The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-25 00:00:00

rHE SUN,' LONDGN, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECAIMBE It 25, 1861.

THE AMERMAN NAVY.

The following is the total number of ships of
which, according to the Commercial Gazette of
New York for May, 1861, the Federal navy were in
possession for the purpose of blockade and other
services, viz.:-
5 steam frigates 172 guns.
6 dc. corvettes
5 do. sloops .
7 armed merchant vessels

330 „
4 sailing frigates 2OO guns.
9 do. corvettes 180 „
2 do. brigs

Grand total-48 ships, 722 guns.

This force represents something very different
from the formidable array of ships and guns which
has recently been published, but which, happily
for us, was only a list of the American navy upon
paper. Eleven of the chips mentioned therein had
ceased to exist as far back as April last, having been
set on fire in the dockyard at Norfolk ; the wonder-
ful Pennsylvania, said to be pierced for 140 guns,
was among the number. After omitting their sail-
ing ships of wat, as unfitted to cope Ni ith our ves-
sels, which are all possessed of steam power, and
adding in their place the number of steam merchant
vessels that they have armed since last summer, we
believe we should be over the mark if we set dowi
their total active war fleet at 450 guns.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who
has been confined to Gloucester House for some days by a
severe cold, is, we learn, much better.

The. Duke of Wellington has left Apsloy House
for his seat in Norfolk.

The Duke and Duchess of Manchester left their
residence in great Stanhope-street on Monday, for Kim-
belton Castle.

The Duke and Duchess of Argyll have arrived
in town from a tour on the Continent.

The Duchess de Gramont arrived in London on
Saturday (on her way to Vienna), to visit her father, in
Hyde-park-place, for a few days only.

The Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury have
left Grosvenor-square for their seat, St. Giles Huse
Dorset.

The Countess of Craven and the Ladies Craven
have arrived in town from Ashdowne Parks, Berks, for the
winter.

Viscount Palmerston is, we are happy to learn,
fast recovering from his late attack of gout.

We are requested to state that the Duke of De-
vonshire has consented to be put in nomination for the
Chancellorship of the University of Cambridge. The Duke
of Buccleuch having declined to be put in nomination, it is
stated that the Duke of Northumberland has been invited
to become a candidate for the office of Chancellor of the
University. it is difficult to understand upon what ground
this nobleman should be put forward, as he is not a mem-
ber of the University, having only received a honorary de-
gree at the time his predecessor was High Steward of
the University.

MELANCHOLY DEATH WHILE PREPARING FOR
CERlSTMAS.—Yesterday evening an inquiry was held at
the City of Loudon Hospital by Mr. H. Raffles Walthew,
the deputy coroner for East Middlesex, touching the death
of Joseph Priestley, aged 44, who was killed by the giving
way of a ladder on Friday last. It appeared that the de-
♦eased, who resided at 20, Sparrow-street, Minories, was
mounted on a ladder for the purpose of cleaning the facia
of the shop for Christmas, and the water which he threw
over it with a brush rendered the pavement wet, and the
ladder slipped down. The unfortunate deceased was flung
with great force upon the flags, his temple coming against
the corner of the door-step. Death was instantaneous.
There was an extensive scalp wound, and the skull was
fractured. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

DEFENCES OF LIVERPOOL.—The probability of
war is greater than ever, but the week has passed with but
little effort being made by our townsmen to provide for the
appalling event. The subject has attracted attention, but
I has not produced any practical result. People are slow to
believe in war. They do not want it, and they hope against
the reasonable conviction of their own minds. They catch
at every idle telegram, and place reliance on every imper-
fect rumour. The necessity, however, is urgent War is
highly probable. If it should occur, what are our prepara-
tions ? Three imperfect forts, and one frigate half manned.
This is not as it should be. One correspondent suggests
that we should remove the buoys and lightships ; but we
cannot thus peril the safety of our commerce. Another
suggests blockahips, or the replacing our present lightships
with vessels iron• plated and armed. It would, however, be
almost impossible to moor such vessels in safety on the
sandbanks. The present lightships are light vessels, secured
with the moorings of a man-of-war. The proper thing, it
appears to us, is to have batteries thrown up on the sand-
hills
of Mockbeggar and Crosby, commanding the Queen's
and Horseshoe Channels. In addition to this we want one
or two swift steam-frigates stationed at Holyhead, an one
or two others stationed at Liverpool. Furthermore, we
want some gunboats. At present an enemy's vessel might
" sink, burn, and destroy" numbers of vessels off the
North-west Light- ship with impunity. If Mr. Laird's plan
be carried out, we shall provide our own gunboats. A
public journalist can only point out these matters as sug-
gestir,ns. It is the duty of others to carry them. out, if
deemed necessary. But if any enemy's vessel should enter
the Mersey, fire the shipping in some of the docks, and
shell the town, a deep responsibility will rest with those in
authority who shall have neglected all necessary precau-
ticns. Failing energetic measures, we would recommend
the corporation to have a few millions sterling on call at its
bankers for purposes of rtinsom.--41bien.