The Empire County argus., 1856-02-23

NAVAL PREPARATIONS OF ENGLAND, AS the
prospects of peace grow fainter and the spectre of
War looms out dark and gigantic more wildly
from the future it becomes the business of England
to examine what hopes she has of being able to
strike hard and home at Russia; Of being able to
make her blows tell with quick and vital effect on
the vast body of her foe. There is no in hesi-
tating; there is nothing to be gained by the sys-
TEN of cautious delay it is time that should
not only show, but should actively employ our
enormous strength by sea; that we should not en-
ly blockade the Russian ships in the Baltic, but
that we should show them that no strength of de-
fence, that armament of forts is sufficient to
cure them from the force of the British attack.
We must appear close to st. Petersburg with ar
gumenss which Russia can not answer We must
see what conditions of peace she will venture to Of
fer when the last sail of the navy, on which she
has spent her time and her treasure is demolished
when even Cronstadt is insufficient to defy the
armament that we are now gathering for this ex-
plot.
We published yesterday q list, the accuracy Of
which we have no reason to doubt, of the ships
that will be available for the campaign of 1856.
1t is a catalogue the extent and power of which
will show that the country has not been idle-that
she has not neglected the greatest of strength
that she possesses-that she has a feet superior to
any thing that the world can show at the present
day, or that history tell of in old time, Twen-
ty ships of the line and eighteen frigates, of the
magnificent proportions and heavy armament with
which those formidable vessels are now fitted, are
followed by line of floating batteries, heavy NOR
tar-ships and gun-boats of smaller dimensions,
amounting in all to 243 sail--enough, as one would
think to do any thing that can be demanded of a
naval force. 1t is plain that Russia expects and is
preparing to meet, strong attack this year in the
Baltic A ii our news thence tells Of the troops
that she is cOncentratingof the defences that she
is erecting there. She knows our preparations
and feels that sharp and decisive work must be en-
countered. Hitherto our appearance in the Baltic
has been snowy, rather than damaging and for
midable. Our ships have been busy with the ruin
OF Russian commerce. They have not been ex-
posed to danger; they have not meddled with glo-
ry. They have struck the Russian flag from the
seas without suffering IL blow themselves This
has, no doubt severely damaged the country. 1t
has created trouble in the Russian towns, and has
brought dismay and starvation the stores of the
merchants; but it is not enough for the national
obstnacy-lt does not, unhappiy, convince the
people. Another course must be taken--a stronger
attack must be made-it must be determined
whether no British skill and courage are a
match for the fortifcations which make the pride
and strength of Russia We should think, and we
believe all England will agree with us that the
armament which we shall bring against these tre-
mendous forts this present year--that the floating
batteries which we and our Allies shall bring into
action-that the feet of gun boats which we shall
direct, Will at least be sufficient if not to destroy
the forts themselves to annihilate every ship that
now lies beneath their guns. The destruction of
the Russian navy will be something to add to the
history of our maritime glory 1t will be blow
which it will take Russia long to recover serious
damage to her, practically and financially--a fatal
loss to the position which her ambition had led her
to assume in Europe London Post, Jan. 4.