The New York herald., 1869-01-09
ENGLAND
Shall tho British Code Gibraltar.


(From the London Times, Dec. 22.l
The following communication appeared in the
Times on the above date, and as the subject, no
doubt, will be revived at q coming period, the Views
of one who occupied the position Of Captain of the
Port Of Gibraltar for ten years may be read with
some degree Of interest at the present time:-
In letter published by one Of your contempora
ries wednesday last the subject OF the cessiOn
OF Gibraltar, there is the following paragraph
proposed the Spanish papers should
restore 70 Spain ana S seoevs Gssa 6y way OF
cali for comment
SO far from considering this proposal On absurdity
it is now many years since first advocated this So
luton OF difficult question: and Ihave written to
members or both the last and present governments
IN the Of G5a and Mas 40 eap
you without at least having had good opportunity
OF forming an opinion; and while on the spot
Of the late Admiras Sir Charles HAPPIER and Sir r.
Dundas. both OF whom entirely concurred with me.
change except the old stock arguments OF its being
Sss to our prestige and that the country would not
consent toi Has the country ever regretted giving
But take up as little OF your space As possible
VIII in few lines give my principal reasons.
Admitting, as do, that some port at the entrance
Ceuta might be really made harbor OF reft, coal
Ing and refuge, not one OF which conditions does
safe antcraee > for merchant vessels pI being com
pletely commanded from innumefable points OF the
Spanish coast 1t never was considered 50, even in
the wars at the commencement OF the century; and.
with modern artillery, not house on the Iock would
be out Of easy range. The "Gibratar Shield" OF
which we have heard so much lately Is very sug-
eestive of insecurity and expense
Such Is the case In the event Of WARMTH Spain.
But even In peace times the bay h 80 exposed 10
gales from the southwest. and IN spite OF the shelter
OF the Rock so subject to urries and white squalls
In an eastery gale, as to be at all times most IN
secure anchorage For coang purposes for mer-
chant steamers there is no wharfage-onty coal
bulks, often totally unavailable. For men-cf-war
recently constructed One. small and incon.
vencnt point OF access only Is open for commerce
az the watsrport The larger steamers now seldom
touch 81 Gibraltar II they can avoid IT, The cession
to spain will not prevent windbound vessels
anchoringt ia the bay during peace; In time OF war,
as said before, not one could do Ceuta is better
suited for our purposes the Afrcanehore being the
most frequented In passing the Straits. With the
area surrounding It now possessed by Spain, 1t
might be made almost tDpreunable, but with the
Mo0rs neighbors and command OF the sea It's at
tack would be very improbable.
My proposal, therefore, Is to express willing.
ness to make this exchange, under some such condi.
tions as the folowing:-That certain number OF
years should be allowed us to form harbor to the
at Portland, for which there IS every facility. and
then TO cede Gibraltar intact with all its for1ca-
tons, in return for proportion OF the expense at
Ceuta being paid by Spain. Other details appcr.ain
ing to private property and n,otertt OF war need
In conclusion I would express my firm conviction
that while the exchange would be most advanta-
geous TO Spain 1t would also be the best bargain for
England; and II so, why, In the name OF common
sense keep up ranking sore for the sake OF vain
prestige which after all Is more nominal than real
especially when any one at all conyersant with the
immense progress made by Spain IN the last thirty
years. In spite Of bad governments must feel certain
that sooner or later, she will resume her proper posi-
tion In Eur0peS
To put the case fairly before the country-what
would the inhabitants OF Weymouth say, or, indeed
all England y the Spanish ensign were to be hosted
and the morning and evening gun TO be fired by
Spaniards from fortress on the Bill OF Portland
and commanding that bay7
am, SIR, your obedient servant,
HANLEy-OS-THAMEs. GEO. GREY, Admiras