for a million sterling less. And in the next year, when the estimates were increased by 1,200,000l. to provide for 58,000 men, they were still less than those for 1848, when the sum of eight millions sterling was required for only 42,500 men.

It is impossible to avoid the remark that these savings, important as they were, were in some respects delusive. The Navy was undoubtedly managed with economy; but, considering the important changes which were at that time imperative and unavoidable, there was, apparently, the tendency to ascribe too much to economy. While, however, it cannot for an instant, or at all events should not be doubted, that economy is the surest and truest handmaid of efficiency, the two are by no means necessarily allies. At this time, reforms of a military nature in the Navy required the first consideration, and could not afford, in the smallest degree, to be compromised or curtailed by considerations of economy; and as every one in authority combined to congratulate the country on the increasing efficiency of the Navy, there was an excuse for an exasperated expression of dissatisfaction when the test of actual experience disappointed these gratifying expectations.

Here we may stop, asking the simple questions: Do we wish a repetition of this policy and its results? Do we wish to delude ourselves blindly again by the belief that naval power is to be maintained efficiently with a policy of parsimony? Do we wish to rest satisfied with the cold comfort of statistics-to be pleased to know we have so many ships of war without caring to know their condition—to be pleased to hear of reserves without caring to inquire what they consist of-to be content with reduced estimates without having at the same time a clear conviction as to the absolute efficiency of the Navy and of its present readiness for an emergency? If so, we shall but be repeating, without half the excuse, the mistaken policy exposed by the Crimean war. But there is, fortunately, no encouragement given, at the present moment, to views so dangerous and mistaken. Mr. Lowe, at Retford, hinted at extravagance, but was forced to admit that the attitude of public opinion was sufficient to excuse the present rate of expenditure; and Mr. Hunt said, very forcibly and very truly, that, if the Conservative party were taunted with the remark that its assumption of power was always marked by increased expenditure, it was quite justifiable to observe that it had sometimes found, on assuming power, the state of the national defences critical and unsatisfactory. Did not Lord Hampton and Mr. Corry find this in 1867, and did not Mr. Hunt suggest some cause for anxiety in 1874? In the first case, the stagnation in shipbuilding had been so great, that even the exceptional

exceptional efforts to make up past deficiencies, which were condemned at the time as extravagant, have since been on all sides admitted to be necessary. And, in this last case, we have the authority of Mr. Hunt for the statement that while only fourteen ironclads were in an efficient state when he took office, there are now twenty; and it should be noted that neither the statement nor the policy is questioned. We may be alarmed at the sudden growth of naval expenditure, but we have the satisfaction of knowing how the money goes. We know that it is not frittered away, but has, during the last three years, been applied almost wholly to replenishing stores and proceeding vigorously with the construction and repair of ships. To denounce this as a policy of extravagance is, after the recent debates in the House of Commons, to be guilty of the grossest misrepresentation. The increase may be regretted, but, as Mr. Laing has observed, it is as sensible to regret that the season of spring has been more like winter as to express vain regrets for an expenditure which is essential, and indeed unavoidable. It cannot be realised too strongly that most of our mistakes in regard to the Navy, during the past forty years, have arisen from an ignorant fear of its cost. We have been too prone to follow the witless policy of considering the cost rather than the efficiency of naval power, and, in spite of past warnings, have been more ready to listen to the voice of the economist than the statesman. The nation, it is too often forgotten, may possibly forgive an extravagance proceeding from ignorance, but it will never forgive nor forget the Minister who, with the amiable view of saving its pocket, has imperilled its supremacy afloat. The present administration appreciates as well as holds this conviction, and its naval policy is accepted, not with forbearance, but with gratitude by the country.

ERRATUM IN VOL. 141.-No. 282.

P. 345, 1. 13. The words printed in italics should be omitted, and the punctuation amended as follows:- light, leaping over a space of a hundred and eighty-five thousand miles in a single second, would take half a million years' &c.

THE

QUARTERLY REVIEW.

ART. I.-1. A Description of the Villa of Mr. Horace Walpole,
Youngest Son of Sir Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford, at
Strawberry Hill, near Twickenham, Middlesex.
With an
Inventory of the Furniture, Pictures, Curiosities, &c. Strawberry
Hill: printed by Thomas Kirkgate, MDCCLXXXIV.
2. The Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford. Edited by
Peter Cunningham. Now first Chronologically arranged.
In Nine Volumes. London, MDCCCLXI.

BOTH

OOTH of the historic houses, Holland House and Hatfield, which have been recently commemorated in our pages, were great and noble from the foundation, and can boast a farascending and richly-associated past. Holland House recalls a succession of statesmen and orators, interspersed and relieved by poets, historians and essayists, prominent among whom rises the honoured shade of Addison pacing up and down the library, in the act of composition, with a bottle of port at each end. Hatfield is redolent of royal reminiscences, and we can fancy the Virgin Queen seated under the traditional oak, with the grave Cecil in respectful attendance by her side. Strawberry Hill cannot bear a momentary comparison with either in antiquity, original splendour, or illustration. Its historic, artistic, and literary interest is the creation of one man. It stole obscurely into existence as a cottage under the name of 'Chopped Straw Hall,' having been built by a retired coachman (Lord Bradford's), who was supposed to have acquired the necessary funds by feeding his noble master's horses with a cheap substitute for oats. At a subsequent stage it had just so much connection with the drama as could be derived from being tenanted by Colley Cibber when he wrote The Refusal,' and just so much of the odour of sanctity or divinity as could be conferred by the residence of Talbot, Bishop of Durham, who rented it for eight years. It could boast of two noble occupants, the Marquis of Carnarvon and Lord John Sackville, prior to Walpole, but his Vol. 142.-No. 284. immediate

Y

immediate predecessor was Mrs. Chenevix, the celebrated toywoman. The manner in which he came into possession is specified in his 'Short Notes of My Life':

'In May, 1747, I took a small house near Twickenham for seven years. I afterwards (1748) bought it by Act of Parliament, it belonging to minors; and have made great additions and improvements to it. In one of the deeds I found it was called Strawberry Hill.'

He hastens to announce his new possession in his most characteristic style to his friends. To Mr. (afterwards Sir Horace) Mann, June 5, 1747, he writes:

The house is so small, that I can send it you in a letter to look at the prospect is as delightful as possible, commanding the river, the town, and Richmond Park; and being situated on a hill descends to the Thames through two or three little meadows, where I have some Turkish sheep and two cows, all studied in their colours for becoming the view. This little rural bijou was Mrs. Chenevix's, the toy-woman à la mode, who in every dry season is to furnish me with the best rain-water from Paris, and now and then with some Dresdenchina cows, who are to figure like wooden classics in a library: so I shall grow as much a shepherd as any swain in the Astræa.'

To the Hon. H. Seymour Conway.

'Twickenham, June 8, 1747.

'You perceive by my date that I am got into a new camp, and have left my tub at Windsor. It is a little play-thing-house that I got out of Mrs. Chenevix's shop, and it is the prettiest bauble you It is set in enamelled meadows, with filigree hedges:

ever saw.

A small Euphrates through the piece is roll'd
And little finches wave their wings in gold.

'Two delightful roads, that you would call dusty, supply me continually with coaches and chaises: barges as solemn as Barons of the Exchequer move under my window; Richmond Hill and Ham walks bound my prospect; but, thank God! the Thames is between me and the Duchess of Queensberry. Dowagers as plenty as flounders inhabit all around, and Pope's ghost is just now skimming under my window by a most poetical moonlight. I have about land enough to keep such a farm as Noah's when he set up in the ark with a pair of each kind; but my cottage is rather cleaner than I believe his was after they had been cooped up together forty days. The Chenevixes had tricked it out for themselves up two pair of stairs is what they call Mr. Chenevix's library, furnished with three maps, one shelf, a bust of Sir Isaac Newton, and a lame telescope without any glasses. Lord John Sackville predecessed me here, and instituted certain games called cricketalia, which have been celebrated this very evening in honour of him in a neighbouring meadow.'

Limited