The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-07-31 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY.

Lord PALMCKSTON rose to propose a resolution, the
object of which was to carry into effect the recommen-
dations of the Royal Commission, with a view to secure
our dockyards and other vulnerable points. The non-
missionMe recommendations would romire a total out-
lay of £11,000,0U0, including about ri,rol,ooo for anus-
ment• ; and he proposed, for the safety of the country.
that these remmumaidations should substantially be
carried out. To supply the funds two courses were
avadable. either to vote annually such portiorn of the
sum as dm country would like to spend upon thisobject,
or, as be felt it his duty to recommend, to endeavour to
complete the work at the earliest possible periwi, with-
out laying on the country a larger burden than was
atm-lately necessary, by rahiing of terminable
annuities • rani SalliCirlit 1.. orea, the object in three or
four years. His opinion was that, if these works were
necessary, they were nece•wary as soon 11,1 they could be
got. The course he proposed was a departure from
winciple; but Parliament bad encouraged the raising
of money by loan fur the int:doyen' ut of landed
est des, and that policy which was good for M-
ill, iduals could not be unwise for t lie country.
By raising the money by means of terminable
annuities there would not be a permanent burden
upon the country. It was impossible for any
one to say that the future, charged as the horizon wee
with clouds, was free from danger. We had recently
contracted with our immediate nuighhour amis.; the
Channel a commercial treaty, and experience bad proved
that commercial intercourse between nationseontributed
to the preservation of peace, Pll.l he loped much from
this treaty. But the treaty alone would lw but a frail
seetrity for a great nation like this, so open to attack.
France hall an army of isit),olM men. 4110,001.1 Actually
in antis, a far greater for... than France reguired for
the purpose of defence. Ile did not mean to say that
her army WAS raised for the deliberate purpose of aggres-
sion, but we ought not to rely upon the forh.g.rance of
any power, and France was lint strengthening herself
upon land alone ; the utmost exertions have lw.di made
and were making to erect.- a navy almost epiai to our
own, which could not be relulrnl for the defence of
France, but which furnished the me ow of transporting
in A few hours a large militsry fire to oor Attires. II
'minted out the dangero to which this conotry would be
ex posed by such an attempt ; large contritint s might
ha levied upon the metropolis, or a sudden att ck by Sell
or hod upon our iiaal enemas, might destroy the very
cradle of our naval power, tint tiworcrLtiou
likcly
t.• he attempted ...odd he the bowling a considerable
force for the destruction of our dockyards. If London
should be in danger, what would he wanted was the
means of lighting a battle wall the greate.d possible
amount of military force ; for this purpose we must pro-
vide such arrangemesitY as would make the smallest
number of troops fleece ory to defend the dockyanls, and
the effect of these fortitieations would Inn to set free A
larger amount 14 force in the hell for the defence of
London. Many thought that the stun estimated by the
commisaioners was excessive for the purpose, but their
estimates include.l arum:aunts. which would Cnille out of
the annual votes. The Government were of opinion that
1,11.1011,0011 would he aufficient for the purpose ; out of
this about X1,Ki4i,1104.1 would be for the puraase of land,
A considerable portion of which wont,' he profit Oily let,
reducing the actual sum for the works to CLirmosi
11, compared this sum with the beige expenditure of
France and other continental States for the same object.
stig,esting that. with such examples, it would be criminal
in ads country to neglect its defence, and that, when
the propmwd works should be completed, the country
would he placed in a condition, humanely spsaking, of

comparative *Jet y.
After some remarks by General l'ErL, who considered '
tie Government. whoever they might lie. reqionsible,
awl not in a mere nominal sense, for the safety of the
coautry.
Osuoitku said Lonl l'alineridon's slieech hail
opeiied very alarming considerations, stet he objteted
coining to a vote upon this question under A vit.l,lrit
!mitt iv. lie recommended that the resolution should ho
post 'toned.
Lord PALMERSTON, remarking that be was convinced
the more the Howe reflected up 111 the matter the l'
ready thty would be to support the proposal of the
Government, said he was preparsil to yield to the request
for delay, at 4 moved that the I %airman moon progress
and ark leave to sit again 1,11 thst day wtek.
After moue further conversation, the Chairman re-
ported progress. and the debate was adjourned till the
day above named.