THE GROWTH OF CONFIDENCE IN NAVIES. [To THE EDITOR OF
TEE spEcTAToa.-1 SIN,—In an article on naval power in the Spectator of the 12th inst., occurs the following passage : "The bombardment
of Alexandria dissipated the humanitarian illusion." This, read with the previous context, is an accusation against which I feel bound, as a naval officer, to protest. Fortified oities, when invested, have often been bombarded to hasten their capitulation; but I do not know any instance of a city being bombarded by a British fleet, and I think it may be safely assumed that no such act will ever be perpetrated. The " bombardment " of Alexandria, of Copenhagen, of Algiers, &c., is an unfortunate mode of expression ; but the object in these and other cases was the reduction of the forts, not the injury of the inhabitants of the cities, though no doubt some injury from shot that missed their mark was unavoidably in- flicted, when parts of the cities lay in the line of fire behind the fortifications.—I am, Sir, &c., H. J. B.
[We do not agree with our correspondent as to to the future, especially as regards the Continental fleets. How is Italy endangered except by bombardments from the French Fleet P—ED. Spectator.]
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