The Express.
London, England, 1860-08-03 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Avoun 2
FORTIFICATIONS AND WORKS,
Considered in committee :In the committee.) Ques-
tion wain proposed, " That it is the opinion of
this committee that, towards providing fur the con-
struction of works for the defence of the royal dock-
and arsenals, and of the poets of Dover sad Port.
land, and for the creation of • astral arsenal, a stun, not
exceeding two million pounds, be charged upon the conso-
lidated fund of the United Kingdom, and that
the commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury be
authorised and empowered to num the said sum by
annuities for • term not exceeding thirty years ; and
that such annuities shall be charged upon and be
payable out of the said Consolidated Fund :"—(Visoount
PrOrnerston 4—Amendment proposed, to leave out from
the words "committee that" to the end of the proposed
resolution, ia order to add the words "as the main
defence of Great Britain against prosaion depends on
an efficient easy, it is not now ex ent to enter into a
large expenditure ou permanent and fortifications :"
(Mr. Lindsay :)—Queetion put, "That the words pro-
posed to be left out stand part of the proposed resolu-
tiou :"—The committee divided ; Ayes XB, Noce 39.
NOR.
Bass. If. T. James, B. Smith. A..
Bright, I. Kershaw. J. Staellaoti, M.
Buxton, C. Lawson, W. titans:chi J.
coningham, W. Leatham, E. A. Sullivan, H.
Crook. J. Wems, J. 'Bodine, G.
lialgielsii, B. HaelLvoy, E. I% esthes,t, J. P.
thlitryn, L. L. Monson, W. J. White, J.
Dostilaa, sir C. O'Dotoighne. The N ins 's, B. 11'0.
lernsoy, Lord Patinture, B. Williams. W.
Greene, J. Peto, Sir S. H. Willoughby, Sir H.
Gurney, il. F. Wyli, J.
Hadfield, G. 'Arington. J. TELLTIN.
Hennessy. J. P. Shelley, 8111. V. Lindsay, W. S.
Hodgklasen, O. Smith, J. B. Berkeley, IL F.
Per Govensi KUM.ast. Against Government.
Kr. Warn Colonel Sykes
We. Deaden lir. Baxley
Kr. Hardy 11r. G. Outlaw
The "ayes" included Mr. Gladstone and Mr. M. Gibson,
sad also the leaders of the conservative party; but the
majority is chiefly composed of liberal members. Sir J.
Graham was present during the debate, but took no part in
1 the division.

Ctir Court.

OSBOILNE, Accuerr 2.

_ ------
Her Majesty and the Prince Consort, accom-
panied by the Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess of
Mecklenburg-Strehts, Princess Alice, and Prince Philip of
Wurtemberg, drove out yesterday afternoon in an open
carriage and four.

A second carriage followed with the Couoteee of Desert,
lady Qirulioe Coat, the How. Flora Macdonald, and Baron
Wesekatera.

Colonel the Hoe. IL Hood attended on bonieback.

Prince Azar.. and Prince Adolphus of Mecklenburg-
&relit: rode on horseback, attended by Major Ephinstone.
Her Majesty's dinner party included the Hereditary
Cra —d
Drke and Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelits, Princesn
Alice, Princess Leiningen, Prince Philip of Wurtemberg,
Pr;nce Leiningen, Lady Caroline Cast, the Hon. Mrs. T. M.
Blidulph, Colonel Jeffreys, C. 8., commanding depot batta-
lion at Parkhurst, and Major Elphiratone, R.E.
The Hereditary Grand Duke and Duane and Prince
Adolphus took leave of her Majesty this morning, and
crossed over in the royal yacht Fairy to Gosport, from
whence their royal highnesses went to Kew.
Prince Philip of Wurtemburg has also left Osborne.

A deputation from the Committee of the British and
Foreign School Society had an interview with the Lord Pre-
sident of the Council yesterday, at the Privy Council-0111re,
on the subject of education in Wales.
A deputation from the Waterford Chamber of Commerce
and Harbour Board had an interview with the Right Hon.
T. Milner Gibson yesterday, at the 06ce of the Board of
Trade, OD the subject of Harbours of Refuge.
Mee.ings of the Cambridge University Commissioners
were held at 6, Adelphiterrace, on Tuesday and Wednes.
day. The Commissioners present were the Bishop of
Chester, Lord Stanley, M.P., the Right Hon. Sir Lawrence
Peel, the Rev. Dr. Vaughan, and Horatio Waddington,
Esq•
deputation, consisting of Captain Mangles, the Hon. R.
Dutton, M.P., Mr. 3fonimer, Mr. Crombie, Mr. Scott, and
Mr. Stepp, had an interview with the Right Hon. T.
Milner Gibson yesterday, at the Office of the Board of
Trade.

The Harvard University has invited the Prince
of Wales to visit their institution, and, according to the
Boston papers, the invitation has been accepted.
His Royal Highness the General Commanding-
in-Chief will hold a Levee at one 'clock on Wednesday next,
the Bth inst.

The Earl and Countess of Derby and Lady Enuns
Rowley intend to remain in town until after the marriage of
Lord Skelmerwlale and Lady Alice Villiers, second daughter
of the Earl and Countess of Clarendon.

The Earl Spencer, who came to town from Os-
borne on Wednesday evening, left by nulway the same even-
ing for Yorkshire.

Viscount and Viscountess Barrington are about
to receive a distinguished circle at Beckett House, Berks.
Their al Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and Prin-
cess Mazy, and the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand
Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelita, will honour the noble viz-
°oust and viscountess with their company.
- . _

Lord and Lady Headley and family have left town
for Orford Houle, Surrey.

The Bishop of Rochester has appointed the
Venerable Archdeacon Grant, vicar of Rumford, to be his
examining chaplain.

Mr. Augtistua Paget, Secretary of Legation at
Berlin, left town hat evening to resume his duties in that
(vital_

Halifax papers announce the death, on the 16th
alt., of the lion. Brenton Halliburton, chief justice of
Nova Scotia.

A letter from Rome says that Cardinal Wiseman
—under the judicious treatment of Dr. Pantaleoui—has re-
covered his health so far as to be able to leave Rome for
Castel Gandolfo, where he will have the advantage of
country air, and will also be in the immediate neighbour.
hoed of the above•mentioned physician, who is melding for
the summer at Albano.

Some interesting experiments took place on
Tuesday evening off Osborne House, the marine residence of
her Majesty, in the isle of Wight, and also in Cowes-roads,
sith Professor Way's electric light, and which we believe
are preliminary to more important experiments about to be
carried out by the government.

The annual meeting of the members of the
Archeological Institute of Great Brit in and Ireland will be
held next year hi the city of Peterborough. Stamford,
Crow Lind, Thorney, Caistor, Bonn, Thurlby, Pothering.
bay, and other surrounding places will afford to the ex-
cursionists many beautiful examples of medieval art, and
will also be attractive as possessing great historical interest.

At a meeting of the vestry of St. George's, Hano-
ver-squire, which was held yesterday, Sir John Shelley
moved the adoption of a memorial to Mr. Cowper against
the introduction of the horse ride. After an animated
debate the resolution was adopted by a large majority, and
• memorial was speed to.

It is stated in • pamphlet on the "Newspaper
Press of the Present Day" (just published by Messrs. Saun-
ders and Otley), that "the Lincoln, Rutland, and Stam-
ford Mercury is the progenitor of the provincial pram ; in-
deed it is the oldest paper extant, next to the London
Ga-
cdte. The Landon Goutir, the Lincoln, Rutland, and
Stamford Aferesiry, and the Edtaurylt Gazette are the only
papers now existing which made their appearance at the
latter end of the seventeenth century—between 1664 sail
1700."

A letter from Tunis (Barbary) of the 15th nit.
rya that the scum of the Neapolitan and Sicilian police,
spies, and assassins, has found refuge there, and that their
number is so great that the lodging-houses in the place
being insufficient to contain them all, many had been re-
ceived into the Roman catholic monastery, under the pro
tection of the bead of that institution.

G R LAT NORTHERN HORFITAL, ING'S-CllO6B.
Number of pationta fur the week ending July 28, 733, of
which 323 were sew ewe.

:07D-HAND PIANOFORTE&
CIAXIIII=, .ad Ce. bees a Imp amortment of
by Ur wet estemsd makers. at
greatly vetheed prbee-201, Degoebetrest.

gbe erpregifs.

TO 00111113PONDENTS.
Ldvertliementa Intended for "The Express" London Inning
Paper. moat be at the aeon 10, ik)uverlo-atrcot, by Two
o'clock on the day of pablicatko.

Tens zyrrnro, HALLOWE'EN. MeEN. Lmlereqe—THE OVER-
LAND ROUTE. Messm Cblimendalo), Campeau, Earicalasse, and
C. Mathews; Mrs. C. Mathews. —RIB EXCELLENCY. Mr. sod
Mrs. Charles Mathews.—And SHOCKING svErra,

ylawgzars.

Tate EVINTNO, THZ 0011,16/N BiOTHIM. Mews. Heat..
G. Melville, Meadows, end Gramm ; Mrs.Weeton. —l' NE FILL
TEICH! BLE. —AN AMBUSCADE AT INICERM ANN. And
THAWS MAMMA Wm Carlotta Ledercel.—Commence at 7.

DIUTANNTA.

rifts imam, IVA'S soils lig: Clan St. Came : Mr.. 7
•nolds.—The great MACZNEY In Ma renowned ENTERTAIN.
ICEYT.—RAI BENT AND AGONIES: or, The Spectre Nan with
the Bleeding Buszont.—And LOUIS XIY. * THE ORGAN BOY.

RIDE WATU AT LONDON NUDGE.
THIS DAT —Morphia EL Sm. Afternoon. 311. 25ni.
To-nollow—lforsdny MA Kat Afternoon, 3h. :Um.

LONDON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 3.

THE debate on the National Defences in the
House of Commons, last night, justifies the posi-
tion of those who, looking with doubt and suspi-
cion on the Government scheme, demanded that its
merits shoWd at least be fully discussed before it
was finally adopted. The scheme certainly does not
improve on acquaintance, while, objectionable as
it is in itself, it is far more so in the consequences
which it naturally, if not necessarily, involves. The
discussion last flight mainly turned on the two
vital points of efficiency and economy. Will the
proposed fortifications really add to our security,
and will their estimated cost cover the probable
outlay involved in their erection ? Uit can be
shown that these works are necessary. to our
national safety, or will contribute to it in any con-
sidersble degree, all opposition would be
silenced. The country, as Mr. SIDNEY HER-
BERT justly said last night, is alive to the
importance of the subject, and anxious to take
all prudent means for efficient self-defence. But
what the nation wants is real security, not a vain
parade of comparatively useless works which, under
the plausible plea of national defences, would inevit-
ably lead to a system of extravagant expenditure,
and largely add to the permanent burdens of the
country. While quite ready to vote money for
the national defences, it wants some definite assur-
ance that its liberality will not be abused, and the
funds voted for defence squandered on ill-con-
structed and comparatively useless public works.
How does the proposal of the Government stand
the test of real public utility ? Mr. SIDNEY HER-
BERT frankly explains that the proposed fortifica-
tions, if erected, will not destroy the chance or
greatly diminish the risk of invasion. But in order to
estimate the proposal of the Government aright
it must be looked at in connexion with the Report
of the Commissioners, on which it is founded.
Lord PALMERSTON'S resolutions are avowedly based
on the Report, and embody a number of its
recommendations. But the recommendations of
the Commissioners all hang together, and to a cer-
tain extent involve each other. The adoption of
Lord Patezasron's resolutions is in fact the vir-
tual acceptance of the Commissioners' scheme of
national defence. We have already repeatedly
pointed out the confusions, contradictions, and
extravagant requirements which render this scheme
useless and impracticable. And the discussions of
last night strongly helped to discredit still
further the authority of the Commissioners.
Mr. Bamwr's criticism of the Report,
though severe, was neither uncalled for nor
unjust, and it was certainly fully appreciated by
the House. He showed from internal evidence
the influence of strong professional prejudice in the
Report, and that it simply embodied a foregone
conclusion. What else indeed could be expected
from the Commission i Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT
says, but on the principle of "nothing like
leather," every officer consulted on the subject
of the national defences recommends the increase
of the special branch to which he belongs. And
half a dozen military men would of course recom-
mend extensive fortifications and a large
addition to the regular army, as the
Commissioners do. Professional men, invaluable
as witnesses on the subject of national de-
fences are, as Sir Roezar Pr.'s', truly held, the
worst judges in the world of what is best to be
done. In the present case it is quite clear
from the Report that the strong professional feel-
ing in favour of a large increase to our present
military establishment, unconsciously Maimed the
judgment of the Commissioners. They immensely
overrate the facilities for invasion, and underrate our
existing means of defence. They attempt to show,
for example, that a hostile landing might easily take
place at any part of the coast, and that, if effected,
"our insular position, so far from being an advan •
" tage, might prove a disadvantage for defensive
" purposes." Again, as Mr. BRIGHT pointed out,
while making the most of the facilities afforded
to the army by the railway and the telegraph, they
treat them as of small account in considering the
question of defence. "Doubtless," say the Com-
missioners, "the defence would be somewhat
" aided by railroads and the telegraph." It can
scarcely be wondered at if the recommendations of
men so obviously prmjudiced are looked upon with
suspicion. But apart from the authors, the sug-
gestions are in themselves utterly contradictory
and impracticable. Fortifications costing at
least twelve millions, and probably twice
that sum, are recommended for the avowed
purpose of economising men. But the works
would require at least 70,000 soldiers to man them,
a large proportion of which must belong to the
regular army. Now this would involve of course
a large permanent addition to our military forces.
The Government proposition only involves at pre-
sent half the works and half the men recommended
by the Report. But if the half is accepted, the
whole may, and most probably will, soon follow.
And, after all, we really have no assurance that we
should then be at all more secure from invasion
than now.

But while the additional security we should
derive from those works is little better than nomi-
nal, their cost is not only real but enormous—
almost incalculable. Mr. Batouv's earnest de-
nunciation of the profligate expenditure which the
adoption of such a scheme must inaugurate is
peculiarly seasonable. During the last 25 years
we have steadily increased our annual expenditure
for military purposes until from 12 millions, at

If VW :
3, 1860.

which it stood in 1838, it has now reached the
enormous sum of 30 millions. And what have
we as a return for this great outlay I Only a
greater sense of insecurity and a fresh
demand for additional national defences.
It is clear enough that additional outlay does not
necessarily involve additional safety. Were the
present large vote for military purposes doubled
we might still be as insecure as lat this moment,
and there would unquestionably be many who
would even then complain of our defenceless con-
dition. Something more than money is needed—
wisdom, patriotism, political courage, and sound
policy. The nation at this moment relies far
more on the volunteer force, that costs nothing,
than it would do on the most costly system of
fortification that could be devised. Meanwhile
this miserably imperfect and contradictory scheme
will almost inevitably be employed as a pretext
for all kinds of lavish expenditure, unless public
opinion is roused to check effectively so ruinous
a system. No strong opposition was, indeed, I
offered to the Government proposal ; but when the
true character of the policy it represents is under-
stood, it will be impossible for any Government
to carry it fully out.
A looser or more fallacious proposition than this
fortification scheme was never put forward by a
Government. It commits us to expenditure, of
which the 12,000,0001. set down in the Report of
the Commissioners is only a trifling part, and
whia is practically unbounded ; and it does not
give us real security. Here is its dark feature.
The Government gladly recognises the excited state
of public feeling, not, however, to meet it with a
just satiafsction, but to make it an excuse for an
expenditure which will leave us as much at the
mercy of the panic-mongers as before. If the
labour of three years were anticipated, if every work
contemplated in the Government plan were already
constructed, and every gun already mounted, it
would still be as easy as it is now for a ravaging
French force, such as Mr. HIIRBFRT described last
night, bent only on mischief, to find hundreds of
points on our coast where it might do a great deal
of damage. Mr. HERBERT pointed to that danger
as if he were taking some precautions against
it, and he does nothing of the kind. He leaves
the field open to the alarmist, and the coast open
to the enemy. The conduct of the Government is
without excuse. The country and the House of
Commons grudge no amount of money it de-
mands. The objections made to these fortifications
have not turned on the greatness of their cost but
on the misapplication of the money. Why, then,
with the people and Parliament ready to support
them in any measures they may propose, do not
they give us a real scheme of national defence ?
The navy is not manned—cannot be manned—
because a nation, which has millions upon millions
to throw away upon contractors and to bury
in fortifications, cannot afford to give the seaman
the value of his services. All our naval plans have
broken down hitherto for this reason, and not a
hand is put out to remedy the evil. And
while this is the state of the navy, what
is the condition of our old national
constitutional force, the Militia ? Every now and
then we hear from the Treasury benches a rheto-
rical flourish about its strength and efficiency, but
our military statistics tell a different tale. Accord-
ing to the War-office return of the 26th ult.,
moved for by Mr. A ',coca, the full quota of the
English, Irish, and Scotch Militia regiments at
that date was but 82,634 men, and the number
actually enrolled only 44,986 men. Let our
rulers give the Navy fair play and it will defend
our coasts. Let them give the civil population
opportunities of military organisation and it will
be quite ready to receive any foreign visitors as
the case may require ; but let them not go on
year after year to exploiter the patriotism and
squander the resources and delude the expecta-
tions of a generous and confiding people.