The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-08-16 00:00:00

carmu anb Nabu.

Workmen are employed in Portsmonth Dockyard in
laying down the ways for the launching of the Victoria,
131, screw. The launch will take place during the
next month. The Prince of Wales, 131, screw, and the
Duncan, 101 (on two decks), screw, two of the most
magnificent ships in the English Nary, are also fast
approaching completion in the building sheds adjoining
the Victoria.

TH6 Wii.o-Goosg &mgr.—Sir William Armstrong
writes—" Who made the wonderful shot that brought
down a wild goose at six miles and seven furlongs? This
is • question that meets me everywhere, and, disagree-
able though it be to spoil • marvellous story, I am
obliged to answer—Nobody. A wild goose was cer-
tainly shot by a shell from one of our guns at a dio.
stance somewhat short of half-a-mile • and, although
half-a-mile is not to be regarded as the limit of safe
distance for • goose to stand at, yet I am bound to say
that six miles and seven furlonge is a range which as
yet has only been reached with the long bow."
In consequence of the building strike which has so
suddenly arrested the prognss of the contract works at
Woolwich, the Royal Engineer Department in the
Arsenal have 'dented speedy measures fur carrying on a
portion of the works under the most urgent demand
namely, Sir William Armstrong's rifled ordnance
factory, under contract for erection by Messrs. Lucas
Brothers. These buildings are already roofed in, and
were 6'4 approaching completion. A large portion of
the machinery has an-iced from Manchester and Scot-
land, in readiness for fitment, consequently any delay,
however short, must be of importance. Arrangements
have been concluded, and an abundance of tools has
been supplied from the military store department, to
enable the works to proceed without further incon-
venience and loss of time. Captain Dunford's company
of Royal Engineers, oonsisting of 120 competent artificers,
under orders for the Mauritius, arrived at Woolwich on
Monday evening from Bromi•ton barracks, and on
, Tuesday commenced their duties. The works, it is
expected, will be completed by the end of the present
month. Mr. John G. Watts, director of the establish-
ment of Mears. Lucie Brothers, will continue to super-
intend the works as heretofore. Two other companies
of Royal Eugineere are under orders to join from
Aldershot, which will totally avert any evil anticipated
froni the strike in that department.
The recognised success of the invention of rifled
artillery, fully proved in the campaign in Italy, and the
attention that has consequently been drawn to the sub-
ject, render it not uninteresting to observe. that, al.
though the French have been the first to use thew for-
midable weapons in the field, the plan (or at least its
most important features) is patented in England, and
was offered to the British (Mveminent LS far back so
ISM by Lieutenant }:ngestroui, of the Swedish navy.
A phonier invention by Colonel Cavalli, of the Pied-
montese service, was also offered to our Government at
• date which we cannot exactly fie, but which is not
less than three or four years ego. Indeed, Colonel
(families friends claim for Will, MO with reason, that he
was the first to carry out the echenie of • rifimi cannon.
Without any demand of re tttttt leration he offered it to
the ItritiM Government. His invention was referred
to Woolwich, and referred backwards and forwards till
lust sight of. But for our dilatory mode of proceeding
in ouch matters our artillery might long since have been
pmvided with rifled guns. The excellence of Cavalli's
invention is fully recognized in his own country, and
three hatteries of his guns were on the point of being
despatched to the Crimea when the Russian war con•
cludeol. The French are now making their cast-iron
30-pounders strong enough to throw a rifled shell weigh•
ing 601 b., and that they are doing this ou a plan origi-
nally devised by Captain Blakely. of the Royal Artillery,
and published in • memoir, of which two translations
were made by French Mimes, one for the Ruiparur, the
other for the Minister of War. The Commission
d'Artillerie last year made experiments with • 30-
pounder on this plan, and found its endurance and
safety to be increased threefold without increase of
, weight. A paper on the subject, read at the United
, Service Institution in January, Itas likewise been trans-
hated into French and submitted to the Emperor. The
ebseLemed floating batteries which were lately, to the
; great surprise of the Piedmontem and Lombards, can.

veyed overland in pieces to the Lego di Garda, are said
to lo constructed on a plan suggested in England.

THE MILITIA.—TIIO new Government Bill enacts
that all persons hereafter raised ant enrolled in and
for the regular militia of the Unitad Kingdom under I
any Act now in force or which may be passed hereafter,
shall bo liable to !terve in all parts of the United King•
dem during all or any part of their terms of service
in the militia, and an riNIUCtS :Mil persons, sections 8
and 9of the ill Act of 51 George 111., cap. 118, are
repealed. The Q.teen may employ beyond the 'cried of
two years mantioned in the 4th section of the said Act,
or before the expiration of aix or four years mentioned
in section 9, such part of the British and Irish tuilitia
m may make a voluntary offer b 0 as to extend their
services. The militiamen wluivolunteer may be employcal
in addition to the proport ion now limited. Mill tho nen inaY
abio volunteer to serve in the Channel hies and may be
Chore employasl by the Queen. infers must be purely
voluntary. Powers of tttt iting the militias of counties
are extended by clause 7. A-taunters altientiog them•
wive: from annual training in a yaar, or during any
part of such time a ae.e.ling 11 days, will be liable to
' serve for an additional year for every annual
period of training from which they so absent themselves.
Fraudulent re-enlistmcnt will be deemed and punished
a. dewrtion. Deserters may be tried by court-martial
or summarily dealt with by Justices of Peace. The
civil punishment, iii the latter case, will he it fine
ranging from £2 to £2O, with the option of working it
out in the common gaol or prison, for a peri.slof it less
Ithan tie!! nor flora than dx mantlis. The Secretary at
War will direct bow deserters shall be tried. This Rill
I is under the care of 31r..d.liny Herbert and the Eight
lion. the Judge-Advocate General.