Star.
London, England, 1824-02-21 00:00:00

,


24.1.44/ fee Waskrishist4.
toe Chseksabsesd.
iskelle for Staarawns4.
436,06 tit Pen wsware.yard.
451,256 kr Plymouth-yard.
16,496 ler Pembroke-yard.
4476,000 for the Wages of Animas, &e.
4567,000 for Timber to be used in his Majesty's Duck-yards.
In answer to a question from Mr. Hume,
Sir BYAM MARTEN stated, that the dry rot was not
new so frequent in our Navy as of late years. The
remedy found most effectual was the use of salt water,
and the discontinuance of coal tar, latterly improperly
substituted for salt water. He must say that a more
unfair statement had never gone forth in the shape of a
publication to the world than the book written by Mr.
Burridge, every page sof which he could prove to be
false—(Alieuget from Mr. Hums, who.said he had not
read the book, but believed much depended on the
season in which the oak was felled, and that we ought
to have such a stock of timber as to be able to rely on
our own growth.)—The Hdnourable Baronet then said,
that never had there been less cause for complaining of
the effect of the dry rot than in the cate of vessels lately
built. The evil had most injuriously been felt for above
150 years past in the service.
Sir J. WROTfES4EY recommended the felling of
timber in the Winter, rather than in Spring, as a remedy.
440,000 for expenses of Pilotage and Bounties of different kinds.
' • 459,000 for Salaries to Persons employed in Foreign Dock-yards.
Mr. HUME asked. had there not been a strong re-
commendation made to Government on the subject of
the-Bermuda Islands, as appropriate for a strong naval
station in the Atlantic ?
Sir GEORGE COCKBURN stated a surfey bad been
made by a Mr. Jessop, and that a most favourable re-
port had certainly been made.
Mr. BRIGHT had last year felt it so important that
Government should look to the future security of oar
trade in that part of the globe, that when, the vote was
granted be was going to ask if Ministers thought they
had asked enough P He had heard the Dock-yards and
station at Bermuda would take thirteen or fourteen
years to complete them, as the work was now going on.
He should prefer this station to be put in a fit state of,
*fence against any ordinary force as soon as possible at
almost any expense. There appeared now to be a
necessity for our selecting some fit place in the Bahama
Islands also,, looking to the late preparations of the
United States in the neighbourhood, for the protection
of our trade through the Gulf of Florida. He should
sot, through prudential motives, press Government to
give any direct answer on this subject, but leave the ob-
servation to make that impression they might think it
entitled to hereafter. content with directing their atten-
tion to it if it had escaped them.
Sir GEORGE COCKBURN applauded the senti-
ment which had dictated to the Honourable Member
the inexpediency of pressing an answer to such a sug-
gestom. It was clear if the American Government
thou ght fit '
to erect naval stations in the Florida:, we
meld not object to their doing se ; but he might be
Insured that his Majesty's Government would look well
to the nature, strength, and extent of such preparation;
in those seas, which may be termed the highway or
direct course to one Colonies in the West Indies.
.672,610 for the /mural, Victualing Yards.
462,606 for the Medical Establishment.
46,167 for the Maintesmice of the School of Naval Architecture.
4103,000 for the Maintenance of Slip-keepers and Salton on
board large Skips in Ordinary, the Uniks, and smaller Veto& in


Ordinary. -
,C4twofer the Rite of Pacheco on the Falmouth &Om.
Mr. .HUME—What 1. whet packets',
Sir GEORGE CLERK said last yeas it had beets de-
termined to put the packets at Falmouth under the con-
, trout and management of Government itself, instead of
the Post Office, owing to several disadvantages under
which the management was supposed to lie whilst in
the Post Office depattment. The Post Office had en-
'tered however into contracts *ith different persons for
!ships as packets on this station, which of course Go-
res-runes* must make good; but whatever expense is
wan put to new, would of course -apt eir to be reins.
'bursociiii the account of the Post Office with. the Public.
It was now intended to make use of any cruisers which
might be at sea on that station, in.all cases where the
pievatence of contrary winds prevented vessels from
putting out to sea from Plymouth, which would often
save a great loss of time in the conveyance of letters to
the West Indies and elsewhere, and be of important
advantages to the mercantile world. The charge was ,
one purely of naval expense; and another object con-
completed was, that in the event of a war breaking out,
it was intended to have small men of war to carry out
the mails, as much inconvenience had *coated last war
from the capture of several _mails by the enemy's
cruisers...(4g fiery goad r frost Mr. Hanle). As these
contracts for packets would expire, therefore it was in-
tended to substitute in the place of each of the present
packets chartered small men of war, to insure the re-
gularits of the mails from our Colonies in the West
ladiesr-(Hear, hear). The Rcs-lution was agreed to.
.1911.000 Hall-pay and Pensions Of Naval °lima.
CALCRAFT said the case of Midshipmen was
a very hard one. However long they ought have serred,
or however meritorious their services, it was not in the
power of the AdMiralty to- give them half-pay. He
thought somethin; should be done at least for those who
were first on the hat. The service of a very meritorious
class of persons might be thus secured to the country,
whereasat present they were found to have recourse to
tisane other species of employment for subsistenee.
Sir G. CLERK said, the subject was certainly an
important one. It had, been under consideration, but
-presented very considerable difficulties. The Admiralty
done' everything they could by giving employ-
Omit to such as had passed their examination for Lieu-
tenants up to 1814.
Mr. CALCRAPT said, he hoped the Admiralty
would consider the subject. Parliament, he was con-
Anted, would not object to vote a sum of 7,0001. for
the object proposed.
Sit G. COCKBURN said the Admiralty was not
indisposed to consider. the subject; but, as had been
stated by his Honatirable Friend, it was one attended
With great difficulty.
Mi. HUME said, he wished to know whether Naval
Off ceis on the half-pay were now regulated by the same
principle as-after the American war, whether they might
go into the merchant service?
, Sir G. CLERK said that, with the leave of the Ad-
Miralty, Lieutenants Might go into the merchant ser-
vice, -but no Officer of a higher rank. The only ob-
jection made was to their commanding small packets,
*here perquisites were received from the passengers.—
This wasnot thought consistent with the rank of Officers.
M. HUME.--Are the regulations the same as after
-the-Ametican war?—Sir G. CLERK.—Yes:
se, Sir-
In answer td another questi from Mr. Hul
G. Cuutic said, that a fee was. paid by Naval Officers on
obtaining leave to serve in. the merchant ships.