The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-24 00:00:00

lon, which he was in hopes would have the effect putting an
end to all further complaints. Upon the whole, the Admiralty
did not deserve the assertions that had been made against them.
Mr. HUNIE considered that the House ought to consider
itself under obligations to those who pointed out any evils con-
nec'ed with the navy. if the statements of the Gallant Com-
modore were correct, no one could doubt. that there were many
evils that ought to be put an end to. He thought the Admi-
ralty ought to consider well before they put the country to an
expense of upwards of one million sterling. Hi. belie-eel that
what had been stated by the Gallant Commodore was calculated
to put her Majesty's navy in a much better condition than it
was at present. They might say what they pleased, but his
opinion was, that the navy of England was now fit to cope with
the whole world. He was against any increase :n the navy, but
if any defects could be pointed out, he should be one of the
first to do all in his to,ver to remedy them.
Captain BERKELEY said, that he could not blame the
Hon. and Gallant Meaiber for bringing this matter before the
House. He thought that if, instead of Sir Robert Stcipford
having ordered steamers to take line-of-battle ships in tow, he
had ordered the steamers should be brought up at once to the
stations, it would have obviated the necessity of line-of-battle
ships being brought up. He should certainly support the Hon.
and Gallant Commodore.
Mr. BERNAL. would make but a few observations on the
question before the House. lie should certainly support the
view which his llon. and Gallant Friend had taken on this
question. Unless they were to prepare certain mathematical
lines on which their war steamers should be built, in order to
bring the principle of ship building to a certainty, he thought
that the observations of the Hon. and Gallant Commodore
were not ill-founded. Some ten or eighteen years ago the
necessity of steam-vessels being employed in naval warfare was
brought before the notice of the House, but it was only within
the last five years that they had adopted steamers at all.
The House then went into Committee.
On the voce of 1,199,141/. being proposed for naval stores,
Sir C. NAPIER rose and said that lie objected to the mode
in which steam-vessels were manned, and he should, therefore,
object to the vote which had just been proposed.
Mr. HUME objected to the vote, which, in the present cir-
cumstances of the country, he considered extravagant. He wished
to know whether any experiment had been made respecting Sir
W. Burnett's invention for the prevention of dry rot in
canvass.

Mr. SO3IES said that 40.0.00 yards of canvass h.d been
prepared on his premises, on Sir W. Butnett's process.
After a few words from Captain Pechell, Mr. Somes, and
Mr. M. O'Ferrall,
Lord INGESTRE made a few observations as to the trials
of the experimental brigs. Ile wished to say that there were
three selected, and the result was anything but satisfactory,
either as to their construction or powers of sailing.
Mr. M. O'FERRALL defended the character and conduct
of the Surveyor of the Navy in reference to the part he took in
regard to the experimental cruise.
Sir G. COCK BURN said the reason the ships in ques-
tion had been selected for the experimental cruise was because
of the recommendation of Sir W. Symonds, who had named
those vessels as those best acquainted with the quarter they
were Feet to.

The vote was agreed to.
The sum of 486,486/. was voted for the purpose of the deck-
yard, Sir C. Napier, Capt. Bowles, Mr. Corry, and Captain
Pechell having taken part in the debate.
The sum of 19,7581. was then voted for the medical purposes
of the Navy.
On the motion of Mr. CORRY, 118,1071. was voted for the
miscellaneous purposes of the service.
A vote of 159,6401. was then proposed for the half-pay of the
officers of the navy.
Sir C. NAPIER took that opportunity of calling the atten-
tion of the Hon. and Gallant Officer opposite to the position
of the masters in the navy. The masters were most important
persons in ships of war. Captains and Admirals could not
conduct their ships without having efficient masters. If the
name of master could be done away with altogether, it would
be most advantageous to the service. Let them hold commis-
sion as lieutenants, and, passing a similar examination, be en-
dowed with equal rank and prospects of promotion.
Sir G. COCKBURN agreed with the Gallant Officer in
considering the masters as one of the most valuable classes in
the navy, but wholly differed from him respecting the position
in which he would place them.
Captain ROUS said it was his firm belief that not five out of
six midshipmen who had passed their examination as lieute-
nants during the last ten years, were capable of properly filling
the vocations to which they had been called. And he felt sa-
tisfied they were not competent to perform the office of master.
If his opinion was acted on, the office of master in the navy
would be abolished altogether.
Sir C. NAPIER agreed with the Hon. Member who had
just spoken. Any one who spoke the truth was always ac-
cused of crying down the profession.
Mr. WILLIAMS called the attention of the House
to the fact that in the year 1818, on the close of
the war, the sum expended on retired officers was 1,230,000/. ;
it now in a time of peace amounted to 1,377,0001., showing a
much larger half-pay, after thirty years of peace, than at the
close of the war. The widows' pensions in 1822 were 120,0001.,
in the present vote, 212,0001., nearly double the amount, and
it did appear to him very strange that they should have upon
the half pay list 4,200 widows receiving pensions.
Mr. BROTHERTON moved that the House report
progress.
Mr. HUME thought the statement of the Gallant Officer
was very important, and required serious attention. The half-
pay list of the nary evidently required reformation. Deserving
men were neglected in the navy, whilst patronage did every
thing.
Admiral DUNDAS thought the examination spoken of by
the Gallant Officer sufficiently severe.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM had listened with attention to the
speech of the Gallant Officer, but could not agree with
ninth that had been stated by him. The Gallant Commodore
opposite had spoken much of the want of proper discipline and
efficient training in the navy, but a circumstance had occurred
within the last six months which, in his opinion, negatived such
a supposition. A distinguished officer had lately returned to
this country, in whose judgment and integrity he had the fullest
confidence. He alluded to Sir William Parker, commander of
the Chinese expedition. On his return he (S r J. Graham)
asked Dim what was his opinion of the merits of
all ranks of the service which had been in that expedition.
Sir W. Parker had assured him that at no time, and under no
circumstances, had officers and men shown so great a know-
ledge of what they had to do as the men and officers in China
had done—( Hear, hear. )
Captain BERKELEY complained of the manner in which
preferments had been made in the naval service by the Go-
vernment. Young men had been put over the heads of old
ones, and party men had been chosen far preferment in pre-
ference to those who held honest opinions.
Sir G. COCKBURN denied that any such course had been
pursued, and asserted that the greatest fairness had been used
in all naval appointments.
Sir C. NAPIER complained of the course pursued by the
Government in the appointment of the experimental squadron.
He had gone, on more than one occasion, to the Admiralty, to
ascertain who was to have the command of the squadron. On
asking who was to have the command of it, he was told that
he was not to have it, as he was too much of a partisan. But
he was not a party man. He had been doing all he could
to support the interests of the service, and to keep it an efficient
state. What he had said was the substance of what had taken
place between himself and the Lords of the Admiralty. The
lion. Baronet ( Sir G. Cockburn) had not been to sea so
lately as himself and the Gallant Member for Westminster ;
but, from his own experience in Syria and elsewhere, he could
assert that those employed in the navy had not, at the present
moment, sufficient opportunities of acquiring a proper know-
ledge of the duties of seamen.
Captain ROUS said that every one who knew anything of
the: navy was aware that nothing could be more imperfect
than the mode of examination of midshipmen and inferior
officers. He recollected a story of a midshipman being exa-
mined before Admiral Sir Hyde Parker. The Admiral asked
the youth, " Who the devil passed you ?" The youth's answer
was, " You did." And the Admiral retorted, " The more
fool I."—( A laugh.)
Captain PECHELL way very desirous that the vote should
pass, and he would not detain the House by making any ob-
servation which could give rise to discussion. But he must
say, that the money which he asked for, for those seventy
officers, was in equity and justice their own.—( Hear, hear.)
The Chancellor of the Exchequer had possession of that money
and it was the duty of the House to see that it should be re-
stored to them.

After a few words from Sir G. COCKBURN, the vote
was agreed to.
The sum of 89,5401. was then moved for allowances, charges,
and pensions.
In answer to a question by Captain C. BERKELEY,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that
he would bring on i he Ordnance estimates on Monday week.
The vote was then agreed to.
Upon the question being put that the sum of 89,000/.
should be granted for the payment of the pensioners, and
91,673/. for defraying the expense of the transit of convicts,
Mr. VARBURTON expressed a hope that a more definite
mode would be adopted in future of distinguishing the Post-
office charge from the navy estimates.
Sir C. NAPIER said he could not understand why the
Post-office charges should be mixed up with the navy estimates
at all. .

After some discussion, the vote was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN reported progress, and the other orders of
the day having been disposed of, the House adjourned at half-
past One o'clock.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.
NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE

THURSDAY, MAY 22.
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway,—An amendment to be
proposed on third reading, Friday, May 23.
Taw Vale Railway and Dock,—Committee on Bill, Friday,
May 30, at half after twelve.
Select Committee on Group 11. adjourned till Thursday,
May 30, at twelve.
Glasgow, I3arrhead, and Neilston Direct Railway,—Com-
mittee on Bill, Tuesday, June 3, at twelve.
Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway,—Com-
mittee on Bill, Tuesday, June 3, at twelve.

_
Glasgow Junction Railway,—Committee on Bill, Tuesday,
June 3, at twelve.
Great Southern and Western (Ireland) Railway,—Com-
mittee on Bill, Monday, June 2, at half after twelve.
Taff Vale Railway,—Committee on Bill, Monday, June 2,
at twelve.
Monmouth and Hereford Railway,—Committee on Bill,
Monday, June 2, at twelve.
South Wales Railway,—Committee on WI, Monday, June
2, at twelve.
North British Railway,—Report, Monday, May 26.
Sheffield and Rotherham Railway,—Committee on Bill,
Friday, May 30, at half after twelve.
Richmond (Surrey) Railway,—Committee on Bill, Tues-
day, June 3, at half after twelve.
Aberdare Railway,—Committee on 8111, Monday, June 2,
at twelve.
Leeds and Bradford Extension (Shipley to Colne) Rail-
wav,—Third reading, Monday, May 26.
Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester Railway-,—Third read-
ing, Monday, May 26.
Huddersfield and Sheffield Junction Railway,—Third read-
ing, Monday, May 26.
Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal,—Third
reading, Monday, May 26.
Trent Valley Railway,—A clause and amendments pro-
posed to be added on consideration of report, Friday, May 23.
T P--- B

_HE POLISH 'ALL AT ALMACKS' ON FRIDAY, TILE
I 3TII JUNE.-_A meeting of Lady Patronesses took place on Thursday
at Willis's rooms, at which, amongst others, the Duchess of Bed-
ford, the Duchess of Sutherland, the Marchioness of Aylesbury, the
Viscountess Palmerston, the Viscountess Pollington, the Hon.
Mrs. Leicester Stanhope, and the Hon, Mrs. Dawson Darner, at-
tended. It was determined that the ball should be, as usual,
a fancy ball, and that the ladies should wear the dresses
in wick they will appear at the Queen's Lai costume that will be
given only a few days previously. It was also resolved that
minuets, as well as mazurkas, polkas, &c., should be danced k
tickets
Jullien's band should be engaged. and that the price of tltice
should be, in the first instance, IL Is. each. As
numerous,t
applicationnot the
for tickets have already been extremely
frhthteystodf,,
theubtchisi,eanirteorut:ierixe
idiet:ilawthothsee brilliancysu eg ofs
it is
bcaelsl btoe
alleviate.
A voung man, named Henry Steer, was full: cora-
mitred-at Bow_street, on Thursday, for steatite: a latter, containing
a half.sovcreign and a sixpence. The prisoner had been employed
for some time as a letter carrier at Twickenham,