The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-25


has been consummated. The presence of Queen
VICTORIA added lustre to the imposing ceremonial.
The French Emperor and Empress walked dry
shod according to the prescribed formula, on the
granite floor of the 'inverted pyramid of the
Basin NAPOLEON ILL., When they were once more
landed on the pier, the fiood-gates were opened,
and for three hours thereafter the waters poured
kissing and seethng, laundering and foaming, into
the profound abyss while the futtering of gala flags
and the booming of cannon, and the cheers of the
assembled multitude announced that and
more formidable Sebastopol had been finally COM
pleed after years of patient labor the Southern
shore OF the English Channel. Within some thirty
miles of the naval station at Cherbourg, juts out
that famous Cape La Hogue, off which, in 1892,
the combined English and Dutch fleets, under
Admiral Russell, engaged French fleet, COM
manded by the Count de ToURvILLE, and out Of
sixty-three sail of the line burnt and sunk thirty
two. For such victory WILLIAM of Nassau had
no thanks to render. RUssEL's feet numbered
ninety-nine ships of war, and with the odds so
largely in his favor, the King publicly expressed
his disappointment that the success of the united
forces of England and Holland had not been more
complete. But the battle of La Hogne has heen
classed ever since among the memorable sea fights
in which England has been engaged, and prints
framed and glazed, and hung up in old fashioned
parlors still glorify an event which reflects less
honor upon Russell than upon de TouRvlLLE, from
the courageous manner in which he contested, for
three days, the palm Of victory against overwhelm
ing numbers. Sixty years later, during what is
popularity known in American colonial annals as
''The Old French War;" the town of Cherbourg
ITSELF together with the ships in the harbor, was
captured by the English. Up to that time nothing
had been done by the French Government for the
protection of seaport lying but seventy-fve
miles due south from the Isle of Wight and
subject, from its defenceess condition. to
incursions from British cruisers. Even at
the commencement of the present century, one Of
the noblest harbors in the channel was so much
exposed to the fury of the North and West winds,
that vessels at anchor in the Bay, sought security
in a storm under the little island of Pelec where
they found shelter, in some measure from the force
of the wind. A breakwater had indeed been COM
menced; but the violence of the waves baffled the
labors of the builders, tore down the hugh masses
of rock of which the mole was formed and scat
tered them in the open roadstead. For some years
after this, the work was suspended, until at length
some man of genius devised system of cones which
was found TO answer admirably, and with the COM
pletion of the mole upon this plan, secure harbor
was formed ffty-two feet in DEPTH and capable of
containing four hundred vessels the largest class
Then it was that the great docks and the fortifica-
tons which had been projected at Cherbourg,
became not only practicable, but of the highest
Importance, for the defence Of the Northern
coast of France, a counterpose to the
English Channel Fleet, and as a standing menace
to the English people. From 1903 until the pres
ent time, this great work has been prosecuted,
more or less vigorously. The military port that
VAUBAN planned and the elder NAPOLEON under
took to construct, has at length been completed by
the Inauguration of the last of that series of i'm
mense docks for which Cherbourg is distinguished,
while the rulers of two nations which for eight
hundred years have been hostile to each other have
met together in amity to unite in celebrating the
completion of this colossal enterprise. The English
Journals inform that LOUIS NAPOLEON improved
the occasion of the Queens visit, to make public
announcement of his pacific intentions, and of his
earnest desire to maintain intact an alliance so
advantageous to the best interests of both govern
W
entirely sincere in desiring preserve the entente cor
dale at present existing between France and Eng
land; but absolute sovereign as he may be- it is i'm
possible for him to control the course offuture events
His power, vast as it's rests upon uncertain foun-
dalton, and the exigencies of his situation popular
clamor the still more mperious demands OF
his soldiery, may constrain him to engage in hos
tilities against the very nation to whose Queen he
has recently addressed impressive words of peace
But whether LOUIS NAPOLEON should ever wage
war with England not, one fixed fact re-
mains-Cherbourg dominates over the English
Channel. By means ofrailways running into the
interior of France an army, with all the necessary
munitions of war, could be assembled and en-
barked on board vessels lying in the docks at
Cherbourg in an almost incredibly short space
of time, and when once on board it is
but six hours sail to Plymouth Wey-
mouth, Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight
England, therefore, is compelled of necessity
to strengthen in a corresponding degree her
coast defences, and to augment her Channel
Fleet. Since the introduction of Steam Frigstes
and Steam Gun-boats an army of invasion need
not wait for wind the "Chops of the
Channel," upon which the London Punch bestowS
hearty blessing, so far apart as they were when
Russell fought the battle of La Hogue. The Eng
fish people have, therefore, just for feeling
uneasy at the completion of works of such mag
nitude, and of so warlike a character notwith-
standing the pacific declarations of LOUIS NApoLE-
ON and the equally friendly reply of PRINCE ALBERT
in behalf of QUEEN VICTORIA
hut 4bo al.