The Express.
London, England, 1863-04-14 00:00:00

AMERICA.

(MON OUR MOLL

NEW YORE. MAIM 31.

The iron-clads have at last, by the latest ad-
vice., left Port Royal for Charleston, the pre-
parations having been finally completed, and by
this time the issue between them and the stone
walls has probably been tried. The last delay
was caused by the loss at sea of three ingenious
machines, oonatructed by Ericson, to be attached
to the bows of the gunboats, to clear the channel
of torpedoes and piles. ♦ fresh supply had to be
forwarded from New York. In its main features
it is a framework of iron, somewhat like the " cow-
catchers," placed in front of the American rail-
way engines. It is thus described by a corre-
spondent of the Philadelphia Press :

An iron frame floated to the water's edge by ken spawns
is pushed ahead of the Monitor as she rune in. Its length
from the bow of the Masker is from twenty to thirty fest.
An aperture is made next to the vessel of the shape of her
bows in:ended to receive it. The breadth of the ,obsletio-
tion remover " is twelve tett. From each side of the ex-
tremity • strong iron bar or shaft rues down also twelve
feet, the Monitor drawing from eight to ten feet of water,
thus rendering it imposeible for any torpedoes over which
this " obstruction remover" perm to injure the vessel. A
number of iron bars are mcd, not only so form a net-work
i so es to either push forward or explode every torpedo leas
' than twelve fest under water, but also to atrent,hen and
steady the meats. At the bottom a heavy tie -ber unites
them two vertical rode, upon which reds the wearies
torpedo, containing seven hundred pounds of powder.
Above this is a hammer which catches in a spring so stiff
as to require two men to est it, but constructed so that the
lever which proirodes in front, forming the handle or other
and slips hammer, will mum the spring to give with ads
pressure. This is to remove piles.
----- - • -•-

There are eight Monitors to take part in the
fray, besides the Ironsides frigate. Nothing since
the war began has been looked for with half so
much interest, and the result will certainly be of
vast importance in its bearings on the art of
attack and defence, however it may affect the for-
tunes of this war.

THE CHURCH ESTATE COMMISSION.

TWELFTH REPORT.

This morning was issued the report of the
Cater& Metes Oormaimiesers for the year ending the let of

March Lat. It same that during the year this body bays

traasforrod to Use Eoclosiutical

a nun al

200,0001. ash, and a gam of stook equivalent to 100,0004
cash, in rennet of the surplus proceeds of eskarwhisements
completed. The aggregate amount which has been pad over
or transferred to the amount of the Heelesiestind Com-
missioners is now 1,000,2171. 2a. 2d., in addition to 100,0001.
in respect of interest which has accrued on the surplus.
The Church Pontes Commissioners have during the year

approved the terms agreed spat in 143 cases, 126 being
mem of salsa of reversions, and 17 cases of pur-
chases of leasehold interest., and the value is
fee of the estates eo agreed to be dealt with is approxi-
mately 700,0301. The aggregate number of cams approved
of is now 2,417, and the value of the property dealt with
amount' to about 9,540,0001. In 13 camas the commis-
sioners declined to approve the terms proposed, but in
seven of these the terms have been modified so as to meet
with their sanctioc. " The traneactious," observe the com-
missioners, "continue to be effected with facility, and the

oommiasioners have reason to believe that the tome are
'morally satisfactory to the lextesa, so well se bestelkial to
the church."