The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-07-07

views, even to the very ports where the IRON
clad frigates and gunboats were and are being
built The following il brief abstract Of the
state Of the French navy aloat on the LIST Of
January last -
Shps-of the-ine. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SO
frlgates-SereW ................ -
rgates--paddle. ..................... .1S
Frigates -iron-plated. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 6
floating b.tteries. Mated ~
Other vessels, including "a transports. ITO
Total. .sl9
In addition to these there were being built ten
iron-plated frigates, two iron-platsd floating
batteries and twenty-nins other craft, making
in all forty-one. The total force when CON-
pleted, a. it is now or soon will be, amounts to
three hundred and sixty. The iron-plated fri
gates alone number sixteen, and tho iron-plated
batteries fourteen.
This formidable navy, it appears from the re-
port Of Colonel Claremont, of the British ar
my, is backed by an organized military force
Of 6s6,54S That Napoleon intends to find en-
ployment for both, either in Europe or on this
continent, very soon, can hardly admit Of .
doubt. The late disasters to our army in Vir-
ginia will probably be his pretext, first, for
friendly" mediation then for recognition Of
Southern independence, and, lastly, for armed
Intervention and war. He fears revolution in
France, and his purpose is to ward of the
stroke by launching the nation into foreign
war in order to unite it, and quench the smoul-
dering fires Of domestic insurrection by the sun
light Of patriotism. Ee would have the moral
and diplomatic support of England in his
scheme of Intervention in American affairs; for
her statesmen desire to see tire thunder cloud
which lowers south of the Straits Of Dover
borne by the winds here to the shores of the
New World, to burst afar from British heads.
If the English government can form secret
alliance with Napoleon, and e.nbroil him on
sea Of troubles in an open conflict with the
United States, it will thus stave of the evil day
for some time longer from the British aristoc-
racy, and at the same time weaken two rival
maritime Powers.
What is the duty Of the Secretary OF the Navy
under these circumstances 1t is to look well
to our seacoast defenccs, th9t they are put in
order, and to hasten tie completion of the IRON
clad vessels now in the course of construction
or contracted for and to see that none of them
will prove a failure, like the Galena. to be
pierced by Leavy metal rs readily ~ if they
we're wooden walls. If he is not satisfied with
the number, size or quality Of the vessels now
and call for more or better vessels. If war
with France should find us not completely pre-
pared with navy equal to that OF Napoleon after
the repeated warnings we have had Of the dan
ger Of European intervention, the country will
exact from Secretary Wellcs terrible reckon
ing. The best way to prevent a foreign war is
to be we'll prepared for 1t. II the ruler Of
his blows with interest he will be very slow to
attack us, and, If he should, the nation will have
the satisfaction Of knowing that our flag will be
borne triumphantly through the battle and the
breeze. To be unprepared is to invite foreign
aggression rs well as domestic strife. Had our
government been properly prepared, even
with military force of thirty thousand men
and sufficient naval armament t. capture and
to hold Charleston, the rebellion would have
been nipped In the bud, instead Of being per-
mitted to grow into such formidable proper
tions by delay that half million of troops are
now found to be insufficient to prt II down. In
point Of land forces, when the three hundred
thousand additional men called for by tho
President shall have heen enrolled and organ
lied TIE government will De equal 10 any
emergency. Let tie country BE- equally strong
ct sea, and there need be no fear for the result
should the combined Powers Of Europe assail
tie American republic, the palladium Of liberty
and the hope OF downrodden humanity to the
ends of the earth. In the struggle it will have
the sympathies of the democracy Of all Europe,
If not their active aid by lighting up the flames
| of revolution. II the French republic seventy
| years ago, without . formidable naval force,
ives able in defence Of ito unity and integrity 70
hurl back the legons Of the crowned heads Of
Europe in coalition against her, aad separated