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 Rh order to do their work efficiently, they could not well be used at right angles to the rail, but could be used to throw shot over the quarter or over the bow, that is, diagonally to the truck frame. Breech loaders of course, and rifled, if the rifling should on fuller experience turn out to be an advantage. Meanwhile, it would be well to try the following experiment: Load the rifled cannon with spherical as well as elongated shot, and see whether the same effect is produced, and then try the same experiment with a smooth bore of the same diameter. Ascertain how much of the result is in both cases due to the prevention of windage, and the diminution of resisting surface.

With these batteries any number of carriages can be carried bearing riflemen or sharpshooters. The whole of the banks may be earthworks to shelter the men from skirmishers; and all elevated spots along the line can be outlooks communicating by telegraph. We talk of hedges and ditches to protect riflemen, but no hedges or ditches could be so effective as the railway cuttings and embankments, and with forts—instead of fixed towers—travelling at flying speed, with a very small proportion of intelligent men doing all the work.

The great economy of this system is worthy of remark. One gun transportable would do the work of ten which are fixtures in forts; and there would be no men to take prisoners, for no forts would be captured. Instead of a gun with field-tackle and horses, there would only be a gun with rail-tackle and without horses; the steam power being at work earning money till wanted for war purposes, wherefore the actual cost of guns would be diminished. On the new lines of coast road for steep inclines and for rails on highways, new locomotives would be required; but these are precisely the conditions required for new railways; and every railway official and servant would be an intuitive rail militia-man. The more this system is thought of, the more the conviction will grow that it is the simplest mode of rendering the country impenetrable to invaders at a comparatively trifling cost; for facility of transit is equivalent to the multiplication of men; and every line of rail would be a pitfall to the foe and a protection to the defender. And what is very rare in warfare, there is no sinking of capital in an investment without return. Every rail laid down and every locomotive constructed may be used as an implement of reproduction. The reputation of such a system of defence once established, there would be an end at once and for ever of irritating innuendos and annoying anxiety, and we could afford to send our ships out of the channel on an emergency. In war he who has the greatest facility of movement and the greatest facility for transporting huge guns must be the conqueror. And supposing in case of accident that a battery became immoveable on the line, and were attacked, cavalry or infantry could do nothing but be destroyed by musketry from behind iron walls. Supposing a battery to be taken by the invaders owing to mismanagement, it could only retreat where it could be followed along the line of rails, for the numerous batteries would otherwise destroy it. The invaders would not be suffered to turn it to account.

What is wanted then is:

First—To construct a pattern piece of ordnance of the largest weight and longest range adapted for moving on its own carriage on ordinary rail ways.

Secondly—To lay down a simple railway on a common highway, forming a connecting link with ordinary lines.

Thirdly—To form a short coast line of steep gradients as a pattern.

Fourthly—To construct a locomotive to work on such a gradient with the longest practicable gun.

Fifthly—To commence with a small corps of men—say the Coast Guard—to practise the new system.

Sixthly—To form the whole of the railway men into a body of railway artillerymen.

Seventhly—To work the new lines on highways as ordinary passenger lines, to keep up transit over them, and keep the working stock in order at little cost.

This is precisely the kind of arrangement that could never grow into an instrument of tyranny in England, for the maintenance of the rails would depend upon the will of the general community. Every man would look upon them as his own property and safeguard; the trippers up of intruders. Our great advantage in the Crimean war was the facility of converting the appliances of ordinary industry to war uses. This system of railway defence would open up a larger source of war application without any waste whatever. And no one could accuse us of making any preparations for invading the territories of others.

The war in Italy has shown the value of railways, though they were only used for transit, and not for actual fighting. If ever Italy becomes free, a defensive system of railways would be her safeguard against all invasion. The Alps would make her a practical island. How to make defences not convertible into offences is, in the present condition of the world, a most important study. The Channel being our practical “break of gauge,” the enemy cannot approach us. In whatever country a “break of gauge” can be accomplished by a mountain range, a similar advantage will be obtained.

The proverb says, “threatened folks live long,” but it is an unpleasant condition of existence. The impossibility of executing the threat once demonstrated, a better condition of health will be indicated by laughing faces smoothing the wrinkles from the brow.

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shall forget the school Conducted by the Misses Gurning, For underneath those ladies’ rule I enter’d on the path of learning.

Not merely learning got from books, But such as comes in other fashion,— The science taught by lips and looks, The all-absorbing tender passion.