31 MAY 1856, Page 14

HOW TO SPEND EIGHTY MILLIONS.

We have spent about 80,000,0001. in war, and without grudging; but how much might the same sum have effected in the way of war-prevention! We do not regret the money, for we consider that, like wellladministered physic, it may have saved us from ills fax worse than war; and. we hope that it will return to us material benefits equivalent, even in money value, to a good per- centage on the money sunk. Perhaps, at one period or other' it would have been necessary to expend that sum or more in the Freat purpose of the recent war—in teaching to Europe, through its most aggressive power, that it must, perforce and in considera- tion of its own welfare, exchange its aggressions for more peace- ful relations. Moreover, it has usefully reminded our own coun- try of a truth which we had well nigh forgotten—that force lies at the bottom of all human government, and that if rational go- vernment and commerce are not prepared to beat absolute power and aggression at their own weapons, "arts and learning' may go to the wall. -But the war taught us a third lesson, not less in- structive. We often see some highly useful work proposed, and continue as a project unfulfilled, because "the means are want- ing " : Russia bullied; and we found 80,000,0001. without hesita- tion or impediment. Never again, then, should we say that we cannot perform a desirable great work because the means are wanting. We have now for many years acknowledged. to ourselves the proven fact that in this metropolis we are suffering annually, not only by death and all its we, but by sickness and the consequent interruption of industry, from the want of drainage. The ancient li.omans could drain and sluice after their fashion ; but we, for- sooth, are hindered by the want of money ! The loss by death from this cause alone exceeds the loss by great wars, and we may be certain that the money loss by interruption of industry ex- ceeds any war taxation."row' eighty millions would drain Lon- don and all the great towns in the country-, and leave a remainder which, simply lent to the landlords in the form of agricultural ad- vances to be repaid at 6i per cent, would contribute most substan- tially and rapidly to field-drainage and cottage improveinent Mere is a saving in the wages of towns, an increase in the pro- - duct of the country, to be obtained for the cost of a Russian war. By help of the sum realized in the Encumbered Estates Court and the consequent investment, wages throughout Ireland have been raised from a level of 3e. 3d. with conacre or 68. without to 68. 78. or even 98. ; and similar processes have in particular districts of England raised wages from 7s. or 88. to 12s. with a proportionate inorease in the value of the land and its products, and a decline in its annual dead weight of poor-relief. How much could eighty millions do in this way !

We are haggling with Australia about a few thousands to be _vent annually in the steam-transit between the two countries. The Australians are a loyal people who cling with affection to

the Mother-country. They are spending a few thousands to pro- mote the navigation of that long inland river which will one day double the value of all the three chief colonies by calling out the commerce of their inland border. Large gold-fields await disco- very. Eighty millions, tolerably laid out, would give us the fund to sustain a steam-transit for ten years ; would connect all the three Colonies with each other and with the interior by railway ; would intersect the gold-regions with the lines that neutralize space for human transit while leaving it open for production ; and would establish the Murray navigation in a year. Why, an intelligent use of steam-traffie, with Gamble's process of packing, might double the value of Australian sheep, and supply the Londen market with the best mutton at reasonable rates all the year through. But, not to pursue the golden dreams of a mutton ' luncheon for every working man, let us note only the effect of connecting the heart of England and the heart of Australia by ocean-steamers, rail, and Murray navigation—all practicable within the cost of a Russian war, leaving a goodly margin to as- sist the auxiliary emigration. We see a quarter, indeed, where a similar outlay would save a war worse than the 'Russian, and secure to this country a position better than she now holds at St. Petersburg, Riga, or Taganrog. A great company has been formed to construct a railway across the Isthmus of Panama, connecting the two (weans, making the transit from the region of commerce to California as easy as from London to Cairo. Eighty millions, or a fraction of the sum, handed to the promoters of that company, would give to England a directorial influence over the whole range of the transit, with Yankees for shareholders. Need we point out the commercial, political, or moral results ? Under such circumstances, would Walker be a bugbear to this empire ; or would the influenoe at New York and Washington be adverse to England.?

Canada pines for railways and a Royal visit.

Italy and certain provinces of Austria ask for railways and commercial extension.

IEngland and her statesmen are annually struggling to obtain permission for beginning a system of publie education : eighty millions would establish a public school throughout the country, and the generation after that now rising would be an instructed nation.

But we are a poor nation ! Whenever there is any great work, we find ourselves cramped. for want of means,—except for pur- poses of destructive engineering, the manufacture of gunpowder, and military migration : for those objects we can always com- mand eighty millions—double the sum if necessary, or ten times.