, 1862-04-19

Debate in Parliament.
THE MONIToR COULD SINKTHE
WARRIOR.

On the 30th ultimo an exceedingly interest
log debate took place In the House OF Com
mons In relation to Iron-clad vessels Of war,
the principal portion Of which we give below:
ssSir F. Smith rose to call the attentlon7of
the Secretary Of War to what had recently Or
Cured In American waters, with view Of sub
sequently puttinga question concerning the
forts now in course Of construction at Spit
head: If the government had not gone too
far, they could surely suspend their opera
tion5. He was told that three forts were IN
progress. Let the experiment be confined to
them, Or, at all events, give up the forts in
the Isle Of Wight. The estimated cost was
81, ,00o, 900; but he believed they would costa
great deal more, and that We should be very
Geo. It would be better to strip the works
and pay penalty to the contractor, than to
spend SO much money uselessly.
Mr. Gregory said the event that had lately
occurred il america appeared to him 9 great
and entire revolution IN the art ef naval war
posite that money expended on fortresses
would be money thrown away. What they
required was iron ehips, not fortresses es-yes-
sells that eould 60 ont and contend with such
an attacking enemy on equal terms: Hear,
hear The .recent. event had solved the
whole questisn, Of colonial fortifcations.
It Was positively throwing away money
TO spend it On Notifications in the colonies
These iron vessels, built in ninety days, aud
costing only 60,ooN, had guns OF such cali
bre that they were most dangerous invading
force. No fortifcatious now constructing
could beat them, But by building the same
Kind Of vessels the colonies might defend
Themselves with less outlay. Our superiority
on the American Lakes would be very much
endangered BY this new class Of vessels It
had always been said that though the Ameri-
cans can night ove5un The bordeT: yet in Que-
crack; but Eince the Introduction Of
these destructive instruments Of war
1are the case was very different
J! the Ha'7ios. had mt tie MeTTimae it Eas
matter Of gTuze doubt 1chsther the tzngular-
sided tess zeduZd not hare oaereonae her perticdl
sided Antagonist; but i the Wa77ior and the
Honitor had mt de9s il little doubt ttat The
smaller tesse1 seould haze plunged he1. shot into
The unprotected parts Of tie Wdrr{sr and ,co1tzl,
IN fact, hare orcreoae The pride Of the British
nas5 He hoped the Government would take
this tremendous subject into their considera-
ton # instead of going about like potter
ing old pointers, shifting after the traditions
Of B1ake and BenboW, We accommodated our
selves to the facts which had met our eyes
and made proper use Of this salutary lesson,
we might be able to diminish our expenditure
8hear hear and to provide IN imprcgnable
line Of defense which all the powers Of Europe
would not be able to break through. {Hear,
hear.)
Lord 4. Tempest said that as he had seen
the Merrimac q few words would not be with
out interest. Hear, heaE] There was mis-
apprehension with regard to her. Although
she was most powerful vessel she Was not
calculated for anything but smooth water.
Owing to the weight Of the plates put upon
her she vas immersed to that extent that there
was nothing above water but the deck for her
gun ports. The sides were carried up an angle
OF IS, and at the top was an open bar roofing,
tic consequence Of which WAS that ship
ping sea would certainly sink her. Hear,
hear:] With regard to the Monitor, he
thought she vas more powerful, because
she lad made a voyage in rough weather
from New York to Fort Monroe; but it was
no disparagement to the gnllantry OF the
officers and crew Of the Merrimac to say
that sheswas only iii for river purposes, and
that the anticipation Of her being able to
CROSS the Atlantic was not We1i founded.
Hear, hear. The honorable member for
Chatham was entitled to the gratitude o1
the House for having brought forward this
important question, and he submitted that
the time was come when the Government
should reconsider tue matter and pause in
the construction Of costly land fortresse5,
which practical men we're of opinion would
not be SO efficacious SIS these new iron YES,
sells in defending our coasts and harbors.
]Hear.1