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

sions of the previous evening, the Secretary for India in-
tended to proceed with the two bills standing in his name
among the notices of motion—the India (Civil Service) Bill
and the India judicature Bill F

Sir C. WOOD said that, considering the period of the
session, be thought it would not be right to proceed with
those bills.

Mr. DISRAELI said it would be convenient to know
the precise time when the Government would propose the
repeal of the Paper (Customs) Duty.
C 1. FRENCH wished to know when- the Galway con-
tract would come on for discussion.

Lord PALMERSTON could not at present state when
the paper duty would be taken. It would come on in. due
course, and due notice would be given with regard to the
question about the Galway contract. (Laughter.)
In reply to Mr. LIDDELL,

Sir G. LEWIS said that it was his intention to prcceed
with the Ecclesiastical Commi,:sion Bill on Wednesday, and
he hoped that in consequence of some amendments the ex-
pected opposition to certain clauses would not be mani-
fested.

Mr. DISRAELI observed that the "due course" referred
to by the noble lord Would bring on the subject of the paper
duty to-night, but ha understood that it was not to be
brought on to-night, and he therefore hoped the Govern-
ment would give notice when it would be taken. _ .

Lord PACMERSTON said that due notice would IA

given.

Lord FERMOY said he had given notice of an impor-
tant motion on the Spirit Duty Bill, and he trusted that
measures would not be brought on at a late hour.

Lord PALMERETON replied that it would not be taken
at a late hour, and probably not at all to might.
Mr. H. SEYMOUR inquired whether it was intended to
proceed with the Ecclesiastical Courts and Registries (Ire-
land) Bill ? If so, he hoped that an opportunity of fair dis.
cussion would be afforded either on the second reading or
on the motion for going into committee on the bill.
Mr. DEASY said his right hon. friend the Chief Secre.
tary for Ireland proposed to take the second reading to-
night, and probably there would be no objection to the
second reading, as all the important points for discussion
would arise in committee.

Sir G. C. LEWIS—It is a Lords' bill, and there will be
no difficulty in fixing a day which will admit of its full dis-
cussion.

Mr. H. D. SEYMOUR—But will the Government do
so ? (A laugh.)
Sir G. C. LEWIS—Yes.

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 PALM ERSTON—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. niembr•
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 ask the house to take a
brief retrcspect. It is needless to say that the resolution has
for its object to carry into effect to the degree and in the

manner which I thall state the recommendations of the

commissioners whose report has been laid on the table of
the house, Nv ith 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 good fortune and the bra-
very and gallantry of her sailors had, during the war, swept
from the seas all hostile fleets. As far as maritime powez

went we were then free from alarm of attacks from y
quarter whatsoever. The nations of Europe, moreover, }_aul

been exhausting their resources, and had been grestby, de-
pressed in mind and spirit by the events of the war. There
was hardly a country from the Tagus to Moscow wl'Ach had
not by turns been 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)--I say it was

natural that nations in that temper of mind should fix their
thoughts and desires upon a long continuance of peace. For
many years atter 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 uponhe people of this country
for any great exertions with a view to prospective dangers.,,
which there was no reasonable ground' for anticipatinw,
The consequence was that for many years we acted as 'we
had done during the war with respect to our dockyardF, 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 1818 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 or
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 am
able memorandum drawn up by Sir J. Burgoyne, the Duk a
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 antidpate
the event of this country being the scene of war. He drew the
attention of the country to the want of artificial defames, and
implored those who were charged with the conduct of affairs
to provide better for defence against possible ati,,ack. 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
'mauls umbra. But the people of England could not be
brought to realise that altered condition of things. Some-
thing, though 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 roorg,anisfitg
and re-establishing the militia. (Hear.) It is du.e to thmlq,
and more especially to the right hon. gentleman (Mr.lVa
pole) who was then Homo Secretary, and took great pain al
in arranging that force, to say that they did that for which'
the country ought to be grateful. (Hoar.) Before that time
and since, when I was in office, I took steps wits the view
of arranging the artificial defences of the country upon some
t
general system. I found that one department a/Jted without
the knowledge of anther, each independently,
adopting those combined measures which were
' essaryfor the time
I therefore requested the Commander-in-C,
ohidlo First Lord
being, the Master-General of the Ordnance anndec .
without
oa fn the A cisme
cirreatal tryy,f
, theorWar Inspector-Generalmeetat
mofynoolarctieficanatid weons,
d the
.-
established then a system of mutual concert acid co opera-
tion which laid the foundation for very great -improvement
in our defences both at home and in some of mtr military
stations abroad. Since that time this system has gc ,ne on, and
it has prospered. At one time Portsmouth had mo defenee,,
save a saluting battery of comparatively small g uns, 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, Vaey were in-
formed that, as there was only one gun that wa s serviceable,
they must excuse the lapse of some little interval between
each fire. (A laugh.) But while at the poti od I have re-
ferred to those important establishments wert very liar >er •
fectly and inadequately defended, since then consider able
progress has been made in all of them. I am bca and to say , to
the honour of my right hon. friend the Secretor y of Ware end
the Commander-in-Chief, that those two pubrik: officers ha vP
co-operated with the utmost cordiality, without the slight! st
official jealousy or the interference of anything like of
1 ..
etiquette, for the improvement of our army and
thehto the
protec-
tion of the country in a manner which entit lea both a
vat
gratitude of the nation; and owing to their wertion
advance has lately been made. My right ton: friend ap-