LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 306, 25 September 1860, Page 3

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

Home News office, '■'•■". London, Thursday, July 26. The speech of Lord Palmerston asking for a vote of two millions for the coast defences of England, within the present year, will be read with deep interest in the Colonies, because it points clearly to a danger from which the Colonies themselves are not wholly secure. We do not believe that even if so wild a project as the invasion of England were really contemplated by Prance, a descent on any of our Colonies could form a part of the Imperial scheme of aggression. The danger would not take that shape. But there is another shape in which, under such circumstances, it might be looked for as being almost inevitable. >'dur interests," said Lord Palmerston, are spread over the whole surface of th<? globe. Agents in every quarter are at all times liable, through an excess of zeal, or a mistaken sense.pf duty, to lead .the nations they represent info difficulties; and no one can answer, from day to day, that something may not happen in some part of the world that will lead to disagreeable communications between different powers. If this danger is to be apprehended in time of peace, how much more may not such ■risks of misunderstandings and outbreaks be apprehended in "time of war? The 'Colonial .governments will discover in these highly probable .contingencies sources of daiiger to be guarded against quite as imminent as those against which, at a vast cos£ liordr Palmerston desires to protect England J and if they are wise they will msike provision against them in advance. We are on the way to an expenditure of £9*000,000, possibly more, for the defence of .the Mother Country. The Colonies should lose no time in following the example In a corresponding ratio. Forearmed, forewarned. .