The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-28 00:00:00

THE DEFENCE OF OUR PORTS.

A writer in a contemporary says :—Allow me to
direct attention to the defenceless condition of the
port of Greenock. I believe no port of equal import-
ance lies so invitingly open to attack by an enemy's
cruiser, It is not, like Liverpool, protected by any
difficulties in the navigation of the frith. The course
from the Atlantic to the roads is so completely free
from impediments, either natural or artificial, that
a stranger without the aid of buoys or beacons, and
without the slightest risk of molestation, could
easily run in the largest frigate and lay her within
200 yards of the shore at any point from one end of
the town to the other. This will hardly be believed,
but it is nevertheless the fact, for, although there
are.in Greenock three companies of volunteer artil-
lery, three on the opposite side of the river, and a
brigade comprising 14 companies at Glasgow-22
miles distant, and communicating with both shores
by railway—there is not a single gun in position
which could be brought to bear on an enemy's ship
approaching or lying before the town, This will
appear still more unaccountable when it is remem-
bered that about two miles below Greenock the
channel is contracted by the peninsula of Roseneath
to a width of about 2-1 miles, thus affording peculiar
facilities for its defence by works on both sides. It
is true that on the Greenock shore a fort was erected
several years ago at this point, and armed with
seven 68-pounders, but these are at present dis-
mounted, the platforms having given way, while on
the Roseneath shore there is neither fort nor arma-
ment, and thus the passage is perfectly unobstructed,
and the 1,000 well trained artillery men, who would,
in case of need, most willingly illustrate the effi-
ciency of our " system of local defences," if only
they had the means of doing so, are utterly impotent.

LATEST NEWS.

BERLIN, DEC. 27.

It is stated on good authority that the Prussian
Government has made fresh proposals with refer-
ence to the conclusion of a treaty of commerce
between France and the Zollverein.

M. Leclerq, the French Plenipotentiary, remains
in Berlin awaiting the reply of his Government.

VIENNA, DEC. 27.

A rumour has been current to-day on the Bourse
that a considerable reduction of the Austrian army
is intended.

TURIN, DEC. 27.

General Klapka has arrived here.

Letters received here from Rome state that the
Marquis de Lavalette is reported to have proposed
to Francis IL to take up his residence in France.
According to the same advices, some disagree-
ment existed between the Pontifical and Russian
Governments.

The departure from Rome of Monsignor Chigi,
Papal Nuncio to the Court of the Tuileries, ap-
peared to have been indefinitely proponed.

CHINA.

PEKIN, OCT. 27.

The Emperor of China was expected to leave
Zehol on the 26th inst., in order to formally receive
his father's remains.

But few foreigners have been invited to the
capital.
In consequence of a recommendation from Prince
Rung, the Chinese authorities appear desirous of
receiving European counsel.
This is expected to exercise a favourable influence
on the relations between the Chinese Government
and the foreign Powers.

CANTON, Nov. 15.

There is no news of importance from Japan.

English men-of-war were cruising among the
Japanese islands for the protection of British
subjects.

Advices from the Northern ports state that
Admiral Hope had visited Newchang.
The rebels are said to be in the vicinity of
Ningpo, the inhabitants of which are fleeing to
Shanghai, where all alarm had subsided.
Hangehow is reported to be invested by the
rebels.

The Hon. Mr. Anson Burlingame, the American
Plenipotentiary, had visited the Governor of
Twocwang, by whom he was well received. The
visit was returned.

Mr. Burlingame afterwards left for Shanghai,
on his way to the capital.
It is reported that the foreigners in Hankow
have been attacked by the " braves" in the streets
and even in their own houses, and that placards
have been posted up threatening the extirpation of
the Europeans.
The Hankow and Tien-tsin markets are in a
flourishing condition.

INDIA.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO POINT DE GALLS.]

CALCUTTA, Nov. 29.
The Indian Council Act has been proclaimed.
A reconciliation has taken place between the
Ameer of Cabal and the ruler of Herat.

COCHIN CHINA.
POINT DE GALLE, Nov. 30.
The accounts from Saigon are still unfavourable
to the French. Nothing decisive, however, had
taken place. The King was fortifying Hue, and
was said to be determined to fight to the last ex-
tremity.

SINGAPORE, Nov. 21.

The mail steamer Bombay broke her shaft near
Penang, and was towed to Singapore by the Mohr.
The China mail was forwarded by the French

steamer.