Page images
PDF
EPUB

If

the cost of the necessary outlay would not | ing to steam-vessels, and from a wooden be repaid? He had no doubt that a proper navy to an iron one, he would still mainaddition to the basin accommodation, if it tain that we should require a much did not repay the whole cost in a few years, larger extent of basin and graving dock would at any rate pay a very large interest accommodation than we had now. on the outlay. There were plenty of docks we must maintain our naval superiority, in the country long and wide enough, but as all admitted that we must, then we the draught of water was not sufficient. must also provide dock accommodation. It might be sufficient if they took the stores It was what any man would do in his out-[Lord C. PAGET: Hear, hear!]-but own business-that was the test; and there was no time for that. He maintained, what was economical for commercial men that in order to work the navy economi- was economical for the country. He cally, this country ought to have basins was glad to hear that a dock was to be where all the necessary stores could be put built at Bermuda and another at Halifax, on board, and where the ships could be because if we were to have war with Ametaken in or out without lightening them. rica, it would not do to bring our vessels He had communicated with every public for repairs across the Atlantic to this and private dockowner in the country, and country. And the same remarks would he had no hesitation in saying that at this apply, in case of war with France, to the moment there were only two private grav- convenience of docks at Malta, where ing docks in the country that would take we were to have two. If docks were not in the Warrior, or any vessel of that class. provided now in time of peace, the result There was one at Birkenhead, a private would be that we should go into the matter one, that would take in the Warrior with when there was war, and in our haste all her stores on board, and there was we should spend three or four times as another at Southampton. On the Liver- much money as would be necessary at prepool side of the Mersey there was one sent. He believed that an expenditure large entrance to a dock, or rather it was of £200,000 a year for five or six years, a lock, that the Warrior could be taken would put the country in a safe condition into; but she could not lie there without as regarded the Channel fleet. stopping the commerce requiring to pass into and out of the dock. He did not deny that, in case of emergency, the vessel could be placed there to be examined. He had often done this himself; but vessels could not be allowed to lie there, or else the whole trade of the port would be stop-retary to the Admiralty, and had, by ped. The entrance to the Huskisson dock at Liverpool was another of the same kind; but as for regular graving docks to receive the Warrior, there were but two in the country. Now, with regard to the question of cost for additional basin accommodation, it would not be enormous if it were gone properly about. The graving dock at Birkenhead that he had spoken of cost about £25,000, and the one at Southampton £60,000. Taking the floating basins and docks at Birkenhead as a guide, he believed that the necessary additional basin accommodation for the navy could be constructed for £25,000 to £30,000 an acre; so that a sum of £1,000,000 or £1,200,000 ought to be sufficient to double the present dock accommodation. But if they were to go on as they had done, spending £1,500,000 in patching and altering, they would be very little better off than they were at present. Looking at the change from sail

SIR JAMES ELPHINSTONE said, that the Government had entirely altered their tone since last year with respect to the necessity for additional docks and basins. The noble Lord had spoken more like a Chancellor of the Exchequer than a Sec

confounding the two subjects of docks and basins, completely mystified the debate. In the Committee on Chatham Docks last year, of which he (Sir James Elphinstone) was a member, Admiral Robinson was asked whether he considered there was sufficient dockyard accommodation for the existing fleet; and he said certainly there was not, and added that he did not hesitate to say that the want of sufficient docks and basins was attended with national danger. The growth of ships, he said, far exceeded the growth of docks and basins, although great efforts during the last ten years had been made to keep pace with it. He also stated that the creation of a steam fleet rendered an immense amount of dock accommodation indispensable. Admiral Robinson was then asked a question as to the extent of the basin and dockyard accommodation in France; and he said the docks and basins in that country exceeded

near their friends, and would learn habits of sobriety and good conduct, and be weaned from those irregularities and vices to which seamen were prone; and if this country had more dock room, there would not be the necessity which now existed for sending their ships and men to Lisbon in winter, to spend their money in a foreign country. He could not allow the noble Lord the Secretary to the Admiralty to ride off upon the platitudes and generalities with which he had overlaid this subject during this debate, without making some observations against the course pursued by the Admiralty. With regard to the Colonies, he found there was no dock room at Calcutta larger than would dock the Pylades, which he believed was a 22-gun ship. At HongKong and Whampoa there was no dock, and at Bombay there was the dock in which all the old wooden ships had been built. Then at Sydney there was not dock room for a ship of more than 1,500 tons. There was not, as he had been informed, a single dock in India or New South Wales which could take in the flag-ship on the station if required. The noble Lord admitted there was no dock at Malta, Bermuda, or at Halifax, sufficient to take in the Warrior. Then where were those docks of which he had spoken? He (Sir James Elphinstone) did not know; and that being the state of the case, he should support the Motion of his right hon. Friend, and he trusted the House would hear from another Member of the Government a more satisfactory account than the noble Lord had given them.

two hundred and twenty acres, as opposed | mended basins, in which the ships might to forty acres of docks and basins in Eng- be refitted. If the ships could be docked, land, which included a basin at Deptford, the men employed would be able to live and another at Woolwich, which were worthless for the purposes of large ships. At Cherbourg alone there was a floating dock of fifty acres, and the whole harbour at Brest was a floating basin. The opinion of the Surveyor of the Navy, and the evidence of Captain Washington, was in favour of an increase in dock accommodation; and upon their evidence the Committee of last year recommended that the docks at Chatham should be enlarged; and in his view of the case, the new works there would cost the country £1,000,000 before they were completed. Now, what was the position of Chatham in reference to this question? It was the opinion of every sea-faring man, that if the fate of the country should ever come to depend upon the issue of a naval battle, that battle must take place in the Channel, and in that case they ought to have a place near in which they could repair the ships which might be disabled. Now, supposing six or eight of our ships to be disabled, what would be the use of our basins at Chatham ? Actions in the present day would not be like the actions of former days, for with the improved artillery, two wooden vessels in close action would not last for many minutes; and in the event of iron ships suffering, harbours for their reception ought to be very near at hand. He would look at this question from the point of view of a shipowner, and he would say that anything more reckless or disgraceful than the system pursued by the admiralty in the management of the dockyards could not be. In 1794 the East India Company were so impressed with the disadvantages of fitting CAPTAIN TALBOT said, he considered in the stream, that the East India Docks the question before the House not only one were constructed, and in 1805 the West of efficiency, but of economy; because, by India Docks were made; and a great sav-a judicious expenditure of money in proing had resulted to all those shipowners viding dock and basin accommodation, a who had resorted to them-an improve- large amount would be saved to the pubment which had since been followed by lic. The present system of fitting, armevery mercantile community in the king-ing, provisioning, and storing our ships dom. As to repairing ships in the Ha- in the stream was utterly absurd; and moaze, it was well known that in some the sooner it was put an end to the weathers the men could not get off the shore, or from the hulks in which they lived; and as to hulks, every Commission or Committee which had sat on the subject of the dockyards and their accommodation had denounced the system of hulks, and had recommended barracks instead, and had also strongly recom

better, which could only be done by having large and deep floating basins, with ample quay accommodation. When he looked across the Channel, he found that France had seen the necessity of abolishing the system; and the mercantile marine of this country had also given it up, in consequence of the very large ex

pense it involved. He would suppose the | been the adoption of a patchwork and case-one which he said was not unlikely shifty system. The time had come when to occur of the Channel fleet comprising we must look ahead, and see whether we ten or a dozen Warriors, after cruising could not devise a large and comprehensive for a certain time, requiring to be refitted plan capable of extension to keep pace and re-coaled, and anchoring at Spithead with the requirements of the service. All for the purpose. What organization, he now admitted the necessity for additional should wish to know, was provided to dock and basin accommodation-the quesadmit of the object being carried into tion for consideration was, where that effect? The probability was that the accommodation should be provided. He ships would have to wait for a considera- was not prepared to express any very ble time for high water to take them into definite opinion upon that point; but, at Portsmouth Harbour, where no adequate the same time, he confessed he was surmeans were provided for placing coals or prised at the conclusion to which the provisions on board. The consequence Royal Commissioners had come. No one would be that the fleet would have to be could doubt, of course, that there should divided and the ships sent, some to Ply-be some dock and basin accommodation month, some to Chatham, others elsewhere, at Chatham; but he thought it would after a haphazard fashion, which he be unwise to spend any very large sum thought entirely inconsistent with the of money at that place. Chatham was due maintenance of our naval power. He thought the House ought to enter into the discussion of the subject with enlarged and clear views; they should consider a proper and sufficient system for the accommodation of the navy to be a matter which touched the honour and dignity of this country, especially as they had been told, on the authority of Rear Admiral Robinson, the Comptroller of the Navy, "that with proper dock and basin accommodation, one ship would do the duty of two," and also "that the nation that could first repair its damaged ships after an action, would thereby at once double its force." He could not but admire the policy that had been adopted in France. The French had long been impressed with the great importance of this subject, and had for many years, and again quite recently, made large additions to their dock and basin accommodation; and he was afraid that our exertions in that direction could not for a moment be compared to theirs. He was glad to hear, however, that the Government had, to some extent, carried out the suggestions made by the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Laird) last Session. In regard to foreign stations a good deal of money would be saved in the end, and efficiency secured, by our having small establishments abroad where our ships could be refitted in the shortest possible space of time. By sending them home for repair we lost their services during many months, and, in addition, risked their being taken by the enemy in time of war. In his opinion, the great fault of the Admiralty for years past had

reached through the most difficult part of the Channel, and the Medway was a narrow and tortuous river, presenting serious obstacles to the progress of large ships; and a part of the plan approved of by the Commission was to expend £45,000 in dredging that river-a sum, in his opinion, much more useful if used for the deepening of the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour. Our docks and basins should be constructed where our ships were most likely to be employed, and where they could be got ready for sea with the least possible delay. The French had constructed Cherbourg almost solely with the intention of making it a fitting dock. After an engagement in the Channel their fleet would be able to enter Cherbourg at all times of the tide, and when refitted it would be ready at once to go to sea. Our fleet, on the contrary, would have to be dispersed all over the island, and would thus be liable to be taken in detail. He trusted that no reasonable expense would be grudged for improving our position in this respect. Both efficiency and economy would be gained by a wise and liberal expenditure of money in the construction of new docks and basins.

MR. WHITBREAD did not intend to follow the hon. Baronet the Member for Portsmouth (Sir J. Elphinstone) through the whole of his speech, nor would he say more of the alarming picture he had drawn of the frightful and disgraceful state of demoralization into which the British navy had fallen, owing to the practice of fitting out vessels in the stream than that he did not believe it to be accurate. The hon.

Tho

Baronet, having settled the precise spot factories, and provided new accommodawhere the naval action big with the fate tion for the workmen and the staff. of England was to be fought, had informed expense of that would be enormous; the House that, in consequence of the im- whereas the cost of altering existing provements made in modern artillery, a docks-such, for instance, as the dock at combat between a British ship and one Keyham-so as to enable them to accombelonging to the enemy would be so de-modate ships of the largest class, would cisive that for one of the vessels dock ac- be comparatively trifling. Something had commodation would be perfectly useless, been said by the last speaker against the while for the other it would not be re-selection of Chatham. That question was quired. He had also stated that the tone of considered before the present Government the Government had undergone a change came into office, and the right hon. Baroin regard to the increase of dock accom- net the Member for Droitwich (Sir J. modation since the publication of the Re- Pakington) had recorded his opinion that port of the Select Committee. He would Chatham was the best place which could like to know in what respect it was differ- be chosen as the site of large docks and ent. It would be recollected that the re- basins for the refitting of ships. It seemed commendation of the Committee was, that to be taken for granted that the decisive if more dock and basin accommodation were action must be fought just outside the Isle required, there was no place where it could of Wight. But, many years ago we had be better provided than at Chatham. The a large fleet in the Baltic. We might Government did not delay to act upon have a fleet there again, and he submitted that suggestion, but, on the contrary, sub- that for ships coming home from the Balmitted to the House a vote which would tic Chatham was, at least, as convenient enable it to construct such an establish a port as Portsmouth, or any other place ment at Chatham as would not only be in the Channel. A complaint had been superior to the best existing dock in Eng- made that the Government had not taken land, but equal to anything of the kind a sufficient Vote for the works at Chatin France. Moreover, the House had ham. He assured the House that the already sanctioned an extension of the amount of work was not to be measured, basin at Keyham, which it was intended in the first instance at any rate, by the to make large enough to admit vessels of sum put down in the Estimates. the Warrior class; and in the Estimates some time to come the work at Chatham for the present year provision had been would consist almost exclusively of excamade for the construction of two more docks vation, and he need hardly say that it at Portsmouth, for the accommodation of would be done by convicts. the largest ships. He might state, further, SIR JOHN PAKINGTON thought the that plans were now under consideration object his right hon. Friend had in view for providing a large extent of additional in raising this question would be sufficiquay accommodation at Portsmouth, which, ently answered if he had reason to believe for all purposes of fitting out vessels, and hope that the serious attention of, would be quite equal to basins. The the Government would be directed to hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Laird) the subject, although he confessed he had complained that for several years wished his right hon. Friend had been past the Admiralty had been patching up able to elicit still more distinctly someexisting establishments, with the view of thing like an intention to carry out this rendering them capable of accommodating great object hereafter. He was sorry, large vessels. Surely the House would however, to say, that although he hoped not join with the hon. Member in cen- the hon. Gentleman who spoke last was suring the Admiralty for pursuing so alive to the importance of the subject, wise a policy. The last instance of the the tone of the noble Lord's speech was kind was at Keyham, and in this year's rather more evasive than he liked to hear. Estimates they had taken the sum of If he were to render that speech into £6,000 for a further increase of those briefer and plainer English, it would docks. If the Admiralty had not taken amount to something like this:-"We the course of proposing the enlargement do not deny the importance of the quesof the existing docks, but had proposed tion, we do not deny that the subject to construct new ones, and for that they is pressing; we acknowledge that what must have found new sites, and built new you propose ought to be done.

For

But

England cannot afford to do it." Now, I being built. His noble Friend rather tried that was a question which the present to mystify the House in his statement as Government ought well to consider; for to the extent of dock accommodation the if there was any financial difficulty, he country at present possessed. Now, here could only observe that it arose from the was the Return which had been made on reckless manner in which they had thrown the subject, and what did it show? There away a portion of the resources of the were two columns. The first showed what country. It was for the House of Com- was the present dock accommodation, and mons to take care that our great naval the second what it would be when the arm should not be weakened by im- proposed alterations were carried out. The providence of that kind. The noble test laid down was the docks which would Lord appeared rather to evade the merits admit the Warrior, and the number of of the question, and imputed to his right days in each month in which that vessel hon. Friend a desire to promote extrava- could be docked at each of the Government gance; he even ventured to insinuate yards. He found it ran thus-Deptford, that his right hon. Friend had been guilty not at all; Woolwich, not at all; Chatof extravagance in former days with re- ham, not at all; and so on. Going down ference to Keyham dockyard. Now, he the column of Dockyards till he came to thought the country much indebted to Portsmouth, he found that was the only his right hon. Friend for having, when in dockyard where at present the Warrior office some years ago, originated the great could be docked at full tide on six days improvements which had been carried during the month. At Pembroke there out at Keyham. His noble Friend would were twenty-four feet of water, but the admit that it was impossible to refer to Warrior drew twenty-seven feet; and a higher authority on such a subject than when lightened, her guns and stores being the late Sir James Graham. Now, in removed, he believed they could not rethe first instance, when his right hon. duce her to draw only twenty-two feet, Friend brought forward the plan for en- so as to get her into that dock. Now, the larging Keyham dockyard, Sir James Gra- Warrior was afloat, the Black Prince was ham was strongly opposed to it; but at afloat, and they were adding to the navy a subsequent period, when Sir James Gra- as speedily as they could four other vesham was again at the head of the Admi- sels of that class. The question then arose ralty, he complimented his right hon. what docks had they to put them in? and Friend, acknowledged his original error, it appeared that at the present moment and said the country were greatly in- we had but one dock capable of receiving debted to him for what he had done; our largest iron-plated ships. This conand Sir James Graham himself proceeded sideration alone was enough to justify his to add to Keyham dockyard and enlarge right hon. Friend's remarks. Then as to the basins there. The noble Lord had the other column, which related to the taunted his right hon. Friend with being accommodation we should have when the the Palladio of the dockyards, and in- proposed alterations were carried outdulging his taste with colonnades and taking all the docks in England there pilasters; but the fact was, his right hon. would be only four, one of these being a Friend had nothing to do with the colon- second dock at Portsmouth, in respect to nades and pilasters at Keyham, to which which there was a somewhat important the noble Lord referred; these were added limitation in the words noted in the Reby a subsequent Board of Admiralty. turn, "any day when in the basin or But, after all, the real question was when entering the basin." Thus even the whether they ought not to provide dock prospective dock accommodation was reand basin accommodation according to the duced to three instead of four. Then as proportions of the ships that were being to basin accommodation, it should not be built. That was a question of common forgotten that we were not standing still, sense. Who would think of buying a but retrograding. While increasing the horse when he had no stable, or a hand- size of our ships we were not only not some carriage when he had no coach- increasing, but actually diminishing, our house? No doubt, a stable or coach-house available basin accommodation. Our basin might be hired; but the requisite dock and accommodation, which a few years ago at basin accommodation could not be hired. Portsmouth would take in eight of our That accommodation, he repeated, should large ships, would now, from the increased be according to the proportions of the ships size of our ships, only accommodate four.

« PreviousContinue »