The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-31 00:00:00

bernillg

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1845.

Lord ELLENBOROUGH, though the fact has not
been officially announced, is, according to the new
Cabinet arrangements, to be appointed First Lord
of the Admiralty, in the place of Lord HADD!NGTON,
who has filled the office for the last four years. We
have no fault to find with the Scotch Lord, farther
than that his health did not fit him for the laborious
and responsible situation, and that in a case of
emergency he might be found, when too late, un-
equal to the task. No personal considerations in a
case of this kind should be allowed to have the
smallest weight, and though the Noble Lord, when
a Member of the House of Commons, and during
his whole career since, has invariably adhered
to what is called the PEEL party, it became
the imperative duty of the Minister to forget his own
feelings when they might interfere with the vital in-
terests of the country. Sir ROBERT PEEL, to his
credit, has acted on this principle, and has substituted
for this consistent, though never very efficient states.
man, a nobleman both younger and disposed to act
with more vigour in any department. Notwithstand-
ing the sulky objections of the East India Board to
Lord ELLENBOROUGH, and his imperative and mys-
terious recal from India by that powerful body, the
public in general entertain but one opinion of Lord
ELLENBOROUGH'S administration in the East. It was
distinguished by great energy, by a laudable at-
tachment to the army, and a regard for
their rights, privileges, and comfort. He found
affairs in a desperate condition ; Sinde almost
at open war with the Indian Company, the troops
in Affghanistan still in great jeopardy, and several of
the tributary states making preparations for open
rebellion. What was the result ? The dispersed
troops of the Affghan expedition marched triumph-
antly to Caubul, avenged the fate of their comrades,
and returned in triumph, after marches and battles
unexampled for difficulty and danger. Sinde was
subdued, and finally annexed to our Indian empire,
and the whole of our vast possessions so completely
restored to security and peace, that Sir HENRY
lIARDINGE found nothing to do till the unsettled
state of the Punjaub began to threaten disturbances
on our frontier. The result of Lord ELLENDOROUGH'S
mission was highly honourable to his abilities,
his energy, and skill, and we therefore confidently
trust that in his new department he will show the
same spirit, and adopt similar measures for restoring
the English navy, furnishing seamen able and willing
to fight in defence of their country, attaching them,
by good pay, kind treatment, and suitable pensions,
to their native land, and thereby correct the fatal
errors committed by so many of his predecessors.
Though we are probably on the brink of war with the
United States, and the causes have been foreseen for
years, the smallest possible preparations have been made
for manning the navy, and rendering it fit to contend
with hostile fleets. The greater part of the American
navy is manned by the best English sailors, and at
this we cannot wonder, though we must deplore the
fact, for they are better paid, better treated, and in
every respect have advantages which must counter-
balance their patriotism, great as it is, and lead them,
much against their will, to fight in the fleets of
enemies, and thereby lend their aid for the purpose
of defeating their own countrymen. Such a
ruinous system cannot be allowed to exist for an-
other session without manifest and imminent danger;
and we, therefore, trust that Lord ELLENBOROUGH
will take ud the subject in a national spirit, and rouse
his colleagues to measures absolutely necessary fer
the public safety. A pamphlet on " Manning the
Navy" has just been published by Lieutenant
HOLLAND, R N., which throws much light on the
subject, and suggests many valuable improvements.
Can anything be more absurd or more ruinous than
the system briefly described by him in these words?—
" At the present moment we are educating about 7,000
individuals (ordinary seamen, landsmen, and boys),
most of whom, after some six years service, are,
by the exertions of their officers, rendered first-
rate seamen. These men are, however, nearly
certain to be lost to the British service, because
whilst in the merchant service they can earn with ease
21. ss. per month, whereas the royal navy will only
afford them 11. Bs., even if they are advanced to the
rating of an ordinary seaman. If left on the books as
a first class, his pay will not exceed 15s. 6d." Can
any man wonder when he learns that all these first-
class men either go into the merchant service, or self
themselves to America ? Lieutenant HOLLAND says
Bach a system would appear to resolve itself into the
following heads :
"Firstly.—What are the inducements to be held out
to seam.,n to enter amid to remain in her Majesty's ser-
♦ice ?
" Secondly.—What is the smallest naval force which
should be permanently maintained fur the general ser•
vice of the country, and for the especial protection of our
extensive line of sea coast ?

" Thirdly.—W hat are the probable numbers which
would be immediately required in the event of war ?
What the means of obtaining them, without having re-
course to the objectionable measures formerly adopted,
and with the least possible injury to commercial in-
tvrests ?
" Fourthly—What would be the probable expense of
the proposed measures, as well on their immediate adop.
tion, as on their continuance ?
In regard to the first query, he suggests that the
able seamen of the navy should be divided into four

classes. The first, on entry, and for three years, to
have 221. 4i. per annum ; the second, after three years,
24/. ; the third, after six years, 25/. 45.; and the

highest class, after five years' service, 261. Bs,

This we consider not to be sufficient ; but,
in the meantime, pass over that point,
With regard to the second query, he says, " that in

the event of a war 30,000 men would be required to
be added to the home station. During the last war,
from 1798 to 1815, inclusive, the average num-
ber of seamen and marines annually voted ex-
ceeded 123,000; of these 41,000 may be pre-
sumed to have been employed on the home station."
lie, therefore, recommends a comprehensive plan
of registration, including all seamen, boatmen, fisher-
men, &c., the numbers of whom, according to the
last census, exceed 300,000; so that to make up the
compliment of 30,000, only one in ten would be re-

quired. With such arrangements, he considers tl;at
in a very few days 30,000 able seamen could be
raised, and at an expense not exceeding 290,000/.

But the expense, in fact, is nothing compared with the