The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-07-18

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a.. rIeets and Navse$s
.,,s head, the June number of Blaek-
AN instructive and interesting arti-
49, -, the naval power of France in COMPARE
~. with that of England. two countries
,,n;eh in the opinion of the most sagaeions
.,.ta.naen. may ere long contend with each
char once more for the mastery of the deep
nb. writer contends that the late prominence
Of the French navy ought not TO act on the
world rs surprise, and he shows that the
poltcy Of a powerful French navy is not
temporary one, not an expectancy, but one
which has been created by her large extent OF
sea.coast which has been perseHered IN under
au governments, all circumstances, all dis-
courapemen,s. defects and failures when mas
hAap accented and registered as national, and
which aims at supremacy over the seas
The conaparison instituted betwixt the ma
yies of France and England, ana the rl'i VI
their respective strength under the nrst ma
rolvoN when the maritime ambition OF + rance
had reached its highest development ana CIR
,prostances had given an extraordinary i'm
,ntsa tn the naval force of England, are OF
Tic nterest ut this time. when the prob
abilities of another contest, and even Oh II
French invasion Of England, are the frequent
sub,ect of discussion in both English and
American journals. We condense some OF the
principal facts given by Biaetrood Both iia-
lions entered upon the conflict with about an
equal force when the weight OF metal, num-
Der of guns and crews, and the qualities OF the
ships are taken into consideration. 1t WAS
long gigantic and terrible struggle, in when
whole fleets were destroyed aud new ones
built; men absorbed by thousands ana ihti-
lions expended in material. When II ehaeo'
England, though her enemies had beeh Tue
uayies of the world. and though by ship
wreck fire and other accidents, she had
lost flew comparatively by capture)-33 H.
ners and 4tg smaller vessels-a larger number
than she began the contest with-had stu os'
ships. GAS of which she had taken from her
enemies, lis of which We're of the line, eXcln-
siye of harbor vessels or those building; and
100000 men were under her flag. France could
only muster 60 ships in the whole service, the
Dutch and Danish navy was sunk almost out
of sight and that of Spain was annihilated.
The writer in Blaekrood does not assign this
result to any inferiorty of courage on the part
of seamen He does not indulge the old notion
that on one part of English legs do march
three Frenehmen.'' He says The valor of
the French, whether ashore afioat is as clear
and unques tionable rs the monday. We claim
no superiority in this virtue; the records of
combats would contradict and annul such
claim but ii is doubtless-as doubtless from
the war annals-that seaman attributes and
seaman character gave TO our Nalor conf
fidence which dashed at confidence and a skill
OF direction which achieved Them
1t was reserved to the dynasty of Orleans to
renew that revival OF the French navy which
has been followed up with such energy by
NAPOLEON. The present Emperor started with
the new power of steam adopting it univer.
sally in the reconstruction of his naval force
The year 1850 is considered by the writer rs
closing the era OF sailng-vessels. The steam
navy OF England numbers 46i ships her sail
ing force 29G more. France has 26i steamships
and 4i sailing vessels. OF these, in the line o.
battle power, that which would most essen.
TALLY affect a contest tor naval supremacy
France has -. England SO ships. In frigates
France has a preponderance of 9, but in the
corvettes and gun-boats, which the writer
styles the light infantry of future battles
England has "A vast superiority. OF the
steam navy now complete and afioat
France has 222 England 429. The writer
thinks highly Of the gunboats, and says
that, in not providing for an increase OF
this class of vessels, NAPOLEON has over
looked the most fitting agents, for their mo-
bility and their small size, for the introduction
of the proiectile power of the iron-sided ships,
four Of which are building in France, the opin-
ion is expressed that even concading the in
substa Vitality Of the shielded mass--which,
however, is strongly doubted-this adyant age
will be more than counterbalancpd by their
want Of mobility and speed. 1t is contempla-
ted by the French Naval Commission that, III
1861, she will have 4 steam fleet consisting of
40 steam line-of- battle ships, iron plated fri
gates, so screw frigates, 10 paddle wheel fri
gates, and 10 steam Transports capable of car
rying o. 900 men, with their horses, provisions,
and n,aftriel for one month"; and that this
augmentation shall continue until the steam
transports number 20. The attention OF Blaek-
,oood is naturally directed to this large num-
Der ofsteam transporting of them are already
in existence. They are to be eventually in
creased TO - what do they portend Are
they necessities! Are they required for the
ordinary needs of the nation If nor, what
other interest and purpose may they have
There can be only one-that of giving to France
place and status for her armies on the
ocean-of making the seas and channels The
sites OF floating canvas, which should project
her military force in any direction, and giving
TO her might the impulse of incarnation
capable of attempting a supremacy by land
and sea-capable of annuling the advan tages |
Of geographical positions, ana giving to a great
military population a brdged passage tor its |
ambitions and its aggrcssions."
The prospective increase of the English |!
navy, however, carries it much in advance OF |
its French rival. The only admitted advan- !
tage OF France is its present greater facility |
OF obtaining men for its vessels France as |
serls the right 10 command, as the occasion |
may warrant, the services OF her whole sea- |
iarlhg ana coast population. About the exact /
number liable 10 sea-seryice there is some dis
putei but the lowest estimate would be more |
thah large enough 10 man her navy and sup |
ply all the wants OF battle and storm. On the |
o,her hand, whilst England possesses the |
largest resources and most fitting elements for |
supplying her navy, she lacks the power of |
controlling or commanding Them and this |
question Is now commanding an attention |
among her naval officers and statesmen worthy |
its Vital Importance.
In regard to the naval architecture OF the
two countries, it is estimated that the British |
SHIPS In the last war with France We're infe- |
rior 10 the French in construction, in dura- |
DiHly ana strength, but that now the compare |
son Is entirely reversed. Even unprofession- |
al eyes which saw the 'Renown' and Royal |
Albert floating side by side at Cherbourg with |
The Napoleon and Bretogne' recognized |
their superiority in beauty and symmetry--
Symmetry in ships is strength and proportion |