The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-30 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDOf
taMi11.........1111111181N
-.
0 MONEY MARKETI 811;:,:.,:t...' iitki;,ft:,:::.'i S (This Day). Lai as I,,,_:.i.':_,ED .-I ii "AXE ), r:.l-INTA 7.:".i.
Leasin.., Closinv Pric.h 1 lia-ines,
AND %AIL WAY t. Shr raid unman. Companies yeeterdpy ' this day.
t,
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE, _________
cl 3hr. Paid RAILWALTA. olosnig 'ric-, Business done -- - -
St. 100 Buckghamsh. Ln•StN.W. 100 - 102
__,‘„_____ yesterday this day.
CITY, Two O'CLOCK. -
St. 100 Clydesdale Jc Caledon... 103 105
---
-------...- 25 all Col.Stour Vy. E.U.StE.O 14 - 16
',!•• The markets for Foreign and Colonial produce 12,t ld , Ambg,. Nottng. Bost. Sit. 100 E.Lin. g. 6 13. Gt.Northn 139 - 141
A St Eastn. June.... 6k -61 5 all E. Un. H. Sh. E. Count; 4 - 5
during the last few days have been moderately so all Belfast & Ballymen, ~. - .., St. 100 Glas. Barr. &
active, and most of the leading staples have sup- 1.31.; all Birmng. Wolvei h. i Neils. Direct. Caldonian. ... - ...
it Stour Valley
ported previous values. Tea, at public sale, went st. 100 mr
kenhd.Lancer 7i - 8i St
,100 Do. Now Do. ...... ... ... - ...
~ a 25 I all Glstr.&Dn.Fr Gt.Westn. .. - ..
oft rather heavily, but at former quotations. Cheshire Jnnet 66 - 63
It Sugar of good quality sold at fully late rates, but 25 all Black burn ll -12 50 all Hull St Selby. Y. St N.M. 1.10 - 112 112
25 all Do. 3 Shares. Do ••• - ...
25 all Blyth & Tyne origins.: 1231 all Do. 4 Shams. Do ••• - •••
coffee, rice, and spices have been slightly depressed.
.£2s(iss. at .£45).... 26i -27 t 12 all !Lon.d:Greenw S.Eastern l3 -14
to The public sales of colonial wool continue to pro- St. 100 Bristol & Exeter..„,.. 89 - 91 20 I all IDo.Preference Do 234 - 244
St. 100 Ca1ed0nian...........764 - 77 78} 8 1 St. 100 !Lon. Til., &S. Peto &Co 92 - 95
gress with considerable animation •us rates , previo St. 100 Chester & Holyhea.l 38 -40 10 110 IDo. Bark. Sh. Do - •••
i, being fully maintained for all descriptions. Salt. 50 all Cork and Bandon. .. ... - ... 53, all IManch.Baton. Ln.&N.W
20 all Cork, Black. & Pass. ... - ..
1, . petre continues steady, and tallow is dull, P. Y. C. and Matlock & Midld. 24 - ?/
4 - 5 St. 100 Mdld.Bradfd. Miclland 97 - 99
/. 20 1 all !Cornwall
011 the spot is quoted 48s. 3d., and last three 10 all i Do• A ••• - ••• 61 54 Newmarket
,?.r swaths 48s. 3d. to 48s. Gd. per cwt. 10 !
r,, I
all Do. B - 9." 90 BuryE.G.spc. E. Count.. 4 • AP
d Du all Dablin&BelfastJun- ... - ...i: 50 , all N.&Est.s p.c. Do 5B - 60
In the Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday there 25 al/ Dom. P. &Aber June. 7i - 84 50 I all Do. 6 per et.. Do ... - ...
WaS no animation whatever, and prices of all kinds st. ;100 East Anglian .... ..... 16 17 50 1 all Do.Fizedsp.c Do
!D tended downwards. The sales were estimated at St. ;100 Eastern Counties..... 613 - 623 623 2 f 25 1 all Prest. St Wyre L. &N . W ... - ...
St. 1100 EasternUnion,A.stk. 45 - 47 123' all Do. 3 Shrs. ADo - •••
rather more activity, and
7,000 bales. The Railway Share Market presented fat. 100
••• - 100 Do~ do. B. - 142
:i• a moderate business was 25 83 Do, New A... lO all Shrews.& Her T. Brassey 84 - 9
•••
r- transacted, at improved quotations. 25 I all East Kent - - -
5t.1.00 East Lancashire ... - 92 12 all S. Staffordsh.. M. MClean 10 - 104 10k
50 , all WearVal.g6pc Stk.dtDar. ... - ...
d.- 323 - 334,
The inquiry for money is rather larger in some 20 all East Snffol: .. . ••• - ••• 25 I all Do Do
011arfnro im 4- 4-1,... —1„ 4. —4.:11 --.,;—,. : ~...q.- .10 1 all' Do.

CITY, Two o'CLoox.
The markets for Foreign and Colonial produce
during the last few days have been moderately
active, and most of the leading staples have sup-
ported previous values. Tea, at public sale, went
oft rather heavily, but at former quotations.
Sugar of good quality sold at fully late rates, but
coffee, rice, and spices have been slightly depressed.
The public sales of colonial wool continue to pro-
gress with considerable animation, previous rates
being fully maintained for all descriptions. Salt-
petre continues steady, and tallow is dull, P.Y.C.
on the spot is quoted 48s. 3d., and last three
swaths 48s. 3d. to 48s. Gd. per cwt.
In the Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday there
was no animation whatever, and prices of all kinds
tended downwards. The sales were estimated at
7,000 bales. The Railway Share Market presented
rather more activity, and a moderate business was
transacted, at improved quotations.
The inquiry for money is rather larger in some
quarters, but the market still remains in a
thoric state, and no prospect exists of an imme-
diate change of a permanent character. The ques-
tion is now being discussed more anxiously than
for some time past whether speculation is likely to
be renewed at the Stock Exchange, the large sup-
ply of capital, and the low rates to which a multi-
plicity of seenrit'e3 are reduced, offering facilities
wLich it might be supposed would lead to active
operations. Already symptoms of an increased
demand for investment are exhibited, and many of
those who are carefully watching the course of
events predict a period of great speculative anima-
tion. In the meanwhile the commercial inquiry is
limited, and likely to continue so for some time to
come, as it is improbable, even under the most
fai,ourable circumstances, that prosperity will be
suddenly or immediately restored.

(East Lancashire
East Snffol:
Do.
Edinburgh & Glasgow
Edinb.Prth. &Duna..
Forth and Clyde June.
Furness . .
Glasgow & S. Western
Great N. of -I'co Liana
.great Northern
Do., A. Stock
Do., B. Stock
Gt. Sth. &West. are).
Great Western.
Do. Str.V.R. gua. St
Irish South-Eastern.
Lancaster &Carlisle.
'Do., Thirds
Do. New Thirds
Lancash. &Yorkshir-
Do. , do. F £l6 ...
Do. Do., £9
Do., Wet. Riding Dr
Do. Southport
London & Blackwell
Do. New, lee. 51. 10s.
Loud. Bright. & S.Cst
London & N. Wester
Do. Eighths
'London & S. Western
Lndndrry.&Coleraine
ILndndrry. & Ennisk.
Ma,nch.Shef.&Linclr.l
Metropolitan
Midland
Do. Birming. &D er ,
Midland West.(lr.
Do. Shares .....
Newcastle &Carlisle..
Newpt.A berg.&llrid.
Newry & Armagh ...I
Newry, Warrennoi,:i
& Restrevor
N0rf01k........
Northn. Counties EN!
North British
North Devon. Rail. di
Dock Stock
Do., A Stock .......
Do., B Stock ......
IN. Eastern—Berwick
,Do do. G.N.E.Purch.
Do. Leeds
Do. York
North London
N. & S. Wstn., Ham,
stead, and City Jn.
North Staffordshire..,'
North Western..
N. & S. Westrn. June j
Oxford Worcester &l
Wolverhampton....
Peebles
Portsmouth._

10 all
St. 100
t. 100
0 all
St. 11.00
St. 1100

6A
2151 - 25.

PREFaiI,ENCE SHARES.

'Myth and Tyne 10 p.
c.pref. (issd.at 501.)
Bris.&Ex.4 p.c. Rt.
Do. 4 per c. Shares
Caledn. £lO 4# p. c
'Ches. di Ho. 51 p.c
Do, do. 5 per cent
!Cork&Bandonsip.c
,Dun.Perth.&Aber.J
E. Anglian Cls. A Sh
Do. do. Ole. B 6p, c,
Do. do. els. C 7 p. c.
Ess.Co.Ex,sp.e No.l
Do. No, 2
Do. New 6 pr. c. St
East Un.' G. 6 p. c.
Do. 51., 10 per cent,
Do. 101 Debentr.Sh.
Do. do. 4 per cent
East Lancash.6p.cts
E.drW. York, J. sth•
Edin. & Gl. sp. c. Sh.
Ed.Prth.&Dun.4p.e.
Furness, 5 p. c

90 - 2
102 - 10310
80 - 82
131 - 133
103 - 105
48 - 486
56 - 58

48 - 50
94 - 96

103 i
81
1311
481 4 i

libli : gi

.1
-.... 6-b •..
5

87 90
111 1242
11 —126 p
9 91
1}- d'
1 a

110 • n 5
103 108
115 - 118
114 - 116
132 - 134
79 - 81

-ii : 4

••• ..

109 - 111
91i -
94 - 951

••• -- •••
64 - 66

,A further small portion, viz., 6,000/ , of the gold
by the Heather Bell was taken into the Bank yes-
terday. The remainder, it is thought, will be sent
to the Continent, but further arrivals are shortly
expected, which will probably cause a further accu-
mulation of bullion. The adjustment of commer-
cial balances, however, will necessitate moderate
consignments to France. Silver is quiet, at pre-
vious rates; and about 20,0001. worth arrived
yesterday from Antwerp by the Baron Osy.
The half-yearly meeting of the Scottish Austra-
lian lnvestment Company has just taken place, at
Which a dividend was proposed at the rate of 10
per cent, per annum. The report was satisfactory,
and stated that the gross profits of the half-year
were 9,961/. 13s. 10d. It was the intention of the
directors to dispose of the other mining property
of the company, in which the shareholders were to
have the preference in taking shares. The report
was adopted.

Glas. -.c.
Great Northn. 5 p.c.
Do. 5 p. c. Redo m.
at 10 p. c. prem....
Do. 44 per cent

120 - lii

34 35
2 ld
93 93}
64 66 i

112 - 114
105 - 107

Do. 5 p.c., Red. at 5
rran

Gt.N.O Scot.lstPr(
Gt. S & IV. (Ireland)
Do. 4 per . Pref. 9t.
Gt. Ex.spe
'Do. con. red. 4A P.C.
Do. con. 1.?. 4 p. c.
irred. 4 per vent.
Do. 5 p. C. red. pref.
Do. Birm. Pref.
Do. Chester Sp. c.P.S.
Do. do. 5 p. c. do.
Do. Birra. Gua. Stk.
Do. Chesh. Gua. Sh.
Do. do. do
Do. do. do
Lan. & York. 6 pc. St
Lon. &B. G. 5 pc. No I
D o. , P., 5 p. c. St. No. 2
Do. New Guar. 6p. c.
Do. do. 5 p. c., N 0.4
Lon. & N, W„ Coy. &
Nnneator 5 r. ct
Lon. & S. W. 7 per ct
late 3d Shares

65 e,7
11

90 -- 4,1
81 -- 83
82 -- 84
96 -- 98
9i -- 10
16 -- 17
91 -- 104
72 -- 74
18 -- 19
9 -9;
13i -- 14,E
1140 - 142

61 63

52 - 53

91 - 914
2 - 1
46 - 47
72 - 72;i1
96 - 98 I

... - ..

At the meeting of the Netherlands Land Enclo-
sure Company, held to-day, it was stated that, in
consequence of the destruction of the 2nd polder
by the storms of February last, negotiations were
going on with the Dutch, in order that some assis-
tance might be afforded to the company to resume
operations, and it was hoped that they would be
successful. The report was adopted.
The English Stock Market is buoyant, and several
transactions have been recorded at a further slight
advance. Owing to the approaching settlement
the speculators are naturally very cautious, but
acme moderate purchases have been made for Sep-
tember. Consols have been 96 to 968, but they
are now 95i 96. The New Threes are 961 ; the
Reduced, 96i ; Long Annuities (1885), 188 ;
Exchequer Bills, March, 355. prem. ; June, 255.
prem. ; ditto Bonds,looi ; India ditto, 15 ; ditto
Stock is 2191 ; and Bank Stock, 2251 226.
In Foreign Securities rather more ac ivity is
apparent, and quotations have all advanced.
Turkish 6 per Cents. are 96/ 97 ; ditto 4 per
Cents., 1052 ; Brazilian 5 per Cents., 1034 ; ditto
Scrip, prem. ; Mexican 3 per Cents., 20g ;
Peruvian Uribarren Bonds, 771 ff ; Russian 4i per
Vent'.; 1001 ; Spanish 3 per UelltS., Sorg ; oitTo
Passive, 8i ; Austrian 5 per Cents, 81±; French
3-per Cents., 67f. 87/c. ; Venezuela 5 per Cents.,
40 ; and ditto Deferred, 15g.
Messrs. D. Bell, Son, and Co., give the follow-
as the prices of American Securities :

6 -
7i - 8i
8 9

160 - 165

27 - 29

Londy. & Color. Sh
Londy.&Ennie. Sh.
M., S.,&L. 6p.
Do. do. do. £6 Cent.
Do. do. 3i per cont.
3farypt. & Carl. 4 p.c.
Do. 4i per cent
Do. do.
Mid. Consol. 6 p. c. St
Do. Con. Br. Biz% 6 p. c
Do. 4i p. c. Pref. St
Do. L. dill. Pref. St
New., Aber., &c., pr
5 p.c.red. sp.c.pm
Do. Perpet. 6 pr. et
Liorflr. Doh. 4p. c. Sh
Do. 5 p. C. Ext. 1846
Do. 5. p.c. pf ,
Do.Wv.V.sp. ~1847.
North British
Do. 71. lereference
N.B. Berw. 4 p.c.Prf I
Do. do. do

7 4d

121 - 123
69 - a

Rhymney

(Scottish Central ..,

Sc,)t. N. E. Abrdn. St
Do. Scot. Mid. Stock
Shropshire Union
Sitingbourne &Sheer.
South Devon.
South Eastern......
South Wa1e5...........

W 9 - 111
264 -26 i
81 - 83
44 - 46
3 2
34i - :45i
68 - 69
79 - 80
14 - '5
6 - 4 '1
9 - )1
34 - 35

139 141
102 - 104
92 - 94

.....
S. Yorksh. River Dun
FDo ..... . ........

all !Staines,Wok.,&W,,k.
all Stockton & .Darling
20 I Do. do., 1854
7 I Do. do., 1855
!Stockton & Hartlepl
100 (Taff Vale...
100 Do. Pref., No.
22 i Limes Hay. D. &R.
100 :Vale of Neath
100 'Waterfd. & Kilkenny
all 'Waterford&Limenek
all West C0inwa11........
all West End of London
and Crystal Palace..
all ' Do. A
Do. B
r _
....

111 - ii
sl -

1108 - 110

•••

98 99
- i 4

96 - 99

IDo. Leeds 6 pe. No.l
Do. do. Qrs., 1848...

Do. York H. &S. Pur.
North Staffordshire
40x., Wor. dt Wolv. G
I p.c., Ist guar.
ID°. 6 p. c. 2d guar._
!Do, do. Debentr. St.
oeu L. VeII4.INWW rret.
Sc.N.E.Aber.g.6p.c.
Do. do. 7 p.c. pf, St.
Do. do.3i p.c. pf. St
,South Devon

•••
- P
23 - 21

.34
61 - 61

119 - 121
105 - 107
98 7 100
119 - 121
125 - 127
74 - 76
10.1 - lt.i

Do. First Class
all j Do. Second Class

Do. fixed 44 pr cent.
S. Eastern (Re..rline,
Ann.) of £1 Os. Gd I
'Do. 44 per cent
Do. Fixed 4j p.c. Sh
Do. New 4. pr. cent
S. Wales Gua. 4 p. c.
Do. do. 44 p.
S.Yorksh.4 p.c.Guar
Stock. &Dar., 5 p. 0
Do. do. do.
IWaterfddtKilk. 6 pc

233 -- 243
101 -- 193 ,
101 - 103

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES.
United States 6 per Cents. 1867-1808
Redeemable. Per Cent
United States 6 per Cen ...103 105
t. Bonds 1868...102 104

Alabama 5 per Cent STATE SECURITIES. .
78
iCentucky 6 per Cent. Bonds 1868-1872_ 91 93
Maryland 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds)... ... 91 93
Massachusetts 5 per Cent. (Sterl. Bonds). ...101 103
Mississippi 6 per Cent. Pl. Bk.
Bonds ,
1841-1871...
Mississippi 5 per Cent. Union Bk. Bonds ...
Pennsylvania 5 per Cent. Stock ............ ... 77 79
Pennsylvania 5 per Cent. Bonds '877... 82 84
Tannessee 6 per Cent. Bonds
... 79 81
Virginia 6 per Cent. Bonds 1886.. 81 83
Virginia 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds)
—3BBB_. 81. 83
_ - --

16A -17 A
28 - 293

••• •••
40 ! 45

BRITISH MINES.
2112 Alfred Cons. (Phi.) 8 9
•••
20 14 'British Iron
... 20 I Condurow (Cambrn.) 50 60
10 1 D ay. Gt. Cnsls. (Tay. ) 465 475
30 'East Basset (Illogan) 90 95
..•
17s Great South Tolgus 5 16
•••
11i Grt. W. Alfrd. (Philk.) 5 —6/
... 7 Grt.W. Vor (Helstu.) 1/ ig
... 17s Lady Bertha -
... 8 N. Frances (Illogan) 6. 74
N. W.Basset (Illogan) 84 94.
6115 North Wheal Crofty 4 5
... 1i Par. Cons. (St.Blaxy) 16 17 161
... 9 Porkellis U. (Wend.)
... 6s, Sort. Cons. Min. Co. 1 1/
... 24 S. Caradon (St. Clear) 395 -- 405
... 2S. Carn Brea (Illogn.) 24 34
... 19 S.W. Fmnces(lllogn.) 230 240
5 44 Tam. S. &L. Kin. CO.l
10 9 Tin Croft I 31
... 40 Un.Mines (Gwennap) 70 90
1256 V. of To way (Camay.; 1
... 14 W. Basset (Illogan) 20 22
... 20 W. Caradon (Liskrd.) 95 JO5
Wh. Basset (Illogan).1175 185
... 5 Wh. Buller (Rdruth).l2o6 - 220
51 Mi. Edward(Calstck) 41 5
... 117 s Wh. Kitty (U. Llant) 7 8
8 [Wh. Ma. Ann (Menht. ) i 6 -• 48
4 IWh. Trelawney (Lis.) 24
FOktEltiN
10 7A ;Australian
1 lOs. Bon Accord Cop. (li.) p 1
35 27 Brazilianlmp.(issued
at .C 5 pm)
30 all Do. Cocaes & Cuiada
20 15 Do. St. John Del Roy 11 12
1 4 Clarendon Con. MM.
Co. of Jamaica .
40 all Cobra Copper 4O 42
... 16 Copiapo
1 all Dun Mountain Cop )
per Mining Co. 1
2 all Fortuna
20 all General
3 all Linares
5 11 Lusitanian
1 all Mariquita
1 all New Granada —
1 all Novean Monde
20 all Pont.Sil.LdMok Smlt 5 7
5 t 1 Port Philip — I
30 161 Santia.g... de Cuba
all United Mexican 3i 3 311 I

LOANS BostOn 4i per Cent. Bonds OF
1883...
Montreal 6 per Cent. Bonds 1856-1865...
New Orleans 6 per Cent. Stock 1883...

AILROAD BONDS.
Illinois Central 7 perß Cent. let Mortgage,
not Convertile 1875... 81 83
Illinois Centralb 6 per Cent 1875... 79 81
Illinois Central 7 per Cent. Freeland
Bonds 1.860— 78 79
Illinois Central (Shares), $3O paid... . . ... 23 d 21d
Michigan Central Bp. Cent., Convert 1860...
Do. do. do. 1869... 82 84
New York Central 7p. Cent., Convert 1864... '..11 93
New York Central 6 per Cent., not
Convertible 1883... 81 83
New York and Erie 7 per Cent. 3d Mort-

Ngage 1883... 67 69
....York and Erie 7P. Cent. Convertible 1862...
York and Erie 7 per Cent. Sinking
V and 1875... 30 35
?imams 7 per Cent. ,Ist Mortgage ,18G5... 89 91
tonnsylvania Central 6p. Cent.. I stMort.lBBo... 89 91
A rather active business has been done in the
Railway Share Market this morning, and most
of the leading lines show considerable improvement
in Values. Lancashire and Yorkshire, North-
Western, and North Stafford, have improved 10s. ;
Caledonian, Eastern Counties, North Eastern,
Berwick, and North-Eastern (York), 1/. ; and
Great Northern, 1/. 10s. The Foreign and Colonial
lines have been moderately active, prices have also
slightly improved. Paris and Lyons advanced ss. ;
Pernambuco, ss. ; and Great Luxembourg, ss.
In the Colonial Market, East India have advanced
11. ; Grand Trunk of Canada, 1/. ; Geelong and
Melbourne, 10s.
Joint-Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares are
Moderately acive, but prices show a dywnward
tendency. London and Weitininst r have receded
58. ; Provincial of Ireland improved 55.; and Lon-
don Joint-stock, ss.
In the Miscellaneous Market scarcely any busi-
ness has been done. Royal Mail Steam have im-
proved to Cs.

2RITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE • .'(' i OCK.
Bank (Prom the 011ics4t Lutz •
Stock
Three per Cent. Reduced Annuities (+6; $ 5
3 net -,.‘ onk‘ou- Annuities - 54 6i
New Three per Cent. Annuities
Long Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1860
India. Stock .............................. .
Ditto Bonds, £lOOO .. .... ..........
Consols for Account
Exchequerßills--- •
Qviarcii. June.
4000 •••
£5OO .• 5
38 5
22
t-"zell tna'l
ecluer Bonds, 1859, 3i Per Cent.
PitICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
liraailian 5 per Cent lO3
.5
Sato Serip, 1858
All/neat, pc: r • ent.
Ditto Account
1
Ditto per Cent. Urrih.rr'n 77 i
Rlss i a n , 1522, P ,9,t.., 5 per Cent -
Ditto 1858, 4A per Cent.
qplnish Roads, o per ()Ant
Ditto, Passive
. Tarkish Bonds, 6 per Cent. -
Ditto, Account 97 6!! 7
. Ditto Guaranteed 4 per .'eut.
• 'Velem:3la Bonds, 4t per Cent -
Ditto Account
Ditto Deferred, 2 per Cent.
Dividends on the above payable in London.
French Rentes, 4t per Cent., Ex. 25c.
• Do. 3 per Cent., ex. 25 francs Austrian Bonds,6 f. 871 c.
10 Gull., 5 per Cent, £ 811
•
Consols TWO O'CLOCK.
, riacney 9si 6
Ditto account
..............................

- -
GOLD (AUSTRALIA) the jeer 1857 48,815 ,z of
told (va!ue 185,1381.) were rxvertpri from Ne..
South
'Wales, and 2,729,655-z. (value 10,806,2601.) from Vic•
toria. The total gross quantity of gold exported from
both colonies between May, 1851 and December, 1857,
is estimated at 17,023,413:z., valued at 64,122,3601.

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 3O, 1858.

MILITAR b D tlfiP.Ell7 CLi 01P ,8 fi:I.OIUM,

_.-_ + --

The debete on the Antwerp ft- rtifications was re-
sumed in the Belgian Chamber ou the 27th.
M. THIEFFRY continued his speech. He said
the expenses which were made an objection to the
great enceinte might be reduced. They were at first
put down at 60,000,000 francs, and had already
been brought down to 45,000,000 fraucs. Other
reductions were possible. It was not necessary to
face the works with masonry. Earthworks with
moats were much less costly. He should vote
against the plan of the government, for a special
reason. He culd not admit an extension of the
means of defence of Antwerp, no matter on what
scale, except on the condition of the simultaneous
demolition of the other fortresses. Should the
government not declare itself on this point he
should vote against the grant of any money for the
object of the bll.
General Bernard, a royal commissioner, said—
Gentlemen,—During yesterday's sitting M. Thieffry
spoke in accordance with principles wh ch very
closely resemttle those by which the government is
guided. The arguments of M. Thieff'y bear upon
three principal points et!lioli I shall examine suc-
cessively. The first of these points is the follow-
ing :—M. Thieffry says that an unarmed neutrality
is a chimera. I agree with the hon. gentleman that
an unarmed neutrality is a chimera. In case of an
acknowledged nitcessity no scruple is made of in-
vading neutral countries. Vatel says, " Necsssity
authorises invasion ; that is quite natural. When
an army is in the field it does not atop before neu-
tral territories, it advances, it must conquer." In
1672, Liege wished to be neutral; Louis XIV. de-
stroyed the citadel of Liege. This is what becomes
of neutral countries. But there is something to the
purposestillmorerecent. Speakingof the neutrality
of Belgium and Switzerland, Lord Palmerston said
that he did not believe that neutrality would be an
obstacle in the way of armies whose interest it might
be to disregardthe privileees of that neutrality. It was
on the Bth of June that Lord Palmerston sp ke
thus. Do not doubt, genlemen, that as soon as
one power enters Belgium, another will follow.
Such a possibility requires to be guarded against.
Belgium must have an army strong enough to allow
her to look for help in case of atigression. If she
has not such a force it will happen that the nations
from whom she may hope for assistance will only
arrive at their own time. We can find in our his-
tory examples of what I have just stated. In 1840
a war appeared imminent. A power allied with
Belgium asked her whether, in case of attack, she
had forces sufficient to defend her territory for a
certain time. Well, to do what was asked of her,
and what always will be asked of her, Belgium
must have an army iu the field. But one does not
send an army into the field without its being, as
it is technically called, based. Bases vary accord-
ing to the event of the country. You have in
France many lines serving as bases—fortified
places, into which armies that have received a check
may retire. In a country which has not a similar
extent a central fortress is necessary. This is what
the government project demands, and it demands
also that the army should have the means of acting
efficiently. This is no party question ; it is a mat-
ter of absolute necessity. Fur the rest the choice
of this military position has been investigated by
the officers of the army. They have sought for
such a position as should best assure the defence of
the country. Antwerp has been chosen. The
advantages of Mons, Brussels. and Antwerp
have been discussed. I may here state that
when I proposed to fortify Brussels, there
was no intention of concentrating the army
there. The proposition of fortifying Brussels was
this—it seemed to me that Brussels ought in no
case to fell into the hands of the enemy. 1 intended
at the same time that Antwerp should be kept up.
The great military position of the country ought to
maintain a lengthened defence. Brussels could
never do so. There are many obstacles in the way.
One of the most serious is the provisioning of the
town. It would take an army to provision Brest:els.
In the arguments which are urged against ns it is
asserted that M. Thiers has said that Paris could
be provisioned. No. M. Thiers said that the
provisioning of Paris was at all times secure for a
certain number of days. What M. Thiers meant
was that Paris might be deprived of succour from
without, but that it would always have within itself
considerable resources. There is another remark
to be made, and that is that Brussels is not at all
in the position of Paris. In a few hours an invad-
ing army would be under the walls of our capital.
Paris, on the contrary, would not be besieged for
months, not usitil several armies bad been defeated.
Paris would have to provision itself. I have now
told you why you cannot choose Brussels. I will
next state why Antwerp should be chosen. A
place which is to serve as a reftige for the national
—.recut, IJU unneary position in every
point of view ; it ought to be good in a defensive
point of view ; it must not be menacing to any
one ; or it must be menacing to every one ; every
power should have an interest in its not falling
into the hands of another power ; it must have
resources by itself, must be easy to pro vision, easy to
defend; communication with our allies must be easy.
It is impossible to find a town except Ant werp
which unites all these advantages. We have been
told that Antwerp, being surrounded with walls, is
incapable of extending. Yet never since she has
bad walls has her development been arrested. A
great commercial town, it has been said again, can-
not be the national refuge. Yet Amsterdam, which
plays a similar part, is fortified. N-w Y,,rk and
Boston are fortifiLd. Genoa, Leghorn, Trieste,
and Riga even, which were spoken of yesterday,
are fortified. You cannot show that Antwerp is
not a place of the first order for warlike purposes.
Hamburg, in 1812, razed its walls. It has cast it
115 millions. Raze your walls, and a CASt., may
present itself that will oblige you to have them.
As to the possession of Antwerp en Nov. 13, 1813,
Lord Castlereagh wrote to Lord Absrdeeu that it
was impossible to leave Antwerp to France. Na-
poleon himself said that he had done much for
Antwerp, but still no:-, enough. That Antwerp
ought to be a place of refuge in case of a national
defence. In short, as regards the possession of
Antwerp, England would on no account permit it
to belong to France, and France would on no ac-
count permit it to belong to England. All the
powers which surround us have an interest in Bel-
ginm's being mistress of Antwerp. As regards
communication, by the very position of Antwerp,
it will always be secure. As to provisioning, it is
equally safe—by land, if we have France on our
side, by sea if England. In short, in political
military, and all other respects, it is th only truly
strategic position in the country. General Renard,
after exelaining the system ad pt&l fur the defence
of Antwerp by the committee appointed it,
1847, stated that the officers who had expressed an
opinion favourable to the great enciente had done
so with considerable qualification, Ile then pro-
ceeded—Toe central section in adopting the enciente
of Keller admits the demolition of the strong places,
and the concentration of all our force at An twerp.
Now in a national war there are other things be-
sides soldiers ; there is public spirit, the population,
and the resources of the soil. Now how aro we to
apply that public spirit if we have not a place in
which the flag is always standing? B -.sides, there
is as regards this proposal to raze all the fortres,s,
and to have an army at Antwerp, some thing which
astonishes me in a report emanating final General
Giblet. He said, on the 26th February, 1856,
" Tne sole obligation of Belgium is to defend the
placer, the preservation of which is recommended
by the Conference of London." And now we want
to raze everything. How, ought Belgium to have
no public action beyond what is imposed on her ?
This is unarmed neutrality—more the shame !
Now, would you withdraw a part of your gams in
to send it against a body, say of 25,000 enemies
only ? You could not do it, and a garrison of
50,000 men would remain passive spectators of
the invasion of their country. The section, by
proposing the great enciente, upheld that the beet
means of defence would be obtained by having the
town and forts in close proximity to Pael
This was error. The section reigued as it the town
was the principal point of defence, it was precisely
the contrary. The forts, the retrenched camp,
were the principal points, the city of Antwerp was
only an accessory. It was no longer a question
of a retrenched camp on Vauban's plan, but of
camp as they are now constructed, and wine, ie
only a protection for a town when placed at dis-
tance from it ; it was this principle which det er-
mined the position of the detached forts of Paris.
Moreover, it was necessary that the camp
slit old
be vast and strong enough to contain an army.
The idea of billeting the soldiers !ri the town must
not be entertained. Mingling with the population
would lead to disorganisation. And then, suppos-
ing the plan of the great enceinte were aoopted,
how was it to be defended f How were the troops
and the artillery to be manoeuvred in an enclosure
which assuredly would Le covered with streets,
gardens, and
Squares It was then in the forts,
and only in the forts, that the serious defence
was to be found, as well as the protection
of the town.
In. conclusion, General Renard
opposed the proy ct which would admit of
the plan of the enlargement by reducing the ex-
penses by erecting fortifications without masonry.
He severely censured such a calculation, the con-
sequences of which would be to have a fortress
upon which the country relied for its safety badly
~rected and incapable of defence.
The house then adjourned.

M. Levial, the sculptor of the equestrian statue of
Napoleon 1., just erected at Cherbourg, was only six.
yeara ago a grocer's boy in the village of Briquebee, in
Normandy,