The Express.
London, England, 1859-07-28 00:00:00

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LONDON. INUNIDAZ JULY 28.

Witsr en o.d writer calls " boirybodynees" is
&wipe a vice and often a crime. In axial life
produce., indeed, fez more mischief and misery than
those more violent forms of offence that are the
direct objects of penal legislation. The voluble
social meddler sows broadcast the elements of un-
foonded jealousy and suspicion, destroys the good
andentandieg between neighbours, separates friends,
and creates coldness and distrust, if not active and
bitter hoetility, where but for such malign intl.'
larvae* all might have been ocesoord and poem
When the mischief is irreparably done, it
is small coneolation to know that it has
sprang from trivial or accidental causes, that
those who have brought it about had so expressly
evil design in the prophetic air they assumed,
and the groundless suspicion' they industriously cir-
culated. The vice of evil-speaking is often the result
simply of an irritable fancy and an unbridled
tongue, of constitutional restlessness and vanity, and
an overwseeiog sense of self-importance. But
whatever the cause, the effect is equally fatal. Here,
as elsewhere, mere t►oughtlessness and folly end in
crime. And a wise ma, kaewiag this, wou.d arrest
the evil at its source. From a natural feeling
of pride and self-respect, be will decline to hear
the " important facts" and timely warnings
which the mischief-makers, who trade in stispi-

ekes, are anxious to communicate ; or, if they
reach him, will neither accept nor act upon them
till confirmed and justified by the fullest evidence.,
Ne knows what is due to his character and position,
and oan protect both from outrage without the as-
sistance of those candid friends who are little better
than amateur informers, if not incendiaries in dis-
guise.

Unfortunately, the vice of " busybodynees" is not
confined to private life. There are political busy-
bodies as well as social ones, and the evil
which the former may produce exceeds that
within the power of the latter, as the
nation does the individual. These political busy-
bodies stir the dormant jealousies of rival but
friendly peoples, and sow suspicion and distrust
between allied States, just as social meddlers do
between mutual friends and acquaintinces. Every
crisis or commotion in public affairs brings them forth,
0 Suspicions," says BACON, " among thoughts are
•' like bats amongst birds, and ever fly at twiiightt
When the political atmosphere is darkened, forth
they fly, and disturb the air with their alarmed flut-
tering.. These mischief-mongers are busy now on
both sides of the Channel, and threaten to affect the
good understanding that has so long existed
between France and this country. The real facts
constituting the raw material of this thriving but
most injurious trade are simple enough. France has
brought her fleet into a state of efficiency unknown
before, and, so far as we can judge, beyond the actual
need. England, on the other hand, having left the
management of naval affairs to the ordinary course
of official routine, has fallen much below the ordi-
nary average in ships and men, and is now making
vigorous efforts to supply the deficiency and to raise
the fleet to a point of numerical strength
which the country as • first-rate maritime
power requires. No doubt the increased and continued
activity in the French dockyards has acted as a
etimalu—has helped to rouse us to a fuller consci-
anuses of this admitted and serious deficiency. But
it has operated as the occasion rather than the cause
of use lammed attention to the national defences,
and especially the stair of the navy. A mere com-
panion of the navy of France, which is sot a purely
maritime power, with that of oar own country, which
is, was quite sufficient to show how far we had
f•llen behind in the cardinal point of naval strength.
It opened the eyes of the country to a real and
serious need, which for the sake of its in-
wrests and its honour ought to be at once
supplied. And we are increasing oar nary now, not
tiosease we expect to be invaded, but because it is
absolutely necessary in order to meet the ordinary
defensive requirements of the country. All this is
industriously perverted and misrepresented by the
law, bodies oc both sides of the water. to this
roomy there are candid friends, both in Portia-
limiest sad the preen, who assume a bellicoee and
&dam tone in speaking of the national deffiscao
and would hare us accept their bluster and menu as I
magnet proofs of patriotism and peeetratioe. They
profess to be perfectly intimate with the aadlealged
purposes of the French ENIPLIOI, with the meet
designs of France, and find both hostile to this
country. Their prophetic eye is filled with visions of
invasion. In some cases, '• the sunset of lite
giros this mystical lore;" in others, the sagacious
and infallible reading of an inscrutable character ; in
others again, • profound and philosophical interpn-
tattoo or history and curtest events. Whatever
may be the cause, howeve►, we protest against the
result. lt doss not contribute to oar national
dignity and self-respect for the organs of
opinion to adopt a tons of alternate NW
pinion, menu*. and alarm. We decline to
entertain gratuitous suspicions of a friendly Power.
We have our opinion with regard to the character of

Lunts NAPOLE ,y, and have never been slow to
express it. We read history and interpret current
sweats. BM neither the one nor the other justifies
as in treating mere itlipiCiool LI realities, or acting
au presumed intentions as ascertained facts. And
to call on the country to arm because it is sere to be

Invaded, is simply a rode and mischievous appeal to
aatienal prejudices and antipathies which an nappily
is them day s almost if not altogether extinct. It is
Isorionaer, a thorough misrepresentation of the case:
calculated, if not designed, to mislead. We are
enangthraing the defences of the country, not to
meet a projected or expected inviuion, bat simply
became they had fallen into a weak and inefficient
condition. Let this important work be pressed
forward with the utmost zeal and vigour. That
we should have a naval and military force equal to
the ordinary requirements of our home and coional
pnesemious is indispensable to the dignity, safety,
and honour of the country. But these purely de-
!inane worke need not be the oocas.cin of any ur.tat-