Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-11

FROM OUR LoND ON ooRRSspoS-DENE

LONDON, MAY &c, 1858.
committee of naval officers has inquired into
the subject of manning the navy, and has come to
the conclusion that it is expedient to- place her
Majesty navy on a more permanent basis, and
upon similar principle to that established in the
army and the marines" The Admiralty propose
to give effect to this by requiring boys who may
hereafter enter the navy to engage for period Of
ten years after they reach the age of eighteen and
they, with men, who are to be encouraged to enter
for ten years. are to have additional pay, from ID
to 3D. per day, in proportion to their merit and their
services New ranks are to be established, and
greater rewards aiyen 70 ;;iae men, This last APP
pe"rss 10 be step towards just and equitable
rangement Wages generally are rising, and more
likely to rise than to fall particularly the wages of
seamen but we fear that the little increase pro-
posed in navy wages will be wholly inadequate to
counterbaance the attraction Of other services and will
much lessen the difficulties experienced at present of
procuring for the navy. The plan of establishing
the navy permanent basis similar to the army,
by entering for years. is of great Importance
The maritime population of England is in proportion
much larger than that Of any State in the world 1t is in
fact than ourtens of the total mercantile marine
of the world That of the United States is three anda-
half enths of the whole but proportion
of the who navigate the ships of the United States
are British born.
We shall not be fan wrong" says the Daily News "if
assert that half the of the world are British
born and Bred and willing in the main to perform all the
duties required of British subjects That fact is the true
foundation of maritime greatness Other States can
build and equip, and have built and equipped men-of-
war; and can and send them to sea by forced con-
ScrIplUrs nov ~ an large n maritime
population at their command as England and have BEEN
in consequence, inferior to England and when opposed
her have been beaten. 1t is well known that to re-
period if it be not now the case, French
in some respects superior to our Ihey
were symmetricaly shaped sailed better and were
altogether such superior vessels that great many and
indeed the best of shpsthe famous Victory herself
were modelled from these French ships The want of
skill in the shipbuilders the royal dockyards OF which
we have of late heard much, is nothing 1t has
been noticed for upwards of century Nor were the
skill and courage of naval officers superior to those of
the French The true source OF our naval superiority
was the great number Of fine bold and sklfu eamen,
bred in the mercantile marine who were always seized
the breaking of and sent board the royal
ships and who forgot (howeyer Wiley they were
treated courageousy to perform their duties to their
country Our free maritime population must continue to
be the of naval superiority Its place cannot
be supplied by any art The French Government can
train fighting seamen as well as our Government can
Probably, from having despotic power 1t more
readily command their services and train them better
The possession Of such power creates alarm here and
hence the proposition to place our navy on more perma
nent basis But whether look at our administration
of Justice the formation of army, the management of
doekyards the collection Of revenue our sys
TEN of education and church government, find no
whatever to believe that Government as con-
tradtngushed from the people, does any thing, or can
do any thing, superior to the French Government Eng
fish national superiority in all respects resides in the
English people, not in the English officials. What our
Government does doexcept the nation is more
maritime wealthy than the French-the French
Government do equally we'll If rely, therefore,
standing navy-the offspring of the Government
exclusively for the national security may tremble for
our future safety for the French Government may be
able prepare additional expense, standing
Government navy equal any Government force OF
our own"
II thus appears that the attention about to be paid
to the ready and efficient manning the British navy
has been principally induced by consideration of the
very rapidly developing of FRANCE, and the
taken by the Government of that country to in
and improve its navy Something, indeed, is alb
solutey necessary be done England would maintain
her boosted naval superiority in Europe. The naval
vice is not popular with the people Several in
have lately occurred Of hrstas vessels detained
muurrs through Of tiIvir vvmpielvn. Of and
the FIVE thousand additional voted last December
have not yet been entirely raised
$50 severe" says the Morning Advertiser, fis the
competition which the Royal Navy has present TO
counter owing to the activity which prevails in all
branches of mercantile marine, that it would be
wise form extrayagant expectations of the benefits to
be expected from the proposed changes"
1.-THE mercantile marine, says another morning paper,
"neyer wants seamen and people, having natural
affection for the sea- half the merchant ships Of the
United States well There is other bust
Of life which all times procure abundance
Of men There always numerous candidates for the
most nosome and most dangerous occupations but not for
the cleSny, safe aud almost idle life of q of war
| sailor"
The daily papers discussing this subject with great
interest and a great length In fact appears be the
great domestic question Of the day The following is
summary Of long and powerful article in the Times:
"The order in Council OF the LIST Of April last with
ference 10 the manning Of the Royal Navy, deserves to be
considered the charter Of the British feet The prin-
cpa object Of the committee Of naval officers and Of the
Admiralty has been TO substitute fixed engagement Of
ten years for the present mode Of entering From
time mmemora the practice Of the navy has been
for particular ships selected by themselves nominay
for FIVE Years. but practically for only three years. unless
the ship be detained longer foreign station and then
after much expense, time and labor bestowed in training
them they disbanded and often lost the service
Some carry the fruits Of their training to foreign flags
the larger number return at periods dictated by their
convenience and not by the Of the service Hence
il is uncertain when ships be got ready for Seve-
raj instances have recently occurred Of frscass vessels
detained for months for their complement Of and the
5000 additional voted last December have not yet
been entirely raised The evil therefore becomes Of
serious magnitude when the rapid equipment Of feet is
required by the public interests public safety The OBJ
ect Of the put into execution is to give to
the royal navy permanent constitution in order that IL
may be brought to higher point Of organization ecien,
cy and discipline and thus be enabled to fulfil the expec
tatons Of the country These the in which the
Secretary Of the Admiralty describes the scheme, which
has since received the approval Of the Crown.
The first step is therefore render the condition OF
boys and who shall engage for continuous period
Of service in the navy Of years from the age OF
eighteen considerably better than that OF entered
on the former system For this purpose, all seamen
tering hereafter these terms who shall voun-
in he Of