Middletown transcript., 1872-03-30
A British Officer Inspecting our Forts
and Harbors.

says: The appointment Of Rear Admiral
Inglefcli, Of the British Navy. as atlache
of the British Legation at Washington,
until quite recently excited little attention
in official circles, but ms it is now known
weeks ago. he has been unusually active,
there are good grounds for saying that his
movements have been directed by the Brit.
ISL Minister under instructions from the
home Government. Rear Admiral Inglc.
field Is one Of the highest officers IN the
British Navy. lie will soon be fr7moted
to the rank of Vice Admiral. aud become
en,itlcd To high command. In the po.
sition now occupied he is apparently Il
mere subordinate, in small pay, fulfilling
the duties he rctofore discharged by caps
tain Of the royal navy.
Admiral lnglc0eld within the past month
has examined into our torpedo system, the
condition of our navy, the approaches to
New York Bay, especially at Hell Gate.
the harbor dcfcnccs at Portland, Ports
mouth aud Boston. and the entrance to
Naw London aud Newport, lie has made
inquiries in regard to the guns mounted
on our fortidcations. aud has also maui.
tested n good deal Of anxiety to ascertain
what are the penetrating powers of our
heaviest hot in regard to iron. and he has
exhibited little or TO interest in reference
to other details which generally attract
the attention Of foreign officers lie also
attempted to obtain some insitc into the
army torpedo system at Willett's Point.
| IL. al Il
refused him, MS the operations are KEEP, n
secret SO far as the Government can guard
them.
Having asceriaincd tho condition Of the
coast defcnccs along New England aud
New York, aud our capacity to build and
repair vessels at the navy yards, he was
summoned to Washington by Minister
Thornton on the 10th instant. aud on III,
following day, under orders. proceeded !,
New Orleans by rail to inspect the defen
ccs Of that city and the approaches to ,h
mouth of the Mississippi. From theme
: he will leave for Key West via Havana
: visit the Pensacola Navy Yard, and fin,
D out what is the actual condition Of th
,f Southern ports. All this is the topic d
d conversation among army and naval ol
|. fcers. and. as there can be no objection I
/. the representative Of a nation with whic
+, we arc at peace. availing himself o. III
!. privileges always extended TO proper rey
q resentatives. no one blamcs Admiral II
i glc6cld for his active inquiries. lie
: spoken Of as most agreeable gentleman
o Of inc address. and has had tho most es
|. tended fields for observation In Europ,
n where no acquitted himself with ,nuc
Il honor in prominent service. and 10 we
,e known as an inventor and an officer skille
b in the construction Of many valuable M,
q chimes now in use in tho English. navy.
!, This ia the gentleman selected BY Il
J. British government TO report upon the c'
/. act condition Of our nouns Of dcfcnsi,
"a warfare. He il one Who would bc W
! adapted to command neet Of vessels q
in our coast In timc Of war, especially vii
al the knowledge he viii gsin 10 trsvcllir
!. through our country. Besides these fac
l. which have Awakened the attention
prominent officials. the Navy Dcpsrtme
b advised that at this timc flying jqus'
Y ron Of The 6nest vessels. under tks COT
!. maud 81 one of lhe best Admirals Of Il
y British navy, Il ordered 10 assemble 1t 4
II Asorcs next sumner. and. o 90 Englii
!. naval pspss ssesnlly rsnssked. = they .
q 10 bc rssdy Tor eeatlnesnsiss II case I
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= 4. sssume esaoAss ptopottloaa." The b
= Iish Msoa1 0es61jp lives : larger elaes
n hoos isSo4s1Hi "a Soo1oo vessels u ~
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