The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-10 00:00:00

unexpected 50,000 the very moment of their
arrival, we need not concern ourselves with ima-
gining the fate of the odd 20,000 with which Lord
PALMEBSTON'S fresh imagination bestrews our
coasts. Nor need we go at all into the question of
the 150,000 which admittedly can only come after
long preparation in time of declared war.
When war breaks out we shall cer-
tainly have spirit enough to raise our
army, our militia, and our volunteers to any
strength requisite to meet our foe on a fair
field. But it is well that we should also recollect,
what was touched on by one or two of the speakers,
that it is physically and morally impossible that
for many years to come there should be any in-
vasion dreamt of by any foreign Power. Wooden
ships, whether men-of-war, transports, or rafts, are
under modern gunnery become utterly out of the
question as a means of carrying an army across an
enemy's seas. They are now but floating slaughter-
houses—slaughterhouses which burst into flames
even as the first death-shriek rises within them,
and sink below the waves while the flames are still
quivering on high. is it conceivable that any
foreign Power will send even 20,000, far less
100,000 of its troops, on an expedition in which it
needs not a hostile fleet, but merely a chance
encounter with an iron-cased frigate or gunboat,

or, escaping that, the appearance of a
field-piece within range of the anchorage,
to send every soul to the bottom t Since the
days of Sinope, and the proof of the effect of
horizontal shell firing which it yielded, there has
been an end of expeditions by sea, until after, as
in the case of the Black Sea, it has been swept of
every enemy's cruiser, or, as in the Mediterranean,
it merely offers secure transport to the harbours
of a friendly Power. So, till our neighbours have
built themselves iron-clads enough to embark the
expedition, of whatever strength it may be, an
event which can scarcely come to pus without our
knowing it, we sleep in security.
But such practical considerations are below the
attention of the Government or of the House of
Commons. Heedless of the warnings of its wisest
counsellors it persists year after year in voting the
millions which avowedly are given only because a
favourite actor asks the slight gift of indulgence
to his little whim from a pleased and amused
audience. So it spends the sunshine of its brief
day. Happily for the country, that day will have
closed ere the full peril of its recklessness will need
to be seriously met.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-JuLy 9.

FORTIFICATIONS (PROVISION FOR EXPENSES)
BILL

Order for second reading read. Motion made, and question
proposed, " That the bill be now read a wooed time."
Amendment proposed, to leave out from the word
"That" to the sod of the question, in order to add the
words "no further expenditure should be incurred for the
present upon that part of the project for foetifiestions
which is based oe the aimunption that an enemy might
land in force and attempt to besiege Portsmouth end
Plymouth, except on such works as are inn very advanced
state of progress" (Sir Frederic Smith) ; instead thereof.
question put, ' That the words proposed to be left out
stand part of the question." The house divided :—Ayes,
132; noes, 61.
ATM _ _

...
Adam, W. P. Gavin, Major PBllll. C.
*swell. J. Gibson, T. M. Paget, Lord A.
Balllle, H. J. Glyn. U. 0. Paget, Lord C.
Baring, Mr N. T. Cowbell, O. J. Palmerston. Vioct.
Baring, T. G. Graham, Lord W. Park-r, Major
Bathurst, A. A. Greenwood, J. Patten, CoL
Beals, 8. Gray, Capt. Peel, Mir R.
Beaumont, W. B. Grey, Sir 0. Peel, F.
Beaumont, S. A. Gurney, .1. H. Price R. 0.
Beecrolt, G. S. lianbluy, R. Pritchard, J.
Benthack, G. W. Hardesigh, J. A. Posh, D.
Berkeley, Col. klartington, Marq.of Puller, C. W.
Black, A. Hassan!. IL 'WPM S. J.
Bonham. Carter, J. Headiam, T. E. Howley. S. T.
Bouverle, E. P. Henley, J. W. Hamel], Y. W.
Staunton, T. W. Henley, Lord Salt, Thomas
Bridges, Slr B. W. Herbert, H. 4. Sabo/Meld, W.
Briscoe, J. I. Heaketh, Sir T. G. Selwyn. C. J.
Bohm, IL A. Hodgson, X. Boinerville,Slr W.M.
Buller, J. W. holland, P. Spooner, R.
Bury. Vhict. Horgan, T. B. Starpoole, W.
Batt, I. Flothan, Lord Staiideld, J.
CaLrd, J. Howes, X Steel, J .
Calms, Sir H. MC. Humbersten,P. S. Fite, W.
Cardwell, X Hutt, W. Tollemache, P. J.
Carnegie. C. Ingham, B. Toilemache, J.
Cartwright, Col. Jervis, Capt. Turner, C.
Churchill, Lord A. Jervolos, Sir 1. C. Vane, Lord H.
' Clay, J. Jolliffe, Sir W. 11V Verney, Sir H.
Cobbold, J. C. Xlummote, Col. Villiers, C. P.
Colthurst, Sir G. Knatchbull-Mugs. Walcott, Admiral
Crawford, B. I.V. len, E. Walpole, S. H.
Davie, Sir H. IL Ward, A. H. Walter. J.
Denman, G. Leader, N. P. Watkins, Col.
Duff, H. E. Leighton, Sir B. Watlington, J. W.
Duke, Sir J. Locke, J. Western, 8.
Dundas, Sir D. Low, 8, P. White, L
Du Pre, C. G. 'Fall. 0. Wickham, H. W.
Egerton W. Malmo, B. Wood, Sir C.
Enda, J. Massey. W. N. Woodd, B. T.
Press, Sir D. L. Matheson, A. Wyvill, IL
Farquhar, Elr H. Morrison, WA
Ifergumon. Sir J. Newdegate, C. N. TELMA.
Fortescue. C. 8. O'Brien, Sir P. Brand. H. B.
Gl , Visa. O'Hagan, T. Dunbar. Mr W.
Gard, S. Padmore, B.
NOES.
Angentein, W. Ewing, H. IL Monts, D.
Actell, J. H. Ferrouy, Lord North, F.
Ayrtoti, A. B. Forster, W. B. Onslow, G.
Aytouu. IL 8. Ooidamid, Sir I. H. Osborne, R. B.
Baines, E. Greco*, J. Peacocke, 0. IL
Barnes, T. Hadfield, G. Pete, St: S. IL
Bosley, T. Hennessy, J. P. Pillibigtos, J.
Besinlah, P. B. Heygate, W. U. Potter, E.
Berkeley, C. P. 1104.101111011, G. Seely, 0.
Blackburn, P. Hubbard, J. 0. Smith. J. R.
Blake, J. Laird, J. Sullivan, IL
=7, Sir G. layman, W. Sykes, W. H.
B. Leathain, E. A. Taylor. P. A.
Beaton. C. lee, W. Vresthead, J. P.
Cobbett, J. H. Lennox, Lord G. G. White, J.
Cobden, B. Lindsay. W. S. Williams, W.
Colebrook', WT.& Lougileid, H. Wyld, J.
Cos,
W. Lagoa, P.
Macaulay, X. TaLtuus.
' Duleisib E. Maguire, J. F. Smith. Sir P.
Dhryn, 1.. L. MUM. J. R. Dickson, Col.
Doniton, P. Mitchell, T. A

THE ArOMENTATION OF BENEFICES BILL.—The
following an the twenty-nine members who voted last eight
against the woad reading of this bill:—Mess. W. P.
Adam, A. 8. Arlon, E. Baines, A. Black, R. P. Bouveris,
J. Gird, Sir H. J. Cholmeley, Mears. R. Cobden, W.
Con, R. Dalglish, L. L Dillwyn, Sir C. Douglas, Messrs. F.
Doniton, H. F. Duff, H. E. C. Ewing, Lord Fermoy,
Messrs. J. Gasesig, G. Hadfield, W. a Lindsay, J.
Locke, J. R. Mills, R. Padmore, Sir 8. H. Peto, Mr. J.
Pilkiugton, Sir J. V. Shelley, Messrs. M. T. Smith, P. A.
Taylor, J. White, and W. Williams. Tellers, Mr. Barnes
and Lord Henley.

In committee on the Fortifications (Provision for
Espsnass) Bill, Sir Morton Foto will propose to leers out
from schedule the following Acing :—Spithead—Hone Saud
Fort, 25,0001. ; No Man's Load, 25,0001. ; Sturbridge,
25,0001.

On Monday Mr. Richard Long will ask the First
Lord of the Treasury whether the government has received
any information of the reconstruction by Russia of the bat-
teries at Bomanmod ; and whether they have forwarded
any remonstrance to the Russian government on the subject.

If there be truth (nays the Monsimg Post)
in • rumour very generally circulated among mem-
bers of the House of Commons, the next act of the Roebuck
and Lindsay farm will be one which will entitle this
comic performance to the title of " Low Life Up Stain."
There are manifestly persons who were never made
for imperial C0116,1011C131, and Mr. Lindsay is about
to prove that he is one of them. He is about, it
is confidently said, to favour the Roue of Com-
mons with • detailed account of his several inter-
views w►th the " great ruler of the French." This account
be is to read from • note-book, in which he jotted down the
substance of each conversation when be returned from the
imperial closet; and, to cap the climax of absurdity, he
purposes, as he gravely assures his friends, to place the
identical note-book in the hands of the Speaker, that the
right boo. gentleman may be satisfied by ocular inspection
that it is not a fabricated document, but the genuine and
contemponumons raced of Mr. lAndsay's conversations with
his imperial friend.
Lutanaze ELBCTION. The Belfast Northern

Whip of yesterday uys :—" We have reason to believe
that the petittoo splint the return of Mr. Verner, already
perfected and forwarded, will be lodged either to-day or
to-morrow. We understand that Mr. Verner and his
agents are charged with bnbery, treating, and undue in.
Micros, both at the bet ehmtion and the previous one."