The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-04-28 00:00:00

LONG-RANGE CANNON.

' An article in the .14rzte
1860," s nl4 thikt can be said
_E u rape e iii i f ,entitled
"Le Canon en
saps all
lately invented in
against the long-..-rang
• this opntry:---
4, If two guns be directed to the same point,
that of
,greater precision
precision is that the projectile of
which arrives then nearest to the point ill a right
or straight line, and the least distant from 81,4
right line to the right hand or to the left. There
is,
therefore, precision in length or distanee, and
precision in direction.
~ Precision in direction is of less importance on
the field of battle. The point aimed at, whether
infantry, cavalry, or artillery, almost always offers
a front of a certain breadth, and whether the pro-
jectile travel a little to the right or left of a right
line is of no great consequence. This precision of
direction is the least difficult to effect. •
.‘ Precision in length or distance, or, in other
words, so firing that the projectile shall attain
the exact distance of the point aimed at, is the
more difficult problem. On the field of battle
one only of the elements of firing is variable, that
is the elevation of the gun, since the charges
being all prepared are all of the same weight.
If the distance of the object.were exactly known,
it would be sufficient to give the gun the neces-
sary elevation; but, unfortunately this distance

fo
" It certainly is remarkable as an attainment-
gunnery that Armstronc, and Whitworth cannonshould, at an angle of 35' degrees, throw ii,proiec:
tile some 10,000 yards ; but it has no practical
value, and, indeed, becomes a vice if done at DO
cost of the simplicity of the gufi. _
" What deserves more attention is uniformity
in firing, which is more difficult of attainment."

THE GRAVES AT SEBASTOPOL.

A correspondent of the Times, writinglrble,
Sebastopol, April 10th, says,—"-Being on a shot'
visit to this place, and feeling very desirous to See
the last resting-places of our fallen countrymen,
I called on Lieutenant-Colonel, Gowen (American
contractor with the Russian Government for rail-
ing the sunken ships in the harbour), for some
information—he being the only person who knew
their relative positions—who very kindly offered
to accompany me. Our first visit was to
Cathcart's-hill, where we found the beautiful
large black marble cover on the tomb a,
Sir Robert Lydstone Newman, .- Captain.
Grenadier Guards, had been removed by some %tar
legions hands, doubtless seeking for jewelry or other
articles of value. We endeavoured to replace the
cover in its proper position, but were unable to
move it. Colonel Gowen proposed haVing it
replaced in .a few days. We also found Pe
hinges on the gates partly hacked off, evidentli
for the paltry value of the copper. - I also 'learn
from 'Colonel Gowen that there had been pre'viously a number of shot and shell .placed
oger
andaround several of the graves,hy relatives and
friends wit') had visited the spot ; these, together
with the large shot surmounting-the corners of the
wall enclosing the cemetery, and on each side 01
the gate, are new all gone. We next visited thf,
artillery graveyard, and discovered that thei
had also disturbed the tablet- from the tomb 0;
Captain W. K. Allix, Aide-de-Camp to Genersl
Sir de Lacy Evans. The walls around thi'°
cemetery were sadly . broken .down. We then
proceeded to the graveyard of the Naval Brigade,
where a ghastly sight presented 'itself. We
found the slabs that covered the grave of Con;"
mender Lacon Usser Hammett, of Her MajestY°
ship Albion, had been. turned over, and elo
remains of that lamented officer entirely exhumed'
the bones as well as some remaining portiqua
the uniform being scattered around the
which evidently had 'been opened only a fed'
days before. It was truly a heart-sickening sper
tacle to behold the . last mortal remains of ti'
brave officer lie bleachingin the sun,-Col, Govil
assured me that on the folloWing Sunday he would
have the remains carefully restored to their faille'..
peaceful state. We then visited several other
graveyards, and found them more or less in a very
dilapidated state—the walls broken down in mans
places, and in some instances so much so that
even the cattle have been found grazing withi:,
the enclosures, Notwithstanding, however, tu
mutilated and neglected state of many of 'toe
graves of those brave men who 'fell in the Gritneth
still the sincerest thanks of ,every true Elf,
lishmen are due to Coldnel.dowen for the Iva)"
Christian and sympathising interest Ile leas 130
disinterestedly taken in having,: Vrairely at hi!
own expense and trouble, alt4dy repaired and
restored many of the English graves and mile
teries, as well as several of the lenoh and
Ng;
dinian, and preserved them from
-jiatio an"
‘noped that our
decay. It is sincerely to be,
Government will take pfa sivedy and neeessell
measures for puttin:g grave-yards proe,
our
state of reptlT: as to preserve from- oblivion last re6ting-places of so many brave men who fell
during the Crimean campaign.
THE GRAND IMPERIAL BALL.

A letter from Paris gives the following"account
of this entertainment : _ ' •
" A favoured few of Paris were present It11'
night at perhaps the most magnificent, fairy-v
fete ever given in this city .01: splendour tit
pleasure. So glarVelbus.ly dazzling was it On
even memory fails to real the multitude_ of:brigt
Causes'that produced ail effect so rich in model;
enchantment. The ball was given really by that
Empress, but nominally by her Charnberia4l,:„
the Hotel d'Albe, a most commodious hatiis44t"
which every room is decorated with the highr,
available art of our day, and furnished' ".'4O
the most exquisite taste. A splendid t;72112/96011
built in a mouth, was added tc the hotel expr099145
for this fete. The floor made 01,-`the most beautit4
parqueterie : the walls and ceilings, triuniPP"
of decoratiOn ; gigantic glass* and fabnil
int
chandeliers • flowers, %pos.:tries. and every'e°,,s,
ceivable eoellishmeo tatted fir. an Erapresfa
fete. This palace or beauty wai peopled by ill
nations c-treSSed: 73.1 the costumes of all tiara
thronging and (lancing, exchanging observatir;
and sahtations, in brilliant crowds. You readily
ti that the dresses were suierh, and 170
wealth displayed, in jewels would reach scro
wonderful sum if all added up. But how 1.90
verbal description to convey any idea If the Woe
with which the gems were worn ? Itiagine °ale
lady, whose grace and toilette well expressed to
idea of ( Air,' with transparent wings of disra°kas
spread fromher sheulders andiluttering aroutia:7,
head. There were many others as wonderfulV ;d
tastic. How difficult again to convey the poetl,ol
the gem and flower glory of the array of Woo
daughters of Paris and -Eve. Such mania'
eyes ; such fair skins sans paint (which 41t ii
habit habit seems to be vanishing) ; such gTsred
figures, and so many small feet ! Each aProug-
to be dressed in what best suited her natil. and
gestive beauty. There were many maw te a
dominos, which give a Venetian chariot% dis:
ball of this description. The •veiled and tisettc!
guised going about-rallying the rest in, The
voice, and often on the frankest terms- t, as
Empress wore dominos the whole 15 thep-_,
did also the Emperor ; and as they 011805'7
,3-
,tir to Las-
from time to tiuie, it was not always e--, •• d
tinguish
often wiknown, and no doubt enjoying inictiltrilo'
lie. imperial personaires among the craw,:
the facility of ‘unberidineand the fun of 0
wo
people. The great surprise of tile, yr eletir: hatt
the supper-room, for, Whieh
been erected. There% 'feellitr, tmwalhlicroh ulvaindii,:
\ei't g iiiioor es
With staircases leading to ,the
generally each fitted
covered with se-ores of tables,
thesege tables were (A.
fora party of a dozen. pn
: best of French cookerf•
course everything that A
by handsome boys
dressed guests were waited t uponeh finest of velvets, and
dressed as pages,
essceanned t rAo p 1
doublets. Countless
e arms
tiofessthinelihgmeferommbreohidanerrelleo:ths.evesii,
At th°
candelabra springingfrom
mt
ir
marvellous
umo
decorativeut rse
plants illuminated this
the
had
a ape, the soft tranq
_.„,,
iity of which contrasted with the living gorgel •
I.:ptrreeseinnitiedoaf heatheCtlfulcilal nu
tress of the moving and
ambuscades, and sP, ,169ihinig '
animated tpbariengtreortr4llll-
- placed statues
hldhdilesnt hinerefloawnderythere
fountains whose waters danced and spargiafi' 11
electric light, lent a novel charm to the flus-"ritetir.
tang spectac,le. _Music, dancing,and laug";01 all night without interrtfisei°"' to .
were kept up
a dull April morning broke in its damp realitYo •
remind mortals of their mortality, and Milli
these " golden" lads and lasses from' their
070,'..
home to the realities of everyday life. - Tile' the
pany consisted of the usual court circle,,o.
foreign ministers and their ladies, to ther
ge__ Sri
few of our own country-people."

ORNAMENTED RIFLES AND FOWLING-PIECES-4fri
Mortimer, of Edinbur h h tcompleted g, as Just comp
fowlin • g-pieces, of exuisite workmanship and ornara
tbe
tation. They in •
are execution of. au order from,
Nizam of Hyderabad, are eight in number, three
them especially ornate, and five of a somewhat
order. They are most of theta double rifles.and fowloing;
pieces, one barrel rifled, the ether plain.. The 6,td
and barrels are inlaid, net with " barbaric par' 1202
gold," for jewels .have been eschewed, but 1, it° Pared
gold in an exquisitely-designed of fl°wte af
a set 0
pattern of great taste and beauty.; The more orna ded
the set will cost each £130: two
.0 them are jilt°
for presentation to neighbouring Rajahs, and one 11211 big
Highness's own use. They are to be diapatched tbls
day (Saturday) by overland mail to*.lndia.

Printed and Published by WALTER.HENRY PEATY jo%
8, Wesley-street, in the Parish of Taiteth-Pall% •• gr 0
Priliting • Esta, blishinenta-4i itittnevitex4frarnr (corn
Castle-street)
, and 40, LEIGH-STREET, Liverpool-
APRIL 28, 1880.

is almost always u'nknown.- = It cannot be mea-
sured, and the most skilful ca:n only appreciate it
by the eye,.with large-errors, frequently of Mani
hundred yards in 2,000 or :1,000. 'At what dis-
tance are we ? ' is the first and general inquiry
when the artillery commence_ their -operations,
and, as very rarely two, op inions agree,_ the fire
opens at hazard. In a Shcr...t time, it is truer they
find the range by obseri-ation- of the effectso
fire ; but the same uncertainty arises on leyery
change of position, and a great many shots, are
consequently thrown away. -
" The observation of_ the effect of -the 'filings
which is often the only means -of rectifying the
range, becomes more impraetichble the 'more the
distance is increased. Very difficult at 2,000 or
3,000 yards, it becomes immeasurably more 6°
a little further. Of what practical use is it, then,
to have an arm with an exceptional range c)
4,000 yards, for instance ? It is somethinf ,
talk about, but that something is full of delu,sion•
The distance is estimated (how ? we would ask)
from the enemy ; the necessary elevation is given,
and the gun is fired. What happens ? An error
in judging the distance is 'made, perhaps of a
third. If the enemy is at 3,000 yards, the pro-
jectile passes over his head; if at 5,000, the ball
falls 1,000 yards short. In such-a mode of firing
one shot in a hundred may tell.
4, Our soldiers at the Crimea nicknamed two of
the Russian batteries by way of derision, ,Billo;
quet' and Gringalet, as, being at a distance 0'
some 3,000 or 4,000 yards, the elevation of the
guns was so great, that in several months, though
firing night and day',-they did not kill • a single
man ; and this, be it remembered, thOugh the
exact distance was known. Contrast with this
that at the battle of Traktir one 241 b. shot killed-
-17 Russians formed in. column, the gun being at a
low elevation, and the difference between firing
at. high elevation at a great distance, and -Wll
low elevation with a ploughing shot will readily
be seen.

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