The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-24 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL FORTIFICATIONS.

On the order of the day for going into committee on this
subject,

Mr. BRIGHT said he believed that the-resolution or re-
solutions which the noble lord was about to move had not
been laid on the table, and he wished to ask whether the
noble lord intended to make his statement and then place
them on the table, or whether he would ask the house to
agree to them ?

Lord PALMERSTON—I shall ask the house to agree
;o them.

Mr. BRIGHT said it would be rather absurd to say that
he should move any amendment to resolutions which he had
never seen, but it would be very unusual, and would be
taking the house by surprise, to ask their assent to-night to
resolutions which had not been previously before them.
(Hear, hear.) After the noble lord's statement, therefore,
he should propose that the chairman report progress, in
order that the house might have a day or two in which to
come to a conclusion. Surely, if notice was required in the
case of the paper duties and a dozen other matters of in-
ferior importance, it was, in a matter of this kind, essenti-
ally necessary. (Hear )
Lord PALMERSTON—I think the hon. member and the
house will find that the course I have pursued is no de-
parture from the usual practice. Perhaps the hon. member
will suspend his decision until after I have made my state-
ment. (Hear.)
The house then went into committee.

Lord PALMERSTON—Sir, in proposing the resolution
with which I shall conclude, I shall ark the house to take a
brief retrospect. It is needless to say that the resolution has
for its object to carry into effect to tho degree and in the
manner which I shall state the recommendations of the
commissioners whose report has been laid on the table or
the house, with a view to secure by fortifications the dock-
yards, the ports of Dove: and Portland, and also to create
some central point upon Cannock Chase to serve as a sub-
stitute for, and as an assistance to, Woolwich. The house
will remember that after the conclusion of the great war
which ended in 1815 this country had established a virtual
supremacy on the ocean, and by geed fortune and the bra-
very and gallantry of her sailors had, daring the war, swept.
from the seas all hostile fleets. As far as maritime power
went we were then free from alarm of attacks from any
quarter whatsoever. The nations of Europe, moreover, had
been exhausting their resources, and had been greatly de-
pressed in mind and spirit by the events of the war. There
was hardly a country from the Tagus to Moscow which had.
not by turns bean submerged by the tide of war and con-
quest, excepting this fortunate country, and I believe I may
add Sweden. It was natural that the people of Europe, hav-
ing been exhausted by that long-continued struggle, and.
having in almost every country suffered miseries and cala-
mities which, let me say, fell more heavily upon the inhabi-
tants of the country which was the scene of those operations
than upon the contending armies —(hear)—l say is was
natural that nations in that temper of mind should fik their
thoughts and desires upon a long continuance of peace. For
many years after the conclusion of peace, therefore, those
who were responsible for the • conduct of affairs in this
country were content to rest upon the glories which we had.
gained, upon the recollection of the strength which we had
displayed and upon the victories we had achieved, and they
thought it unnecessary to call upon the people of this country
for any great exertions with a view to prospective dangers,
which there was no reasonable ground for anticipating.
The consequence was that for many years we acted as we
had done during the war with respect to our dockyards and
other vulnerable points, and as long as the movement of
ships depended on the wind and on the chances of weather
the calculation was a just one. We had then a very large
fleet. No longer ago than 1848 I believe we had 84 sail of
the line; and as long as naval warfare was carried on by
means of sailing ships we were in a condition, by our supe-
rior skill and aptitude for the sea, to rest upon the strength
which we then possessed afloat. The same difficulties which
interposed in 1804-5 to prevent a large army drawn up on
the opposite coast of the Channel from crossing over to this
country continued to exist, and therefore successive Govern-
ments were justified in abstaining from any great effort for
the purpose of artificial protection to our dockyards and
other vulnerable points. But the introduction of steam con-
fessedly changed this state of things. Every man saw at once
that the adoption of steam as a motive power afloat totally
altered the character of naval warfare, and deprived us of
much of the advantages of our insular position ; that opera-
tions which, if not impossible, were extremely difficult while
.
sailing vessels were alone employed, become comparatively
easy the moment steam was introduced ; that in fact, as Sir
It. Peel stated, steam had bridged the Channel, and, for the
purposes of aggression, had almost made this country cease
to be an island. These statements are better made only in
general terms, and therefore I won't mention the degree to
which the absence of artificial defences rendered us at parti-
cular and critical periods liable to very unpleasant attacks
from an enemy. But in 1847, I think, in consequence of an.
able memorandum drawn up by Sir J. Burgoyne, the Duke,
of Wellington wrote that well-known letter in which he de-
scribed, with all the knowledge that belonged to a great cap-
tain, the evils which his experience led him to anticipate in
the event of this country being the scene of war. He drew the
attention of the country to the want of artificial defences, and
implored those who were charged with the conduct of affairs
to provide better for defence against possible attack. That
appeal fell upon dead ears as far as the country was con-
cerned. (Hear.) Nations are slow to alter their percep-
tions. We were, indeed, in a position with regard to this
country which may be expressed by the words stat magna
nominis umbra. But the people of England could not be
brought to realise that altered condition of things. Some-
thing, thoagh little, was indeed done in consequence of this
appeal from one of the greatest masters of the art of war,
' the most learned and knowing in the science of attack and
in the means of resisting it. The Government of Lord
Derby came into power, and I must do the justice of saying
that they took a great and important step towards placing
this country in a position to defend itself by reorganising
and re-establishing the militia. (Hear.) It is due to them,
and more especially to the right hon. gentleman (Mr.Wal;
pole) who was then Homo Secretary, and took great paten_
in arranging that force, to say that they did that for which
timehih
the country ought to be grateful. (Hear.)
and since, when I was in office, I took stepsß
upon some
of arranging the artificial defences of thetmcoe
country
acted without
general system. I found that one depar ewtfitrhetthe view
independently, and. without
the knowledge of another, each
which were necessary.
adopting those combined measures
_Ordnance! the First Lord.
Commander-in-Chief for the time
I therefore requested the
GenereiConmf
the
• being, the Master-
Inspeetor-Oeneral of Fortifications,
• of the Admiralty, the
and the Secretary for War to meet at my of lice, and we
established then a system of mutual concert and co-opera-
tion which laid the foundation for very great improvement
in our defences both at home and in some of our military
stations abroad. Since that time this system has gone on, and
it has prospered. At one time Portsmouth had no defence,
save a saluting battery of comparatively small guns, while
Plymouth was very imperfectly defended from the sea, and
Sheerness had only one gun that was serviceable. I have
heard, but do not know whether it is true or not, that soon
after 1844 two French steamers came in for the ostensible
purpose of coaling, and the commander having sent on shore
to know whether a salute would be returned, they were in-
formed that, as there was only one gun that was se):viceable,
they must excuse the lapse of some little interva 1 between
each fire. (A laugh.) But while at the period have re-
ferred to those important establishments were ye ry imPe!-
fectly and inadequately defended, since then cot isidorablt:
progress has been made in all of them. I am bowed torsaray,
and
the honour of my right hon. friend the Secretary
°l: mcells have
the Commander-in-Chief, that those two publice
e
co-operated with the utmost cordiality,
withoutn t he slightest
official jealousy or the interference of any th-1 g like official
lam
etiquette, for the improvement of oury and the protec-
tion of the country in a manner which
. .
i lle a great
gratitude
of the nation; and owing to theil. E
exert
e right hon..-4,friend ap-
advance has lately been mad e•