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• DEFENCE OF THE METROPOLIS.
5th April 1858. Sin—We hear occasionally of batteries having been made on the coast to repel any attempt at invasion, but it may be doubted whether such would be found to be of the important use contemplated. With few exceptions, such preparations would be thrown away, as they argue a dispersion of our defenders ; whereas the great secret of war is con- centration of one's forces, not dispersion.
Many experienced military men have given it as their opinion that the Martell() towers, erected some sixty years ago on the South-Eastern coast, would be worse than useless ; for each of them would require a garrison of about five-and-twenty men; therefore, as there are about sixty of them, fifteen hundred skilful gunnere would necessarily be stationed in them, and thereby lost to the country for other purposes. I feel no hesitation in saying that the sooner these Martell° towers are blown up, and the material sold, the better ; for should any of them fall by accident into the hands of the enemy, they would him for the time being an efficient protection for the dis- embarkation of his army.
Presuming that, as a matter of course, our naval and military arsenals will forthwith be put into an efficient state of defence, and properly garri- soned, I may venture to suggest that the best position for an =trenched camp for the defence of the Metropolis would be in Richmond Park, but should be constructed sufficiently large to contain the material of war for a large army. • A fortress strongly garrisoned in that position would command the passage of the Thames, and an army, organized under its ramparts, would be enabled to take the enemy in flank should he approach London from the South or South-east.
Owing to the increased calibre of artillery, allowing of shot weighing eighty.= pounds to be propelled, flanking fire is no longer absolutely ne- cessary, so that the fortress proposed might be more or less of a circular form, which would be much less expensive than one constructed with bastions.
In conclusion, I beg through you, Sir, to exhort our countrymen to take time by the forelock, and, before it be too late, to burnish up the arms of their grandsires, and, with her Majesty's permission, to organize themselves in local regiments of cavalry and infantry, to the end that we may be pre- pared for whatever may happen.
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