The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-13

At one time of the day, the idea Of a successful
invasion of England, and the occupation of Lon
don by a foreign enemy, could not have been
seriously entertained by any portion of the British
press or public. Any man in political life, who
should have ventured to suggest the possibility
of such an event. would have been laughed out
of Parliament; and the journalist who should
have undertaken TO demonstrate the worthless
ness of existing defences, and to calculate the
chances of a successful resistance, if he had sue
ceeded in attracting public attention at all, would
have been accused of wantonly attempting to
create panic with the probable object of affect
ing the Stocks and enriching the Bears. Then-the
people of England, confident of an assured naval
supremacy reposed in their seagirt ISLE secure in
the protection of their wooden walls
Now-the popular tone is altogether changed.
The condition of the National Defences is the one
great absorbing topic with all classes, and in all
circles in England. Army and Navy estimates
the formation Of Volunteer Rifle Corps, and the
construction of ships are the prominent subjects
of discussion and debate, in the papers and at the
clubs. The seriousness with which the conse-
quences of an occupation of the Metropolis by an
invading army are weighed and considered, is the
best evidence that the occurrence of such con-
tingency is no longer treated as an idle chimera
or bugbear of the imagination. How far the
apprehension of French invasion may be we'll
founded, is one questionable chances of such an
enterprise, if attempted, proving successful, is
another and an altogether different one Waiv-
ing all consideration Of the present sentiments and
possible designs of the French EMPEROR with re-
ference to England, there can be no doubt that if
rupture between the two countries were to take
place. the odds in favor ola French army being able
to effect landing upon the English coast are infin-
itely greater than at any period since the days of
King JOHN. England no longer holds undisputed
mastery over the narrow seas. France possesses a
navy which, although it may not be strong enough
to wrest from BRITANNIA her trident may still suf-
fee to convoy in safety across the Channel, an
army large enough TO march upon London, and
install the Imperial Eagles in triumph at the Horse
Guards and in the Tower. Science has done much
in naval matters, in other things, to equalize
forces, and place nations more nearly upon level.
Steam has, in a measure, superseded the use OF
sails, and in all the improvements which have
been made in ships and guns, in naval architec-
ture and in naval tactics, France has kept even
pace with her rival. Without entering into
the French and English Navy, and conceding, as
is Just, the superior ability Of England to maintain
protraced maritime war, it may well be admitted
that France has ships and men enough at her dis
posal to furnish transports for her troops and the
means of protecting them. She might even haZ-
ard the loss of one feet if she might thereby be en-
abled to despatch another without interruption to
the English coast. Suppose landing once effect
ed and it is unnecessary to discuss the probability
of the enemy being able TO maintain permanent
footing in the country. The entire subjugation of
an enemy's country is seldom necessary now-a-
days to the prosecution of successful war All the
substantial purposes of invasion would be accom-
plished without any attempt at the further conquest
or permanent occupation of the island. The simple
capture of London would suffice for the entire
victory of the French. Nor would that enterprise
be one of difficult accomplishment. The Metropo-
lis is but few days march from the sea-board
Independently of the possibility ofthe landing being
effected at point where no sufficient preparation
for resistance had been made-it would be clearly
impossible for England, in the present state of her
defences, to raise an army of anything like eqnal
numerical strength even-to say nothing of in
ferior training and discipline--to that which
the French EMPEROR night throw upon her shores
After the first battle, the invaders path would
be comparatively unobstructed. There would be
neither fortreSses nor garrisons to impede his
progress The level and cultivated face of the
country, and the absence of fortified places and
mountain Businesses to afford shelter to scattered
and broken force would preclude the possibility of
an irregular or guerrilla war being waged against