The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-15 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENtNG, NOVEMBER 15, 1862.

Could any adamantine form of armour be found
that would oppose a more intense hardusis against
these hardened fiat-heads it would certainly keep
them out ; but here lies the lUfinnity in the
manufacture of these plates. hitherto they have
been made to combine the rktmost toughness and

hardness of iron which in '.be present state of art
can be given to them. Po'daibly it may be within the
power of metal work:mg in steel, on the grand
scale displayed by some of the examples in the
International Exhibition, to produce armour plates
for ships of such hardness and' temper through-

out as to resist all kinds of shot and shell. It
should be borne in mind that the conversion of
iron in%o steel is a process which is only just be-
ginning to be conducted on a large scale, and we
have only to learn to work steel with the
same facility as iron, to make the experi-
ment of well-tempered armour upon ships.
It is also of importance to observe from these trials
of the Whitworth shell at such long range, that
the extraordimuy result is due not more to the
form of the head of the projectile which insures
a certain dynamic effect, than to the structure, so
to speak, of the metal. It was found impossible
to obtain full penetration at this range without
extracting the softer central part of the head—a
part which, it seems, cannot as yet be hardened to
the same degree as the outer surface.
Bence we perceive how much depends upon the
'processes of working the metal, and how much may
yet remain to be discovered if it were attempted
to produce hardened and tempered plates on a
large scale. Such is the superior power of pene-
tration conferred by this process that Mr. WHIT-
WORTH has pronounced his shell to be a more
certain projectile for piercing plates than the flat
headed shot—a result making it more important
that great hardness, without running iuto the ex-
' treme of becoming brittle, should be sought as
the quality which is moat likely to prove efficient
as • protection for our ships. If, on the other
hand, it is supposed that the simplest way of meet-
ing the difficulty which has now been raised by
these fresh successes of artillerists for the conside-
ration of the Lords of the Admiralty and the
I-onplate Committee, is to increase the thickness
of the plates only ; then comes in the whole Belies
of complex questions as to the weight • ship can
carry to be seaworthy, the way of fastening
on these enormous slabs, and the vast
strength of frame which a vessel would require
for such a burden. These are difficulties which
would not surround the question of employing a
thinner but more impenetrable armour.
This would of course involve an immense amount
of new calculations, and a total reconsideration
of the build of our ships. The cupola ships now
under construction upon Captain CULLS'S plan
would seem to be free from much of the objection
raised by these trials of the new projectile. By
their form no doubt they would escape injury
from a large proportion of shots ; but their bat-
teries, unless they were absolutely proof against
any sort of projectile, would be merely as a few vital
points to be aimed at, and as certainly disabled
by one of these shells penetrating them. The
Americans, it is well known, are plating their
turrets and ships with plates of ten inches in thick-
ness, at present being made in this country. This
may be • valid protection against any guns as ye.
in use in American waters ; but, as we recently
said of this invention, it cannot for a moment be
supposed that a discovery of such importance is to
be applied for our benefit alone. All patent rights
over foreign countries would at the first thought
of war be blown to the winds, and with Mr.
WHITWORTH'S consent or without it, the gun will
undoubtedly be employed abroad, and we should
not be surprised to hear of its piercing the new
American ironsides made on the model of the

Monitor.
Next to the grave question of the iron ships
comes that of the armament of them. It is
admitted on every hand, and by the Duke of
Sostsitsrr most prominently, that the Navy has no
broadside gun fit for an iron ship of war. The
Armstrong breech-loader of all calibres may be
said, without insult to the dead, to have now met
the fate we long ago predicted for it—it is laid up
in lavender, like so many of our chosen follies.
Tolerable guns possibly might be coiled after the
model of the old 68-pounder, muzzle-loaders and
smooth bores, firing round or oblong shot. They
would be far more expensive than the old guns,
but, what is of more importance, they, like the
Armstrongs, would have still to gain a character
for safety. The coil and welding principle is one
that will in all probability be completely super-
seded by the improved use of homogeneous iron,
and if this method comes to be perfected it will
have the advantage ofi economy. The use of
monster guns for ships is necessarily very limited,
and they are therefore out of the question, what-
ever battering power they may have. Now, the
Whitworth 70-pounder, which sent the shell
through the Warrior target at 200 yards and
p'erced the plate in the last experiment, bursting
in the timber-backing at 600 yards, stands proved
to be a far more eligible broadside gun than any
proposed. It is about a ton lighter that the 68,
and is altogether a piece more easy to work than
the old gun, to say nothing of its immeasurably
greater destructive power. It is admitted to be
an expensive gun, but as Sir WILLIAM
ARMSTRONG, at Elswick, has been enabled to
reduce the price of his guns, which were by the
original contract charged 700/. per gun, being
nearly double the cost for which they are made at
Woolwich, it is to be expected that some advan-
tage results in every case from improved facilities,
even under the working of a monopoly.
But really, with these results before us, we
can see no reason for continuing the manufacture
of Armstrong guns for the service. Consider
the subject how we will, we are met with the con-
viction that several millions of the public money
have been literally wasted, while the reconstruc-
tion of the navy and the armament of our ships
have not been advanced beyond the stage of
experiments.

ebt Court.

WIRDEOR CASTLE. Noe. 14.
The Queen and the Princess Alexandra of Den-
mark, Princess Helena, Princess Loti;ae, Prima Beetrke,
and Prince Leopold. left Oabotne at ball-peat two o'clock
to-day, and strived at Windsor Castle at mix p.na.

Tbe suite in attendance consistsd of the Lady In waiting
(Countess of Gsinaborough), the Hon. Mre, Brno., Lent.-
General Hon. C. Grey, Lord Clr-lee Fits Roy, and Colonel
the lion. G. A. F. Liddell.
The Prince and Princess Louis of •dew arrived at the
Castle at 20 minutes put 4 p.m., aViended by the Baroness
Von Schenck, the Baroness Von (limey, and Captain Von
Westerweller. Their Royal Higlmamate crowd over from
Antwerp in the royal yacht Vicurin and Albert, and landed
at Gravesend. Colonel Seymour, C. 8., groom in waiting
to the Queen, met the Pi:we and Princess at Gramend,
and attended them to VP edeor Castle, where they were
received by Lady Caroline Barrington, the Hoe. Victoria
Stuart Wortley, and the Master of the Household.
The Hon. Lucy Kerr, Lord De Tabley, and Lieutenant-
Colonel the Hon. D. de Ros, have arrived at the Castle in
waiting on the Queen.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the
official rasidence of the First Lord of the Treasury
in Downing-street. The ministers present were
Viscount Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl
Gran.ville, the Duke of Argyll, Sir George Grey,
Earl Russell, Sir G. C. Lewis, Sir Charles Wood,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Duke of
Somerset, the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, the
Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, Lord Stanley of
Alderley, and the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers.

The Duke of Newcastle was unable to attend the council
owing to indispoeition.

Despatcher; were received yesterday at the Colonial-office
from the Governors of the West India Islands, Ceylon,
Hoag Kong, the Austrahaa Colonies, Canada, and New
Zealand.

His Excellency the French Ambassador and the
Countess de Fhshault entertained at dinner last evening, at
Albert-gate Home, Viscount and Visoonntesa Palmerston,
the Earl of Shelburne, the Right Hon. S^ Charles and
Lady Mary Wood, Lord Stanley of Alderley, Mr. Psnizsi,
&c. Later in the evening her ladysFp rt mind a small
Party. . .

The Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde are
expected in town today front ',kiting Mr. sod Lady Mar-
garet Beaumont, at Bretton Park, Yorkakire. Load Dam
kellin has arrivcl in tow a.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn and
family have arrived at Chesterfield Home, from a tour of
visits.

The Earl Granville entertained a select party at
dinner last evening, at his residence in Bruton-street.
The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon have been
receiving a suaciesaion of visiton at Higlisle's Castle during
the past week. Among the guests have been the Duke and
Duchess of Marlborough, the Marquis and Marchioness of
Salisbury, the Earl and Countess of Chesterfield, the Earl
of Powis, Lord Eversley, Lord Stanley, Hon. Colonel W.
Padding, Mr. and Lady Dorothy Nevill, and
Lady Heatboote, Sir Stafford and Lady Northoote, Count
Streelecki, Mr. It. S. Holford, and Mr. T. Elliott.

Lord and Lady Otho Fitzgerald have arrived at
their residence on Carlton Roue -terrace from Brighton.

Lord and Lady Elcho will leave town on Monday
on a tour of visits in Ireland.

Lord George Beauclerk has left Fenton'a Hotel
for Brighton.
Lord Robert Grosvenor and the Hon. Stuart
Wortley were at Constantinople on the 6th._

The marriage was celebrated on Tbursday at

Harrington Church, Northamptonshire, of Colonel Thomas
Edward Taylor, M.P., of Ardgillan Castle, county Dublin,
eldest eon of the late Hon. and Rev. Edward Taylor, to
Louisa Harrington, second daughter of the Hon. and Rev.
Hugh Francis Tollemache, rector of Harrington.
_ _

The Rev. Charles Smith Bird, M.A., F.L.S.,
chancellor and canon of Lincoln cathedral, has just died at
the Chancery there, after an illness of three days, in hic
68th year.

The Society of Painters in Water Colours will
shortly open a wMter exhibition at their Celery in Pall.
mall East. It is expect( 1 that this wilt comprise sketches
and studies from Drawls first thoughts and compositions
for pictures, &c.

Mr. Glaisher will tell hi% story of the balloon
ascents is a popular form at Exeter-ha'l on Tuesday next.

SL Andrew's Day, this year. falls on a Sunday.
The anniversary meeting and dinner of the Royal Society
will, consequently, Wks place on the following day, De-
cember 1.

The annual full dress ball, in aid of the funds
of the Royal Dramatic College, is announced to take place
at the St. James's Hall, Piccadilly, on Wednesday, the 10th
of December next

We read iu the Atitenaum:—"Two clever eons
of two clever actors—Mr. Edmund Yates and Mr. Harold
Power—are about to attempt the crown left vacvnt by
Albert Smith. The rooms of the Egyptian Hall are being
fitted up in a new style for the projected entertainment ;
Mr. W. Beverley painting the scenery. Mr. Frith, we hear,
has made for Mr. Yates some original sketches of life in
the London of Victoria, which are to be used in the new
entertainment. Mr. Power, who is said to possess a good
deal of his father's humour, wi'l contribute the musical
illustrations."
The Sacred Harmonic Society will commence its
operations for the winter on the 280. The works to be
performed will be Mendelseohn's Lauda Sion, Haydu's
First Mass, and Beethoven's Mies! of Wires.
National music is cordng into fashion. Lon-
don is now promised an Irish concert of Irish sire, wish an
orchestra of many harps and a chorus of a hundred voices ;
to be conducted by Mr. Benedict.
Scizzeniric Socirrir.s.—The following meetings
will held in the ensuing week :—Monday—Asiatic, 3 ;
Royal Academy, 8, " Anatomy," Prof. Partridge ; British
Architects, 8. Tuesday—Ethnological, 8, " Report on
Papers read at British Association, Cambridge," Mr. Wright ;
" Visits to the Fans," Captain Burton ; "Human Remain',
Wroxeter," Mr. Wright; Statistical, 8; Civil Engineer,
8 ; "Railway System, Germany," Mr. Crawford. Wedoes-
day—Meteorological, 7, Ordinary and Council, " Tempe-
rature, &c., late Balloon Ascents," Mr. °Limber ; Society of
Arts, 8, " Opening Address," Sir T. Phillips ; Geological,
8, " Cambrian and Huronian Formations," Dr. Bigotry ;
" Enalionutian Vertebra; Nova Scotia," Mr. Marsh.
Thursday—Numismatic, 7 ; Linnean, 8, " Orthopterous
and Hemipterous Insects," Mr. Murray; " Hairs of Shore.
Crab," " Salmon," Dr. M'lntosh; Royal, Bi, Food Re-
mains of Archeopterix Martinis," Prof. Owen; Antiqua-
ries, 8j ; Chemical, 8, " Reactions of Grieco-metallic
Radicles," Mr. Buckston ; " Specific Gravity of Urine,"
Mr. Nicholson.
The Politka del Popolo, of Milan, states that a
niece of General Goyon's, who is a Sister of Charity at
Naples, has fled from her convent, and taken refuge in the
house of a Neapolitan lady, because the confessor of the
convent had refused her absolution on account of her firm
resolution not to pray for Francis IL and Henry V.
An Augsburg letter, in the Carlanthe Gazette,
Nays :—" The Queen of Naples has not pot on the attire
. of an Augustine nun, but she is never seen except in a black
dress. All the representations that have been made by
her mother, the Duchess Maximilian of Bavaria, as well
as by her sisters and the Ring and Queen of Bavaria, to
induce her to be reconciled with her husband, have only
obtained from her the words—' I will never return, for I
was only too unhappy with him P "
...Ring William of Prussia has been invited to a
hunting party at Brunswick, and will proceed there next
week. _ _ _

Among the animals presented to the Emperor
of the French by the Kier of Siam is a royal tiger of
glossal size. In the passage from Bangkok to Suez Ws
animal' bit off the hand of a passenger who had the impru-
dence to caress him.
NARROW ESCAPE OP LORD LIFTORD.—As this
nobleman was returning the other day tram a meeting in
Loodonderry his horse g►ve • sudden bound, and precipi-
tated his lordship with great force into a deep ditch midway
between Ballybofey aid Stranorlar. Fortunately a number
of primes were in the vicinity of where the accident (re-
curred, and they immediaiely rushed to render all possible
aid in extricating him from his perilous position. His lord-
ship was aecompanied by Mr. Edward Bunter, Blackheath,
London. They had a most providential escape, neither being
hurt, though the dog cart was smashed.

LP.TEST IN TELLIUENOR.

(azoTzß's rurksAxe.)
RUSSIA.
PRINCE GORTCRAKOFFS REPLY ON
MEDIATION.
ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 15.

The:Journal de St. Peterabourg, of to-day, con-
tains the reply of Prince Gortelakoff to the note
of M. Drouyn de Lhuys.
The Prince, after recalling the constant efforts
of Russia in favour of conciliation in America,
says :—" It is requisite above all to avoid the ip-
pearance of any pressure whatever capable of
chilling public opinion in America, or of exciting
the susceptibility of the nation. We believe that a
combined measure of the powers, however con-
ciliatory if pres,ented in an official, or officious
(o(ficieu.c) chars/ ;ter, would risk arriving at a result
opposed to pacification.
" If, however, France should persist in her in-
tention, and England should acquiesce, instruc-
tions shall, be dispatched to Baron Steckel at
Washington to lend to both his colleagues, if
not official aid, at least moral support."

1 bear that the Si'ecte has just received a warning
for publishing the opinions of MM. Dufaure,
Berryer, and all the most eminent men at
the French bar, on the question of the proportion
of deputies to the population. The recent rom-
muniquE was intended to close all discussion ou the
subject.
At the Bourse the Rente fell 25c., both for cash
land account, closing at 70fr. 40c., and 70fr. 45c.
Mobilier fell 20fr., and the Italian Loan, 45c. The
only important change in railways was a fall of
10fr. in Lyons

THE PROPOSED MEDIATION IN
AMERICA.

The following despatch, addressed by Earl Rus-
sell to Earl Cowley, her Majesty's ambassador at
Paris, in reply to that of the French government
which we published yesterday, appears in last
night's Gautte :

Foreigu-othce, Nov. 13, 1862.

My Lord,—The Count de Flahault came to the
Foreign-office by appointment on Monday, the 10th
instant, and read to me a despatch from M. Drouyn
de Limp, relating to the civil war in North
America.

In this despatch the Minister for Foreign Affairs
states that Europe has followed with painful inte-
rest the struggle which has now been going on for
more than a year on the American Continent. He
does justice to the energy and perseverance which
have bftn displayed by both sides, but he observes
that these proofs of their courage have been given
at the expense of innumerable calamities and im-
mense bloodshed.

To these accompaniments of civil conflict is to be
added the apprehension of a servile war, which
would be the climax of so many irreparable mis-
fortunes.

If these calamities affected America only, these
sufferings of a friendly nation would be enough to
excite the anxiety and sympathy of the Emperor.
But Europe also has suffered in one of the prin-
cipal branches of her industry, and her artisans
have been subjected to the most cruel trials.
France and the maritime powers have during
this struggle maintained the strictest neutrality ;
but the sentiments by which they are animated, far
from imposing on them anything like indifference,
seem, on the contrary, to require that they should
assist the two belligerent parties in an endeavour
to escape from a position which appears to have no
issue.

The forces of the two sides have hitherto fought
with balanced success, and the latest accounts do
not show any prospect of a speedy termination of
the war.

These circumstances, taken together, would 'seem
to favour the adoption of measures which might
bring about a truce.
The Emperor of the French, therefore, is of
opinion that there is now an opportunity of offering
to the belligerents the good offices of the maritime
powers. He, therefore, proposes to her Majesty,
as well as to the Emperor of Russia, that the three
Courts should endeavour, both at Washington and
in communication with the Confederate States, to
bring about a suspension of arms of six months,
during which every act of hostility, direct or in-
direct, should cease, at sea as well as on land.
This armistice might, if necessary, be renewed for
a further period.
This proposal, M. Drouyn de Lhuys proceeds to
say, would not imply on the part of the Three
Powers any judgment on the origin of the war,
or any pressure on the negotiations for peace
which it is hoped would take place during the
armistice. The Three Powers would only interfere
to smooth obstacles, and only within limits which
the two interested parties would prescribe.
The French government is of opinion that, even
in the event of failure of immediate success, these
overtures might be useful in turning the minds of
men, now heated by passion, to consider the &dean-
Wes of conciliation and of peace.
Such is, in substance the proposal of the govern-
ment of the Emperor of the French, and I need
hardly say that it has attracted the serious attention
of her Majesty's government.
Her Majesty is desirous of acting in concurrence
with France upon the great questions now agitating
the world, and upon none more than on the con-
tingencies connected with the great struggle now
going on in North America. Neither her Majesty
the Queen nor the British nation will ever forget
the noble and emphatic manner in which the Em-
peror of the French vindicated the law of nations
and assisted the cause of peace in the instance of
the seizure of the Confederate commissioners on
board the Trent.
Her Majesty's government recognise with plea-
sure, in the design of arresting the progress of war
by friendly measures, the benevolent views and
humane intentions of the Emperor.
They are also of opinion that if the steps proposed
were to be taken, the concurrence of Russia would
be extremely desirable.
Her Majesty's government have, howevce-, not
been informed up to the present time that the
Russian government have agreed to co-operate with
England and Franco on this occasion, although that
government may support the endeavours of Eng-
land and France to attain the end proposed.
But is the end proposed attainable at the pre-
sent moment by the course suggested by the govern-
ment of France P Such is the question which has
been anxiously and carefully examined by her
Majesty's government.
After weighing all the information which has
been received from America, her Majesty's govern-
ment are led to the conclusion that there is no
ground at the present moment to hope that the
Federal government would accept the proposal sug-
gested, and a refusal from Waahiugton at present
would prevent any speedy renewal of the offer.
Her Majesty's government think, therefore, that
it would be better to watch carefully the progress
of opinion iu America, and if, as there appears
reason to hope, it may be found to have undergone,
or may undergo hereafter, any change, the three
courts might then avail themselves of such change
to offer their friendly counsel wish a greater pros-
pect than now eiists of its being accepted by the
two contending parties.
Her Majesty's government will communicate to
that of France any intelligence they may receive
from Washington or Richmond bearing on this im-
portant subject.
Your excellency may read this despatch to
Mons. Drouyn de Lhuys, and give bim a copy of
it —I am, tt:c., (Signed) Russel&

.-(THIS DAT.)

15, • A.M.