The Reactionaries in France are strongly disposed to provoke a
quarrel with Great Britain, their theory being that if the Republic is beaten at sea, as they think it would be, a Monarchy of some sort would be acclaimed by opinion. They accordingly spread abroad the idea that England will attack France, and so quickly has the notion taken hold that there is a feeling among important classes of positive alarm. General de Galliffet therefore on Monday declared in the Chamber that the alarm was groundless. He had felt it himself before he accepted office, but now he was certain that the coast both in France and Algiers was well defended. " He could honestly declare that the arsenals and ports were free from all danger of invasion, the garrisons sufficient, and the gunners well trained." Nothing was required except some " perfected guns of surprising rapidity and pre- cision," and that all troops, both at home and in the Colonies, now under the control of the Ministry of Marine, should be placed at the disposal of the War Office. Like General Saussier, he believed it would be difficult "to find a Minister of War resolved to defend a house the doors of which had not been entrusted to him." The speech was sensible and clear, but friends of
France will observe with pain that reinvigorated discipline has not soothed away departmental jealousies. Imagine Lord Wolseley saying he would not defend Dover unless Mr. Goschen were placed under his orders.
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