The Express.
London, England, 1861-08-03 00:00:00

SPORTING DITZLIJOENCE.

A late edition of the Repress is published every
evenikg during the racing lesson, containing the
results of the day's races.

DIYTICULTICK, it waa once remarked by Lord
LYNIAII"R.s7 with true wisdom, are thing to be

overcome. No doubt there are difficulties in the
way of a better understanding between France
and England as to their respective maritime posi-
tions in the world ; but, so far from attempting to
overcome those difficulties, Lord PALMERSTON ap-
pears inclined, if not to augment, assuredly to
yield to them. It never entered into Mr. Linu-
sar's head to suggest any positive engagements, or
the conclusion of any treaty with France, for the
restriction of the steam navy of either State, or
to interfere with their freedom of action, as
Lord PALMER-erne on Thursday evening appeared
to suppose. Mr. LiribsAV's equally patriotic
and humane suggestion, if we understood him
rightly, was, that by the cultivation, not
of subservient or spasmodic, but of inde-
pendent and steadily good relations with France,
by an abandonment of an intermittent policy
of womanish friendship and jealousy, by the
substitution of manly frankness for constant ap-
prehension and occasional panic, by plain-speaking
and honest confidence on both sides, to arrive at
such an assured comprehension of each other's
aims, intentions, and wishes, as to be able to die-
continue the course now pursued, which is simply
a vast sod noisy preparation for events and emer-
gencies which no man, in either Frame or England,
can foresee or foretell, and a rivalry in extravagant
expenditure at once dangerous and humiliating.
To talk then, as Lord Panics row did on
Thursday, of negotiations with all the maritime
powers, of common arrangement', of Russia, of
spies, of remonstrances, and of ultimate quarrels
and war, really seems to us an evasion of, and not
a reply to, Mr. LINDSAY'S suggestion.
Men, even great sovereigns, and all the more
because their personal power and authority are
large, pursue the policy which best suits their own
interests. Now, what on earth, at his time of
life, can the Emperor of the Faaecu have to
gain by surreptitiously making huge naval
preparations against England T The Enemas is
supposed to direct his policy very much by the
lessons and experience which he bat gained by a
study of the career of the Fixer NAPOLEON. Now, if
it teach him ono thing more than another, it
surely is the danger of • maritime war with Eng-
land. Neither his personal interests nor the ex-
perience of the First Empire will lead him into
hostilities with England. Of that we may be rea-
sonably certain ; and if there be • Frenchman
who has made personal sacrifices to exhibit his
friendly dispositions towards this country, it is
most assuredly the Exreaoa himself. But be
builds—he is building • great French steam
navy. Seers we. To that there can be no objec-
tion, if eseemably accounted for, on either
aide. It wadi be monstrous for England to say
that France gall not be • great naval power, that
any exertions on her part to become so must be
inimical to Intend, that peace or war between
the two countries is to be dependent on the greater
or less activity, or the greater or hme extent, of the
dockyards of France. Maritime strength, has been
the declared and avowed policy of France aver
monarchy and republic, as it is under the Empire ;
with this only difference, that France, being richer
and more powerful under the Empire, is able
to carry out her policy more effectively ;
very good reason, perhaps, to stimulate
us to maintain our naval force up to the
necessities of the British Empire, but by no mime
a sufficient cause for fretful apprehension of
France, or for Ministers to come down suddenly
twice or thrice a Session, and ask the House cif
Commons for large Supplementary E-iinsatee
because they discover increased volumes of noise
and smoke coming from the arsenals of Clem
bourg, Brest, and Toulon.
If France h►ve, as to her navy, a policy, by all
means let us have a policy too ! Is it absolutely
impossible, if only for the sake of humanity,
to establish some better agency of Miami
the acts and objects of the French Govern-
ment than even Consular despatches, or the
reports of travelling secret or unofficial swift?
The inferior functionaries of all governments SUS
the hugest gobemonches that walk the earth ; sad
no doubt the French Government is PEI se
much misled and ea often misinformed by its
rep/..ei. as the English Government. If half
the "active consuls" and "intelligent diploma.
" fists " of both countries were sent about their
business, the world would go on much more hap-
pily and far more peacefully. So bog as the old
Duke of NEweARTLIC threw the despatches of the
Governors of the American Colonies aside unread,
so long those colonies and the mother-country
went on tolerably well ; but when the Duke%
successor began to read and answer them, thee
the troubles set in which ended in war and (Pro
grace. And if Lord Psiesserox, who coos told
a Commons' committee that be reed every de-
spatch, great or small, from abroad, had followed
that Duke's example, he would have been, if not a
wiser statesman, at all events a cheaper Minister.
This exclusive reliance on unverified statements
of inferior officials, accompanied by a disbelief in
all concurrent explanations—this constantly recur-
ring suspicion, whether indulged in by •
Prime Minister, an aristocracy, or • peo-
ple, is a vulgar bad habit from which
no good ever comes ; and, so far as Mr.
LINDSAY desires its Correction and the exchange
of a policy of frankness for one of jealousy, we
entirely sympathise with him. If our Govern-
ment really want to learn what Frame is

doing and what France intends to do ; if our
naval policy must be altogether dependent on that
of France, Earl COWLEY, properly instructed,
would be a much better agent for acquiring the in-
formation by frank and full explanations with
the EMPEROR himself, if that be needful,
than any other person. Now, the EMPEROR,
to do him simple justice, has never refused or heal-
Wed to give any and every explanation which has
been openly sought on the matter. On the con-
trary, it was the EMPEROR who explained to Lord
DERRY'S Government his plans as to • steam
navy, which Sir J. Paxtacror turned to account,
and from that day to this all that he has done is
steadily to act on the plans he had frankly dis-
closed to the English Cabinet. Yet, whenever a
half informed consular despatch is received in Eng-
land detailing their execution, the Engliah Ad-
miralty falls into hysterics, from which it is only
rescued by large votes of money by the House of
Commons; just as a begging impostor in the streets
drops down in a fit before an old lady with a large
reticule in her hand and a weakly benevolent face.
There really ought to be an end, once and for
all, of this costly farce, in which Lord PALMERSTON
occupies far too prominent • part. If he do not
choose to follow Mr. LINDSAY'S good advice, let
him, at all events, name an extent of dockyard
accommodation, an amount of steam power, an
acreage of iron plates, and a number of Armstrong
cannon to be arrived at. Let us not be subject to
these perpetually recurring demands, now for this,
and then for that ; let him give up the practice of
continually asking for more, and of, session after
session, disarranging all Mr. G keneroNs's estimates,
plans, and financial measures, spending his surplus
and playing havoc with his budget ; for this is
not government, it is gambling.