The Sun. — London, England, 1863-10-01 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence. THE NAVY. °' Aers were yesterday received at Woolwich to lay lowa the keel and frame of the ironcased ship Pal las, to be constructed after the design of Mr. Re a, chief constructor of the navy, with the utmost y mible despatch. Yesterday a party of 100 additional mechanics trnd shipwrights were removed from the other vessels in progress at Chatham dockyard, and placed upon the iron frigate Achilles, in order to hasten forward the completion of that vessel. From the energy with which the work of completing her is being pushed forward,little doubts are entertained that she will be ready for floating out of dock some time be fore the end of the present. The Scylla, 20, screw corvette, Capt. R. W. Cour tenay, arrived. at Spithead yesterday morning from the Noro, arid, according to present orders, will pro coed to sea on Saturday. The Falcon, 17, screw corvette, is receiving the fiuishilig strokes to her outfit alongside Portsmouth dockyard, and is expected to be commissioned im moaiately. The Wasp, 17, screw corvette, fitting for commis sion at th© same port, is also nearly complete, and gill be commissioned when out of the hands of the dockyard authorities. The Hector, 32, iron frigate, is ordered to be un docked at Portsmouth on the 10th inst., t h e dock in which she now li es b e i ng required for the use o f Bone of the vessels of th e C hannel deer. 0 wing to the great difficulty the iron in working the 95cwt. main deck w hich has been found ofgunstsee, it has clads of the Channel squadron when. at main deck been determined to mount the Rector's main encum • guns on slides. They wilt, h o e I, ho wever , sadly has a beam ber the deck, for, although th e 4 feet in the clear of 58 feet, there will only be aboutslides and the bitty on between the heel of the the deck. A gun carri a_ g g u e t n e is now before the Admi ralty which is guns . meet this difficulty in It is the joint intended to working heavy brßarcadhead, R.N., and Mr. Mur doch, of CaPt- 11. Inspec to r of Machinery. doeh, R.N., ew liner, Buo horse power, at The Duncan' scr ew large number of hands employed Portsmouth, has . a g her forward for commission as a upon her fl ags hip, it is sa i d , llg for the West India station. To -d a y the Act of Parliament passed on the d a y of the prorogation will take effect respect ing the appointment of navy prize agents. Each of her Majesty's ships is now to have an fint to represent and act for such vessel and the a o l 4e cers and crew. His place of duty must be within five miles of the city of London. The following officers' names have been removed from the official list of the Royal Navy during the past quarter—Lieuts. Hugh B. Hamersley (re. signed), Weedon Dawes, and Chas. B. Dobbin (act ing) ; Masters Francis Hison (resigned) and. B. B. Dowling ; Chaplain and Naval Instructor Rev. Chas. E. Mallard ; Surgeon Andrew Moffit, M.D.; Acting Sah •Lieuts. George J. Richards, Chas. 11. Leche, and Vincent C. Scholefield ; Seccnd Masters Francis E. \V halley (acting), resigned, and John W. H. Allen ; Assist.-Paymaster John It. Horniman. The following appointments were made yesterday at the Adfniralty :—Commander Edwin C. Symons, to the Indus; and the Hou. A. G. Curza Howe is nominated to a naval cadetship. THE ARMY. A notification has brief' received at Chatham gar rison from the War Department to the effect that the Secretary for ar has cancelled all circulars and orders at present in form) respecting the rules of payment to be made by the War-office to civil surgeons who ut foreign stations are specially placed in charge of troops or military invalids embarked in vessels, other than contract mail packets, or ves sels required. either by Act of Parliament, or under the terms , of the agreement with the Admiralty, to carry qralified surgeons. An amended scale of rates has befm fixed to apply in all future cases, and the Seeretray of State desires that it may be understood that a civil surgeon thus employed will have no claim to be provided with a passage back to the sta tion at which he took over the medical charge of the tr cops, nor to any sum beyond the prescribed scale :for remuneration. By direction of Field-Marshal the Duke of Cam bridge a battery of Royal Artillery, with its guns, is to be considered equivalent to a regiment with its colours, and is in all cases to be saluted accordingly. 1u consequence of the Chatham division of Royal Marines Light Infantry being between 300 and 400 men below its proper establishment, orders have been received from the Marine-office, directing Capt. C. L. T. Usher to proceed from headquarters with a recruiting party to the eastern counties, for the pur pose of raising the required number of men. By direction of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge a general order to the army, signed by the Adjut.-Gen., has been promulgated, specifying the terms and conditions under which grants of land may be obtained by officers of the army in the settlement of British Columbia, In future all field officers of 25 years' service will be granted 600 acres of land ; field officers of 20 years' service, 600 acres; and field officers of 15 years' service, as well as captains of 20 year s ' serv i ce, 400 acres ; captains of 15 years' service and subalterns of 20 years' ser vice will be granted 300 acres; and subalterns of seven years' service 200 acres. Lieut.-Col. C. H. Blunt, C,8., has joined the head-quarters of the Ist division of the Depot Bri gade Royal Artillery, and has been posted to No. 4 battery. The Royal Artillery brigades, officers and men, were yesterday mustered on parade at Woolwich in great coats, for the purpose of undergoing the Ge neral's half-yearly inspection. Orders have been received by Col. K enne d y, C. 8., commandant of the Military Train at the camp , Woolwich, to hold in readiness the 4th bat tal ion, in command of Lieut.-Col. O'Brien, to em. trirk for New Zealand. The battalion consists 260 of all ranks. They are expected to sail from Gravesend in about 20 days hence. The 55th Regi. ment of Foot are likewise stated to be under orders for New Zealand. The 12th Surrey or Kingston consolidated bat talion of Rifle Volunteers, in command of the lion. Major Cochran, consisting of 203 non-commissioned officers and privates, yesterday visited the Royal Arsenal and dockyard at Woolwich, accompanied by their own band. Special permission was obtained by Col. M‘gurdo from the War-office and the Board of Admiralty, and every facility was af f orded by the authorities for viewing the department dur ing the working hours. THE VOLUNTEERS. The lionourahl Artillery c o mpany had a grand e field-day y esterday at Alexandra -park, which at tracted a lar ge concourse o f spectators, not merely from the immediate neigh b ourhood, but from the The force northernmost stthurb s o f t h e metropolis. consisted of a battery of bzrse artillery, • h command of Lieut. J ay ; a squadron o f ligt cavalry, under the under Sergt. C ox; a b attalion of infan try, under Capt. Davis, the wh o l e b e i ng commande d by Capt. bout Blockley. They arri ve d at the scene of ac tion about 1 o'clock, and immediately divided into an attacking and defending force. Th e enemy, under CaP t • an d Adjutant Potts, proceed e d t o occupy the cres t s o f the hills towards the south. They commenced ope rations by sending out their light cavalry as a re connoitering party, but not succeeding in drawing the defenders from their position in the valley be neath, they were replaced by the principal com pany, thrown out as skirmishers. These, however, were speedily repulsed by the defenders, who ulti mately drove them up the hill again. Finding them selves outflanked, after sustaining a murderous fire, the enemy changed front and retired, hotly pursued by the defenders. They rallied, however, after a short pause, and once more bravely attacked the defending force, but Lieut. Jay's artillery coming up they were once more compelled to retreat and retire into the grove, hotly contesting every step of the enemy. At last, however, in the midst of a gall ing fire from all arms of the defenders, they found their ammunition failing, and they were obliged to Put an end to the battle by sending out a flag of truce. It is hardly necessary to say that the whole of the movements were performed in the soldierly way that always characterises the evolutions of the Hon. Arti!lery Company. The light cavalry troop charged in a manner that would have done credit to any regiment of regulars, and Captain Jay's horse artillery went through their parts in a way well calculated to sustain the reputation, they have already won by their performances at Brighton, Wimbledon, Wanstead, and other volunteer fields of battle. Many of the manceavrea were of a very picturesque character. During one of the retreats a company of infantry in crossing a field suddenly encountered a troop of cavalry. In an instant squares were formed and the cavalry were com pelled to retreat amid withering volleys from the kneeling and standing ranks. Another movement also won an immense amount of applause from the spectators. The enemy on retiring into the grove discovered a stack of hurdles. Captatihne once ordered his men to halt, arrange inthe it f . orm Th o e f y Pottshurdles conceal l w thems elves e t l r v o e o s p be hindo a ha f d en h c a e rd a ly na do c n on e were down and the cavalry were eye the hurdles light cavalry came up, and in the twinkling of an tied half their saddles. real After the rece ived with a sudden volley that in warfare would have emp manoeuvres we ceeded bivouacfir to cook their dinners, the r over es were lighted, an d the men proe l i g ht cavalry carrying off the palm for the excel lence of their cooking. When dinner was over, the band of the corps being in attendance, a general adjournment took place to the Barn, where the directors of the park had extemporised a platform oat of some table tops, and dancing commenced in right good earnest. From the diversified nature of the country Alexandra-park seems admirably adapted for a Volunteer battle 'ground, and next season will no doubt form a formidable rival to Brighton, 'Wimbledon, and Wanstead, more especi ally as it is the intention of the directors to form a 1,000 yards rifle range in the course of the winter. There were at least 10,000 spectators on the ground, including a large number of carriages and horse men. The corps did not leave the p ar k unt il near l y 1 dusk. The members of the 4th Tower Hamlet Rifles re sumed on Monday their prize firing, and persisted, though the weather was most unfavourable. In the first three contests—one for a rifle, presented by Mr. 11. Deakin ; the second for a silver watch and chain, given by Mr. J. Jackson; and the third for a silver challenge medal. Sergeant Baines, who at the last meeting won two first prizes, made the highest scores, and was followed by Corporal Swcitzer, who takes the place of the Sergeant as the winner of one prize, for two first prizes , are not allowed to be carried off by any member. The honorary members' prize, a gold medal, was gained by Mr. Mumford. A rifle, presented by Captain Hall, was shot for by the effective members at 400, 500, and 600 yards, and, after a severe contest, won by the same officer with 28 marks. A handsome cup, given by Mr. J. Harman, was next shot for at 200, 250, and 300 yards, and won by Privates Wal ker with 27 marks, and three money prizes were won by Privates Hill and Boys and Sergt. Watson. A silver cup, presented by Capt. Hutchinson to the sth Company, was won by Corporal Ellis with 32 marks at 10, 200, and 400 yards. Yesterday the shooting was continued and the present pro gramme completed, though other competitions are expected before the year is over. A gold watch, presented by Mr. Jeremiah Long, the representative of the district at the Metropolitan Board of Works, with a gold Albert chain added by Mrs. Long, was competed for at 300, 500, and 700 yards, and won by Sergeant Baines with 31 marks. A silver cup, presented by Mr. G. Hicks, was won by Captain Hall with 36 marks at 400, 500, and 600 yards. Among the prizes not shot for was a sack of flour, presented to the married effectives by an inhabitant. A sham fight on a small scale, but so well ar ranged as to afford to all who took part in it a larger amount of instruction than can be gleaned from more extensive and less manageable displays, took place on Saturday at Hadley, near Barnet. It will be pleasurably remembered by all who partici pated in it for these reasons, as well as from the lovely scenery in which the c ction took place and the hospitality shown by the 12th Middlesex. The defending force consisted of the Barnet and Enfield Volunteers, the Cadet company of the 12th (Barnet) Middlesex, and the Hatfield and Hadley troop of the Herts Yeomanry Cavalry, and was under the command of Major Wilbraham Taylor ; the attack ing force consisting of the 33d Middlesex (Totten ham), Captain Hill, and detachments from the Post office and Admiralty companies of the 21st Middle pea (Civil Service), commanded by Captain Da Plat Taylor. The who'e of the manoeuvres were under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Wilkinson, to whom Captain Baylis of the 36th Middlesex (Pad dington) and Sergeant F. E. Baines of the Barnet Corps acted as aides-de•camp. To the admirable plans of the ground and printed descriptions pre pared by the latter gentleman and forwarded to the various corps engaged, the success of the day's proceedings must be largely attributed. The defending force was drawn up in line on the crest of a hill sloping rapidly down to the wood, through which the enemy advancing from the Barnet Station of the Great Northern Railway moved to the attack. The defenders advanced pickets, and skirmishers were thrown forward to the extreme edge of the wood in their front, supported by a company posted in a sandbag lunette, placed halfway up the slope between the wood and the main body. The attack ing force, on arriving at the outskirts of the wood, threw forward a line of skirmishers to feel for the enemy, scouts having reported them to be in force in several parts of the wood, the main body at the same time being disposed in three divisions, the left d centre intended for a direct attack on the posi tion of the defenders, while the right wing marched to the outer edge of the wood, and, concealed from observation behind au intervening hillock, was ordered to create a favourable diversion by attempt ing to turn the left flank of the line of defence. The possession of the wood was hotly contested, and gave occasion for the display of considerable tact and judgment on the part both of the attacking and defending skirmishers, the latter executing several well-planned surprises, while the former, by care fully keeping up communication through the whole line of the advance, prevented these from being as serious in theirconsequences us they otherwise might have been. The defenders' skirmishers were at length driven from the wood and retired across the space in rear of the lunette, their retreat covered by the cavalry, which charged down on the attacking skirmishers, until, by their forming rallying squares, it was compelled to withdraw. The left and centre of the attacking force now emerged into the open, de ployed into line, and advanced at the double to storm the lunette and attack the centre and right wing of the defenders. They were received, however, by such tremendous file and volley firing alone the whole line of the defences that they were compelled to re tire and reform before they could renew the attack. They again advanced in direct echelon of Wings, and were again charged by the cavalry, whom they repelled by forming close columns of sections, and by opening a well sustained fire from the threatened faces of the squares. On resuming their forward movement, the right wing, which had hitherto been concealed, suddenly showed itself, and commenced a vigorous attack on the left flank of the defenders, who were taken by surprise. While they were ma king dispositions to meet this attack, the left and ce ntre of the enemy advanced at the double, cap. t u red the lunette, and compelled the wh o l e li ne of their opponents to retire. The two f orces were nowdrawn uP in opposing lines, and aft er a consi derable 0 of a mount of volley firing and file firing f rom both flanks an ks co mpanies an armistice was under stood declared. All the corpsproesrdenetr withthe g reat precision . then formed lineand advanced in review to h They subsequently marched past n olu m m o n v , em an e d n , tB h , a w vi e n r g e executed several u se— r a square and addressed in open and formed into three sides of q ua! er fa d l who complimented Wilkinson,a by Lieut.-Colonel 11'1 iBbtaattiteaelloc the troops highly, and of the day. He thanked those corps who had lent their aid i n the proceedings then invited all th e vo lunteers to a cce p t hospi tality of the Bar ne t C or ps, by w hom preparations captain Da Plat the on a liberal scale had bee n made- and Taylor replied on behalf of the invited cor p s, called for three cheers for Col. Wilkinson and for the Barnet corps. After much complimentary cheer ing on all sides, the voluntee rs pil e d arms , and camp fires having been lighted, proceeded to discuss the viands, served out by men told off for the purpose. j er vice and Enfield Corps added tl t y he te ° t l h v e il All pass The performances of the b e a a nd go s ffre o sere of the day. grea tly f without a single accident,ho had taken part in the proceedings. The annual inspection of the whole of the f our corps of Kent Volunteer igbelongingto the the w and to the entire satisfaction of every one 10th Administrative y stationed in Ch a th a m district, under the command of Lieu tenant-Colonel Gladdish, has been brought to a m os t satisfactory conclusion. By directi on o f th e Fi eld Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, Lieutenant -Colonel Talbot, commanding the let division of the Depot Brigade, Royal Artillery, was selected to report to his Royal Highness on the state and efficiency of each corps, which the inspecting officer found to be in a most satisfactory condition, not only as regards the knowledge possessed by officers and men in the theoretical branches of the science of artillery, but also in the practical duties with which a volunteer artilleryman is supposed to be conversant, relating to the mounting and dismounting of heavy guns, and the shiftings so necessary to be thoroughly un derstood in the transportation of iron ordnance. The four corps comprise the Ist (Gravesend), con sisting of two batteries, under the command of Cap tain G. E. Sharland ; the 4th (Sheerness), consist-' ing of one battery, under the command of Captain J. E. Beveridge; and the 13th (Sheerness), consist ing of two batteries, commanded by Captain J. H. Harper. The annual allowance ofgarrison gun and exercise ammunition, consisting of 100 rounds of shot, 25 rounds of common shell, and 30 rounds of blank to each of the six batteries, has been already expended; which bespeak a zeal in the attainment of a sound practical knowledge in the use of heavy guns not to be overlooked. The practice has been divided between two sorts of guns—viz., 68- pounders of 950 wt., and 32-pounders of 58cwt., smooth bores, and has been carried out at the entrance of the river Medway, where an excel lent range to seaward is obtainable. The precision in the art of gunnery attained by each corps was found to be most satisfactory. In every instance the guns ware admirably laid, the elevation accu rately calculated, the deflection of the shot very slight, while the cutting and fixing of the fuzes in firing the common shells was characterised by great accuracy. It is not yet known whether the Govern- ment intends to exercise Artillery Volunteers in the use and management of rifled ordnance, but it is de sirable that their instruction should not be confined to the old smooth-bore cannon, which are being I rapidly supplanted by Armstrong rifled guns. On Monday the members of the Ipswich Corps and the Watton Battery of Artillery were enter. tained by Mr. J. C. Cobbold, M.P., in his picturesque grounds at Holy Wells. The fete attracted a very large attendance. Various evolutions having been performed, dinner was set out on a liberal scale in a large tent in the grounds below the mansion. The chair was occupied by Mr. Cobbold, who was Sup ported by Lord Ranelagh, M.P., Captain Jervis, M.P., Lieut.- Col. Schreiber, the Mayor of Ipswich (Mr. G. C. E. Bacon), C a pt a i n Kerrick, Adjutant 2d Suffolk Administrative Battalion, &c. The prin cipal speaker of the evening was Lord Ranelagh, whose name was associated with the toast of "The Volunteers." The noble lord said he had been looked upon during the progress of the review as a kind of " bogie," hut having watched the troops closely, he must express his gratification at the manner in which the various movements had been pet formed. The only thing of which he could complain was that the troops did not give the " British cheer" when they charged. It was a proud thing to be an Englishman, for Eng land was, after all, the land of freedom. Americans 'night boast of theirs, but we were fifty times freer in England than they ever were. He was at the birth of the Volunteer movement, he had followed it up, and he should never forsake it, for he believed it tended to the advantage of the country in more war than one. The annual meeting of the sth Hants Rifle Volun teers for the competition for prizes commenced oe Monday at their practice range on the sh o re of Langston harbour, near Portsmouth. Fora prize value £lO 10s., the gift of Major Ford, five shots were allowed at each of two ranges -200 and 500 yards ; Private M'Cheane was the winner, with 25 points. A money prize of £5 55., given by Sir J• Elphinstone, M.P., was won by Private Wink worth. The shooting was continued on Tuesday. A prize of £5 53., the gift of Sir F. T. Baring, M.P., wa s won by Ensi gn E ve l e i g h . A field -glass, the g if t of Captain Rake, by Burrows, of Malvern was won by Private Winkworth, who made 21 marks in his seven shots at 600 yards. For a cup, value £ 5 5 , 8 " given by the Rev. J. K napp, chaplain to the corps, seven shots et 500 yards were to be fir ed ; Sergt. Chestle, Lieut, Grant and Private Wencane tied the winner, but in shooting off, Sergt. Chestle won the first prize, an d Li eut. Grant the second' A ladies' prize, valu e £ lO, was won by Sergt. c aplin, 12th Hants, with 38 mar k s. Of a prize of .£5 s s;, d the gift of Ensi gn D av i s ( seven shots at 300 yarde Private Winkw or th was the winner with 20 marks. On Monday a gran d di splay of the Volunteers of the counties of An g l esey and Carnarvon was made at place Holyhead, and a f r i en dl y engagement took be tween them and the seamen and marines of her Ma jesty's ship M a j es ti c , 80 guns, supported by the can non of their ship, A n i mmense concourse of people assembled from all p ar t s o f t h e northern counties, an d on the grand s t an d were among others the Bishops of Oxford and B angor , C o l . the Hon. E. G. D. Pen nant, M.P., Si r R. W. B ulkeley, My., B;. c. T he force consisted of a brigade of artillery and another of infantry, th e w h o l e commanded by 31ajor the Hon. W. 0. Stanl e y, M.P . The companies forming the artillery b r i ga d e w h ere the let and 2d Anglesey (Holyhead), th e 3d A nglesey (Beaumaris), and the Carnarvon company. Th e i n f antry brigade consiste d of the Bangor and Carnarvon Rifl es , a nd two com panies from the Penrhyn quarrie s• special trains conveyed the troops to Holyhead by 12 o'clock , a n d from the railw a y s t at i on they marched to the market halt, approp r i a t e l y d ecorated for the occasion, where a substantial rep as t h a d b een provided by Mrs. Stan ley. The dispositi ons f or action Were then made as follows:—On the railway a 4 gun battery was posted, with its face towards th e sea; half-way up the hill another 2.gen battery, dir ect l y behind t h e ot h er; and on the road two field Die - -ecs ) worked by the I st placed, Anglesey Corps, were I Ped, 80 to to meet any attempt at turning the other batteries by a flank movement. Between the road and the two-gun battery the infantry brigade Was massed. Shortly after 3 o'clock the guns of the Majestic, which lay some half mile fr om t h e b each, gave the signal of battle, and seven b oa t s , f ully equipped, darted ra pidly towards shore. A brisk cannonade was kept up between the ship and the batteries, till it was seen that the attacki ng party would make their first attempt at lending n ear the creek on the left flank. A flying battery of C a p t. It -.igby's 2d Anglesey Ar tillery was hurried a l ong the railway upon trucks drawn by a steam engine, a n d arrived in time to open fire on the =trines landing from the boats. The marines, however, compelled the 2d Anglesey to hurry off at expr ess speed, and commenced a movement for possessi ng themselves of the road running up from the creek. They were met by the Ist Anglesey, who worked their two field pieces in creditable style, but ultimately the marines succeeded in gaining the crest of the hill, driving the artillery before them. The blue-jackets of the Majestic, having supported the landing of the Marines, passed in their boats to the right flank of the four-gun battery, and effected a landing on a spot partially covered by a knoll of rising ground. Here they formed, and, led by Captain Inglefield, ran on to the battery, pistols and cutlasses in hand. but were driven back twice by the heavy firepoured upon them. Meanwhile the Marines on the crest of the hill advanced towards the two-gun battery under a heavy fire from the rifles posted behind the walls on each aide of the advance, and com pelled the 2d Anglesey Artillery, in charge of the battery, to retire. The two guns being now worked by the enemy made the position of the four-gun battery below untenable, so that, on the third attack of the seamen, the artillery broke and lied. A lull of half an hour succeeded, du r i ng which the Volunte ers ra lli e d , and a plan of attack was formed. Th e fi e l d pieces, supported by the Rifles, advanced on the two-gun battery, and re-took it from the Marines, who retired in good order towards the four-gun battery, closely fol!o wed by the Itifleu, whose Rio -firing was Very 1 THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY' EVUMNO, OCTOBER 1, 1868. effective. While the Marines were retreating th e four-gun battery was suddenly attacked ob the right flank by the artillery, and a heavy fire from the recaptured battery on the height completed the discomfiture of the enemy. He now retreated to wards the boats, under a sharp fire from the Rifles, who by this time hal gained the beach ; but, covered by the ship's guns, the boats retired. The departure of the Volunteers and of the immense crowd of sight seem was as well managed as could have been ex pected in such a miserable shed as the railway sta tion at Holyhead. One painful occurrence cast a gloom over the proceedings of the day. The gun boat Goshawk was moored within 100 yards of the beach for the purpose of covering the landing with her guns. After a few rounds had been fired, a man engaged in working the gun neglected to sponge it before putting in another charge. While he was in the act of ramming it down the charge went off, and precipitated the poor fellow into the sea, Late at night his body had not been recovered. Another man had his arm shattered at the same time. The annual carbine contest by the five Western batteries of the Duke of Cornwall's Artillery Volun teers took place on Wednesday at St. Ives. The proceedings were witnessed by a very large con course of spectators, who had arrived from dif ferent parts of the county. The weather was fine. The principal event was the battery priz e f or th e highest aggregate score. Each corps were allowed 14 men, and each man five shots at the respective di s t a nces of 100, 200, and 300 yards. The St. Ives c orps scored 439, three p o i n t s more t h an the competitors from Marazion. Oth er pr i zes, tota l Iv com about £3O, were also shot f or , O n F r id ay the alu 2 e d Duke of Cornwall's Rifle V o l unteers com peted Y for various money prizes at th e range i o f 150 and 200 yards. Private J. Harris seared 24 for five shots at each distance, and won the p r incip a l p r i ze . The 39th West Yorkshire Rifle Volunteers, Bing ley Company, held their annual prize shooting on Saturday at their range on Baildon-moor. The scoring was good, and a large number entered. The firs t prize was won by Private W. Sugden, 35 po ints, seven shnts at 200 and 400 yards. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.--Sept. 30. WORSIIIP-STREET.—A WOMAN'S VENGEANCE.-- E m ma Biggs, a respectable-looking, married woman of 30, wa s charged before Mr. Leigh with the following spiteful ass ault : One of the singularities of the case was the fact that both com plainant and defendant were in evident bad health, both so near their confinement that they were obliged to be s eated throughout, and one of them (the defendant), who rested her head incessantly against the wall near her, handed in a certificate from her medical attendant describing hi s patient's confinement as certain to occur near the Ist of ovom b er. Mr. Vann described this as a very malicious assault, and called Mrs. Sarah Chitty, the complainant, who stated that s he resides near the defendant, who, on the afternoon of the 12th ult., took offence at one of her children and threatened to chastise it. The child complained to the witness, who went to the defendant's house to remonstrate with her, on which defendant struck at and abused her so shamefully that she was glad to retreat to her own house. The de fendant, who was in a violent rage, instantly followed her, caught her by the nape of her ncek, pulled her out of her passage and into the street, where she flung her down, struck her, and held her while she kicked her furiously three times in the side. She became insensible, was so carried in -doors, where she found on coming to ;her senses that she had a large lump on the head, was confined to her bed eight days, and had been ever since, and was now under medical treatment. Mr. Edward Jenkins, surgeon, was fetched to the com plainant, whom he found suffering from hysteria, and in such a state that he was fearful one or more of her ribs were fractured. Her side was SWOlion, three inches below the heart there were three distinct contusions, the result of as many blows or kicks, and even now she was labouring under such low, nervous debility as to be in danger of premature confinement. The defendant declared that it was her child who had been assaulted first, and she called two witnesses to prove an attack upon her by the complainant, who had seized hold of her, and scratched and torn herself and her dress. Mr. Leigh really did not know what to do with a woman in such a state, as, though the defendant, if confined while in prison, would bo treated with every care and kindness, a woman might reasonably have a strong repugnance to hav ing her child born in a gaol. The offence, however, had been clearly proved, and the defendant must, therefore, pay a penalty of 10s. for the assault, 103.6 d. for the medical testi mony, 10s. Gd. for the attorney, and 2s. for the assault sum mons, or in default, undergo 21 days imprisonment in the House of Correction. The defendant was led out, sobbing hysterically, but ulti mately paid the money. WANTED AN OWNER FOR A FOUND BANK .NOTE.--- Ca therine Sullivan, a respectable-looking married woman of 30, living in Pelham-street, Spitalfields, was charged before Mr. Leigh, on remand, with having in her possession a£lo Bank of England note, and not giving a satisfactory account of the same. On the 10th ult. prisoner made purchases at the shop of Mr. Hall, a draper, at 106, Whitechapel, to the amount of 1 is. Bd., tendering in payment the note in question, and giving her name as Mrs. Solomon, 5, High street, Whitechapel. She received the change, but from some unexplained suspicion was followed and given into custody, on being seen to enter the house in Pelham-street, instead of the address given by her to the tradesmen. Mr. Vann, for the defence, declared that his client had found the note. Not anything was said with regard to the false name and residence, and prisoner was remanded. Inspector Driesen, K division,who had charge of the case, could not now bring forward any claimant for the note, but some undoubted witnesses as to the character of the prisoner gave her an excellent character for integrity and honesty, as also her husband, who is in the employ of Messrs. Lea chers, starch manufacturers, Whitechapel. Mr. Leigh ordered her to be discharged. Mr. Vann applied for the note to be given up. Tho magistrate said the inspector could do so or retain it, at his option, but must of course be answerable for either course, and the officer appeared ninth inclined to hold it for the prosecution of further inquiries, finally remarking that he would consider about it, and let Mr. Vann know the result. The number of the note is 35,204 (the date is withheld from publication.) In the middle of August last it was paid by the Bal - ik of England into the National Bank, with other moneys, making a total of £6,750, and four days afterwards paid away upon a check for £B9, drawn by Messrs. Watt and James, merchants, of Bristol, in favour of one Phillips. Not any more information can be obtained respecting it. GREENWICH.--BRUTAL Ass ON A FEMALE. — Henry Farmer, aged 30, of 43, Hales -street, Deptford, was placed in the dock before Mr. Trail!, charged with commit ting a violent assault upon Harriet Smith. The complainant, who appeared with her forehead ban daged, said she had cohabited with the prisoner for a period of two years, and had a family of t wo children, On t h e pre vious evening the prisoner came h ome the worse for li quor, and went to a box to obtain some c l othes to take away. Sh e endeavoured to prevent him doing so, when he commenced kicking the lid of the box, threw her down, and either kicked her violently on the forehead or she injured herself in fall ing, as on getting up she found the akin torn and hanging. Police-sergeant Member) 10 R, sa id that he was called upon to take the prisoner into cu stody, w h en t h e comp l a i nan t said he had kicked her on the f orehea d . Th e p r i soner sa id Y he had not done so, but that he did not care what was done with him, for he would as soon h a ve six months' imprison ment as be compelled to work, _ _ _ Mr. Train sentenced the prisoner to two months' hard labour in the House of Correction. HAMMERSMITH.—DISTRESSING CASE—DEATH IN WORICHOUSE.—Robt. Wnleox, a stonemason, was re-exa mined on a charge preferred by Mr. Edmonds, relieving offi cer of Kensington, for de sert i ng his w if e an d five children. When the case was bef ore Mr. Ing h am , on T u esd a y, M r . Edmonds stated that the w if e died in the infirmary of the workhouse on the previou s n i ght. Th e case was adjourn e d for witnesses. sister's eyes blackened, and scars on her face from his ill usage. They had lived an unhappy and miserable life. The prisoner, in defence, said his work dolled him away, and it was too far for him to go home. He had been oitt of work lately, and the Week he obtained employment he went home to his wife with COMO money. The following week he was thrown out of work, but last week ho obtained employment. lie went home on Saturday night and found his wife had been removed to the workhouse. He saw her on Sunday and he was told by the porter that there was a warrant out against him. He went on Monday night to make an arrangement and to see his wife, but he was re fused admission to her, and he was taken into custody. Mr. Ingham pointed out to Isl r. Edmonds that the pri goner's work caused him to be a distance from his home. Mr. Edmonds said that if he had time ha could produce evidence to show that the prisoner was never out of London during the time in question. Mr. Ingham then remanded the prisoner till Tuesday. The prisoner applied to be admitted to hal to attend the funeral of his wife as ho wished to see the end of her, Mr. Ingram said he would take bail, but as it was not forthcoming, he was removed to tho cells. WANDSWORTH SYSTEMATIC ROBBERY BY A SERVANT.—James Fisher, a carpet planner, was finally examined on a charge of robbing his employer, Charles Quilter, in the service of Mr. T. 0. Clark, an up • bolsterer at Clapham, stated that for the last five weeks he had had his suspicions of the prisoner, and had watched him in consequence of his keeping back after the other workmen had left at leaving-off time. About five minutes after five o'clock on the afternoon of the 21st inst., he discovered a roll of carpet in Mr. Clark's chaise, in the coach-house. He com municated with Mr. Clark, and it was arranged that witness should watch till the police arrived. About eight o'clock, being concealed under the chaise, he saw the prisoner enter the coach house, and unfasten the gates. He then went up to the side of the chaise. Witness could not see him take anything, but as soon as he had gone out he felt in the chaise, and found the carpet had disappeared. He rushed after the prisoner. and caught hold of him as ho was leaving the gated, when he dropped the carpet into witness's hands. Ho then seized witness by the throat, and said, " Don't holloa ; for God's sake don't holloa." Mr. Clark came up at the time to his assistance, and the prisoner was given in charge. Mr. Clark said the prisoner had been in his service about two years as a carpet planner, and had access to his stack, On the day in question he received information from Quilter. In the evening he heard a cry of help, and on going up he found the prisoner and Quilter struggling together outside his gates. Witness collared the prisoner, who then said, " Let me put on my coat, and I'll go quiet." The piece of carpet was 7i yards iu length, and had been cut off a roll in witness's ehop. The witness added that the coach•house was 70 yards from the shop. He had lost a great deal Of property, The prisoner did not deny taking the carpet, and said it was his first offence. Mr. Ingham committed him to the Wansworth House of Correction for six months, with hard labour. AN INCORRIGIBLE IMPOSTOR, Mrs. Hester Wooderson, a widow lady living in Virginia. place, St. James's-square, Notting-hill, said she was no relation to the prisoner's wife, but attended her through her , illness. She (the wife) was confine d th re e weeks ago. H er husband was away from home and s he was in a very dis tressed state, but she w ou ld not ap ply to the parish for relief. The prisoner returned home on Saturday fortnight, nine days after his wife had been confined, and he gave her 16s, out of which 4s was paid for rent and 58 for the doctor. He went away again on the following Sunday. Witness did not see him again until he was in custody. His wife was in a guying state, and when Alr. Frost, the parish doctor, was called in, ho said she was sugaring from want of nourish ment. As the poor people in th e neighbourhood were un able to support her, application was made to the parish officers, and she and her children were received into the workhouse on the following F r id a y. The prisoner said the statement of the witness was correct to see his wife on Monday night, as far as regards the money he gave his wife. When he left he went to his work, as it was some distance. Herring, the porter of the workhouse, said the prisoner He saw the same woman came , side the lodge, and she told him he was waiting for Wilcox. lockedH Hannah m a ß a p h he Ford,saw the e r s e i s Getablespte rof th f e e : A a e l e e dressed d e s a T e , n l e t d d c o i a n n i :b e e ci r l black e n r c o w e u a t o s - f said the prisoner week: She found her in a had been married to his wife ; receiving a letter from her • l6 ears' - s. on Thursday necestaries, lie was not :sober m water she Went is "erYthing to purchase day she "'Jelly starving. She said she did nyot c k attt . o e state, and fsv., husband. She had got rid of almost4low Where to find her a u , -- 3 D, and sh e h a d v ,... , aY she Nvo i. ,.... the court t on T h u b e . sday ' , -.4 , her Any 2, "or Button )y.„, Wolverhampton would seem to be fatal to impostors. Here the notorious Alice Grey was committed to the assizes, from whioh sho was sent to penal servitude ; a few months ago another female impostor, who had feigned illness and alleged that she had been robbed in railway trains, was committed from the same town; and now a third Alice Grey has been effectually stopped for a while in her extraordinary career. Yesterday in the Wolverhampton borough police court a young woman named Mary Ann Jones, alias Hutton, alias Williams, alias Taylor, who had been remanded from that day week, was again brought up, charged with being an imposter. Capt. Segrave, the chief constable—l have made inqui ries about the prisoner, and hold in my hand a number of letters which I have received from nearly all parts of Eng land. Her history seems a long one, and it proves her to be a rogue and a vagabond beyond any room for doubt. John Chidley, chief warder at the Stafford gaol, deposed that he knew the prisoner had been committed to that pri son seven times. On the first occasion, on Oct, 3d, 1801, she was sent for a month's imprisonment as a disorderly pauper. He did not remember where she had been commit ted from in this or any of the cases, as he had come away with little notice. The prisoner—From Burstein. Witness—On the 13th Nov., 1861, she was sent to prison for 21 days as a rogue and vagabond. On the 11th of the following December she was sentenced to three months for want of sureties. On the 19th of March, 1863, she was com mitted for a month under the Vagrant Act. After being out about a day she was sent back also for a month, likewise for being a rogue and vagabond. On the 25th May, again under the Vagrancy Act, she was sent to prison for three months; and on the 31st of last month she was committed as a rogue and vagabond for 21 days. Police• constable Henry Tew stated that about half-past 4 on Sunday morning he was on duty in Queen-street, and saw the prisoner standing at the top of Ptincess-street. Hearing her groan very much, he went and asked her what she was doing there. He could get no reply further than that sho came from Stoke, and that she would go and drown herself. She subsequently sat down on a step and appeared to go into hysterics, and although he put many questions,he could get no satisfactory answers. He at length took her to the station, and she then said she had run away from Bur lem with a young man, who had deserted her near Wolver hampton. Judging from the smell of her breath that she had taken poison, he sent for a surgeon, and the result was that it appeared she had taken something of the sort. Mr. T. H. Wolfington, surgeon, and assistant to Mr. Dehano, surgeon to the police, deposed that he was sent for by the police on Sunday morning, the 20th inst., to the police-office, where he found the prisoner attempting to vomit. In reply to him she said she had taken some powder as a poison. He gave her an emetic and afterwards several nauseous draughts. The emetic produced a slight vomiting, and the nauseous draughts cleared the stomach. The pri soner appeared very ill, and being himself alarmed, he called several times during the day. She appeared better after she had taken the medicine, and calling him aside said a young man had given her the powder to obviate the consequences of previous misconduct, and that she was likely in five or six months to become a mother. Yesterday morning, however, on the instruction given by the Mayor a week ago, he made an examination which enabled him to state positively that she was not in that condition. The prisoner declined to put any question to either of the witnesses. The Chief Conptablo said there was an officer present who could depose that there was no such person in Burslem as the imaginary young man charged by the prisoner with the offence named. It was not thought necessary to examine this witness. Mr. Iremonger then read to the prisoner certain of the communications that had been received by the police autho rities. From those documents it was gathered that the pri soner's name is Mary Ann Hutton. She is the daughter of respestablejlworking people of Burslem ; for some time she lived as servant in the family of an uncle, who is a grocer in that town, but she absconded about six years since. Nothing was again heard of her until about two years ago, when she was found ty the roadside at Stone by Mr. R. S. Adderley, who having been told by her that she had been violated by three men at Trentham, took her in his carriage to the Stone Workhouse. The abominable charge was proved to be unfounded, and she afterwards con fessed as much, We next hear of her in the city of Chester, where she made a somewhat similar charge, and was de tected, but being destitute, the magistrate only sent her to the workhouse. At Eliza Ann Williams she has also been in the custody of the county police of Chester, on the charge of feigning fits in the streets of Tarporley, in that county. For this offence she was imprisoned four days. She is well known at the General Railway Station at Chester, from which place, after feigning fits, she was taken to the Chester Infirmary. Because of her celebrity, the Chester police had her photographed, and the likeness was yesterday pro duced in court. The prisoner was evidently the original, notwithstanding her effort, by closing her eyes when the photographer was before her, to disguise her identity. At midnight on the 22d of May this year a young woman was found in the streets of Eccleshall, in Staffordshire. She appeared very much excited, and said " I will destroy my self. Oh 1 I wish I had never done it." She was ap parently in great pain, gave her name as Mary Ann Taylor Hutton, of Burslem, but would not say what she had done. She was searched, had refreshment given to her, and was put into a cell for safety. On the next morning she ap peared very ill, and Mr. Greatrex, surgeon, was sent for. She told him that she had taken arsenic that had been purchased at Shiffnal, in Shropshire. Every attention was Paid to her on Saturday. On Saturday morning she seemed a great deal worse, and Mr. Greatrex was again called in. She told him she had taken more arsenic, which she had concealed in her stays. Mr. Hawthorne, another medical man, was sent for, and they both considered that her depo sition should be taken. Accordingly, the magistrates (Mr. E. Lyon and Mr. H. Hillick) were called out of church to be present, when the clerk took down her statement. On Monday morning Policeman Keith saw her in the cell, and at once recognised her as the woman. whom Mr. Adderley found on the roadside at Trentham, and further more showed that three months after that time, when a keeper on the Trentham estate had been nearly killed by poachers, she alleged that she could give evidence which would secure the conviction of the offenders, and a house pointed out by her at their rendezvous was searched, only, however, to prove an imposture. This evidence the officer gave before the magistiato on that (Monday) morn ing, and they committed the now fully-recovered impostor for three months' imprisonment. Since thr.t time she has been further imprisoned by order of certain of the Pottery magistrates. We next hear of her in the South Staffordshire llospital, at Wolverhampton, to which place she had been conveyed from the adjacent village of Mosley on the 11th of last March, alleging that she had been poisoned, &c.; but Mr. Keogh, the house surgeon, who had detected a similar case a few months before, soon discovered the cha racter of his patient, and she was discharged on the follow ing day. Although she gave the name of Mary Ann Taylor Hutton, yet Mr. Keogh has identified the prisoner as one the same person. On the 12th of March last, the very —nt from the Wolverhampton Hospital, a Mary found on the road at Sedgley, threatening to Commit suicide, and complaining of having been violated. She was taken first to the workhouse, and then before the magistrates, by whom she was admonished and discharged. Next, and last, she is found on the 19th inst. in the streets of Wolverhampton by Policeman Tew. In reply to the magistrates, the prisoner said she had no urther statement to make than that she had never lived as servant to her uncle, and she hoped their worships would send her for three or four years to a reformatory school. The Bench committed her to take her trial at the next Staffordshire Quarter Sessions as an incorrigible rogue and vagabond. While she was being taken to her cell she told the gaoler that she was as glad as though she had had £2O given to her that she had been committed for trial. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TImES.—We must again bespeak attention to the experience now daily accruing on the important question of Artillery and Fortifications. It has been stated as a reproach to our authorities that we have allowed no free competition between artillerists at home, but the complaint, whether well or ill founded, is of little importance, since all the requisite expe riments are conducted for us abroad. It Parrott and Blakeley guns have had no trials at Shoeburyness, they have had enough and to spare at Charleston, and we can measure their merits and defects with as much ease as if they were in use at Woolwich. The question in fact resolves itself into a comparison between the ordnance used by the Americans and that used by ourselves. If what the Americans have done and are doing is more than we are doing or can expect to do, we are certainly in arrear of our duties, but that as yet is by no means certain. Both Federals and Confederates have got far bigger guns both afloat and ashore than we have brought into use, but it is not yet established that the biggest guns are the best. It is beyond doubt that Charles ton was shelled at five miles' distance—that is to say. a few shells from the batteries did actually fall into the town. But it is evident that the bombard ment was altogether ineffective, and our correspon dent in the Southern States has related a report that after the first three or four rounds the projec tiles all fall short, owing to the damage suffered by the guns. This account is all the more probable from what we know of the final result—namely, that after very short practice many of the pieces actually burst. We are prepared, however, to ad mit that even these facts are not decisive of the whole question. If a dozen 16-inch shells could be thrown into a fort or arsenal at a five-mile range, it might be well worth our while to purchase such a re sult at the cost of a gun. Better dis lodge an enemy and lose a battery than keep a battery and leave the enemy unharmed. If these heavy guns do really, before they burst, perform feats hitherto thought impracticable, and calculated to secure some of the great objects of warfare, we cannot discard them on account of their short-lived powers. This drawback of sudden decay must be taken into the reckoning, and we must pro vide for an expenditure of cannon as well as of cartridges, and that is all. But this condition being granted, it is not at all certain that the Americans are ahead of us. A correspondent informed us on Friday last that our 110-pounder Armstrongs could make excellent practice, and without bursting, at a range quite as long as that from which Fort Sumter was bombarded. He added, too, that the smaller Armstrongs had thrown their bolts more than twice that distance with a given elevation, so that the larger pieces might be expected to do at least as much as any American gun at Charleston. From this it follows that the range of our artillery is fully as great as that of the American artillery, and if the calibre of our pieces is lighter their strength is far more to be depended upon. As to the heavier guns, we also have got some 300-poun ders, pronounced " effective," but our monster can non, like those of the Federals, are found, unfor tunately, apt to burst. The question, therefore, must ultimately turn upon a balance of advantages and disadvantages. If large guns cannot be made powder-proof, we shall have to weigh their cost against their service and decide accordingly; but we must record as a piece of practical experience that thb 800-pounders of the Confederates have already been condemned by General Beauregard himself. That distinguished engineer, after making trial of this enormous ordnance, has, it is said, re quested that no more such cannon may be sent to him. Equally uncertain is the lesson to be drawn from the contests between forts and batteries in Charleston Harbour. We do know that Fort Sum ter was riddled with shot and shell at a range of two miles and upwards, but wealso know that the Confe derate flag was still flying over the work when the last intelligence was received. We know, too, another thing, and on Federal as well as Confederate autho rity. Though Fort Sumter was so shattered, Fort Wagner resisted the same artillery with perfect im punity. Neither Parrott nor Dahlgren guns, neither shot nor shell, produced the least effect on the de fences of this fort, which was abandoned only be cause the sappers bad worked close up to it by the rules of science, and which was found by the be siegers to be absolutely uninjured. When we ask of what these bulwarks consisted, we learn that they were formed of sandbags, so that defences which could be extemporised on any seashore are disco vered to be proof against the heaviest artillery ever yet brought into battle. It seems as if we should never get to the end of the race between Forts and Ships. Of the naval experience derivable from the American War we can say at present but little, owing to the peculiar character of the vessels em ployed. There is not one of these vessels, unless it be the Ironsides, the armour of which would be re. gard.ed in this country as fit even for an expertmen tal target. Their very latest model, the Tecumseh, which was launched the other d a y at Jersey City, is protected only by five wrought-iron plates each one inch thick. We know tha t such plating is worthless, and that our artillerists would hardly be at the trouble of trying a gun against it. The Armstrong 110 pounder has smashed twelve such plates in a mass, and the old 68 pounder would do as much with equal ease. Th e truth is that no valid comparison can be sustained between our iron-cased ships and the American Monitors. We not only forge our plates in solid sheets, but we scrutinise every one of them with extraordinary minuteness, and reject every month at our dockyards as much iron as would arm a Monitor. The Americans, from the very necessities of their position, adopt a rough and-ready practice, but with what results is per haps hardly yet known. '1 he performances of the Monitors at Charleston seem enveloped in mystery. We certainly do not hear of their being sunk or captured, but they appear to have received consi derable injury, and we know that the military authorities have complained angrily of the ineffec tive co-operation of the fleet in the work of the siege. But the relative inefficiency of the Confe derate guns is a mystery also. Unless our experi ments are delusive, eve have guns which would to a certainty pierce the sides of any vessel armed, like the Monitors, with built-up plates, and yet, though the Confederate batteries are said to mount guns of our best manufacture, it is remark able that they perform no such complete service. POST.—The cordial receptions which Admiral nacres and the officers and men under his command have received from the inhabitants of the various ports visited by the Channel fleet during its re cent cruise have been all duly chronicled, and it is extremely gratifying to observe the pride and interest which is taken by all classes in the ap pearance of these fine ships and their crews—a result which is perhaps as much due to the re collection of the debt which the country owes to the past achievements of this particular branch of the service, as from the certainty that our future position among nations depends upon our r o e s l t in a ci s u su is r h e e d a ly th b e e task main t a ining the supremacy upon the oc e a n , f or o th f e ru d l a i y n g on the wh w ic a h ves would Britannia m day on which this nation would sink into the position of a mere third-rate Power. Every one, therefore, having the welfare of his country at heart must view with peculiar interest the huge iron monsters which are destined to take the place of our old wooden walls. And it must be admitted that such splendid triumphs of engineering skill as the Warrior and her consorts represent are well calculated to inspire all who gaze upon them with confidence. But while indulging ourselves with these feelings of satisfaction, it is impossible —indeed it would be most unwise—to close our eyes to the fact that these magnificent specimens of naval architecture are after all but so many experiments the value of which has yet to be proved by the results, which can only be obtained in actual war. It is well known that the im provements which have been made in artillery of late years have compelled us to adopt a stronger material than the one formerly in use for the con struction of our ships of war. The first plan of giving protection to the vulnerable wooden hull by means of a covering of iron plates has given way to the system of constructing vessels entirely of iron, while the third and last point consists in deter mining which is the form or model calculated to produce the most formidable engine of war out of the materials at our disposal. On this point we are at direct issue with enter prising rivals upon the other side of the Atlantic. Great Britain and America have been for the last two years steadily pursuing directly opposite courses, each fully satisfied of the correctness of their own theory. And while we have had the benefit of much leisure for calmly considering the merits presented by either system, the Americans have had the ad vantage of experience in actual war for guiding them in the conclusions which they have arrived at. Die chief characteristics of the two rtheories may be summed up in the following words—few but v e ry heavy guns in strong and diminutive hulls , 2 ve • SUS well armed, large, and powerful ships. The first, which is the American theory, aims at inflicting the greateet amount of injury by coneentrating the whole force of the vessel's armament into a single blow, while at the same time pre venting the smallest possible mark for the reception of the enemy's fire. Although the advantages and disadvantages of these two opposite principles have been frequently dis cussed in the public journals, no very satisfactory conclusion appears to have been arrived at up to the present period; for the experiments which have taken place from time to time upon the other side of the Atlantic have been so varied in their results that, so far from helping to settle this difficult ques tion, they have tended rather to envelop;! in greater obscurity. At one time we were told of i.be com plete failure of the monster gun theory ; and the repulse of the monitors at Charleston in the eari;er part of the year was quoted in support of this view, for it was said that the monitors found it impossible to sustain the oombat with their few, slow working, heavy guns against the rapid firing and storm of shot and shell which was directed against them. On the other hand, there is the case of the Atlanta and Weehawken, in which instance one single shot from the monster gun of the smaller vessel is said to have actually decided the action, by smashing in the iron sides of the Atlanta, killing 40 of hes crew, and making a prize of her in 15 minutes. We are well assured that all that can be said on this subject, if unsupported by the test of actual experience is of little avail. Admiral Dahlgren may continue to blow the Warrior to pieces in his imagination, while Sir William Armstrong is occu pied in driving his bolts through Capt. Ericsson's iron turrets upon paper, but we shall remain at as great a distance from the conclusion we wish to arrive at as ever. This is a question which can only be decided by the experience which is to be obtained in actual conflict, or by such a bond fide experiment as the construction of a vessel on precisely the same model as that of the American turret ships, and trying the effect upon her of a broadside from the Warrior. On the other hand, it would be wise to see what effect a 4401 b. shot would have upon the bows or stern of one of our favourites, instead of confining our experiments to firing comparative pop-guns at models of her strongest sections. If she bears the shock without flinching, then only we shall be satisfied that our money has been well laid out; but, if not, and we should have the misfortune to discover that we had only generated another Atlanta, the sooner she was disposed of to a needy neutral, and her place supplied by something supe rior to her, the better. This, unfortunately for the pockets of the public, is the age of new inventions, and we have necessarily to buy our experience. It is our business to set about doing this without loss of time, and in the most thoroughly effectual man ner within our reach. We cannot afford to stand still, or we shall soon be left behind in the race with. other nations. Great Britain and America, as the exponents of two opposite theories, stand before the world as two rival candidates for public favour; and, while the question of the superiority of the two systems is as yet undecided, we turn with come pardonable anxiety to see what view other unpre judiced nations take of this matter, France is in a measure committed to the principle of the broadside armament, having been the first nation to introduce armour plating, and cannot, therefore, be looked upon as a wholly unprejudiced supporter of this theory; whereas Russia and Holland, nations that ) may be said to be wholly unprejudiced, appear in clined to favour the turret principle. If then, we wish to be upon the safe side, we had better make i up our minds at once to conduct experiments upon a scale that will be better calculated to tiolve this very important point. COUNTRY MARKETS. NEWARK-WEDNESDAY. About an average supply of wheat at our market to-day, and sales wero made at easier rates. The weather has been very favourable for pastures and root crops during the past week. White wheat new, 42s to 458 Barley, - grinding.. 30s to 32s Red do. 415 to 438 Oats, old, .. 2Bs to 31s Old white 44s to 475 New do 22s to 24s Red do. 408 to 42s 1 Beans. 38s to 41a Barley, malting.. .. 3GB to 41s 1 Beans, new —s to --s HULL-TUESDAY. At to-day's corn market there was a fair supply of Eng lish wheat, which was taken off readily at the prices of last week. In some instances a slight advance was obtain able. Oats were not much in request, at rather lower rates. Malting barley dull, at a decline of is per qr from the last week's prices; grinding sorts also easier. Beans and peas slow, at late rates. Wheat.... Old white per qr. 44s Od to 46s 00 Old red New white .. » New red ..• • 71 Barley.... Engltmalting 3Bs Od to 40s Od Grinding 26s 6d to 28s Od Said and Oderbruck Holstein and Danish 3os Od to 31s Od Grinding Oats English, old 26s Od to 28s Od Archangel and Riga, per st 0512141 to . 13d Friesland and Dutch osl3d to Osl3lA Swedish and Danish Osl2id to osl3d Beans ....English, old, per qr 43s Octto 45s Cd _ _ New pigeon 42s Od to 44s Od New tick Egyptian .. 30s Od to 33s 6d Peas Foreign boilers ... 34s Od to 35s Od Grinding Tares ....Spring Indian Corn Linseed, feeding crushing Linseed cakes (Hull) 110 0 0 to £0 0 0 Foreign: Bl5 oto 9 0 0 Rape cakes . 6 0 oto 0 0 0 Bones 5 5 oto 510 0 LYNN-TUESDAY. At this day's market the show of wheat was moderate, with a fair sale, at a decline of from is to 2s per qr. Oats and other articles generally lower in price. White ..40s to 45s j Barley. 34s to 38s Red..: 38s to 42s Grinding ..28s to 32s I Beans .383 to 40s Oats .lBs to 24s New —s to —s I Peas —s to —s COAL Prises of Coal per Ton a: s. d.' Byass's Bebside West Hartley ....17 3 Carway and Dnffryn Malting .. 20 0 Eden Main 18 0 Lambert's West Hart- KARKET. it the close 01 the market. ley 17 0 Wylain 17 0 Ships at mark, Walls End. a. d. Haswell l9 3 Braddyll's Hetton 18 6 Framwellgate.. lB 0 K elloe CaFsop lB I South Hartlepool 18 :et, 24 ; sold, 23. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton. Oct. 19. via Marseilles ... Oct. 13. Llrazil and Cape Verde, by British packet. Oct. 5. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena Oet, 29. China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton Oet. 2. via Marseilles Oct. 13. Falkland Islands ......... Gibraltar, via Southampton .. Oct. 2. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Oct. 2 via Marseilleio Oct. 13. India (Bombay), via Southampton via Marseilles Oct. 5. Portugal.... .. .. Oct. 5, Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton . Oct. 2. via Marseilles Oct. 11. Newfoundland Oct. 2. Oporto and Vigo .............. U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... Oct. 8, by U.S. packet.... by Canadian packot.Oct. 2. W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe .. .. Oct. 10. Bahamas, via New Y or k Oat. 22. Mexico ••••0ct.29 . All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Pe ru, I . Oct. 14 California. a n d Briti s h Columbia.. Full benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur chasing Horniman's pure Tea; very choice at 3s. 4d. and 4s. " High Standard "a, 4s. 4d. (form er l y 4 s. Bd.), is the stronges t and most delimits imported. Agents in every town supply it in rackets. Births, GAGE.—On the 29th ult., at Sandgate, the wife of Lieut.- Colonel the Hon. Edward Gage, Royal Artillery, pre. maturely, of a son. MONTAGU.—On , the 27th ult., at Dover, the wife of Lieut.. Colonel Montagu, Royal Engineers, of a daughter. STORAIONT.—On the 28th ult., at Scone Palace, Perthshire, the Viscountess Stormont, of a son. VIGNOLES.—On the 27th ult., at Folkestone, the wife of Henry Vignoles, Esq., C.E., of a daughter. Marriages. ERRINGTON—RIDDELL.—On the 29th ult., at St. Mary's, Felton, Northumberland, John Errington, Esq., of High Warden, to Gertrude Mary, youngest daughter of Thos, Riddell, Esq., of Felton-park. HIRD — KEIP,—On the 29th ult., at the British Embassy, Paris, William Bird, of 2, Elm-grove, Peckham, late of Darlington, to Anna Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Francois Keip, of Passy, near Paris. Deaths. COLT.—On the 27th ult,, at In%eresk House, near Edin burgh, John Hamilton Colt, Lieut. R.N., late of H.M.S. Euryalus. DAVY.—On the 29th ult., a t Notting-hill, John Davy ) Es.q., late of Jamaica, aged 62. HANBURY.—On the 29th ult., at Frohsdorf, Eastbourne, Herbert, fourth son of Robert Hanbury, Esq.) M.P., aged six years and one month. JoltNsToNt.—On the 19th ult., at Dublin, Major-General John Douglas Johnstone, 0.11 late Lieut.-Colonel of the 33d Itegt. FADLOY.—On the 29th ult., at Farchsm, Hants, Joseph Padden, Esq., aged 10, PEDDIE.—On the 29th ult,, at the Craven Hotel, London, a few days a f ter his return from the West Indies, Capt. Crofton Peddie, 2181, Royal N.B. Fusiliers, aged 33. London : Prlkzed and rublished by WILLIAM ANDREWS., , of No. 112 , S trand, P r i n ter, at TnE S UN Office N 0.112, Strand, in the 1'1'0;3111a of the Savoy, in the County of Ididdlesex.— Thursday, October 1, 1863, _ _