The New York herald., 1862-04-24

did vary materially from those current az pSvate
SALE Frelghts were without change Of moment, while
| engagements moderate. Wheat was taken to Ii
vorpoo in bulk At 7d flour at 2s, and bacon At 22s 3D.
|
| The Designs OF tho Emperor Napoleon
| Upon England.
| The letters of our European correspondents
which we published yesterday, as well as
private letters received in this country from
England and France by the Persia, portray
| even more strongly than the debates in the
British Parliament and the comments in the
| London press how thoroughly alarmed are the
! English government and the aristocracy at the
| tremendous consequences resulting from the
action at the mouth of the James river. This
great event in naval warfare constitutes a new
epoch, and will produce the most momentous
effects throughout all Europe. Nowhere will
| those effects be Of greater magnitude than in
| France and England, whose relations are soon
| destined to undergo q remarkable change.
The entente cordtole will soon be at an end, if it
is not already broken up.
The curious course of Napoleon in Mexico
foreshsdovs his purpose. He is going on with
the campaign, contrary to the wishes of England
| and Spain, and in spite Of them. He does not
care about Mexico; but he feels that he is mas
ter Of the situation, and he wants an opportuni-
| ty TO chastise both England and Spain. By
means of Mexico he calculates to provoke a
quarrel with those countries, and to finish the
role which the First Consul did not complete
| lie has settled accounts with Russia and Aus
tiia. He made Turkey, in the one case, and
Italy in the other, the excuse for his action. He
| will now use Mexico as the pretext to pay Off
| the Bourbons Of Spain and the sri.tocracy Of
England.
The only security which Great Britain ever
had against conquest by Franco was her wood
en- walls. These can no longer save her. Ma
po.eon q superiority in iron-plated ships gives
him the control Of the seas, and leaves Britannia
a, his mercy. In speech delivered in Parlia-
m~nt during the present month, Lord Palmers-
ton states that in the course OF the year
four iron ships will be afoat and
fye ut for sea; next year two others;
wooden ships will be plated, and the Achilles
10 10 be built next year. Five Others are
in progress, to be constructed on the cupola
system OF the Monitor. In the year 1864
Lord Palmerston says England will have in
ell sixteen ironplatcd vessels. Now, what is
the readiness Of France, as stated by Sir j..
Pskington in reply. The French at this mo-
ment have five iron-cased vessels ready for
sea; another will be ready shortly, and two
Of the largest class--the Magenta and Solie-
rino-wil be ready for sea in three months.
Within eight months the Emperor can place
twenty -four iron-covercd ships in line; while Of
England the speaker observes, 81 am afraid
fte noble lord (Palmerston) will be unable to
sell us that we have any gunboa,s at this time
covered with iron, or that the government are
constructing gunboats Of that class" 1t appears
that the vessels now being constructed draw
tweniy-six feet of water. The First Lord Of the
Admiralty boasts that il England were at war
she could create Monitors by the dozen; but it
would be too late II Napoleon were at war with
ENGLAND before the Let Of June. In that case
Ne would not permit her to construct Gny, hay
ing The complete command Of all her ports and
rivers Nor Is this all. Lord Palmerston ad-
ulls that the French have invented gun that
pierces armor plates; and the Prime Minister
consoie, bis country with the reflection that
perhaps the iron used In France is not SO good
as English iron.
II l. clear that England Is at this moment
hslplcssly In the power Of France, and the En-
reror y not The man 10 be slow 10 take advan-
iage of her situation. With sixty armored gun
boats hs could easily capture the city Of Lon
don, and the capital in bis power, he could revo-
lutionixe tie country. The greatest revolutions
and oonquesis have been Effected by superiority
4 III.
pre- -eninence in Europe by not keeping pace
with The tge Ia improved weapons. A hand
fai Cf Normans from France, by tho aid Of gu.
perior weapons, succeeded In conquering Eng.
land; and now Napoleon Ill, with bis iron-clad
guh6osis. viii probably repeat that historical
event In tho Crimcan war the weapons oi
France were superior 70 those Of Russia; in
trlsn. and now again viii be superior to
the English. Had ie frst Napoleon pos
scsssd such appliances he would nevor have
gone 20 - Helena. Her insular position alone
protected England from bis vengeance. lie
conceived, and partly carried into execution
plan u invssion by means Of fotilla bu,
/, ls probable he never had fall confidence in
a success. ID wss a hazardous experiment Al
, beet Ne ordered two thousand hatboats tc
, BE- constructed al Boulogne, TO carry two hun
dred thousand men. When they were ncarly
, ready bis intention was ~ seal th,
. French feet 10 The West Indes. n ordei
that tho English feet might follow theI
there but ss soon s u reached Nlr
. tlnlqus II was 10 return, and, thus 3. .ir.
tho British feet, convoy the natbosis ac,o @
Straits of Dover 10 Chatham. This operation s
WA calculated would take -four days, and /