The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-03 00:00:00

TURRETS VERSUS BROADSIDES.

The discussion on this question was resumed
last evening at the Royal United Berrie* Institution ; Cap-
tain FP,HBOURNE in the chair.

Captain Score, who opened the discussion, produced
various diagrams, and entered into detailed criticism, of
the statements made in Captain Coles 's paper. He argued
in favour of sail power, giving an instance in which, but
for sails, his ship, the Research, would have gone aground.
The turret system was deficient in offensive power, be-
cause they were too low to fire down upon small veasels
and torpedoes, which no doubt would be largely em-
ployed in future warfare. They also fired slowly,
bemuse space was limited. In all the firing
on board the Royal Sovereign there had been
no shorter interval than one minute, while in the Bel-
lerophon the other day, with elongated AiOlb. shot, five
rounds were fired in 3 minutes 41 seconds. Captain Coke
had had every advantage in conducting his experiments,
but the broadside system had hardly been so fortunate.
They were all too fond of their own plans, and these die-
, missions would help to sift the wheat from the chaff.
' Admiral ROBINSON, comptroller of the navy, said this
question was one of the greatest moment, and however
entertaining or temporarily advantageous, all personalities
should be avoided in discussion. He stood before the
meeting the oldest, most consistent, and persistent advo-
I cite of the turret system for that which it was
capable of doing, but not of a system which
could not perform what it intended to do. He
assisted Captain Coles to get the first turret ship
that was ever laid down. What he believed was that the
turret system, as applied for coast defence, for inland
navigation, or siege artillery, and for attacking an enemy's
port or roadstead in inland waters and smooth weather,
was the system of all others that combined the greatest
amount of offence and defence. But it was another ques-
tion whether such a ship was fit for sea-going purposes.
One of the essential,. of Captain Coles's principle was the
lowness of his freeboard, and this provision would prevent
him from firing at Lis enemy except when he was on the
top of • wave ; if the guns were placed high
out of the water, the chief merit claimed
by Captain Coles for his principle was abandoned.
He hoped what he was about to say would not give offence,
but it was his firm convictive that the greatest opponent
of the turret system as applied to sea-going and cruising
ships was Captain Coles himself. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)
He (Admiral Robinson) advocated that the true principle
of • sea-going turret ship was that the guns should be high
out of the water. Captain Cola's turret was armour-
plated above deck, hut not below. There both the turret
and the part upon which all the machinery worked had no
armour, and therefore no protection but the armour-plates
outside the vessel. A shot or shall passing through the
aide might therefore disable the turret altogether. This
was not perhaps a vital objection, but it should make
persons pause before they put all their guns
into turrets. It would certainly not be right
to introduce turrets to even • considerable
portion of the ••.glish navy until they had more expe-
rience of them. There was no unwillingness at the Admi-
ralty to consider the question of turret ships ; on the con-
trary, there were some extremely warm advocates at
Whitehall. The gallant admiral then pointed out the advan-
tages of broadside ships, sod the improvements which be
said were beingmade in them every week ; and spoke in
the highest terms of the capacities of Mr. Reed, the chief
constructor of the navy ; Captain Tyler, Mr. Galloway,
and Captain Reathorn.
Captain Coxes replied to the discumion, thanking all
who had taken part in it for their courtesy. He was very
glad to find that Mr. Reed had now become a supporter of
the turret system, for so much must be gathered from his
speech of the previous eve/sing.
The usual compliment to the chairman concluded the
proceedings.

ARTISANS' VISITS TO PAUL—The council of the
Society of Arts, feeling the importance of promoting the
intelligent still, of the Paris Exhibition and the manu-
facturing establishments in France by artisans of the
United Kingdom, have appointed • committee in fur-
therance of this object. The council, on the recommen-
dation of the committee, have passed the following minute:
—"At the last and former International Exhibitions held
in this country arrangements were made by the French
government to facilitate the visits of skilled artisans, and
interesting reports on the Exhibitions were made by them
to their government. Believing that such visits on
the part of skilled workmen to these great international
displays not only exercise • beneficial influence upon
the men themselves, but also upon the progress of in.
dustry in the country to which they belong, the council
of the Society of Arts have resolved to raise • fund to
be employed in aiding a limited number of English
workmen to proceed to Paris for the purpose of study-
ing the present French Exhibition. To carry this object
into effect, they have greed on the following plan :-
Ist. That a number of selected workmen (the number to
depend on the amount of funds at the disposal of the
Jouncil) shall be assisted to proceed to and remain in Paris
a sufficient time (say three weeks), for the purpose of
making • careful study of the Exhibition, and of such fac-
tories and workshops as they may desire to visit. 2nd.
That every man so assisted shall, on his return, make a
report to the society of what he has observed during his
stay in reference to the special industry in which be is
engaged, and that it be made a condition of the grant to
oach man that one-third of the amount be retained until
his report shall be supplied to the society. 3rd. The
council think it will be undesirable to fix the exact time
for, or to prescribe the duration of, these visits, or to
interfere with any of the arrangements the men may
desire to make for their awn accommodation ' • but,
in order that they may take advantage of the
facilities provided by the commission organised by the
French government for the study of the Exhibition, the
men will be placed in communication with that commission
on their arrival in Paris. 4th. A considerable min will be
required satisfactorily to accomplish the important object '
undertaken by the society, and, in order to raise these
funds, the council have determined to appeal to the
members of the society, who must be interested in the
successful results of this movement, in the belief that
they will not hesitate to join in a subscription fur the
furtherance of the undertaking ; and they propose at the
same time to communicate with the various chambers of
. .

commerce, inviting their counsel and support. The council
have decided to commence the subscription by a vote of
one hundred guineas from the funds of the society."
LONDON OFFICES COMPANY (LIMITED.}—A meet-
ing of the contributories of this comps y was held yester-
day at the offices of Masers. Cash and Edwards, to consider
the proposal of the liquidators to make a call of 1/. per
share. Mr. H. T. Edwards, one of the liquidators, pro-
vided, and explained to the meeting that the properties of
this company had not yet been re-transferred to them, in
consequence of delay in the Court of Chaneary in the
appointment of an official liquidator of the London and
County General Agency Association (Limited), which as-
sociation bad agreed to hand them back. Under the cir-
cumstances the creditors were pressing for payment of
their debts. The shareholders raced various objections to
the call, and after a lengthened discuasion the chairman
decided that no valid cause having been shown against it,
the liquidators then and there made the call of 11. per
share, as proposed.
HEALTH RESTORED ET Du BARRY'S FOOD TO THE
STOMACH, nerves, lungs, and Ever of old and rising, mine
dyspepsia (Indigestion!, constipation, diarrheas, &Mit), boss&
ache, neuralgia, hysteria, palpitation, sleeplessness, debility
wasUng, cough, asthma, fevers, consumption, low spirits, 60,000
minus] cures which had resisted all medicines, including that
of his Holiness the Pope.—Ties at Is. I id. ; 119., 2s. 9d. ; 1219.,
th ; 2619., 40s. —Du Barry and Co, 77, Regent-street, London;
also at Fortnum and Mason's: and at 61, Grameharebetreet,
4elassmaa—(Ad, Che4Pll44l: a and 160, Oduartatilint; and MI grooms sad
ver sat