The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-05-22

lima when the naval supremacy VI
1890 v.s IN opdisputed point, but the iu
80 ~ nsv era began with the hrst Az
.....t. Al maritime enterprise OF her co'on''' >.
s-.,,c. The men Who laid the foundations 0,
.,,,t,..s,oo nm this continent were, OF eourse, "
a.. s.ms race n thoss who had 90 long wie'oeo
a. .esptrs Of the deep, but they we're the ms.'
.6,sntarous and snterprising Of that race 0sp'
yoAn smith and the Cavaliers OF the son'n' an.
a.. pnr,tsns OF Plymouth Rock were the mos
A.r,cv ana vsr,,ke Of the English people seq
sArtus pursuits became ct . very cary p'',o1
Ayorits A we'll - profitable life OF the Ne" hDk
lana psople. and the sxtr aordinary boiohess' en-
cry. and aptitude they manifested IN .nS' A"o''
Ss.sraous. toi,some and exciting OF maritime Pur'
..its tha whale fishery, early arrested the s''en
49,. A. nrit;sh statesmen, and extorted from BURKE
ous of his finest passages, full OF admira'oh, anu
prophettc OF the future greatness OF Americans
anon the seas. The American Revolution OCCASION
Ally brought out these qualities In bold rei'e' ou'
a vss reserved 10 the late war 70 sho" 'hA'
iusr,oans are the finest seamsn In the world
We make this statement, fully sppreciatipg TUG
proverbisl courage aud naval skill OF Engiana'
bat that the Americans built better sh'ps IN
the late war, and handled them with more Ae"'
ity and intelligence than Hnglishmen 10 nis'or''
eel fAet which few will have the hsrdihood 70
deny. Il 10 NO more than justice, also 10 som''
that a. the South has furnished the largest mum
bee Of disting uishsd generals. the North mas pro-
ducsd the largest number OF distinguished ses
esptains. The late war proved that Great Bri'ain
vas no longer TO remain the undisputed mistress
Of the seas.
Bat the introduction Of steam and the immense.
" increased destructivsness Of Instruments OF
In
which both the United States and Great britain
are interested, the latter especially, inasmuch as
ft iavolvss the vital question Of selfpressrvation
ana her ability TO retain her place in the front
rank OF the nations. The insular position OF Eng
ls.d and her superiority In fleets and seamanship,
have hitherto proven her great bulvark sgsi nst
The overwhelming military power OF France
Bat. Il appears, from statement Of the Courier des
Hfafs Urss that whereas In 1915, England possessed
ia ships Of war and France but 60 ships, mostly
Of an inferior rank, and partly not In dt state
10 put 10 Sea- in 1857 England possessed $50 ships
Of var, partly sailing, partly screws, and loI gun
boats, and France 40 ships Of war and 80 gun
bssts. The numerical superiority, observes the
journal, from which We quote, 10 still with Eng
lsna; but deducting from the effective marine o!
that country the old vessels unit for service, and
bearing In mind that the French Navy has scarce
Q vesssl whose age exceeds twenty years, the Navy
Of England, Il 10 thought, will be brought to very
nsar the same figure 90 that Of France. 1t 10 ado.
ID that France possesses also 26 magnificent screw
transport vessels, capable Of embarking thou
sand men each; whereas, for transport Of 10000
usa TO India, England has already been under the
necessity Of engaging private vessels. 1t 10, how
ever, BY no means the increase Of the French Ma
W 10 IN equality with that Of England, that rem
dsrs the future naval supremacy Of Great Britain
and her ability to prevent . French invasion, q
doubtful question. The seamanship Of Englishmsn
which gave her the superiority in naval contests
With France, has never been approached by that
country. 1t 10 - ,hard to make sailors OF the
Prsneh 40 Is 10 easy to make soldiers. But who
can tell the effect Of introducing steam, which en-
abiss fleets to move upon the sea with almost az
much precision and certainty as armies upon the
land, and which requires but moderate degree OF
that practical nautical talent and aptitude which
ere indispensable to the management OF sailing
vessels, and to which England owes her former
naval superiority over France. Added to this il
the fact, that whilst ships Of war have been great
u increased in destructive power, no improvement
has been made In their capacity Of resistance. A
single we'll directed shell from such guns those
OF the Colorado, would blow up line of battle
ship, and the more collision Of two steamships
might send them both at once to the bottom
These facts render il difficult to predict the result
Of future attempt by the French to invade Great
Britain, and IL not without interest to America
inasmuch - the Crimean expedition proved that
distance 10 NO longer q protection against the
greatest military power of the world, and our
floating bulwarks are those upon which We must
chiefly rely for defence