New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-08-31
~ ENGLAND OR FRANCE MISTRESS
OF THB SEAlp


giving The strength Of the British navy, according to
statistics furnished by order as GOO vessels Of winch
$40 are ste aDers and the remainder sNling craft.
or these II is sad about $50 could be made eSpa'e
AZ active ,eryice Another authoritative aud SEMI
sfissl seoopBt distributes the ships thus als steam
n. ana $50 sailing vessels 66S 10 al. Mr.. Resd,
vie was for many years attached to the PORTSMOUTH
RselsDc) dock yard, estimates the steam men-o' war
a 337 Efficient ships. Another report, when come
rem the Admiralty, says that the correct NUMBER u
steamers In the service is 463 independent OF V 'e'
seh prope,ied By canvas. Mr.. Busk, who mas pub
lhhed book on navies, says her Majesty hs, 80,
naval vessels, of which $50 are steamers, ard ~
ssilrp .hips These discrepancies are only 70 De
REQ, ced on the supposition that vessels omitted Is
ver,hl.s. by one compiler are accepted by another
- serycssble We will endesvor to get at the actual
nett.
1bs latest authoritative estimate Of the naval force
q Epglsrd that can be rehed or, is date d January
r,ye and was made at the suggestion of Sir Charles
Wood. who moved in Parliament for correct state
psns Of the steam navy. This estimate includes, by
A.er4 admiration of the Authorities many vessels
q not practically, Of any value a. war-ships." The
Ar,res show 3l9 screw and Il2 paddle-wheel steam
AZ .aoat and 80 screwste in process OF buif
ne mating a total of 463 vessels, as the entire
stepsth Of the British steam navy. This force cost
1ae country 4lCo OO0 OOO Four hundred of the ships
a.Sed TO were believed by the Admiralty az the most
Nat could be considered available, under any c'rcum-
stsnee, Of these, 236 only could be made effective
vAhout extraordinary exertions. The whole number
n sailing vessels that might be equipped for ser
VICE At three months notice." is put down at 6O.
Aep there are about 40 gun.boats, and 50 vessels
;.e or two larger. These would make grand total Of
e. vessels. of which about 800 to make most gen.
.,s Allowance for the correctness Of the Admiraltys
Abatement, may be considered capable Of being put
~. sea-tIim. In this estimate, every craft ahoat
ve,th counting, and every one on the stocks or
,1sred 10 be built up to the middle of January last,
.rs ipcluded. But Mr.. Read, to whom we have re-
S,el asserts that the whole British navy could only
,.uster 44O vessels fit for commission. Sur John PAX
s>op has also taken particular pains to satisfy hin
M A 10 the real state Of naval matters. He dis
osveredo that there are 200 light craft, propelled
Nv steam or canvas belong to the navy but he does
"a suppose them /" of much Importance in a naval
laAsl." There are great many sloops and corvettes
vhish would be very valuable if steam was never
spphed to naval vesse but since it has been go sp
pIea. Sir John THINKS that chips must lie idle
n time of war for want Of men, these classes should
b selected for that easy duty. He asserts with ez
cusAble pride, that England possesses fifty ships OF
Ne line, but acknowledges, nevertheless that only
twenty-five can be said to be perfect Seven Others
hy spending money freely them, could be rendered
,srvicesbe but the remainder he has no hesitation
n .syipg, are ip . very bad way. The nine tremen-
ae~s block ships which have been held mp to our naval
so,structors az brilliant examples in shp-buildng,
Maj ought to be extensively copied, Sir John says
" are wholly worthless" Sir Charles Napier sub.
seibes 10 this opinion but adds that Of the thirty
ttsr fRates, not more than twenty be called tol.
enable. We do not, however, attach much import
49, to his opinion he is known to be strong ad-
vo~sse for continuous augmentation of the navy,
ed probably never sleeps without dreaming OF q
French invasion. OF the fifteen sailing ships OF the
Rss on the British Register, seven only are in good
condition; and the introduction of steam has left even
these performing the duties Of permanent guards,
q eruiers on isolated stations Sir John Pakington
enc suesested converting them into steamers; but
vas sf,erward convinced tina, such course was not
Oavisable.
Thus it win be seen that, according to the most f.
vorabs estimates the English have 500 naval vessels
ely that could in case Of emergency, put in cond-
ten TO receive crews The next question is: " Can
" crews DO obtained, and hswi' The highest figure
Ihs British navy has reached in men is II 900, in
sssdng marines boys invalids, musicians, servants,
anA every name the books. As no authentic nfor-
nation has been published recently to throw discreoit
- this estimate, We will accept it Is the present
strength Of Epglsnds naval force. There are now aC
vessels, or Whereabouts, in commission. Each OF
tAese averages nearly 900 men, which would leave
sAnsst % 600 men at home in gusrdships, hospitals,
marines barracks, &c
Nearly one half o. the ships on which these per.
ssns are employed being gun.bosts, transports &c.
sAS b well managed by 100 men, and several by 100
even less; but the vessels at present idle ia
- fitted for nearly all Of them rgates ant
aApsof tbe.lte, which require from 80 to 600 mel
each, the lowest average We cen take 10 man then
efficiently lie 300 persons for every ship. To ncress
The number Of men, therefore, to meet tho actua
wants Of the 800 idle vessels 1000 recruits must b
added to the present roll Of the navy. This would be
- coo more than the entire navy numbers to-day
Has England 20. 90 600 sailors to enlist 1t took he
seven months nearly TO fit out sle yen ships for tn,
Baltic campaign in 1854 Sir John Pakngton YER,
recently stated in Parliament that vessels ordered Il
foreign squadrons have been obliged TO remain fcu,
ssd sometimes six months in British hsrbors, waiting
~ fun crews. Over 30 English men. Of war, now in
commission, are short handed. This does not speak
highly for the efficiency Of the $4,000 reported
- not on duty. OF the 10, 0O0 sailors the enlist
neht of whom at bounty Of 80 each $500 600 for
Ne whole lumber, Parliament sanctioned four
months ago, only triae over 5000 have been re-
seivsd and this, notwithstanding the mos. approved
system Of recruiting, which extended from Seven
Dias to the country square of Dmrow, was adopted.
The 800 marines for whoee pay money wa appro-
Prated a inh year ago, have not been booked up to
This time notwithstanding the interchangeable s1ertions
made BY the captains Of gayly decorated gun boats,
supplied with full band, of music who pat their little
crafts up TO the very streets Of the smaes, Irish vii
lacea The nntriofic aud necnnisrz ;Dl....---. , -,