The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-04-26 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We do not hold ourselrei responsible for the opinions of

our correspondents.]

THE FRENCH CHINESE EXPEDITION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY TIMES.

Sir,—A paragraph in your paper of Saturday is
pregnant with importance to every European govern-
ment—to our own more especially. That paragraph is
of four lines only, and runs thus :—" It is said that
instructions given to Baron Gros by the French govern-
ment are to arrange the differences with China, and to
return with the army to France as quickly as possible."
That our blind and infatuated government will weigh
it with the attention which its gravity deserves is ques-
tionable. They would rather shirk consequences than
reason upon signs unmistakeable. But he is a shallow
politician who cannot see, in those simple four lines,
another link in the Imperial policy of the French
ruler, inaugurated with his first assumption of regality.
So far from French assistance being lent to chastise
Chinese insult, it is, on the contrary, intended for the
exclusive purpose of thwarting English operations.
The junction had a double, latent purpose—that of
lulling English suspicion as to French antagonism ;
and, secondly, to frustrate us in the East so as to keep
open a sore there that shall render necessary a military
and naval force in those barbarian seas, thereby dividing
our limited forces, and preventing their concentration
here for home protection against Gallic designs that
cannot be mistaken by idiotcy itself. Trifling as is the
French contingent to our Chinese expedition, yet it
cannot be spared from the six hundred thousand at
home from which it has been severed ; on the
contrary, after Baron Gros has exercised his best
capabilities to stultify our operations in the Chi.
nese affair, he is to use all dispatch to return his
force to French soil and his ships to French har-
bours ! Is there an Englishman with a grain of poli-
tical sagacity within him who cannot see through the
flimsy gauze thrown over an act that ought not to
deceive even non-politic childhood ? And yet our
selfish office-at-any-price Clovernment are hoodwinked
by professions of amity of the greatest master of lying
duplicity and open rascality that ever imposed on credu-
lity, non obstante the multiplied proofs he has given of
his capability in the art of deception. Is it not obvious
that his first object was to throw us off oar guard as to
his belligerent intentions towards ourselves that prepa-
rations for our self-prorectien might be suspended ?
Referring to another quotation in your own gape', what
do we read—why "That the camp of Chalons is double
the extent of that of last year ; that it is to be the
largest camp yet established for military purposes ; the
artillery will occupy a very large space ; the cavalry,
likewise be more numerous," &c. Will our stupids at
the helm, relying en ilqbelen's mercantile concoctions,
and John Bright's festiau logic, pass these Om with
apathetic indifference, or will
.they propose to check-
mate ? shall see, lam no querulous terrorist,
Mr. Editor, but if our legislators do not bear down the
Cobden and Bright influence over the Miuistry we 4411
shortly, very shortly, I fear, be caught at a disadvantage,
and we shall be carried to the verge of national destruc-
tion, when the forcible-feebles now forming the Govern-
ment will play the trick they are but too familiar with ;
they will heat a cowardly retreat, leaving to Conserva-
tive successors the task of righting the ship, arranging
the finances, putting things in settled order, find, when
all is placed in a working groove, they will be prepared
for again discharging the feathered arrow of "Reform"
to overthrow the existing administration, and again
resume office for further destructive aggressions on the
Constitution.

That any English government could be found weak
enough to put t4e least confidence in Louis Napoleon,
argues incapacity for office. Had we but one leading
mind at the head of the Administration, capable of
appreciating that astute parvenu on the one hand, and
our position and safety on the other, we might have
some hope of returning to earlier traditions, form
European friendships, compact a firm coalition with
continental Powers, and shake off the French incubus
tb at is isolating us from every other Power, subduing in
detail each of the aintinental nationalities, , and prepar-
ing for a period (I fear too OroTimate) Then it will
become ,a single-handed contest between him and our-
selves.

I consider the present time to be a crisis with us
calling for the boldest and best energies of our ablest
statesman, and certainly for a very different government
to that which is now frittering away our finances to
propitiate a man whom no sacrifices anti courtesies of
ours can divert from the purpose of Ms ag,grandisement
and our humiliation. BROOXVALE.