The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-12 00:00:00

M. Daru says, that ten days after the order to
embark was telegraphed from Paris, the army sent
to Rome in 1848, was landed at Civita Vecchia
and took the field, with horses, fiEC. artillery, and
battering train, completely supplied also with stores
and ammunition, and with 20 days' provisions.
From these data M. Daru goes on to tabulate the
vessels required to land 30,000 men and 3,600
horses in Ireland or 45ii the English coast, adding
"If the east coast of England is to be threatened, the
principal part of this force should be concentrated at
Dunkirk ; if the south coast or Ireland, at Cherbourg
and Brest." " Cherbourg," he says, " must ,f necessity
be the head-quarters of the steam-vessels intended to
act on the opposite shores of the Channel," and he en-
forces the dictum of Napoleon, "Cherbourg i 3 an eye to
see the other side of the Straits, and au arm to strike."
M. Darn anticipates the obvious objection that
his force may be blockaded or intercepted by an
English squadron, and he disposes of it thus sum-
marily :
"It will be necessary to give battle, and to destroy it,
in order to effect a landing. There is, no doubt on this
point. What forces shall
object ?" we organise to effect this

England will, he says, be weakened by the ne-
cessity of defending her numerous possessions and
interests in remote quarters, and he concludes that
a substantial force of 20 ships of the line and 10
frigates, all with screw popellers, of 25 frigates and
25 steam transports, with a certain number of
avisos and corvettes assembled at her northern
ports, will be sufficient.
The question of defence appears never to be
considered alone. M. de Montaignac, an officer
just returned from a tour of inspection in England,
expresses the general view of the subject when he
says, in his examination,—

" I do not separate the question of defence from that
of attack. All organisation of materiel and personnel
useful for defence will be still more so for attack."
Opinions are sometimes expressed as to the in-
sufficient defences of the French coasts ; but Ad li
-
miral de, la Susse says in his evidence "
The commission will observe that I trouble myself
little about the attacks England could direct against our
shores."
Admiral Dupetit Thouars, who was a member of
the Commission on Coast Defence of 1841, appears
to be of the same opinion, when after referring to
the Prince de Joiuville's pamphlet, and the mea-
sures of defence we had adopted, he observes :
" All invasions of England have been crowned with
success ; she is not prepared for a territorial war. The
English are not animated by a warlike spirit ; at this
moment they have nothing organised ; and, if we have
war, we have only one thing to do,—thAt would be to
land an army on their coasts."
M. Charner, just appointed second in command
of the squadron of evolution at Cherbourg, and one
of the members of the commission obtierves--

" Our position is singularly improved"' (by the inven-
tion of steam), " since an invasion of England on our
part would be in a very different degSe formidable to
anything England could attempt against us."
Of course, M. Charner refers to the enormous
army of France as compared with our military
force ; and when we shall be insane enough to leave
it in the power of France to obtain command of the
Channel, then that army may at any moment be
brought against us, and we shall fare badly if we
are not prepared to defend ourselves on our own 1
soil.

It is not, however, to be forgotten that since these
and similar opinions were expressed, certain defen-
sive measures have been adopted, which, beyond
the mere additional force, have had the far more
important effect of proving that the people of Eng-
land, though deeply attached to peace, are fully re-
solved to defend themselves ; and probably M.
Daru himself may now doubt whether the results
he so complacently anticipated would be quite so
easily accomplished.
M. C. Dupin's proposition looks rather to the
future than the present for effecting similar objects.
He says :
" We have now 55,000 seamen, rotst and ready for
service ; a yearly increase of two p r cent. would, in
five years, give 60,000 efficient seamen, and, please God,
in five years we may arrive at the complete development
of our materiel, which is acknowledged possible, and
which is necessary to suffice for these Sesoures in seamen.
" Many different systems have ben suggested for
enabling us from this time to struggle with the greatest
naval power—a power grown greater by our misfortunes,
and preponderating especially in proportion to the in-
testine discords and revolutions which for 60 year.; have
weakened our country. England, in her turn, as little
circumspect in 1850 as we were 1788, and still mre
confident, flatters herself that noin intestine cause of weaok-
ness can reach her.
" For the love of humanity I wish I could share this
confidence, this security. But I ani convinced of the
contrary, and few years, I fear, wilt suffice to prove it.
Then it is that equilibrium between ;the naval forces of
France and of her eternal rival will be resaitored n
faithful to us.
" The counsel I give my country ".s to rem
to the system of peace until then ; to organise without