The Express.
London, England, 1859-04-18 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL HIPIENOIB.

A public meeting, called by advertisement, wtu
held on Saturday evening, at St. Maz'e-hall, to take into
amaideration the state of the national defences. The chair
was taken by Vice•Admied Sir C. NAPISR, M.P., who was
'lmported by Sir A. W. West, Sir D. M'Dong,ll, Mr. F.
Leaser, a few gentlemen on the platform, and there wide
about a hundred persons in the body of the hall.
The CHAIRMAN, in the course of his eddies., re-
marked that at this moment France poseeraed a
fleet all but as large as that of England. She had an army
of 600,000 men, ready to march at a moment'. notice. Ohs
had aloe a large number of commercial steamers bin
bed es the north and west mite 180 steam-verde of all
ekes end in the Mediterranean 160. There was 'Whin to
sw
eat m arbitrary and devote) government Illir that of
from laying an embargo on theme vessels end march-
big the; ms.on board. In a week she could
thaw as overwhelming fora into this *pantry.
It was not even nexemary for France to invade
this °pantry. All she seed do wee to mend a fiat
off theSellly Islands. She would thus intercept di the Ame-
!ken, Wan Indian, and Mediterranean trade, and give this
country a blow from which she could not recover for many
years. Is more than one instance this country had been
almost at the nem of France. In 180 when this country
Interfered to ;toted Turkey against the desis of Habana
All, the Breach refused to take any part. For am time
the French fleet, equally strops and much better manned
this that of England, lay alongside of it in Bioko Bay; if a
calks bad taken place the chances were that
the honour of the English flee might have been
tarnished. The French fleet was, however, mailed
le Teuton ; it was raised to a same' of 20
limo-of-battle ships. M. Thera, the Pr s& minister,
wasted to declare war at once and the French
admiral wished to attack the Englkh fleet, bat Lodi Philippe
had not the pluck, and this country was saved. Agate,
whoa the tha.• ity arose about °ideate, this country had
only one One-01-battle dip in the Channel. Some time since
France had the presunspain—(hear, hear) —to ask England
to change her laws. Lord Penton had the wesimem to
propose a conspiracy bill, bat the pride and honour of the
country roes, and he was driven from office. (Cheers.) All
the country wanted aria proper Chanel fleet, and such a state
of Wisp as would make seaman content with the
make. A ocsandathe ea the subject of manning
the navy had lately been aimed, and he believed
that If their recommendstiose were carried out there would
be no eilleslty in obailniag seam (Her. hear.) (A
Vence—Ababa logging.) (thews.) He would not dal &
logging; It was absolutely necessary sometimes; but he
thought that se man ought to be legged amyl by mama
et a court mertiel.
Sir Delegate MiDoeciaie, in proposing the fleet remlution
—" That in this skseass Europese aW, and in the ha of
the enormous wake preparation of continental states, it is
of imperative layettes., that the unarmed and dithemeless
state of the United liagdme, sheath be brought wader the
notice of her )(nasty "—dwelt on the insuMcient military
preparation of this couatry, and recounted the exertions he
ride to awaken the government to a seas of their duty.
Mr. F. LAVIIINCR, In seconding the dainties, warned
the meeting of the deem which threatened this country
from the jr slow of continental dates.
Mr. RICHARDS, Secretary to the meeting, read a letter
from Sir De Lacy Evans, expressing his regret at not beteg
able to be meant, and urged the necessity of enrolling
, volanteer corps. The Prince Consort was an bosomy mem-
ber of an Amerlan corps, and he ought to set the example
of addilishieg them is this country.
Kr. Remote supported the raolution, and stated that
when be was in France some time since a confidential agent
el the Enema called on him to know what reception tie
army would get in this country ; he replied, key would geffa
warm remOon, and he had no dead they woad soon dispose
of kis ettate. (Hear, bear.)
The deletion was tees carried analmostly.
General TArcon moved, end Captain Shaer it seconded,
the next resolution "That In pareasnos of the first radia-
tion, a memorial be at ono, pneented to the Queen, sad pe-
tiaoaa to both houses of parliament as soon as they re-
assembled, urging the neennity of maintaining a sufficient
Chanel fleet ; of calling out the necessary militia, and
enrolling volunteer rids and other corps, for the defence of
the country?'
Sir Aux* MtNan, who was loudly celled for. then
tame foeward, and said there are sow in Canada
a large amber of volunteer cisorpantre, infantry, artillery,
and dragoons. They were drilled for twenty days every
year, end dating that period received pay. He believed that
at • vary sheet soda, owing in sours measure to the increase
of railway eseormadalks, 20,000 men could be collected at
any spot when they were required. Sines be had cornea this
wintry be bad seen with regxt that it was proposed to
=7et the ordnance lands. reserves bed teem set
I.a seder that the proceeds of the sale 'bald be in-
vested to form a fund for the support of the militia. The
value was estimated at about a million and a half, and he
was sorry to mem the fund diverted from so useful a purpose.
He was also sorry to ice thatnot only were they reducing the
number of volunteer corps, and taking away the pay of the
of
ocers and men during the period of drill, bat they had
tabor away the alliances made to the adjutants and pay-
master. Be mentioned thane matters in the hope that the
attention of her Malady's straws in this country would be
directed to this sailed. He would not have ventured to
traps . ea the eseetrag, bat es thin seemed to be a desire to
have his eardrum el the militia he had ventured to may a
few words. (Cheers.)
The naiades was thin carried unanimously.
Anse &voted thanketo the chairman the coesting separated.

ROYAL COLLToR OP SeltorONS.—The folio wing
gentlemen haring undergone the neossruy essminotiona for
the diploma were admitted member' of the ftlisge at a
meeting of the court of ezenalsers ea the 16th insure, via. :
Mean. Reginald Harrison, Stafford; Game Heat Bell-
rimer. Penzance, Cornwall; Robert Longataff Betz, Howell,
near 81reford, Lincolnshire; Thomas Ed-ward DariekOrce-
=ant, bf onmouthrlaire; Charles Robert George Parker,
Torquay, Devoe ; Thomas Young Baker, Hargrave, North-
amptonshire • Henry Chrippes Sherwin, Petwortl, Eiseeez ;
John Cooper'Quisrell, Landon; Edger Shaw Maker, Lower,
Sasses • and William Hicks Farricgtoo, Grimy St. Mary,
Devon (Stant* of St. Bartholomews Horyital).
Pearson Samuel Worthington. Lowmdolt • Geary Welke,'
Pearson, London • Spencer Meredith, been Hospital;
and Pearson Rogert Cromwell, Melbourne, Australis (Stu-
dents of the Middlesex llcepttall). Edward Lamborn Sim-
mons, Clippaland, Amiss/IA; Thomas Iftwirtoe_ Meat ta,
Cheshire; end Ernest Hamertui, Eland, Yorkshire (St.
Thomases Hospital). William Workmen, Reading, Beek-
Aker and Edward Sharp, Truro. Cornwell (King's Col-
lege): John Moapratt Cowley, High-stnet, Whi
(Guy's Hospital). Thomas Kipling, Durham (Unit=
College). !lobate JOIN!, Holum, Manchester ; John
Brightboase, Lindley, Hedderefidd Qualm Frederick
spies, Reedlagley, seer Lewis; era George Endne,
csitshire.
Cat or Lop Doi HOSPITAL Poi DISEASES or
ran Curt, V Imam, r•sx.—Tbs samba of_ katienta re-
lieved at this tewitatioaduriog last week woe 1,2 A of which
222 IMO sow CUM.
' ROYAL. Fm HOSPITAL, OItAT'S-111N-ItOAD.
The asimor of patios* relieved st this 'ventral during the
week nag Api le,: woe MU, of which 606 were arr
MN&