The Express.
London, England, 1859-08-15 00:00:00

BELGIUM.

The Independence Beige keeps op a spirited con-
troversy with some of its French contemporaries
respecting the projected Antwerp fortifications. On
Saturday the Indeperselasee replied at great length
to the Petrie. After refuting an assertion made by
the latter, to the effect that the maintenance of the
Belgian army absorbs a third of the revenues of the
kingdom, end combating the assertion that while
the Antwerp fortifications might threaten France,
they could in no case be a protection to her, the
Independence continues :
On the contrary, ft appears to us, that the French nation
derives an tummies advautage from the certainty, that
Antwerp, the importance d which as a strategical point no
one dreams of contesting, will be guaranteed in such a way,
that it cannot fall into the bands of enemies against whom
France might have to fight. Were Belgium not neu-
tral, It is certain that the first duty of France
would be in such a ens to mare for herself
is some way or other the possession of a town, which M.
Greater de Caasagnao two days ego called • great Meade-
peat upon the continent." But as Belgium le emirs), and
as no one consequently bee a right to oorapy soy petal of
her territory whatever. it is for her, in order precisely that
she may faithfully fulfil the part imposed on her by treaties,
to gnarantes against all Week from without the capital posi-
tion confided to bee keeping,

What more says Acoording to It, "the
security of Antwerp, the testarepot of continental trade, ester
the instant Antwerp becomes • formidable stronghold."
Then farther cm: Antweep lea been for three centnrke " •
formidable fortress." and, to speak solely of modern times,
Groot undertook to prove ft. The only question now is to re-
et Ore to It thie character, for It lost its power who. thirty
thousand inhabitants came and took up their abode below its
bastion', and on Its glade. "The Powers will newr quarrel
about Antwerp, • commercial city, but only about Antwerp,
• military str mgbold." And how, prey, does the existence
or non-existence of • bastioned enclosure modify the position,
the unique position of this Niel* jitter, eltuate on the Scheldt.
Does not this position remain the some, rod will It not be
equally inviable in any and every cue? The Petrie pretends
it will not , in agreement with all professional men we main-
tain the contrary, and we say that Antwerp is inevitably a
plans of w■r, which the first occupier will fortify against us,
If we fell to dolt ourselves.

In cantina= the Eerie builds its arguments ow what ft an
is thistate of public opinion in Belgium, and goatee, after strik-
ing oat the second part of is. the plume wherein the central
notion of oar Chamber of Representatives "expresso Its
regret at seeing th. metropolis of trade trenelonsed into a
plats of war," but adding, whloh the Paris doss set quote.
" that this is indeed a necessity to which we :art subunit."
We believe that the French newspaper is ales wrong shoat
the opinion of our fellow-countrymen. No one wontedly
will pretend that the country melees with enthusiast the
idea of expending fifty millions upon the works of Antwerp;
enthusiasm is hardly congruous with expenses of this desalp-
tion, witness what took piss in Francs when it use pro-
posed to " Paris. But the political education of
the Belgians is sufficiently advanced, their devotion to their
Institutions and to the oare of their independence is MINA-
silly great to decide them on doing, without enthusiasm,
what (IMOD sad national interest enjoin on them.
The Economists of Brussels says :
We know not if Antwerp will become the meet formidable
fortress of the Continent, as some persons Wert; but if so it
would be one of the most unhealthy. Certain forte, spe-
cially those of La Tete de Floats, of Lief itenshaek, end of
Montebello, ohs scarcely be occupied dur+ag the hot weather,
on amount of the fever which Is sure to arise. Even quite
recently it was considered aeaerry to evacuate on Matins
part of the sick of the garrison oP Antwerp. What then
would happen If these unhealthy forts were encumbered
with a numerous garrison P Would not the fever be an effi-
cacious auxiliary to the enemy, and rive up to hint what
the pertisans of the plan all the bulwark of national
independence ?