The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-02-18
ENGLISH AND FRENCH NAVIEs.

Since the quarrel between New England and
Old England has grown into the proportions which
make hostilities between them probable, and
France is in the humor TO unite her strength with
that of Great Britain, to repress the robber in
science with which the Lincoln republic afronts
the world the n Orleans Picayune has be ell search
ing for reliable statements of the naval power Of
of those two Governments The latest it has been
able to find that is authentic, is for England the
Navy List of 1859, and for France, that of 1860.
Both are behind the actual force of the Govern
ments, as it is well known that they have been
adding largely to their navies in ships and equip
ments within short time, and are engaged in still
further engagements.
The Navy List of Great Britain for July, 1850
says our informant, contained the names Of 2S4
steam war vessels aud 90 under construction, and
229 sailing vessels-a total of 54l war vessels
Of these 3S2 carried 20 guns each or more.
Eight steam ships-of-wa carrying 100 guns each
and there are 81 which carry over 60 guns each
The whole number of guns ahoat Was II, $40
Of which GAP, are carried on steam vessels
Besides these, England had 154 steam eumboats
and l2O sailing boats, for port and coast defence
There is no means of knowing, from the List,
how many Of these fit for service But it is
said by the same report, that before the close of
1860, there would be added to the navy 10 new
shipsof-the-iEe, II frigatcs four steel-cad ships
four corvetes fifteen sloops and fifteen gun boats
These would 60 faI to make up for what might he
inefficient in the reported list. The amount, at
all events, is very formidable.
The personnel of the royal navy at that date shows
an active list OF - admirals, 81 vice admirals 81
rear admirals, 339 captains, SOB commanders, and
Liz heutcnants. i here ON half pay l. ad-
mraS, 20 vice admra.s, 60 rear admirals 1O4
captains, 1872 commanders and SIT leutenants
We omit the retired list.
The bulge for the service of 1S60-61 provided
for 250 flag officers, 3,495 commissioned officers,
2065 warrant officers, and 4515S seamen and
boys These, with $4,000 marines aud $500
coast guard, make total marine service of 80 800
men.
The French navy, according to the official re-
port of 1860. consists of 53l vessels carrying r.
All guns. Orthese vessels 81 were steamers,
carrying 1898 guns. Steamers of 100 guns
and upward amount to %; % are COS.
The French bud get has placed at the disposal
of the Government for annual expenditure, from
1858 to 1861, forty -eght millions of francs for the
maintenance, repair, and equipment of the navy
and fifteen to seventeen millions for new construc-
tiOns.
BY the same report the personnel of the French
navy, under the head of "actif" consists of G. 56S
flag, commissioned, and other officers; sailors Con
the peace establishment 29,21S. Total 50, 65S
The establishment for the force voted in the
budget is 66,SS5, with marine corps of %, 800
making total for the marine service of 9O,275
men.-Richmond Wig.
IMPORTANT DECIsIoN.-Mitary commanders
having been greatly annoyed by tie service of
writs Of habeas corr us in numerous instances,
late opinion of the judge Of the Confederate Court
at Knoxville will settle the question The Regis
fer states that Judge Humphreys decided, in his
charge to the grand jury, that any protesting
allegiance to the United States, and opposing the
authority of the Confederate States, is an alien
enemy, and not 4 citizen, and therefore not emit
tied to the Ten, fit of the act of habeas corpus-a
right belonging only to citizens. This decision
will relieve the military commandments of con.
siderable annoyance in future. fE#.
BURNING OF HARPER's FERRY-We have
intelligence of the destruction of a large portion
of the town of Harper's Ferry, by the Yankees
on Friday night, 9TH inst. Our informant states
that on Friday the guerilla company commanded
by Captain Robert W. Baylor, Of Jefferson, went
to the Ferry with view of capturing a traitor
by the name of George Rohr who has been acting
in the capacity of ferry man between the Virginia
and Maryland shores and who had rendered him
self particularly odious by giving information of
the movements of our forces in that neighbor-
hood. Captain Baylor succeeded in having Rohr
enticed to the Virginia side of the river but find
ing 1t impossible to capture him, he shot him in
the boat This exasperated the Yankees to such
an extent that they came over, under the cover of
night, and fired the town. The result was as
stated above, the destruction of considerable
portion of the town. We learn that Rohr died
soon after he was shot-Richmond Dispatch
Can a Husband open a F;fe's Leuere-There
was curious on trial at the United States
District Court in Albany last week A man and
his wife living in the western part of the State
had separated by mutual consent. During this
period the husband opened letter written to his
wife, He arrested for this, at her instigation
several months SINCE and the trial took place last
week. The jury brought him in guilty The
Judge sentenced him to twenty-four hours impri-
sonment in the county Jail, and fine of So