The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-07

comparison b.twesn the nayi.s of France ant
England Will sGViiae some - cur rcadrr. Who
have been ia the habit Of believing IN The ln aenss
power Of the latter.
Ire following statement 81 shirs In tho rrrnch
and English rayies. taken fToIn the i.ngl.A nayy
list, and from the Jowaa! II sfs''as, an France,
and Other ofliciI documents, VS. lad before the
House Of Lords on the 18Th July lnst by tbs EaH
Talbot. (Hsnsard's Parliamentary DJbA.es, 81
series, vol. lO7, rage 500
IN COMMISSIONS
Lins " BsHis Sh.Ss
No. '''''" Cav. A.. W em,
IL. ............ .loI2 10. .............lous
e 81 sss''i f..
I3.............. 2s3 l7.............. IS
Buss
27.............. 30 2i.............. SIS
81 2Ol7 IS AOO
STEAM NAVY.
FrKsT oLAs. ABovr Two mvsuSEs nossE Fo-rs
No. Horse Porer. No. flor. Potrsr.
2e. ;:sl!S 22...;.;;i..,....i,'ei5 1850 b.
SEQ horse power. carry ss0 horse poser, carry
guns main deck guns main deck
rive HUNDRED HossG ROW ga DowNSasD.
Ne. Horse psuo No. Iior', resr
49,. .......... ..Ss9s 80. .............TO1
% 1901 IS I2slo
SCREW STEAMERS.
9........ ...l5tO 3.............. Ss0
RESERVED FoRcE.
Line Of Battle SAips.
ready for commission. President OF the french
20 advanced. Republic rays thsrs
are 10.
Frsates aud Sioops.
II Out several sdvanced) ..............,.s
STEAM RESERVED.
8 screw vesrels. 1920 steam fricate.. 49,. 10
q paddle steamers. .6Gss
screw vessels. 1920 COrvettes .......e
opaddle steamers. .2l5O Small vessels. ......s
1267s
The main reliance Of England seem. to be upon
the fleets of steamships which she has afoat, carry
ing the mails in different parts of the world, which
ships have been bu ill under the supervision Of the
admiralty, and capable in all respects of bein.
converted into ships of war, and of carrying erd-
nance Of the heaviest description They are com
pletely under the control of the government, and
can be taken AT any time for the public service.
1t is calculated, no doubt correctly, that the
crews will, for the most part, stick by the ships,
happen what may Thus, efficient war steamers,
in great numbers, always ready, which cost the
government comparatively little, do net excite the
Jealousy of other maritime powers, and which,
moreover, serve TO stimulate and open up new
sources Of commerce.
This system was commenced in 1899, when a
contract was entered into with Mr.. Cunard and his
associates, for the conveyance of the mails, via
Halifax to Boston, in five steamers Of the first class,
for Gs5, 600, or about S425, 900 per annum.
In 1876, the government enlarged the contract
with Mr.. Cunard and his associates, by adding four
ships, 10 nun from Liverpool TO New York, and in
creased the compensation to Ii45, Goo, or about
$125,000 per annum.
In the year $40, contract was made by the
Admiralty with the Royal Mail Steam Packet
Company at Gao 900 sterling, or 81, 200, 900 per
annum, for fourteen steamers, to carry the mails
from Southampton TO the West Indies, the ports Of
Mexico on the Gulf, and to New Orleans, Mobile,
Savannah and Charleston. These ships are of the
largest class, and to conform, in all respects
concerning adaptation to the purposes OF war, TO
the conditions prescribed in the Cunard contract
Another contract has recently been entered into
for two steamships, TO run between Bermuda and
New York.
These three lines employ twenty-five steamers,
Of the largest and most efficient description.
In addition to the above, q contract was made,
first of January, lS45, with the Peninsula and Orr
entail Steam Navigation Company. for line Of SIM
liar steamers, seven in number. from England To
the East Indies and China at fl60 900 sterling, or
$4,000 per annum. This line passes from South
amdon, via Gibraltar aad Malta, TO Alexandria, in
Egypt; thence the route continues overland TO
SueZ, al the head Of the Red Sea, whence the
steamers again start, touching at Alden, Bombay.
and Point de Gale, in the Island Of Ceylon; from
whence they proceed TO Singapore and Hong Kong.
There is a branch line, connecting with this, from
Point de Gale To Calcutta, touching al Madras.
;, A contract was made, frrt OF July, is4o, Tor a
running from Valparaiso to Panama, touching at
Intermediate ports. This line connects, overland,
fem Panama 10 Chagres, with the West India
line.
Beside. these there were, in lS4S, twelve more
lines Of government steamers running between
Great Britain and the continent Of Europe, making
grand aggregate at that time, OF Ito ocean steam
ships fit, q for war purposes and controlled by the
government.
This number has been since augmented. Par
lament has extended the meil steamship system to
Australia, az well as other parts Of the British do
miniUns.
This formidable array Of war steamers, under the
guise of mail packets, must be added to the above
figures, and placed ON the English side Of the ac-
count The French government before the revo-
ton IN ls4s had resolved to adopt similar mode
of raising a steam navy, and took some steps to-
wards the accomplishment 81 that object, aud
tier. is 90 dOb that the republic will, in due time,
All rigcrOusly upon that resolution.
Cur own government has lately adopted this sys
tenn. 60 q limited extent, hut still, cur ocean steam
naNv u altogether Insignificant, In comparison with
that Of France or England; and looking at the
BE- entirely inadequate to the wants of the country
The report If Mr.. Secretary Bancroft, made to
the Senais, 30th March, 1876, shows that al that
period We had hut three war steamers IN commits
sion, with twtnty-three guns IL all In sddItion,
tlgtc were three in ordin to mount fogr guns
each. and steam tug or two II is true, there A1s
since been ordered addition Of four WI steamers
and contracts have been catered into by the 60
,crrment. under the authority Of Congress, for se
veniecn steamships tn carry the mails from New
York To Liverpool New York TO Bremen, New
York to Chagtes, and from Panama TO San Fran
Cisco.
This system should be extended wherever there
would not he an undue interference with private
enterprise. and especially whsre new markets for
our commerce could be orened up. larger steam
navy than We have now got muet be created forth
witi-it 10 Indispensable, and this is the most eco
ncmical way to secure an adequate force. ltis, OF
course. well enough 10 have a goodly number of
ships in commission; hut we cannot have very
large feet 81 war steamers crulsiu. about, doing
nothing. We nust, tke other nations, try to make
4 II. "A