RELATIVE PROPORTIONS OF THE NAVAL POWER OF GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 47, 29 January 1842, Page 3

RELATIVE PROPORTIONS OF THE NAVAL POWER OF GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES.

(From the New York Morning Herald, August 7 '.) An article has been going the rounds of the papers on the above subject, which is extremely incorrect, and calculated to lull the people of this country into a false security as to the real strength of the navies of the two countries. And on this account, and for the purpose of exhibiting a correct statement of the amount of ships and men belonging to each Government, we have at great trouble, compiled the following from what we believe to be the best and most authentic sources: ENGLISH. AMERICANS. Ships of the line 104 Ships of the line « 11 Frigates ~„.., 86 Frigates....' 16 Cruisers 200 Sloops 21 Steamers Schooners 9 Steamers 4 Total 441 Storeship ..«, 1 Total 66 In Actual Commission* In Actual Commission, Ships of the line 29 Ships of the line *4 Frigates 29 Frigates 5 Sloops 35 Sloops , 13 Steamers 46 Brigs 3 Smaller vessels 100 Schooners 8 Steamers 2 Store-ship 1 Total 239 T0ta1..... 36 Manned by seamen 21,000 Marines 9,000 Manned by men and Boys 4,000 boys 9125 Total 34,009 * Some of the above ships are unseaworthy, and many of the others require extensive repairs. Under these circumstances, we think it high time that something was done towards permanently strengthening and increasing our navy. Disgraceful State of the Aborigines.— There are great numbers of our sable brethren at present in town in a state of almost absolute nudity ; what renders the case stiil more disgraceful is the fact, that there are some of the protectors in Melbourne who could easily give the necessary directions that common decency should not be longer so shamefully outraged. Such neglect or indifference, however, is perfectly consistent with the general management of the entire of the protectorate department. It will, we feel convinced, soon work its own cure. Port Phillip Paper, DESTRUCTION OF THE « GOV. ARTHUR" STEAMER, BY FIRE. iXr c ft-.p t l -- p fee Knnoiinoc the dcstrurt : r B of the " Gov. Arthur,'' river steamboat, by fire, this morning (Thursday) at her moorings in the basin at the Queen's Wharf. The fire is supposed to have originated in the following manner: some bark had been placed on board the vessel, near the boiler, the previous evening, to light her fires in the morning. On extinguishing them at night a spark must have fallen on the bark, and there lain smouldering till two o'clock this morning. The fireman of the Governor Arthur, a man named Foley, had, previous to retiring to rest, examined the engine room and other parts of the vessel, and found all apparently safe. The ownership of the " Governor Arthur" is vested in Mr. John Walker, the miller, at Hobart Town ; her value is about £2500. She arrived here in the early part of January of the present year, and her gains of late exceeded £9O a month.

After several attempts to sink the wreck by scuttling her and keeping her away from the bank, she settled down stern foremost. The whole of the moveable property on board has been saved. Her hull is now barely covered with the water, — her mast and funnel are still standing.— P. P. Patriot.