The Express.
London, England, 1868-06-16 00:00:00

AT SHOEBITRYNEBB.

The experiments which are to take place this
week at Shoeburynses are on so extensive
ua=..
and present so many novel features, that n
interest is attached to them. The structures to be y
tested consist of two contiguous casemate., with
an adjoining wall plated with iron, on each flank.
One casemate represents the construction of the
Plymouth Breakwater Fort ; the other, erected for
purely experimental purposes, is to test the value
of several systems of combining ironwith masonry.
The Banking walls are of various kinds of masonry ,
faoed with iron plates and cramp, bolted to the
walls and to railway bars bedded in them.
The Plymouth Breakwater target has excep-
tional interest attaching to its trial, as it was built,
by order of Sir John Pakington to determine the
value of the fort it represents, the designs for
which had been so frequently attacked by several
members of the Howe of Commons. It is unfor-
tunate that the abuse heaped upon this particular
work should have been tinged with so much bitter-
ness, as, whatever may be the results of the trial,
the verdict grounded on these results, and pro-
nounced by those who are already committed to
the side of failure, must be received with some sus-
picion. -
The target is lenged as being In no way
• specimen of the actual work, on the grounds that
the additions and alterations to the original con-
tract drawings are of such importance and magni-
tude as to make the target vastly superior in
strength to the fort. From a careful examination
of the drawings submitted to parliament, and
showing both the original design and the altera-
tions and additions made to the target, it si evi-
dent that the differences between the work as con-
tracted for, and as embodied in the target, are not •
of a nature to compensate for the weakness in-
herent in a section of the work built up as this
target is, and wanting, as it does, that con-
tinuity of support which will be given in the
fort itself, for the fort being, in plan, an oval, to
test a section representing one casemate only by
a trial to which an equal length of the fort might
be subjected, is very like cutung two spokes, with
the portion of nave and felloe between them, out
of a wheel for the purpose of finding the strength
of that wheeL

Briefly, the differences appear to be that the
target is fiat on the face, instead of being slightly'
curved, and that the depth of the casemate is not
the same as in the original drawing, both times
alterations being caused by utilising old
granite foundations. Next, a base plate •
of iron has been added to fix the gir-
ders which support the three layers of armour-
plates more firmly ; this addition ja no novelSy,
having been provided for a similar work, and was
omitted here in the first contract, as it was
doubtful whether it could not be dispensed with,
and was capable of being added at any time before
the girders were to be in place. Again, an addi-
tional iron plank has been added to the girders on
each side of the port, the intervals between these
being greater than between the others ; and
advantage has been taken to utilise the pieties
available from the plates selected for testing
from the batches sent in by contractors,
and which were formerly useless, by mike;
them instead of planks under the
so getting one point lees in one thickness of pg=l.
The minor points, such as packing the bolt holes
and hollows of the girders with timber, and putting
leather between the courses of plates, are
and, manifestly, should fairly be allowed if any
value can be got out of them. At all events there
remain the 15 inches of armour in three layers, sup-
ported by girders of planks, connected with piers
of the same area as in the original drawine these
t being the essential requirements to make 'target
zepreeent the fort.
The two ranges selected for the trials. of this
target have been fixed, the one at 1,000 yezde to
represent the range at which ships might be kept
off by obstructions if it were desirable to usethem ;
and the other five hundred yards, as being the
shortest range within which ships could
engage, even if no obstructions existed. TricltleYr
structures being purely experimental are to be
tested at five hundred yards range, and also at
two hundred yards, the latter range being for p r—
poses of comparison with previous experisaenb at
that distance.

The gams to be used in the trial are the 9, 10,
and 12-inch rifled guns of 12, 18, and 25 tons
weight respectively, and the 15-inch American '
smooth bore gun. But it should be borne
in mind that the 9-inch rifle gun and
the American 1.5-inch smooth bore are the
most powerful guns carried by any ship of war in
our own or in any other service ; and though forts
and coast batteries may carry guns of any weight
and calibre that can be made, yet none but turret-
ships can carry anything heavier than the 12-ton
at the present turret-ships in
IT services of the various naval powers,
and considering the ranges at which even the
9-inch gun can penetrate their batteries, while
their decks are also peculiarly vulnerable, we.
strongly suspect that the ranges laid down for
these trials are very far short of the very re-
spectful distances within which ships would .
ever be likely to approach such a position
as Plymouth Breakwater Fort, with any other
than the most amicable intentions, and when
Pickleoombe and Command batteries on the west
with their fifty-two guns ; Stadden, on the amt.,
with its twenty-two guns; Drake's Island and
Fort Stamford, in rear, with thirty-two guns, are
taken into account to act in support of the four
12-inch guns in turrets. the_lwelsra 10-inch and
six 9-inch guns of Plymouth- Bierwater Fort
itself, the probability of a naval attackat moderate
ranges becomes excoodingly slender. We troak,
therefore, that the merits of the target repreeent—
zthis fort will be measured with a due can-
ration of all the circumstances that would
attends probable attack. • . ^

*oozy eonocu.—The old ittigbeian
4 omit on Thswedamind an altiZiole:
The nennal " speeches of the school nay
tile following day. it.c-77-77"
MUNDLIt OF A OZELD AID aIIICTDI OP THE

Soruse,miker.,..war
borßiarroar4ll2--Onso4noitospthemadmitth nerl. tra-
maces which we have been called upon to Medd for erase
re
II raleatra:spirect- riziartm- 711trif warning, •
cistern m the yard adjoining Mir own house, ande=
peculiar circumstances. It that the
woman, who we mdentsmi best the subj.ct of
mental depression for a coosidertble period, to bed
wili, bet Method end shill, • babe of about E
than
m Saturday night, and nothing more
was then Observed In her conduct. On the w-
LWsuseniag Mr. Seidl awoke at Me •
hour, and to his greet astonishment maw thastlie with
child were not in bed with him. He at ossose.eg, 15
not lading them downside', he 'raised an ~
rearck being mode the bodies of both inetis.zat t:
were discovered dead in the cistern. A aced was bat
round the child's body, and it seems clear from this -pad-,
tail in which it was found, that it had hear plashed • or
thrown into the water. A deep gash wee disoothedil crt •
the mother', throat, and it appears to have hews inthoMd
with a knife or rasor. 111, excitement in the *Magi pa-
te/day was very great, and large crowds of maw is.
tumbled round tie place where the unfoetanate emu- •
tame happened. Sesta. the husband. who
is
isitird4
industrious sow is deeply Mt ep by and d
day he was entirely uncomolabh• Inquest en ga. •
bodies will be held this day (Monday). —Retrial/Nun
Geurniini.
ALEXANDRIA, Justs 16.—Her )Lsiesty's ship
Mayilowar arrived at Suez last night, ha rag on beard
Me Queen of Mobile, one of the Comono Isiss, • p
situated at the northern entrance Of the Yosaaege
ChanneL Her Majesty is hi rester the Pans.

lienioan's bea NM M. per pound
agitAL..." t=rarlate.l/4=1.1114.ra1l
=4:::=1=4•1116

LIFEBOAT SERVICES.-- During the storms of
the peat year the I.:Atonal Lifeboat Inctitution contributed
to tbe Anne of LOR lives Ruin Adieux shipwrecks. and JO celeela
from deotonotion. The institution also expended f. 31.141 in the
same pliod on he Lifeboat Eatabllahmenth In addition to granting
for rewards
Tbe Committee of Institution earneely appeal to the public
for antecenoe to enable theem to meet the continued heavy de-
monde on their IN Lifeboat eatablahmonta
OootribuLiona will be thankfully received by the London and
Cannily Conkers, and by the Remota,. Richard Leo* Red. at
the Institution. IX Johnotreet. Adel &i, London.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.-CITY OFFICE,
W. Clisepaida—NlTTlL PROW NI, aad Os., mde City
Awets. Boma pit, and amphitheatre Malls tram Ss. Miles'
tbarked Open Librotti, is. M.: the New NlNpele Bloom Lag
Opera Oheas,

'PARISIAN PAPERHANGINOB, ARTISTIC
-R. DECORATIONS, and PAINTING.—The nerroata
of the moat aannant Preach sad RAGA taanasotarern
with °rights] and linnet° decorations of a high alma. at
JAMISON and GRAHAM'S, le, SA St, s. It and M. Word.
atret.

BLitir 8 ()LABS CHANDELIERS, Wall
viand Imptiax for (Ms and Candles, Table, Mar,
Ike. Olma nner Berrien for If poisons from LI Us. Gloss
Doren Perna foe 11 parsons from IL All articles marked In
plain Seurat. Ornamental Glass. ohs and Foreign, 'WWI*
for pimento. Mem, Export, and Tarnishing orders promptly
executed.
LOMIDOW-Bholl-1.3611. 4L Oxfordatreet. W.
113.0111•011 All —Mmes.:pie:7 sad E1h0W400211.111. Broadetreet.
Xstablinlied

BANDELIERS in BRONZE and ORMOLU
M DINI2M-110031 iusd LIBRARY, Oandelabra. Moderate.
UMW.. in Drones, Orsnelo China. and 611aan ntatuettes
Paean. Vasa. and other Ornaments, in a roam erected expressly
*elbow arlielsa MILES. 46. Oxford.street. W.

HIL L IPBand PEARCE,
Artist. in Mar and China to tL.Queen.
roomette'''. solicit an inspection of their NOVEL and BEAU.
TIPVL DEMON& They are animal. moderate In Price. perfect
form. workmanship, material. and mandadare
Mr. D. Paine (for 18 rare at It, 8L Jamir'netreot) has the slaw
deoartmaat under his direction.
IA New Bond-street and 338 and YE. Oxfordnkrent. London.

WILLIAM CHURTON and SON,
HOSIERS and 81ITRTMAXERR
LADING UNDERCLOTHING.
91 and 111. OXFORDSTRENT.

NEWTON WILSON and Co.'. SEWING
MACHINE&
PARIS EXHIBITION TWO PRIZE MEDAL&
NEW HAMS MACHINES.
QUEEN MAE, CLEOPATRA,
HAND li)UKATITCH, DORCAS, AND PENEI,OPE.
Amery bandsewing machine. that hare prise modals The
ican button-We, eyelot-hola orsverasilas machine, for the
and tan tbe noroplosi combination of a mewing end buttonhole
maohme. Rake. PM baton-holm per hoar, and
In a
=lade to 'Alan awing. muaratad mitappase lires.abfr
Honors : 144, Obeapaid.: and 111. Relrentaare.

FIRST-CLASS CARPETS,
PRICES.
ED! DAMASKS, &c.,
LOW
Patients ow too torttotood to LONDON. I.
T. VDNABLIS sod DONE.

FIRST -CLASS SILKS and FANCY DRESSES.
LOWEST PRIME
Patterns sent to tits Ceeqtry Pres,
T. TENABLES and SONS. LONDON,

piBT-CLASS DRAPERY, MANTLES, Aa
LOWER? PRICE&
Oarri•ip Tres.
Idebbibed pearly Ralf a °eatery.

FIRST-CLABEI MOURNING.
Lowzr PRIMPS
T. TENABLB9 and tgalarDON. R.

"MIST-CLAM FURNITURE, BEDDING, &c.
LOWEBT PRIOR.
An lOnstrated Price Ltst Past Fran
T. TENABLE° and BONA 10. lOC and tokWlttiosobacel. mad
1. 0. and 41. Comasereos3.otreot, LaWon.

VINERY BRETT and Co'a "0. D. V."
PURI BRANDY, as. pace sod prresets-
snanded by nu Etedlcal In • case for ths estuary, Pts.,
indlosire of railway o•rzispe.—Holborsbars. sod 30, lisisna.
street.

The Price of
THE DAILY NEWS

L Dow

ONE PENNY.

The proprietary of the "DASLT NEWS" have great seeishiotiea
anneanotog • step which they believe will be aompted by the
nubile m its *wit justifiestion. for the journal only advances in the
line of its natural development when it adjusts its palliating
erreogimeots to a ante of thine which for terooad•tiroar years
it bee laboured not annieerisflal4 to promote.

In metering for this transtorreatiOn one thought has predomi-
nated in the solicitude of the proprieton. Their aim has been to
make "THE DAILY NEWS" universally socessible, not to alter
Its chersoter; and they would consider their labour worse than
lon went they to consent to changes which would lower its tons or
In say was Impair its Hilo to bold its accustomed place In public
Wow.

TEE POLITICAL AND LITERARY
Direction et the Journal will remain Unektnited,
AND BE SUPPORTED BY AN ACCESSION
OF EMINENT WRITERS.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE
rest to sal organisation of Special and itzoinsive Correepron-
dame, embracing the entire Worid.