THE NAVY ESTIMATES.
THE remarkable fact in the history of the British Navy is that our present force of ships is, to use the language of Lord Clarence Paget, " the product of the last decade." The application of .steam machinery to ships, practically destroyed our immense fleet of sailing men-of-war. As the inventions could not be kept -secret in these days of publicity, France, just then reconstructing her navy, speedily laid hold of them, and soon placed herself on an equality with us. France, determined to have a large navy, and working upon a settled plan, steadily augmented her force until it became the formidable instrument it is. In the face of these augmentations, we could not sit idle ; for if we did, we lost our superiority at sea, and loss of superiority at sea is, to England, loss of empire, loss of trade, loss of independence. We were called upon to make exertions surpassing those made by other powers. But to build a new fleet was a costly enterprise ; and hence we have this year a set of Naval Estimates amounting in the aggregate to the astounding sum of 12,800,000/. ; two millions in excess of those presented last year. Apart from waste, which has gone on, and we fear, goes on to a great extent, the explanation of this huge vote of money is that we have already stated—namely, the necessity of bringing the British Navy from an inferior into a superior position ; and the fact that the new wooden walls cost far more than those with which Nelson swept the seas in the early wars of the century. And not only more to build, but more to maintain. If the wind bloweth where it listeth, at all events it costs nothing. Steam is not one of the natural forces; and hence we have to buy the power of moving against wind and tide, and directing our ships where we list.
Lord Clarence Paget did well in contrasting our naval force
with the naval forces of France and Russia. The French do not object to tear the veil off that which has hitherto been a state mystery. When, two years ago, Lord Clarence Paget asked the French Minister of Marine whether he would have any objection to give him a list of the French Navy ; in reply he sent to Lord Clarence " the name and force of every ship in that Navy." Nothing could be more conclusive. The French have a right to be proud of the result of ten years spent in constructing a fleet. At the present moment, they have afloat 244 steam-ships of war, and 61 in course of construction. Their line-of-battle ships afloat .number 32 ; their frigates 34 ; their corvettes 17 ; their gun-boats W. The bulk of those in course of construction could be launched ins few weeks ; and they would bring the ships of the line up to 27 ; the frigates to 47 • the corvettes to 19 ; the gunboats to 68. Next cast a glance at the Russian navy. Here we find a fleet of 187 steam-ships afloat, and 48 on the stocks. There are 9 line- of-battle- ships, 18 frigates, and 10 corvettes afloat. The actual combined force of France and Russia would give 41 ships of the line ; 62 frigates, and 27 corvettes. And what is our force ? It is remarkable that we have exactly the same number of ships in commission as the total of the French navy, 244. Our whole steam navy afloat consists of 456 ships of all sorts. Bat since the French navy, as it lies afloat, could be man- ned in a few weeks, whereas ours could not ; practically, and until we have a naval reserve, our available force consists only of those ships that are in commission. Our line-of-battle ships in commission are 27 ; our frigates 43 ;
-ours loops and gunboats 94. If we had the men, we could com-
mission 48 ships of the line at once and raise that number to 50 in a month ; we could send forth 16 corvettes and 80 sloops ; and a swarm -of gunboats. That is, we could array 16 more line-of- battle ships than the French ; 10 more frigates ; corvettes would be equal on both sides, but in gunboats we should have a vast superiority. Nevertheless, we have not the men ready to our hands, and therefore the relative naval strength of the two countries must be measured by the fleet of the one, and the fleet in eonamie- sion of the other. Until we have a naval reserve, our available naval force will not bear towards the available naval force of France the proportion desiderated by Mr. Cobden—that of three to two. Nevertheless, the home and Mediterranean squadrons form a respectable force. They consist of 27 line-of-battle ships, 14 frigates and corvettes, and 29 sloops and gunboats • 70 sail. Our relative inferiority suggests the propriety of doing every- thing to create a naval reserve. It is admitted that up to this time the plan of raising volunteer-seamen has not succeeded. The men are satisfied with the terms, they would jump at the offer, but that they suspect the fair exterior hides some dark design. They are of opinion, judging from experience and tradition, that the moment they sign, 4bra ly Lords" will whipthem up and send them to China. They regard seductive retainer as a polite mode of kidnapping, and stand aloof. This is a remarkable instance of the influence of fixed ideas. The lot of a man-of-war's man has been vastly improved ; but the improvements have made only a superficial impression on our tars, and beneath the surface lies an 4 very obstinate suspicion, the effect of bad treatment and tad
i faith in former times. If we would root it out, we must go steadily on with our improvements, and lose no opportunity of explaining to our sailors that kidnapping -is no longer tolerated, and that " My Lords" cannot add men to the Navy at their plea- sure, but must first get the consent of the Treasury and the Par- liament. Considering the nature of the suspicion and the form it takes, we are hopeful that a little plain-speaking on the part of those trusted by seafaring men, will remove their apprehensions, and give us a trusty reserve. At present, thanks to the bounty, our fleet is "fully manned ; " but the reserve, we repeat, is a prime necessity. It is almost more important than shipbuilding. What has been done in one year, what is to be done between now and April 1861, must prove to all men that no nation can compete with us in the rapid production of ships. Sir John Pakington's pro- gramme has been almost literally carried out, and our dockyards have furnished nearly 39,000 tons of war shipping. In the en- suing year, they are to turn out another 39,000 tons. All this has been done exclusively of conversions. Pretty satisfactory proof of our ability to produce ships. But, without men, of what use are they ?
The part of the naval budget which gives us the least satisfaction, is that which relates to what is called, in de- rision, dockyard economy. We expressed strong opinions en this subject some months ago. With the spirit displayed by Lord Clarence Paget, we have nothing to complain ; but who knows whether he will not find the sons of Zeruiah too strong for him ? To probe the -dockyard system, to _reform it, he -admits to be his business, and the business of the Board. The First Lord and the Secretary, we are sure, will work in the right direction. Evidently they have already made a beginning. The promised Minute of the Duke of Somerset, the return of the cost of ships which is to be made from year to year, these give hope of a better system. But the step taken of giving assistance to the Dockyard Superintendents, instead of first making provision for the appointment of real superintendents, is a palliative measure, and one indicative of the fact that-we have not yet arrived at the period when polities shall be sacrificed to the Navy, and not the Navy to politics. The best possible supervision would be the best guarantee for dockyard economy and efficiency ; and it is only tinkering to give assistance to the Controller, and create two new places at Portsmouth and Plymouth without taking security that the superintendence shall be effective and constant, not indifferent and changeable.
On the whole, in spite of drawbacks, and mindful that we can- not effect great reforms in a hurry, we regard the naval balance- sheet with considerable satisfaction, heartily recognize the work- manlike and honest spirit with which Lord Clarence Paget has performed his laborious duties, and look hopefully towards the future.
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