The Sun. — London, England, 1864-09-10 00:00:00

us . The Danish Despatches. he following is the conclusion of the second eerio► .1 of despatches recently laid before the Danish Rigt Jraad Err .ACT FROIkI A. DESPATCH OF THE DANISH MINISTER A.O STOCKHOLM TO M, MALL ) PRESIDENT OF TRH COVN- CIL AT COPENHAGEN. " Dec. 4, 1863. "_M. le Ministre,—ln reply to the communica tions I have been charged to make to the Stock.. helm Cabinet, conformably to your excellency's orders in despatches Nos. 27 and 28, Count Man derstrom has addressed a despatch dated the day be fore yesterday, to Count Hamilton, which the latter will have already brought to your excellency's knowledge before the arrival of this report. You will, therefore, be aware that the Stockholm Cabi net does not consider the present time opportune for proceeding to signature of the treaty negotiated in the course of the summer. "The explanations which Count Manderstrom gives of the point of view of his court are in complete the indications I have been in a position to forward to your excellency. I could, therefore, confine my self to referring thereto, but I request permission to profit by the opportunity of the departure of Major- General von Blucher, who has kindly offered to take charge of this report, to have the honour of adding a few words which I particularly request your ex cellency to regard as entirely confidential. " Since I have been aware of the project of a treaty of alliance with us, I have suspected that Count Manderstrom took part in it mainly to cover the responsibility of the King, who had gone too far in his conversati ons with his late Majesty King Frederick VII. For I know that, notwithstanding th e i r sympathy with our cause, the great majority of the Swedish nation was not thoroughly pane. trated with the conviction that the well-understood interests of the country might counsel active cos operation in a conflict which did not in the main touch it very nearly. Thus it was impossible to con ceal from myself that the idea of a treaty of alliance with us, even under such circumstances as obtained during the past summer, w as uupopu l ar enough. The Scandinavian party alone, which is not numers ous, entertained this idea. Others, who considered' it a means of augmenting th e mi li tary f orces o f t h e country, did not oppose it. With few exceptions, however, the majority is content to have discovered pretext, plausible enough in its eyes, to abstain from the signature of the treaty. 1 will not be understood to -say that the face of affairs is so far changed that we could no longer count upon the sympathies, and, up to a certain point, also upon the assistance of this country, Upon the contrary, our course is considered just. They are indignant at the perfidy of Germany and of the Government, but they are rejoiced that an expedient has been found which permits Sweden to withdraw with honour from the engagements she was on the point of contracting with us. Count Manderstrom has frequently told me, and he has repeated in his despatch of the day be fore yesterday, that the position of affairs was no longer the same now as in the summer. While at that time the matter was a special case of aggres sion against Denmark upon the part of :Germany, under pretexts scught in Federal relations, the question has now assumed larger demensions—it has become European. Sweden is interested in it in the same degree as the other signitary Powers of the Treaty of London ; and further, she has duties to fulfil not only towards her neighbours but also towards herself. The conjuncture of political affairs is of the most critical character. If we are unwilling to believe in an alliance bet ween Pru.sia, Austria, and Russia, it is not judicious to lose sight of the possibility of an alliance between Russia and France. If I were not apprehensive of repeating what has been said I would point out that Count Manderstrom is most desirous of avoiding the isola tion of Sweden from the action of the other Powers? seeing especially the fatal icfluenci such an isola tion would exercise upon the course of events when the time shall have arrived for having recourse to mediation in our dispute. 1 venture to add that I believe Count Manderstrom sincere in the wishes he expresses for a fortunate issue to the struggle in which we are engaged. His despatc - ,es, his cfficial language, and his private conversation affords proofs of that sincerity, and I believe that ho worthily re presents his country also from that point of view. . . (Signed) " W. SCHEEL-PLESSEN.'' EXTRACT FROM A DESPATCH OF THE DANISH MI- MISTER AT STOCKHOLM. " Duo. 10, 1863. "Actuated by the alarming news brought the day before yesterday by the telegraph according to which a Federal execution in the Duchy of Holstein appeared imminent, I have thought it my duty to represent once more to Count Manderstrom the opportut2ness, nay the necessity, of coming to our aid. The count listened to me with marked attention, assured me of the lively interest be took in the present state of affairs, but repeated the same reasons as be brought forward when upon a previous occasion I endeavoured to decide the Stockholm Cabinet to active co-opera tion. While thanking the count foe the diplomatic steps he had taken in our favour, I asked him if he did not think the time had arrived to go still fur ther. Unfortunately he was not of my opinion. In the long conversation we had upon the subject, and 'which clearly showed the sympathies he felt, the count among other things said—' Without the means of proving the fact, I believe that Austria and Prussia have promised England and France not to exceed the limits of a Federal execution, un founded as this extreme measure be. I believe al!o that the withdrawal of the patent of the 30th March will stop the march of the German troops, but I fear lest another pretext might be discovered by putting forward the Federal decree of the Ist. October, which has now no longer any reason to exist. r(Signed) " W SCIIEEL-PLESSEN." The remai n d er of this series of documents relates to the negotiations between Denmark and Russia. In reference to the the report of the Political ,;IZitialtaad says Committee to the : "Our relations last were scarcely changed by the rejection of th e the position of France. t English proposal, and acceded to the English proposal -While Baron Brunnow the line of the France o line, Schlei, and himself brought forward of a proj.-et of partition with an nod frontier"ard the 22d June. the proposition made by he opposed Indications are found showintgotthhaoithe was in c li ne d Conference!Jursued at the 9 that, far from rejecting the beperno of June to take up a different course Conference. Thus he said in the position for a personal union, he would hav e P r ated t o su pport it, having instructions in that sense his Government. Thi s s t a tement coincides fr"n with is shown from anothe r q uarter to have been the view of the Russian Gove rnmen t at the Conferen ce . It will be intareating to see how this view rep ea t, edly appears. "A despatch from the Danish Minister at St. Petersburg, dated April 26, says that a Russian statesman, whose opinion deserves attention, as• sumes that the Danish Government is not inclined to make the required concessions, which would run counter to the prevalent opinion in Denmark. France does6not wish for war, but as is universally believed in St. Petersburg, for a condition of affairs which would ultimately facilitate the execution of her plans, and especially render possible the appli cation of universal suffrage, by which means she would be able to obtain territory in Germany, it even of quite an unimportant character. It is even asserted that the Swedish armaments result from French influence, that Sweden may derive 80111 c advantage from possible events. " Upon the 10th May the same ambassador writes: ---` The Vice-Chine:3ller (Princa Gortschakuff) has used the expression," the union of the Duchies' to me for the first titne,observing that Germany would not renounce this condition, but that morn or less advantageous circumstances might result in its execution, and that Russia will give us her assist , . ance in this regard. 'lt must be for you,' continued the Prince,' by nut being too stubborn to the con ference, to render the task of th© friends of Den mark easier.' "Upon the 27th the ambassador Writes:---‘ The Vice-Chancellor told me that from his information he must assume the tiismemberent of the monarchy would be preferred by Denmark to personal union, which would render the maintenance of the in tegrity possible. With regard to the London treaty, Prince Gortschakoff declared that he, for his part, could not accept any reproach ; that he had warned us of the dangers our policy was pre paring for us, and that he had neither notified before the war, nor at the present time, that we attached great value to the integrity of the mo narchy. . . It is my impression that if the King's Government endeavoured to obtain the per sonal union unreservedly and complete, Russia would support this combination without going to war. Russia would consider this the only means, under existing circumstances, of maintaining the integrity of the monarchy: . . Your excellency will be already aware that the idea has at last oc curred to the Cabinet of Vienna to propose to Den. mark to enter into an alliance with Germany. By this means the integrity of the monarchy would be preserved. To judge by the prevalent opinion among us (the Danes) this idea would unquestion ably be rejected ; but provided we could lay aside a f ee li n g which, perhaps, may not outlive the pre sent generation, it must be admitted that the plan might bring forth good fruits without neces sarily injuring the Danish nationality. It would not cut us off from future development ; it would give us a prominent place on account of our naval strength ; it would permit us to keep on the most friendly footing with our Scandinavian neighbours; it would possibly place Sweden in the same relation to Germany as previous to 1848. Of all the great Powers it would only be distasteful to France, but the part played by that Power at the present crisis does not seem such as to require one to take into consideration what she may think convenient. The ambaesador goes on to state that in case the monarchy should be dissolved, the Russian Empe. ror would probably declare for the Grand Duke of Oldenburg, and that his claims would also be advice , cated by Prussia. • " Upon the fat June the ambassador reports : ' Now that England has abandoned the Treaty of London—a course at which France is not displeased —Russia cannot stand alone in its maintenance. The Russian Emperor has, under these circums stances, determined to make over his rights to the Grand Duke of Oldenburg, who, according to the opinion of the Imperial Cabinet, would be a less uns pleasant neighbour than the Duke of Augustenburg, the latter being to a certain extent a rebellious sub ject, and having taken up an unquestionably hostile position towards Denmark. . . The sudden and un foreseen attitude of England with regard to the London Treaty, it is assumed here, results from the English statesmen having found no inclination among us to consent to personal union with the two Duchies, by which, in their opinion, as in that of the Russian Government, considering the situation brought about by the war, the integrity of the monarchy could only be preserved. It is considered here that the integrity of the monarchy has been sacrificed to considerations of internal policy. Considerations of foreign policy would not have brought it about with absolute certainty.' The ambassador then refers to the line of separation, and continues :—‘ Provided the settlement of the frontier produces difficulties, the opportunity would not then present itself for returning to a basis, which unreservedly accepted, might still maintain the monarchy in its integrity.' " A despatch of the 9:11 June says : " ' Prince Gortschakoff assumes that the Holstein Estates will be convoked as to the future of the severed portions of the country, and that there are influential men in Holstein who have not declared in favour of the Prince of Augustenberg. With these he considers negotiations might be carried on, so that the autonomy of the separated portions might be secured while the integrity of the monarchy was preserved, as an expression of opinion of these men might be made use of by the Cabinets.'" Terrible Conflagration in Lincolnshire. About 10 otelock on Friday morning a fire, attended with most disastrous results, broke out in Billing hay. It was first discovered at the corner of the main street leading to Lincoln, on the roof of a thatched hovel in a yard belonging to a man named William Scott, wood dealer. The wind at the time was blowing a gale from the west, and the sparks flew in all directions. The flumes quickly extended to the remaining buildings in the yard, and thence the burning straw was blown upon a thatched cot- tage and outbuildings belonging to Robert Newton, a carrier between Sleaford and Lincoln. The build ing was completely gutted, as well as the stable and carthouse, with other buildings adjoining. The flumes next communicated to a brick and thatched cottage, which was levelled with the ground in a few minutes, all the furniture being destroyed. They then extended across the road in an easterly direction and two brick and thatched cottages were quickly on fire, and were soon consumed with nearly all their contents. In the rear was a quantity of farm build ings and produce, none of which escaped, The flames then appeared to make a sudden leap and reached a row of cottages across another street. One of these, occupied by Robert Wilson, and another by John ,Stevenson, were burnt to ruins, as well as many useful farm buildings in the rear. An oat stack, hovel, and pigstyo belonging to C. Croft were also consumed. The moat serious lose, however, was that Sof Thomas Gilbert. The house was a substantial stone building with thatched roof, whioh had recently undergone ex tensive repairs. Nothing but the walls remain. In the yard were two oat stacks, two haystacks, three straw stacks, stables, and other outbuildings, none of which escaped, and it was only with the greatest possible difficulty that an adjoining stack. yard was saved. The Primitive Methodist Chapel opposite was also burnt out, ae well as a cottage in the occupation of William Gadeby, The produce of two acres of wheat, adjoining a stack of wheat the produce of four acres, belonging to W. Sharp, was totally consumed, and the poor fellow was not insured. Beyond this long list of terrible disasters a quantity of furniture was destroyed in removal, nearly all the houses in the village in the imme diate neighbourhood of the fire being cleared out. At the spot where the fire originated, a fat pig, which the owner had given ,E 4 for a few days ago, was burnt to death, and at another place three or four pigs were burnt. The hour at which the fire broke out was rather unfortunate, as most of the cottagers were out in the harvest field. As soon as the alarm was given they quickly returned, to find the comfortable home they had left only a few hours before a smoking mass of ruins. The Billinghay engine was quickly got out, but owing to the long distance from which the water had to be fetched it was some time before it could be made of much ser- V,Ce ; when, however, it commenced it proved very useful, and a messenger being sent to Tattershali sot allow of much eoon arrived with anot h er eng i ne , an d b etween t h e two, with other h e l p, t h e sprea d o f t h e fi re was prevented.h The be in h en g r hwind, however, did 10t somewhat dr ed to the burn was only with the utmost ex ertion that the conflagration could be checked. To wahrds evening aenaatery was obtained ov e r it, and altough th thatch and sraw continue burning it is hoped, if the wind abets: further outbreak. The loss ' will fall well not be any fall very heavily upon the sufferers, few of wh i o insured, and as they are generally of the poornrerareel rence is a most distressing one. Nearly the occur. 100 t men, women. and children have to beaccom‘rnoYia temporary lodgings in the village schoolroom,d witha d their sufferings must be very great for some imne as they have lost their little all. It is to be hop e d that steps will be promptly taken to afford them temporary relief. l'he best possible order prevailed, the local police rendering efficient service ; and " a ely every man, woman, and child in the village turn,d out to give aiistanep. I—Holloway's1—Holloway's Ointment and Pills.— Th r e A finite T :tiT L r i sed superseded —All cted with ulcers, diseases of the bones and inflammations of the joints should read this testimonial to the curative powers of these healing and purifying remedies. Mr John Allen, 17, Denmark-street, Leicester, suffered severely from a bad foot for three y ears, during which long period he was under surgical treatment without any perceptible benefit. He resolutely objected to amputation, which seemed the only course open, till he providentally tried Holloway's remedies. These give him great relief, and at last completely cured him. Spots, blemishes, sores, and skin diseases arising from impoverished blood or a reckless course of life, may be removed by the judicious use of Holloway's ointment and pills. THE SUN, LONDON, SArURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 10, 1864. Naval and Military Intelligence. The reinforcements of Royal Engineers, selected from the depot and other companies at head-quarters, Brompton Barracks, Chatham, to augment the companies of Royal Engineers serving at Malta and the other stations in the Mediterranean, were inspected at the Royal Engineer Esta blishment yesterday, prior to their proceeding from head • quarters to embark on board the vessel taken up for their conveyance by the Government, The War Department transport Marlborough yesterday went alongside the Ordnance-wharf in Chatham harbour and shipped seven of the large 100 pounder wrought iron smoothbore 6t ton guns, together with a number of light Armstrong guns, with whieh she afterwards dropped down the river to the ironclad frigate Achilles, 20, 1,250 horse power, which will receive the remainder of her armament in the course of a few days. A letter received from the Channel squadron describes the great sailing success which has attended the ironclad frigate Enterprise, 4, 160 horse power, Commander Rowley, in her trials with the other vessels composing the iron fleet. The Enterprise, it appears, beat every other ship on a wind with the single exception of the flagship Edgar, 71, Capt. G. T. Hornby, which was only about 100 yards before her on a four hours' sail. The new breech loading gun manufactured at the Royal gun factories in Woolwich Arsenal on Mr Westley Richards' principle, which fired a couple of rounds a few days ago at the proot butt with charges of 101 b and 151 b of powder respectively, has been returned to the factory for examina tion. It has been found necessary, therefore, to delay the continuation of the proof sine die. The block by which the breech loading apparatus is closed was found, after each round, to have considerably expanded, and the pro cess of closing the breech was after the second round proved impracticable. Mr Richards, who was present at the proof, suggested the application of a rough file on the spot, in order to render the mechanism available without much delay, so as to admit of a continuation of the proof by firing two additional rounds, with a relative increase of 51b each charge. The expansion of the block, after the second round, was found to have increased to such an extent that a com plete reorganisation, if the gun be again brought forward for proof, will be absolutely necessary. Major-Gen. E. C. Warde, C. 8., commanding the garrison at Woolwich, attended by his Aid-de-Camp Capt. A. H. W. Williams—Major R. J. Hay, Brigade Major—Capt. W. C. Nangle, Deputy-Assist.- Quartermaster-(den.—and other officers, wont down to Worley "octet - cloy mud Inepe,ted 111 w 3d division of the depot, Royal Artillery, in command of Brevet-Col. W. F. Hay, in continuation of his half-yearly inspection of the district under his command. The following appointments and promotions have been made at the Admiralty :—Lieut. Charles R. Forest, to the Bombay—Lieut. John G. V. Holbrook, to the Sr, Vincent— llr George Duncan, surg, to the Esk—William Crawford, surg., to be surg.-superinte ndent to the Porcheator convict ship— the Rev. J. B. Smyth, to be chaplain and naval in structor to the Brisk—Silas H. Liddell, second master supernumerary, to the Victory—James Carlisle, acting chief engineer, to the Fisgard, as supernumerary—William Giles, engineer, to the Fisgard, as supernumerary—George West, of the Fisgard, for the Bustler, and John W. Smith, super numerary of theFisgard, confirmed as engineers —John B. Grant, assist.-engineer, to the Hector—Henry Hall, assist,- engineer, to the Brisk—W. Nicholson, assist.-engineer, to the Fisgard, for hospital treatment—R. Stevens, of the Royal George, P. Baldwin, of the Warrior, Charles Ware, of the Adventure, G. P. Bissaker, of the Marlborough, H. R, Wills, of the Sutlej, and G. Hastay, supernumerary of the Asia, promoted to be engineers —and G. H. Newbury, of the Firefly, to be acting engineer. THE VOLUNTEERS. The "amended rules" issued by the National Rifle Asso ciation for competitive trial of rifles for 1865 are as follows : -1. The annual competitive trial of rifles shall take place at Woolwich, commencing at 11 o'clock a.m., on the 22d of November next. 2. Each competitor shall furnish six com plete rifles of precisely similar description. 3. The condi tions as to bore, weight, pull of trigger, stocks, eights, shall be as follows :-A. Bore. Minimum, 451. B. 'Weight. Maximum, 101 b. The barrels and stocks not to be weighed separately. C. Length of barrel, 33 inches. D. Pull of trigger. Minimum, 61b. E. stocks.ZHalf stocked, All the barrels of any one set of rifles may be fired from the same stock. F. Sights, Regulation Enfield, but so arranged as to admit of any other sights being subsequently fitted to the rifles. 4. Any person intending to compete shall, on or before the 22d of October next, pay an entrance fee of £lO, and shall at the same time sign a letter to the secretary in the annexed form accepting the conditions of competitions as here laid down. Each competitor may enter more than one c escription of rifle, subject to these regulations and to the payment of an additional entrance fee of £lO for each additional set of rifles. 5. The rifles shall be delivered at the office of the Association before 11 o'clock a.m. on the 21st of November, and shall be tested and examined be tween the hours of 12 and 5 p.m. on that day, in presence of the Council, b) the Superintendent of the Royal t - reaell Arms Factory. The rifles delivered by any competitor will not be accepted without the certificate of such super intendent that the conditions Nos. 2 and 3 have been complied with by such competitor, 6. Each competitor shall, previous to the trial, fill up and sign the annexed paper, stating the particulars of his rifle and ammunition, and the price of the rifle, 7. The charge and ammunib ion used by the competitors at the trial shall be the same in all respects as stated by him in such paper. 8. The price of the rifle shall in no case exceed 20 ; and shall include the cost of a disc aperture back-eight with Vernier scale and a covered slot foresight with graduated laterial adjustment. The rifles must admit of these sights being fitted to them. 9. These rifles of each set shall be taken indiscriminately for trial, and these shall be numbered, from Ito 3. The rifles shall be tried in the order in which they are numbered. 10. The order of shooting shall be de termined by lot, to be drawn by the secretary not less than 15 days previous to the 22d November, A letter will be assigned accordingly to each competitor for each set of rifles delivered by him. Notice will be given to each competitor of the letter drawn for him. 11. Letter A, rifle No. 1, shall commence the trial ; letter B, rifle No. 1. will then be taken, and so on in succession ; and after the rifles No. 1 have been fired, then rifles No. 2 will be fired, commencing with letter A. The firing shall be continued from day to day with the letter and number next in order after the rifle last fired on the previous day. 12. The rifles shall be fired from fixed mechanical rests, Government rests shall be assigned by lot to such competitors who do not bring their own,* 13. Each competitor sholl be responsible for the adjustment, fitting, and general condition of the rest used by him dur ing tho trial. Each competitor shall either be present to fire his rifles, or shall appoint a representative to do so. 14. the distance fired at shall be 1,000 yards. Eight trial shots shall be allowed for each rifle before the 30 competitive shots are fired. Thirty competitive shots shall be fired con secutively from each rifle. 15. No cleaning during the 30 competitive shots shall be allowed. 16. The diagrams giving the mean radial deviation and taken as at the School of Musketry at Hythe shall decide the figure of merit of the rifles. 17. The description of rifle that gives the best figure of merit shall bo selected as the one with which the Queen's Prize, second stage, shall be competed for at the ensuing prize meeting of the association. 18. The figure of merit determining the bast description of rifle shall be the aver age of the three rifles of one description. 19. No mechani cally fitting loading rods shall be used. 20. Competitors may use the clinometer to take the angle of elevation, which shall be recorded by an officer appointed for that pur pose. The clinometer may also be used to readjust the angle of elevation during trial, but only in presence of this officer, and with the sanction of a member of the Council, or sane person appointed by the Council. 21. No telescope shall be used by competitors or spectators after the trial shots. 22. Competitors shall either be present themselves or appoint some one to be present at the tar get when the dia grams are taken off. They or their representative shall sign the diagram, which shall also be countersigned by the secretary, or by some person appointed by the Council. 23. The secretary shall select one of the three successful rifles to be kept by the Council as a pattern arm. 24. The suc cessful competitor shall be required to supply to the asso ciation, by the let of May, 1865, 60 rifles, which shall in every respect be similar to the pattern arm, except that they are to be fitted with a back-sight and foresight of the description mentioned inCondition 8, and the price of which shall not exceed that stated in the annexed paper. The 60 rifles, when supplied, shall be submitted to the Council, and such an examination of them wtll be instituted by the Superintendent of the Royal Small Arms Factory as will satisfy the Council of the perfect soundness of the rifles and of their conformity with the pattern arm. Every rifle which he shall certify to be net made in accordance with the pattern arm will be rejected, and the competitor shall supply another rifle in lien thereof, which shall be sub mitted to examination in the like manner. 25. The suc cessful competitor shall supply at a fair price such quantity of ammunition, of the dame quality and kind as used by him at the Woolwich competition, as may bo required for the sighting of the rifles previous to the Wimbledon meet ing, and for the use of the competitors in the second stage of the Queen's prize. 25. Subject to She above regulations the competition will be conducted under the direction of the Council, or their officer appointed for the purpose whose decision is in all cases to be final. (Here follows a copy of the form of paper to be filled up by the competitor.) The sh oo ti ng f or the prizes of the sth Middlesex Admi nistrative Battalion Rifle Volunteers (the 26th Middlesex), Her M a j eaty ' s Customs, and 42d Middlesex(St.Katharine's Dock Company), Under the comman d o f Li eut.- C o l one l Grey, t oo k place, by the kind permission of Lieutenens - Col, Davis, at his range at Cranbrook-park Ilford, on the 29th ult. and t h ree following days. The tiring was ' origi nally commenced at the range by rented the battalion at Plaistow, b ut i n consequence of an injunction having been issued to prevent shooting there, an interruption tookplace which somewhat aff ec t e d the number of competitors on sub sequent occasions, In all other respects the meeting has been most successful. Hi gher scores were made in some stances than those returned as having won prizes • but, as they were made by men w h o were disqualified by ' the rule * Facilities will be afforded by the Superintendent of the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich for competitors to fit their slide bare to the tests any time previous to the trial. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. which forbids any one to take more than one prize except in the case of the challenge cup, money, and private prizes, they are not shown. Wimbledon targets and marking, ex cept for the Challenge Cup. Ensign Phi Hive prize—An University pewter, to be shot for by five members of No. 1 Company who completed the most drills by the inspection : five rounds at 250 yards—Private Kneller, 12 marks. Mr Frederick Besley's prize—A silver cup for second class shots of the 26th Middlesex; seven rounds, 200 and 500 yards— Colour-Sergeant Ayris, 37 marks. Mr J. B. Halo's prize, value £5, for second class shots of the sth battalion and Customs Volunteers at the outports ; five rounda at 200 and 500 yards—Colour-Sergeant Barnes, 25 marks. Captain Jones's prize, value £5 ; same conditions as preceding, seven rounds at 300 yards—Sergeant Cresswell, 16 marks. Money prizes shot for by the 26th Middlesex and Volunteers of country corps in the Customs' Service, five rounds at 200 and 600 yards. Entrance fee 2s 6d each. Country corps free. Private Christian, 27 marks, £3O, won tie; Private Orem, 27 marks, £lO ; Private Minter, 24 marks, £lO, won tie; Staff-Sergeant Lakeman, 24 marks, £5; Sergeant Stevens, 23 marks, £5. Captain Dobell's prize, a silver cup, for second class shots of the 26th Middlesex and Cue terns' Volunteers at the outports, five rounds at 200 and 500 yards—Lieutenant Burton, 25 marks. The Hon. Mrs F, Goulburn's prize, for first-class shots of the sth battery and Customs' Volunteers at the outports, five rounds at 300 and 600 yards—Sergeant Stevens, 27 marks. The Lieutenant-Colonel's Prizes--First, a silver cup, second, a ring ; third, a Robinhood pouch—same rules as preceding prize, five rounds at 200 and 600 yards—Sergeant Fry, 30 marks—Sergeant Cotteman, 21 marks—Private Boddy, 18 marks. Major Hamel's prize.—A silver cup for second class shots of the sth battalion and Customs Volun teers, at the outports—five rounds, at 200 and 500 yards. Private Jennings, 26 marks. Qurrtermaster Sergeant Waffle's Prize.—A plated tankard, for members of the 26th Middlesex, five rounds, at 200 and 500 yards. Capt. Jones, 26 marks. The challenge cup, value £25, to become the absolute property of any one winning it two years in succession, five rounds at 300 and 400 yards, Hythe target and marking. Captain Jones, 13 points—Sergeant Ste vens, 12 points—Sergeant Stevens won the cup last year. Messrs. Firman's prize.—A silver cup for second class shots of the 25th Middlesex, five rounds at 200 and 500 yards, Private Orem, 27 marks. Major Collet's prize.—A silver cup for second class shots of the sth battalion, five rounds at 200 and 600 yards. Private Edgar, 25 marks. The regimental prize, value £O, for second class shots of the 26th Middlesex, five rounds, at 200 and 300 yards. Pri vate W. H. Barton, 25 marks, Mr Sidney Dipnall's prize.—A silver cup, for members of the 26th Middlesex, who have made 12 points in the third class thia year, five rounds at 200 and 300 yards. Private Seward, 24 marks, A silver fish knife and fork, value £5, given by a few gen tlemen of the Comptroller General's-office, for Volunteer's of Middlesex Corps in the service of the Customs; five rounds at 200 and 500 yards. Ensign Gardner, f 5 marks. Hay's Wharf prizes, value £5 sa, given by the proprietors of Hay's Wharf for No. 6 Company, second class shots ; five rounds at 200 and 300 yards; Sergeant Holttum, 24 marks, a rifle—Colour Sergeant Barnes, 21 marks, a ring Captain Hunt's and Lieut. Wrightson's prizes—a rifle and a silver cup for No. 5 company ; five rounds at 200 and 300 yards. Corporal Wooleton, 17 marks, a cup—Private Archer, 16 marks, a rifle. Prizes to the value of over 100 guineas were competed for on Wednesday between the members of the 11th, Capt Corscaden's, or Covent-garden, company of the 22d Middle sex (Queen's Westminster) Rifles, at the regimental ranges on Wormwood Scrubbs. Capt Tyler, the adjutant of the 2d battalion, officiated as umpire, while Capt Corsoaden directed the firing. The silver challenge cup, value 70 guineas, which had been subscribed for by ladies, was shot for at ranges of 200, 500, and 600 yards, five shots at each distance. Private Seymour became the winner by a score of 37 marks. This cup must be won three consecutive years by the same member before it can become his absolute pro perty. The cup given by Capt Corscaden, value 10 guineas, was competed for in five shots at 300 and five shots at 600 yards, and won by Private Johnson with 40 marks. The next prize was Lieut Lewin's Cup, value five guineas. The ranges were 200 and 550 yards, five shuts at each distance. Private Clark won with 27 marks. Ensign Laurence's cup, value five guineas, was shot for at the 250 and 500 yards ranges, five shots at each, and won by Sergeant Bocking with 27 marks. The fifth prize shot for was one of the value of seven guineas, presented by Mr Barringer, representative of the central committee. Private Webster was the winner with 24 marks. The Honorary Members' Prize was won by Private Seymour, who made 25 marks. The fifth annual Enfield rifle prize meeting, open to all England, of the Cinque Ports Artillery and Volunteer Rifles, commenced on Tuesday, at the ranges erected at North Down, between Margate and Broadstairs. Private W. Dutton, of the 22d Kent, was the winner of the first prize, a Steward's Lord Bury's telescope and £3 10s, with the extraordinary score of four consecutive bull's eyes and a centre, out of five rounds, at 500 yards, thus making 19 out of a possible score of 20. In the contest for the Isle of Thanet prize, worth £2O, divided into four parts, the first prize being £6, Private Mortlock, in shooting off, stood first, having made two centres and a bull's eye. In class B, including the competition fur a gold watch value £2O, for the greatest aggregate more during the meeting, the amount was £5O, divided into ten prizes. The first, £l5 ; second, £10; third, £7 108; fourth, £5. Between 70 and 80 en tries had been made for these prizes. Captain Wllliarns, 19th Middlesex, with a score of 30, won the first prize; Pri vate Dixon, 7th Cinque Ports, the second Corporal Gould, • 37th Middlesex, the third. On the third day the first busi ness was to settle the extra prizes of the meeting. In the first series, the first prize in money and a Stewards Lord Bury Telescope, was won by Private Dutton, 22d Kent ; second prize and telescope, Private Burfield, 9th Kent; second series.—let prize, Private Deighton, 14th Mtd ,le sex ; 2d, Private Andrews, St. George's. Third series—let prize, Private Deighton; 2d, Private Bohn, 16th Middle sex. The grand contest of the day was for class C. he sum of £5O divided into 10 prizes —let, of £l5; 2d prize, £10; 3d, £7 lOs ; 4th, £5. In addition to these prizes a gold watch, value 20 guineas, to he presented to the competitor making the highest aggregate score at the B and C classes —ranges 400 and 600 yards. Sergeant Montgomery, of the 30th Middlesex, and Private W. Dutton, of the 22d Kent, had tied for the highest aggregate score with 56 each, and on shooting off Private Dutton won; but was subse quently beaten by it being announced that a score of 58 had been made by Private Deighton, of the 14th Middlesex. On Monday the return match between the Wisbech and Ely Rifle Corps was shot off at the Wisbech range, eight members of each corps, the competitors being with one ex ception the same as at the first match. The distances sere 200, 400. and 500 yards, seven shots at each distance. The Ely again won, beating their opponents by 42 marks, the winners making 380 marks, and Wisbech 338. The average of Ely was 47.50, and Wisbech 42'25. The Norfolk Volunteer Service Association commenced its annual prize competition on Tuesday, at Great Yar mouth. Carbine prizes presented by the town of Yarmouth and open to efficient Artillery Volunteers belonging to the Ist Norfolk battery were shot for at 200 yards, seven shots each. There were 20 competitors, and the first prize (L 5) was won by Sergeant-Nlajor Mach. The next competition waa for the Officers' Challenge Vase of the value of £4O, open to the officers of all the volunteer corps in Norfolk. The ranges were 200, 600, and 800 yards, seven shots each. There were 12 competitors. During the whole contest the rain poured down in torrents, so that most of the gallant officers shooting were drenched to the skin. The prize was won by Captain Gurney, of the let Norfolk, who, shooting with an Enfield, made at 200 yards two bulls' eyes, two centres, and three outers, or 20 points ; at 500 yards three bulls' Eyes, one centre, two outers, and one rieoohet, or 19 points ; and at 800 yards one bull's eye and two centres, or 10 points, making an aggregate of 49 points. A competi tion succeeded for prizes given by the Mayor and town of Yarmouth, open to enrolled and honorary members of all volunteer oorps in Norfolk. The ranges were 200 and 500 yards, and the prizes were, first, a piece of plate of the value of £lO, given by the Mayor of Yarmouth ; the second, £6 ; the third and fourth, £5 each. Corporal Agger, of the 3d Norfolk, was declared winner of the plate, Sergeant Hart of the second prize of £6, and Pri vate Wilson of the third prize of £5. Corporal Gunn won the other prize of £5. In a contest open to all corners, with any rifle, the ranges were 300, 500, and 600 yards, five rounds each; and the first prize was £lO, the second £5; £2 for the best score at eaoh range. There were 44 oom petitors. The first prize was won by Captain Hawker, of the South Middlesex, who made a total of 52 points. Cor poral Ringer was second with 47. At the recent distribution of prizes in Leicestershire by Mrs H. St. John Holford, Private Kelsey received Mr Tur ner's challenge cup. Private Anderson was presented with the Ladies' Prize, £lO cup, shot for at Melton. Private Brookes, with a score nearly equalling that which took the Queen's Medal at Wimbledon, nest received Sir Henry Halford's prize (£10), Ensign Biggs, Lieut.. Col. Halford's prize of £7, and Capt. Millican a telescope value £5. Lieut.- Col. Ililford, before the presentation of the Duke of Rut land's prize took place, remarked that there was a tie be tween Lieut. Biggs and Capt. Millican, but in shooting off the former was most successful. Ensign Biggs then re ceived, at the hands of Mrs Halford, £2O and a handsome silver medal commemorative of the occasion, and Captain Millican the second prize of £5. For Major Clarke'a prize of £5, for the highest score made by the competitors in the Ladies' Prize, or first stage of the Duke of Rutland's prize and Sir H. Halford's prize, there was a tie between Private Brookes and Lieut. Smith, both having made 74 points. In accordance with their desire, the money was divided be tween them. The last prix.?, presented by Mrs ll,lford, was One to the Lieut.-Colonel himsel", he having that day won the) monthly challenge cup, presented by Mr W. Brookes, to encourage shooting for the Queen's Prize at Wimbledon. A return match between eight members of the 9th Devon, and eight members of the Ist Devon Rifles took place on Tuesday. The proceedings were watched by a large com pany cf spectators with peat interest. The shooting was at 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards, five rounds each distance. The 9th representatives made a gross score of 390 against 358, and consequently won the match. The first prize shooting of the 12th Devon Artillery took place on Friday, the 2d inst. 12 detachments took part in the competition, money prizes being awarded to those making the highest aggregate score. Eight-inch hollow shot were fired from heavy guns on a temporary platform at a target, consisting of a small red flag, distant 1,700 yards. Major Palmer, R.A., acted as umpire, and considered the shooting had been good. Battery Sergeant-Major Moore took first prize, and Sergeant Stephens seem'. Out of 48 shots fired, 8 bulls' eyes and 11 centres were scored. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE, CALEDONIAN. The report of the directors states that, after pay ment of the dividends on the preference stock and shares, amounting to £47,718, there remained £122,574, out of which the directors recommended a dividend on the crdinary stock of the company at the rate of 6,1 per cent. per annum, leaving a sun• plus of £2,992 to be carried to the credit of the con• tingent fund, which would then, after certain de ductions, amount to £11,326, The revenue and working expenses, contrasted with those of the cor responding period in 1863, showed that the revenue amounted to £468,950, against £409,318, showing an increase of £58,732, and the working expenses amounted to £182,113, against £165,381, showing an increase of £16,732. The working expenses were £3B 18s per cent. against £4O 8s per cent. of the receipts. The expenditure of capital during the half year amounted to £300,946, which was repre sented by lands, works, and plant for new branches to the amount of £217,238, by additional land, works, and plant to meet the requirements of the rapidly expanding traffic on the other sections of the railway to the amount of £22,043, and by the company's subscriptions towards the capitals of the Wemyss Bay, the Bushby, and the Portpatrick railways, £61,667, The Cleland, Stonehouse, and Leith branches were about to be opened for goods and mineral traffic, and the Ratherglen and Coat bridge branch was approaching completion. Acts were granted in the last session of Parliament to sanction an agreement for the use by this company of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company's line to the harbour of Glasgow, and the formation of a joint station at the harbour, the company being thus enabled to modify their own Harbour Branches Bill HO Rs to nave them the coat of an independent access; to authorise the construction of a short branch to Tennochside for the mineral traffic of the district ; to sanction the company's acquisition of the Hamil ton and Strathavm Railway ; and to enable this and the Glasgow and South Western Company to make a branch from the Glasgow and Paisley joint line to Govan, on the south bank of the Clyde below Glasgow, and to improve the access to the Eglinton goods station. The company suc cessfully opposed during the past session the several schemes promoted to their disadvantage, with the exception of the Glasgow City Union, which, sup ported by neighbouring companies in breach of their engagements to the Caledonian, received the sanction of Parliament. The capital account showed that £10,241,658 had been expended, leaving a balance against the company of £90,291. The re venue account for the half-year ending the 31st of July showed that £476,250 had been received and £192,730 expended in working the traffic, £4,996 for feu duty and ground rent, £56,682 interest on loans, £2,609 debentures, and £48,940 for guarani, teed dividends, leaving a balance of £170,292. PETER.BOROUGII, WISBEACH, AND SUTTON. An extraordinary and general meeting of this company was held yesterday at the offices, 41, Par liamentary-street ; Mr. Fox in the chair. The notice convening the meeting having been read, The CHAIRMAN proposed a series of resolutions to the following effect :—That pursuant to the powers contained in the Company's Act of last Session there should be created 5,250 shares in the undertaking of £2O each, such shares to be denomi. nated A shares; that the shares of the company created by the company's Act of 1863, numbered from 1 to 9,000 and amounting in the aggregate to £lBO,OOO should be cancelled, the owners of the 3,441 shares issuei having consented to surrender them, and that there should be created in lieu thereof 7,500 shares of £2O each, to be denominated B shares, and 1,500 shares of £2O, to be denominated A shares ; that the A shares created by these reso lutions, amounting in the aggregate to £135,000, should be issued on the conditions that the holders of such shares should not be entitled in any finan cial year to any dividend on such shares until the owners of the B shares had had assigned to them a diriripnd at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum; and that tie A and B shares should be disposed of in such manner and to such persons as the directors might think flt. Mr. HUNT seconded the resolutions, which were carried nem con A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. Railway Traffic Returns for the Week. Miles Opened. Receipts. Railways. ~.....--,,...---.^---..., 1864. 1863. 1864. 1863. L L Belfast and N, Counties 136 136 2,3'2 2.171 Belfast and County Down 49 49 760 721 Blyth and Tyne 2B 28 2,190 1,847 Bristol and Exeter l2ll 1211 7,854 7,279 Caledonian 2621 1,44} 19,441 19.111 Cambrian Cockermoutli& Workington ei 84 389 329 Cork and Bandon 2O 20 358 392 Cork, Blackrock, & Passage... 61 210 374 Cork and Youg,hal . 324 324 533 510 Cornwall 651 531 2,064 1.7f5 Deeside l7 17 519 383 Dublin & lkelfast Junction B3 63 1,517 L5Ol Dublin and Drogheda 75 75 1,713 1,863 Dublin and Meath Dub. & Wicklow and Wexid 9l} 51 4,137 3,630 Furness, &c 5O 59 3,355 3,043 Glasgow & South-Western Gt. Kastern,Nrfk.,&E.Union - 663 663 32,587 30,753 Great Northern 387 351 35,370 32,951 Great North of Scotland 5B 58 1,815 2.045 ISt. Northn. & Westn. (Irel.) 7ll 711 671 531 'it.Southn. & Westn.(lrind.) 3874 351} 8,437 8.801 Great Western 1205 1158 73,9.7 65,595 Hull and Hornsea l3 - 153 - Inverness & Aberdeen Juno 1064 1064 1,855 1,625 Inverness & Perth Junction 119} - 2,•'50 - Irish North-Western 145 145 1,597 1,745 Kent Coast 27 10 2,950 125 Lancashire & Yorkshire 403 895 43,387 39,356 Limerick and Ennis. Limerick and Foynes 26} 2 95 111 Llanelly 461 4 795 731 London & North-Western London and Blackwall 1 5/ 5 2,115 2,009 London & South-Western I Lond. Brighton, &S. Coast 267 2511 24,149 22,289 London, Chatham, & Dover 72 72} 8, 0 53 6 452 Do. Metropolitan Extension 11 104 2,415 1,335 Man.,Sheffield, & Lincolnsh Manch. S.Jun.& Altrincham 9l 91 1,449 1,302 Maryport and Carlisle Metropolitan Midland (incl. N.-Western) 641 641 52,147 48,403 Midland Gt. Westn. of 'rind 262 2594 5,905 5,524 Monkland Monmouthsh. Rail. & Canal 44 44 2,990 2,816 North British, Edin., Perth and Dundee N-Eastern and Stock. & DarL 1095 1095 85,:506 59,285 North London 9 9 3,373 30 55 North Staffordshire 254 252 8,755 8,345 Ithymney 194 194 1,031 744 Scottish Central Scottish North-Eastern l3B 138 6,062 5,792 Somerset and Dorset 66 394 962 405 South Devon ...... ......... South-Eastern. 306 308 31,662 30,506 Taff Vale 57 67 6,027 5,557 Ulster Vale of C1wyd._......., lO 10 255 214 Vale of Neath 431 431 2,908 2,543 Waterford and Kilkenny 3l 31 449 4:1 Waterford and Limerick 77 77 1,358 1,378 West Cornwall 274 274 855 859 W.Hartlepool Harbr.&Rail s2} 52} 4,956 5,422 W'haven,Cleator,& Egrmnt lO 7 742 578 Whitchaven Junction l3 13 1,053 891 Whitehaven & Farness Jun 35 35 997 811 FOREIGN AND COLONIAL. Austrian _ 828 826 39,974 33,888 Bahia and San Francisco 761 - 198 - Belgian Eastern J unction 261 2ei 336 318 Bombay, Baroda, & Cen. India 185} 185} 2,057 1,627 Detroit and Milwaukie lB5 185 - - Dutch lthenish Eastern Bengal - - Easturn of France. East Indian Grand Trunk of Canada 1335 1335 21,432 18,052 Great Central of Belgium lBO - 6,425 - Great Indian Peninsula 513 495 6,132 5,703 Great Luxembourg 134 134 4,903 4,932 Great Southern of India Great Western of Canada 345 315 - - Madras Madrid, Saragossa &Aiicant 650 490 17,805 17,400 Northern of Canada Northern of France 697 697 61,711 59,861 Norwegian Trunk Ottoman Paris, Lyons, & Mcditerrn lBO5 1713 130,e27 131,293 Paris and Orleans 1614 1491 72,180 68,0.38 Pernambuco 771 77} 595 452 Koyal Danish 69 69 - - Scinde lO5 105 1,728 2,889 South Austrian Southern of France ... 770 680 34,326 34,323 Victorian 196 196 8,773 10,117 Welland ..... ._. _ -0-- West Flanders 75 W. and N. W. of France THE WILTSHIRE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.—Lord Palmerston has signified his intention of being present at the presentation of the prizes by Lady Herbert of Lea, in Wilton Park, to the successful competitors at the Wilt shire County Rifle Asso.-Aation, and the 300 guineas All Corners' Meetings, to be held at Laverstock, near Salis bury, on Wednesday, the 14th inst., and following days. The presentation will take place on Wednesday, September 21, and the event will be made the occasion of a grand fits in the beautiful and classical gardens at Wilt m. The prizes amount in the aggregate to the handsomo sum of nearly £7OO. Lord and Lady Palmerston, with other dis tinguished visitors, will be the guests of Lady Herbert at Wilton House, TIMES.—The return of the Royal Sovereign from her second experimental cruise recalls our atten tion to the question of Cupola Ships and the treat ment of Captain Coles's invention by the Admiralty. The history of this innovation in naval architec ture, short as it is, is long by comparison with that of other so called improvements which have been adopted one year only to be superseded the next. The cupola principle has now been before the world for nine years; it was strongly recommended for use in the Russian War by a committee of eminent naval officers in November, 1855 ; it was submitted to a crucial test in April, 1862, by the formal selec tion of the Royal Sovereign for the purpose of con. version ; it has since been the subject of constant discussion among naval engineers, and it has under• gone a final ordeal in the late voyages of the Royal Sovereign. It is now time that the public should be informed whether it has or has not succeeded. If not, or if its value has been so impaired by more re , cent experiments in gunnery or armou r-plating that at has ceased to be worth adopting, let us not throw good money after bad. C a pt a i n C o l es w ill s till b e entitled to our gratitude for the labour which ho has expended upo n w h a t appeare d, not on l y to good judges in this c oun t r y b u t to our A mer i can rivals, a most promisin g di scovery , an d no one w ill think that he has been und u l y rewar d e d b y t h e £5,000 assigned to him in 1862 by the Admiralty. If, on the contrary, Captain Coles has performed all that he undertook, and the s eago i ng qua li t i es of shield-bearing ships have been fully verified by ex. perience, the sooner we avail ourselves of this im portant result by the construction of similar vessels the better for the efficiency of our Navy. In order to understand the merits of the case, so far as they can be grasped by landsmen, we must recur to the original proposals of Captain Coles, and the original objections urged against them. Captain Coles's, original model was adapted to gunboats with a light draught of water, and capable of carrying heavy guns over the shallow waters of the Baltic or Black Sea. After the war with Russia was at an end he still advocated the same design, with some slight modifications as applicable to coast de fences. It was with reference, we believe, to this object that the experiments which first convinced the Admiralty of its utility were carried out in the Trusty, and the exploits of the Monitor occurring a few months afterwards placed the defensive advan tages of turret ships beyond dispute. The real doubt was whether they would be suitable for service on the high seas. Capt. Coles boldly asserted that they would and pledged himself to build two classes of ships against all competitors, the one shot proof rafts for the defence of harbours, the other seagoing fri gates and lineeof-battle ships. "I will undertake," he said, " to prove that on my principle a vessel shall be built nearly:looft. shorter than the Warrior, and in all respects equal to her with one exception, that I will guarantee to disable and capture her in an hour ; she shall draw four feet less water, require only half the crew, and cost the country for building at least £lOO,OOO less." The Admiralty did not think proper to accept this challenge, but they made over the Royal Sovereign, an old three-decker, de signed by Sir W. Symonds, to be transformed into a 12-gun shield-ship on Capt. Coles' plan. Many were the misgiving of naval men as to the working of the turret principle in a ship of this size. It was at first suggestel that it would be impossible for her to carry masts at all, owing to the great space re quired for the "training" of the guns. It was next insisted that, even if fitted with only five shields and manned by a reduced crew, she would not con tain sufficient stowage room or accommodation for officers and men, It was predicted that she would never be able to carry her guns at the requisite height above water with all her stores and armament on board. That she would work terribly, and prove very unmanageable in a sea-way, was assumed al most as a matter of course. Now, it is there forebod ings which ought to have been set at rest, one way or the other, by the trial trips of the Royal Sove reign. It most be admitted that Capt. Coles was placed at a great disadvantage in having to operate on a vessel which had not been laid down with aview to such a superstructure as his cupolas. Even if the Royal Sovereign had strained more than she ought in pitching or rolling, allowance should have been made for this circumstance ; but as she had behaved admirably well, and answered all the expectations of her constructors, it is surely desirable that fur. ther development should be given to this system. We are far from impu ing to the Admiralty, as at present constituted, any deliberate wish to suppress the ideas of independent designers. When we are told that no less than 596 suggestions for shot proof vessels had bean submitted to them in the three years previous to 1862, we can almost sym pathise with the official presumption against each new plan that comes before them. If there were anything like agreement among private firms and men of science about the best method of arming ships of war, the Admiralty might be blamed most justly for shutting their eyes to it, but it is noto rious that no such agreement exists. Last year there was a grand conference at the Institute of Naval Architects, where the various projects were most ably represented and canvassed, and the only two points upon which a tolerable degree of unani mity was attained were the superiority of iron to wood, and the probability that greater calibre in guns and greater thickness in plates may yet be achieved. The grand controversy between wholt plating and half-plating, as well as all the minor controversies about the depth of immersion, the shape of turrets or central batteries, and their re volving or stationary character, remained unsettled as before. The fault of the Admiralty does not consist so much in its hesitation to give large orders for vessels that may be obsolete before they are launched, or even in its jealousy of competition, as in its persistence in practices which it admits to be exploded, and its neglect of principles which it ad mits to be of high practicel value. In short, it is the xis inertia, rather than active obstruction, that has to be overcome. The Admiralty might have been perfectly justified in declining to take up Capt. Coles's theory, or it may possibly be able to show reasons for pronouncing it a failure; but if it is a success, and that in spite of the unfavourable con ditions under which it was tested, why not allow Captain Coles at least to build a man-of-war in his own way ? if he has triumphed over all obstacles, with make-shift materials and assistants who dis trusted his scheme, may we not expect still more satisfactory results if his hands be left free ? It was creditable to the judgment of the Admiralty, as well as to that of another Department of the Government, that Messrs. Laird's steam rams were purchased for the public service, and great things are expected of them, but we are not aware that there is any notion of reconstructing the British navy on this model. Cupola ships would not be a substitute fur these, but for the wooden vessels, or iron vessels of an exploded type, which the Admi ralty persist in building, while they confess, if challenged, that they are all but worthless. If in the present transition state of naval architecture we must buy our own experience, and cannot wait to profit by that of our neighbours, let us at least avoid proved waste, and risk our expenditure on attempts that have some claim to approximate towards the ultimate ideal. POST.—It would seem that the German Powers are resolved to wring the submission of Denmark and the patience of Europe to the uttermost, and that they are not only driving a hard bargain usuriously but suicidally, and so as to constitute a precedent which is sure, sooner or later, to be quoted against themselves. It is impossible to dissemble the consequences of this proceeding. Whether Denmark yields to what can only be described as extortion, or whether the extreme pressure provoke a desperate resistance, it is plainly not calculated to promote peace or to restore confidence on the Con tinent. There can be no doubt that Prussia is pri marily answerable for such an iniquitous, and at the same time perilous policy. It must be admitted that Austria has hitherto made war and peace on the principles which actuate great military powers. In Italy and in Hungary, in her triumph and in her humiliation, she maintained the dignity and the forbearance which have preserved to her the respect of Europe. Tho Government of Vienna has exercised its authority sternly, severely, op pressively ; but it has never descended to mean. ness, nor ever betrayed its martial honour; and, even now, though bound by a new and dubious alliance, Austria will, it is to be hoped, repudiate a transaction which is averse from all her antecedents. Prussia, on the contrary, when successful, has copied the license of brigandage, and when defeated has naturally expevienced corresponding treatment. The passion which animated Blucher reigns in the breast of Bismarck ; and forgetting her own mis fortunes, and ignoring an obvious responsibility, deaf to the suggestions of prudence, and insensible to the claims of justice and mercy, it is Prussia that inscribes vice victis! on the flag she has herself more than once furled in the presence of an invading army. The Prussian idea carried out, would com pass the destruction of the defeated Power. Prus-ia has Pc ized the Duchies, and now modestly requires a mortgage on the remaining Danish territory to reimburse her for the expenses incurred in the seizure. It is not, however, the money that she wants so much as the security. The right of fore. closure is what is really sought. Plainly, the com mand of the Baltic is contemplated. It is the dream of naval power which has inspired this monstrous claim. The demand, it is true, is made in the name of the Duchies ; btu. that is only adding insult to injury, and the subterfuge is transparent. N o w, what is the sum of the ability on which Prussia is presuroing ? She is exulting in her might, and re joicing over an inglorious victory. This is the day of her strength—strength acquired by the toleration she is abusing. Austria is her accomplice; the minor London : Prin - crd and Prbiished by WILLIAM ANDREW of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TILE SUN Office No. 112 : Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, a the ccalltY of Alldilleoex,—Saturday, September 10, 1844. German Sovereigns are her satraps, and the people of Germany either her dupes or her slaves. She commands a considerable and efficiently equipped. army, a force capable, if well handled, of putting down any professorial insurrection in Berlin, but which Austrian officers believe they could give a good acc oun t o f i n th e fi e ld. F or th e rest P russi a depends on an alliance that is at present simply for' midable in its diplomatic appearance, and on the reluctance of England and France to engage prematurely in a war the results of which they cannot forecast. The latter is, probably, not the least consideration ; for Count Bismarck would hardly have demanded from Den mark more than she could with honour and seen' rity afford to pay if he had not been intimately persuaded that he was dictating terms to a fallen and friendless nation ; and this, that aggravates the criminality and cowardice of the proceeding, is the fatal error which Prussia may not discover until it is too late to retreat from the position she has taken up. Every act arising oat of the aggres sion which has gratified Prussian ambition at the expense of Denmark proves more and more cogently that it is necessary to maintain some code of inters , national law, and that such a law can only be main tained by force of arms. It is too evident that, as things now are, the Powers of Europe think they may do what seems right in their own eyes, and. that the possession of might is often held to oonstio tate right. This, however, cannot go on, and in one way or in another the securities for peace must be re-established. Prussia is only heaping fuel on the fire she has kindled, and her avarice can precipitate the inevitable conflagration. We do not ask the Germans to believe what it is not likely they will now believe until the conviction is brought home to them ; but they might at least take warning from the history of their own country, and from its actual condition. Let them place no dependence on the military power of Prussia, for it is neither more nor less than it has been in times past. No doubt the Prussians could have beaten the Danes single handed, and would have done so if Austria had not, for reasons of her own, resolved to keep them in view. That was altogether an unequal battle, and. one, it should be remembered, in which the Danish people, as a people, did not take part. The invasion of Denmark Proper would be quite another affair ; and within the last few years a far greater Power than Prussia has paused in a career of victory rather than accept an extension of the conflict. Many roe cent predictions have not been verified, but it remains true that the first cannon-shot fired in the Baltic will proclaim war on the Rhine and in the Adria tic. If there ever was a question that exacted moderation it is that which is the subject of discus' sion in the Vienna Conference. According to 511 law and all reason the liberated Duchies should pal the cost of their liberation. There is no measure of extortion which, in so far as Europe is concerned, Count Bismarck may not practise upon the people he has emancipated. It is right that they should be made to feel practically the worth of their de' liverance. But to pretend that in parting with Denmark violently they are entitled to make any claim for compensation, either as regards the Sound Dues or the Danish fleet, and, above all, that Prue" sin is entitled to prefer and support such a claims is only not absurd because it has been seriously mooted. Prussia is mistaking both her own pose' tion and the position of Denmark. The Danish monarchy, it should be observed, is intact. Den' mark has lost nearly half a kingdom, but what remains to her is her own past all quibble. There are German Powers that hold provinces which are not nearly so securely guaranteed to them as the little land he reigns over is to King Christian. They cannot, as he does, rely on the royalty of their subjects, and they have forfeited, as he has not, the confidence of foreign Powers. Prudence--• for it is, we fear, useless to think of moderation should therefore advise Prussia to hold her hand. She has already done more than enough to exaspe` rate Europe, and the indignation of powerful na tions has not been restrained without difficulty. In this country we have every reason to desire tha t the Prussian throne sh ou ld b e susta i ne d an d strengthened; but we cannot help seeing that A policy which is tyrannical to the weak will prove weak in itself when opposed with its own argil' manta ; and that those who attempt to crush tlhe vanquished will, when their turn comes, invoke is vain the aid of the justice they denied, and the mercy they refused to consider. COUNTRY MARKETS. LIVERPOOL-FRIDAY. There was a small attendance of buyers to-day, and sre must quote wheat about 3d per rental and flour 6d to 9t l per barrel and sack cheaper. Oats and oatmeal the turn easier. Beans scarce, and prices unchanged. Peas and barley slow. Indian corn offered freely, and nearly la per qr decline on the week. STAMFORD-FRIDAY. The supply of wheat at to•day's market was limited, and sales took place at about the previous week's prices• —White wheat, 425, o 455.; red, 41s to 43s per 36 stone• Barley, malting, —s to —s; grinding, 33s to 365, per Oats, 22s to 28s per 24 stone. Beans, old, 40s to —8 Per qr. ; new, 36s to 425. WAKEFIELD—FRIDAY. The demand for wheat was slow to-day, and the prices of last week rather lower fix both old and new sorts. Beall° the turn dearer. Averages for the week : Wheat 712 qrs., at 458 :91 Oats 8ar1ey.......„. 160 Peas Beams LINCOLN. White wheat new, 44s to 48s Red do. 4OB to 44s Old white 468 to 508 Red do 4ls to 458 Barley, malting 338 t0.36s r—FRIDAY. 1 Barley, grinding 27s to 29 5 Oats,:old, .. 24s to 26 5 New do 20s to 23 5 1 Beans.. 37s to 4 15 i Beans, new.. 36s to 415 CORK—THURSDAY. The following were the quotations this morning . • Red wheat, 8s Od to 8s 6d; white, 8s 3d to Os Od ; barley,lfi Id to Os Od ; oats, 5s 10d to Os 3d ; black do., 5s 6d 60 Od ; bere, 68 10d. COAL M Prim of Coal per Ton a 8. d. diKET. the close of the market. 0 . do Byass's Bebsido West -- Hartley .,..20 3 Holywell 17 6 Edon Main ...19 0 Lambert's West Hart- Walls End. Hartlepool l9 3 East Hartlepool 19 0 South Hartlepool 19 6 ,. South Kelloe ... l9 0 , 0 . Heugh Hall l9 u,. Hetton 2O t; Braddyll'a Hetton 19 ~€) Pensher Primrose. 18 6 Cassop .. 1 9 Riddell ..18 9 Harton 18 Framwellgato ..19 0 Bamont .. 19 ,t, 53 ; sold, 51, ley 2O 0 Tar.field Moor 13 9 Clarke'a.Weat Hartley 20 3 Walls End. Haswell 1 ...19 6 James lB 3 Wharncliffe l7 9 Kenos.. Ships at marks. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton.... . Sept. 18. Pia Marseilles Sept. 1 21 &nil and Cape Verde, by British packet. Oct. 4. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena Sept. 2S. China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton Sept.l6. via Marseilles Sept. 13* Falkland Islands •• Gibraltar, via Southampton .... India (Caloutta), and Ceylon, via So u th am pt on Sept. 18. via Marseilles Sept. 1 ,., 2 * India (Bombay), via Southampton via Marseilles Sept. 4. Portugal.... ...... Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Sept. 10. via Marseilles Sept. 12. Newfoundland Oporto and Vigo U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... Sept. 14. by U.S. packet.... by Canadian packet. Sept. 9. All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, I p S et. 13 . California. and British Columbia.. Births. FIERS.—On the 7th inst., at Kingawood, Epsom, the wife of Lieut.-Colonel Fyers, C. 8., 2d Battu. Rifle Brigade, of a son. VIAN.—On the 9th inst., at The Woodlands, Lewisham the wife of W. J. Yian, Eeq., of a daughter. WOODWARD.—On the 9th inst., at 2, St. james's-terracep Regent's -park, the wife of Lionel hlabbdtt Woodwarci Esq., of a son. Marriages. BOKENHAM—JEssor --On the Bth inst., at Saint Mary's, Cheshunt, Thomas Clifton, eldest son of W. Bokenharot Esq., of Cheshunt, to Catherine Ann, eldest daughter of the Rev. John Jessop, M.A., of Cheshunt. SALMON—Bincir —On the 6th inst., at Trinity Church , Bath, Captain H. It. G. Salmon, to Harriet Frances, the only daughter of Lieut.-Col. W. C. Birch, of the 130:10 1 Army. Deaths. BARVER.—On the 7th inst., at Merton Abbey, Surrey, Captain James Barber, formerly of the lion..EaA India Company's Service, aged 77. DUCHANAN.—On the 18th Aug., suddenly, near Bougie , Algeria, Colonel James Buchanan, Royal Marines, aged iL 0011 E.—On the Bth inst., at Chapel-place, Verc street, Montagu Gore, Esq., aged 64. GOULDEN.—On the 7th inst., at Canterbury, Mary, relict of the late Thowas Goulden, sen., of S. Oeorge's•strcetl aged 91. ME RIDYTII. —On the 7th inst., at Stockport. Charles Stan" hope Meridyth, of the Inland Revenue, Somerset Rouse , London.