Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-06

tons now making at all the Navy Yards and Arse
mails of England and, the British Government be
ing now at peace with all the European world, al
impression seems to have been made on the mint
of that these preparations had reference to thu
existing relations between this country and Grea
Britain. Indeed, though there is little rational pro
liability Of the two nations yielding so far to tn,
counsels of folly or wickedness as to engage in al
Improbable and unnecessary contest to determine
which can do the other the most harm, report ha,
gained ground that the extraordinary activity of TIE
British naval and military authorities is the conse
quenca of anticipated rupture Of the negotiation
with us concerning the Oregon boundary. We
have just met with article which has SO direct
bearing upon this matter, and throws SO much light
on the actual motive of the preparations in question
that we have thought it well to prepare at once for
our readers summary of its contents. We make
an abstract of it, therefore, find it, In Fra
zER's London MAGAZINE for November, just re-
ceived in this country, under the caption of g The
dsensbie state Of The country; promising that al
though the UNITED STATES is not alluded TO in the
whole discussion, except in one accidental para
graph and that the entire paper relates to FRANCE,
and the necessity for Great Brains being prepared
for an encounter with that Power yet the substance
of this elaborate Essay cannot but be of the deepest
interest for readers on this side OF the water as
well as on the other.
The article to which we refer commences with
a detail of the maneuvres of two French steam
vessels OF war in the English Channel and the
Downs in October last within distance never ex-
ceedng THO miles from the British coast and fire.
quently much nearer. "There was nothing wrong
in this, says the writer. French steamers Of
war; like other vessels Of other nations are free to
navigate the English Channel when they will, and
to keep as near to the shores of Kent as may ap-
pear desirable to their commanders" "Neverhe-
less, il would be idle to conceal that the appear
ance of these steamers in the heart of an enormous
: feet-a fleet lying helpessly at anchor, because
wind-bound, while they seemed to set both winds
and waves at Defiance stirred up feelings that were
not quite so agreeable as they were novel in the
breasts of the spectators" The conclusion drawn
from this circumstance Isl that England is not so
impregnable In her insular position as she once
was" and that the sanctity of her soil from the
tread of hostile invader "mHst be provided for
hereafter by means different from those which
: have heretofore secured it." Great confidence is
expressed in the present pacific intentions of the
two Governments. "The French Government"
says the writer, !" is as little inclined to 60 TO war
as our own. We know that there never presided
over the foreign policy of this country Minister
: more honestly disinclined to promote differences
: than Lord Aberdeen. His Lordship has religious
horror of war, and it is Christian sentiment
nevertheless, even Lord Aberdeen may be forced
: to give way to popular feeling" But, adds the
writer, "LoUIs PHILIPPE is not immortal, and,
{ N ha he h,hI
grow tired of him, as they do of most things and
men after time" The writer expresses the
opinion that England is not, at present. prepared
for war with France. He sees, however, many
things which may hasten such an event, adding
g that when war does come, it will come like a
thunder clap;'' whence he urges the necessity
for preparation. Unless such preparation be
made, he says I" the least evil which we have to ex-
pect' lin case of sudden breaking out of wary
" will be the landing of ten thousand men on our
shores; or, if twenty thousand or thirty thousand
should come, the march of French army into
London. We do not mean to say The proceeds
that whether ten thousand or thirty thousand come,
they will not equally be destroyed. London is
not England, in the that Paris is France
: But we have no wish to see London in the hands
of an enemy--no, nor the humblest village of our
native country subject to their caprices and there
fore it is our intense anxiety lest in their attention
to other matters, the Government should overlook
point the neglect of which cannot but render all
: the rest of their measures, however wise, worse
than Improbable"
OF the Steam Navy of England it is said "We
run our fingers over the list of our steamships and
say, are they not at once more numerous and pow
erful than all the steam navies Of all the other
nations of the earth put together And who
will venture to contradict US We believe that,
in respect Of tonnage, and the means Of carrying
batteries, the steam navy of England is irresistible;
but then to get this power into operation you must
have time TO gather in your steamships from the
east and from the west, from the north and from
the SOUTH you must bring the issue of your
quarrel to fair stand-up-fght in the channel, or
wheresoever else the locale of the great battle may
: be fixed. But how are you to manage this Will
the Prince de Jomvie, with all his chivalry, ac-
cept challenge if you send it. We think not"
The article goes on 4" And here it is worth while
TO observe, that in this than in other respects,
steam has revolutionized the art Of that il has
rendered comparatively ineffective the greater navy
for purposes OF Defence while il has increased the
offensive capabilities of the lesser navy four-old.
: Unless, for example, you succeed in betting the
island round with circle of steam frigates, and
scarcely even then, you can never hope again, by
means OF your navy Alone to prevent an INVASION.
We may take it for granted that, when war
with France does come, it will come suddenly;
that the of it will be sought for and found
not by US, but by our neighbors that they will
make all the necessary preparations for it long ere
the evil day arrives and strike home, or endeavor to
{ do so. while vet tbay in,ao;nod that vva q ~