Studies for Members preparing to vote the Navy Estimates.
The majority of well-disposed people support all Governments in keeping up efficient Naval establishments, ashore and afloat. Our officials reduce the Marines one-fifth, and the rank and file of the Army one-twentieth or there- abouts; because it takes three years to make a good Marine, and three months to make a soldier of the Line.
National dockyards, and a fleet of unemployed vessels, more or less rapidly decaying at their moorings, are supported and advocated, on the ground that it is necessary to be able to send to sea on an emergency an overwhelming force, and that the army of skilled artificers we keep con- stantly in pay can be depended upon to fit them out more rapidly and effi- ciently than private tradesmen. Not a fleet, but two vessels, are wanted to Rumour Sir John Franklin: in her Majesty's service they are not to be found, and they are obliged to purchase the vessels out of the despised merchant service, which, according to official blue books and official bills, ought to be taken charge of by the Government. Two steam-tenders are required, out of the national steam fleet which has cost us fiv millions in the last ten years : none are fit for the service, and the Sir Robert Peel and Free Trade are purchased—much to the joy of their owners. Despatch is necessary : the advantages of the dockyard system, "organized efficiency," &c. &c. will be surely shown. A voyage down the river will dispel that illusion : the -united energies of Woolwich and Deptford are unequal to the task, and Wigram and Green have the honour and profit of fitting out the expedition.
For the last few years, iron steam-vessels have so established their supe- riority over wooden ones, in the essential qualities of speed, economy, and ca- pacity, that no wooden steamers have been constructed in this country for pri- vate individuals or companies exposed to competition. Our Government first built a fleet of iron vessels ; then condemned them as vessels of war, without a trial ; and are now selling them off as useless.
All practical inquirers, and the whole steam interest of the country, are aware that a great change is going on in steam navigation, by the substi- tution of the screw-propeller for the paddle-wheel. Our officials are quietly extending the existing contracts for the Post-office service,by paddle-wheel steamers ; and thus doing their utmost to perpetuate the existing monopolies stud keep back improvement in ocean steam navigation.
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