The Express.
London, England, 1859-03-09 00:00:00

•
'O, MARCH r.
9, 1. 'II
• 1 r

our Artillery is admitted to be in a Massillon state.'
'Even with every exertion on the part of Illr Wll.O
Liam Armorrzotto, at his works at Newcsalls, aided
by the fall power of the factory recently placed it
his disposal at Woolwich, it will be the work et
many years to replace all the field artillery, the
siege guns, sad the marine artillery now in use.
In the cause of some observations we recently

offered on the subject of the Royal Navy, the aC-
curacy of which Sir Joint PAZINGTON'e recent state-
ment strikingly confirmed, we took occasion to men-
tion
that the number of guns on board the different
men-of-war in existence in the British service ex-
ceeded fifteen thousand; that being the oase, it
easy to perceive what en enormous outlay would be
entailed upon the country by the replacement of this
immense quantity of mothiel. If, however, as is
reported, these guns can all be rifled and fitted with
the ingenious adaptation now patented by Mr.
WARRY, an immediate outlay of many hundred
thousand pounds would be wholly obviated, while
time—a far more important consideration still—
would be saved.

Dn Monday lut, at Chatham, a series of experi-
ments was tried with a gun made on the new prin-
ciple, and with the terrific form of missile invented
by Captain NORTON, and charged with his "liquid
fire." The result left but one impression on the
minds of the spectators, and that was that naval
warfare ea hitherto conducted must be deemed at en
end. What, indeed, is the state of things brought
about by the ingenious application of science to
increase the destroyiog power of instruments of war?
At the trials, a short time ago, on Shoeburynees
fiat, It was found that the solid iron cuing of the
Trudy (floating battery) afforded at 400 yards no
protection to the steel-pointed Armstrong bolt, fired
from a 32-pounder of the new kind, and with the
small ch►rge of tithe. of powder. We make use
advisedly of the term "bolt," for these missiles, from
their shape, resemble much more a rocket than any
description of bullet hitherto used for heavy guns.
So much at variance with professional opinion as to
the impregnability of these massive batteries was
the result above described, that Captain Hstern, of
the Cressy, who had fearlessly stationed himself on
board the Trusty, in the first instance; confident
in the impermeability of the casing around him, was
glad to retire to safer quarters when he found not
only plate-bolts, decks, and knees starting in all
diffUldna, but the five-inch metal plates themselves
being driven in, the Armstrong bolts passing com-
pletely through, and subsequently bearing away
decks and beams of the most ponderous character.
Weed-work indeed of any kind seems incapable of
arresting the flight of these missiles, for at a range of
800 yards they are found capable of traversing a solid
mw composed of heart of oak, bolted together, even
to the thickness of nine feet

So ninth for an elongated and steel-pointed
variety of the mimils already in um. Let us
next consider what Captain NORTON'S leaden
shell, charged with " liquid fire," eau accomplish. It
has been demonstrated that a single rifleman, by ths

help of this extraordinary projectile, can at any dis-
tance up to 1,800 or even 2,000 yards, infallibly set
fire. it not to the hall, at lout to the sails and spars
of any vessel. If, then, we imagine, In osse of
actual hostilities, one of WILIULT.II pas, pouring
from an embrasure in comparative security, at the
rate of 20 per minute, shells of a few inches diame-
ter, with an absolute certainty, too, that each shall
hit its mark, what other conclusion esa we adopt
than that war, upon the principles by which it has
hitherto been regulated, will become nearly, if not
wholly, Impracticable ? Some discussion maw in the
House en Monday night, suggested probably by the
above considerations, upon the vote of 826,0721. for
fortifications at home and abroad. Ths country will
learn with satisfaction that a committee of experienced
officers has already been appointed to consider what
effect the late improvements in artillery will have
apon the modern system of fortifications.

Tae retirement of Prince NAPOLEON from the
French Ministry, to which it is natural to uaign
great importance, is very variously interpreted. We
have reason to believe that its acceptance hu been

dictated by temporary considerations, and will not be
followed by any material changes in the ultimate
aims of the external policy of the• French Go-
reenment.

Int Court.

The Queen ind the Prince Consort honoured the
palomino, at the Adelphi Theatre with their peewee. het
Aiming. The toyal mita oceselited of Lodi Hoodoosld,
Ham Lary Herr, Hoe. Mary Bohol, the Earl of Shedkid,
Liestesent-Colonel H. Ponstaby, and Colonel the Hon. A.

Hisdigt.
Tba Prises Covert, attended by Colonel the 800. A,
Hardie" visited the British Museum yesterday morning.

Lady Headwall bem succeeded the Countess of Carr r
tbe lady in wailing to the Qom ; sad the Earl of Sheffield
and Mr. R. Overby Gore have mended Viscount Sirathallen
sod Genteel Sir Edward Bowser r the Iced sad groom in
The Right Hon. W. H. Gladstone had an Warrior with
Sir E. Dwlwsr Lytton yesterday, at the Celoalal•afflos.
D iebm wen received yesterday at the Culonisl-alkii
troaeigoOVllTlVe• GIGO= and Hourlong. Curter a
was sent to the Orem, ad the Ferland lair&

Their Royal Highnesses the Dachau of Cam-
beide ad the Primer Mary besotted the Contra el
Chiresdot with their corp ay last sight. at her belphlp's

rotoptloa" la orasvaal;ormota t. Grbrl He Perna
woo la altasaaass m lat royal blemaanta • mall aka,
way pram* to mot ta• illoatriosa Talton._ _ _

The Marquis of Salisbary, as Lord Presidsat of
diontosuri, au glee a rand dinner on Friday neat to •
'lase patty of the (Aare connected wits the educttketal
alai of his Wields/I department.
The Bari Granville was honoured with the
employ of hie Royal Highness the Duke of Catakeidge at
dinner, at his lordship's menet= is Brutoa-street, last
roguing. ♦ Wed girds eras iavi•el to sheet hi royal
bishops.
The Bait! of Stradbroks has left the Brattswkk
Betel, IffElyiPstettot, for hie seat, Heatless Hail.

Lady Windom&la has left the St. George's Hotel
to lake her tarn as lady in meting on has Ilsjooty, at
Dnoldsghara Palace.
Tbs Right Han. Edward Ellice, M.P., entertained
• edstt party at &sere last *Twang, at lb risidece la
Arnsgterstraet.
The Earl af Minto has been very ill. bat is now
email."' to lo ont ot darer. _ _ _

UriOvando ne has presented the Rev. Alfred
eltegaeas loafhaset, 111.A._, to the vicarage al Fathering'',

Lard Braybrooke has presented the Rev. Sainsel
Our" Ineasbent of Knowl4-lati, nor MeMesheed,
le re risme of Weren't. Breirshlre, reedend meete, by
the greatest ef the Re;. H. H. army, S.A., * the
prlealgairldp of Ceddiedem Theologiad Calve.
The L.sds of the Treasury have appointed the
j.dr. sewage (the Right H. Mr. Mowbray) Mr.
Robert Heyley Follett te be the COCllaissiasin islet the
Probate Arts for daddies the &hes for cotoperegon sat
loy Sited remota.
The Earl of Airlie is to be installd Levi Rester
of Mesischal COW% Abrams, es Weemey, the Silk
latteet •' •
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Matthews ere its week,
tehllttog sa ingegseent at the &Shen Threw.
Oa Monday Mght Mr. Charles Dines, lite lessee
st thsLyosers Theism mamma a az WON wrap
neat et the Thaws Repel, Zerabereb.