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FRANCE.

clads were ' en magasin,' that is, packed up and stored away at the arsenal of Toulon.

The greater number of the large unarmoured screw steamers of the French navy are not in active service, being either stripped of their guns, or on the reserve list. Only two out of the twenty- nine Ships of the Line of this class, the ' Louis XIV.,' 480 horse- power, with 11G guns, and the ' Jean-Bart,' 400 horse-power, with 06 guns, were afloat in 1869, and in all other cases the service was carried on by smaller screw and paddle steamers. A considerable proportion of the 113 sailing vessels are employed as ' Garde peches,' on the fishing grounds near the coasts of France.

The French navy is manned by conscription, like the army. The marine conscription, however, is of much older date than that of the land forces, having been introduced as early as the year 1683. On the navy lists are inscribed the names of all male individuals of the ' maritime population ; ' that is, men and youths devoted to a sea- faring life, from the 18th to the 50th year of age. The number of men thus inscribed fluctuates from 150,000 to 180,000. Though all are liable to conscription the government, as a rule, dispenses from taking men over forty and under twenty, as well as pilots, captains, the fathers of large families, and able seamen who have signed for long voyages. The time of service in the navy is the same as that in the army, with similar conditions as to reserve duties, furloughs, and leave of absence for lengthened periods. For administrative purposes, the five great ' divisions maritimes ' are subdivided into twelve ' arrondissements maritimes,' as follows :• —

Divisions Arrondissements

1. Cherbourg Dunkerque — Le Havre.

2. Brest Brest — Saint Serran.

3. Lorient Lorient — Nantes.

4. Kochefort Boehefort — Bordeaux — Bayonne.

5. Toulon Marseilles — Toulon — Ajaecio.

At the head of the administrative government of each maritime division is a Vice-admiral bearing the title of ' Prefet maritime.'

According to the budget of the Minister of Marine and the Colonies for the year 1869, the French navy is officered by 2 admirals; 16 vice-admirals in active service, and 10 on the reserve list ; 30 rear-admirals in active service, and 19 on the reserve list; 130 captains of first-class men of war ; 286 captains of frigates ; 825 lieutenants; 600 ensigns; and 300 midshipmen, or 'aspirants;' — altogether 2,218 officers. The sailors, afloat and on shore, num- bered 39,346 in 1869, which, together with engineers, dockyard labourers, navy-surgeons, chaplains, and other ' personnel,' brought the grand total of men engaged in the service of the Imperial fleet up to 74,403. On the war-footing, the strength of the navy can be raised to 170,000 men, this being the number entered on the lists of the maritime conscription.