The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-04 00:00:00

it." Peschiera contains about 3,000 inha- the midst of an inquiring age.; the miserable idei.
bitants. Like Mantua, it is a small town situated ofn miatkiiTha civil
.despotism more tolerable by ally-
on an island formed by the Mincio, at its outlet from • ecclesiastical tyranny; the pride that
the Lake of Garda. Peschiera commands the right disdain bankruptcy; and the obstinacy
bank of the river. Its principal mission is to watch seemsd ever in search of fresh misfortunes,—
and defend the Lake of Garda, and the sluices which these, and such qualities as these, have been the ad-
hold in reserve a current of water ready to sub- 1 •
mration of the worshippers of brute strength, and
merge any works which an enemy may construct, the despisers ofall in the '
or to carry away the pontoon bridges he may throw vates him
above the beasts that perish. The system
over the Mincio. During the French Republican has been fairly tried,and
war the fortifications of Peschiera consisted merely out to be
Tiweakness, its union discord, and its piety
I\d‘orligeischnlovtl
of a pentagon. Subsequently a manielon, named La hypocrisy. The paternal system has been, like the
IVlandelta, was raised on the left bank of the river. British
Constitution, put upon its trial, but, unlike
On it were constructed three lunettes or forts, de- the British Constitution, has been -weighed in the
fended by a broad, natural fosse, on the right bank I
balance and found wanting.
of the Mincio. A defensive work of considerable ..............._
magnitude, called the "Srslvi," covers the immediate
approaches of the river. The fortifications altogether
may be capable of containing one division of troops.
In 1848 Peschiera was carried by the Sardinian
army after a three weeks' siege. Nevertheless it was In addition to the commercial advantages pre-
Peschiera, that checked the success of King Charles seated by the Northfleet Docks, their importance is
Albert. After the taking of Peschiera Charles also very great in a military point of view. An
o
Albert crossed the Mincio, intending to encamp offer has been made to Government to lease them
temporarity on the heights of Rivoli ; but soon be-
that portion which is called on the plan the "
"Be-
coming sensible of the danger of that isolated posi-
serve Dock,
h far as the negotiation has
as met with a decided ap-
tion, he did not venture further, and he again, progressed, this offer and, so
though not without difficulty, fellback on the Mincio. I proval. If the Government should accept it, there
Legnano is situated on the Adige, at an equal ties-
can be no doubt a military depot and hospitalwould
be established on the spot. This would not only
tance from Mantua and Verona, Legnago and Pes-
chiera are situated at two opposite points, and are relieve the licensed victuallers of Gravesend from
of nearly equal importance. The former is not really the annoyances pertaining to the billeting system,
1 but, would add 'greatly to the comfoit of our inva-
a strong place, but as a strategical position the town
lided troops. Apin, with reference to the sister-
is of vast importance, on account of its two fortified
service—to that increased accommodation for the
points constructed on the Adige, which enable the
Royal Navy, the providing of which is clearly
garrison to manoeuvre with facility on both banks,
Justified by the present political aspect of Europe
Moreover, it is from Legnano and by Legnano that j
the
—Northfleet presents such manifestly unparalleled
suppliesarrisons of Verona and Mantua can obtain
of troops and provisions. Verona, which
advantages, that the Reserve Dock proposed to be
is divided into two parts by the Adige, contains I constructed for the Government will not only form
about 30,000 inhabitants. During tile campaigns a most invaluable adjunct to Woolwich, but, con-
of the armies of the French Republic Verona was netted as it is by railway with all the principal
only a fortress of secondary importance,
but since garrison towns, Northfleet may be made the Cher-
-1848 it has undergone considerable military dove-
Bourg of the Thames and the Metropolis. A few
words in on the g j ust
lopment, and the Austrian Government has spared
alluded to. exp
At onelanati endof advanta
of the proposedes site of
no expence to render it a fortress of the first rank.
this Reserved Dock we have the vast and valuable
Formerly the part in the direction of Lombardy
was almost without means of defence ; all the ship-building and engineering plant created by the
Pitcher family during a period of nearly a century.
strength of the place was concentrated in that part
Here is an establishment, not surpassed in its eapa-
-which faced Austria. But this fault has been
remedied, and Verona is now equally well fortified bilities by any of the Government dockyards,
at all points. The old walls have undergone repair, ready formed to hand, se that vessels of war of
and bastions have been raised ; casements, half- all classes—whether built of wood or iron—
moons, and outrages a comes have been con- whether moved under canvas or propelled by
structed ;20 forts (15 of which are external, on steam—can be expeditiously docked and overhauled,
the plan of the fortifications of Paris) are mounted and their engines and boilers be promptly
with thousands of guns. In short, nothing is examined and repaired. At the other end of this
wanting. Austrian gold and military skill have dock we have the town of Gravesend, already
converted Verona into a most redoubtable strong-
built, and capable of supplying not only everything:
a fleet might require in the way of ship provisions
hold.—Bulletin. and stores, but capable also of furnishing, from its
extensive population, the particular kinds of labour ,
necessary to the development of such ail important
naval station and military depot as might be esta-
blished at the Northfleet Docks. Before I conclude
my observations on the advantages of the proposed
site for Governmental purposes, I must call your
attention to the facilities thete Docks would afford
both for coaling and watering a fleet lying within
their basins. With respect to the former, I ern's-
sider Northfleet will become the metropolitan 'em-
porium for the sea-borne coal of the North and. of
Wales; while, with regard to the latter, within
these Docks an illimitable supply of the puisest
water will be constantly available for tho requisite
)urpose.—Lecture by J. E. Tabberner.

NATIONAL IMPORTANCE OF THE
NORTIIFLEET DOCKS.

AUSTRIA AND HER POLICY.

COUNTRY MARKETS:

YORK-JULY 2.