The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-04-17
The British NAVY.

The following extract from m article in n
Boston paper, exhibits in striking point of
view, the present efficiency of the British Navy,
from the number, variety, nd constructive OF
its vessels, and the popularity of the service
among the seamen. Owing to the increase Of
pay. and other inducements to enlist, q resort
to oimpressnent is no longer necessary. In nd
dition to the ships built previous to, and during
the Russian war; number have been since built;
and the work IS still going OIL with great nctivi
ty. Many largc vessels of war, are nearly com.
pleted; others arc being repaired; and ship.
and gun boats, not Immediately required for
use, ure stored away in state for preservation
"The Navy of Great Britain is doubtless in n
state of fnr greater efficiency nt the present
moment for any service that may be demanded
of itthnn nt any former period. especially for
it, ability to meet at once such a demand as
that now made npon it, for either reinforcing
the squadron before Canton or for TRANSPORTING
thithcr troops and supplies at very short notice
without the hiring Of transport ships This
superiority ever its condition at my former ne.
rlod is to he found not merely in the number
and size of the ships. but in their being in very
large proportion made navignble by steam rs
well US by sails. and of vast variety of size and
form of construction. The supply appears to
be ample Of vessels of nll sfzes, from the
most powerful three.deckcrs to the light gun.
boat, adapted to the navigation of the shallow.
est waters, and from the feetcst steamer 10 the
clumsy gun. boat and fonting battery-the lat
ter being aided in their distant movements by
tug-bonts of various descriptions. The i'm.
prorcment extends not merely to the construc.
tion Of the vessels, but to the increased power
OF the armament, and TO the skill, acquired by
practice, in the effective, use of it. Many of
the vessels Of some of the classes were built
expressly for service on the shores of the Baltic
and were Brought home and laid up for future
use before they We're bronght,tn actual SER
vice. ~ -
1t is not only in the supply Of ships, but in
undergone greatiniprovement since the COM
mencement of the Russian war. So remarkable
is this Improvement that, in place of any diff.
iculty in keeping up q complete supply IN the
number Of seamen, the first Lord of the Admi.
rality, two or thre weeks since, in the House of
Commons in moving the supplies for the differ
ent branches of the naval service, stated that
the nun'ber Of seamen to be employed for the
ensuing year "lad' not been reduced quite
to the intended extent. owing to the reluctance
OF the sailors, most of whom were tcontinuance
men, to quit the service" This unusual state
OF things we find explained; by the effect that
has been produced by several causee, such 40
an increase OF the pay Of the mensan improves
ment in the provisions furnished for their sub.
sistencc, and reform in the, treatment which
they receive, whereby the service has become
so popular that the men readily enlist for q
term of ten years
The number, ot men provided for in the ma
vol service for the ensuing year by the estimates
just submitted to Parliament is 6S,70O seamen,
Of whom $4,000, including aoeo apprentices,
are sailors on board "Her Majesty feet, 1s, 900
are mariners, and 67O0 are coast-guard men.
On the occasion Of reporting this estimate TO
the House of Commons Sir Charles Wood sts.
ted that out Of the SO, 600 sailors now emplSyAd
in the navy as many as 2S,600 ere staen sa!
gagged for ten years, and headed chat when
asbip was paid of, few days before, the en-.
tire crew Of which were serving on: these terms
mot q single man was inclined to leave" y,