The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-23 00:00:00

releseliuns was- to the effect, That in the appointments to the a
in 0f --seel!er'eAvatfairale te th.e advantae ef having that Board corn- f
lee e.ss, . . ers, should be constdei ed as well as that r f t--
itilrot officer at the Board of Ordnance. The --"--
the *" the recommendation of the '
..... second was,
adopZViott of the estimate . .Souse that previous to
re.„ froward old are -up to 1e44, a elan should be
,-,e7".aweetee e. • • -.Meritorious officers. The third was,
60htnhoeouf,
dstehrbeveiHefieloslue7sife , that, with a view to e co-
-4,11:7aa115.- teatta-oeaerndi
ui, deserving
much
u cn.haaysalpmusesnib.,l
ethat
speck:" tens petty officers, and seamen, according to their re-
eieva7::Pdaocbikht.lelt, and that a preference in filling up vacan-
•l'q LEY
L j!fisse should be given to them.—( Cheers. )
%.....teBtion,n Y (landed the resolutions.
having been put, l'aden.iEs GRAHAM rose arid said, that after the frank
woihe7eiljtcsotot_l_pa.triotic Manner in which the Gallant Officer
e, Reese, oe:s•
,uteWn, had brought under the consideration, of
Oki,
_Ls- It the most important subjects which could oe-
zh.iiilpeteeteclit‘iveint, it was uenecessary that he should have pre-
,, o with the observations with which he ha I corn-
tiP4sZl'itio!ti :412:1).: t(b;Lhtleond_id(riitea:i,ntend to consider that as a
°se or
tit Party •
hear.) Ihe matter was
.44 the Lhc whole nati n and they, a' the representa-
-4%41 par'4,;:nn,s,frit the deepest' interest—an interest far be-
_ reomlt . ,t.eratiou. While the greatness and power
,„lieS their jukeended so mueh upon her naval supremacy,
' _lS,he u 2 .cden duty to attend to every suggestion which
uol °tered f
Os e,e,.-• Oervie, from any quarter for the benefit of the
ofte7teeptee ; Pitt any recommendations coming from
frer, wi. I ? high arel so respected as that of th Gallant
s.seelkie entitled to peculiar consideration.—( hear, hear. )
irfeeeiotgeOn- endeavotu• as shortly as he could to deal with
ki,,,,,t0r; Lotl!ities introduced into his speech-by the Gallant
tlrMno theue
shut" first say that he thought he owed sonic
$440. l, "louse for addressing them on that occasion If
,staeor•l7l that his former experience had put him in pos•
euo eeato_9,l4o Information upon the subject, he should not
'Vs th ftd to deal with such a subject. He was bound to
4t ta4taioltsthia.d.uo regard to the public service, and with a
w tee of feting that no decision should be taken upon a
'lll the, • "24 vital importance which could be inconsistent
;T,,..i Interest
iaettais %.40 , s of the state, I.e could not coincide in the
eo,llliSeil heed
by the Gallant Officer. The first point
eta °, deli, %would deal was the question of the advantage
4%4 °Y the public from the exclusive services
rei,!44t onieteof at the head of the Board of Admiralty. The
talZaii-ii.el;Ll:tvi his analogy upon that point from the Com-
Th;, anal:' °f the army ; but he should at once demur
the b!°oerei;
~ It was defective in one striking. particular.
regeePd or ,_,4volved the whole command of tt.e navy on
reeZe"edthse;.'utoiralty, to whom the whole prerogative, as
ter:. to the "ch of the service was committed. But with
Preel4hider:troY the reverse was the fact. The Crown did
the I'tite L° the Commander-in-Chief any portion of its
04. !trey .„L'roearded the army. The whole discipline of
ItLeitte4-'ne e under the cognizance of the Crown, and
tan, the eats of troops were guided by her
tin, :eultb her Secretary of State. With respect
%int vise' however, the case was entirely different.
ths2dOle74l exercised no control ever naval officers and
le' WO,
Nuse)resi eneent of ships and everything that regarded
-ego ein
taw. ..it6 e hands of the Board of Admiralty. It was re-
tiokidit while the Gallant Officer was anxious to have the
tset7Osee, silo position analogous to that of the army, sere-
lele!ttalis;,,`"° were sitting on the same side, were desirous,
!hi of iheeetie and unwisely in his opinion, to adopt the ana-
Or then ' army. The lion. and Gallant Officer had said
SesPonsibility of the First Lord of the Admiralty was
qft Gramponsibility, but that propo•ition he ( Sir
tee , ) denied.—( Cheers.) Both constitutions ly
te' taipi-.1. 'the First Lord of the Adm ratty
,isat 1/44 lible, and indeed exclusively responsible to Parlie.-
4, Peste„,tue public, for his management of naval affairs. There
eeke I' Proof of that, for in 178'2, before the great
-oelt eo the India Bill took place, the conduct of the Ad-
heatraeo-,' made the subject of discussion in both Houses of
Itesi,,,,'• Mr. Fox trade a motion, which reflected the
os'osttre on the Board of Admiralty. A motion of a
Neeichotere was made in the House of Lords, and Lord
111;14a hi's4h° was at the head of the Admiralty, did not
*se.. thee."'elf under the Board, but he manfully met
441ty 4, and took upon himself the exclusive respon-
sl4
.le. chargee against which he successfully contended.
age `'s° expaess his strong opinion that the exclusive
d w°111(1 beretained by the person at the head of the
et, eit Ad
heeNhee I°,lfalty, for the proper distribution of which he
teliOthiretY responsible. 'The- Hon. and Gallant Officer
tiet7agehnte expressions which he heard with regret, re-
it ei,„_,. rretnetion of two young officers in the navy, the
ee,7akkrr rt° Grey, relatives of the Noble Lord opposite (Lord.
t,,,6 %*li They had the greatest claims on the naval service
Ct 4 seiTntrlf. their father being First Lord ef the Admiraly,
'O4 he°l4 the greatest credit was due for the many improve-
s;')ki ~ introduced into the naval service, and who, in his old
414 eensole himself with the reflection of being the
'l7,.,'lttreteds as he (Sir James Graham) knew to be the
irO 11011°4 Statesman which this country ever produced.
Mt A; and Gallant Officer had told them that a First Lord
e,e,"allvalty ought to be responsible for the promotions
"ii,iil-nmended. What, be would ask, could be more re-
•EtOS likeY,
~_than that of a First Lord of the Admiralty, who
ii.LAli:,„' he called to account by this and the other House
erici.etki-lent• for the manner in which he had bestowed pro-
'lletuo„tal
.P.sut bound also to state, that though
.the knowledge
A 4100., alrs Was of the utmost importance in the head of
iiitinu of Admiralty, yet when it was recollected how large
eit_ef the civil administration was connected with. that
Ahttsehe7,
.it would be almost impossible, admitting their
that lndustry, and indefatigable zeal in the public ser-
tiSu it would be be better filled by a naval officer.
14t. he permitted to say, that a knowledge of
~ altalrs, in the office of First Lord of the
A. the Y was not of less paramount importance
Al_tht,e• ectontry than a knowledge of naval matters.
et,,7,--4,1e, then, under all the circumstances, to restrict the
eiP. esi the First' Lord to the narrow ground of the naval
ee7otenee— There no doubt, some naval officers who were
.--11,.. etent toafirell the office' of First Lord of the Admi- ,
•‘1%.0 h was advisable that the Crown in such cases should
~ lutct,:ox instead of civilians; but, he would ask, was it 1
' '`.4-I•xesolution of the House, to tie up the discretion of
t'eiwo, by restricting all civilians from the office, and nat.-
% `lto choice officers to the few naval who might be corn-
-1`4'41
‘.
-' ti dischargelfSss the office of First Lord of the Admiralty.
'l4-6bt,„,41;10t a fairly by the House if he stopped here ; tie
sel'atieZd to state his full oiii don of the subject. The
tilole and Gallant Officer had touched on the subject
4Ortall. otion. The distribution of promotion was an im-
sAithpare Of the duty of a First Lord, but he must be per-
. virtii,Se slate his opinion, that, while a civilian was First Lord
'l4' 'Adini' altY, "tit% under a sense of responsibility as to
s-Ni., trOnage Which he admitted attached to the office, he would
.1* morn likely to act with strict impartiality to the whole pro-
L• 140 . ;..,3.,reutt,:e-e.tottrtehlytallda
'' 171-thini- ° naval officer, upon whom political influence would
ki
as extensively as on a civilian, while,
.1- "'Ana Irre,io•hi . ee, would always be the honest, but
'c:' ors'
'''' ' nt which'offip he could assure the Honourable and
RYititig,..- '-''' would greatly preponderate over the ad-
A-.l'`'s-- that Might be derived by the navy from having
i. 34e,U Of their own profession at the head of the Admiralty.
• Prieel:Tld go :further and say, that if the opinion of the whole
eaireis''eu Were taken, whether' a naval officer should be exclu-
IA dal .01s.eell at the head of the Naval Administration, it was
Wier uotetion that the strong opinion of the profession would
vv, %tit
1,2 e 0,„ „ • He (Sir J. Graham) did not think it necessary
ist--I,lls-m`fie Hon. and Gallant Officer through all his points,
.„`"„°..l, be
a great deal to former Administrations; but he
' eZirs'llei ar°llltm) would allude to his remark on the communi-
Zralte the order of the Cabinet by the First Lord of the Ad-
Zatheaa:Y,losivate letter to Sir R. Stopford. Technically, this
~'u noel' have been very proper, but it was according to usage,
;Terai e,!'eo, nsistent with constitutional practice. 'I here were
see' toed -u{ slant Officers opposite who must well know that such
'stet tef intercourse between the First Lord of the Admi-
qait4od a co
•p_ tit (u. Commander-in-Chief, was not
.uncommon. The
',eewateesecer thought that, at a critical period, the orders to a
Ildire7e, ersin-Chief, on a foreign station, should be sent only
'44lttte '4ll of Cep Board of Admiralty. There could be no
• le t
thfreteor than this. All naval operations were carried on
tllbe eteere°t• Mode. The Board of Admiralty were not allowed
, her% runt of great naval operations from time to time.
-e'efese e expedition against Copenhagen was concerted,
:1!
,are'4,%os of the utmost importance. The Cabinet only were
y t" its precise destination ; aid they thought that seereey
'tk4 ;)uld be maintained by the Board of Admiralty informing
.retnatabier that they should issue their orders through the
,7054-,srY, of State for the Home Department. This had been
;eessa;'ets in other cases, where secresy and dispatch were
ate i„ Y; Lord Minto was not therefore fairly liable to cen-
. 'Zee—, Inis instance. The Hon. and Gallant Officer said,
',(e:lliett'' successes chiefly took place under the presidency of
Nit 3 it the Adrniralty • but history did not confirm this.
I 4 '4„°4ore Napier aid he' had admitted that three actions had
•L'tiSsr Wined nrw[er a'
diens and two under naval officers.]
,mlll.'hltts regard to thea'v battle of Trafalgar, it was perfectly
n'thi ....It that glorious victory had been gained under the
Attilee-rtil'hiwistrttion of Lord Barham ; but it was equally •h
inft.,e great preparations for that glorious victory
.had
'l4ess.'d lig,e by Lord Barham'a predecessor, Lord Melville.
fole'eee,'"dle had quitted office only the April preceding the
• 40 n; nt which the battle had been fought, and the merit of
..,,ehrtfieParations for that great battle was due te Lord
Llke,t e s naval administration. The Gallant Officer had
' Efeell f Lord Howe's glnrious action.. Now it was
em-wrlxf true that at the time that action was fought,
ee,—"Oaseit,.P,Pll was First Lord of the Admiralty, but Lord Kep-
ICnit, i'llY Just before succeeded Lord Sandwich, and in that
e,,...'qere Te Which he had alluded in the other House of Par-
-1;4 hi' Lord Sandwich had claimed the merit of that victory
- t-'` haelf aryl his colleagues, and Lord North him-
z,..i„, ..I,i to the then Administration, "1t is true
et
tilli,ce gained the victory, but then you fought with
)1,14, ly dtr°ops." The merit of that victory
dwas iincon-
qu'le 1, e° to the naval administration of e.or Snt wieh
felalie was. on that subject, he would take the opportunity',
Zat,ti" to the House one fact. He ( Sir James Graham)
VOes2i•,eve it possible for any human being to hare had a
lebotty -17,Uug ofregard for the naval service than his late
ee.,./'llatTrig William the Fourth.—( Cheers.) His late Ma-
-44)1,4; of „tways had the strongest predilection for that profes-
' 11.;11iffee,,-"lein even when he wore the Crown of England, he
114kift -3
't on honour to be a member.—(Loud cheers.)
.1.-,.eotse,ie'nes Graham) remembered that when he had had
:AlL`r`fther°fleeieg introduced to his late Majesty on his ( Sir
,lest, is_ ,—ls) appointment as First Loid of the Admiralty, his
'e 44%*.i.a44,1kicliessed him (Sir J. Graham), and said that he
bia:btherenalro) should always bear in mind two great exam-
,' Iticeleeeldministratien of naval affairs. Now, were those
hhir,/ttruales, alluded to by his late Majesty, naval officers ?
•• 1.44'14- alsjesty had said that the two great examples to
tkib..).etttleferred were Lord Sandwich and Lord Spencer ;
letZlisteiln„l3l, when he (Sir J. Graham) looked at the naval
au:: tulle of Lord Spencer, and considered the great
cuterls which had been performed during its conti-
iphi• e immense difficulties which Lord Spencer
, • • -i.h h:lnotinted the invincible firmness of purpose
• • d oarhed exhibited—the confidence with which he had in-
-1460 eellid tatnen, and the glorious triumphs to which that con-
' utia..,°f Iseel,ectee—lle could notbut consider the naval adrninistra--
e, V1......1 qencer as one of the brightest in cur
.naval
ire tebtter'ear, hear.) Mr. Pitt was no mean authority on
Attl'oalkibi e merits of different naval administrations. It was
'tte'lit'euvledttte Mention the name of Lord St. Vincent without 1
..tan ton, erg the g•atitude that was due to him from the
-.elksAtt e, ord s. .
rie,,it,,, ~• lucent was First Lord of the Admiralty
- ' • Nee "reed re of his naval reputation, at the period when his
. tiara ' and 4toe gave him unbounded influence over the see-
e,',tki . it W...Ye, looking to Lord St. Vincent's nasal administra-
:es, h4te: ATetropossible not to admit, that it had not been fore
'tle e. ti„,arlh„,`:„ Pitt, in the year 1804, after the experience which
14 41/4-I,;:it Of c°T the relative'merits of the different naval adnunistra
iberehe'lßeiptZ' St• Vincent:and of Lord Spencer, delivered the oasts,,. essZon e5...4T on the merit of Lord St. Vincent's naval adminis-
eltea Nes,;`,/thae eh le (Mr. Pitt) could not be guilty of the hypocrisy
1;4 iii,lNctlhit
Lat departure was wise; hehad the greatest esteem for
404 ;NI., Z;l'itesse4d (St. Vincent), but it was in fulfilment of his
to "11'eemllit. 1, , duty, as a Member of the British Parliament, to
.144 ° did n
11,i*.4.:Stip am of ,_ ot, approve of his Lordship's appointment as'
ins.? eh tne Admiralty. He admired the Noble Lord s
ts:sqebze,tis) t, e glorious victories he achieved ; to him (Lord St.
!.e.'4l437:tbeir "co British people were indebted for shedding lustre
e _.„.'' ••Itie,thnself°4t.lTri.Y; htt believed that when. his Lordship took
''..? 'el'Pet teild have ° otrection of the naval affairs, the public ser-
s.l, ie11:4444e. •-......5eu,. derived great benefit from his skill and ex-
.."/ Vets I,' 4 a 4 that the Noble Lord's name was in itself
th`.77tlslai ""rugth, but he was apt to think, that between
ill'',.%.drairlic: as Commander on the seas, and as First Lord of
tkic7ssfai o'Y there was a very vast difference. As a great and
•.,, ftb tht •N!LY,4,I commander, no person could hesitate to act.
411.1194„ ''4,o Lord, bat Ls (.%Ir. Pitt) would not shrink
1 --' -., ulAejels!, tering the Noble Lord when presiding at
of
"'aim% u Furst Lord of the Treasury.".