Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-29

Defences Of san Rranciseo-Britfsh Inter-
esis on The Pacific.
A San Francisco letter to the London
Times describes at length the defenoes Of
that important post, from which it is ap-
parent that the place is secure against al
most any force that could be sent against
it. To these descriptions the New York
Evening Post adds some facts and sueges-
tiOns as to the security Of the British pos
sessions on the Pacific coast in case of a
war with England, showing that it would
be an easy matter TO capture all those pos
sessions with the means at our command.
An iron Monitor is now building in New
York which will be sent to California by
sections and set up at San Francisco
Three Of these vessels and an iron-clad
frigate are to be placed upon the Pacific
coast ct once The Post describes the mil
itary situation upon that coast, as follows:
There are 10000 men in California
capable Of bearing arms and liable to mil
itary duty, and five thousand Of this num-
Der are armed and equipped and ready for
immediate duty. About three months
since our Government forwarded a further
supply Of one thousand barrels OF powder,
one thousand shells, number Of field guns
and thirty three boxes Of ordnance, which
are stored at Mare Island for the use Of
the local force. It is thus apparent that
San Francisco is in many respects safer
even than New York, for it can never be
assailed by any such force as might be
brought against New York while, on the
other hand, the Notifications already erect
ed have all the strength that art can give
them, with great natural advantages to
make that strength Tesistless. The British
government, meantime, has left its own pos
sessions on the Pacific coast entirely de-
fenceless; one of those singular oVersights
which "men and mice sometimes dis
play. Instead Of our being exposed to
British attack on the Pacific, it would
be easy to capture in fortnight all the
British settlements in that quarter of the
world.
In British Columbia there is neither for
ti6cation, battery, nor single guu-not
even one to fire a salute with. There are
come companies of Royal Engineers, who
with their officers, are equal in all military
qualifications to any soldiers in the Brit
ish army; but there is no permanent mil
itary establishment Of any kind yet pro-
vided for the colony.
There is at present in Esquimalt Harbor
the Topaze (serew,l one of the finest frig-
stes IN the British Navy, cBrrying some
seven hundred men, and the Devastation,
paddle-Wheel. Besides these two ships
d L. e L.. i -
the Russian war, generally employed in
the inland waters on service, but often in
port, one at Esquimalt and the other at
Victoria.
Come time ago the British government
sent on fourteen guns, 32's and 6S's, for
the protection of Esquimalt harbor. They
have never been put in position, but no
batteries have been erected for their recep-
ton. The government has lately had
powder magazine erected on an island in
the inner bay of Esquimalt-a good situ-
alton, had the magazine been sunk under
ground and built bomb-proOf but in
stead Of these essential conditions having
been observed, two wooden buildings, COW
cred with ztnc and painted white, have
been stuck upon the lighest crest Of the is
land, in 3 conspicuous situation and quite
within range Of the guns of vessel lying
in the entrance of the harbor.
Esqnimalt Harbor is opposite the Amer
ican Port Angeles, on the straits of Fuca,
with q custom house and United States ma
val hospital. There is nothing to prevent
the capture of that barber in a short time
after the telegraph should convey an order
for that purpose from Washington to San
Francisco, and this possibility has been re-
Gently communicated to the British gov
eTRment, and may have had some effect on
the policy of Earl Russell. For he, as well
as every other member ef the British Cab
met must know that war with the United
States can only end in sweeping away ev-
cry vestige Of British sovereignty on the
shores of this continent, carrying out the
Monroe doctrine even further than its
great author anticipated"