The Express.
London, England, 1860-02-23 00:00:00

MI WHITWORTH RIFLE CANNON.

The experiments with Mr. Whitworth's guns were
resumed on Tuesday, upon the sandm to the west of South-
port. It was decided to tiro the 12-pounder with the same
weight of powder and elevation of gun as had been tried by
the Armstrong gun, and the result was as follows

?WILY l• POONDIL
No. Powder. Eirmcon. Bugs. Dettectioe in earda
1 .... lilb. 7°
2 .... ao. .do 3,011 1 the right.
3,064 .... the line.
3 029 1 to the right.
With a different quality of powder.
3,107 .... Line.
6 .... do. . do.
7 .... do. .... do 3,078 .... Ito the left.
8 .... do. do 3,098 .... Line.
The shots from the 12-pounder Armstrong gun fell within
a range of 2,466 yards and 2,49.3—s difference of 30 yards;
with the Whitworth gun, in the last four shots (with same
kind of powder), the difference was only 29 yards (and then
there was reason, cm elimination, for considering even this
man eIOSSMO measurement), while the total range of the
Whitwoeth gun had exceeded that of Sir William Ariestrorm
by 612 yards, the grans being 3,107 yards as ageing 2,495
yards. This, of course, was an imporumt memo.
The experiment' were continued yeserday. There was a
very numerous attendance of gentleman from Manchester
and Liverpool, to whom Mr. Whitworth obligingly ex-
plained the peculiarities of the gun. Amongst the visitors
ware General Pewit fether, commander in chief of the
Northern and Midland districts; Mr. William Fairbairn,
C.R.; Lieutenant Reston, of her Msjeety's ship Hastings,
and other naval and military olSosra. One foreign
gentleman, who moat minutely examined the guns, and
mode copious noire of everything connected with them, was
iimed, upon very good authority, to t the Russian
moboony ; and no doubt was entertain that other foreign
gewernmenta were eimilarly represented. The beach was
"Moo lively, from the noruier of visitor", vehicles, and pro-
• Sion vendor".

LIFEBOAT SERTICES.—FLINTWOOD-, FEB. 20.
Yesterday morniag. during a gals of wind and heavy quid%
of distress were observed hoes the schooner Ca%trine
ale
Newry,
which was riding heavily in the clang. The new
bitheat, reoustly sent here by the Royal National Lifeboat
Institution, was immediately launched, but frrm the heavy
ma that was running she Silo and was at ones thrown
heeedide on le the teach. Her crew, beaded by Captain
Wray, R.N., was nor, however, to be bellied by tins tees-
=diecomilture. ks quickly as possible the lifeboat was
es bar transporting carnage, headed by the captain,
the crew jumped into the boat, and from the peculiar con-
struction of the carriage, were launched with aye in their
hands, hr beyond the power of the brokers to beat them
beck this time ; after an hour's hard pull in the face of a
heavy gels, aad the sea running bearer five and six miles
an hour, the wreck was reached sad three of her hands were
taken off the weather quarters. The muter was afterwards
hauled on board the lifeboat by means of a line, and all ware
subsequently landed safely at Fleetwood, amidst the loud
acclamation of the numerous spectators on shore. The be-
haviour of the lifeboat was my highly spoken of on the
occasion. Within the past month this same boat,
manned by Captain Massy, R.N., and her eoxwain,
John Fox, has been instrumental in saving eight
nervosa from the wrecked vase% Jam Roper, of
lliverstone, and the Ann Mitchell, of Montrose.—Ayr,
Feb. 20.—We had a strong gale the whole of yesterday from
west to north-west. The barque Niagara, of Shields, laden
with coals, from Troon to Syria, was at halt-past one (after-
noon) driven 'Mere about two miles to the north of Ayr
Harbour where the coast is flat and sandy, and interspersed
with ricks. She was seen from the barb mr, and as the
danger wee great, the lifeboat belonging to the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution was immediately manned by 15
men launched, and proceeded to the wreck, which they
reacted. They first brought the muter off, as he had
got hurt, and wanted medical aid. He would not allow
the men, however, to be brought away at this time, but re-
quested that they might remain by the vessel to pump her,
and telling them that he would send more men from Tian to
mist them. The gale, however, continued ; and as the
vessel wstriking heavily upon the rocks and night was sy-
mooching, the life& at returned to the vessel a second time
and succeeded in brioging the whole of the hands, numbering
14, safely on shore. This morning the sea is staking a dean
breach over the ship, and she is fail of water, and to all ap-
pearame will become a total wreck. The mew were so far
eehausted es to be unable to launch their own boat., and '
they could not have survived the night, so that their lives
were saved by means of the new lifeboat of the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution recently tent bare.
Diurrsuerivn Ftage.—Yesterday morning about
two o'clock a fire of a destructive nature broke out in Mel
premises belonging to Mr. H. Bailee, a butcher, carrying on
business in Grafton-yard, Harepettad-road. The names
when first disarmed were raging in tie stabile', and in the
course of a few minutes the whole of the lower part of the
modem presented a sheet at are. Unfortunately, a valu-
able horse was in the place, and it being impossible to get
Me enhaal our, it was earned to death. Tm he eas sof the
Is Delgada from Wells-street, Crown-street, Chandos-
street, Famingdon-wrea, and King-$.004, arrived is rapid
sueteselen, but the firemen were unabie to subdue the
tams watil the stabling was totally destroyed, and
the raise over, with their content., severely damaged.
Mr. Hasa was insured in the Lancashire Fire-oaks.—
A flee likewise broke out yesterday morning in the peewits'
el Mr. T. Ftere, No. 17. Misters-street-metre, New North-
east'. It eameowl in a cbair-manuhrory. The elegises
of the parish and London bilged, were soon in attendance,
bat the fire soar not be extinguished until considerable
dump weethues. Mr. Fitch was not insured. The origin
of the Ire mall Mot be learned.— A third fire happened at
14, Queens- ve. South Remington. The building
was cast clam The outbreak was caused by tome of
the widow ambit. a fire on the hearth to dry the work.
The teem elms pariah and London Brigade baring
steed. IM mama sad firemen went to work la admirable
style; bet te get to the flames they woes obliged to cut away
the lab and plaster partition ref the seraad floor, and the fires
aadescoad BOOM were seriously balsa .
LONDON GENERAL OMNIBUS COMPANY (LIMITED)
—Traffic receipts for week maim Mew, 19, 1111111,
9,411131. SA led.
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