The Naval Manceuvres closed on Thursday. Though the absence of
full reports makes it impossible to give any detailed account of the result of the operations, it is clear that another proof has been given of the extreme difficulty of protecting our coasts under the conditions of modern warfare. In spite of the fact that the English Admiral started with a better fleet than his antagonists, and that he early deprived them of some of their best vessels, he was unable to keep the Achil ironclads shut up in Queenstown ; and notwithstanding the immense naval supremacy of the defending force, our shores were ravaged by Admiral Baird's vessels, which steamed for a week almost at will along our coasts, bombarding towns and seizing merchant-ships. No doubt they were at last run down ; but, from an enemy's point of view, they had done quite enough damage to make such an event of small consequence. It is obvious that if we ever go to war with any Power possessing a strong fleet, we must expect such annoyances and disasters. Still, if the nation has its heart in the war, they will be borne with stubbornness and pluck. England is not all watering-places and commercial ports.
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