The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-06-25 00:00:00

FLEET.

The presence of the great FTe-sU in Portland Roads has
stirred up the ever-active "H.' with the idea that it might
he possible to induce the CI ivernrnent to have a Naval
Review. Of course. such • display would be 13101 C
attractive, and Mr. Harker, apparently on the principle
"Nothing venture, nothing have," at on:e got up •
memorial inking the Mum to bold • public meeting.
Being signed by about 100 persons in two houre, His
Worship convened the meeting for Monday night, when
there were a fair number of inhalittanto present, among
them His Worship fin the chair), Mr. J. Robertson, Dr.
Tigard, Dr. Moorhead, Mr. Rice, Mr. W. J. Hawker,
Mr. H. ?Jangle Mr. T. B. Groves, Kr. Board, Mr. It tigers.
Dr. Simpson. Mr. J. A. Sheeran, Mr. G. Rohs, Mr. Inners,
Mr. J. J. IL Longman, Mr. Short, Kr. Piekard, Mr.
Templeman, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Burch, Mr. I. E. Russell,
Mr. Green, Mr. B•range, Mr. 3. P. Coljett, Kr. E.
Leaning, and several others.
The MAYOII said he had been requested to call this
meeting, but before doing PO he should like to ascertain
what the general feeling of the Inhabitants of the town in
the amtter really was, when a requisition was brought to
him signed by about a hundred of the gentry and leading
tradesmen of the town. Fortified by this, he considered
himself justified in 'eking them to attend that, evening,
and to hear those gentlemen who had COMO (4) speak to
theta on the matter which the bill indieated—s ie , In ask
the Lords of the Admiralty to give them eitbse a Ndval
Review or wham fight, as they might think proper, after
the questions now before the Congress Lad be en settled.
He wished that to he very disiinctly understooi I, and need
not tell them as • public officer, it • mild nave been
exceedingly wrong on his part to have •tt ',noted to
embamias Her Majesty's Government by sable is them to
do anything whilst they were discussing s uch grave
matters at the Congress, as they were at the pr. P.M t time,
and if such was for a single moment to be the result of
this meeting, or if it woo considered in th e town or
country at large as one of thaws results, he • hould have
moat respect, ully declined to have had anything to do with
inviting them together. He considered that tbe request
was made on reasonable grounds, which would presently
he explained to the meeting, inasmuch as the facilities
which would be afforded few witneuing a spectacular
display in the lupe of • sham fight or naval review in the
Portland Roads would be second to none to be found elite-
where in the United Kingdom. Mear, bear.) But he
thought the meeting pretty well understood the
programme proposed to be carried out, and be would
therefore simply call upon Mr. Hsrker to explain the
reason of their being called together. (Applause.)
Mr. H said, as the oririnator of this meeting, he
would detain them as short a time as poseible. The
words "Sham Fight" wee the mere drum to summon (hr
p. mile together, the text of his disembree Lay in his tette,
of Friday last, and that there might be no mistake as to
their point of departure, he would avail myself of the
parson's privilege, and repeats part of that letter. He then
reed—" Independently of purely local views and interest
such • spectacle, nay, such an exhibition of strength and
skill with which it can be handled, would be a source of
satisfaction and gratification to the nation at large. Ile
would divide hie remark. into two distinct (arts—the
first snowing how and why • Naval Review would he
acceptable to the nstion at large, the other pointing out
how the presence f that splendid fleet in our Roads may
be made conducive to the prosperity of oar beautiful
town. Firat he would dispose of the objector*, who
thought "the meeting was most opportune, you know,'
and an on. according to their varied temperaments. It
appeared to him the time to nape.. their sentiments was
fmth ill-chosen and inopportune, as until the arguments
and reeolutions were before them, they could he host but
ill qualified to pronounce no decided au opinion; be
trusted if any objectors were there that night, they
would profit by this experience and go home wiser and
discreeter men. It was not so very long ago that the sea.
going abilities of our chips und the seamanship to
maticals•re them, were called in question. A naval review
of these ships would set ouch doubt• and cavils at rest
Few entertained any doubts on this bead ; still "seeing
is believing: said a good tad proverb. Again the country
ban willingly and cheerfully found the money, and they
would naturally like to see something so real and tengilde
as the magnificent fleet, in which • considerable part of it
had been attended. Out navy 1., at all time., as English-
men inhabiting an island, very near and dear to us: but
just now, when the whole nation is awaiting the issue
with • aublime grandsnr, a mighty resolute patience, and
• silent CAW strength, typified well and correctly by
those ships now lying at rest in our harbour, that this
nation with ita heart stirred to its depth., and its noises
beating full and strong, should teel an Intense loading to
lee for themselves "those watch doga,"whoes appearance
alone at the scene of action, passing allotted and r.-ady
thereto, through the Straits, lined on each side with
fortications, armed with allmower(ial guns, were alone
sufficient, without bark or growl, to quiet) and overawe
the would-be spoilers and marauder.. What more fitting,
let him ask, than that when Lord Beaconsfield returns, as
he shortly will to cull thcse strawberry leaves that our
own Princess Royal (God bless her) sets crown upon the
bouquet she sent him on his arrival at Berlin, when he
returns to lit on and adorn that Ducal Coronet, which he
basso well deserved and so richly merited, than that his
watchdogs who have played their part so well, shall
accompanr him home, and here, Mining our inner line of
ships, shall, holding • Naval Review, give the entire
nation an opportunity of geeing of what stuff our naval
police are constituted, who without firing • shot or striking
a blow, bare, under his direction and God's rood prowl-
deeee, broil ght home tons Naos with Honour. (Applause.)
Dr. MOORHEAD had been entrusted with • resolution
which he had much pleasure to propising, because he felt
sure it was one which would commend keel( to the hearty
and enthusiastic acceptance of all present. It was is

That we. the Mayor and burgesses of the ancient and
loyal borough of Weymouth and Meloom,* R-gis, in
public meetirut assembled, beg the consideration of the
Government to the fact that the Fleet now lying In
Portland Roads offers a favourable opportunity of holding
a Naval Review during its stay there, and that. circum-
stances permitting, such airiew would be highly esteemed
by Her Majesty's subjects."
(Apo. ) He might °hoarse that patriotism is • senti.
meat as widespread and universal as the human nes. We
remember the words of the poet:—

"Breathe. there the man, with anal ao dead.
Who never to himself hath said,
• This is my owq my native land I '"

But whatever ties may exist elsewhere to bind men to
their fatherland, there could, he thought, be no doubt
that England has BUB stronger claims upon the regard
and affection of her people thou those, probably, of any
other country in the world. We enjoy here the Inestith
able privileges of likr-rty, both civil and religious, of
justice impartially administered, of constitutional Govern-
ment, and every other blaring of modern civilisation.
As Mir RONIIIMII4I Arun was the proud boa 4 of the ancient
Roman. so any man may indulge an honest pride in
claiming to he • subject of the world-wide British empire.
This remark applies with additionai force at the preeent
juncture. Our national Prestige, he wes hePPY to say,
never stood higher than at the present moment As
patriotism, then, is one of the noblest sentiments of the
human breast, it was, he thought, mast desirable for the
Government to adopt every measure calculated to teeter
and develop it and surely no better moans could be
employed for that purpose than to give the mares of our
countrymen an opportunity of witnessing such • grand
display of our naval power, as might be readily prorated
In our waters. We all know that no description, how-
ever gloving, could convey an adequate idea of the
tremendous power of such modern engines of war as
our magnificent ironclad, and turret-ships. They require
to be men to be folly appreciated. In the language of
ths post—
" What we hear,
with weaker passim will affect the heart.
Than when the faithful eye beholds the part."

- -
A. the Congress is now sitting at Berlin all European
difficulties would, we have every reason to hope, soon he
amicably settled and there then be no question of inter-
national delicacy or etiquette to interfere with the
carrying out of the Naval Demonstration they advocated.
This wag •mciat important point in conn-ction with the
object. It should be distinctly understood that the
Inhabitants of Weymouth had no wish to embarrass the
ivernment by asking them to do anything °upon,' to
National interests or considerations of Imperial policy.
On the contras 7 they thought it inexpedient that •
Review should be held until peace bad been practically
eecured, and Lord Beeconsfield had returned from the
Congress. Such • Review could not then be possibly
mended in the light of menace to the peace of Europe.
(Hen, hear, and applause.) —But while we urge upon the
Government the desirability of holding • review—only ,
for patriotic objects, and to afford the nation at large. the
gratification of seeing one of the most satisfactory remits
of the recent Vote of Credit, we venture at the nme time
to express • confident opinion that on no part of the
South Coast could • more suitable locality for the purpose
be found than the Weymouth Bay. Tata sa we are aware,
extends from SL Albaa's Head to the Bill of Portland,
and embraces en expenn of water teeming four or five
miles in width, and 12 or 15 in length—s space, which it
I. believed, would be ample for the ntanceuvring of the
largest Fleet in the world. The chief feature, however,
which commands it to the public consideration is the extra-
ordinary facility which it offers to spectators, however
numerous they may be, to wither the review from the
grassy slopes and commanding heights of Portland, as
well as from the hills and lofty cliffs that surround like
so amphitheatre, our noble and picturesque Bay. He wee
well aware that Naval Reviews have usually bean held at
Soitheed ; but surely no one who has had the opportunity
of witnessing them will for • moment contend that South-
sea common offers the same coign of vantage to this
...totem as the lofty eminences of Portland- He had the
pleasure of being present on the occasion of the military
.
Review which took place few years since in connection
with the Autumn Menceuvres on Seduthartain. and
from the lofty height of Bowan onereed
with satisfaction every detail of grand
military spectacle. What Bowan Hill w2B on that
tannins (and it accommodated hundreds of thou-
sands) Portland and the surrounding heights would
be to the Naval Review, wLicb we are contemplating.
Without dwelling further upon the unusual advantages
...would by our beautiful Bay, for • review of the
Channel Sqoadron, consisting se it doe., of about 23
nips of war, he might mention that Weymouth offers
ample facilitie, for conveying by rail the thousands of OUR.
countrymen who would no doubt desire to with as ilia
novel spectacle. The Great Western Railway Co:vanes
would undertake to make adequat" provision for this
! object. In conclusion should the Admiralty adopt the
suggestion of this important meeting, and determine to
bold the Review in our waters, inch a measure would, be
believed, not only enhance the welivnerited popularity
of our Navy, but contribute In so highs degree to the
dame of patriotism which burns brightly in the heart of
every true Englishman. Lipp/nun
Mr. 11. Neagle had much nlsssnr. in seoesdlag the
reeolatket drat. proposed by Dr. beeriag la Wad
as ward' tivoitgable opPortiodle thet