The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-08-14 00:00:00

THURSDAY.

The House at 3 o'clock, went into Committee of
Supply.
The first vote of £100,440 for Royal l'arks and
Pleasure-gardens gave rise to a warm debate, chiefly
upon the subject of the Kensington-garden ride.
In the evening, on the order for the second reading
of the Fortifications (Provision for Expenses) Bill.
Mr. E. JAN ES moved. as an amendment, tlip following
resolution :--" That, before proceeding further with
this Bill, it is desirable that this House should be in
possession of further information as to the entire cost of
the construction and efficient maintenance of the sea
defences and the proposed land fortifications, distinguish-
ing the expenses necessary to lie incurred by the
country in respect of such proposed sea defences and
land fortifications." He observed that the House was
asked to vote 1:2,000,000 as au instalment of au
indefinite sum, for it was left in tire dark as to the
ultimate oust of these works. The £11,000.000 was
only for the construction of the proposed fortifications
and sea defences and their armament ; hut their
tusintetianoe and manning were to be provided for,
which would probably cost P 3,010.000 or more annually,
anti the House, he thought. should have something like
a definite estimate of the limit of the expenditure.
Sir (7. NAPIER, in seconding the amendment, re-
iterated his opinion that fortifications were superfluous
if we retained our maritime superiority.
Mr. S. HERBERT, iii reply, referred very briefly to the
details lie had given upon a forager occasion, stating the
proportion of cos: of the sea and land defences, and was
satisfied that the estimates of the Commission could be
relied upon. The statements of Sir C. Napier, he
observed, contradicted each other.
Colonel Ineason supported the Amendment, believing
this outlay upon land defences to be roost unjustifiable
and necessary only in case of invasion, the idea of which
was preposterously eheurd. He advised AR increase of
our standing army, to the extent of 10,000 or 15.0U0
Line men, and camps in different parts of the country.
Lord Ebtato tendered his thanks to the Government
fir the course they had taken to provide for the nationsl
defence. We lied now a Volunteer force of 138,000
men, and it was from no panic that the people were
arming themselves, but from a calm and deliberate
determination to place this country in a thorough state
of defence, and not to trust to the forbearance of other
States. The construction of defences for our dockyards
contributed to the sense of security, and there was
nothing in the aspect of affairs in Europe to induce us to
relax our efforts. Ile supported the Bill.
Captain Jr.eris likewise supported the Bill.
Mr. Monseo. spoke in favour of the amendment.
Sir De LACY EVAN'S, though he supported the 11111,
agreed that there had been a deficiency of Artillery
officers on the Commission.
Sir F. SMITH repeated his objections to the seherne of
land fortifications, andespecially to the works on Ports-
don-hill. He recommended the £2,000,01.10 to be laid
out upon the sea defences.
Mr. ORRoIINE supported the amendment.
Sir M. PErii sail he did not grudge money, but the
Government should come forward with a well-matured
plan and perfect estimates. It was the opini tttt of pro-
fessional men, in which his own practical judgment con-
curred, that expensive land fortifications were unneces-
sidy ; that earthworks would suffice.
Lord PALMERNTON noticed the diversity of opinions
among those who acknowledged that measures of defence
were necessary. Military siren were for an addition to
the regular army, forgetting that this would be almost
as expensive as fortiti.d. ; navel men were for ships;
lawyers had not stated their specific ; lie supposed they
would recommend an injunction, or the issue id a writ
ire r.reint riper. He thought the majority of the House
were right in thinking that permanent defences were the
best and the cheapest. He repeated that the proposal
of the Government was not founded upon distrust of any
particular Sovereign or nation, but mem a deliberate
conviction that we ought to he prepared to defend the
vulnerable points of the country, and that the best secu-
rity for the continuance if peace was to be found in the
ability to defend ourselves.
The House having divided, the aniendment was nega-
tibeel by 143 to 32, and the Bill was read a second
tinie.
On the motion that the House resolve itself into a

Committee of Supply,
Mr. LAING, in moving • resolution on the subject of
the Galway Packet Contract, entered at much length
into details of the case ant the position of the Govern-
ment in relation to it, and concluded by moving a vote
of 1:60,000 in pursuance of the contract.
Mr. lk,urmmir moved to negative the vote, and in the
course of a long examination of the facts of the case
strongly condemned the proceedingc of the late Govern.
ment in the transaction, and especially the conduct of
Lord Derby. He did not scruple to say that the only
esplanation of the transaction was that it was an elec•
Lion job on a gigantic scale, and tainted with fraud and
corruption.
Upon • diviaion the vote was agreed to by a majority
of 306, the Ayes beingl4s, and the Noes 39.
The House then resumed, and disposed of the other
orders, adjourning at 25 ununtes to 3 o'clock.