The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-04 00:00:00

OUR NATIONAL DEFENCES.

The following is a copy of a letter lately addressed
to the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer
by Lord Kinneird.—

_
" Rossie Priory, Dec., 1850.
" Dear Sir Charles,—With the prospect of a large
surplus revenue next April, you will doubtless be over-
whelmed with suggestions for its application; I there-
fore feel much scruple in adding to the number, but I
do so under the impression that the subject upon which
I write—that of our national defences—has nonnet with
the consideration it deserves.

" There can be little doubt that the people of this
country, who voluntarily pay so large a sum for the pur-
pose of guarding against casualties by fire, in spite of
the most objectionable duty on insurances which tends
directly to discourage this provident habit, would not
raise any opposition to the application of a portion of
the surplus revenue to the protection of the incalcul-
able amount of property annually accumulating, and.
which, in our present unprotected state, would be ex-
posed to serious injury in the event of a sudden attack
from a foreign foe ; tor, though Sir Francis Head may
to some extent have given the reins to his imagination in
fancying a French army in quiet possession of London,
and that the landing of 150,000 men would be so easily
accomplished, or that, if feasible, it would be lightly un-
dertaken in the face of the almost absolute certainty of
their liability to leave our shores when once landed, yet
there is too much truth in the assert ion that we have
no adequate force to resist such a landing in the first in-
stance, if attempted. Sir F. Head is also undoubtedly
correct in stating that the country will never consent to
keep up a largo standing army; perhaps he looks upon
the matter too exclusively with the eye of a military
man in deeming such a force indispensable; at any rate
it is unattainable; but I do not believe that any great
objection would be made to the establishment of a
police force, which, while available as a guard against a
foreign foe, it proved to be necessary at home for the
protection of the community, without reference to any
prospective danger from abroad. A little practice in
the use of firearms would make this a most efficient
body, as a less amount of training would fit the men for
home service than if required for a foreign campaign.
And, if called upon to act, there are plenty of half-pay
officers and country gentlemen who have served in the
army who would be quite competent to take the command.
" Such a force as this, backed by a corps of artillery
and the regular troops—of whom a larger amount might
be available were our present colonial sysiem put on a
different footing—would be amply sufficient to protect
the country without greatly increasing the demand on
our national resources.

"Judging from the alacrity exhibited during the anti-
cipated riots in the memorable month of April, I think
Sir F. Head is mistaken in asserting that there is a lack
of military ardour among the people generally. I believe
that, on the first notice of an invasion, they would hot
be slack in showing their zeal; at any rate, on the occa-
sion above alluded to a general desire was expressed to
attend drills, and that regular corps should b§iprganized.
But our main dependence must ever be (RE the navy.
The strictures of Sir F. Head, and of the naval authorities
who have written on the subject, upon the injudicious
manner in which the funds have been lavished in this
department, are unfortunately but too true. How-
ever, it is to be hoped that, attention having
been drawn to these matters, a stop may be put
to the mismanagement which has hitherto pre-
vailed; such, for example, as that alluded to by Sir C.
Napier and others, of the construction of iron steam-
ships at a vast expense, which, on trial, have turned out
to be useless for the purpose for which they were in-
tended—an outlay which might have been saved by the
simple precaution of an experiment made in the first in-
stance at the expense of a few pounds. Or, again, the
absurdity which existed up to within two years of the
present time, of the shipbuilder and engine-master hold-
ing no communication, so that it frequently happened,
when the engines had to be fitted in, they were found
unsuitable for the vessels for which they were con-
structed. Or, thirdly, the inconsiderate and expensive
habit, which is still practised, of paying off the entire
ship's company on the vessel's return, and dismantling
her of all her fittings, even when in perfect repair, and
ordered out again on immediate service, consequently re-
quiring to be forthwith re-commissioned. Were it not
for these abuses, the amount voted by Parliament would,
as Sir C. Napier states, be probably sufficient for the
protection of the realm. At the same time, I have no
doubt that a larger sum would at once be granted if
proved to be necessary. But, without incurring any
great expense, the steamers which belong to our several
ports might be so far strengthened as to admit of their
carrying a gun, or guns, of a calibre suited to their size;
a regulation being made that this provision be insisted
upon with regard to all steamers to be built from this
time forward. A marine artillery corps, stationed at any
central part of Great Britain, would, by the aid of rail-
ways, enable any amount of stearnb,tats to be armed in a
few hours, and, by these means, such a force could be
collected at any given point as would blow an invading
squadron out of the water.
" I observe that the failure of Napoleon's attempt is
considered a conclusive answer to all who bode evil
from the works which have been carried on at Cher-
bourg, and the facilities which these would give for a
descent upon our shores; but it should be remem-
bered that, in addition to a considerable body of militia
at that time under arms, the circumstances of naval
warfare are much altered since those days. The uni-
versal application of steam, while it renders naviga-
tion in a great measure independent of the elements,
places all nations more on a par, and deprives England
of an auxiliary she has more than once benefited by in
the shepe of a favouring gale. I have no doubt of our
naval superiority ; but it is offering too great a tempta-
tion to other nations who have recently made great pro-
gress in nautical matters, and running an unnecessary
risk, to allow this country to remain totally unprepared
to meet any sudden attack.
"It is not that I fear the result of an invasion. I be-
lieve that England, as she ever has done, will do her
part bravely, and prove victorious in the case of an un-
just aggression. But to prevent such is surely better
than to repel it ; and I am convinced, if I am right in
stating that the best preventive to war is to be fore-
armed, that no ono could object to a portion of the sur-
plus revenue being applied to the purpose of strengthen-
ing our position, and thereby preventing the injury to
life and property which would result frcra an unexpected
invasion. " Yours faithfully,

" linixentn."