The National Register.
London, England, 1818-05-03 00:00:00

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POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

FORTRESSES IN THE NETHERLANDS.

OBSERVING-, from the late Brussels Papers, that
snore than ordinary activity prevails iu repairing, and
pla:ing in a state of defence, the Fortresses in the Ne-
tberiends, we feel, we have ne doubt, in unison with
the majority of those who have noticed the article al-
luded to, a ceesiderabie degree of anxiety to ascertain
two points, which appear to us important, as they
might erect the finances of Great Britain, and the
peace of Europe, and, therefore, mention them as
matter of interesting speculation. The first point on
which we are desirous cf obtaining information is, the
party that supports the expence of coast:acting and
repairing these fortresses. The second, the interest it
has in doing su. To the first of these questions, the
unswer may appear to many very obvious, or, in fact,
that it is answered by the second. That the party
whose interest and defence require such precautions
should be the one to support the expence, appears,
prim facie, tl.a only reaso. nahle conclusion that can be
drx,rn. But is it so ? To a certain e7;tent N7C know
it is not. We know that the eepences oldie coreerue-
tion of Fort Wellington, at Oetend, are every penny
defrayed by the British Goveremee—that the works
are proceeding under the saperintenclance of British
Engineers, and that the contracts fur the materials and
labour were made by the Engineer Department. This
is closely identifying the intees: of the two coin-Aries ;
end, admitting that the interest this country will derive
from the construction of Yule Wellington, can justify
ler Cleve:nee:6l:r incurring the expence attenoing it,
why are we not to conclude that the same rule is ap-
plicable to Namur, Mons, Mb, Tournay, and all the
ether places of defenc.e en the fror.tiers of Lelgium.
Arc the e:ipences attending the repairs and completion
of c.'! fertresses at our charge, or is it Fort Wel-
i.ligton only ? If, as it is whispered, the :Thole weight
e.s:s on the unlucky shoulder:: of ;John Lull, why, we
an only say, God grant bias strength to support it.
At this moment, when the of the country ar..i so
elanionetie for economy—when the combined result of
all the learning and talent of the Members of cur legis•
lett.= are inadequate to meet the contingencies of the
day, the nation leeks with increased scrutiny into every
orarich of cependiture, and if there be one more than
another felt :ind grudged by the nation, it is that which
carries the weelth of the country beyond its own pre-
cincts. We earnestly hope that our fears in the pre-
sent imtanee may be ill-founded, and most happy
should we feel to finclacine toured and plausible reaeers
assigned for cur incurring even the expence of Fcrt
Wellington. This plate, which will undoubtedly Fore
one of the most.perreet in its kind, seems principally to
be intendiches lettere to the harbour of 04eed,
and consequently it is fair to pre.ume, that the eaemy
it was intended in guard against was at least an
enemy more formidable at sea, than the now powerful
• kingdom of the United Netherlands. Was this enemy
Fnmee We will venture tel assert, without tear es
• e eitradiction, that the maritime resources of the
thedande are mach more likely to prove foriniilalle to
her southern neighbour. But admitting the expediency
of the object as sufficient justification of the expence in
(:aeNtion ; we still cannot see, should it eventually ap-
pear that th;s expenee is confined to Ostend, why that
pert should-have beers selected in preference to the
niore vulnerable points of krrieoritri frontier ? It is
to 1.),.• hoped, at least, that previot.s to involving the
country in an heavy an expence fur :Le defence of one
of our allies, against the presumed aggression of anuther,
the mind which conceived this measure, was sailiciet:tly
gifted to see far enough into the future. to be certain
that the weapon we thus furnish is not P,.cly to
need agniust TO us, it really ei