The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-15 00:00:00

THE DEFENCES OF PORTSMOUTH.

A lecture was delivered on Friday by Colonel
Shafto Adair, at the United Service Institution, on
the subject of the Defences of Portsmouth. Sir
John Burgoyne occupied the chair, and there was a
large attendance of military men and members of
the House of Commons.

The LECTURER entered into very lucid and inte- ,
resting explanations respecting the existing land
defences of Portsmouth, pointing out that the prin-
cipal channel was fully commanded by the South-
sea and other works, and that no large vessel could
enter with any chance of success under the fire of
that battery. In the event of an attack by gun-
boats and vessels of light draught of water, it would
be desirable to have some supplementary works on
Southsea-common, the fire from which could be cir-
culated on the channel. The works on Portsdown-
hill are of a very extensive and complete character,
but it is necessary to have other forts in advance of
the Elson works, in consequence of the extended
range of projectiles. A battery of Armstrong's or
Whitworth's guns can send shot from Hyde-pier
into the centre of Portsmouth Dockyard. Every
increase of range in projectiles involved the neces•
sity of new forts in advance of existing ones in
order to meet the breaching power of an invading
army. The Isla of Wight required to be for.
tified very extensively. The gallant lecturer re-
garded that island as a great outwork of the
naval fortress of Portsmouth, which it was neces-
sary to protect, The position of each of the forts
and batteries on the island was explained,
and the greatest importance attached to the one
on Cliff End, nearly opposite Southsea. For
the manning of these extensive lines of defence he
relied to a great. extent upon the services of the
volunteers, of whom there were now not less than
14,000 in the various artillery corps. He passed a
high eulogium upon the soldierly bearing of the
volunteers, and referred to the advance in line of
1,500 of them, on a recent occasion, with a precision
and steadiness not surpassed by any of the regular
troops. Regarding Portsmouth as the basis of
military operations in the case of invasion at any
point in the south of England, he suggested the
formation of a military district with three divisions
of about 15,000 men, of whom one-third would be
regulars, one-third militia, and the remainder vo-
lunteers. The line of railways Which extended
from Dover to Plymouth would, in case of neces-
sity, afford great facilities for the movement of

these forces, and the construction of stockades and
batteries, at places which he indicated, would be
most valuable in offering resistance to the march of

an enemy.

The lecture was replete with valuable details re-
specting the defences of this great maritime arsenal,
and at its conclusion, Sir John Burgoyne, in propos-
ing a vote of thanks, stated that many of the sug-
gestions had been under the consideration of the
Government, and some of them were in course of
being carried out.

T.HIS DAY'S MARKETS.

HAY MARKETS.

SMITHFIELD.—DIuadow hay, £3 Os to £4lss Ocl ; clover,
£4 Os to £5 15s Od ; and straw, £1 5s to £1 12s per load.
Trade dull. Supply good.
CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £5 Os; clover,
£4 Os to £5 15s Od ; and straw, £1 7s to £1 14s per lead.
A slow inquiry.
WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £1 15s Od ; clove'
£4 5s to £5 15s ; and straw, £1 5s to £1 10s per load.
Both hay and straw changed hands heavily, on easier
terms.