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

fitg .•414 tut.

LONDON :
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 23, 1342.

It was the general opinion in the House of Commons
last night, that the Navy will owe a debt of gratitude to
Sir C„'NAPIER for bringing the condition of that ser,
Vice before the public. Even Lord INGESTRIE, one of
his political opponents, expressed that opinion. What-
ever dee may result from it, the public will be fully hi-.
formed..of the mode of governing the navy, and be made.
acquainted with the opinions of those naval officers who
are the most corapetent judges of naval affairs.
We heard with great satisfaction that there is now
but.oneopinion as to the efficidncy of our'fleet. All the
ships which are nfleat'are fully manned; and never were
the - supplies of stores more 'complete. Sir JAMES
GRAHAM showed, in reference to Lord HOWE'S victory,
and., in reference to Lord NELSON'S victory in . 1805,
that the means of achieving them had been prepared by
the predecessors of the Noble Lord who happened to
be at the head of the Admiralty when they were
achieved. We may extend this observation to the pre-
Sent. ease, and claim for the predecessors of the present
Board of Admiralty a large share. of the merit of the
efficiency of the fleet. If they were wrong, as we be-
lieve'
. .
.tohney:;hveerrei;oitiSnttso, 4ann:dtnnhiaolg. he
e slips, snluoptsh,intglietyo'twh•e:ie:
Suecescors, so fur as the, navy is concerned, but to boast.
of its efficiency. • ,
Sir CHARLES NAPIBR'S first resolution, and a great
part'Of the debate, turned an the question of having a
nai-al man at* the head of the Admiralty but there doe's
not seem to be much real difference of opinion on the
subject. Sir JAMES Gne.n.tm admitted that a naval
officer might be qualified for the post, and it can hardly
be affirmed by his opponents that it is utterly impos-
sible—with several examples of efficient First Lords who.
have never been to sea—to find a civilian fit to be the First
Lord of the Adhairalty.. It might happen that, in con-,
sequence of profesSional disputes, and prOfessional
parties, a civilian would be the most proper person.
to preside at the Board ; and it does, therefore,
seem somewhat unnecessary to tie up the discretion of.
the Crown liy a positive prohibition ever to place a
civilian in the A post. Sir JAMES GRAHAM, whose speech
was full of facts, had, on this point, the best of the
argument, and he both satisfied the House and justified
the vote to 'Which it eame. - •
_ _ _

•
•Mr NAmn's proposal of providing for the various
,7
.clashes 9.otsans who are employed on board ship, by.
giving them a ••:.eferenee in the dockyards, is not likely,
we are afraid, to give"tis faction. to the useful classes who
• are bred up in them, and loo!t to the highest offices as their
nattird'ptcymotion and reward.' With an unbounded re-
spect for the kitty? we Cannot believe that its
iorits will be enhanced its public estnZation by, claim-
, ing a monopoly of pleasant- civif otewpations. Nor would
we advise a too frequent repetition of tips: demand which
Was last night .trade on the public time.. • TIN
tursverkk n4t fa be suffered ,to lose sight of the Jost
claims of tho 14-Yy; but they ought not be too in-
trusively urged. t."0",C1 NAAnEu's resolutions were ne-q
waived, but the Granata Dflio,er has deservedly earned
much approbation by inz.limitting them to l'arliainent. •

sedloyairiiitainatisioteett4s to learn, that many
We am noteve.
surprised,-. but.. grieve,,,
r„z.onosed tax an
of the working classes rejoice in the
income, Weans*. - they suppose it will not fall-1.;:l.thelll"
selves. They do not extend. their view beyond' UN
immediate
'no:
ea
ttmusbias
le:1;10. iysa. 4 4
tittteell6rnit levied .effects,ii o i
il., t
idi
io.
ehtfadhenyet ldmlhemla.
theirvt.eax. theyseGb
scheme
oaceuinle,
6.
more
uui Tr: that4sth.becauseheaot
ifitilao theytnfi.i.aelei s
wneooix toldl
ntl:
property, UM tidt en industry. But this we repeat is a
mistake, and thoilOt the persons called on to pay the tax
in the fiist, instance nitt,rlV Pie middle classes, 'its
ultimate effects 'Will. be 'severe& AU 17 the lowest
classes its the country.
A correspondent, for example,. Infor,i;& us that he.
keeps two servants, and that the instant the law,. ith" '
posing the tax is passed, he will tetmomise by dismissing
• one. No doubt other persons will act dit the same prin.;
ciple, and a very small diminution of the deviiiid for
vt,sebtillitittexiuss amongst them a sharpened competi-
tion for places, their stages will sink, and a reduction
of wages, with lessened employment for servants, will
carrg iliiireS into many a prudent and industrions
to Allpre
familY. . . _
..
vseanvitnsgaNiisnmi.ad I,lsi'tclul.
,tititireisosnate
saved
from income; is in fact as much consumed Mt vOttlee is ,
expended ; but it is consumed by. other persons than the
• owner of the income, who, in the shape of intere,t on .his
eEtv'sr-eirT, oilln?ktrin6o;;;,
saVings, reaps a profit by their labour. As. attAtig is
lessened, the means or one man employing another is
course less wages. One man, who has to -pay an income
lessened, and there will be less employment, and. of
tax, will wear fewer clothes ; there will be less work for
the tailors. Another will insist on his wife and daughters.
giAlig abroad less frequently; and milliners and 'scrap-
stresses will be less employed. A third will find it im-
possible both to pay the tax and paint his house, and
the painters will have a slack time. These are exam-
ples of what will take Place throughout society ; and we
:Ilene quy seheme. more likely to add to our
than Sir I. VETP'fil Plan to tax income, which
employment, and reduce the amount of wages._
. At prevent itris well known that the relative .advan
tagys of 'Other eduntries'teinpts'great nuMbers-of ourin-
gen ices countrymen annually to emigrate, and carry their
•