8 JANUARY 1848, Page 6

itlisctItantous.

The Morning Chronicle has put an end to all doubt as to the existence of the Duke of Wellington's letter to Sir John Burgoyne, by publishing it, as follows.

" Stratbfreldeage,..9th .Tan. 1847.

"To MAJ.-GEN. SIR JOHN J. BURGOYN & E, K.C.B., C. &G.

"My dear General—Some days have elapsed, indeed a fortnight has, since I received your note, with a copy of your observations on the possible results of a war with France under our present system of military preparation. "You are aware that I have for years been sensible of the alteration produced in maritime warfare and operations by the application of steam to the propelling of ships at sea.

"This discovery immediately exposed all parts of the coasts of these islands, which a vessel could approach at all' to be approached, at all times of tide and in all seasons, by vessels so propelled, from all quarters. We are in fact assailable and at least liable to insult, and to have contributions levied upon us, on all part of our coasts; that is, the coasts of these including the Channel Islands, which to this time from the period of the Norman conquest have never been successfully invaded.

"I have in vain endeavoured to awaken the attention of different Administra- tions to this state of things, as well known to our neighbours (rivals in power, at least former adversaries and enemies) as it is to ourselves. "I hope that your paper may be attended with more success than my re- presentations have been. - "I have above, in few words, represented our danger. We have no defence, or hope of defence, excepting in our fleet.

"We hear a great deal of the spirit of the people of England; for which no man entertains higher respect than I do. But, unorganized, undisciplined, with- out systematic subordination established and well understood, this spirit, opposed to the lire of musketry and cannon, and to sabres and bayonets of disciplined troops, would only expose those animated by such spirit to confusion and de- struction. Let any man only make the attempt to turn to some use this spirit in a case of partial local disturbance: the want of previous systematic organiza- tion and subordination will prevent him even from communicating with more than his own menial servants and dependants, and while mobs are in movement through the country the most powerful will find that he can scarcely move from his own door.

"It is perfectly true, that as we stand at present, with our naval arsenals and dockyards not half garrisoned, 5,000 men of all arms could not be put under arms, if required, for any service whatever, without leaving standing without relief all employed on any duty, not excepting even the guards over the palaces and the person of the Sovereign.

"I calculate that a declaration of war should probably find our home garrisons of the strength as follows; particularly considering that one of the most common accusations against this country is, that the practice has been to commence re- prisals at sea simultaneously with a declaration of war, the order for the first of which must have been issued before the last can have been published. "We ought to be with garrisons as follows at the moment war is declared— Channel Islands (besides the Militia of each, well organized, trained, and disciplined) 10,000 men.

Plymouth 10,000 men.

Milford Haven 5,000 men.

Cork 10,000 men.

10,000 men. Portsmouth Dover 10,000 men.

Sheerness, Chatham, and the Thames 10,000 men.

"1 suppose that one-half of the whole regular force of the country would be stationed in Ireland, which half would give the garrison for Cork. The remainder

must be supplied from the half of the whole force at home stationed in Great Britain.

" The whole force employed at home in Great Britain and Ireland would not afford a sufficient namber of men for the mere defence and occupation, on the breaking out of war, of the works constructed for the defence of the dockyards and naval arsenals, without leaving a single man disposable.

" The measure upon which I have earnestly entreated different Administrations to decide,—which is constitutional, and has been invariably adopted in time of peace for the last eighty years—is to raise, embody, organize, and discipline the &Ilitia, of the same numbers for each of the Three Kingdoms united as during the late war. This would give a mass of organized force amounting to about 150,000 men; which we might immediately set to work to discipline. This alone would enable us to establish the strength of our army. This, with an augments- flea of the force of the Regular Army, which would not cost 400,0001., would put the country on its legs in respect to personal force; and I would engage for its de- fence, old as I am.

"But as we stand now, and if it be true that the exertions of the fleet alone are not sufficient to provide for our defence, we are not safe for a week after the declaration of war.

"I am accustomed to the consideration of these questions; and have examined and reconnoitered, over and over again, the whole coast from the North Foreland, by Dover, Folkstone, Beachy Head, Brighton, Arundel, to Selsey Bill, near Ports- mouth; and I say that, excepting immediately under the fire of Dover Castle, there is not a spot on the coast on which infantry might not be thrown on shore, at any tune of tide, with any wind, and in any weather, and from which each body of infantry, so thrown on shore, would not find within the distance of live miles a road into the interior of the country through the cliffs, practicable for the march of a body of troops. "That in that space of coast (that is, between the North Foreland and Seleey Hill) there are not less than seven small harbours or mouths of rivers, each with- out defence, of which an enemy, having landed his infantry on the coast, might take possession, and therein land his cavalry and artillery of all calibre, and establish himself and his communication with France.

"The nearest part of the coast to the Metropolis is undoubtedly the coast of Sussex, from the East and West side of Beachy Head and to Selsey Bill. There are not less than twelve great roads leading from Brighton upon London: and the French atmy must be mach altered indeed since the time at which I was better acquainted with it, if there are not now belonging to it forty chefs d'etat Major-General ca- pable of sitting down and ordering the march to the coast of 40,000 men, their embarkation with their horses and artillery, at the several French ports on the coast; their disembarkation at named points on the English coast, that of the artillery and cavalry in named ports or mouths of rivers, and the assembly at named points of the several columns; and the march of each of these from stage to stage to London.

"Let any man examine our maps and road-books, consider of the matter, and judge for himself. "I know of no mode of resistance, much less of protection from this danger, excepting by an army in the field capable of meeting and contending with its formidable enemy, aided by all the means of fortification which experience in war and science can suggest. "I shall be deemed foolhardy in engaging for the defence of the empire with an army composed of such a force of Militia. I may be so. I confess it, I should infinitely prefer, and should feel more confidence in, an army of Regular troops. But I know that I shall not have these. [may have the others; and if an addi- tion is made to the existing Regular Army allotted for home defence of a force which will cost 400,0001. a year, there woeld be a sufficient disciplined force in the field to enable him Who should command to defend the country. "This is my view of oar-danger and our resources. I was aware that our magazines and arsenals were very inadequately supplied with ordnance and car- nage, arms, stores of all denominations, and ammunition. " The deficiency has been occasioned in part by the sale of arms, and of various descriptions of ordnance stores, since the termination of the late war, in order to diminish the demand of supply to carry on the peace service of the Ordnance; in part by the conflagration of the arsenal which occurred in the Tower some years Igo; and by the difficulty under which all Governments in this country labour in ptevailing upon Parliament, in time of peace, to take into consideration measures 'necessary for the safety of the country in time of war. "The state of the ordnance, i arms, ammunition, &c., in magazines, is in part the question of expense, and perhaps n some degree one of time. "I would recommend to have an alphabetical list of the stores examined by a amtnittee, and made out in form, as aped the enclosed half-sheet of paper, by ascertaining what there was in 1804, and what there is in Store now, of each article, and the difference between the two accounts.

"I have taken the year 1804 as the standard, as that was the year in which the invasion was threatened. It was previous to the employment of the armies in the Peninsula or North America; m short, as nearly as possible similar to the political circumstanoes in which we stand at this moment, excepting that we are now at peace with France—we were then at war. "A fourth column would be the estimate of the expense of bringing the maga- zines to the state in which they were in 1804. "With this information before him, the Master-General could give the Govern- ment accurate information of the wants of ordnance, arms, ammunition, and stores in the magazines of the country. "You will see from what I have written, that I have contemplated the danger to which you have referred. I have done so for years. I have drawn to it the attention of different Administrations at different times.

"You will observe, lik-ewise, that I have considered of the measures of prospec- tive security, and of Use mode and cost of the attainment.

•• • "I have done more. I have looked at and considered these localities in great detail, and have made up my mind upon the details of their defence. "These are questions to which my mind has not been unaccustomed. I have considered and provided for the defenee, the successful defence, of the frontiers of many countries. "You are the confidential head of the principal defensive part of the country. I will, if you and the Master-General of the Ordnance choose, converse or other- wise communicate confidently [confidentially?] with you upon all the details of this subject; will inform you of all that I know, have seen, and think upon it, and what my notions are of the details of the defensive system to be adopted and eventually carried into execution. "I quite concur in all your views of the danger of our position, and of the magnitude of the stake at issue. I am especially sensible of the certainty of failure if we do not, at an early moment, attend to the measures necessary to be taken for our defence, and of the disgrace—the indelible disgrace of each failure. "Putting out of view all the other unfortunate consequences, such as the loss of the political and social position of this country among the nations of Europe, of all its allies, in concert with and in aid of whom it has in our own times con- tended successfully in arms for its own honour and safety and the independence and freedom of the world.

"When did any man hear of allies of a country unable to defend itself?

"Views of economy of some, and I admit that the high views of national finance Of others, induce them to postpone those measures absolutely necessary for mere defence and safety under existing circumstances; forgetting altogether the com- mon practice of successful armies, in modern times, imposing upon the conquered

enormous pecuniary contributions, as well as other valuable and ornamental pro- perty. " Look at the course pursued by France in Italy and Russia! at Vienna re- peatedly, at Berlin, atbloscow—the contributions levied, besides the subsistence, maintenance, clothing, and equipment of the army which made the conquest! Look at the conduct of the Allied Army which invaded France and had peesesaion of Paris in 1815! Look at the account of the pecuniary sacrifices made upon that occasion, under their different heads of contributions, payments for sub-. sistence, and maintenance of the invading armies, including clothing and other equipments, payments of old repudiated state debts, payments of debts due to individuals in war in the different countries of Europe, repayment for contributions levied, and moveable and immoveable property sold in the course of the Revo- lutionary war.

"But such an account cannot be made out against this country. No! but I believe that the means of some demands would not be wanting. Are there no claims for a fleet at Toulon in 1793? None for debts left unpaid by British subjects in France, who escaped from confinement under corer of the invasion in 1814 by the Allied armies? Can any man pretend to limit the amount of the demands on account of the contributions de guerre "Then look at the conditions of the treaties of Paris-1814, 1815.

" France having been in possession of nearly every capital in Europe, and hav- ing levied contributions in each, and having had in its possession or under its influence the whole of Italy, Germany, and Poland, is reduced to its territorial limits as they stood in 1792. " Do we suppose that we should be allowed to keep--could we advance a pre- tension to keep—more than the islands composing the United Kingdom; ceding disgracefully the Channel Islands, on which an invader had never established himself since the period of the Norman Conquest?

"I am bordering upon seventy-seven years of age, passed in honour. I hope that the Almighty may protect me from being the witness of the tragedy which I cannot persuade my contemporaries to take measures to avert. "Believe me ever yours sincerely, WELLINGTON."

The Globe publishes a abort tract entitled " Thoughts on National Defence," which is signed " W. B. " dated on the 3d instant, and is said to have been written by Admiral Bowles, a Lord of the Admiralty under the late Administration. It is recommended to the Globe as some- thing calculated to allay alarm; which it is; but it also corroborates the opinion that it was full time to take precautions. The consideration of national defence, vitally important as it is, says the writer, was annually disregarded and postponed-

" It was not until the danger of a sadden rupture with France on the Tahiti question, in 1844, had at last awakened us from our dreams of delusive security, that we, for the first time, opened our eyes to the peril from which we had SO providentially escaped.

"It soon became perfectly well known, that the French Government had con- templated a sudden attack on Portsmouth and Plymouth, with a force assail-

b1.- at Cherbourg, and consisting chiefly of steamers; of which they could have

collected towards forty of all classes, capable of conveying' troops for so short a distance; while our whole naval force, then within reach, consisted of three heavy sailing three.deckers, fitted out for summer exercise, and we had net at that moment a single frigate or smaller vessel, and scarcely a steamer of force,In any of our home ports ready for sea. Our land defences had been equally ne- glected. Very few guns were mounted in the batteries at either port; and there was certainly every reason to believe that an attack conducted with vigour and decision might have been completely successful; resulting in the destruction of one if not more of our great naval arsenals, with all its contents, at the com- mencement of hostilities!

"Happily for us, we were spared this national disgrace and humiliation. After a short period of most intense anxiety to those aware of our weakness, we gladly accepted such satisfaction as the French Government could be induced to offer; the danger passed away, without any general feeling of alarm having been ex- cited; and the attention of the Government became so exclusively directed to- wards domestic occurrences, that although several measures of importance were soon afterwards adopted for the better defence of our naval arsenals, (in com- pliance with the suggestions of a Commission appointed in 1845 to inspect and report on this subject,) they have since been carried into execution so tardily, that, out of a force of large steam guard-ships for the special defence of our ports, ordered to be equipped in 1846, consisting of six sail of the line and six frigates, only one is now ready for service, and the remainder will scarcely be so before the end of the year. fhis delay is deeply to be regretted, because no plan could have been devised better calculated to defeat any sudden attack than that of having in con-

stant readiness a formidable squadron of this description, propelled by steam as well as sails, and far superior in point of forte to any flotilla of French steamers which might attempt a descent on our coast." Much has since been done to advance the defences: Sheerness has been SO strengthened as to be secure against a coup de main; progress has been

made in equipping a respectable squadron for home service; our steam navy has been increased; the steam basins and factories at Portsmouth and Devonport approach completion; and if a large portion of the steam-ships were kept at home, we should " be able to assemble, at the shortest notice, a force of this description equal if not superior to any that Gould be brought against us." "It will be seen by what I have said, that I am not disposed fully to coincide in opinion with those who entertain what appear to me somewhat exaggerated fears with regard to the existing dangers of the country, and who seem to assume that our naval superiority can no longer avail us; but I am prepared to admit that tas are far more exposed to a surprise than at any preceding period of our modern history; and that if our military preparations are not matured on the scale which the occasion so manifestly requires, it is perfectly possible that an active and en- terprising enemy might avail himself of some favourable opportunity for suddenly throwing a large body of men on our shores, and inflicting on us some grievous and disgraceful injury, before we were prepared to repel him." "W. B." calls to mind that our allies have claims upon us-

" It may not, perhaps, be generally known, that our supineness in this respect has excited equal uneasiness and dissatisfaction in Germany, where such great exertions have been made, and such heavy expenses submitted to, for the purpose of strengthening their own frontier; and it has been said (certainly not without foundation) that our own negligence of similar precautions would, in all.proba- bility, be the cause of the next general war, by holding out a temptation too inning for France to resist at some favourable moment."

We have great pleasure in announcing that Lord Auckland has, in the most flattering terms, offered the naval command of the North American and West Indian stations to the Earl of Dundonald. The veteran Admi- ral has accepted the command; and will thus, in the evening of his days, enjoy an honour too long deferred, to which his unrivalled exploits have so justly entitled him.—Titnes.

A proposition has been submitted to Government for funding the rail- ivays, with a view to the removal of one of the principal causes of the con- tinued depression of trade. This would be a measure which, of course, could only be carried out with the consent of the parties interested; and we

may therefore invite attention to the subject, with a view to its discussion. —Globe.

Mr. Arnott has been elected into the Court of Evaminers in the Royal College of Surgeons, in the room of the late Mr. Liston.

Immediately before the adjournment of Parliament, Colonel Sibthorp inquired of Lord John Russell, whether the Jews, if admitted into the House of Commons, could attend in their places on Friday evenings or on Saturdays. Mr. Alderman Salomon& answered the question by anticipa- tion a few weeks ago. The worthy Alderman, who is a member of the Marylebone Vestry, is most punctual in his attendance at the Saturday meetings of that body; and three or four weeks ago, he took occasion to state that he felt he was acting in accordance with the spirit of the Jewish religion in being present at the Vestry meetings on Saturday, because he was ;not there to serve any personal interests, of his own, but to promote measures for the public good.— Globe.

On his recent visit to the Westminster Play, Prince Albert marked his appro- bation by soliciting an extra week's holydays for the boys.

The Warden of Trinity. College, near Perth, the Reverend C. Wordsworth, who left Winchester College some time ago under an imputation of having forced con- fession and absolution on the boys, has recently excommunicated a gentleman re- siding in his neighbourhood, because he attended an English chapel in Perth served by a clergyman in English orders.

Under the head of" Tractarian Movements," a correspondent of the Standard mentions, that at a recent ordination by the Bishop of Rochester, the Reverend J. W. Harding was ordained priest, but not sworn to canonical obedience. Mr. Hard- ing publicly objected, before the other candidates, to the use of portions of the Liturgy; and yet he was ordained."

One of our most learned musicians, Dr. Crotch, died suddenly on the 29th De- cember, at the residence of his son, the Reverend W. R. Crotch, Master of the Grammar School at Taunton. Dr. Crotch's age was seventy-two.

The King of Prussia has conferred the order of the Black Eagle on Field- Marshal Count Radetzky, Commander-in-chief of the Austrian troops in Italy.

Accounts from Frankfort announce the suspension of three banking. agencies in that city—Haber and Sohne, L H. Flersheim, and Jacob Friedrich GontarcL The embarrasamenta are attributed to operations in railway stock.

The colonists of Adelaide South Australia, have transmitted, through Gover- nor Robe, 1,000/. subscribed for the relief of the distressed by famine in Ireland and Great Britain. A donation in wheat of similar value is shortly to follow.

A list of railways opened in the United Kingdom daring 1847 is published in Herap i

ath's Journal; from which it appears that the total mileage was 751-515 miles in England, 128 in Scotland, and 108 n Ireland.

A letter from St. Petersburg, of the 21st December, describes the final setting- in of winter. The ice in the Neva exhibited an united and level surface; the ther- mometer stood at 15° Reaumur, with clear weather and no snow. Navigation had ceased.

A heavy fall of snow took place in Paris and its neighbourhood on Saturday night. In the South of France, and in Spain, the snow had rendered the roads nearly impracticable.

A letter in the Times, signed "Arthur J. Macleane," suggests a ground for surmising that the likelihood of a visit frorn the cholera has passed. "In the month of September 1837, the cholera was raging at Madras, and several of the English residents were its victims. During Oat month, which is the closest of all months in India, and usually distingaised by a perpetual play of lightning, there was a marked and almost total absence of that feature; and an experienced medi- cal man, to whom I pointed out this circumstance, expressed his belief that it was intimately connected with the causes of the epidemic, if it was not the cause itself. The cholera disappeared as soon as the atmosphere returned to its usual state. I observe you state that the atmosphere, after having exhibited a remark- able deficiency of the electric fluid, has now recovered its usual condition in that respect, and that the decline of the influenza has been simultaneous with such recovery."

In the official Navy List, published on Saturday, the name of Lord William Paget, e Captain of 1826, is erased throughout the work by order of the Lords of jie Admiralty, -Means. Bevan ana Goodeve received on Saturday a letter from the Solicitor of the treasury, to the effect that the grant restoring to Mrs. Tawell the property of her late husband, the murderer, John Tavrell, which had been confiscated to the Crown trustees, is now signed—Times.

A case occurred at the Insolvent Debtors' Court this week, which is remark- able for fresh revelations as to the practice of discount-agents. Mr. Powell, a clerk in the Paymaster-General's Office, Whitehall, came up to pass his exami- nation. One creditor had been in the habit of advancing money to the insolvent at the rate of 60 per cent per annum. It transpired, on an application from an- other creditor in the same line, that on one occasion Powell's acceptance for 8001. had been discounted for 4501., but that all he had actually received was 2501 Mr. Powell proposed to set aside 1201. a year out of his income for the benefit of his creditors, besides giving up property to the amount of 7001. The total debts in the schedule were upwards of 10,0001. The Commissioner commented on the enormous rate of discount; but Mr. Thomas the barrister contended that it was "gross absurdity" to complain of such charges, as the lenders were the losers.

Large quantities of base silver coin are now in circulation, especially five-shil- ling pieces; which are so admirably executed as to preclude detection, unless by very competent judges.—Birmingham Gazette.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Pacha, just arrived from Malta, reports the total loss of her Majesty's steam-frigate Avenger, on the Sorelle rocks off the Northern coast of Africa. The Avenger had on board 270 persons, including crew and supernumeraries; all of whom, it is feared, were drowned, with the exception of a Lieutenant and four men. The vessel was commanded by a son of Admiral Napier; and among the victims was Lieutenant Marryat, son of Captain Marryat. The Avenger left Gibraltar on the 17th of December, and was last seen on the morning of the 20th, from the mast-head of the Paths, on her outward voyage to Malta. Returning home on the 25th, the Pacha was signalled by the French war-steamer Lavoi:ier; and Captain Olive! the Commander, was informed that the Avenger had been wrecked on the evening of the 20th. The two steamers repaired in company to the scene of the disaster; but found only some small portions of wreck floating about. It appears from a statement in the Malta Times, that when the Avenger struck, two boats were lowered, one con- taining Lieutenant Rooke, the surgeon, the second master, and five seamen; but they were at once carried away from the ship; which they saw thrown upon her beam-ends, the sea making a clean breach over her. The boat reached the coast of Africa at Bizerte, but was swamped in the attempt to land; only five persons, including Lieutenant Rooke, gaining the shore. By the aid of some friendly Arabs, they were enabled to reach Tunis; and the French authorities there lost no time in sending off the Lavoisier.

Advice* from the Orkneys report many shipwrecks on the Isles with a large loss of human life. In one instance, at South Ronaldsay, the male inhabitants revived the old custom of plundering: a number of French mariners who got to shore were pillaged, while a magistrate was on the spot. The officers of justice are in pursuit of them. The extensive printing establishment of Messrs. Fnllarton and Co., at Edin- burgh, was destroyed by fire on Friday sennight. There was an inadequate sup- ply of water, and several adjoining houses were consumed. A large number of stereotype plates were melted, or so disfigured as to be useless; and about a hun- dred and forty people will be thrown out of work.

From returns made out by the Fire Brigade, it appears that there were 989 fires in London during the past year, with alms of property estimated at about 150,0001. The losses were heavier in 1846, and the fires rather more numerous-1,022. But in the provinces the destruction of property by fire in 1817 was greater than for several years past. A fatal accident occurred on the Salisbury branch of the South-western Rail- way on Sunday morning. A number of men were busy near Romsey obtaining gravel to repair a part of the line which had been damaged by recent heavy rains; as a train from Southampton approached, the driver, perceiving that the labourers were on the wrong line, sounded the whistle; but some of the men did not get out of the way quickly enough: three were struck by the locomotive, two were hurt slightly, but the third, falling across the rails, was so mangled that he died on the spot.

The sudden death of Colonel Peebles, in the Royal Marine Barracks at Wool- wich, was attended by a dangerous accident to his son. Mr. Peebles, an officer of the line, was at home on a visit; when his father was taken ill he rushed from the house to obtain medical aid; as he ran through the barrack-gate, the sentry challenged him; Mr. Peebles, in his excitement, made no answer; and the sentry, thinking it was a soldier attempting to abscond, struck at him with his bayonet: a severe wound was inflicted on the back of the gentleman's neck.

A man has perished, in Upper East Smithfield, in the very act of robbery. He secreted himself in an unfinished house; and when the workmen had left the place for the night, he clambered on to the roof to strip it of the lead: while he was thus engaged, the lead seems to have suddenly given way, or the rafters broke; and the thief pitched down a well-staircase, a depth of sixty feet. His body was found next morning, much mangled.

Results of the Registrar-General's return of mortality in the Metropolis for the week ending on Saturday last-

Zymotie (or Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious) Diseases 420 .. . 211 Dropsy, Cancer, and other diseases of uncertain or variable seat

150 ....

105 Diseases of the Brain, Spinal Harrow, Nerves, and Senses 203 ... 157 Diseases of the Lunge, and of the other Organs of Respiration 497 .... 333 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 48 .... 24 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion 87 .... 74 Diseases of the Kidneys, &c

9 Childbirth, diseases of the Uterus, &c. 23 .... 14 Rheumatism, disuses of the Bones, Joints, &c.

7

Diseases of the Skin, Cellular Tissue, Sic

2 Old Age 61 65 Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 70 .... 29 Total (Including unspecified causes) 1599 1019

The lowest temperature of the thermometer lathe shade was 19.3°; the mean temperature by day being colder than the average mean temperature by 2.1°. The thermometer whose bulb was placed in the full rays of the sun was broken. Dqring the week the air was very variable.

Number of Autumn deaths. average.