Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-01-21
rFrsm tho phiiadelphia Press
Eneland's Fears and Weakness.

Thrice since the present century commenced
England has been threatened with French
invasion. In 1901 Napoleon Bonaparte, ruler
If France. under the title of First Consul, made
great preparations to invade England. From
the mouth of the Scheldt to that OF the ua-
rome every French creek and headland was
fortified, 50 as to afford protection to the small
craft which were creeping round the shore
from all the harbors of the kingdom to the
gencral rendezvous of Dunkirk and Boulogne.
The latter harbor was the general point OF as
sembage where great fiotilla was Collected
and immense preparations were made, not only
far a vigorous defence but for the most ener-
petic offensive preparations. England relied
for protection, as she then might, upon her
naval force, which was undoubtedly adequate
TO guard her shores against any open attehpt
Al invasion, But standardization, though
then invented, by Fitch and Fulton, (Ameri-
cans both) was then little more than an unde-
yeoped idea.
In those days, not sixty years ago, the same
wind which waited the French tilotilla out OF
lis harbors might chain the British cruisers to
theirs. and Ioche's recent descent upon the
Irish coast almost successful, had shown that
Notwithstanding the greatest maritime supc-
riorty, il was impossible at all times to pre-
vent yigilant and active enemy from putting
10 sea during the darkness of autumnal or
winter months.
Thus threatened, England called Nelson, then
fresh from his triumphs at Aboukir ana the
Nile, 10 make an attack upon the Hotilla at
Bouloppe. This he did-but was unsuccessful,
and the Peace of Amiens which followed, not
long after, put an end TO hostities, tor time.
Peace did not continue for more than fourteen
months, and Napoleon made greatly more ior-
midable preparations for his fayorite project OF
invasion.
The army of France then consisted of 42O,-
900 men, familiar with conquest independent
of the National and coast guards, which were
above 100000 In England, thus alarmlngiy
threatened great preparations for defence were
simultaneously made by the Government, the
Parliament, and the eople The regular Brit
ish force was raised 10 one hundred and twelve
thousand troops A levy masse, to repel in
yasion, was lcgalzed, and the Lord Lieutcn-
ants of the different counties were empowered
10 enrol all the men of the kingdom between
seventeen and fifty-fvc years OF age, to be or
ranized into regiments No exceptions were
allowed, except of members of volunteer corps.
OF these last, over 100000 were enrolled, arm
ed and disciplined in few weeks-a force so
sufficient that Consumption was not enforced.
ain the multtudes who now thronged to the
standards of their country" Alison says, were
10 be seen men of all ranks and descriptions,
a. ~, anff l,a IN lAhOrnr
the soil The merchant left his counting
house, the lawyer his briefs the farmer paused
in the labors of husbandTy, the artisan IN the
tolls of his handcraft the nobleman hurried
from the scene of dissipation or amusement,
the country gentleman was to be seen NJ inc
head OF his tenantry. Everywhere were TO be
seenuniforms, squadrons, hattalions the clang
of artillery was to be heard in the streets; the
tramplng Of the cavalry resoundeu Ill Tue
Streets Instead ofthe peasant reposingat sun
set in front of his cottage he was to be seen
hurrying with his musket on his shoulder to
his rallying point; instead OF the nobltman
wasting his youth in the ignoble pleasures oil
the metropolis, be was to be found inhaling q
nobler spirit amid the ranks OF his rural de-
pendants In the general tumut, even the
voice of faction was stlled the heart-burnings
and divisions on the origin of the war were
forgotten; the Wings stood beside the Tories
in the ranks of the voluntecrs from being a
a war of opinion, the contest had become one
Of nations and except few inveterate lead
ers of parties in the Legislature, one feeling
seemed to pervade the whole British empire
This was not all The army and navy we're
greatly strengthened, at such vast cost, that
not only a loan of sixty millions of dollars was
made but in that single year (lSO3) additional
taxes to the amount of sixty-two million iiVe
hundred thousand dollars were imposed With
out single dissentient voice in Parliament, or
any dissatisfaction in the country. In the iol-
lowing year the expenditure was largely IN
creased.
Pending these proceedings, Napoleon was
called to the Imperial Throne of France, and,
after his coronation, redoubled his preparations
for the invasion of England but the successes
of Nelson over the feet Of France and lmpera-
tive necessity of bringing large army into
Germany, where England, AUSTRIA and Rus
sia were arrayed in coalition against him, COM
PEELED him to postpone the intended expedi-
ton against England, and the victory achieved
by Nelson, at Trafalgar which may be said to
haye annihilated the French navy, gave the
coup de qrdce to the matter during that Napo-
Icons life, ut all events 1t is question
whether or not such an organization ana such
material force, directed by such n leader,
would have been successful against England,
Even Alison thinks that England had a narrow
escape. ~
Nothinp more was heard of invasion until in
NAY. le4I, the Prince de Joinville, third son oil
King Louis Philippe, published, in the Reru'
DIES Deur Mondes, n "Note sur les forces navales
de la France;n in which, comparing the naval
power of France with that of England, he adj
mitted the superiority of the latter, and strongly
urged the establishment of French steam
marine, to restore the balance, and additional
ly set forth, with considerable minuteness Of
detail, how easily by means of Steam, an in
vading army could be poured into England
and marched upon unfortifed London, before
the news of the invasion had reached Liver
pool or Manchester.
This article, afterwards largely circulated as
pamphlet, created no small excitement in
England, and considerable interest all ovel
Europe. Above all, it attracted the notice o.
the Duke of Wellington, who sagaciously OBJ
served that steam had lNridged over the Eng
fish Channel that DE Joinyille was right II
his remarks, and that it was absolutely neces
sary TO strengthen the national defences o
En- land, no matter how great the cost. Bu
the British Government, at the head of which
was an unfortunate apology for a statesman
Lord John Russell, who owes his political sta
ton mainly to the fact that his brother is I
Duke, with strong Wing politcs--declined in
curing any expense, and, in fact, nothing wa
done until after the death of Wellington, few
weeks previous to Louis Napoeon's almos
unanimous elevation to the sovereignty o
France, at the close of 1852.
ln October 1910, when Louis Napoleon wa
tried before the Chamber of Peers at Paris, 10