The Express.
London, England, 1864-07-05 00:00:00

CHAIN ARMOUR FOR VESSELS.

The Earl of HARD WICKS wished to call the attention
of the noble duke, the First Lord of the Admiralty, to the
recent engagement between the Kearsarge and the
Alabama. Ili 'eked whe.her his noble friend's attention had
been called to the defence of the Keenane by means of
chain armour, and its power of resisting shot ; and further.
.1 ether the government, in the numerous experiments it
bad made. had tinted the value of chain armour for ships
of war. This was not the first time they bad heard el
chain armour being suggested as a defence for ships, for in
1862 a Mr. William Rowan, of &Haat, wrote a long letter
to Lard Palmerston on the subject.
The Duke of SOMERSET said It was quite necessary
order to judge of the strength of any armour that the slat
should hit it. la the CAW of the late engagement it ap-
peared that only two shuts out of about 100 fired from the
Alabama hit the chains outaide the Keener's. One of than
glanced off and the other broke the armour and passed is-
side the veseeL Two or three years ago they tried experi-
ment.' of chain armour. and found they could destroy it
with an ordinary 68-pounder cast iron shot, so that elf
course it would be useless against steel projectiles. The
attention of the government had been directed to the pew
sanction of the two vessels, and to the weight of the a
need in the engagement ; and whilst it bad
said that guns weighing tons were too heavy
for broadside guns, he toned that those of the
Kearsarge weighed 74 tons. Experiments showed
them that having ascertained the weight of amour a ship
could carry it was better to place it on her sides in a ase-
tinuous rather than in a broken mama.

LONDON (CITY) TITRES BILL.
This bill was raid a Nomad time.
NATIONAL EDUCATION (IRELAND).

The Earl of CLANCARTY called attention to certain
petitions against the recent alterations in the roles of the
Board of National Education in Ireland, mid inquired
whether the government intended to unction them.
Earl GRANVILLE replied that the cheep, in the rules
had been much exaggerated, and that the government bag
DO intention whatever to rescind them.

The Government inanities, Ac., Bill, the Clerks of the
Pesos Removal Bill, the Superannuation (Union OlSoewi)
Bill, and the Pilotage Order Coo firmstiou Bill pasted through
committee.
The Greek Loan Bill ants read a second time.
The Valuation of Hateable Property (Ireland) Bill, and
the Cathedral Minor Corporations Bill were reed a thk4
time and palmed.
Their lordships adjourned at 25 minutes to eight o'cicek.

HOUSE OF COMMON&...--MONDAT, JULY 4.

ILe Brum took the chair at 4 o'clock.
At the time of prayen the body of the house was nearly
filled with members, and though man, stibseyoently left.
the white cards along the benches indicated that nearly
every meat was engaged.

Soon after four o'clock every seat in the Speaker's and the
Strangers' galleries was occupied, and a very short Use.
elapsed before a considerable number of pears, as well as ei
foreigners, appeared in the gallery over the clock. Than
were also several peen on ;be beeches below the bar. Mx.
Disraeli arrived at half-past four, and as he walked up tile
house to his place was warmly cheered by the member ea
the opposition side.