The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-30 00:00:00

THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Maier, Mr. J. B. Backstone.
THIS EVENING, the performances will commerce with
a new and original Comedy, entitled BLACK SHEEP.
ifr. Buckstone, far. Compton, Mr. Howe, Ase. Mrs. Wilkins,
Sirs. Charles Young, Miss Lovell, &o.
- -

Alter which, will be revived, with entirely new scenery
and effects, and all the original music by the late Sir Henry
Bishop, the melodrama of THE MILLET AND HIS MEN.
Commence at 7.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE....
Lessee and Manager, Mr, A, Harts.
To be followed by HANDY ANDY. Handy Andy, Mr.
THIS EVENING, THE HUNCHBACK. Messrs. Ryder,
Hermann Vezin, Shore, Meadows, duo ; Misses Heath and
C. Leclereq,
To conclude with NURSEY CHICKWEED.

NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.-
Eole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster.
lteproductton of "The Colleen Bawn. " The Adelph

"Census " every Evening..
THIS EVENING, 2d time of a new Farce, entitled A
TURKISH BATH. Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. P. Bedford.

After which' (167th time), THE COLLEEN BAWN. Mr.
D. Roucicault, D. tisher, Billlngton, Falconer, Stephenson,
C. J. Smith, Romer, Howard, Waal ; Mrs. Boucicault, Miss
Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, and Mrs. Chatterley.
To be followed by a new apropos Sketch, THE CENSUS.
Messrs. J. L. Toole, Eburne, Romer, C. J. Smith ; Miss
Kate Kelly, Miss E. ['home, and Mrs. Chatterley.

Doors open at half past 6—Commence at 7.

CANTERBURY-HAL I, CONCERTS
Westminster-road.

Proprietor.. . .C. Morton.
A Grand Selection from Verdi's new Opera,
IL CORSAIZO,
(This opera has never been produced in this or tiaili/ other
Eiavr
EwNeriNksGof
country, except at these Concerts), having met wi tat de-
eided success which charactise 4 the mfistFpou
this great Master, will be performed EV
together with a Selection from LA FIGI,IADEL REM*:
MENTO, by Donizetti,
ssell, Madame Maria, Miss
Drummond, and
Principal Artistes—Miss Rar Tivoli,
Tyrrell, Mr. H. Herbert, Si nor Jonghmans.
C. W. Bernard. Director. • :
J- Blanchard, F. Bell, W. H. Welland, and
The Comic Depart But oomprises Messrs. E. Marshall, A.
E. Hollingsworth.
the Brothers Conrad.
John Martin's Three celebrated Pictures will remain on
view a short time longer in the Fine Arts Gallery of the
Xstablishment.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tnu DAL—Morning, sh. 37m.—Afternoon, 6h. 4m.
To-molutow.-Morning, 6h. 29m.—Afternoon, 6b. 58m.

TIM WEATHER.—Bux OFFICE, APRIL 30, 1061.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
51—highest since noon yesterday.
35—lowest this morning and during the night.
57—this day at noon.

BAROKETM-30.33.
WlND—Westerly, inclining to South —light; with
Cloudy weather, but rather fine.

LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1861.

fir MORTON PETO to-night is to ask the Under-
Secretary-at- War whether the Government intends
to proceed with the forts its the roadstead of Spit-
head. These forts are five in number, and with
some others connected with the Spithead defences
are estimated to mount 915 guns, to accommodate
2,860 defenders, and to cost £1,100,000, being, how-
ever, much more likely to cost double that sum.
What reply the Government will give, we are
rather anxious to see, being pretty confident that
the money spent on these forts would be worse than
thrown away. We hope no false pride will induce
the Government to adhere to plans, merely because
it has once accepted them.
We say teuse than thrown away ; for, if any
one will but take the trouble to look at the excellent
map in the Report of the Commissioners in their
Blue-book, it will be seen at once that the forts
would be actually so built as to enable an enemy's
fleet to steer into and through the roadstead
without buoys or a pilot. To this very
important point must be added another even
more important. We may do the work proposed
for the forts more effectually by iron-plated ships.
They would probably not even cost more ; but of
their superior efficiency and utility there can be no
doubt. They would not show an enemy the way
in; he could not sail past them, as he could very
soon clear a fixed fort ; they could place themselves
in any position most likely to damage him ; they
could even take on board a number of marines,
run alongside and board him if he attempted
to pass. Indeed, in these narrow channels, a very
fast ship of the enemy could not prevent a slower ship,
or even two, from getting alongside and grappling
him if heattempted to force a passage. In a word, an
iron floating battery could be manoeuvred in any
way which skill or eourage might suggest, while
the fort, with defenders ever so brave or skilful,
must keep its position. Another inestimable ad-
vantage would be that such floating batteries 1
would not be confined to the service of Ports-
mouth, if they were wanted elsewhere. Sup-
pose the landing took place near Portsmouth, as
Lord PALMERSTON seems to fear might be possible,
the iron vessels, with their steam power, eould dash
forth, run down, and make short work of the enemy's
boats and transports, while he could not fire on them
without injuring his own ships. They rnight also,
if need were, rapidly steam back again to Spithead.
For this latter purpose it might be desirable that
some of the iron ships should be of smaller draught
of water, so that they might go where the enemy's
large covering ships could not venture; they would
be invulnerable among a fleet of boats and trans-
ports; and for defence of a harbour or coast, for
which large supplies of coal would not be required,
these smaller vessels would, in proportion to
their number of guns, be as useful as any.
We do hope that our Government will
take these and other things into consideration, and
instead of permanent forts, doing quite as mach
harm as good, will spend the money on a class of
ships which will be tar more efficient batteries, and
will do service wherever they are wanted.

The brilliant debate of last evening in the
House of Commons has, at length, after three
nights' discussion, brought the Great Budget
Question to a definite issue between her MAJES-
TY'S Government and her MAJESTY'S Opposition.
It is an alternative now between the remission of
a considerable part of the duty on Tea, or the
total abolition for once (again) and—this time—
for all, of the duty on Paper. Mr. DISRAELI and
his followers pronounce at last, distinctly and
deliberately, for Tea in preference to Paper. Lord
PALMERSTON says, quite frankly, " I myself
prefer repealing the duty on Paper." And so
say all of us ! is :thereupon shouted in chorus
by the rank and file of the Liberal and ultra-
Liberal supporters of the noble Viscount's Admi-
nistration. The position is now, therefore, per-
fectly comprehensible. The noble Premier
himself acknowledges, while avowing his
preference for Paper over Tea, he manfully acknow-
• ledges on the part of the Opposition the perfectly
reasonableness, if they so please, of their deciding in
favour of the Tea, as against Paper, by preference.
" I freely admit:,
he says " that it is a very legiti-
mate proposal to substitute a remission of the duty
on Tea for the repeal of the duty on Paper." That
is consequently the political situation as well as
the fiscal alternative. The Opposition declares itself •
in favour of the remission, after the first of October,
of sa. per lb. on Tea in preference to the abandon-
went thenceforth and altogether of the duty upon
Paper. The Government declares itself on the
contrary in favour of the total repeal of the duty
upon Paper, and, therefore, against any remission
at all of the, war duty of Is. sd. still levied
annually in a time of Peace upon an article of daily
use among all classes of society to the estimated

Z 5

THE SUN.