Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-02-07
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. % aaT

FAlu4G8EfLnGllmefStf 81 HtsIs
1t Is perhaps unreasonable to expsct
that our English enemies shallb be consist.
ent in their fault-fnding, and when, ~,
lf4dstbem the same breath bsrating u.
because we do not make the war a war oi
Emancipation, and exClaiming against ouI
a6olitionists because they wish to set the
slaYes,frce to massacre their masters, we
should recoileet that the common scoid is
not expected to be consistent. So, IN. re-
gard to Sthe baFbarous stone bloekade,' y
which is vexing the humane souls of the
war party in England, it will be Of no use
to remind them Of good British ptsce-
dents for that operation. They will an
sWer, as in the Trent controversy, that they
made these Preeedent5 for other times, and
are not to be heldito them now. Never
theless there Is satisfaction in knowing
that this barbatous policy has, been fully
and often sanctioned by the British Gov
erhment, as the following instanceSishow :
scottsayS, in hislife of Napoleon: rThe
repeated success of England, resembling
almost that OF the huntsman over his
game, had SO much diminished the FrOnch
navy, and rendered so cautious such sea-
men as France had remaining, that the
former country, (England,) unable to get
opportunities of f5assailing the French Tes-
sells, was induced to have recourse 70
strange, and, as it proved, Intellectual
means OF carrying on hostilities. Such
was the attempt at destroyingt the hnrbor Of
Bo9logne by sinking in the roads ships
loaded with stOnes." The following is;the
official order for this purpose: "Downing
street, 9th February, 1s04. Sir,-It being
thought advisable under the present cir
cumstances of the war, that an attempt
should be made for carrying into execu-
ton the project suggested in the enclosed
paper for choking up the entrance into the
harbor of Boulogne; and the success of
such an enterprise depending in great
measure upon the secrecy and dispatch
with which the preparations may be made,
have the kings commands to signify to
you his majesty pleasure that you do take
these preparations under your immedi-
ate control, and that you Communicates
confdentally with Mr.. supply
ing him with such funds, aud giving
him such orders for the purchase Of Yes-
sells and providing the stone aud other ma
terials which you may Judge necessary to
be embarked, us shall be requisite for ac-
completing the object in view. The ad-
vanCes you may have occasion to make for
this service will hereafter be replaced by
the treasury. As soon as the vessels shall
be sufficiently laden; you will give instruc-
tious that they should proceed with all pos
sible expedition to the Downs, where all
further orders will proceed from Lord
Keith. am, sir, your most ob't serv't
HoBART."
Lord Dundonald, one of EngIandis naval
-hhEnnl- in a receut letter dated on hhSsd the
Imperieuse. April 8, 1909: :"Ships filed with
stones would ruin forever the anchorage o f
AK, and some old vessels of the line, we'll
loaded, would be excellent for that pur-
pose"
During tho recent war between England
and Russia, Admiral Napier desired to
block up the approaches to Oronstadt by
sinking in the channel some old hulks,
which hethought would at least be avail
able to keep the Russian war vessels in
their harbor. The only objection urged.
by him against the project was that it
would be "expensive."
On the evacution of the city and pert Of
Alexandria, Egypt, and embarkation of she
troops, in 1907, FIVE vessels laden with
stones were sunk in the narrow passage,
by which the British squadron, under the
command Of Admiral Lewis, had entered,
and then sailed, concluding that it would
be the last exit of any vessel from that
port-erroneousIy, however, as it has sub
sequently appeared.