The daily crescent., 1850-06-01

NtSIaANrIc MARINE WoRK.-The British Gov
erument ia constructing a harbor on the western
coast of England, at Holyhead, at an expense of
S35, 900 600 II is to be in the form of crescent
with width between the horns of three-fourths Of
mile while the sheet of water will contain three
hundred and sixteen acres. Napoleon's military
genius conceas the greatness of his mind in other
respects. The great works which he designed and
executed with view to increase the power of
France are forgotten-we think only of his battles
and campaigns.
France has long felt the want of seaport on
its western coast. Cherbourg had been attempted
to be built into the ocean by Louis XVI. But the
revenues of the kingdom at that time placed at his
command but tiiAing sum for such work
Consequently the breakwater was but pgmy
affair. Napoleon HIMSELF when debating to Mon
tholon the Memorabilia of his eventful career, ut
tered magnificent monologue on the works per-
formed by him for France. Speaking of Cherbourg,
| he said
Zone of my first cares was TO complete the works
at Cherbourg. After long examination of the
whole subject, | gave orders for the elevation of
the breakwater, and for the construction of three
strong forts, one at each extremity and the third in
the centre. In less than year there sprung up, if
by magic, a real island, crowned with batteries of
the heaviest calibre. Till this time, the English
merely laughed at our efforts, which they believed
would lead to no results. The cones they said
would go to pieces; in time, the stones would be
scattered by the force of the sea, and French fick
leness would do the rest. But now it became ano
ther affair. The western passage was still too
wide, cross.fire could not have been maintained
with effect, and bold enemy might have renewed
&c Aho,,i-i I he
construction of an enormous eliptical fort within
the breakwater. This fort was at its centre design
ed for its support and commanding the central bat
terry. 1t was two stories high, fitted with case
ments and bomb proof, mounted with fly heavy
guns and twenty mortars of large dimensions. The
docks excavated in the granite rocks, are wo rks
worthy of the greatest periods of Rome-and the
Romans never executed any thing more magni.
fcent-all these works were completed in 1874
had thus obtained the means of sheltering fifty
additional ships ofthe line, but this was not enough
to complete my conception. proposed to renew the
wonders of Egypt at Cherbourg. had built my
pyramid in the sea, and now wished for my lake
Meris. was desirous of concentrating at Cher
bourg, an immense naval force, in order to have il
| always in my power 10 threaten England, and tc
attack her with great force in case of necessity
took up a position in which the two nations could
fight as well at close quarters and the issue could
not have been doubtful, for it would have been the
struggle hand to hand of forty millions of French.
men against fifteen to twenty millions of English.
men. 1t would have been terminated by a battle
of Actium, and then what would have done
with England Destroyed her Certainly not
1 would only have required from her, that the term
of her naval domination should cease, that her in
tolerable usurpation, her enjoyment of the rights
imprescriptable and free to all should have an end
l would have required the freedom, the liberty o.
the seas and the independence and honor of the
flags of all nations, and should have had on my
side the power, the rights and the good wishes o
the rest of the Continent