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MISMANAGEMENT OF THE, NAVI. .
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Sin Asthe Timis insists on tibusing the Xsiiviror of. the Feetie14.1and the people of Newcastle wantonly insult the Erenell °Mout, the sooner you prepare to receive an enemy you seem resolved on making, the better. You will some day most bitterly repent having treated your Navy in a most shameful manner ; and, to use a vulgar expression, the proof of the pudding lain the eating. Why do your men-of-war remain for Meeks.at your, ports fitting eat?—because men do not enter. I will only atop to in- stance the present flag-ship in the Mediterranean, how long was she from the time of her being commissioned till she started ? while I simply ask hot/ long Captain Frederick of the Cesar was in completing his complement? He was a favourite, and the men joined him in a moment. The quarrel existing. between Admiral Berkeley and Mr. Kingsootes-I have nothing to, do with ; but.I have with the broad fact that at this, mo- ment you have a very small Channel, squadron to defend you from the sud- den attack of an enemy, who, declaring war for numerous insults heaped on her, can pour down an enormous army on your coasts, strike terror into your people and disgrace you in the eyes of Europe. I have to add, that on -the appearance of such an enemy the confusion among your authorities would be as indescribable as disgraceful. The Times talks of defending London ; millions ofpeunds are expended on coast defences, but, take ray word for it, moreabk defences are the best and the most British. You want a large fleet in the Channel, and I feel convinced Sir I. Pakington would provide one were it left to him; but some secret Radical influence is at work- to prevent the. First Lord doing what is absolutely necessary for the safety of England. You are perpetually building ships, but you never man them. Your ships return from foreign stations and are paid off; and thus a frigate's crew, the life and soul of a First Lieutenant, who has got them into the highest state of discipline, is scattered to the winds, and becomes the prey of scoundrels on shore.
Sailors are not made in a day. Therefore I propose as a reserve to your Channel squadron, that you should do away with the infantry soldiers at the several ports noted in the margin,* and substitute an equal number of sailors, who, excluding the expensive staff, baud, arms, accoutrements, and clothing of the military, will not cost more than the soldiers now there, and when the tug of war comes they will be infinitely more useful than the beet soldiers you possess. The men will have their wives and families about them, and the presence of a body of sailors will prove an attraction to the hundreds of lazy fellows now hanging about the piers. A guard-ship will be required for gunnery practice ; and the men, armed with cutlass and revolver, could occupy the military barracks. The whole of the shore duty would be efficiently performed without the cost of an extra penny to the nation. Ships paid off' could send their crews to these depots, bag and baggage. The men could have their fortnight's spree, and find a home on their return, instead of being houseless.
An officer of Lord Lyons's flag-ship told me a few days ago, that when they arrived from the Mediterranean, and it was perfectly well known she was to be paid off in a week, several men whose five years service had ex- pired, would not wait for the week, but demanded their discharge at once. He also said he saw an American man-of-war with 300 of the Black Sea fleet on board of her.
If the British Government fostered the seaman who is to guard our coasts and commerce from the enemy, these things would not happen.
Here is a fleet coming home from China ; every vessel will be paid off to reduce the expenses, and the crews dispersed. If the shore is in danger you will have to meet it with your militia and police ; and the reserve will be formed by such bodies as the 20,000 free- men of Northumberland, all of whom being capital poachers, thoroughly understand the use of fire-arms. These are men foreigners have never even heard of ; and if it is imagined that the present young fellows enter- ing the Army are the bone and sinew of England, an enemy will find itself grievously mistaken. When the attack takes place, amidst the confusion consequent thereon we shall suffer the indignity I have:alluded to. Yet rely on it, that if 50,000 men land on our coasts, not one will live to return to his own country. They will be cut to pieces, but the disgrace cast on us will not be wiped out
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