The Express.
London, England, 1865-10-05 00:00:00

TORPEDO EXPERIMENTS AT CHATHAM.

The state of comparative impreparation in the
local arrangements, which we hinted at yesterday, is diesp.
peering, although there is still a want of that topographical
information which visitors in this, the ante-day of the
roman of the amocistion, generally employ themselves io
seeking. The usual street directions are wanting, and there
is nothing patent and plaioly to indicate the different rooms
is which the departments are to meet. flowerer, this will's°
doubt be all rectified by tamorrow,when:the actual business
begins. The Alexandra DI usialiell,
win whicinh the
the hands of
Mammal
address was delivered this evening, ns
gilder" and decorators during the greet part of the day.
In order to account for the rather backward slate
of the loom! arrangements, it easy be mentioned that there
is a rumour, more or less authentic, that the association is
here this year rather in spite of than with the free consent
of the landing personsges of Sheffield, who, we hear, on its
being intimated that the meeting would be hold is their
town this year, expressed an opinion that the visit had
better he postponed for a couple of yews. This hint not
having bees sampled, it is rather believed that, at West in
some quarters, the reception of the association is sot beauty.
Anioapt the arrivals already ehrosieled are Mr. Edwin
Ohadwiok, Mr. Thomas Chambers, M.P. (Common fierjeant
of Leaden), Dr. Hook (the Dime of Chichester), Kies Oar.
pester, Missies Craig, Miss Patedden, Miss Parkes, Profes-
sor Fawcett, M.P., Mr. Thomas Hughes, XP., Mr. E.
Holland, M.P., Mr. and Mrs. Graham Hasidap, Sir Charlie
Hastings, M.D., Mr. G. L Shim Latevre, M.P., Lord R.
1 Montage, M.P., Sir E. Plaillimore (Queen's divagate),
Mr. Rairlinson,C.E., Mr. Fasnell (PooalawOosemissioner),
Rev. Hem Sully. Mr. Webster, Q.C., fec.
I. the evening the &asocialt n assembled at 8 o'clock, at
the Alexandra Matialtall, when
Lord BROUGHAM delivered the opening address. In
the address his lordship thawed at various leading social
and political topics that have occupied the public mind
Niece the last cosines. Speaking of the American war.
which as it affected the question of slavery his lordship bad
referred to at tamer meetings of the sesociatios, he aid
the termination of the straggle must give all friends of
emancipation the greatest satisfaction. The war Ins
never. he added, regarded as scything but a 1011.0011
calamity, and be trusted that oat of evil good might
owns to the slave, although it was clear that swiaa-
cipatiou by the North had only been a inetaire a
hostility, sod the support of slavery by the loath
*sly a partial cane of amossioa. This plea of emets.
'Maim had brought with it goat end neaserette
difilesittee whisk, had the emancipation been ti'da'l.
se la the ems el Fogland, would lave ben Ruh brand,
if not wboey avoided. The address trimmed the wide Mid
of imptiry which the Asseeiation has appropriated to itself.
Przliemestam reform, law retarta, the patgie health,
twelve puddle, and other csestions were intiaded is the
I seen I.
At Massimo of the address, a vole of thanks to Lord
Brassiere (who was ma Mowed) wee moved hf led
Fitawillieekeemeded by the Mayor, ea eisproind by Mr.
Hadfield. and eared to amidst onriderable applame.

Yesterday an opportunity was afforded the Lords
of the Admiralty and =ham of witnessing • variety of
experimefts at Oheilown, with torpedoes, the sow ageeey
which played emit a distinguished part io the nanl and
sailftuy operatic= of both belligerviets during the recent
straggle is America, end Co. of the meet Important inven-
tion', perhaps, developed during that war. Although the
sew agrees has bees intrados= to the British pahlie under
the =spier d Mt. Dosed of BMWS. sad Mr.
Oft. W. Beard else, of New Yea—the latter gentlemait
having had the sole maamgement d the whole of the her-
ded° operation. daring the lest war is America—the merit
of the discovery—if Aft esa be called • disoovery Weida
has been in um, la • more or lam nodded foray by.llee:
corps of Royal Engineers for • greet anailiere of yeses Vila
dme to Mr. W. W. W. Wdod, eider deem& Ii die •
Uollotestioe navy. The chief merits chinked for the ft.
wades,. sow for the first time tetroduized to the wades of
oar gorternmenh, aft that with the torpedo row pro-
posed to be used the. full fore" of the exploaloa
can be concentrated in the desired direction. while the.
torpedo Hull can be deposited wherever desired without
danger to the operator or to the vend from which the opera-
ration is conducted, the torpedo being at the same time suit-'
neatly beemiat to esalsba it to rise after it has bees
merged. The other advaatagee claimed for the sew laveu:
dm ere that the submerged shell ea' be retained sk the
proper position for producing the hest effeet, with the cesu
taint, of the entire "huge being cossamed, and the fall.
form therefrom =Woad before the water can reach and ie.
jure the explosive compound, while • much more destruc-
tive effeet, it is urged, mu be caused than it is possible to
obtain by the explosion of submarine charges se hitherto.
coadueled.
Oa the imitates placing themselves in oommunimaisa.
with our government, and the nature of the inftatioa
being carefully considered, the diastases likely to result
from the employment of the agency of torpedoes in any
future newel Mentions were at ono' apparent, and it wee
disehled dud mopportanity should be afforded to the ha-
maailfts aldemenstreting the capabilities of the invention
wailer the meet favourable circumstances possible.
«mainly Mr. 13eardalse, who pereonally superinterads the
whole of the mimed's", has been engaged for some time
past at both Chatham and Woolwich in preparing the tor-
pedoes for the experiments, which it was decided should
lake place yesterday. It would be almost im possible to acne-
, mealy peavey a description of the torpedoes without the aid
of diagrams. but tkey may be stated briefly to colloid of o
loam easing, or shell, et =set tree, in the form of a hollow
cylinder, closed et the lower end, a= fareished et the
upper end with • detachable cover, the lower dosed mil
being cone-shaped, and stroppy and heavier than the other
portions of the casing. The torpedoes experimental with
yesterday varied in size, the largest being some five or six
feet in leagfti„ and about one foot in diameter. Times were
filled with powder end other IllAidrids, SO arranged as to
gift the Whit possible 'east to the explosive for=
Owing to the dense fog *hi= bang over Chatham W-
hom yesterday morning. it was feared that the experiments
would have to be postponed, but towards noon the mist
lifted. aid the sun shone forth with more than autumnal
brilliesey. For some time previously Er. Bearable* and
his aseimanate had been employed I. submerging the tor-
pedoes la the nest favourable spots ft the Channel,
apsweedam to the harbour, in seder to obtain the falls=
passible effect& from the explosions. The Duke of Somer-
set, First Lord of the Admiralty, and the other members
of the board arrived by train from Whitehall, shortly after
cue o'clock, and immediately embarked, at the Dockyard,
oa board the Wildfire, the steam yacht of Vice-Admiral
Sir Melee Tidbit, which steamed out to tee estrum" oF
the harbour. where the =permeate were to be undertakm.
The Adder, steam tender, and other steamers, were also is
attendeace, each filled with visitors, while the beaks of the
river, the elopes of Chathaulinee end, indeed, every spot
from which a view could and could not be obtained, were
crowded with spectators.
The programme proposed the firing of twenty-eight tor.
pods= of varies, mime, the first experiment being the
detain • torpedo which had bees mabaneMeed ie 30 fed of
water as the previous Saturday, sod, coasequeetly, bad
been upwards at 100 hours under water. By moue of the
mageetwelectrie battery the torpedo wee ignited, and
Immediately exploded, throwing a vast column of water to
• height of fully 150 fest, the breadth of the colours being
mine 109 feet. This torpedo oestained 44011:e. of powder.
Ike object of the experiment being to show that, hawse
loop mahumegedorater her no effect in lessening the GSM al
the explosive form. At a distance of about 200 yards from
the first torpedo, a mooed had been placed, the quantity of
powder in this one also being 44011 n. After some &lap,-
which throughout the experiments was frequently ap-
parent—a ciosnectiee was made, and the electric merest
lurks( been emit through the wires, this torpedo exploded
with • tremeadoes noise, throwing up • huge column of
water to • Might ef about 200 feet, with portions of the
leasing of the torpedo, storms, sad other missiles. A third
torpedo, charged with the same quantity of powder, 4401b5.,
was attempted to be exploded, but the connecting wires
were by mime seeideat severed. After • short intern/
soother torpedo, charged with 440th.. of powder, was ex.
ploded, tabooed by • fifth of the sane chancier, this
letter lifting the largest mem of water, which seemed am if
scooped MO of • hollow 100 feet in diameter, wad burled
into the air to a height of little lea Mum 3:111 feet, with as
effect which was etrikingly grand.
Preparations were now made for destroying the Ter-
psichore, 18 gno sallies frigate, which had been placed at
the disposal of Mr. Beardalee by the Admiralty in order
to put the &motivative powers of the torpedo to the
meal severe WA Although a torpedo, charged with male
5011 m. of powder, would, sooording to Mr. Beardsles'il
statement, be more then sufficient to destroy a atrial of
the size of that to be operated epee, with • view el obtaining
the fullest possible effects, it was intended to use • fall
charge of 4401 be. in the torpedo—sufficient, It may be
remarked, to destroy the largest email in the British navy.
It wais, however, eftsidered that so tremendous • force
brought to beer se so comparatively small as °hied
would be =teed= with results sot emtemplated, aid
accordingly • torpedo, charged with 751 b.. of powders
wee placed beneath the hull of the frigate. This
was effected as speedily as possible, tier boata
engaging in the operation retiring to a safe distance:
The signal Wag gives, the torpedo wee exploded, whoa,
after a cemparatively feeble report, the vowel was seem to
rise some feet out of the water, while • heavy sooad told
plainly that her back we. broken mad her bottom blows is.
In another sword or two the gave a lurch, the wake
pouring out of her scuppers, and then commenced slowly
settling dews until wily her port.holm remained above
water, the depth of the harbour at that spot—it being low
tido—not allowing bee to eatirely disappear.
Although micas other imperialists had bean intended
to be carried eat It was eoesidered quits useless to prolong
tile trials, the crownieg feat of the day having been accom-
plished. The signal was accordingly made from the
Admiralty tender to discontinue the experimiets, which
accordingly arrinftrated with the discharge of oft of the
smaller torpedoes Is ekes proximity to the Wildfire, me the
latter wee seeming pest with the members ef the Beanie(
Adesiseed es beard.
The programme of the day's preftedioge Waded;
among other expedmenta, the tiring of a torpedo weak he
the deepest water, end ignited from a boat ; three 68
pounder torpedoes, all and from boats ; three of the same
dal el terpedose, besyeat, fired is triplet' from a boat f;
lee deader torpedoes, beeyeet, le be fired " es the eon el
two SIM totpoisoo, to be find hr " em the
nee ;' ea& three 751 b tupelo= to be Ind Boating bees
e beak "me the eon." It was aloe isiteoded. should It
base bees fecal expedian, to have fired • Wilt torpedo
pi gm, wreck el the "Berviabore, bat from the meaner sad
poodles to whisk ehe 'elk this was oat caudesed *sew
earg, The Wide el the ezperiftente net 'larded oft yes-
terday moos deterred until a future oreesies, mieuet howled
bow exhibited Is prove the toolimotiw• gooey al the now
lowooliot.

liimmumMINIMINI

JOHN BROGDEN'S GOLD CHAINS by taw
widget, M reousb» value, asd the wortmeaship at
wholesale ntannfactoreri grids. Tbs geld in She chaina isfr
=toed, asd rogurchsped at the ger:solaced.
Here • the sole.
How mach gone chain weighs to the utmost, carat
The Oneness onto gold, and charge tor fashion.
SHALIPMI3. -

Manutactory, No.lo. Hi

Covent-garden, W.C.,

LondotT:-
Neap mod* of ciao and }welter, nee fe, each.
N.B. This estabilatunent le clamed at in the evening. and on
sairials Ico cloak.

If fte Orpreoo.

TO 007.11.661.01tDENT5.
Adviettlementa Wended toe Ilse lopeeee* Loathe
.epee, moat be at the Odes, 10. Bouvertwatiltek 141%1
ontock on the day et Pekeeeldes.

PRINCESS'S.
Tilling,
EU. vastseMelv.
ille, IT IS
T. Mead, I). Murray, ?INTIM TUO LATE T.
Callama, F. Tit-
O MEND. Messrs.
J. 0. Shore, G. Murray, H. Mallon, C. Seytos, and E. Cath-
cart . Mita L ileum awl Mixt K. Rodgers.

BEITANNIA.
Tell ITONnio, THE BEDOUINS rinvos. Messrs. Rey-
naldo, Dowmock Cristo* Re.-10• rartman Clows.—Don
Piittos—tsd JXANNIIC AND 17111 DEANS. Mesdames
Wes, Yarnokt, Macs4ll7. and Merton.

A
HIGH WATZR T LONDON•DRIDGE.
Ting DAY blaming. lb. liaa.....Alteanooa. lb. ilk
TO.IIOOIIOII Webby& ID. 21t. Wu.

LONDON, THURSDAY. OCTOBER 5.

THE people of Italy have so often confounded
their enemies and consoled their friends by their
admirable moderation and equanimity in the most
trying emergencies, that we note without surprise
the calmness and the confidence with which they are
now approaching the momentous crisis of a general
election. For it cannot be denied that in the
present state of Italian politica the choice of a new
Parliament, the first Parliament which will have been
elected since the death of Cavous, is an occasion
of anxious interest and of critical importance to
the future fortunes of the country. It is difficult
for Englishmen to conceive the vital urgency of
the questions which demand the attention of a
Legislature in a State tormented by the throes of a
new birth and the yearnings of a growth beyond
its years. Italy, the ancient nursing-mother of
civilisation, is become since her resurrection the
foster-child of European liberty. We watch her
every movement and aspiration with tender pride
and hope, though with somewhat of solicitude. In a
country like our own, where no enemy threatens
the natioual independence, and foreign relations
are mere matters of courtesy or of influence, and
all the great questions of domestic policy have
merged into the daily common cares of national house-
keeping, the range and complexity of the problems
which an Italian Parliament is called upon to solve
is not easily appreciated or understood. There we
see a Catholic nation contending with the head of
the Church for the right to live and to be free—
s nation bound together in heart and purpose,
with a foreign enemy encamped on its territory,
and a native enemy denying its unity ; • nation
ordained by Heaven, it should seem, to be rich,
prosperous, and devoted to peace, condemned to
squander its manhood and its treasure in the un-
productive industry of warlike preparations. It
might tax even the judgment of more accomplished
statesmen than the advisers of Vioroa EMMANUEL
to provide an issue out of the perils and un-
certainties that encompass them on every side,
with au exhausted exchequer, an overgrown army,
a provisional capital, national unity uncompleted,
and national independence yet to be secured.
Two main questions, which remain as
CAVOUR left them when he was suddenly
summoned away from the task to which the
whole strength of his sagacious will was bent, I
present themselves to the intelligent and p►triotic
constituencies of the Peninsula—the Roman
and the Venetian question. Of these the former
indeed is one which concerns the whole
political civilization of Europe ; the latter is
one of life or death to Italy. Time, it may
be said, and patience will suffice to settle both ; but
it is not with the patience of distant and disin-
terested spectators that Venetians can discuss the
probabilities that favour the eventual liberation of
Venice, or Italians contemplate the servitude and
sufferings of their nearest and dearest neigh-
bours and fellow-countrymen. The destiny of
the city and territory of Rome as part and parcel
of Italy, of the Roman people as Italian citizens,
is regarded perhaps with a serener and more con-
fiding expectation since the Convention of Sep-
tember, 1864, affirmed in some sort the right of
the Romans to a government of their own choice,
and declared the principle of non-interven-
tion to be applicable even to the sub-
jects of the Pore. The most judicious of
Italian politicians seized intuitively upon this
saving principle of the Convention, without
potting too fine a point upon the diplomatic inter-
pretations of its subsidiary clauses. For let it once
be understood that the temporal power of the
Papacy is to be, what in fact it always was, a
power subject to the vicissitudes of all temporal
powers, to the fortune of war, to the force of
circumstances and of opinion, to the changes in the
public law of Europe, to the successful craft or the
foiled ambition of Princes, to the weakness or the
strength of popular resistance to oppression and
misrule, and the Roman question is no more. There
remains, no doubt, the problem of reconciling the
spiritual power with the common law of liberty,
and enabling the Church and the State to live in
harmony side by side. But this is • question not
confined to Rome or to Italy ; and it msy be the
lasting glory of the Italian Legislature to have
solved it in the sense of " • free Church in
64 a free State " that is, in the sense of
complete separation and perfect mutual liberty.
Baron B icasoti, who, with all the resolution and
energy of his character insists upon this only pow
aible and permanent reconciliation, wrote the other
day, in his address to the electors, that since the
Convention of 1864, Italy need no longer go to
Rome, it was Rome that was coming to Italy.
And we are much mistaken if some recent
private colloquies of the HOLY FATHER, certain
indications of a wavering purpose among his in-
timate advisers, and even certain parleyings and
hesitations in the Sacred College itself, do not
point to this desirable conclusion. As to the
Venetian question, it would ill become the foreign
friends of Italy to judge too harshly any symptom
of precipitation or impatience. Nothing is more
irritating and offensive, in such &case, than peaceful
counsels from a dispassionate stranger. But we may
be permitted to acknowledge something more than
plausibility in MASSIMO D'AZEGLIO'S unpalatable
suggestion that Europe desires peace, and that any
Power that wantonly disturbs the peace will risk the
loss of thesympathies of Europe. Italians may reply
that the sympathies of Europe did not save Den-
mark, nor the loss of those sympathies arrest the
march of the spoilers. Assuredly, we would not lay
much stress upon sympathies, but rather upon the
choice of opportunities. If the Venetian question
were left to the truest friends of Austria and the
truest friends of Italy to decide, the result of
their deliberations would not be war, but peace
with all its honours and advantages to both ;
peace doubly blest to "him that gives and
" him that takes." For the present, however,

And, as impartial ot.
to ask whether, without rushing hastily into sudden
death in order to cut short a lingering consump-
tion, the Italian Government might not take a
timely lesson from an enemy, and without
diminishing one jot the real fighting
power of the army, reduce very considerably
the cost of their military establishment, which
is nothing but an extravagant copy of the French ;
and throughout every department of the civil and
military services curtail at least one-half the
monstrous growth of functionarisin, devouring
the substance of the country as certain parasites
are said to honeycomb the human body. Every
new ministry in Italy nominates a perfect army of
useless eniploys, by way of encouragement to its
supporters. The natural consequences of such a
system are idleness and incapacity in the public
offices, and wholesale demoralization and corrup-
tion in the constituencies. The origin of the evil
we believe to be nothing but the mania which
possesses Italian statesmen for imitating, without
discretion or selection, what is bad and what is
good in the institutions of a great ally. One
is painfully reminded of the Fable of the Frog and
the Ox at such a spectacle, and, unfortunately for
Italy, it is not France that is represented by the
frog.

Cbt Court.

BALMORAL Ocr• 2.

The Queen went out in the morning with Princess
Louis of home, and is the afternoon hor Majesty wait eat
driviag with Pri0011•11 Louise, attended by Lady Ely.
Sir Cbariss Wood had the hopper of dials, with the
Quoin sad royal family.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess
&Aetna* and the Prince de Cood6 have, duriag the lut
few days, been honouring the Countess (Frances) Waldo-
pave and the Right Hoe. Chichester Fortune, M.P.,
with their company at Chewtoo Priory, the emote's'. mat
in Somersetehire. A select company had the hesour to
meet the royal petty.
The Duke of Northumberland and Lady Louisa
Percy arrived at their residence in Portmansquare yester-
day evening from Alecto!' Castle.
The Duke of Hamilton arrived yesterday at the
family mansion in Arlington-street from Pa.'s.
The Marquis of Westminster has arrived at
Groeveaor Rouse from Woe Rail, Cheshire.
The Earl of Derby is considerably improved in
health, and is gradually regaining his strength. Some short
time must elapse Mime he can resume ca`kieg mere:tile,
as he war much weakened by hie r,oent attack of goat.
Earl Russell, accompanied by the Countess Rus-
sell, Lady Agatha Russell, and the Duke of Lobster, has
visited his lordship's Meath esteem, which are very con.
Minable, in and about Navin. The noble party minutely
inspected the dwellings of the poorer teeanta io Navas, sad
convened most freely with the occupants, limbering to their
requests, Six., and giving to the agent, who Waists° present,
iestreetions to have them complied with. The party after-
wards drove through Nesse, and proceeded ti the Anthills
estate, which they also inspected, sod retorted to Ardialla
House for laeoheon. The countess left a quantity of watt
clothing, tea, and tobacco with the agent for distribution
amongst the trouts. Oa Tuesday the earl and countess
left Kingstown for London.
The Right Hon. Edward Cardwell is in Scotland,
and will succeed Sir Charlie Wood in attendance on the

THE EAPRESS, THURSDAY E'

and on the eve of • general election, In carnet 41 ENO&
wonder if the Cabinet of Florence siminiga from
..; 114,11112. --1r4:43044 4 S'
cepting the responsibility of Maimed i'Arso -THE 114. PAL -..AL ON. 4
judicious indifference,withoutopetit Impugning ftt. . ,.• ...', 41' -I
In his recent circular to the Pfrefecierof firs lc ''''''
THE POPE OrrItZEMAStarRY. •
dam, the MINISTER of the INTSRIOR does not men-,
time Rome or Venice by name, but he is equally
opposed to the counsels of discouragement or of deliveredtem
resinesm, and looks atedfaatly to the socomplish-
meat of the destinies of his country. Baron NA-
Tort may be accused of indulging in vague gene- The following is the text of the Papal Allocution
in secret consistory on the 25th of Sep-
Vssmable Brethres,—Amosist the li* •
sod artifices by which the mies of the maul
nsmn:
hays dared to assail the chunk of God, to destroy and sap
!anti's, but a responsible Minister, in submitting a' it by methods alien to truth, must doubtless be reckoned
programme of policy to his country, is bound to re- I that wicked amociation of men usually called masonic i
member that he is writing to a vast alien public which, et first kept in darks's!' and obscurity, at at length
11 I come forward openly for the common ruin of religion and
and to a host of malignant interpreters.
But there is a third question that must occupy I
humanthe tiff:4;f Ron'ont thefaithful to thetthat oturoplredfreemes,r
1 the most anxious thoughts of the Italian electors, , covered their ;rid d ptl , they ooneiderede. that..
and that ia, the financial question. Of this the I not a moment was to be lost to harp their authority in
Roman and the Venetian questions are but a part. I shack, and to strike and rend with a seateme of excoramn•
To our thinking, M. Baur, with all his undoubted . ideation as with a sword this mot breathing orime and at-
oonacientiouanesa and courage, has not yet fairly I tacking sawed and civil life.
faced the facts of the financial situation of Italy.
Our predecessor Clement XII. in his apostolic letter Pro-
i genial bed and
fta reproved this seat, and dissuaded all the faith-
One of the ablest of Italian administrators,
COMA PONZA in SAN MARTINO, who a year ago 1 maw; y from becoming
mi m
faorbere whatever,yolit, but
oo froomarano-
was regarded by the Party of Action as the ion- I not would have entailed the penalty of excommunication,
personation of the old Piedmontem spirit, because 1 which the Roman Pontiff could alone remove. Benedict
he recommended a policy of rigorous retrenchment' XIV confirmed by his constiandtution thisdid just
not fail to ex and legitimathort
e
until the yawning abyss of deficit was covered up doctrine of condemnatioir, he
catholic princes and sovereigns to devote all their strength
or bridged over, has actually gone over to the
t
d
Party of Action and become its chief, from sheer Ito protect r
societys o l i c
from
e ftob
ocohommkrotob Iso very immoralperil.
Wouldtose:lt 'aeren
despair at a policy which is neither action nor that Was ....rcha had listened to ume words of our wed.•
preparation, but partakes of the perils and incon- comma. Would te Heaven Maths a matter so serious they had
veniences of both; inasmuch as it is expenditure amid with lees weakness! Certainly neither we nor *or
without result., and inaction without economy. fathers would ever havinceendi had to deplore
hi so h
set many se *
to the
ditious
observer*, we may be allowed movements, so many ary wars wc fir
bitter aftlbotioss