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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 228, 25 September 1868, Page 2

The comparison drawn by Major Anson between our expenditure and that of the French Government upon warlike stores duriug the ten years that succeeded the Crimean war is startling enough, one would think, to rouse the attention of the constituencies throughout the country. Our expenditure has during that period been more than double the expenditure of the French. On general stores we have spent ten millions against their five millions; on small arms our outlay has been nearly four millions, theirs less than one million and three-quarters; ou gunpowder we have spent a million and a half, they only half a million. The following extract from the Paris correspondence of the Times received by the last Suez Mail is sufficiently suggestive: — The tone and language which a portion of the Prussian press employs occasionally towards France are producing a strong feeling of irritation here. Some persons thiuk it is done expressly for provocation. La Presse calls a'tention to the fact, and expresses the hope that the Government of the Emperoi*, aided by the Commissioners of the Budget, and the patriotism even of those who usually oppose it, will hasten on the completion of the fortresses. The Government, it says, 'cannot leave the country exposed to the necessity of a levy en masse to meet an aggression from abroad.' No doubt there is reason to be proud of the progress of the present century, and an epoch of peace, concord, and industry will come sooner or later; but in the meantime there never ■was a war more terrible that the war that •would occur between these two nations. With electricity and steam, one hour would suffice for a general convulsion. It is right, then, to be prepared for every emergency. To masses of men, masses of men as numerous must bo opposed ; and against engines of destruction, engines of destruction perfected. Peace may be maintained by such formidable apparatus; but it may be affirmed that in any case it cannot be maintained, otherwise. La Presse adtls: — 'The Prussian papers show us, in fact, of what menaces we are the object. But if anything can force these braggarts to keep their distance it is to let them, see on our frontier the image of France erect, with her hand on her sword.' According to the Owl the Viceroy of Egypt has decided that his second son, wlao is about 15 year3 of age, and is destined for the military profession, shall finish his education in England.