The Express.
London, England, 1862-04-05 00:00:00

EXI

" line-of-battle ships and seven illlllll.B of frigaies
" which could easily be adapted ; ladwe have also
" eight large corvettes which could be adapted to
" °wry at least some guns protected by iron plates.
" With regard to our vessels generally, we could
" out down 20 line-of-battle ships and adapt them
" to coast service ; and as they have their machi-
" nery on board, it would be at a comparatively
" small cost that they would be produced. While
" doing that we should still have a powerful fleet
" of niore than 40 ships to oppose any wooden
" fleet that we might have to engage. Therefore,
" if the nations of the world Irish to have iron ships
" and to fight with iron, we are as well prepared
" as anybody."
Those who clamour because the Government
has not adopted a headlong course, with "No
" hesitation " for its motto, whose cry is " Break
" up," " Reconstruct," while they deprecate fore-
sight and prudence, may find fault with this pro-
gramme, and the more so, as the FIRST LORD
states that he hopes to carry it out without
enormous expense ; but the country, we believe,
will accept it with satisfaction. We are thank-
ful to be able to report in another
column, that the opinions we have advocated
for two years respecting the defence of our coasts,
after being adopted in the House of Commons,
have been accepted by the Government, and that
the construction of the Spithead forts is to be
suspended for two months, to give time for a
reconsideration of the decision formerly sanctioned
by Parliament. Considering that for the money
which the three forts at Spithead would met we
may get fourteen iron-cased ships, we feel at liberty
mgratulate the country on the resolution
unccd by the Government.

bt Court.

WLNDSOR CASTLE, Amt. 4.

Her Majesty, accompanied by the Princess
Louie and Princess Beatrice, drove out in an open carriage
and four yesterday afternoon, attended by the Countess of
CaWon sod the Equerry in Waiting.

Her Majesty and the Princess Alice, Prince Alfred,
Mamas Helena, Princess Louie,' and Princess Beat:ion
left Win:lsar Castle to-day at 3o' clock for Osborne.
The suite in attendance included the Cousins of CsWoo,
Lay Augusta Brace, the Hon. Lucy Kerr, Lord Alfred
Paget, Colonel Sir Charles Phipps, Lieutenant-General tie
Hos. C. Grey, Lieutenant-Colonel 1)u Plat, Major Correll,
and the Master at the Household.

'lto Bishop of St. Helena had an interview with the
Due of Newcastle on Thursday. at the Colonial-efitee.
Mr. Drummed Wolfe had an interview with his race

PORT9ltov PS, Amu. 4.

The Victoria and Albert, royal yacht, Captain
G. H. Seymour, C. 8., went okapi& the Claraae►lard, at
Gosport, to-day, to embark her Majesty tie Qum°, and a
part of the Royal Pamdy, for conveyasoe to Osborn*.
The Royal Highnewies Prince Alfred and Prince Leo-
pold arrived at the dockyard at 5.30 p.m., and proceeded to
Caboose in the Firs queen, Mater Commander Paul.

His Excellency the Ambassador of France and
the Counter de Mahal& will shortly leave Coventry
House, Piccadilly, far Albert Ore House, the realism, of
the French Embrey.
The Duke of SL Albans received a select party
at dinar last evening, at his reeldeeme in Hill-street.
The Earl and Countess Stanhope will leave town
is a few days for Caroming Perk, Meek for the holidays.
The Earl and Countess of Tankerville arrived at
the Priliou Hotel, Folkestone, on Thursday, from the
Coarser, and left the following day for London.
A committee is being formed for affording to the
people of the three ldngdonse, and particularly the labouring
dram; an opportunity of contributing to the national tr-
owel to the Prince Coeur. It is desirable that the com-
mittee should represent every dm cd labour and every
&Domination of religioe, end we (Pima) understood that
the names of those who have already camested to act go
fax to answer this description. The now committee will
work on ground which has been as yet untrodden, and will
in no way interfere with the Lord Mayor's committee, the
subscriptions to which have been horn the wealthy and
mercantile clams. Mr. Jobs M. Clabon, of Great George.
street, Westminster, cal Mr. Samuel Redgrave, of Hyde-
park-gate, are to be the honorary secretaries.
The SUSSEX Espreq; is au enthusiastic supporter
of the budget of 1052, and proposes that the two counties
comber to celebrate the great event. " Let us have no
poor select meethg, but a dimmer at such a price as will
enable many who have shared in past eufferinp to take put
in the present joy ; and, afore all, let it be does at once.
Do not let us wait until the ant warmth of our emotions
has rased away, and the deep glow of gratitude has sub-
sided into a mild mealtime of approval ; but let all arra-
ble and join io expressing WM' deep sense of the services
which have been rendered to the cause by the noblemen
end gentlemen who have taken part in the agitation
which has at length been crowned with so glorious a

The following are the thirteen tuembere who
voted last night &gland Mr. Bentiock's amendment, "That
this heves will, on Thursday, the Ist day of May, resolve
Resit int, a committee, to consider of authorising the appli-
cation of any portion of the moneys which have been voted
for the construction of fort., end not already expended or
appropriated, to the construction of iron-sheathed Team*
or to the conversion of wooden vessels into iron-sheathed
vessels" :—Mears. E. Bairns, B. Daleish, M. Drumm, H. E.
Ewing, J. Green, W. U. Heypte, W. Lawson, J. R. Mills,
W. J. Monson, H. Pease, Baron L. de Rothschild,
Mews. J. White, and H. Woods. Tellers, Mama Cross-

ley and W. Forster.
Mr. Moffatt, on the 29th, will move for a select
committee to inquire ioto the emotional the petty chance

on commerce imposed in 1860.
The National Portrait Gallery, 29, Great
George-street, Westminster, will be open to the gab& on
Easter Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, from 10 to
5 o'clock.

-
The Vocal Association having obtained the con-
met of Miss Leiden Pine and W. Harrison, Beg., to give •
selection from Mr. Beowlict's opera (the Lily of Ifillarvity),
will introduce for the first time in the concert-room an
entire selection of the principal gems of this opera on Wed•
nesclay evening next, April 9, itt St James's-hall. The solo
singers announced are Miss Banks, Ulm Augusta Thomson,
Mr. Swift, Mr. Tennant, and Mr. Bentley. The choir of
200 voices will sing the " Boatmen's Chorus." Mr. Bene-
dict will conduct the performance.