The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-22 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1850.

Experimental improvements in the Royal Navy of
England are, of all things, to our thinking, the most
obstructive to its development. Against changes of
this dubious character we have invariably argued as
against a system injurious to the service, and, in the
highest degree, detrimental to its interests. Never-
the less, while we -can never cease to oppose all such vo-
latile schemes of innovation, we must, at all times,
continue equally energetic in the advocacy of those
plans which appear to be calculated to secure to the
maritime power of Great Britain an extension of its
general efficiency. Among these, perhaps, the most
conspicuous, and, unquestionably, one of the most
important, ie the adoption of the screw as
an auxiliary in navigation. Ever since the
first glimmering of the advantages arising from that
contrivance became perceptible, we have persisted in
forcing the subject upon the consideration of the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Now,
therefore, that those advantages are no longer in
any respect supoiititioas, having, on the contrary, by
reiterated trials, been rendered apparent to the most
obtuse and hesitating comprehension, it is not to be
supposed that we shall cease to argue upon the sub-
jct until such time as its reasonableness shall have
been practically ackriowledged by the Government.
Happily there is no great improbability that such
may be the case, intimations having been afforded of
late -of an intention on the part of the Executive
to forward this pr( jE ct throughout most of our
dockyardi. At a moderate calculation, we may
expect before many years have elapsed to witness the
employment of the screw-power by all the vessels of
war sailing under the British standard. That such
a consummation would more than anything else tend
to enhance the maritime force of the empire cannot
be fur an instant questioned by those who have
taken even a superficial, view of its operation. When
it is considered that, by the adoption of the screw in
preference to the paddle-box, our Yesaels.will be enabled

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to have full and uninterrupted broadsides, that they
may be more readily fitted, likewise, with complete
sailing power, that they cannot in action be so easily
disabled, that they will prove less unwieldly and
better able to receive all proper equipments, the
benefits arising from the improvement we have so
long and energetically advocated, will be perceptible
beyond the limits of opposition.
Prominent among those advantages (accruing to
our ships of war from the use of the screw instead of
the lever) which have been hitherto almost entirely
overlooked, is the capacity thereby afforded of secur-
ing greater symmetry in proportion, and consequently
greater strength, efficiency, and durability. This
circumstance is strikingly demonstrable by a com-
parison of the " Niger" and the " Basilisk." From
the official statement given as to the condition of those
vessels, it appears that the one fitted out with the
screws is no less than ninety• five tons lighter in the hull
than the one fitted nut with the lever. This difference
is explained by Captain HALSTED to have arisen from
the following distincjion—namely, that the shaft re-
quired for driving a screw is situated in the lowest,
and therefore the strongest part of a vessel, thereby
removing the necessity for applying any extra
strengthening, whereas the shaft necessary for work-
a lever is situated in the highest and weakest part of
a vessel, rendering it essential, of course, to
support it with a vast quantity of extra
strengthening, besides causing an enormous strain
from the greater weight of the paddle-wheels. None
of these considerations, we maintain, should be depre-
ciated in importance by those upon whom devolve
the responsibilities of increasing the efficiency of the
navy of England. Another fact in connexion with
these same corvettes, the Niger and the Basilisk,
is likewise deserving of especial mention, tending as
it does to illustrate the superior advantages of the
system we desire to see universally adopted. Bear-
ing in mind the circumstance that the screw-vessel
the Niger is exactly of the same size and power as
her sister paddle-vessel the Basilisk, it is surely a sur-
prising evidence of superiority on the part of the former
that she can carry no less than fourteen guns, while
the latter is restricted to merely six—not half the
number ! A multitude of equally startling contrasts
between the results of using the screw and lever might
be adduced, all tending to show the folly of trot
henceforth entirely repudiating the old system, and
adopting in its stead an invention fraught with so
many and such inestimable conveniences. Fortu•
nately, however, the necessity of doing this in an
abbreviated manner in these columns is ob-
viated by the appearance of a work upon
the subject now under discussion, in which
the question of establishing a perfect screw fleet is
considered in its entirety.* Already we have had
the satisfaction of quoting from this valuable and in-
telligent publication, in a previous sentence, in which
we mentioned the name of its author as our au-
thority. A reference to the book itself will present
the whole theme at once to the reader's judgment,
divested of all difficulties and obscurities, and sepa-
rated into four chapters of great lucidity both
in logic and arrangement. After taking into ac-
count the full-powered screw-ships, and contrasting
these with auxiliaries, Captain HALSTED demonstrates
by irrefragable arguments the peculiar recommenda-
tions of the screw for mail contract service, and while
discoursing on the forms of the screw ships of the
navy vindicates the possibility of restoring the most
ineffective. One remarkable observation made to-
wards the commencement of this excellent volume is
deserving of especial remembrance, epitomising as it
does the distinction between the screw ship and the
paddle steamer ; it is this, that " whereas the one will
sail best without her paddles, and paddle best without
her sails—the other will screw the fastest with
her sails, and sail the fastest with her screw." Of
itself, that brief and epigrammatic sentence is a pa-
negyric sufficiently powerful and judicious to enlist
the sympathies of all at once on the side of our che-
rished argument. It is another and a brilliant testi-
mony of the worth of .a system essential to the wel-
fare of our naval armaments—so essential, indeed,
that we shall not cease demanding it until its com-
plete adoption by the Admiralty.

* " The Sere PI Fleet of the Navy. Dedicated by per-
mii‘ion to the Right Hoe. Sir F. T. Baring, Bart., M.P.,
F►rst Lord of the Admiralty." By E. P. Halsted, E3q.,
Captain R.N.. pp. 150. Stmpkin, Marshall, and Co.,
London: 1850.

We had hoped that the session of 1850 would not
have closed without an attempt being ;nade to place
upon the statute•book a measure fur the reform of
the laws relating to lunatics and insane persons.
That without some such measure of reform, it is a
mere mockery to talk of the liberty of the au} ject has
been abundantly proved. How can we boast of pos-
sessing liberty of the subject when every subject in
the realm only holds his liberty at the
mercy of two apothecaries, who can at any
time secure his incarceration in an asylum where,
according to the
_rules laid down by the Commis-
sioners, he must remain for six months at least de-
barred from all association with sane people before
he can be liberated ? The necessity of some measure
of reform to prevent the present law from being
used as a duress to compel persons of property to
make a certain disposition of such property, has been
proved over and over again before our courts Of
justice; and the indefatigable investigations of Mr.
PURNELL, the worthy and excellent Chair-
man of the Gloucestershire Quarter Ses-
sions, have shown how utterly useless is the
superintendence of the Commission, at the head of
which is my Lord ASHLEY, to secure humane and
proper treatment for the unfortunate lunatics con-
fined in an asylum, and how easy it is fur the pro-
prietor of an asylum to obtain for those Commis-
sioners a series of certificates of good conduct, whilst
all the time the most atrocious cruelties are being
practised upon the unfortunate patients. It is not
from a want of a knowledge of these facts, it is not
from any feeling of lakewarroness, that the
friends of the cause of lunacy reform in the House of
Lords have abstained, during the present session,
from introducing any measure to effect the great
object they have in view. A measure was prepared,
and would have been introduced and brought to
maturity, had it not been for the unfortunate
Illness of Lord COTTENHAM and of Lord LYND-
muss; both of whom were in favour of some amend-
ment of the present law, and from both of whom the
most valuable assistance was expected. The
health of Lord COTTENHAM still continues
in a precarious condition, but Lord LYND-
HURST, who, during the greater part of the
session has been suffering from blindness, has,
we are happyto say, nearly, if not entirely, recovered
his sight, and will no doubt in the course of next
session render much valuable assistance to those en-
gaged in seeking a reform of the lunacy laws.
The Duke of BEAUYORT, whose experience as a
magistrate of Gloucestershire has convinced him of
the necessity of a reform of these laws, and who
presented the otherday a petition to the House of Lords
on the subject from the Alleged Lunatics' Friend So-
ciety, will, we hope, undertake to draw their Lordships'
attention to the subj•ct in the course of next session.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH is also, we believe, well
disposed towards the cause of a reform in these laws,
and we hope the present Lord Chancellor, following
the example of his illustrious predecessor, will also
O
render his assistance. On the whole we are of
opinion that the friends of a
the
n
a measure during the present session. Every
day brings to light facts calculated to prove the ne,
cessity of some measure of reform, and every fact
brings to our ranks converts from among the rich
and powerful of the land. We hope, and we believe,
that early next session a Bill will be introduced into
the House of Lords for the amendment of the laws
relating to lunatics and lunatic asylums, and will be
carried.

Ma. BARON PARHE.—At the Chester Assizts, a
case came on before Baron Parke, in the Nisi Prius Court,
1 in which several of the witnesses spoke the Cheshire dialect
very broadly, so much so that the counsel engaged were
quite at fault in properly understanding what was said. His
Lordship, however, seemed to understand the brogue quite
well, and explained to the counsel and the jury what the
witnesses meant as they proceeded. In surnmiug up the case
he expressed his satisfaction at being able to give the infor-
mation in question, and explained the reason of his thorough
acquaintance with the dialect, which he :aid was in conse-
quence of his having spent seven years of his life in Mac-
clesfield, a period to which he often looked back with min-
gledfeelinzs of pleasure and regret. The Learned Judge,
then Mr.'-James Parke, was educated at the Macclesfield
Free Grammar School ; where he was entered a pupil in
1792, under the Rev. Dr. Davies. -..Chester Courant.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The Tioniteur publishes the following telegraphic
dispatch :
"Besancon, Aug. 19, 1 PM.
"The review of the National Guard of the troops of
the line, in the Champ de Mars, was magnificent. The
President passed through the city on horseback, and
was received with enthusiasm. The windows were
crowded with women throwing bouquets. The President
has quitted Besaugon to continue his journey."
The Bulletin des Lois announces the arrival of the
PRESIDENT at Colmar. Notwithstanding the official
announcement that the PRESIDENT was received at
Besan9on with enthusiasm, it is rumoured in Paris
that Besancon was the scene of a violent erneute, in the
course of which the PRESIDENT and his staff
were expelled from a ball-room, and which
was only quelled by the bayonet. On the
19th, in the evening, the PRESIDENT went to a
ball in the Place de la Halle, at which, says the offi-
cial account, he only staid for an instant. His sud-
den departure was occasioned by the irruption into
the ball-room of a crowd of workmen, who raised
deafening cries of " Vive la Republique," and on
whose appearance the President and his friends rt -
tired. Left in possession of the room, the workmen
destroyed all the eagles and other imperial emblems
with which the room had been decorated, and it was
found necessary at last to clear the room at the point
of the bayonet, and afterwards to charge with a de-
tachment of cavalry on those assembled outside.
The fact of the short stay of the President at the
ball in the Town-hall, on account of its being irconve-
niently crowded, is stated in the following official
dispatch :
" BESANCON, Auo. 19, ONE P. m.
" THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS TO THE MINISTER CF

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