The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-12 00:00:00

Eke OrprelO•

00VINT4AZD.ZN.

TRW Enema, THE ROSE OF CASTILE. Maori W. H.
Reims. A. BC. Alb7n, and W. Harrison : Winn L and 8. Fyne
—And THIS BEGGAR'S OPERA. lams L Prie and 1. Isaacs
Ht. W. Barna:kn.—Conductor, Mt. A. Mallon.—Coaunenoe at 7.

HATMkRKXT.

nits )(truss. Yr.
&Ahern—OUß AIIXRICAN COUSIN. Wars. Sothern. Beek_
Move sod Chlppesdsle . Mesdames Angel. Ssoirdos. and
Harris—Aid SHOCKING IV/LVTII, Yr. Couples.

lIINCIOWS.

hue Emus, PA171:811f1711N7 Yearn Vining, Nelson,
Fisher: Mariana Kneeled end Ir.aie 001eNDY
of NUCOR.% Messrs Vining. Nelson, end the &others Webb.
—And JACK'S AINIVAL IRON CANTON.

LYCIVM.

This Ivensa, TES LOST CHILD. Mr. Wlddleomb sad
K P. Lidera:l.—Bß, DZIION10„ a Love Story. Messrs.
Isehtet. Ilrearrhais, hoary, Charles, sad Jordan ; Mews
Kids Terry, Lames, sad Llsworthy. sad Yrs. Lee.

11141.41 f Nl4._

Tilts Moms, EVIL HAviir AND HONEST HEARTS.
Yews. Remolds. Crautord, Iltswood; Yn Lac—Dana qt
by Mlle. Stephan—And THE OUTCASTS. NW S. Mlles
and the Compaay.—Commence at ball-past 6.

HIGH NAT= AT LONDON =DIM
TO DIY Marsha OA Sh. 4m
rarosiow Minim ob. Um-. .A/Ammees. lb. 44m.

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 12.

A QUESTION at least as important and pressing
as that of the construction of an iron-plated fleet,
has arrived at the stage at which Government
takes on itself the responsibility of referring it to
• ae'ect committee. This question relates to the
fitting out and repair of our fleet, wooden and
iron-clad alike. At present we have not in the
whole extent of the Channel the means of fitting
or repairing a dozen men-of-war at • time. At
Portsmouth, which from its position must always
be the dockyard on which we chiefly depend
either before or after an engagement in the Chan-
nel, the existing resources furnish accommodation
in the basin for only five of the larger or seven of
the smaller class of vessels. Even these must bo
so arranged, ou account of the contracted space,
as to cause the greatest inconvenience and delay.
AU the rest in wb;ch any work has to be per-
formed must lie out at anchor in the harbour,
and the materials, stores, and workmen must be
transported backwards and forwards in lighters
and boats. The result is to double the cost of all
work done, and to double the time required to ex-
ecute it. The expense is great in time of peace,
but in time of war the delay would be disastrous.
France has at Cherbourg 40 acres of basin—
wharfage for a whole fleet at • time, and dry
docks in proportion. Her fleet would, therefore,
be ready, afters battle, while ours was still occupied
in repairing damages. AU these facts have been
for years patent to 1.11, and we have frequently in-
sisted on them in detail. Nor is there at Ports-
mouth any difficulty in extending the accommoda-
tion to any required limits. The harbour is an ex-
panse of many hundred acres of soft and shallow
mud, the greater part of which is dry at low
water. To dredge out a portion of this to
the reqeisite extent and to enclose it
with • sea wall is all that was re-
quisite. The soil is already the property of
Government, and convict labour is at hand.
Few cases have ever presented such • combination
of urgency of requirement with facility and
cheapness of execution. At length, last year,
' Government announced that it had really deter-
mined on the work. But when the estimates
appeared there was no vote appropriated to it.
The explanation offered was that some defect had
occurred, and only been discovered at the last
moment, in giving the notices required for the
acquisition of some small p;ece of ground wanted
for an approach, or closing some right of way.
It might have been animated that the Standing
Orders might have been suspended in a crse
involving national safety, but it seemed
otherwise to the Admiralty. This year,
however, there was no such excuse. So • few
thousands bare been set down for the work, and
Government has nominated a Select Committee to
consider whether it should be done, and whether
the `•local interests" will be injuriously affected.
The House of Commons opened its eyes when this
course was proposed. No objection had been
started to the vote, and member after member
rose to protest their conviction that the work was
necessary and should be proceeded with by
Government at once on their own responsibility.
But Government does not mean to incur respon-
sibility even in the protection of England's dearest
interests, and so the House of Commons ia,
against its will, placed in the chair of the Execu-
tive. A little relief was afforded to the solemn
mockery by the impassioned demand of Mr. II EN-
N ESST that, in justice to Ireland, an Irish member
should be added to the Committee on Portsmouth
Dockyard.

But now that the Committee is appointed,
we appeal to then, on the part of the
.
public to give no countenance by their pro-
,' ceedings to the shuffiings of the Government. We
know not what "local interests" may threaten the
seat for Portsmouth, and move the alarm of the
Ministry, but we entreat the Committee, for their
own credit and the sake of the country, to make
the inquiry a very summary and emphatic one.
The Deed of the work is only too notorious, the
ease of its execution is happily confessed ; there
may be a difference of opinion about the precise
details of the measure, but every one admits
that it were better that any scheme
should be adopted than that longer delay
should be incurred. The Committee has in
I .
its power either, by a speedy and decisive report, to
I enable the work to be commenced immediately and
to compel Government to press it on with vigour ;
or to be an accessory, and cover the negligence and
indifference which has marked official action
hitherto in the matter. Now that the House of