The Sun. — London, England, 1863-04-11 00:00:00

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGL AND. A LECTURE, by Dr. VOELCKER, on the ADULTERA TION OF OILCAEES AND OTHER FEEDING MA TERIALS, will be delivered to the Members, at the Society's House, 12, Hanover-square, London, at half-past twelve, on WEDNESDAY next, the 15th April. By order of the Council. 11. HALL DARE, Secretary. PRACTICAL GEOLOGY.-KING'S COLLEGE, London.—Professor T ENNANT, F.G.S., will commence a COURSE of LECTURES on WEDNESDAY, April 15, at 9 a.m., haying es ecial reference to the application of Geo logy to ENGINEERING, MINING, ARCH ITECT TIRE, and AGRICULTURE.—The Lectures will be continued on each succeeding. Friday and Wednesday at the same hour. Fee, lls. 6d. R. W. JELF, D.D., PrinzipaL SAWYER'S FAMOUS LONDON DINNER FOIL THIS DAY. At 2s. 6d. each Person. SOUPS. Ox Tail. Chiffonade. Stewed Eels, FISH. Fried Whitings. ENTRE Fillets of Reef ala Francaise E . S. Curried Mutton. Roast Beef. JOINTS Roast• Mutton. SWEET 4. Macaroni Pudding. Orange Fritters. Cheese and Salad. TO-MORROW (SUNDAY), THE LONDON DINNER, At 2s. 6d. each Person. SOUPS. Bouilli. Printaniere. FISH. Cod, Maitre d'Hotel. Fried Brill. ENT Veal Cutlets a l'ltalienne. REES. Compote of Pigeon. JOINTS. Boiled Beef. Roast Mutton. • SWEETS. Cabinet Pudding. Raspberry Tartlets. Cheese and Salad. An extensive and carefully selected stock of FRENCH, RHENISH, MOSELLE, and other WINES, imported ex pressly for the London Dinner. THE LONDON, 191, FLEET-STREET. FRENCH GALLERY, 120, PALL-MALL.-- The TENTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION of PICTUR the contributions of Artists of the French and Flemish schools, will Open on MONDAY next. Adm esion, la. ; Catalogue, 6d. CANTERBURY HALL AND FINE ARTS GALLERY. NOTICE.— FINE CHANGE OF ENTERTAINMENT LES FRERES ATHOS. From the Caricman 'Theatre, Turin. Master EDWIN SAUNDERS, the Child of Song. THE NEAPOLITAN MINSTRELS. GRAND SELECTIONS fr( , m OPERAS, GLEES, and CAN TATA S. Principal Artistes _Miss Russell, Miss Townley ; Mr. Green, and Signor Tivoli. Conductor, Mr. Jonghmans. The celebrated IiINSWORTIT'S NEW STUMP SPEECH, The only Negro Orator of the day. EUGENE and DULEY, with new Eccentricities. ARTHUR LLOYD, Miss SAUNDERS, and Mr. HILTON, the Comic Ventriloquist and Modern Magician, EVERY EVENING. Admission—Hall, 6d. ; stalls and balcony, Is. T HE O OXFORD STREET . THIS EVENING, Auber's Grand Opera, MASANIELLO. (First time at this Establishment). Also, the New Cantata, by Herr Meyer Lutz, " HERNE THE HUNTER," Supported by Miss Russell, Miss Oesten, Miss Townley, &c.; Messrs. Albert, Green, Bernardi, Huish, Kimberley, &c. With full band and chorus. Conducted by Mr. Jonghmans. Drew Dean's Flute Solos Ballads by Master Edwin Sanders, aged 2 years. UNSWORTH, the modern Demosthenes. Eugene, W. Randall, J. Hutchenson, and the mat vellcus ARTH ;'R and BERTRAND flail, 6 d.—Balcony and Stalls, I L—Private Boxes, 10s. 6d. 1 it JULLIEN'S PROMEN ADE CONCERTS. .111. • At the ARGYLL ROOMS, Great Windmill-street, Piccadilly. Continued success of J. LEVY, the celebrated Cornet-a- Piston Plays Nightly, a t Ni ne and Ten o'clock, one of his admired Solos, also at Eleven, Variations, " The Carnival de Venise." Revival of the Scotch Fantasia and Irish Quadrille, by M. Jullien. ' Solos Tyler, King , H orton, M'Eleney, & c. Cavatin a , Di Nabuoo by ," on the Euphonium, hy L. Mosca. Doors open at Eight o'clock. Admission, is. Manager, Mons. GRENET. T HE LONDON ANATOMICAL MUSEUM, containing the Wonders of Nature and Art, shown by innumerable Models, illustrating every part of the Human Frame ; together with a variety of Natural Preparations, Malformations, Monstrosities, kt. ; also the Moving Ana tomical Dying Zouave, and other life-size figures. Open daily from 11 to 10, for Gentlemen only. Admission, One shilling. Entrance-44 A, Maddox-street Regent-street, London, W. Illustrated Catalogue, free by post, for 12 stamps, sealed 20. Explanations throughout the day. Lecture at 4. Address the Secretary, as above. Os TE o EID 0 N Patent, March 1, 1862, No. 1560. GABRIEL'S Self-adhesive Patent indestructible MINE RAL TEEM and FLEXIBLE GUMS, without palates, Fprino,, or wires, and without operation. One set lasts a lifetime, and WARRANTED FOR MASTICATION and A !IT ICULATIO N, even when all others fail. Purest ma terials only, at half the usual ‘'oat. Messrs. GABRIEL, the old-established Dentists, 27, HARLEY-STREET, CAVENDISH-SQUARE; 34, LUDO ATE-HI LL, LONDON ; 65, NEW-STREET, DIRSIING HAM ; and 134, DUKE-STREET, LIVERPOOL. Complete Sets, 4 to 7 and 10 to 15 guineas. One visit Practical Treatisefrom gratis, THE FARMER'S BAROMETER, 505., a new Instrument, by Negretti and Zambra, will cor reoly indicate whether the Barometer falls for Rain or for Wind. Particulars by enclosing- stamp.---1, Hatton-garden ; 57, Cornhill ; and 122, Regent-street. Consultations free, NOTICE TO BEST GITNMAKERS. T HE SECRETARY of STATE for WAR desires to call the att en ti on of b est Gunmakers to a consider ablefist- quantity of best quality GUN STOCKS. suitable for TENcIDERass .Sporting Guns, w hi c h it i s i ntended to SELL by These Stocks have accumulated in the Government Stores in recent years, and are thoroughly seasoned and fit for im- Mediate use. The Stocks are lotted in small parcels, and are to be viewed at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, on any day of the Week ixcer t Saturday, on application to the Superintendent, for fourteen days from this date. Forms of tender are t) be obtained on application to the Director of Contracts, War-office, Pall-mall, or to the Super intendent of the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield ; and are to be delivered at the War-office, Pall-mall, on or before the 14th April, 1863, addressed to the Under Secretary of State for War, and marked on the outside " Tender for Gun Stocks." The Secretary of State reserves the right of rejecting any or all of the tenders. THOMAS HOWELL, Director of Contracts. War-office, March 30, 1863. ARMY CONTRACTS. ffic, Aldershot, Commissari at O Bth April, e 1863. SEALED TENDERS w i ll be received at this office, until noon on WEDNESDAY, the 6th May, 1863, from persons who may be willing to enter into Contracts to supplY FLOUR AND MEAT 1 11 Ruch quantities as may be required, from the lst June to 30th November, 1863, for the use of her Maje%ty's Forces stationed at Aldershot Camp, and within the command. Separate Tenders are required for Fl -lir and f r Meat. Forms of Tender and Conditions of Contract may be ob tained on application at this office, by letter or in person, be tween the hours of ten and four o'clock. Tenders on the printed forms must be properly filled up and signed, and delivered at this office(under closed envelope, marked on the outside " Tender for Commissariat Su lies"), pp and no tender will b e noticed unless made on forms obtained from this office, and delivered by the hour appointed. ARMY CONTRACTS. Commissariat O ril, ffice, Aldershot, Bth Ap 1863. QEALED TENDERS will b e received et this k,71. office, until noon on WEDNESDAY, the 6th May,1863, irem persons who may be wiiling to enter into Contract to supply FLOUR FOR HOSPITAL BREAD in such quantities as may be required, from the Ist Jnne to anti' November, 1F63, for the use o f her Majesty's Forces S tationed at Aldershot Camp, and within the command. Forms of Tender and Conditions of Contract may be ob tained on application at this office, by letter or in person, be tween the hours of ten and four o'clock. Tenders on the printed forms must be properly filled up and siened, and delivered at this office (under closed envelope, marked on the outside " Tender for Flour for Hospital Bread"), and no tender will be noticed unless made on forms obpointed.tlined from this office, and d e li vered by the hour ap- -ir IVERPOO_LTuJusUDT---4.yY, ju Nt 11 E T I NG7- v ii. —The Livna .l.4 SECOND DAY, —TUESDAY, .voenB bY the Lessee. poor. Cur, in specie, value 2'4 sees, It, and added to a Handicap Sweep takes or 5 only if declared on a day hereafter to be n v a e rd h ' t ls Weatherby, London ; or to Mr. W. Topha,, clei;)•licliessrs. Course, Chester; the winner of any sweepstakes,of the stakes, or plate, of the clear value of 500 soy, alter theegigehuti: appear 51b, two of such races 101 b extra, but this i n any Manchester to be the extreme pen a lty ; the winner of the Manchester Union or Trades Cup, Ascot Stakes, Northumberland Plate, or Cumberland Plate, 101 b extra ; or of any other handicap race of the value of 200 soya clear 51b, of 400 71b, or of any two of such last mentioned handicaps Slb extra ; the winner 0 nay 30 sovs t o the judg,e, and 20 soya towards expenses of the course ; second to save his stak e; t wo m il es . Weights to be published in due time. PRESENT SUBSCRIBERS. Lord Annesley Mr. J. Bennett Lord Canterbury artin.t Air. R. Biznell Lord Hon Mr. W. G. Craven Lord Sefton ' Mr. I) wson Im. dWestmoreland Mr. Dims Sir L. Newman Mr. Frail Col. Forester Mr. F. Hall Col. C. P. Leslie I Mr. ITargyeaves Capt. Christie Capt. White Mr. hart Mr. G-man Mr. Barb er Mr. T. Hughes If the 1 1 1 1 Mr. T. llw z b es , ~ , ,t. raised to thr:t--we44"h' accepting be under Bst 121 b, it will be The MERRE,vt,Ind the others in proportio I. added, for two STAKES of 1 5 sows each, 5 ft, with 50 sovs are his olds ; colts Bst 101 b, and fillies Pst 71b ; second to , more 81b extra, 13-- stake ; winners of 1 0 0 sovs clear 51b, 200 or but not to be accumulative; 8 subs or no race ; T.Y.C. T 11 I It I) DAy.......w ED STAKES of 11 sov s each. ' T FSDAY, JULY 15.—Th e S TANLEY t with 50 so v s a dd e d , f or two an d g three years allowed 2wlb to;yeivairntoii!e'drs 7ct 41b, th ree O at ; f i llies and elding the present year amountinP; to s ( e i .f plates or swee p s t a k es i n 1 0 sovs clear to carry 51b, 200 or more 813 sovs to the fund; extra, T.Y.C. handicaps ex cepted ; the win ner to pay 10 PRESENT SUBSCRIBE Craver . I M r. G. Payne. Lord Annesley, I In all races, at Liverpool, where fewer tha n th ree horses start, the added money will b e withheld. The Stanley 'tai,es closes on Tuesday. the 17th ot March, and names the evening . preceding - the race; nd the Cup and Mersey Stakes also close and name on Tues a d March being the Tuesday following the Li a v y erp' th oo e l 1 jp t Spring I n o g f Itteetin'e ,I'sro_rninations received by Messrs. Weatherby, London ; Mr. Z4t,rBi)ehrnson, St. Mary's, York; and Mr. E. W. Tophata, Mr. Jackson Mr. W. Lynn Mr. J. Merry Mr. W. Owen Mr. Payne Mr. W. girth Mr. R. Riddell Mr. R. Riddell Mr. Saxon Mr..l. Scott Mr. F. Swiniell R.H. THE PRINCE AND H.R.H. THE . PRINCESS OF WALES, the Nobility, and the Gritry are respectf u lly recommended to use OLDRIDGE'S I is acknowledged to he the best and only certain remedy ever discovered for preserving, strengthening, beautifying, or restoring the hair, whiskers, or moustaches, and prevent ing them from turning grey. Price 3s. 6d., 65., and 11s. C. and OLDRIDGE, 22. Wellington- s t ree t , Strand, London, W.C., atid all chemists and perfumers. For children it is in valuable. RHEUMATISM, CHILBLAINS, &c. COLES'S ALGA MARINA is the only really CONCENTRATED Essence of the Sea-weed. It is daily increasing in celebrity as a remedy for all kinds of Rheuma tism, whether Acute or Chronic, immediately relieving the pion, and sp:edily curing the disease. It is the best remedy for Spinal Alice:ions, Contractions, Weakness of the Limb., Zminions ‘ 4 wel , ings, and all those affections for which the a-side is recommended, and is also AN ADMIRABLE APPLI CATION FOR CHILBLAINS. The public should be careful to obtain the original prepara tion by asking for "COLES'S ALGA MARINA," each bottle of which is enveloped in a Pamphlet containing nume rons Cases and Testimonials, without which none is genuine. Sold in bottles, 2s. 9d., Is. 6d., and lls. each, by T. KEATING, 70, St. Paul's Churchyard, London ; and by all Chemis s. Observe in the GENUINE ALGA MARINA the name of `i JAMES COLES " is engraven on the label. RUPTURES.—BY ROYAL LETTERS PATENT. WHITE'S MOO-MAIN LEVER TRUSS (PERFECTED AND EXHIBITED IN THE GREAT XIIIBITIONS OF 15M AND 1862), is allowed by upwards of wo Hundred Medical Gentlemen to be the most effective invention in the curative treatment of lIERNI A. The use of a steel spring, so often hurtful in its effects, e here avoided—a soft bandage being worn round the body, while the requisite resisting power is supplied by the ?loc-Main Pad and Patent Lever, fitting with so much ease snd closeness that it cannot be detected, and may be worn twring sleep. A descripti ve c i rcu l ar may be had, ' and the russ, which cannot fail to fit, forwarded by post, on the cir cumference of the body, two inches below the hips, being , :ent to the manufacturer, Mr. WHITE, 228, Piccadilly. A Single Truss, 165., 215., 265. 6d., and 31s. 6d. Postage, is. it Double Truss, 31s. 6d., 425., and 525. 6d. Postage, is Bd. An Umbilical Truss, 425. and 525. 6d. Postage, is. 10d. i Post-office Orders to be made payable to John White, 'Post office, Piccadilly. NEW PATENT :ELASTIC STOCKINGS, KNEE-CAPS, &c., for Varicose Veins and all oases of Weakness and Swelling of the Legs, Sprains, 43Dc. They are porous, light in texture, and inexpensive, and are drawn on tilre an ordinary stocking. Price 4s. 6d., 7s. 6d., 10s., to 16s. each. Postage 6d. JOHN WHITE, Manufacturer. 228. Piccadilly. ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray's-inn-road, in the immediate vicinity of the Great Northern Rail way Terminus, at King's-cross. Patron—The QUEEN. President—The Duke of BUCCLEUCH, E.G. Treasurer —Edward Masterman, Esq. This was the first hospital to introduce the principle of free and instant admission to the destitute sick, without the for mality of governors' letters. It is entirely devoted to desti tution in its most pitiable form—viz., that which is accom panied by sickness and disease, and is now of sufficient magnitude that, with adequate support, it may be rendered capable of admitting* into its wards a very large proportion of the casual sick of this great metropolis. It requires but the funds in order to have 500 beds available for the reception of these the most wretched of our fellow-creatures. Moreover, it gratuitously affords medical advice and medicine to more, on the average, than 3,000 out-patients a week. The Weekly Hoard feel it their imperative duty to make an EARNEST APPEAL to the public for continued support, to enable them to admit and relieve the distressing cases that daily present themselves. Contributions are received by the Treasurer, Edward Masterman, Esq., Nicholas-lane; also by Messrs. Coutts and Co. ; Drummond and Co. ; Ilerrics and Co. ; Hansom and Co. ; Prescott, Grote, and Co. ; Smith, Payne, and Co. ; Glyn and Co. ; Jones Loyd and Co. ; Barclay and Co. ; Denison and Co. ; W Minns, Deacon, and Co. ; Overend, Gurney, and Co. ; Nisbet and Co. ; Messrs. J. Barned and Co., Liverpool and at the Hospital STANFORD S. SMITH. Secretary. BERWICKSHIRE STEEPLE CHASES, at Kimmerghame-Mains, within three miles of Ounse and twelve of Berwick, on Wednesday, April 29th, 1863. the en value tannefes)o; I. THE Scorrian GRAND NATIONAL STE EPL E C H A SE of of a 10 0 soya, add e d t o a F ree H and i cap of 5 sous each (in case FT:R W *II t n e u r e t r h o e f weights any han a d r i e c a p st P published ep l e c t h o a n s a e r r o y t 7b extra ; the winner to pay 20 soya towards expenses, and rnoney will n o save his stake ; five horses to start, or the added' about three mil, be given witt out the consent of the Stewards; suvs entrance t' s and a half over a good hunting country; 2 the entries, _.: 0 go to the fund, which must be remitted with name with rervvise they will not be received. To close and of al arch, i_e. Clerk of the of " 4 TO c Course, Dame, on or before 31st Johnson, York.. P weight, 12st 71b. Handicapper, Mr. R. IL—The HUNT g Sweepstakes of 5 s TEEPLE CHAIM feit Of SO a . Id t horses that have Opevng each, 1 for to the fnuviascl, a et o l a l the Earl of Wemysies le ularly hunted in open and wilt her e to save his stake s ; ° 1 nd s In Northumberland, second 21h, six and ivied test 71b ; ou r) ; yr old.itist4lb, five yr olds 12st chase or hurdle race value 5o e a v o i v ems winners of any steeple pay a sous towards expenses , about three extra ; the winner to gentlemen riders : professionals, tram three miles and a half ; who has ridden for pay 71b extra. ners, grooms, or , any one lll.—The TALLYHO lIHNT STEEPLE Co added to a , weepstakes of 2 sous each, i forfeit of 25 sous., for horses that have never won any steeple chase to the fund, race, nor paid race horse duty previous to 1 8 ,MC or hurdle horses that have been regularly hunted in Scotland to a ll the Earl of Wemyss's Hounds in Northumberland'; or with second horse to save his stake ; about three miles and a half ; weights and rid , rs same No. 2. IV.—The HUNTER" SELLING STEEPLE CHASE of 2 80 , Te each, 1 forfeit to the fund, with 20 sous added ; the s econd to save his stake ; four year olds, list 41b ; five yrar olds, 12st 21b ; six and aped, 12st 71b; the winner to be sold for 00 sous: it entered t i be sold for 50 sovs allowed 711), if for 40 sous 141 b, if for 31 soya 211 b, and it for 20 soya 281 b ; the winner to be sold immediately after the race, and the surplus to go to the race fund; three horses to start, or the added money will not be given : about three miles and a half. Nos. 2 and 3 being intended fo: bona fide hunters only, cer tificates from the respective masters of hounds must be pro duced before starting, if required, that they have not only been regularly hunted, but ridden to hounds, and must not have been in a public training stable in 1 , 63. Entries for Nos. 2 and 3 to be made to the Clerk of the Course, Dunse, on or before the 21st April, and objections to qualifPation of hor-es to be made to him in writing not later than Monday, 27th April. Colours to be declared at time of entro , for each race. li Sir G. H. PASWALL, Bart, Sir DAVID BAIRD, Bart, Major INNES, Major L'AMY, Stewards. J. B. KELLIE, Clerk of Course, N°. 22,085. Now ready, in 2 vols., 215., HEROES, PHILOSOPHERS, and COURTIERS of the TIMES of LOUIS XVI. "The author of these volumes has given us a more correct insight into the acts of France, and the causes which insti• gated the rulers and the people of that country to take part agsinst us, and to a-sist our American colonies in throwing ofF the yoke of their mother country. There is much thit cannot fail to attract notice in this work. It is well timed, and got up with considerable case and research." - Obseiver. Hurst and Blackett, 13, Great Marlborough-street. AT ODDS.—The New Novel, by the Author of "The Initials " and "Quits," 2 vols., will be ready at all the Libraries on the 16th inst. Richard Bentley, New Burlington- trect. In 3 vols. post Bvo., DEEP WATERS. A NOVEL. B Miss ANNA m Author of " Misrep r e s e n t a ti on " bu nd , s and Fortune," &c. Now ready at all the Libraries. Chapman and hall, 193, Piccadilly. In 2 vols. post Bvo., 215., LIFE in the SOUTH from the COMMENCE MENT of the WAR. By a Blockaded British Subject. Being a Social History of those who took part in the Battles, from a personal acquaintance with them in their own Homes. " The authoress has enjoyed great and unusual facilities for her work trom a personal acquaintance with many of the leading men who took part in the battles. . . . There is much in it calculated to throw light on the social condition and status both of the slaves and their masters in the South." —Observer. Chapman and Hall, 193, Piccadilly. In dcmy Bvo., 10s. 6d., TAXATION : ITS LEVY and EXPENDI TURE, PAST and FUTURE. Being an Inquiry into our Financial Policy. By Sir S. MORTON PET°, Bart., M.P. for Finsbury. Chapman and Hall, 193, Piccadilly. In post Svo, 3s. 6d., THE lONIAN ISLANDS DURING THE PRESENT CENTURY. By Captain WHYTE JEUVIS, M.P. " The author of this opportunely-published volume has thrown useful light on the subject. Ile has brought together facts which will assist discussion, and he has painted the character of the two parties to the contemplated union in such coloars as will t eac h caut i on i n any transa,tions with them. The public will welcome information calculated to guide their judgment correctly."—Morning Poet. Chapman and Hall, 193, Piccadilly. ~ / Z-t-K--e-- , {_e ~ jt'c - - i-c--- , e---e-e 7 (---} ' .., „ , z - ,,--_. 3itair7: 7.:.,,,: r.,;..„„''- 7- :: c ir 4 . ~.. . . Xl v -Z----- tiJ- ‘' X ' e'------ - --- , , 4-- „,.. 1,-4 . - .M. - ..- - . A.'• 0..111 ; At 4 , :7lV**:) . , •'i „.....9 • , . -_,_____:: . . 01 4 )4t: jr . : N. b ., 1 / 4 _ 11 ,4 it . " 51 7 4 1„,-,.. ifith.;;.i r ,___ ____ \ , --;) - --- ' - " J'' ' '''.4 V ' L' o„ f' : ' . r 2 ., vi-- H ,- :--,.J9' ,5 -:-•• ''''',, 7 ,-- .._,...-o' , ~ • 5 ,..._-) r, t, ,•11vi.t.. , . '., '' l , q , l'sS. '.._. ~,,..,. 'ii! DROI.T• ' . 6 ---<___ 0 -yam. - .iii - 4' - "::77: 4 2 4 t was, without any expenditure of la. • , w 4 : t A F t v , out into the mould an ingot of soft, toutt steel id weighing three tons. This metal, after undergoing hammering, is now most extensively used for steel rails at. statione, points, and junctions, where the wear is great, and in these trying situations it seems almost indestructible. A great deal has also been used in making Blakely rifled guns in this coun try both for Federals and Confederates. These are the ordnance which the Americans always speak of as Parrott guns, and by them they are more highly prized than those of either Arm strong or Whaworth. Yet it is stated that the Ordnance Select Committee have refused even to try these guns at Shoehuryness. After these pro cesses were over, and the various planing and filing shops had been duty examined, the visitors were entertained by Mr. Brown at a most sumptuous dejeuner. After this repast, when the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been given and duly honoured, the Mayor gave the toast of the even ing—" The health of the Lords of the Admiralty." In replying to this the. Duke of Somerset said : " In regard to the position of the Admiralty, I and my colleagues have endeavoured to carry on the business with out reference to party feelings. Iu that I am convinced that all who have watched the operations of the Admiralty will believe that we have had great difficulties to contend with. During the last three years, what with aff..irs abroad and difficulties in almost all parts of the world, falling upon the navy, and the difficulti s thr e e hme as been a connected heavy weight with the rc- construction of the navy, upon the Admiralty. Not that we have not had plenty of advice. I think there never was a body of men who re ceived so much. I have had letters from all parts of the world, telling me what I ought to do. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) One gentleman writes and says, If you really want to build proper ships you should copy the scales of the crocodile, to keep out the shot. (Laughter.) Tho scales of the crocodile are peculiarly made by nature. Do you copy them.' Another gentleman writes, Not at all. If you want to get right, and make a vesse l really invul nerable, you will copy the hide of a rhinoceros. That is the only thing nature has made invulnerable.' That, you will recollect, is a large thick coat, with some hard protu berances upon it. Oh,' says another, ' those views are quite wrong; the real thing is to copy the wing of the beetle, which is a slippery thing, and so you will cause the shot to glide off.' (Laughter.) I suppose I have put aside about 20 letters containing various suggestions of that sort. One writer suggests we should cover the ships with chain ar mour ; another that we should have springs all round the ships, so that when the shot hit it the springs would break _the force of the blow without injury to the ship. (Laughter.) How the springs are to be kept from rusting at sea he does not explain very clearly—inventors never observe little dif ficulties of that sort. We have, in fact, no end of these in ventions, as they are called, What the Admiralty did was what I should think any gentleman would do under the cir cumstances; we looked to the object of getttng ships pro perly made invulnerable, and the question of what material should bo used then arose. That was a very difficult ques tion, and in order that it might be properly solved we appointed a committee—the Iron Plate Committee—who have worked most excellently and zealously upon the sub ject, and have been of great use to the Admiralty and to the country, not only by the experiments of Shoeburyness —for that was only a part—but by awakening the mind of the country to what was required. They have awakened a spirit which led many persons to go to see for themselves, and the result has been, as Mr. Brown has,told you, that they were enabled to see exactly what was wanted. It is only when a person has seen a plate fired at that he really begins to understand what is wanted. (Hear.) Mr. Brown says he asked the Admiralty if they would be able to make ships to carry the plates he could make. Now, I will at once say that we are very incredulous. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) We are se accustomed to receive offers that we have contracted a habit of receiving- them with great caution and considerable incredu lit y . When persons tell me that they can make so-and-so, and that it is as easy as possible, I confess I generally think they aro wrong—particularly if they say it is very easy. Tho first man I meet with who says he thinks he can do it, and he will try, induces me to feel differently; but if one says it is as easy as possible, and that if the Lords of the Admi ralty were not fools they would adopt his plan at once, I suspect he doesn't know much about it. (Hear.) Now, in coming down here the Admiralty have done no more than their duty, which they are anxious to do upon all occasions. In fact, nothing can be more agreeable to us than to leave the office and come down for a day into the country. Un fortunately our business increases on our hands so ra pidly that we find when we go back to town that we have four times as much to do in consequence for several days afterwards. My absence from the office for two or:three days would seriously embarrass the public service ; and therefore you will see how limited is the time we have at our disposal; but we are very glad to come here, and I am sure I have profited and been very much in terested by what I have to-day seen. (Hear) Nothing is more interesting to me than seeing these works, and seeing the men of these works ; to see the intelligence, the good temper, and the kindly feeling towards the head of the establishment. (Hear, hear.) It has convinced me that the men themselves aro well treated ; that they feel they are well treated ; and they show what great kindness and good judgment must be posses ed by the head of the establish ment. That is the only way in which you can carry on greet works like that we have seen to-day. (Hear, hoar.) I cannot, therefore, close the observations I have made with out asking you to drink the health of Mr. Brown, coupling it with ' Prosperity to the new rolling mill„ for that is the great thing in the proceedings of this day. It is the most striking thing, and will in the future be one of the most wonderful pieces of machinery that have ever been made in this country." ...4d. S'CAXPED ....sd. before was almost melted iron was picked up by some huge crane that came travelling along the smoky walls, and carried off, glowing through the gloom, a finished piece of work. At otber places there were tilt and lever hammers, wearying the very air with the clattering din of their tremen dous strokes. At others great ingots of steel wcre cast by the Bessemer process, small plates were rolled and roughly cast aside in great red slabs to cool, or hurried backwards and forwards in iron tracks, scorching even the hardened workmen out of their tracks as they came burning ;past. On every side there were furnaces and smoke and red hot metals, while in out-of-the-way nooks men in steel caps and wire vizors, and cased below in rough steel leggings, like jack-boots of iron, fought in a crowd like so many salamanders round some rough mass that was dangerons in its fierce heat, and which sent back aggressive spurts of red hot metal in return for every blow- Such fiery combats as these were going on in all directions; the "Sheffield carpet" of the factory—iron plates— was hot and painful to the feet ; the air was arid with a sulphury warmth that was like the glow of an overheated stove, When we have said thus much, and added that there were roaring pipes of steam mounting into the air side by side with great iron trumpet-shaped piles of chimneys, out of which jets of red flame roared and flapped into the smoke above like gigantic flambeaux ; that lower down long lines of lathe bands flew noiselessly in all direc tions, and that the background was filled in with glimpses of ponderous fly-wheels whirling their arms through the smoke and turning-roiling mills or lapping hammers, or shearing 4oxn with noise less might the great lumps of iron that_were brought in to be cut up—we have said enough keinditiate the view which met visitors on their first introduc tion to this glowing scene of industry. Though not the first, yet by far the most important - process which their lordships were shown was the opera tion of rolling the great plate—by far the largest single plate that has ever yet been rolled in the world. This took place in what are called the New Mills of the Atlas Works, which were used on Thursday for the first time, and where great ranges of furnaces have been erected, with their mouths opening on the iron tramway which leads direct to the double rollers through which the plate passes. One may guess at the solidity required for mills of this kind when it is stated that some of the rolls used at this mill on Thursday have a first founda tion of no less than 60 tons of solid iron, resting on masonry carried far below the earth. The rolls themselves are 32in. in diameter and Bft. wide, and are turned by an engine of 400 horse power, putting in motion a fly wheel large enough apparently to make a world rotate, if only well balanced on its axis. A powerful screw, applying its force through compound levers, allows the distance between the rollers to be adjusted to the fraction of an inch, so that the plate which on its first rolling is forced through an interval of, for instance, 12in. apart, is on its next wound through one of 10, next through one of 8, and so on till the required thickness has been carefully and equally attained by tremendous compression through every part of the metal, There were a great many visitors to see the rolling of this formidable mass, which was fortunate, as one would certainly be frightened to witness the terrible pro cess alone. After some delay and quick glimpses made by the most hardened workmen, who, rushing up to the door of the' furnace, got a half-blinded glance into its white interior, it was decided that the mass was ready, for, strange as it may seem, an armour-plate requires more than mere heating, and has to be cooked and watched in its cooking with as much care as if it was an omelette, and the plate that is drawn before it is " done to a turn," generally remains a permanent ornament of the unlucky manufacturer's workshop, which no one will have at any price. When at last this eventful moment had arrived on Thursday the door of the furnace was slowly raised and a colossal pair of pincers, with very long handles fastened to a chain drawn by machinery, was swung in. For an instant some men rushed forward, and, shield ing their faces from the deadly heat that shot from the furnace, adjusted the bite of these forceps on the plate, and then ran back as the chain began to tauten, and the great inmate of the blazing den was slowly dragged forth on to the long iron trucks in front of the door, and there lay in its huge length and thickness a mass of living fire, which none could approach, or scarcely even look at, so fierce was its glow and terrific heat. The chains that should have pulled it forthwith to the rollers were too slack, and then arose shouts, and cries, and commands, as the men did battle with this mass of fire, coming so near it in their attempts to gather up the slackened chains that one literally almost expected to see them fall scorched and shrivelled on the ground. In its great glare they fought and struggled with the chains till at last all was adjusted, and the great pile of angry fire began to move slowly downwards towards the mills, the men following it with hoarse shouts and directions, now hid in steam, as buckets of water were dashed over the mass, and the next moment standing in an atmosphere of white light, to which the light of the day around was mere dusk. The rollers did not bite directly the mass came to them, and when they did the engine was almost brought to a standstill by the tremendous strain upon it ; but at last the soft plate yielded and the rollers seemed to swallow it as they wound it slowly in, squeezing out jets of melted iron like squirts of fire that shot about dangerously as the pile was compressed from 19 inches to 17 inches thick by the irresistible force of the rollers. Ce West que le premier pas qui coute , and the victory was certain when the mass had once passed through the mill, and both visitors and workmen gave a tremendous cheer at the success. From this time it was kept rolling backwards and forwards, the workmen sweeping from its face the scales of oxide that gathered fast upon it with long handled besoms that, though soaked in water, caught fire and blazed up as fast as they were used. With every time it was passed through the rollers were screwed closer and closer together as we have already mentioned, till at the end of about a quarter of an hour after leaving the furnace an almost melted mass it was passed through for the last time and came out oppo site the furnace door it had so lately left, no loner shooting forth spiteful sparks , b ut shorn o f half its proPl9ftrong, r form--a heat, subdued, and moulded to it; e l9ft. long, finished armour-plate, weighing 20 thick through nearly 4ft. wide, and exactlvel o ast signal bskyeil4l f v.lribettriumphbroad haoaayad out from end to end. This is ta t achieved. that any rolling t branch of mills h ave y „ then roll • Other smaller plates we ft. wide and gainedquickness n and th e o c n e ner platet a i a n nt iyd,tmost provedoiin7mgrt important bolongrytt ha4iae4 manufacture. thick; lis o oo n i r have .o w lbl e reodadi sarnt .da long,4r d y alluded to, 41ft. • one in. s t f h t ck processiri thicknesshl a The e6byi methodan i 3s o t roaf the tough sof t and o n . t h ic k ; wide,A w l i e t s h s e a r long Gin. on one edge ß and 3in. on the other, of converting cast iron by the Bessemer nation of the qualities betwe en Bessemer softem er s n t i e e e t l a al tough , n a d com h combi nation iron, was next shown. It is needless now to enter on a description of the very beautiful and very terrible process, to witness which the metal goes through in the converter as it is stimulated to a white heat by the passage of the air blown by force. pumps upwards through the mass. No fireworks can surpass the brilliancy of the display this process affords as it approaches its completion, and the stream of violet flame and clouds of burn ing sparks pour from the mouth of the converter as from a gigantic squib. Nor is it necessary here to enter into a detail of the now well-known pro cess, which was a subject of such controversy a few years since, but which is now being so generally and advantageously adopted throughout England and the continent. Suffice it to say that in 20 trites from the time of putting in the charge of cast iron, THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 11, 1863 The French Emperor and the Royal Academy, A letter from Paris says :—lt is customary for a newly elected member of the French Academy to be presented formally, soon after his reception, to the head of the State, whether the head of the State be called King, President, or Emperor ; and the persons who, in virtue of their offic act as sponsors cn the occasion are the Director for the time being and the perpetual secretary of that learned body. The writer who has been last admitted to the fau teuil vacant by the death of the well. known dramatic writer Scribe is M. Octave Feuillet, whose claim to the dis tinction is founded on a number of works of fiction, ro mances, novels, dramatic sketches, proverbs, vaudevilles, and comedies, all which are marked less by inventive power than refined sentiment, delicacy of structure, and grace of style. M. Octave Fenillet was introduced to the Emperor on Sunday last, accompanied by M. Vitel, the Director for the month, and M. Vitlemain, the " perpetual secretary." The new Academician, though, I believe, no cour, ierin the vulgar acceptation of the term, stands very well at Court, and has been more than once a welcome guest at Com piegne, where he contributed to the amusements of the company with his " Proverbs," which were acted by some of the highest and fairest of its occupants. It is hardly necessary to say that on the day of solemn reception by the Academy the new member has to read a discourse, record ing 801110 of the leading incidents in the life of his predeces sor, and in which there is usually much eulogy, with as little as possible of criticism. It is replied to with an ad dress by the Director, more or less laudatory, specifying the titles of the recipient for the honour just conferred upon him. There was a large attendance the day M. Feuillet went through this ordeal, and the Empress and some other members of the Imperial family testified by their presence the pleasure they had received from his vers de societd and his miniature dramas at Compiegne. In the course of his address M. reakt - doot occasion to make some flattering allusions tn. the illustrious lady who was among the listeners, and which, doubtless, she duly appre ciated, and it was certain they were such as would bespeak more than ordinary cordiality in the Emperor's reception of the laureate. After the first civilities were gone throtigh the Emperor thanked M. Octave Feuillet for the compliment he had ad dressed to the Empress and to himself, all the more, he said, as it required no little courage to praise him or his in the Academy, and the compliment was the greater from its rarity. His Majesty went on to observe that these recap tions were becoming more solemn and more important, " and," he added, " I have been for some time past trying to make myself worthy of you some day." A thorough cour tier would doubtless have replied to this hint by saying that his honoured colleagues and himself were greatly flattered at such a hope being held out to them, and that they were most anxiously waiting for the moment to arrive when the superlative honour of seeing one of the 40 fauteuils filled by so great a Sovereign should be theirs. M. Vital did not, however, say so ; he merely observed that he, like every one else, had heard of the historical composition on which his Majesty had been for some time employed—the " Life of Julius Comer." He trusted it was near its com pletion, and he had no doubt it would fulfil the expectations raised by it. The Emperor smiled, bowed, and admitted that a good deal of the work had been gone through, but that a good deal remained to be done. He flattered himself that he had succeeded in elucidating some important points connected with Caesar's military career, and particularly his campaigns in Gaul. There were, however,' oonle parts which still required a good deal of study and xajaaarchi-emne time would probably elapse before be mei:wales' to his satis faction. He had-to ransack ad, battle -Adds, the scenes of Cmsar's victories, and-it required much labour and patience to do so. His Majesty chanced to l')ok at M. Villomain at the mo ment, as if he directed this part of his observation to him. " Very true, Sire," said the witty and caustic secretary, it is no doubt a laborious undertaking ; but, Sire, it is a more pleasing task to search out old battle fields than to open new ones," The august interlocutor stroked his moustache with his thumb and forefinger, and again smiled, as one fancies the Protector may have smiled when replying to Dr. Holdenough's lecture at Woodstock. " Lack-a-day 1 The good man speaks truth, according to his knowledge and his lights —ay, bitter truths, and hard to be digested." The Emperor assured M. Villemain that he fully agreed with him he felt the force of his observations during his campaign in Italy, which made an impression on him which he never could forget. The conversation then took a desultory turn, and was soon br, ught to a close. The Emperor was gracious to the last, and the three Academicians took leave and retired. From what his Majesty said about his literary studies, it is clear that he seriously entertains the idea of offering him self, either beford or after the completion of his work on Caesar, as candidate to the Academy. In this, as in so many other things, he takes the first Napoleon as his model. During the period that elapsed after his return from Italy and the expedition to Egypt, Gen. Bonaparte lived in Paris in the most retired manner ; seldom appeared in public ; re ceived only a few persons, mostly savans, in his modest mansion in the Rue Chantereine (now Rue de la Victoire) ; avoided military society; claimed and obtained, on the ground of his scientific acquirements, a seat in the Institute (of which the Academie Francaise is now one of the five branches), won the esteem of that body, associated con stantly with its leading members, such as Lagrange, La phce, Monge, &c., and relieved the severity of his studies with his favourite, Ossian. It will certainly be a curious sight that of the Emperor's reception, but the most curious of all wilt be the manner of his getting over the preliminary steps. It is a settled rule that the aspirant for academical honours shall pay a vist in person to all and each of the members of the Academy at their own residences, state in precise terms the nature of his claim to be admitted as their colleague, give all the expla nations demanded of him, answer all the queries put to him, and when all are satisfied, solicit respectfully the honour of their support. This custom is never departed from, no matter how high the literary standing of the applicant, and it cannot, if the Academy is to be considered worthy of having an Emperor for one of its members, be dispensed with in his case. But fancy for a moment Napoleon 111. waiting on M. Montalembert, or on the Duke de Broglie, or on M. Thiers, or on M. Guizot, or on M. Villemain, at the Institute, and, hat in hand, deferentially praying for their vote; or, still stranger, applying by letter to Victor Hugo for permission to call him "confrere." Then the Imperial Academician must pronounce a panegyric on his predecessor, whoever he may be; he must go through the reception scene, when his literary and political merits are described by the Director of the day. But the most diffi cult is to ascertain to whom he shall be presented after his reception. It must be to himself as Head of the State; and he must make a speech to himself, and answer himself. This part of the ceremonial may, however, take place in the Salle des Marechaux, where there is, or was, a marble bust of himself, to which he may be presented. It is a difficult question, and T cannot suggest any satisfactory answer. It will, no doubt, occupy the serious attention of the Aca demy between this and the period fixed upon for receiving so formidable an honour. In the meantime it may be well to offer a prize for the best essay on the solution of the problem. Extensive Banking Embezzlements at Hull. On Thursday the Hull Borough Sessions were opened before Mr. Recorder Warren. The calendar contained 36 cases, being a large increase over that of several years past. Amongst the earliest cases disposed of was that of John Henry North, 42 years of age, late assistant cashier at the offices of the Hull Banking Company, who was charged with stealing £3,163 15s. 3d., the property of his employers. Mr. Gresham appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Thomp son for the prisoner. It appeared that the prisoner had been in the employ of the Hull Banking Company for a period of 20 years, first as a ledger clerk, and for the last 14 years as assistant cashier. Prior to that time he had been em ployed in the banking .house of Messrs. Smith Brothers and Co. The treasurer had an excellent character, and was trusted by his employers without the slightest suspicion, but it appears that during a series of years he has been in the habit of abstracting sums of from £2O to £5O at diffe rent times, unil a discovery took place, when he acknow ledged the:, he had abstracted altogether the sum of £3,163 15s. 3d. The mode by which this series of embezzlements was effected was as follows :—The bank being one of issue its notes were liable to be cut and damaged in the course of business. As these cut and damaged notes came into the bank it was necessary that they should be repaired before they were re-issued. The notes re mained in the cashier's hands until they underwent the necessary repairs, so that each cashier had often in his pos session a number of notes, amounting to several hundred pounds. The notes were put into a parcel and taken into the cashier's account when his cash was balanced, as damaged notes amounting to such a sum. When, therefore, the pri• soner from time to time abstracted the money, he added the amount abstracted to the sum represented by the parcel of damaged notes. With the exception of this parcel of damaged note s the cash of the prisoner would be correct. On Satur day, Jan. 17 last, the chief cashier at the bank, Mr. W. A. hmaadking s taken La . mbert, had occasion to check the cash in the hands of the prisoner, and f ound that it was not correct. He sent for the prisoner, who had b een absent from the bank through ill omteheexdamefiicniaetniocyn,tlh.ne s p u r m iso s n v e a r r 3C,Oinng nf e e s s :e , d a that a f h te e r f rom £3O to £5O, and that he had applied it to the education of his children, and to cover losses incurred by railway spe culations. He also wrote a letter inwhich he acknowledged having taken the money, and completely exonerated every other person in the establishmeat from blame. The pri soner's salary was £220 a year. The Recorder sentenced him to five years' penal servitude.--Zeeds Mercury, Naval and Military Intelligence. THE NAVY. In accordance with orders received last week from the Admiralty, a searching inspection has been made by the dockyard officials of each vessel com posing the squadron of gunboats attached to the three divisions of the steam reserve in the Medway, at Chatham, previous to the sale of those vessels which the board may not be desirous of retailing in the service. The result of the inspection has terminated in an order from the Admiralty for the following gunboats to be sold—viz., the Spey, the Manly, the Palter, the Dwarf, the Fidget, the Tickler, the Thistle, and the Mastiff. Each gunboat, is about 250 tons burden, and of 60 horse power. The whole were built for the Government at private dockyards during the Russian war, and most of them are in tolerably good condition. A rumour was yesterday current at Chatham that it was probable the gunboats would be purchased by the Chinese Government, to form part of the Anglo-Chinese squadron under the command of Captain Sherard Osborne, C.B. Every exertion is now being used to hasten the completion of the mahogany diagonal-built paddle wheel Admiralty despatch steamer Salamis, 4, building at Chatham in readiness i for her launching, which is fixed to take place on the 19th of May. Her principal dimensions are,—length between per pendiculars, 220 feet; breadth, 28 feet 2 inches; depth of hold, 14 feet 6 inches; burden, 835 tons; horse-power, 250. The next ship to be built on the Salamis' slip has not been named, but, as the fol lowing vessels have been ordered to be constructed at Chatham dockyard, it is probable that one of the number will be laid down on the vacant slip—viz f the Pitt, 91 guns; the Boadicea, 51; the Pomona' 51; the Ganymede, 28; the Falmouth, 22 ; the Tees, 19 ; the Diligence, 17 ; and the Albatross, 4. The Admiralty have entered into a contract with the firm of Messrs. Cambpell and Johnston for the erection of a new caisson at the entrance to the second dock at Chatham, in which the iron frigate Achilles is under construction. The cost of the new caisson is estimated at £3,500. Directions have likewise been received at Chatham for the erection of a new boiler-house at the Achilles' workshop for the reception of the new machinery which is ordered to be purchased and erected during the present year. Among the sums voted for the ex penses at Chatham dockyard during the current y ear is one of £16,480 for wages for 480 additional hired mechanics and artisans to complete the work already in progress at that establishment. An official notice has been received at Chatham dockyard that the boilers for the iron frigate Achilles, 50, have been completed by Messrs. Penn and Sons, at their works, Deptford, and that they are ready for shipment. Owing to every foot in Chatham dockyard being now filled, and there being no un occupied shed at that establishment sufficiently capacious to receive the large boilers for the Achilles, it is probable that they will be landed at Sheerness dockyard, and placed in store until they are ready to be shipped on board the iron frigate. Admiralty orders have been received at Chatham for the merchant schooner Southland Head, which came into collision in the Thames, with her Ma jesty's paddlewheel steamer Medusa, Master Corn mender J. Loane, and received some injuries, to have her defects made good at Sheerness. The Jaseur, 5,80• horse power, attached to the first•class steam reserve at Chatham, is ordered to be brought for immediate commission, with a comple ment of 65 officers and men. She is intended for service on the West Coast of Africa. The Jaseur has been taken into dock to undergo the customary overhaul. The Pandora, 4, screw, Commander Ruxton, sailed from Spithead on Thursday evening, taking mails for Sierra Leone. The following appointments and promotions have been made at the Admiralty :—Commander Henry Phelps to the Victory ; Commander W. H. Anderson to the Foxhound, vice Commander the Hon. A. C. Hobart, promoted; Commander Charles T. Curme to the Hannibal; Lieut. Albert L. Nugent, flag lieut. to Rear-Admiral Austin, Admiral Superintendent of Malta Dockyard ; Sub-Lieut. C. W. Beaumont to the Magicienne; Wm. C. P. Grant, paymaster, to be secretary to Rear-Admiral Austin ; James J. Rutter, paymaster, to the Ajax; John G. Clarke, acting assist.-surg., to the Valorous; John Roberts (a), acting chief engineer, to the Indus, for the Orontes; Thomas Parker, engineer, J. D. Lamont and F. E. Sheen, assist.-engineers, to the Saseur ; Andrew Watt, of the Hastings, for the Griper ; John C. Williams, of the Black Prince , R obe rt W. Jones of the Asia, lent to the Warrior ; George L. Thomson, of the Spider, George Thompson , of the Fisgard, Thomas Hall, of the Leve n, a n d Frederick Wheeler, of the Rattlesnake, pr omoted to engine er; Simeon Lawton, of the Sparrow, John Pearce, of th e Malacca, David P. Steddy, of the Immortalite, Na thaniel Farrant, of the Wrangler, and G. H. Lox dale, of the Topaze, promoted to be acting engineers. The Lords of the Admiralty at Sheffield. In accordance with the recent determined spirit evinced by the Lords of the Admiralty to make themselves as useful as possible, by seeing with their own eyes all that relates to armour-plating, from the first rolling of the mass of iron to their final destruction in the form of targets at Shoebury ness, their lordships paid a long visit on Thursday to the great Armour-plate Works recently erected by Mr. Brown, the Mayor of Sheffield, and on that day opened and worked for the first time in the pre sence of a number ef distinguished visitors. The manufacture of armour-plates, we may premise, has within the last few months been in as fluctuating and uncertain a state as that of either the guns or pro jectiles to be used in destroying them. The experi ments at Shoeburyness at first gave very varied re sults, and it was not until after some time that they at last pointed almost decisively in favour of rolled plates instead of hammered. The fibre in the for mer was found to be stronger, the texture of the metal in every part more even, and the average of perfect soundness throughout altogether of a higher standard than could be relied on from the work of the steam hammer. Still, even with these data from which to start, there seemed a great difficulty in obtaining any large supply of really good plates, even when made of what is now thought to be the minimum thickness of 41 inches. We hear con stantly of the Armourclads on the other side of the Atlantic being coated with 12 and even 15 inch plates of iron ; but, in plain truth, these plates are mere shams, being built up by bolting together one inch or two inch plates till whatever thickness is required by the Government is attained, and by this manufacturing ruse the Federal authorities get a built-up plate of 12 inches with scarcely the re sistance that belongs to a solid one of four. But what the Yankee Navy-yard has to endure from its contractors is not tolerated for an instant in the supplies required for Chatham or Portsmouth, where the standard of excellence is so high that even very recently one eminent firm has had as much as £15,000 worth of its finished plates returned upon their hands for defects that were little more than trifling. In fact, every day has shown for some time past that the manufacture of plates on a remunerative scale is only to be secured by those who embark their capital and en terprise in it as a business of its own, and put up the extensive and very costly plant which is re quired to bring the manufacture of these gigantic slabs of armour to perfection: It was exactly these conditions which large manufacturers, as a body, did not care to fulfil, fearing that by the time their capital was sank a gun might be invented which could sink armour-ships too, and so render the pro duction of plates a worthless and no longer needed process. Fortunately, all manufacturers were not to be deterred by these remote evils or the near ap proach of Mr. Bright's millennium from throwing themselves heart and soul into the new business, and especially have the chief firms of Sheffield come for ward with a zeal in the cause which is likely to secure for their town a long monopoly in the lucra tive manufacture of ship's armour. Assuredly it has not been before it was sorely needed that the trade of the town has received their additional stimulus. The 150 tons of crinoline steel made almost weekly at Sheffield, and the quantities of " hardware" ordered by the Federal Government, have poorly compensated for the general stagnation of trade, and, above all, for the steady decline and departure from Sheffield of the trade in very cheap cutlery, which seems to be fast leaving the country. Accordingly, the winter, in spite of its mildness, has been one of unusual distress around Sheffield, and it will prove a perfect godsend to the town if more mills for making armour-plates are opened in Shef field on the same extensive scale as that opened at the Atlas Works by the visit of the Lords of the Admiralty on Thursday. Making crinolines for frigates will be found a much more lucrative em ployment than making it for ladies, and the fashion is now more likely to be permanent at sea than on land. Most of our readers will recol lect an armour-plate from the Atlas Works shown in the eastern annexe of the Exhibition last year, which was 22ft. long and 4ft. wide, and the pro duction of which was regarded as a perfect marvel, even by our own manufacturers. It serves well to illus trate the giant strides with which the new manu facture has advanced since then, when we state that on Thursday last a plate of upwards of 40ft. long, 4ft. wide, and 41in. thick, was rolled with the most perfect ease and success in the presence of the visi tors. It is only a few months since some nin, plates from the Atlas Works were tried at Shoeburyness, and proved that plates even of this great thickness could be made with the most perfect certainty. Yet on Thursday a glowing mass of almost molten iron, weighing more than 20 tons, was rolled into an armour-plate 19ft. long, 3ft. 9in. broad, and 12in. in thickness. The Atlas Works are situated on the outskirts of the town, where a good deal of interest was evinced in the visit of their lordships ; most of the people appeared to keep high holiday on the occasion, and all the streets had more or less of flags, which, when they could be seen, contrasted favourably with the thick atmosphere of murky smoke in which they floated. At 10 o'clock Mr. Brown was at the old mills to receive his visitors. Among them were the Duke of Newcastle, the Duke of Somerset, the Duke of Devonshire, the Marquis of Hartington, Viscount Galway, Earl Fitz william, Earl de Grey, Lord Wharncliffe, Lord Clarence Paget, Lord Alfred Paget, Mr. Roebuck, M.P., Mr. Grenfell, M.P., Mr. Robertson, M.P., Hon. J. Stuart Wortley, Hon. Col. Monckton, Capt. the Hon. J. Drummond, R.N., Sir J. D. Hay, M.P., Admiral Robinson, Admiral Spencer, Col. Boxer, R.A., Capt. Blake ley, Capt. Harrison, Mr. Pole, C.E., Mr. W. Fair bairn, Mr. Whitworth, Mr. Bessemer, Mr. W. Fowler, Capt. Maury, Mr. Clay, Mr. James Luke, Inspector for the Admiralty, &e. Before proceeding over the works the members of the corporation of Sheffield were introduced to their lordships, and presented them with an ad dress, to which the Duke of Somerset briefly re plied, pointing out how at the present time the navy of England was in a transition state, and that it was the intention of the Government to persevere, not impatiently, but steadily, in ex perimenting and improving the naval arma ments of the country, ready for the occasion, if ever the unfortunate occasion should arise, to be used efficiently in its defence. The visitors were then conducted through the extensive new and old mills and workshops, where some 3,000 hands were busily engaged in melting, bending, hammering, and twisting great masses of seething iron into every conceivable form its stubborn nature could be made to take. It was really a wonderful sight. On every side, amid thick smoke and deafening cla mour, the blazing rites of Moloch—the furnace God of old—were being celebrated. Great furnaces blar ing in the fierce white glare which sh one from their crevices were stuffed to the mouth with monstrous cranks and shafts, and uncouth bosses of red metal. Every now and then so me one of tlta :,s rotmos_ opened, with a flash that fi lled of phere with a glare as from sn io:N1-1,bealsanmdoa ze of fma sparks, metal, seething and sputtering n a like s much wax, was dragged off and moulded,o under the blows o f steam hammers that made the e arth tremble and the whole building to jump and chatter under the stroke as if frem the shock of a little earthquake. It was wonderful to see the skill with whichthegroups of workmen,uniting ailtheir indivi dual exertions in a series of violent efforts like a weird s pecies of dance, contrived to hedge and move about the great masses on the anvils, so that the hammer struck only where and how they chose. While the heat lasted in the mass, and that was for a long time, they never paused or slaekeied in their work, and though literally almost scorched by their proxi mity to red heaps they kept on toiling till the work was done, and the lump that a quarter of an hour THE ARMY• His Royal Highness the Du ke of Cambridge, the General Commanding-in Chief , concluded his annual official visit to Portsmouth yesterday by in specting the quarters of the Field Artillery at Hilsea, the formidable, but as yet unfinished, de fensive lines at Hilsea (planned by Sir John Bur goyne to defend the entrance into Portsea Island from the mainland), and Portsea Island from the main lan d),an d forts Widley, Nelson , and Southwick, on Portsdown-hill. His Royal Highness after wards returned to Government-house , Portsmouth, and, after partaking of luncheon, left by train for London, under a salute of 21 guns from the garrison saluting battery, the Royal Standard at the same time being hauled down from the flagstaff of the garrison and the Union Jack taking its place. The head-quarters of the 87th Regiment, under the command of Colonel Murray, disembarked at Portsmouth yesterday morning from her Majesty's screw transport Meg wra, and left by South-Western Railway at 11 a.m. for Farnborough and Aldershot Camp. Col: H. D. Harness, C. 8., director of the Royal Engineer establishment, Chatham, has been occu pied during the last three days in making his half yearly inspection of the companies of Royal En gineers at head-quarters , Brompton Barracks. Yesterday was devoted to an examination of the books and official documents belonging to each company. The hired sailing transport Norwood arrived at Portsmouth yesterday from London, and this morn ing will embark the remainder of the 2d battalion 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment, for conveyance to New Zealand. The headquarters of this regiment, it will be remembered, sailed some ten days since in the Elizabeth Ann Bright. GOING THE WHOLE HOG.—Cincinnati has lost her chief glory, and must henceforth resign with that the soubriquet of which she has long boaeted. West ward the hog wends his way, and over Chicago, the City of the Lake, his star now risen and sets. The season of 1861- 62 showed that Cincinnati was no longer entitled to the swinish distinction of being the chief pork-packing city of the world, as Chicago then packed 40,000 more hogs than she did. But the statistics of the present season, just pub lished, reveal the amazing fact that while Cincinnati has packed 562,582 hogs, Chicago has, by regularly established packers, packed no less than 970,264, or close upon a round million. We sympathise with Cincinnati ;we congratulate Chicago—henceforth crowned the true and undisputed Porkopolis.—Ncty York Times, March 28. It is a commonly received opinion that parrots and ravens live to a great age, From the follow ing statement, coming from a wealthy farmer of La Beauce, it appears that ducks also are long-lived. In a letter ad dressed to a journal he says I have in wy farmyard a duck of a small breed, which my father bought 21 years ago, and which then appeared to be very old. She has laid regularly every season since, and raised several good broods. She laid her first egg this year on the 28th ult. In beak and plumage this duck is very much like a wild one. I have never been able to learn where she was bred.' Clakqnani. Public Works and Buildings. • _ The estimates to be voted for public works and buildings have been issued. As usual, the expen diture for furniture and repairs of furniture appears high ; no less than £6,464 is charged as so expended at the South Kensington Museum in the last year for which the accounts are made up. The repairs and furniture of the British Embassy house at Pere, which cost £1,500 in each of the last two years, are to cost £3,234 this year. Among the items for works at home is one of £6,000 for lions to be exe cuted and placed on the pedestals of the Nelson Column. A sum of 180 is to be applied in con structing an electric telegraph from the Speaker's house to his stables. For works within the Houses of Parliament four votes are to be taken. The first 1 is a further vote of £1,300 towards £9,000 to be applied to wall-painting by Mr. J. R. Herbert in the Peers' robing-room, the subjects to be Scrip tural illustrations of justice on earth, and its de velopment in law and judgment. The subject on which the artist is now occupied is " Moses bring ing down the Tables of the Law to the Israelites." Another vote is ~ £1,600 to complete the payment for the last two of 12 marble statues of British So vereigns for the Royal Gallery, and to make part payment for two more, when the models of them, s r ecorridors contest are further votes, amounting to £6OO, ford for wall to - o rh m at on g i s very nearly the same amount as the subjects are 1 the meeting of paintings for the Pe.ellruss'tarnadtivtheeoCf which commenced with Parliament and terminated in 1689. The vote for Sir W. J. Hooker l as t year. reports that the num ber of visitors in 1862 was 550,132, the largest number in any year, and 70,062 more Kew Gardens --an increase mainly due to the influx than in 1861 for the International Exhibit' atten dance on any one day ion. The largest was on Sunday, the 24th of August, when 18,120 persons were in the gardens, but proper arrangements having been made there was no crowding. 26" 935 Sundays, a n d 282 , 197 4, persons attended on on week days. The cases of improper conduct were fewer than ever. In no previous year have the donations to the scientific department been so numerous and valuable. They have been chiefly derived from the International Exhibition ; almost the whole of the vegetable pro ducts of our more important dependencies have been transferred to the Royal Gardens, and in many in-. stances the collections were made and sent with s special view to this destination. It is impossible to exaggerate their general value. The past year WAS also distinguished by the compl etion of the grand centre of the winter garden , 212 ft. long by 137 broad. The introduction hate. India and our tropi- . cal colonies of trees yielding quinine is proceeding most successfully ; in the Neilghcrrics alone tlere are now above 117 , 000 cinchona plants in cultit • , tion. petition The receipts of the theatres, concert-rovEn2rosyper: other places of public amusement in Paris during of March was 1,941,320 fr , being a decrease of 2,031 fr. on the previous month. ry o t:n r. esna T itd h s, e :_ sa , m l e f all over France, he The OpitaioneNanat o t g la 0:a: n o if u e n 8 :13 t e io t n h s a . t ex. in favour of Poland, bigved by 600 women of P ar i s, journal add justhas The sentbweeonzaen ot of the the moved bY that One w am ri p ti l n e, g a o r n e Worsaii, were to put the question to the vote the would have for Poland as many votes PtrehaPtaerinutject re:dwee:Petarl election.' " as he had for h" 16 ow riaUXURIANT WHISKERS, Moustaches, and Eyebrows produced in a few weeks by the use of E LIOTT'S TONIC LOTION, the stimulative properties Of'which are unfailing in their operation. Thomas Elliott intites a trial from the most sceptical , that they may be con vi#ced of its infallible power. Price 35. 6d., ss. 6d., 10s. ad., and 21s. Forwarded on receipt of postage stamps.—Thomas Elliott, hairgrower (first floor), 51, Fenchnrch-street. T. E.'s wtgs, £1 lOs. MOORE BROTHERS' TEAS. gioice SOUCHONG, recommended 38. 9d. per lb. suitable for superior purposes, full rich Souchong flavour. 3gxed ASSAM. 1 , ighly recommended 48 Cd. per lb. of very choice quality, and the cheapest Tea sold. id per lb. deduction on 20Th. Bags and 45Th. Chests. Prospectus free. i MOORE BROTHERS, 35, London-bridge, City, E.C. • T HE best TROUSERS for gentlemen to wear are those made by ELSTOB, of 60, New Bond-str y are neither so low in price as to necessitate their being T e lessly put together, nor so dear as to gain only the althy as purchasers. "In media via tatissimus ibis." E STOB'S TROUSERS, TWENTY-ONE . SHILLINGS PER PAIR. ARKER'S PATENT TWO-WHEELED . ' CARRIAGES. he Exhibition "CAMBRIDGE CART," 45 guineas. he Sporting " CAMBRIDGE CART," 38 guineas. he Tradesman's " CAMBRIDGE CART," 30 guineas. he Lady's "CAMBRIDGE CART," 25 guineas. hese vehicles, constructed on an entirely new principle, s rpass all other two-wheeled carriages, for ease and freedom f m knee motion, combined with lightness. rospectus, with drawings and " opinions of the press," f eby post, on application to the Inventor and Patentee, nederick Parker, Carriage Builder, Cambridge. __! _