The Express.
London, England, 1860-06-26 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY g

I beg lean to Observe, that I sex iseable to sanest
any effectual remedy for &mine this evil et Pewit,
further than to thoroughly clam the exposed earfaciee of
the timber and planking, which me telected, and to Inks
away the sap on the edges and Illbesn sad to Ore it two or
three coats of raw linseed oil, which will Poettrile some
distance into the wood, sad probably lessen the slued
the contagious matter deposited upon it. The rotten
floors, timbers, fillings, and thick planking will have to be
removed at some period hereafter, as they ars too far gone
to repair, to do which it will be necessary to take out the
thick strokes, shelf, and the keelson, which cannot be at-
tempted without laying the vessel up fee several months.
In invention and manufactures we are un-
surpassed ; yet have not the French won battles
with rifled cannon while we are as yet dreaming
about our new artillery T Is it true that we
cover our Trustys with steel plates that are shat-
tered to stoma, while the French floating batteries
are cased in armour which no bolt can enter
And when is the blind confidence of the nation in
large and liberal votes to come to an end I' We
I are so wealthy, so accustomed to overcome all
difficulties with money, that it is no wonder that
we hear that the Government is about to come
down to the House of Commons for a swingeing
sum which is to go the way of all our warlike ex-
penditure. We taxpayers are a good deal to
blame for this. It must be owned we have taught
the Government to reply to weak fears by heavy
expenditure. We feel safer for a whole month
when we have paid our extra threepence or four-
pence in the pound in Income Tax. In return
for this confidence we have just got an assurance,
under the hands of six gallant officers sitting as a
Royal Commission, that after careful consideration
they are led to the opinion that neither the fleet nor
the standing army, with the assistance of the
volunteers, nor all three combined, can keep an
enemy out of the country. What will keep him out
Before another farthing is voted, let us know that.
Lord Ovnurross's " It must never be 1 " may just
as well be said of invasion as of the capture of
London. Is it come to this, that we are quietly
taking for granted the inability to defend these
shores of that navy which has to maintain our
honour in every part of the world
The time is not come for giving up the
British fleet to confessed inefficiency. Foreign
nations struggling into freedom look to us for an
example ; colonists scattered over the face of the
globe will blush if we lower the old flag. If the
fleet is not invincible it is time to look to it. Ask
any experienced officer why it is under-manned,
why the best seamen do not crowd to it, and
you will be told it is a question of money ;
not of voting, but of employing the money.
Profuseness reigns everywhere except in the treat-
meat of the really effective members of the ser-
vice. And it is under these circumstances, with
underhanded ships, and crews breaking out
from time to time in mutiny, that we propose to
spend from eight to twelve millions in fortifica-
tions. If the money really must be spent, if the
most wealthy and vigorous nation in Europe, num-
bering six million males between the ages of 16
and 60, cannot so organise itself for defence as to
make invasion the dream of insanity, then let
somebody learned in the mysteries of the Admi-
ralty tell us why it would not be butter to spend
the interest of 12,000,0001. In the wages of
able seamen, an expenditure which will bring
power to the country at home and abroad,
than to sink the capital once for all
in defences which, with fair play to the fleet,
would never be wanted. Secure your dockyards
and arsenals against a coup-de-main by all means ;
keep up your Channel Fleet ; encourage Rifle and
Artillery Volunteering ; raise up a local Militia,
and you may avoid bankruptcy and defy the
return of panic.

Tee Aproassv-Gsseasi. was too hasty last
night. The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill is a
measure affecting too important interests to be
imperilled because the House of Commons hesi-
tated to throw upon the Consolidated Fund the
heavy compensation charges which it would
involve. The liberality with which com-
pensation is often awarded to gentlemen
retiring from the public service is such as
is unknown out of governmental departments ;
but when the principle has been recognised and
the amount has been fixed, its surely much better
that the burden should be distributed over the
nation generally than be devolved on a small
portion of the community. In the present case,
unless it is resolved to refuse compensation to offi-
cers whose services having been adequately paid for
are no longer wanted, the required sums must
either be levied on the suitors of the Court of
Bankruptcy and Insolvency or be paid out of the
national taxes. But, as the Court exists for the
protection of credit, which is a public object,
there appears no reason for throwing its charges
exclusively upon those who are unfortunately com-
pelled to have recourse to its assistance. However
this question may be decided, there is no excuse
for jeopardising a Bill the loss of which, as was
observed last night, would make the cause of
Bankruptcy Reform well nigh desperate.

THE QUEEN AND THE VOLUNTEERS.
HORSE GUARDS, Jess 25, MOO.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
has received the commands of the Queen to convey
to the several Volunteer Corps reviewed by her
Majesty on Saturday, the 23rd instant, the very
great satisfaction with which she obeerved the rapid
progress they have wade in military discipline,
and the degree of perfection at which they have
arrived.

The steadiness and precision with which they
performed the parade movements leave little doubt
in her Majesty's mind that, if they continue to be
actuated by the Name zeal they have hitherto
evinced, a moderate degree of drill, interfering as
little as isesible with their usual avocations, will
render them a most valuable auxiliary to her
regular forces for the defence of the country.
Much as her Majesty's admiration was excited
by the oldierlike bearing of the various corps
passed in review, a still deeper impression has boon
made on her mind by the proof which the volun-
teer movement throughout the country affords of
their devotion and loyalty to the Throne, and their
anxiety to woad her endeavours to ensure the
security, and thereby the prosperity of the king-
dom.

The General Commanding-in-Chief is further
directed by her Majesty to mark especially her
sense of the zeal displayed by the officers of volun-
teers commanding brigades and corps, and to
notice particularly those battalions and companies
which, regardless of personal inconvenience and
expense, came from distant counties to join iu the
display of loyalty and patriotism, which will render
the 23rd of June, 1860, memorable in the annals
of our times.

The General Commanding-in-Chief having thus
given expression to her Majesty's sentiments re-
garding the Volunteer Force, commendation on the
part of his royal highness would be superfluous ;
but he desires to offer his thanks for the support
and co-operation he has received on this Occasion
front the othoers of the regular army employed
'luring the day, and, more particularly, to refer to
the excellent arrangements made by the inspector
of volunteers and his assistants, which were so well
ettooteled by the intelligence and orderly conduct of
the carton; corps present.
By command of his Royal Highness
The General Commanding-in-Chief ;
Jut' Yogis ficAsLierr,
Adjutant-Go al