Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-10-16
British Forces In America.


An American gentleman who re-
Gently passed a considerable portion of |
time in England, and who, while there,
devoted much attention to an examina- |
ton of affairs of the British Empire,
called upon US Yesterday, and in the |
course OF conversation took occasion TO
alIude to the report that has been circu
lated, TO the effect that the British have
10000 troops in North America and
10000 in the West Indies. He rii-
cuIeS the matter All abSurlty, and says
that one half the stories thar have been
published in relation to British force,
power, &c. should be regarded as 50
much wind, put forth on the brag prin>
ciple. He atlirms, and some CT his
statements upon tins subject have al
ready appeared in print, that the Eng.
lish navy concentrated into one fleet.
could not send 10 sea 60 ships of war
He says he had an opportunity last year
f verifying the fact personally. Their
fleet in the Medlterranean-and we
now quote from an article recently pub
IiShed 10y han in the Pcnnsy ylvanian, and
the truth Of which he pledges himself
TO corroboratc, should it be denied on
respectable, competent and unprejudlc-
cd authority at moment OF great peril
and imminent danger, did not amount
To more than Is ships, and not one of
these was fully manned; some of the
ships in the Levant could on y man one
side of the ship in case OF fighting.
I The French force in the Mediterranean
last September, was superior to the
English ia men and guns, nor could the
English ships be manned; sailors could
not be procured. They even sent to
the Orkney Islands to the Irishmen, as
they returned from their summer fish.
ing some Of these sailors were brought
to London and shipped there. Crews
whose terms of service had expired
were not suffered to land, and were
transferred to other ships, whilst the
greatest CONSERVATION prevailed on the
river Thames and its neighborhood,
from the reports OF press. gangS-a
! mode of raising men which at this time
) would be followed by instantaneous re.
volt. The British fleet of any cOHse,
qucnce was in the East Iudia seas OF
in China, and in situation far NOR,
I feeble than the MedI,er ancan fleet; i
I consisted OF same fourteen or SiXteer
, ships of war. The res, oI the EnJil>.
ShipS in commission, armed aud manned
; for sufficient service, were very neon
; siderable indeed. The feet that Eng
: land could now concentrate un ou
. shore, could not cope with Our navy
j provided our ships were al home am
:, prepared Tor action"
; His views Of the British army ar,
c not less in contrast with the vapNurIn.
G statements that are put forth in some q
h the Canadian aud EnIi>h journals. Oh
= paper and in print, he says, they max
h tremendous Shew; but much of wha
h is thus circulated is moonShlne, and in
II tended To Gull the nation at home q
e inlimidate people abroad. Thus, he al
V firms, that what are frequently put dow
e AS regiments sent to Canada or o,he
Is places, are but mere fragments Of sue
Ie regiments the various portions {
a which are scattered all over the globe
ID He states that the whole Of The reguIa
lie British forces in upper and Lowe
I'd Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scots
" and Prince Edwards Island, is compc
c, Sed of parts of 20 regiments, voryin
tn from two companies 10 battalion, bl
H. in no instance are there more than ha
at a regiment, ana some imported reg
IN ments have but two companies, no ma
or ter what their statements can be to n
is contrary. A British regiment whe
rs full and complete, officers and men,
e. mounts to 500, but as the regiments al
ne never full, il is rare that a regiment ca
of ever muster more than 600 men. Il
ID, SAYS that il is frequent circumstant
dS that parts of two, three, or even to'
in regiments will be mustered under oil
ey Colonel, and 90 forth to the world
If so many regiments; sometimes Il
is commanding officer will be of the graz
II, General; then all these compani
US flourish as regiments TO give eclat
rs. the commander in-chief. When
co London last winter, at a time when
lp- vast many Englishmen supposed 1
I'd, war had already begun, in compal
"a with two very intelligent. men from y
re- va Scotia and the other from Nc