TTRANY.

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At Malta Cobden formc some very decided opinions *
to the policy of naval administration, as illustrated at th’
station.
“The Malta station is the hot-bed for naval patronsgt
and the increase of our ships of war. They are sent to tI
Mediterranean for five years, the large ships are for six ¢
eight months of each yesr anchored in Malta harbour, ¢
else in Vourla or Tenedos. In the summer, for the space ¢
four or five months, they make excursions round Sicily, or ¥
the Archipelago as far as Smyrna or Athens, and then the!
return again to their anchorage to spend the winter in i?
activity ; the officers visiting in the eity, or perhaps enjoyiné
a long leave of absence, whilst the men, to the number of
six, seven, or eight hundred, are put to such exercise of
employment as the ingenuity of the first lieutenant can devi
on board ship, or else are suffered to wander on shore upo?
occasional leaves of ahsence. This is not the way either 0
make good sailors, or to add to the power of the British
empire. The expenses are borne by the industry of the
productive classes at home. The wages of these idlers ar
paid out of the taxes levied upon the soap, beer, tobacco, &¢-consumed
 by the people of England, But what a prospect
of future expense does this state of things hold out to the
nation. Every large ship contains at least forty or fifty
quarter-deck officers, each one of whom, from the junio’
supernumerary midshipman up to the first lieutenant, haf
entered the service, hoping and relying that he will in due
course of time, either hy means of personal merit or aided by
the influence of powerful friends, attain to the command of
a ship of war, and oll these will press their claims upon. the
Adwir" | Zr future employment, and will be entitled to hop?
a8 th or. v= J1d~ ‘hat their emoluments, rank, and pros
pects wi - improve every year with their increased necessities:
What then is the prospect which such a state of things hold?