The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-12
THE LONDON TIMES AND THE AMERICAN NAVY
.. DEPARTMENT.. .n" e.st

DEPARTMENT..
In the of article in the London Times of the
22d of January upon the British executive and the mystic
ry carefully preserved in England with regard to minis
teral affairs that journal takes occasion to contrast the
brief explanations by ministers in Parliament with the full
and complete reports emanatng annually from each of the
executive departments of the American government and
refers to the last report from Navy Department
example of what report should be- and especial
ly of what should emanate from the British Admiral
ty The article is long one and therefore extract
from such portions only peculiarly interest the Amer
can reader. We quote it also at commentator
bestowed upon the practice government in exposing
to the public scrutiny regular intervals the
of public affairs and most pleasing acknowledgment of
the ability industry, and deep interest in the Improvement
of the navy which have distinguished the four years
vice the present head of that deparmentan improve
ment appreciated abroad as well as at home:
in the United States it is otherwise, and citizen
there sit down and in the space OF hour two thor
oughy master the state Of each department. all that II has
done during the year and all that proposes for the
future Thus we before in the annual report
the Secretary of the Navy compandous statement such
could defy the most digent and pracsed compiler
extract from all the speeches and reports of the whole
British Admiralty aided by the Navy List and the in
elgence from the ports Here have account of all
the squadrons their force where they have been what
wanted and where; what new ships have been
built with what guns of what cabre with discussion
the comparative advantages of shot and shell. Then
have the condition of the proposed changes
oticersin word, the whole naval history of the
year. and the ministerial projects for the session. all stated
fully and plainly AS far concerned have the
opportunity of Knowing that the An orleans by
means negecting their navy They are emitting nothing
that may brog not only 10 an equality but even to
superiority, the fleets of Europe They resolved
not to be beaten and they not afraid to tell
The value of this document is that it exhauss the subject
limits will allow. The reader sits down with the convc-
ton that if the report has not been actually Cooked it
leaves him in possession Of every fact of Importance"
q But the report the American navy is partcu-
larry suggestive of upon At present there is
such mystery, no lore so recoDde no knowledge
attanable, the state of the British navy. Certain Adj
miray returns tell us all the ships in and out of COM
mission, and where they are, ought to be. But as
they say the children Of this age the Of the fu
ture the vessels the stocks the future fleet of
Engand. So what ships are building? How many le
viathans of the deep those pompous threedeckers gna
pccus, made for the sole purpose apparently Of con-
Stunning men, coal, and money? How many frgates fit
to show beside the Merrimac, whether in peace in
war; How many of those soopso- war; and those gun
boats upon which the American report before dwes
ments have we made and adopted in guns Is what
Vulcan tells in another column true What has
been DONE to be DONE to render the service at
tractive and the discipline perfect general
port would comprise all these points of Information
The burden lies rather with the opposition the pub
nc tnan the minister LOT the latter 5 not cnallengeu
he is held free to be communicative not he peases 1t
is fault if we let him hold hs tongue and he general
ly contrives to get Advantage But such
report describe and as indeed have in the Amer
lean example before us throws the burden the Admit
rally which may be called to account for every omission
From this department. them at least hope to hear
early date what doing to meet these magnificent
frgates and their tremendous ornaments, those l35-
Founders Are only providing huge targets to be rent
and raked and sent to shves by their nmbler and
powerful assaans we preparing the British sailor
to fight upon more equal terms What craft have
got for the next in shoals and creeks What
we preparing What further suggestions has the First
Lord of the Admiralty to offer This is just what
have in the American report and but for the narrow
contentious parliamentary practice should look for
the from the mouth the pen of Sir Charles Wood"