THE ARMY PROPOSALS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.']
Sin,—In stating last Iveek that I declared that the Govern- ment proposals encouraged the notion that we were to be protected against invasion by the Army, and not by the Fleet, you added that you did not think this a fair charge. I ought, therefore, perhaps, to say that, speaking as I did almost immediately after Mr. Wyndham's introductory statement, my attack upon this point concerned his first speech rather than the proposals themselves. Had I held, with regard to the actual proposals, the view which seemed to me to have been favoured at that time by the speech in question I should haveopposed them instead of declaring that I should vote for them, as I have done. With regard to the fairness of my charge against Mr. Wyndham's original speech, I may point out that, speaking again on the next night, he replied to Sir John Colomb, and to myself upon this particular head, and declaring that he himself belonged to the blue-water school, and making a memorable declara- tion with regard to exactly what he meant by risk at home, he, to my mind, entirely changed his position, and adopted one which was more satisfactory to me than were the pro- posals themselves.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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