TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY NEWS.”

Sir,—The Times, in its answer to my letter on New Zealand, tells me that I have “tempered the extravagance of my former rhapsody,” as to what I said about “Gibraltar and Aden.” I have not said a word about Aden. I will now, with your permission, say a few words more about Gibraltar. England is great enough to desire honest counsel from all her citizens. And her voice is not heard in the censures of journals or men who have never foregone a moment's popularity to secure her lasting strength and honour.

We are, no doubt, about to lift a sacred veil; but we have already lifted one almost as sacred with a result which encourages us to proceed. Our inquiries have already brought us pretty nearly to this, that the sum annually spent on our Colonial Empire, a sum which, in this year of distress, will not fall short of four millions, is, as far as we are concerned, pure waste. The sinews of English labour have hitherto borne the crushing weight of Imperial extravagance: the time may be at hand when they will be able to bear it no more.

The honour of the nation can suffer no disparagement by frankly discussing the value of any military position. The Duke of Wellington did not tarnish our honour by falling back, when prudence gave the word, from Busaco on Torres Vedras.