Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-24 00:00:00

EARL STAI4HOPE:

Earl Stanhope was one of the speakers at a meeting
at Sevenoaks on Friday. He said •—I would in no
degree trace the necessity of a more extended system of
national defence to any recent feelings, or any recent
events. I ascribe it entirely to the complete change
which has been produced in the system of warfare by
the introduction of steam navigation. For my own
part I am not.one of those who apprehend an invasion
of this country. lam persuaded-that in neighliouring
countries the advantage of a friendly underitanding with
this country is felt and appreciated as it ought to be.
But does this in any degree 'prove that we ought to
provide against it, if in future, times such necessities
should arise ? And this is one important advantage)
which I anticipate from the present Moment ;. having
once &lie what is necessary for our systematic defence,
having provided such a national force that, if any desire
for invasion did exist, it would pass away, having taken
these precautions, any irritating language that may have
been used ought to be passed over; and having
.done
what is- necessary for our defence we should then look
upon, all these apprehensions as no longer by any pos-
sibility existing, and apply ourselves to those many very
peaceful arts and subjects of public policy thatelaimour
attention. (Applaule.)

ADMIRAL SARTORIUS:
Admiral Sartorious has just published a scheme of
national defence as follows :7--" No considerable landing
could be effected on, our southern ceasta.if opposed by
field batteries of 80- or 100 Armstrong'l"!fie!tyy guns,
supported by '5,000 or 6,000 goo& /AM*: 12,ail and
train roads along the coasts, telegraphic,wires, a few
' watch towers- on -commanding heights; some
dozen rapid. steamers' to watch. and communicate the
idirection of the enemy's movements, frequent stations.:
of Armstrong's (runs, arranged' so as to effect easy and'
; t,
' rapid concentration on threatened points, aecompaiiying•
I the movements. of the enemy's convoy or fleet, 'would
as effectually ,secure the southern coasts of England
(even were the attempt made in a' fog, or at night)
as if we had fifty sail of the line in the phannel,
a vital point to prevent an enemy, landing, except to
I give themselves up as prisoners, to escape berpg ,dro' v 930,
or uselessly shot. The extensive fortificatioaS now
proposed: as necessary to efficiently defend Our -great
I naval arsenals of Portsmouth, PlytnOiith, and
would alone require 4uelt strong garrisons' as would; in
Ithe •aggTogate, form an army more than sufficient, to
I encounter and. destroy any force. that could, be inUldnly
i landed: I here keit) out of the question, our volnnteer
yeomanry and riflemen. It has been said that aneneney
could land in three or four places at once., AU, one,
I acquainted with naval matters _would know that this is
impossibleyourinayy,were only of equakforce, beanie!'
which the rail and tram rpticl; meet thie cOitingenCy
also, few rapid .‘rnimble,' Well-conatruete&; steam
rams, where there are no railroads, would soon settle
vessels laden with troops by their bpaks'or ahellb, loaded
with, molten iron or liquid fire,. beublc the rinraVer:ofl
similar, cra4 could not save the e!teoiy.
engineering establishment and. iron manufacturei would
enable its to build' five time's the number-of these vessels
that any other nation could in the same period." -

, rr.; ,

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ACTION AGAINST TEE DIRECTORS OP 'THE WESTERN
BANlC..—Ttve.trst proceedings in court, iii..'the(raotien
at the instance of the liquidators against the late direc-
tors of the Western Bank, took .place on Wednesday
before Lord Kinloch. Appearance was made for Seven
defenders; the whole number Of counsel 'engtiged being
about a score. The proceedings "involve no peint of
much interest, but apparently the effect of what was done
will be to send the case ultimatelY to the Second Divi-
sion. The debate was to be resumed on Thursday
fore Lord Kinloch.
A WOMAN SUFFOCATED BY AN' ESCAPE of GAS.----On.
Thursday, an iliquest.was held before Mr. Iterford, city
coroner, touching the death of France's White, of -11,
Alum-street, AucoAts.. 'About seven o'clock on the pre-
viOttO nigh theie *asrasinell of an escalie :alias in. the
10641ity, btt at eleVert the deceased went. tn bed•with,herl
husband, no apparent. 'ineretiSe ther nesiousfraptairt
hOtink taken' 'place. Early nett ;InQriing the linsbaw4;,,
on
IlcidP:ntat7seap
awakening,'. found wife Vint .IrtthelAd'ißd°4
sated. The smel,l, was then
bcixtret:::
iii44:iliStiector was sent .for`; tated,LlDerre. 'the
coroner that he was unable.te itfid.fwhq6e.the escape
proCeeded, but he imaginid. It .find`
haye'erisen freei
some damage done to the main pipe in the Streit-by the
frost.—Yerdict,
Ps," •