The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-20 00:00:00

TO VIZ IDITOIL OP Till DAILY KIWI.

THE NAVAL DEFENCES OF THE COUNTRY.

8114.--Of the large number of her Majesty's ships
in commission there is barely one that is prepared or
designed to resist any of those sudden aggressions I
on our coast, which are now so commonly believed to
possible. At this, the principal naval port of the !,
empire, there arc the Britannia, 120, the Rodney,92,
and the Retribution, 2s, steam-frigate; but these,
when complete in their equipment, which will be ,
sometime first, all proceed on ((Reign service; the
two that to the Mediterranean (the Britannia, as
flagship, to the commander-in-chief there), and the
latter to Lisbon or Gibraltar. The Victory, flag-
ship, and the Excellent, gunnery-ship, are too
old to venture out of the harbour; and the
Neptune 120, the now ordinary depot-skip,
will be some months before she is equipped, and that
will only be for harbour service. The vessel that is
best calculated and more particularly intended for
the defence of the port is the Blenheim, screw line-
of-battle ship, of 110 guns, but she is having repairs
to her steam-1 ipso, which will take some weeks to
complete. The only other ships in commission at
Portsmouth comprise the royal pleasure-yachts and a
few steam-tender and tugs. Thus there is not a
single vessel of any useful character in commission at
Portsmouth that would be available for immediate
weeks', toe au emergency, to defend the coasts of
Hants, Sussex, Dorset, and Kent, without mention.
ing the Channel Islands.
At Plymouth the caste is about the same, the ships
in commission there being the Inipregnable, flag
ship ; St. George, ordinary depot ship ; Hotspur,
gunnery ship (which, of course, are not designed, or
anj thing like fit for sea ;) Ilecute, steam shop of six
guns. and a few small tenders and tugs. The Tweed,
Is guns. was paid off at this port OH Friday; and the
tr gun brig Rapid is only waiting for a fair wind to
pnotocti to the East bialys—she has no doubt sailed
by this time.
The eastern ports are equally devoid of ships in a
condition fit for an emergency. The flanges, 84,
and the Southampton, 30, have just returned home
front foreign service ; but these are under orders to
be paid off. At the different ports there is a comber
of steamers and other ships which are described as
"advanced;" but, probably, before any half dozen
of these could be removes( into the class of " ready
for lieu." the necessity, or danger, if there really
be any, will have passed away.
Huwever, on account of the alarm that has been
raised in nierence to the defence-less state of our
shores, it is confidently stated that a large
addition is to be made to our naval forma at the
opening of parliament. But whether it is an ami-
mentation or a better di-tribution of her Majesty
naval forces, is the point that calls for consideration.
For whilst the southern and eastern comets have
hanlly a ship to defend them in ease of sudden
attack, powerful British fleets and squadrons arc
stationed in almost every other part of the globe.
In the distant l'acific we have 15 vessels, (three of
which are steam-sloops), rangingfrom 30 gunseaeh to
4, and having a total of 292 guns; in the East
ladies there are 14 vessels, 4 of which are steamers,
ranging front 72 guns each downwards, having a
total of 283 guns; on the south-east coast of America
there are 8 vessels, 3 of which are steamers, having
a total of 88 guns; on the North American and West
Indian station there are 14 vessels, 5 of which are
steamers, ranging from 79 guns, having a total of
253 guns; at the Cape of Good Hope there are
9 vessels, three of which are steamers, having a total
of 95 guns ; on the coast of Africa there are 23
vessels, 11 of which are steam frigates and steam
sloops, having a total of 181 guns; in the Mediter-
ranean there are 20 vessels, 9 of which arc steamers,
with 6 line-of-battle ships of from 120 to 78 guns
each and two 30-gun frigates, having a total of 780
guns; and in the Lisbon squadron there arc S vessels,
consisting of one 90-gun ship, two 50-gun frigates,
one GO, one 311, and one 21-gun screw steamers, and
two smalier steamers, mounting in the whole 318
gulls.
By the above statement it will be seen there is no
want of an efficient and powerful naval force : all
that is needed is a better distribution of it. An in-
crease of the navy will entail a vast burden on the
country, and cannot be effective for some months,
even *if a vote for it is obtained; whilst the
Lisbon squadron might he brought home at
once without any injury to British interests
by the change. The last &deices from Lisbon
acquainted us with the fact that a great demon-
stration hail been made by the Commodore's landing
the marines and the marine artillery, the object
being to makea " salutary" impression on the populace
in favour of the government. If there be any cause
for apprehension as regards our own coast, it would
surely be wiser to have such demonstrations nearer
home rather than leave ourselves without a ship to
protect us in order that foreign nations may be
coerced into obedience to governments and dynas-
ties they despise.—l remain, sir,
Yours obediently,
Portsmouth, Jan. 19. AN ENGLISHMAN.

Itv.i.tcrous PeRSECUTtON IN TINCANT.—The fol-
lowing facts reach us by a private letter from Florence:
" The Grand Duke of Tuscany continues to persecute pro-
tritest Christians. One of these being very ill, was lately
attended by two of his friends. The physician Gallori, a
man of no account in his profession hut a true follower of
the priests and of the police, instead of apprising the family
of the state of the rick man, as was his simple dot,, in order
that his various social and religious duties might be at-
tended to, and seeing that the poor invalid did
not ask for the confessor, because he said that he hail peace
in the faith and in the promises of his Saviour, he him-
self ailed the priest, who immediately hastened to do his
part ; and forthwith asked the sick man if he believed in
the Pope. " No; but I believe in Jesus Christ." An
animated discussion followed this beginning, and the sick
man, who quoted many texts of Scripture in opposition to
the nonsense and temptations of the evil minded man, be-
came so tired, end his illness so aggravated, that his friend
who was attending on him, and who up to that moment
had been silent in a corner of the room, conceived that he
was bound in charity to rise, and ha said, "My friend,
te*m have spoken well, but now it is enough."
pou this, the priest, looking angrily at the speaker,
took his hat, and ran to the Frefettura in order
to vent his rage. Thirty gendarmes went to arrest
the two attendants upon their friend and the sick man
himself is watched by see of the gendirmet at his side' who
allows no one to eater the room but the wife and the
brother. The priests went sumemively with estr
preparations for administering the communion ;Zre=
care to keep away at that moment even the above-men-
tioned penman of the family in order that they might not
have witnesses. But the continued abiding of one of the
gendarmes, sufficiently shows that the sick man has not been
wanting in faith. The two new prisoners are tranquil in
spirit, because they know that " Blessed are those who are
persecuted fur righteousness sake." This happened on the
2nd January, 18S2.
Vi'e-sTMlsts2rait REMMLN fIOCIrrT. Yesterday
evening, a meeting of the members of this society took
place at the Exeter lintel, Strand, for the purpose of re•
ceiving the report of the committee, and of electing the
committee and officers for the ensuing year. The chair
was taken by Mr. Oecsin. After the confirmation of the
minutes end the election of new members, Mr. Lewis read
a report of the proceedings for the last three years, during
whish period the society had, it was stated, been in com-
parative suspense. It stated that the liberal interest in
Westminster had not been for years past in a more otitis-
(factory position, and that it would be able to return both
members at the next election. Reference was made to the
Hungarian struggle and its result, and warm sympathy ex-
pressed for the Hung, • arian cause. The committee regarded
the retirement of Lord Palmerston from the ministry
as an event of deep significance, and anxiously
awaited explanations in parliament, after which it
might bevene necessary to elms' an opinion on the
subject. It was remarked that the country was quite
ripe for the new Reform Bill, and that it would be the
duty of the society to watch the course of the government in
reference to that question. With regard to the final's*.
it wee stated that although the members had not been called
upon for their usual annual payment for the last two yens%
the society was only in debt to the amount of 101. 7s.,whisli
liability had been incurred by the secretary for expenses onfi
of pocket. Mr. Lewis concluded by move m the adoption Si
the report, whieb was seconded. Mr. T. Sounders cones
pleined of the recent inactivity of the county, and urged 11111
the meeting the duty of seeking to obtain a corporation fag
the City of Westminster. Altogether there had of late beet
great supineness on the part of Westminster reformers, sad
he hoped that in future this would not be tbe mew
The chairman decreed that fifty-five names he/
recently heen placed on the registry for West Surrey..
a sufficient number almost to turn the election, and
could not, therefon., be said that the Westminster ream=
bad done nothing. Alter some further discumbles ate
report was adopted and ordered to be printed, under the
direction of the committee, fur circulation among the memo
bens. 'the committee were then elected for the year. Mr.
Charlwoot and Mr. Thigeett were respectively elected
treasurer and secretary. It was also resolved that the prin-
ciples, niles, and regulations of the society should be referred
for consideration and amendment to the committee, who
were to report thereon as soon as possible. This terminated
the proceedings.
LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN AND MIDLAND
RA a I.WA v.—The long-pending negotiations between these
two companies are under.tood to have terminated In an
agreement that neither of them without consultation shall
entertain terra' with other railways competing with them.