FORTIFICATIONS.—ADDRESS MOVED. (Hansard, 23 August 1860)

§ SIR DE LACY EVANS

said, he rose to move— That an humble Address he presented to Her Majesty, praying that She will be graciously pleased to direct to be carried into effect the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the National Defences, in paragraphs 156 and 158 of the report to Her Majesty for the construction of a fortified work on Shooter's-hill calculated for a garrison of 1,500 men, to assist in the protection of Woolwich Dockyard and Arsenal, and as an important element in the means of defence for the Metropolis; also praying that Her Majesty will be graciously pleased to direct that a Royal Commission be appointed to examine and report to Her Majesty on the lines of march available to an invading army advancing against London, on the obstacles or positions which may be occupied or prepared to obstruct or defeat an enemy on these lines of advance, and on the points d'appui or support of the national forces in their operations or manœuvres in the vicinity and for the defence of the Metropolis of the empire. He rose under very considerable disadvantage to bring forward this important subject; but, as he intended to be as brief as possible, he hoped that he would be permitted to make his Motion. As the noble Lord at the head of the Government was aware, it was no fault of his that the question came on at that particular moment. The first part of his proposition referred to the fortified work on Shooter's-hill, which was recommended by the Royal Commissioners. That recommendation however, the Government had entirely omitted from 1759 their scheme; and it was now his wish, as his own opinion fully coincided with that of the Royal Commission, to induce the Government to reconsider their decision. His second proposition was for an inquiry into the lines of march available to an invading army advancing against London, and the measures to be taken for defeating an enemy on those lines. Although no express recommendation was made by the Commissioners on that point, yet on examining their report it would be found that the institution of such an inquiry would be in accordance with their views, and he trusted the Government would recognize the expediency of appointing a Royal Commission for that purpose. The National Defence Commission had evidently felt themselves precluded from entering upon such an investigation. The original instruction they received from the Government contemplated a comprehensive inquiry into the general question of our national defences; but subsequently a letter was addressed to them by the Secretary of State for War, directing them to confine their attention to the arsenals only. It was a pity that that restriction had been imposed upon them, and although the Commissioners were obliged to act upon it, they nevertheless adverted to it in more than one part of their report. He conceived that the establishment of a fortified work on Shooter's-hill, which the Commissioners strongly recommended, was a matter of great importance to the safety of the country, and especially of the Metropolis. It was rather remarkable that while the Commissioners had suggested the execution of extensive works in all our other arsenals, and the Government had, with certain very judicious modifications, adopted those suggestions, on the other hand, the adoption of this further recommendation of the Commission, which also related to a most important arsenal and dockyard, had been postponed, by the Government sine die. As Parliament was about to separate for probably five or six months, he was therefore anxious to draw the earnest attention of the Government to the inexpediency of leaving Shooter's-hill and Woolwich wholly without defences. What he now proposed would not necessarily involve any additional outlay of public money. His hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chatham (Sir Frederick Smith) and himself had expressed their opinion that some of the proposals of the Commissioners were unduly expensive.