The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-03 00:00:00

REDUCTION OF ADMIRALS. I
TO THE EDITOR OF TIE SUN.
Sill,—lS ()thing can be more fair, in appearance,
than the spirit in Which your leading article of the
13th inst. was written, with reference to Mr. flume's
motion, for the reduction of the list of Admirals.
You say—" Hence we would by no means see the
list of Admirals reduced to a number barely sufficient
to take the command of our squadron. We
would see in this liberal catalogue of the British
Admirals a wholesome blending of age, and, compara-
tively speaking, of youth, (Nelson, be it remem-
bered, having only attained his 47th year when he
expired at Trafalgar), of vigour and experience, of
ardour and of judgment. We would see ample op-
portunities afforded for the reward of the meritorious
by promotion, and ample encouragement afforded to
those who were aspiring to the dignity of such ele-
vation Far be it from our intention to advocate
any interference with the prevailing system which
would prove unjustly injurious to the interests of the
gallant officers in the Navy. Any movement which
should appear unjustifiably detrimental to their in-
terest, by abruptly, and harshly, and unfairly pre-
venting their reasonable promotion; would be certain
to call from us, among the very first, an indignant
protest."
All this is very true, and conceived in a fair and
liberal spirit. The state of things such as you de-
scribe is much to be wished for, and few, I -imagine,
will be found to differ with you, in the abstract.
But, Sir, may I ask if, before penning the article
from which I quote, you had made yourself ac-
quainted with the real status quo ? I think not ; or,
from the sentiments you express, instead of your ad-
vocacy, Mr. Hume's motion would have called from
you, "among the very first, an indignant protest."
That our list of Admirals is numerically greater than
we require cannot be-denied ; but, unfortunately, we
have not that " wholesome blending of age, and, com-
paratively speaking, of youth," which you consider
necessary. A statement appeared, a short time since,
in the Naval and Military Gazette, which I believe
to have been tolerably correct, showing that among
the list of 150 Admirals, 30 only were below the age
of 65, the remainder ranging from that age to, 86--
the awsrage of the whole being 72 ! Looking,
therefore, at their advanced ages, I think the list of
Admirals is almost reduced at this moment, in point
of efficiency, to that position which you describe,
when you say—" We would by no means see the list
of Admirals reduced to a number barely sufficient to
take the command of our squadrons." But this list is
composed of the surviving heroes of the last war, and
it needs no eloquent pen to show that they should be
spared from ungenerous attacks, and allowed to re-
pose quietly under the shade of their hardly-earned
laurels, during the remaining brief period of their
existence. A short time only has elapsed since a
measure was adopted, and a sum of money voted, for
the purpose of the " blending of age, and, compara-
tively speaking, of youth," in the Admirals' list.
That measure is quietly working the cure which was
intended, and in course of time we shall have a few
Admirals under 60 years of age. When " compara-
tive youth" shall, in sufficient numbers, have found
its way there, then, and not until then, will it be
either politic or just to consider the question of the
reduction of numbers. At present age predominates.
The senior captain on the list, and consequently the
next for promotion, cannot be less than 61 years of
age. lle is an officer of distinguished services, and
has held his present rank nearly 36 years ; but
would it not be " unjustly injurious" to that gallant
officer's interest, after the implied contract entered
into, and call for an " indignant protest," were a sud-
den check now put to all promotion ? By the mea-
sure to which I hare referred, a retirement was
offered to the Captains' list, and accepted by many,
with the express understanding, that those who re-
mained on it, foregoing the pecuniary advantage of
the retirement held out to them, should be advanced as
vacancies occurred on the Admirals' list. At the
same time, the numbers receiving the higher rates of
half-pay on the Captains' list were reduced as fol-
lows :-100 receiving 14s. 6d. per diem were reduced
to 70; and 150 receiving 12s. 6d. to 100. By this
means a saving of nearly 3,0001. per annum was
effected; but by this means also the chances of- the
junior captains attaining 'the higher rates of half-
pay were considerably diminished; and were a stop
now put to promotion, they could not reasonably
look forward even to the paltry addition of 2s. per
diem, to the pittance already allowed them after a
servitude of perhaps 40 years. Would it not be
"unjustly injurious" to the interests of these gallant
officers, as well as a breach of faith on the part of the'
Government of the country, to do away with the ar •
rangement then entered into—the bargain which was
made when the offer was held out of retirement with
increased pay, or the chance of promotion with a con-
tinuance of the lower rate of pay? On the faith pf
the terms of that offer, numbers preferred remaining
on the active list, and were the flag promotion now
put a stop to, I see no way of " blending youth and
age" but by extending the retirement, and again
offering it to those with whom faith would, in that
case, have been broken. I can assure you, Sir, that
naval officers at large feel most " unjustly injured"
by the constant attacks which are made upon them,
by parties who are grossly ignorant of the constitu-
tion of the various lists. That we have many more
officers of all ranks than we require cannot be denied ;
but it is equally incapable of denial that we have not
a greater number of efficient officers than are neces-
sary, and that were a war to break out they would
fall short of the national requirements. These over-
crowded lists are the results of a long-protracted
war. Time will work a cure ; but, pending the at-
tainment of this desirable object, the country surely
should not grudge either their half-pay, poor as it is,
to those whose best days were spent in securing to
England her independence as a nation, and eventually
the blessings of peace ; or, " reasonable promotion"
to those who still maintain "Britannia's rule," and
are ready and willing at any moment to peril life and
limb should our national honour or independence
again be assailed. Your obedient servant,
MARINER©.
London, March 21, 1850.

SELF-SUPPORTING. DISPENSARIES. —A highly re-
spectable meeting of the members of the medical profession
and other gentlemen, was held yesterday at No. 33, Edward-
street, Portman-square, Dr. Daniell in the chair, when it was
resolved to establish a central association, under the title of
"The London Society," for the purpose of circulating infor-
mation and facilitating the establishment of self-supporting
dispensaries throughout the United Kingdom, on the prin-
ciples advocated by Mr. Smith, of Southam, whose philan-
thropic and unwearied endeavours in the cause of these insti-
tions were warmly acknowledged. Among those present
were :—Dr. Forbes, Dr. Moore, Dr. Cormack, Dr. Sir James
Anderson, Mr. James Yearsley, Mr. S. E. Alfoid, &c. Letters
of approbation and support were also read from Dr. Conolly,
Dr. Charles Hare, Dr. W. Stroud, the Hon. Henry Berkeley,
the Bev. Canon Dale, &c.

THE SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY.—The directors of
this railway have reduced their fares, and the reduction com-
menced on Monday. On return tickets the reduction is im-
portant, as it amounts to fully one-third. Recently the di-
rectors put on extra third-class accomM6dation on market
days between Newton and Exeter, and also between Totnes
and Plymouth.

Four good mothers have given birth to four bad
daughters. Truth has produced hatred ; succesP, pride
security, danger; and familiarity, contempt; and, on the
contrary, four bad mothers have produced as many good
daughters, for astronomy is the offspring of astrology ; che-
mistry, of alchemy; freedom, of oppression; patience, of
long. suffering.— E iza Cook's Journal.

TRANSPORTATION OF CONVICTS.--The hired con-
vict ship Barretto, jun., Captain Huggins, is appointed- to sail
from Woolwich on the Bth of the present month, with 400
convicts, for Hobart Town and Port Jackson. The Sprightly,
war steamer, entered .the Southampton Docks on Monday
night. Yesterday 100 convicts arrived at Southampton by
the Dorchester mail train from Portland, and were put on
board the Sprightly. A Vessel is waiting in the Cowes
Roads to receive them. Their destination' is believed to be
Australia.

FIRE NEAR THE CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL —Last
night about nice o'clock, a very alarming fire broke out in
the drawing-room of the premises belonging to Mr. Jones,
but tenanted by a lady named Murray, 17, Laurie-terrace,
near the Catholic Cathedral, St. George's-road, Southwark.
After considerable trouble it was extinguished, but not before
serious damage was done, and GO/. in bank notes consumed.
Unfortunately the numbers of the notes were not known,
consequently they will prove a total loss.
HEREFORD CATHEDRAL.—This cathedral, which
has been closed for a long period of time for restoration
under the guidance of the late Mr. Cottingham, was opened
in part a few days ago for Divine service. We passed through
the city last week, and looked into the building. The nave
is completed, and here the temporary arrangements have
been made for service—a screen having been erected at the
junction with the transept. The lower part of the nave, as
some of our readers will remember, is Norman (the work of
Bishop Robert of Lorrain, commenced 1097, and finished
1115), and the upper part is Early English. The whole of
the stonework here has been made perfect—much of it being
entirely new. The nave is paved with black and red tiles in
patterns; and the vaulting, which is of plaster, some of
the miserable work of Wyatt, has been decorated with
colour, in a manner not commensurate with the greatness of
the work in hand. This decoration consists of brown scroll-
work with medallions somewhat coarsely executed. The
vaulting of the aisles is also painted, and with better effect.
The ceiling under the tower, at the crux, not included in the
part opened, is decorated in blue and gold. The transepts
and choir are in a miserably ruinous state, and give some
notion of the extent of the work which must have been
done in the nave. The exquisitely beautiful Lady-chapel
and parts about it have been thoroughly restored externally ;
the new gable crosses here are over large.—Builder.

COMPLETION OF THE RAILWAY ARCHES ACROSS
TUE TwEei).—On Tuesday the key-stone was placed in the
last arch of the railway bridge which for three years past
has been in course of formation for the purpose of connecting,
by a permanent way, the Berwick and Newcastle and North
British Railways. The occurrence was observed with due
ceremony,and came off with great écidt.—.Verwich Advertiser.
We understand that the Government has deter-
mined not to increase the number of medical appointments
under the Poor Law Commission.

LORD GouGu.—The conqueror of Goozerat is at
present on a visit to Bath, accompanied by his lady. The
citizens of Bath, on hearing of the approach of the veteran,
determined to give him a public reception, and he made
quite a triumphal entry into the city. His Lordship has
been invited by the City to a public dinner, over which the
Marquis of Thomond will preside.;