties on wine now levied bf
the officers of the Corporation of London. The coal
duties consisted of a 4d. duty, which the corpo-
ration considered part of the City estate; an Bd. dutf
which had been appropriated under an Act of Parliament,
and tho proceeds applied by direction of the First Commis-
sioners of Works, and which would shortly expire; and
another duty of Id., which would also shortly expire. lie
proposed to continue the duties for 10 years—the proceedl
of the 9d. tax to be paid into a fund to be devoted to me'
tropolitan improvements—the purposes to be hereafter
defined by Parliament, but more especially with reference
to a recommendation of a committee of last session which
sat on the embankment of the Thames. These duties were
at present levied over 20 miles round a central point in the
metropolis ; but he proposed to confine the area to the
metropolitan police district.

Mr. AYRTON complained that no notice had been
given of the nature of the resolutions.
Sir G. C. LEWIS said he had only followed the univer-
sal practice in regard to such resolutions.
The resolution was then agreed to.
Mr. CAIRD obtained leave to bring in a bill to extend
the jurisdiction of the Sheriff Ordinary and Small Debt
Courts in Scotland,

Mr. BRADY obtained leave to bring in a bill to extend
the time given to the clerks of the peace of counties in Ire"
land for the publishing of the lists of voters objected to,
under the act of the 13th and 14th years of Victoria, chap.
69, sections 27 and 37.

Sir G. LEWIS obtained leave to bring in a bill to amens;
the law relating tc elections of members of Parliament, and
a bill to amend the law relating to industrial schools.
The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to bring in a bill
for the improvement, regulation, and protection of the
salmon fisheries in Scotland, and on the coasts of
,the Solo
way Firth, and in the monthor entrance of the river Tweed,
Mr. HUTT obtained leave to bring in a bill to enable
the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital to execute
certain works for the service of such hospital.
The bills were severally brought in and read a first time•
The house adjourned at one o'clock.

---
PAIRS ON MR. LOCKE KING'S MOTION. -
FOR.
AGAINST.
Lord R. Clinton with Sir C. Burrell
Mr. Pryse
Hon. J. A. Ponsonby „ Mr. Goddard
Mr. Hodg4inson „ Mr. Jolliffe
Sir H. T. Davie „ Mr. Kendall
Sir J. Matheson
Mr. M. Dunne
lion. J. Monson
Lord Hartington
„„ Col. Bathurst
Col. Stuart (Cardiff)
lion. W. 0. Stanley „ Major Sibthorp
Col Col. Tynte ........
Hodgson „ Hon. Henry Wyndham
Mr. Locke ..... .
Sergeant Kinglake ,, Sir Baldwin Leighton
Mr. Mellor
Mr. Greenwood
~ Mr. Hope Johnstone
Mr. Divett
Mr. Aid. Copeland „ Mr. M. I'. Smith
Mr. Buchanan
Hon. C. Fitzwilliam „ Mr. Maxwell Close
Mr. Marsh ........
Hon. G. Denman Bovill Mr. Merry ......... . „ Mr. Stirling Mr. .......... „ Mr. Montague Smith
Mr, Herbert ....... „ Hon. John Cole Mr. Redmond
„
Mr. Hugh Taylor