1827.] [ 615 ] 



ON THE PERSONNEL, MATERIEL, AND SCIENCE OF THE BRITISH NAVY. 



AT this moment of the extraordinary depression of our country, we 

 apprehend there are few subjects of greater moment than the condition 

 of the navy of the state. On it our security depends ; and, however our 

 interests may fluctuate, it behoves us at all times to regard our floating 

 batteries. We conceive, now that the command of it devolves on a 

 Prince of the illustrious House of Brunswick, a fresh impulse may be 

 given to the consideration of its affairs which, indeed, we are disposed 

 to think it requires. In our examination of this subject, we shall con- 

 sider the number and character of our seamen the number and qualities 

 of our ships the scientific information diffused among its members and 

 the economy with which it is conducted. 



1. The personnel of our navy, from the native valour of Englishmen, 

 is far superior to all others ; and it is only by gross mismanagement that 

 our fleets can fail of success in the day of trial. The stamina of English- 

 men, at present, is good ; and, without inquiring from what it proceeds, 

 we think we may safely assert, that there is no nation of men so capable 

 of defending themselves as the inhabitants of our isles : whether as soldiers 

 or sailors, they possess those qualities of presence of mind and courage, in 

 the day of battle, that render them, when properly conducted, equal to 

 any men and almost any achievement. 



The number of seamen allotted by parliament to the navy at present is 

 21,000, and the number of marine-soldiers 9,000 thus making a total of 

 30,000 men. The greatest uumber employed in the last naval wars was 

 145,000. Thus we perceive that, should a war suddenly burst upon us, 

 as the American war of 1776 did, we should require above 100,000 men, 

 in addition to what we have, to man the navy. About 50,000 of these 

 ought to be good sailors : the others may be supplied by soldiers and 

 landsmen, if they be headed by good officers. Now the question is- 

 how are these men to be obtained ? The number required is sufficient 

 to equip 7.575 merchant ships on an average ; for we find that the mean 

 number of merchant ships since the peace, by the parliamentary papers, 

 is 25,000 with 165,000 men. Thus, if they are to be taken from the 

 merchant marine, one-third nearly of its fleet must be left without sea- 

 men. While speaking of the extent of our mercantile navy, we do not 

 mean to affirm that the ships in the estimate are all sea-going vessels, and 

 the men mariners; because we know that its calculations have been pro- 

 perly objected to, as including river vessels, lighters, and barges, that do 

 not contain seamen :* but we are willing to take the utmost limit. 



Our next consideration is, how are 50,000 seamen, in case of a naval 

 war, to be obtained ? N ot by impressment, we hope. Arbitrary abduc- 

 tion of men, whether among the blacks or whites call it slavery or 

 impressment is a disgrace to human nature. O, England ! how long 

 shall this law stain thy name ? The conscription of Napoleon, though a 

 tyrannical measure, was not equal to our British impressment. But it is 

 not less cruel and barbarous than it is impolitic and unsafe. When wo 



* From the parliamentary paper, each ship has 6^ men on an average. Now, as the 

 East-Indiamen and other ships contain from forty to one hundred men each, there must 

 necessarily be included in the estimate many small ships, barges, or boats, having only 

 two, three, or four men in them. 



