POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
The Chronicle this morning gives the following paragraph as its naval "A squadron of armed steam-vessels, to consist of twelve of various sizes and rwer, is ordered to be assembled at Portsmouth, and kept ready for service. 'They are each to have two engineers, six stokera, and ten seamen, with the usual warrant-officers, on board. An inspector of steam machinery afloat is to be appointed to keep the engines, &c. &c. in order; and it is expected that Com- mander Starmer, who brought the Hecla to England from the Mediterranean, will be the naval officer placed in charge of them, and will communicate with the Commander-in-chief and other official persons as to what may be required to keep them in efficient order. It appears these twelve steamers are to be sent round from Woolwich and Sheerness, and are in addition to the Centaur, Cyclops, Gorgon, Retribution, and others, now in the port. "Her Majesty's brigs Sappho and Orestes are to be got ready for service. They will be completed by the dockyard artificers in a few days, and join the other ex- perimental vessels to be commissioned in February."
We find the following in the Globe— "It is stated that, among the plans at present under consideration on the abject of the Army, is one for employing the Oat-Pensioners in the recruiting department, at additional pay, in lieu of maintaining the present staff of non- commissioned officers and men from each regiment. Should this plan be carried out, a considerable saving will be effected to the public. There are in England five recruiting districts, in Ireland three, and in Scotland two."
Mr. Cobden has been invited, through Mr. Joseph Sturge, to attend a meeting at Birmingham against the increase of our national defences: he has declined, on the plea of pressing engagements; and the meeting is post- poned. The bulk of Mr. Cobden's letter, however, refers to the general subject, and that we quote-
" To me it is utterly unintelligible why we should now be suddenly stunned with this outcry for additional armaments to protect us against an attack by the French. An invasion from France ! Why, what statesman, or party, or news- paper, in that great constitutional and civilized nation has latterly been advocating a war with England, or threatening a descent upon our shores? No; the whole i
affair must have been the work of some gossiping idlers at our clubs n London, or of military men impatient at the neglect into which their profession has fallen after thirty 'rears of peace. If these parties, and our diplomatists and foreign min- isters, would be quiet, there:never was a time when, from the inevitable tendencies of the age, the English and French nations were in so fair a way as they are at present to forget their ancient animosities. It is more than the lifetime of an entire generation since the last sanguinary and irrational conflict between England and France was brought to a close. Upwards of 60,000,000 of human beings have in that interval passed to their graves in the two countries; and is it taking too fa- vourable a view of human nature to believe that much of our old national hatred lies buried with them?
el I am delighted to hear that you are prepared at Birmingham to extend the hand of friendship and confidence towards the French people. Such a demonstra- tion will have the best possible effect upon public opinion, not only in France but throughout the world.
At a special general meeting, on Thursday, the Manchester Chamber of Commerce adopted a petition to Parliament against the resumption of the sliding-scale of corn-duties in March next.
Another long sitting of the Cabinet Council took place yesterday, at the Foreign Office. Lord John Russell was prevented from attending by indisposition.
Last night's Gazette announces the appointment of Mr. Walter Charles Metcalfe Plowden to be "Her Majesty's Consul in Abyssinia." The Mountstewart Elphinstone sailed on Thursday for Van Dieman's Land, with " free settlers" from the hulks.
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