Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-01-29
From the London Spectator r NoU Is.
NIfinnal Defence.

PEACE holds the civilized world on the borders
only babarous savage regions, Is peace inter-
rupted. Yet talk and act If il imminent.
france and England, con ervators OF the peace IN
Europe, keep measuring their swords from time TO
Tune, each to that the other do not have advan-
tage If there should be war. A French paper, under
stood to be published under the sanction of the Prince
de Jouville and to represent his views, has long
comparative account of the two navies; whence the
writer deduces the general conclusions that the En-
glish excel tie French in the construction of the
smaller vessels of war; though not frgates ships
of line; and the whole the strength of The
French navy is about One-third that of the English
navy. The writer calculates that France could at
short notice send to II ships Ct three deckers)
and % Fl gates to oppose 43 English ships az three
decker>) and 81 rgates; the French having further
IN reserve % ships and II frigates the English, y
ships & three-deckers) and III frigates In the class
of three-deckers, the French would oppose IA 50
guns to 40. Hence the writer would have France
beSt herself In strengthening the larger class OF her
navy. This view indicates some change of council
since the Prince de Jonvllle demanded efficient
steaInarne as the way to steal upon Eng and In the
night, but change in the animus which keeps
watch upon French means to do England an injury on
opportunity There in fact two classes IN France
against whom we, and the French nation also, have
to uard,-those who inflated with some of the
higher notions of military glory" and would gladly
convert the world into theatre of in order to
those possessing meaner spirit of nationality, which
consists in hating other countries and would be
tent merely to do Eng land mischief Although war
is for the present at discount in France, both those
classes keep the embers alive for times favorable
to their passions.
And truly, our coasts, as every body has seen for
many year. are defenceless enough. Once they were
defended by our wooden walIs-our navy; but that
was when no nation could contend with US at sea
now France has her floating forts and running bridges
The Channel has come to be merely great river, and
ii can no longer rest for defence movable force
going up and down its banks must be fortified. The
Government urged by the generel sense of expo
sure to unforeseen maevoence has just begun to take
steps for putting in that state that they
ought always exhibit and the French are dispeas-
ed! "Some displeasure," says the Times, IS was
expressed in Paris at the orders given by the English
! Government for defensive works on the coast the
labors on the Notifications of Cherbourg unceas-
ing; while, by means of breakwaters and other works,
Havre and nearly every other port OF France Is to be
strengthened This is monsrous exactlon-that we
should manifest friendship for France by rema In
ing inert even while she collects arms and holds the
sword suspended in air 1t is due 10 the peaceable
and udicous part of the French nation that should
| be prepared to check the unpeaceable. would
be nearly as bad for France as for England, even
the outset but while the exposed condition of oul
coasts seems to invite aggression and insure victory
the argressors the peaceable and udlcious Will no
always be able to keep 81 la gloire under CONTROL
Espt ciay il behOves to be upon our guard while
we have domestic traitors-the unrepudIaed leaders
of the Irish, who boast that they have at real
seven millions of constructive allies for any enemy
that we may have abroad-a multitude within ou
lines fermenting with the eaven of treason. 1t is
surprising, therefore, that the most peaeeable among
f rs talk of strengthening our positlontha our Ugh
reading is invaded by papers on the defensibe
of the country" and that Government respond witt
modcum of tardy preparation. five are to trust tn
words of hatred flung at East and West, our coas
should be made rampant, our people an army