On Saturday last the American Battleship Fleet arrived at Melbourne.
Admiral Sperry and Sir Thomas Gibson- Carmichael, the Governor, exchanged visits, and then a long programme was entered upon which had the disadvantage of being almost a repetition of the events at Sydney, The reception of the Americans was enthusiastic, but in the nature of things it was not easy, as Mr. Deakin foresaw, to " recapture the first fine careless rapture." In a speech at Melbourne Mr. Deakin advocated the building of an Australian Navy to co-operate, of course, with the Imperial Navy under a scheme yet to be framed. We have often expessed our opinion in favour of a local Australian Navy, but it is impossible to make an exact application of Mr. Deakin's speech to the situation till we know the character of the plan which the Admiralty will propose as a substitute for the former Australian money contribution.
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