The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-09 00:00:00

EXPERIMENTS AT SHOEBURYNESS.

An important series of experiments was made
yesterday At the practice ground of Shoeburyness,
in present* of an unusually large assemblage of
naval and military officers, and other scientific
persons interested in the subject of artillery and
iron-plated ships, besides the members of the Iron-
plate Committee and the Ordnance Select Commit-
tee, under whose especial direction the experiments
were made. The presence of his Royal Highness
the Prince of Prussia added to the interest
of the occasion, and his royal highness ap-
peared to take great interest in witnessing the effects
!of heavy guns against one of the strongest iron
targets that has ever been experimented upon.
This target, like those which have been tried before,
was to represent a section of the side of an iron
ship of war, stronger it is supposed than either the
Warrior or the Minotaur, a ship which is already
named the Bellerophon, although she is not yet
commenced, and is designed by Mr. Reed, the
present constructor of the navy, to surpaaa all that
has yet been done in building iron-plated ships of
waz. This target is called therefore the Belle-
rophon target, and it has been constructed at the
Millwall iron works, by order of the Lords of the
Admiralty.
The following is a description of the target. It
was 20 feet 9 inches long by 8 feet 6 inches high,
composed of rolled armour plates 6 inches thick,
backed by 10 inches of teak, and two 1-inch plates
for skin. Two external longitudinal stringers are
wrought behind each armour plate through the
whole length of the target. The two behind the
lower plate are formed of angle iron 10 by 3i by 1,
and those behind the upper plate of angle iron 94 by
by Prunes 2 feet apart. The bolts in the
lower plate are 21 inches diameter, and those in the
upper 2} inches, and have conical heads. The 21-
inch bolts are double nutted, and the 24-inch single
nutted.

It seas generally considered by those who had
seen the other targets that this was a moat excel-
lently made onei and of very great strength. It
will be remembered that the target fued at in
March last had three plates of different thicknesses,
54 inches, 75 inches, and 6} inches, with 9-inch teak
backing, and an iron skin of 2 inches thick.
It was arranged by the Ordnance Committee that
the upper plate was to be tried by 68-pounders, or,
strictly speaking, with cast iron shot weighing 66}
lbs., and the Armstrong 110-pounder service gun,
with shot of the same weight, and the same charge
of powder. The range was fixed for all the rounds
throughout the day at 200 yards, which was the
same as that taken against the Minotaur target.
The first round with the 68-pounder produced the
usual dent of about 2} inches into the plate. The
second round was the Armstrong 110-pounder, with
66}1b. solid and conical headed shot ; this made
a very similar dent to that of the 68-pounder.
The third round was a salvo of two 68-pounders
and three Armstrong 110-pounders, with the same
weight of shot and the same charge of powder as
the 68-pounder. This terrific attack the target
bore without much evidence of injury, though it is
true the one Armstrong mimed fire and one hit the
very top edge of the target, breaking the angle iron
behind. The other shots merely indented the plate.
The lower plate was now to be fired at by the
heavy Armstrong guns of the service, and by the
Whitworth shell, with an entirely new gun ex-
pressly made by order of the Ordnance Select Com-
mittee, a muzzle-loading gun which has for some
time past been mentioned as a gun intended to
serve as a broadside gun for the navy.
The first round fired at the lower plate was in-
tended to have been one from the ordinary 68-
pounder, but the effect of these shots being so well
known, this shot did not come off, and in its place
was fired the Armstrong 110-pounder with 161bs. of
powder and a hardened steel shot. The effect of
this was to make an indentation and start a
bolt, a result much less than was expected.
The second round was from the smaller Whitworth
gun of 6} inch calibre, with shell of 701ba. weight
and 21b. 60r.. bursting charge, and l2lbs. charge.
The shell, which is of steed, and flat-headed, struck
about a foot below the upper edge of the lower
plate, penetrating about 1} inch, and starting a
bolt. The third round was from the new gun
described ass 7.1 inch calibre, 161ba. charge steel
shell 1171 b., with a bursting charge of 2lba. To the
astonishment of every one, and most of all the
Ordnance Select Committee, this gun produced very
little effect upon the target—not much more, as
it was remarked, than if a Dutch cheese
had been fired at it from a cross-bow.
The next round set down in the programme was for
the 7-inch Whitworth gun, the same gun that sent
the shell at 800 yards through the Warrior target
in November, 1862, and which was made at the
Royal Gun Foundry. The shell fired from this
gun weighs 15llba, and contains a bursting charge
of Me., the charge being 271 be. The first shell
fired from this gun burst at a short distance from
the gun, and as there was no other shell prepared
and ready, some delay arose, and it was necessary
to proceed with the firing of the larger Armstrong
guns while another shell was being pre-
pared. We learnt that there were no flan-
nel bags ready for holding the bursting charge,
and as this is indispensable to the proper action of
the Whitworth shell, it was necessary to extempo-
rise one, and this was fortunately done under the
instructions of Mr. Whitworth himself, who was
present, otherwise the men were about to fill the
shell with loose powder, ih the way that the old
shell is filled—a blunder that would have effec-
tually prevented nearly all the power of the shell
from being exerted. The shell was, however, ready
before it grew dark, and was the last shot fired.
The 10-inch Armstrong smooth-bore gun, muzzle
ri loader, was now fired with a 1501 b sphecil shot of
cast iron, with a charge of 3511 a. The shot missed
the lower plate and struck the upper one about 3
feet 6 inches from the mark, indenting it and start-
ing a bolt.
The same gun was now charged with a steel
spherical shot of 1501ba. with 351ta of powder ;
the effect of this was to strike the plates at the part
where they joined. The shot buried itself jnst below
the face of the plate, and therefore went through it
and into the wood. One frame was broken,
and the skin was bulged and slightly cranked:
The next round was from the 300-pounder Arm-
strong, 10-inch calibre, 351bs. charge, and a solid
' cast-iron shot. It struck fair on the upper plate,
however, produced very slight penetration with some
few cracks in the direction of the deuts made by the
88 and 110-pounders, and it broke a rib behind the
target. The velocity of this shot was 1,150 feet per
second, and that with the 150 lb. shot was 1,500 per
second at the time of impact, showing the great
importance of velocity for penetration.
The last round fired was with the Whitworth
shell from the 7-inch gun. This penetrated quite
through the plate, bursting in the timber backing
and bulging the skin, opening out the plates at a
junction where they were rivetted aboutan inch and
a half. This result therefore tended to confirm
the previous reputation of the Whitworth shell, as
it was the increased thickness of the plates by very
nearly two inches which only prevented the shell
getting into the ship as it did in the Warrior target.
It would appear that it is only necessary, therefore,
to increase the calibre of the shell and the gun to
penetrate the Bellerophon as easily as the Warrior.
It should be noticed of these experiments, as in the
trial against the Minotaur target, that the Whit-
worth shell, with a charge of nearly ten pounds
less powder and a gun of three inches leas calibre
than the heavy Armstrong, proves to be a more
effective weapon against iron plates.
The target on this occasion certainly came off
victorious ; and though the Committee's great gun
was " nowhere," Cm Admiralty may feel some con-
fidence in laying down the Bellerophon.

Carina. Oii Bioszara
TUIBDAT, Dsc. B.—Adisissima ea paymmai, 929; &MD
by arson ticket+, 706: to 1, 1,634.
Ds. DI JONollen LIGHT-BROWN COD Livia —The rigour of the constitation, when Impaired by debility, can
be speedily restorod by the am of Dr. de Jonah's otl, which has
inrigonalug 4ualßle peammed by no other raw: wawa m.
dletlogulehed physician, Dr. Carey, writes The extraordi-
nary effects will mow be risible after laving taken It for •
short period in • ratans to health and strength before un-
known. and which will be accomplished by en other remedy with
which we are acqualeted."—dold only to cayealed bottles.
2s, at, as 9d., and tis., by Dr. de Jonah's agents, Jaw, lier-
com. end en. ri, 0.4 London,aud ehetalete.—lAdvartlow•
awa]

NAVAL AND MILITARY,

(►aoN LAST NIG cAnnz.)
WAR-OFFICE. PALL-lIALL, Dom 8.
00K111.48ARIAT DEPARTMENT..

Acting DiTmity•Assistant Commissary-General Edward
Thomas Price, to be deputy-assistant oeminkeery-geseraL
The following promotions' dated the 30th ult., have hose
made u mainiquence of the death of Admiral of the Blue
Sir James Hanway Plumridp, K.C.8., on the 29th
ultimo :—Vior Admiral of the Red the Hon. Sir Montagu
Stopford, K.G.8., to be admiral of the blue ; Vice-
Admiral of the White the Hoe. Sir Frederick Wil-
liam Grey, K.C.8., to be rioe-admind of the rod;
Vice• Admiral of the Blue Sir Thome' Sabine
Feeley, Bart., to be vioe-admiral of the white ;
Rear Admirals John Balfour Maxwell and John Rivett
Caren, on the Reserved List, to be eios-admirals on the
same list. Rear•Admizal of the fled the Right Honour
able Thomas Earl of Lauderdale, C. 8., to be vicwadraind
of the blue ; Rear-Admiral of the White Thome
Henderson to be rear-admiral of the red ; Rear-Admiral
of the Blue Henry Kellett, C. B„ to be rear-admiral of the
wbits Ceptain John Rural to be rearedinizal on the
Reserved Lid ; Captain the Hosourable Thomas Dallis
to be rear-admiral of the blue. Retired Vice-Admirals
James Montagu, Sir Alexander Dundee Yang Arbath.
aott, Rot,, and William Hothant, K.H., to have the reek
and title of retired admirals, in pummeled the Order in
Council of 7th May, 1858.

ADMIRALTY DEC. 8. —APronvritarrs. Coin-
mandor Hon. J. bernegie, to the Salamander, eommistricteed.
Lieutenant, H. A. Edw to, to the Salamander ; W. E. K.
Clockell, to the Adventure ; and R. H. C. Lawson, to the
. . .

--"M;;ter T. H. Hayman, to the Salamander.
Assistant Paymaster' D. W. Willy to the Conqueror, and
J. Campbell, in charge, to the Implacable.
Burgeon T. J. Horan (additional) to the Congos.
Acting Assistant Borgsona Dr. Henry Wood, Richard
Cannon, C. H. Ward, Dr. Thomas D. Browalow, J. McJ
Hollinsworth, and H. IX M. Sedgwick, to the Victory, for
Hasler Hospital ; M. Trona, Dr. A. McDonald, A.
Goodall, J. D. Smith, and J. G. Milne, to the Royal Ads-
Lido, for Plymouth Hospital.
Midshipman W. E. Black, to the Marlborough.

PORTMOIJTH, Die. 8.

ROYAL NAVAL Comm A—The quarterly emend-
attics@ for first and second clam naval and manse ceded-
ships having terminated, the result was made known this
morning. There were 106 candidates, out of which num-
ber 39 were re 86 palms sueossafally. Two or three
young gentlemen fidled to pass the usual medical exa.
mimetic°. The names of the moomthil candidates
are as follows :—First-Clam Nava Cadets, Moan.
E. H. Gena, H. H. Jamey. C. G. Prater. F. C. P. Vera-
km, R. *Wows, J. E. Mayas, M. S. Bayly, T. WOW, C.
E. Goldsmith, W. D. Tennant, G. W. Beseall, E. J. Sey-
mour, F. IL Barnett, J. V. Fawcett, W. J. ft Shand, A.
H. Coker, W. Drake, K. H. Foote, J. N. Hill, J. W.
Wells, A. N. Raabede, P. C. Underwood, F.. Bops, W.
Wright. C. IL Haney, A. T. Target, H. G. Napier H.
WA. Cutfield, G. F. Hall. A. P. Stazpoole, C. W. Newell,
H. S. Christopher, Hoe. A. G. 0. Howe, E. B. Tbiling, G.
Huntingford, R. B. Saito', Crofton, A. N. Her" R.
H. Hutchiap, C. E. W. IL B. Graham, C. M.
Leekraft, H. C. A. M L. W. Mathews, H. R.
Simons, R. T. Wood, H. H. film/took, C. H. Which, Hon.
R. W. Crayon. The following qualified for 2nd clam
cadets (masters' assistants) :—F. H. B. fiaell,G. T. Napier,
R. Ft.irgsW. F. Barry, Chas. Webb, G. D. G. Filmer,
W. and A. B. Scott. The following qualified
for marine eta :—W. Campbell, G. S. IL Douglas, F. B.
Dien, E. B. Byrch, J. H. Prim, A. H. Des Banes, A. A.
Cra*, gB. W. Heathoote, and B. P. Clo Ma.
The Queen, Ca C. F. /Myer, will be paid off along-
side the dockyard oe Tuesday next.
The Mason, 17, screw sloop, Captain Gerard J. Napier,
was paid off this morning at this port.

CHATHAM, Dm. 8.

In order to strengthen the defences at the
entrains to this harbour, government has given directions
far a deep moat, extending about two miles, tobe forthwith
commenced at the estuary of the river, near its confluence
with the Thames at the Note. At each end of the moat
will be eroded two powerful batteries, or tower, armed
with guns of the heaviest calibre, whilst it will be protected
on its land aide by two similar forts. The excavations re-
quired to be carried out in the construction of the ditch
will oesupy rather more than twelve months.

THE COURT-MARTIAL ON COL. CRAWLEY.

The chief witnesses examined yesterday, after
our report left, were Surgeon Turnbull aed Asaistant-
Burgeon Burnett. It came out in their evidence, that the
addendum to their report on Lilley'a death was founded on
very imperfect data. Colonel Crawley had ant given them
the impression from his positive statement that Liffey had
drank • considerable quantity of brandy during his anent ;
bat both medical men stated that they took into amount
that Mrs. Lille, was taking rather • large quan-
tity of brandy medicinally. One elf the questions, accord-
ingly, put by the court wee whether it use the practice
in the 6th Dragoons to frame medical reports on the state-
ments of the commanding officer, to which an answer in the
negative was given.
Assistant-Surgeon Burnett said—lf I conveyed by my re-
report an impression that Sergeant-Major Liffey was a
drunkard, lam sorry for it. He was not so. His brain
showed DO signs of drink.
. .

It was announced that the case for the prosecutimiwas
closed ; and Colonel Crawley said he would only have to call
a few witnesses, and would afterwards ask for an adjourn-
ment to prepare his defence.
The court then adjourned till to-day (Wednesday).

THE STORM.

GB.KAT YARMOUTH, Dzc. 8.

Intelligence continues to be received almost
may hour of frightful destruction of property and life by
Violate gale. It appears that when the storm burst in its
fury on Thursday there were from 80 to 100 fishing-boats
off Winterton, and that in the course of a few tours the
whole Beet was scattered, some foundering, others being
completely disabled, while not a few lost several of their
mew. Last evening there were still about 50 fishing-
boats unaccounted for at Great Yarmouth, end the scenes
promoted on the quay io consequence of the assemblage
of relatives and friends anxious to obtain tidings of missing
boats and fishermen have been very affecting. A tele-
gram was received yesterday afternoon to the effect
that the fishing-boat Francis, belouging to Mr. Stuck-
ford, of Yarmouth, had been driven ashore on the
coast of Holland, and it is believed that the whole of the
crew have perished. The Whim fishing-bat lost two:
bands, who ware washed overboard ; the Swallow, two; '
the Star, one ; the Fortitude, one ; the Velocity, throe; the
Catherine, two ; the Harriet Teas, four; the Hess, two ' •
the Pelican, one ; the Olive Branch, three ; and the Clio,
we (the mate). The following bat, have been lost,
although the crews are stated to have been saved :—The
Twilight, the Indefatigable, the North Star, the Fear Not,
the Seven Brothers, the Fortitude, the Agenoria, the
Miriam (one hand lost), the Napier, &c. The loss in fishing
gear, nets, he. has been vary considerable. At the Salton'
Home upwards of 60 sailors have been received from various
wreaked vessels. Two of the poor fellows were in such a
prostrate condition that they bad to be nursed with the
utmost are, but with attention and medical aid they gra-
dually recovered.

CM SEWERS COMUBISION. —The Commissioners
of Sewers held their weekly meeting yesterday at Guild-
hall, Mr. Deputy De Jersey presiding. A report was
brought up from the Improvements Committee relative to a
refersece to consider the letters received from the Metro-
politan Board of Works respecting the proposed improve-
ment in Mansion-house-street (the late site of Lubbock's
premises), stating that the committee bad carefully coo-
adored the question, and were of opinion that if the present
opportunity were lost for effecting this improvement great
public inconvenience would be inclined ; and they recom-
mended, as the most judicious course to be adopted under
all the circumstances, that, they should be authorised to
pursue the negotiation for the purchasing the piece of ground
required to be laid into the street (as shown in a plan
which was laid before the court), and if needful to go to
arlikratioe of a surveyor, to be speed by all parties, for
a settlement of the value hereof, as proposed by the owners.
Some dimension followed the reading of the report, and
one or two amendments were made to the original motion,
whir* was to agree to the report, sad finally an amendment
by Mr. Huey Lowman Taylor, to the effect that the court
were willing to carry into effect the improvement, provided
that the Metropolitan Board of Works would undertake
to contribute one-half of the actual cost, wu agreed to.
Dr. Letheby, the medical officer, reported on the state of
192 houses that had been inspected during the week, and he
submitted a list of 32 places for sanitary improvemeut.
The markets and slaughter hoaxes had Imes duly inspected,
sad the officers had condemned 4,499114. of meat as unfit for
human fwd. About half of it was putrid, and the rest wee
diseased. It consisted of 35 sheep, 1 calf, 5 pigs, 26 quar-
ters of beef, and 61 joints of meat. Dr. Letheby stated
thakdoring the week a pie dealer aimed Alexander Stewart.
of Ceper Amos, Per thshire, was tried and convicted at the
Old Bedley for sending diseased meat to Benue-market,
and he was sentenced to imprieomaset for 12 mouths, and •
floe of 50f. to the Queen. The mortality returns for the week
were below the avenge for the season, the total number
of deaths being but 58, the average for the corresponding
priori of the lean eight years being 68. About half of the
death were moor children of less than five yeses of age,
sad then were 11 among old persona of 60 sad upwards.
The chief camas of death were as follows :—Plithina, 6 ;
peensomia, 3 ; breeekitia, 10 ; whooping mush, 1; con-
tinued fever, 3 ; ~let fever, 1 ; creep and diastlieria. 3 •
and measles, 1 ; beldam which there were eight deaths from;
eoevalekee.

Can anyone answer the question, what is a
mageet ? Me only keen some of its marvellous amis, sod ad-
mire the ingenuity of them oho apply its power to breellelal
uses: for instance, Herring's If mimetic lirue, &c. Dr. Hassell,
reports I regard them as the moat perfect 'muslin hitherto
We, AM respects their mechanical construction, and their msg.
netheel outlive." They are We remedy for grey haw, netwalgia,
rheimseLime. te. N.& Connterfelis are beibg inade.-0111ces,
U, Dmlnglialfulanent lewhoss—(aiererUssimat.)