The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-31 00:00:00

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THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 31, 1847.

FUSE! 70/1 LIPIII.-0. Tuesday, US flak et Cluideas
ease ware ban drives dews. to
tor slaughter, almost 40.1 Asa semplhizt.t,
to ttur great asmemesell sal el tlie moss fa
&e aad Ord *els Neese at Vll6Ollll elliteales towards
the OesosieSs law sir OM, from *de put wolglis,
were sesa sempast too diessad, a,,tl were yeepoiely ersusel;
but a low of the ware sod non metre blob el=oetheir
way over the beses. esi ware oyeedily beak the

thrown up, batteries planted at the numerous angles, and
towers erected close to the sea. These works were com-
pleted at an enormous impinge to the country. If all this
was requisite In 1803,-is it not essential in 1847 to see
to their repairs ? The canal is new in many
its silted up, and at other places it is nothing
More than a common marsh ditch : the ramparts
ere in a very dilapidated condition ; the batteries
which existed the side of the canal and at the
forts of Rye and Winchelsea teem quite obliterated, end at
other places they are in • ruinous state. Neither is there a
piece of ordnance on the whole of this unprotected tout, a
length of upwards of forty milts. If the government should
think proper to pet this part of the coast in a state of de-
fence, the towns of Rye and Winchelsea, being situated on
elevated and prominent spots, might be converted into gar-
rison towns and forts, they being situated about thirty
miles from Dover and forty from Newhaven. The ancient
towns of Rye and Winchelsea, in connexion with the Cinque
Porta, have been in former days places of no small importance
to the kingdom, in furnishing both sailors and ships or war
to augment our navy. The harbour of Rye was at that
period of sufficient magnitude to admit of a sixtry•gun ship
coming up to the town. Since that period the harbour has
czoldecay, in consequence of the limited funds at the
of the commotion, arising from a remission of the
dues formerly paid to this port from all vessels pasting up
or down Channel. If those dues bad notlbeen remitted, I
have every reason to believe that the harbour of Rye would,
at the present time, have been the beat harbour of refuge ou
the coast of Kest and Sussex. Notwithstanding the &el
conies the present commissioners of the harbour have
had to contend against from limited funds end from the
influence of the limited interest (possessed before the
commission was reformed by the act passed on the
11th of July, 1830, empowering the shipowners and
ratepayers to elect • portion of the commusiosers), I
rejoice to sit,, that, through the perseverance of the
existing commissioners, Milted by Mr. Cubitt, the harbour
is now in a very improving state. The Lords of the Admi-
ralty have caused surveys to be made, and have greatly
approved of the works now in progress, and which the com-
missioner* are enabled to execute by the aid of the 10,0001.
compensation paid by the South Eastern Railway Company
for improving the harbour and channels; and should the
government grant a sum for extending the present works
the harbour would soon become one of great ser-
vice—not only for the navy in time of war, but
also for steamers to take in coal, and shelter for merChent
vessels, besides the facility of communication from the
port of Rye to Dover on the oae side, and to New-
haven and Portsmouth on the other, together with the
direct route to London. Taking all these advantages into
ansideration, in the event of war the port of Rye would
be most eligible for an arsenal, situated, as it is, on the nar-
row part of the British channel. Although advocating the
utmost precaution, and an ardent desire to be fully prepared
for the worst, by national defences, I am of opinion that
England need not fear the inflictioa of war, if the people de-
terminedly support the preson government in giving free-
dom to our commerce and extending free trade all over the
world, which will lay the foundation for a lasting peace, and
prove a greater national defence than all the tortifications
which Englinii's heroes and military engineers can coatrive."

CLERICAL.
CHURCH RUTORATION.—The Church of Methwold,
Norfolk, the entre of which overlooks the Fen district for many
mike, tias during the lest few mondis, undergone a great
internal change. The old pews of various uses and shapes
have been replaced by uniform open seats capable of ac-
commodating 500 persona. An unsightly gallery at the wont end of
the nave has been removed and the western arch and window of the
steeple have been restored to view. The arches of the nave, which
are curious in an arctiltectural point of view, have been clamed from
whitewash and look all the better for the purifying process. The
Church wee reopened for theme Service on the 29th Mei when the
Rev. W. IL llama, the rural dean, preached the opening sermon.