The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-21
England's Wooden Wnlls,D

The controverted statement that England
regards with apprehension the aspect of affairs
in France, and is extensively though quietly
preparing to meet every emergency, received
confirmation by the intelligence that the 60
vernment has resolved to call upon Parliament
| to vote considerable amount for an addition of
strength to the navy. Upon this subject the
London Times remarks:
cit ia not, we have frequently had occasion to
remark, in the number of her majesy's ships Of
war that our chief deficiency is TO be traced, and
probably there never was time of peace at which
| a more powerful naval armament could be equip
ped for sea. But the most essential condition of
our maritime strength Ia a body of well trained
| seamen to man those vessels, and TO contribute to
the defence of our coasts. The commission which
has been sitting for some time past to consider the
best means of manning the navy has adopted sew
cral valuable suggestions from officers whose
judgment and experience may be relied on; and
Wepresume that it ia in consequence of these recon-
| mendaions that the government and the admiralty
have resolved to add about five thousand seamen to
the fleet, with proportonate addition to the ma
rncs
"Ihe necessity OF such an augmentation at the
present time 10 a subject which we hold it to be
i
universally felt; and although Lord Derby has
omitted no occasion to testify his reliance on the
good understanding which happily exists between
this country and foreign nations in 30 much that
we cannot be accused Of increasing our armaments
with hostile purposes against any foreign power,
the general defence Of the kingdom undoubtedly
requires these sacrifices and exertions to enable US
to meet any contingency that may arise in the
present uncertain condition of Europe. large
and efficient body of seamcn is the most essential
of all the conditions Of maritime power, though
it is that which it is most difficult to maintain
in time Of peace against the competition of the
merchant service, and even Of some foreign ma
vies. The service of the British navy may be made
and ought to be made, the most secure proyi-
sion to which a seafaring man has to look. The
practice of discharging the we'll trained crews of
ships recently paid off ought at once to be put an
end to; and, if other conditions are required to
command the service of this important class of the
community, they should be adopted. We cannot
question that the Government, in taking this step,
is prepared to sanction the measures necessary to
give effect to it, for We apprehcnd that in the pres
ent state of our trade 5000 seamen will not be
raised for the fleet without some extra exertions
at would be to attribute to this measure
a greater degree of political importan than il
deserves; and, although it happens to correspond
in point of time with the proclamation of the
French empire. there is probably direct connex-
ion between the two incidents hut we cannot be |
ignorant that an extraordinary degree of activity
has prevailed Tor some time past in the backwards
of our most powerful neighbor; and that, while
some show has been made of a reduction i'm the |
French army, the navy Of that country has been |
to an unprecedented extent"
The apprehension expressed by the Times in
regard to the difficulty likely to be experienced
in raising the required number of seamen, has
at once an illustration and commentary in the
following item of news, which we find in pa
Pers brought by the last steamer:
much alarm is at present caused among sail IRA |
by the Efforts OF the ship-owners to get rid of tbe
manning clause ofthe Navi CATION act, which com.
pels them to employ three iourths of their crews of
British subjects. In n memorial to the Govern. |
ment the seamcn OF the eastern ports of England
say:
1.-The unrestricted employment of foreign sen.
men WIN reduce, by competition the low in the
world, the condition Of British seamen and their
families, and strike fatal blow their very exist
ence; that thus they will be driven 10 seek rp,pioD
mfnt IN another Slate, speaking the same anguaee
and possessing similar laws, where seamenis In
terests and seamen's rights carefully attended
to, and where thousands Of British scamen have |
already found protection, so cnkeninp her mn
Jesty 3 empire and giving additional strength to
an already great maritime competitor
"Ihat this ia no idle threat is evidenced Inv the
numbers oil seamen who 60 out AZ passengers from
Li'erpooi TO the United States ports" D