The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-18

with feelings at all approaching to compacency
These doubts and fears find expression in the lead
ing article of the Edinburgh ReUiet0 for July,
which is devoted 10 an elaborate examination of
the present condition of the British navy and to a
comparative statement of its relative efficiency,
when contrasted with that of France From this
source we learn that the annual expenditures of
the English navy have been increased from five
millions seven hundred and eight thousand pounds
sterling in 1852, to nine millions eight hundred
and thirteen thousand pounds sterling for the pre-
sent year, exclusive of the supplementary estimate,
which will probably raise the whole naval
expenditure of the current year to more than twelve
millions sterling-sixty millions of dollars Yet
rapid as the progress of the outlay has been in this
particular department ofthe public service, the sums
expended during the same period in increasing the
efficiency of the French navy are stated to have
been still heavier 1t is alleged that ''the trans
FORMATION Of the fleet from sailing feet, to
fleet propelled by steam power" has caused an
enormous augmentation in every portion of the
estimates. The cost of machinery alone in a ship
Of the first class is set down at forty-sx thousand
pounds sterling, exclusive of an annual charge of
nine or ten per cent per annum for keeping the
mechanism in perfect order. The average pay of
all ranks in the navy is much higher than it was
six years ago. An immense sum is spent in fuel,
while the increased size of the ships, that are
most relied on for service in modern warfare thas
lied to vast extension in the dock yards''-
| From the changes that have been recently intro
duced it is contended that all comparison between
the naval strength Of England in former times, and
the present strength of her navy, must be faacious
If the ships of the line are fewer in number 'their
tonnage is greater; the armament heavier,
''the crews more numerous, the propelling
'Epower Independent of the wind and waves
''and the whole structure at once more
"perfect and more costly" Some of the
steam corvettes-thrd class frigates-of the pres
ent day are more powerful as ships of war than
the three deckers of the last century. Twenty
four millions sterling have been expended by Eng
land within the last six years in increasing the eff
hcency of her navy, and the result at this time is
regarded as being 'far below what the safety of
'the country demands" In 1858 the British navy
consisted of four hundred and sixty four steam
ships and vessels, carrying eight thousand two
hundred and forty-sx guns, with nominal horse
power of one hundred and five thousand nine
hundred and sixty-two, and tonnage of four
hundred and fifty seven thousand hundred and
eighty Itncluded also thrty-five sailing line
of-battle ships, and about one hundred and ninety
sailing vessels smaller Dimensions but it is added
'that not more than one-third of the ine-ofbattle
ships are really sea-going ships" Vast, however,
as this navy appears to be, it is declared to be in
4 yiay Of fba
upon to perform. In 1853 there were employed
in the East no less than sixty-eight British vessels
of war, manned by upwards of ten thousand men,
The African squadron, though SMALL absorbs two
thousand seamen. The North American and
West Indian stations require a naval force of
twenty ships and thirty-fve hundred men, Twelve
vessels, manned by three thousand men, cruise in
the Pacific. The Brazils and the Cape of Good
Hope each require moderate squadron, whilst the
feet in the Mediterranean must always be kent on
footing equal TO that of France The various
stations enumerated absorbed, in 1858, nearly one
half of the available force of the British navy and
left but n small proportion of vessels and men at
the disposal of the Channel squadron and home
service. France, it is remarked has two fleets,
hut both of them are in reach OF her Atlantic or of
her Mediterranean ports, and can, therefore, at any
time be promptly concentrated, while the normal
condition of the British naval forces is one of ex-
traordinary dispersion, and, in consequence of
the necessity of providing for distant squadrons,
the home station is left in deenceless and exposed
condition. The present relative strength of the
two navies, in steam ne-of-battle ships, and fri
gates, including ships building and converting, is
given as follows:
ENGLISH.
Line-of- Battle Ships. ErianteS