The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-23 00:00:00

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well in them as it is found to do in small arms ; expe-
rience proves, however, that projections, on iron shot
and shell, from the unyielding nature of the metal, are
broken off in the discharge, or that the grooves in the
gun are destroyed, in either of which cases the objet
sought to bo attained is, of course, defeated. The Lan-
caster gun is an attempt to obviate these difficulties, by
means which will be readily understood, if the principle
of construction of the two-grooved rifle is kept in mind.
Suppose the grooves in one of this kind of rifles to make
a half turn iu the length of the barrel, it is easy to per-
ceive that if the edges of the grooves were removed, so
as to render the interior of the barrel smooth, its form '
would be that of an ellipse, of which the minor axis, if
perpendicular at the breach, would be horizontal at the
muzzle, and vice versa. This is the principle upon which
the Lancaster gun is constructed ; the bore is slightly
elliptical, the difference between the major and minor
axis being, as will be perceived from the dimensions of
the shell, only iof an inch. A very little considera-
tion will show that when a Lancaster gun is discharged
one of two results must be arrived at, either the shell
must make a half turn during its passage to the muzzle
of the gun, or, becoming fixed i❑ its passage, must
burst the gun. The frequency of the latter contingency
seems to point to its being a less safe gun than the
old style of artillery, while the reported eccentricities
of the shell would appear to indicate that the rotation
imparted to it is not long retained. Probably an in-
creased familiarity with the requirements of this monster
gun may enable our artillerymen to provide for its pe-
culiarities.

We now come to the mode in which the shells are
made. In the building already described there are A
large number of furnaces, with nine steam hammers,
varying in weight from one to three tons. There are
also a number of lathes and other machines for impart-
ing motion, in which steam power to the extent of 100
horses is required. The first step in the process con-
sists in making a plate of iron of about two feet square
and one inch in thickness red hot in a furnace ; while in
this state it is conveyed to a machine which rolls it into
the form of a cylinder, the edges lapping over, and 1
being securely wedded by the action of a steam ham-
mer. The cylinder is then again heated to redness,
placed upon a mould of the required form, and put
under a steam hammer, which, by repeated blows,
closes up one end. In this state the incipient shell
is conveyed to another set of hands, who, again heating
it, subject it to the action of a machine, which, by enor-
mous pressure, gives to it something of its destined coni-
cal form. After again visiting the furnace the shell
belornes the object of the delicate attention of a ma-
chine, among the most ingenious that has ever been
constructed. In the centre of a circular iron stage is a
small, well-like receptacle into which the shell is
dropped. The men in attendance then cause a huge
iron hand to descend upon the shell, the fingers of
which, grasping the red hot mass, force it down to the
bottom. Beneath the well are four other massive pieces
of iron, which keep moving with a sort of tremulous mo-
tion, and act as the human hand in ultimately bringing
the shell into its final form. They press it, coax it, and
handle it in the most endearing manner, much in the
same way as a baker would mould a loaf into shape.
Having finally given the required form water is
thrown into the well, and the shell withdrawn. In
this state the front end of the shell has been
brought to a sharp point ; in the next stage this
point is cut off, and a gun metal " bush " is fitted into
it for the Furpose of receiving the fuse. The shell is
now heated for the last time, and submitted to the
pressure of a pair of oval-shaped dies, which squeeze it
into the elliptical form necessary to fit the bore of the
gun. Each shell weighs, when charged with powder,
about one hundred pounds, and their cost is stated to
be from 50s. to 60a. each. When made by hand, they
are said to have cost the enormous sum of 301. each.
About two hundred shells per day is the average rate of
working of the different machines.

The boring of the guns is carried on in another part of
the works. In consequence of the unequal cooling of so
large a mass of metal, the bore of the gun is not formed
by a core in the casting as might be imagined. If thus
cast the interior would be porous and spongy; to obviate
thi,, each gun is cast solid and bored out by machinery.
—Obserar.

TEE LAM DISTURBANCES IN HYDE-
PARK.

INQUIRY INTO TIIE ALLEGED MISCONDUCT

OF THE POLICE.

The Commis 'Rimers took their seats on Saturday in
the Court of Exchequer shortly after 11 o'clock.
Mr. Joseph Albert Planchard, upholsterer, 41, Mc-AT-
ton-place, Pimlico, was in the Park from four to seven
o'clock. He saw a man in a cab struck violently by a
policeman with his truncheon. The man's hands ap-
peared to be tied together, and he held them up as if to
ward off the blows. The conduct of Superintendent
Hughes was like that of a maniac. In consequence of a
policeman ill-using a boy a female remonstrated with
him on his cruelty, when he replied, " What the b—
h— business have you here?" As witness was about
to take the policeman's number he was told by a man in
the crowd to mind what he was about, because persons
had been apprehended for doing it. He saw police-
sergeant 31 1) on a boy on the ground, who was bleed-
ing very much from the mouth. Witness could not say
if the lad was a pickpocket. He thought he looked too
respectable for that.
Chief Commissioner Wortley—Pickpockets are very
respectable in appearance, according to my experience.
Witness could identify the sergeant. He saw police-
man 375 A strike a man, saying, "he would let day-
light into his b-- guts," and kicked him. He saw the
same policeman using unnecessary violence to a. lad he
had in custody.
Mr. Z. Berry, engineer, Albion Works, Wilton-road,
Pimlico, was in the Park in company with the last wit-
ness, and corroborated his evidence, adding that he saw
the boy knocked down by the policeman. lie violently
thrust the end of his truncheon against the lad's mouth,
which pushed him down, and the policeman fell over
him. The crowd cried " Shame," and the policeman ap-
peared to be thoroughly ashamed of his conduct. The
conduct of the B division was exemplary. He saw a
lady's bonnet, such as Punch describes as an " oyster
shell," knocked off her head by a policeman's truncheon;
and her hair streaming in the wind. The people be-
haved well. He saw five or six stones thrown at a cab
conveying persons to the station-house.
Mr. E. N. Ayrton, barrister, of Lincoln's-inn, gave
evidence of the peaceable disposition of the people pre-
vious to the misconduct of the police. There was not
one-tithe of the noise usual on a Lord Mayor's-day. He
saw 387 A. strike several boys of twelve and fourteen
years of age violently on the back with his truncheon as
they were running away from the police.
Cross-examined by Mr. Ellis—He would not say
positively that 387 A struck the boys ; he struck at
them ; had he struck them he should hays thought they
would have fallen down.

Mr. Thomas Coachman, landlord of the Windsor
Castle, Pimlico, was in the Park from three to half-past
four o'clock. Witness described the conduct of one of the
mounted police, who, he believed, was Superintendent
Hughes. He was a pale complexion man, riding a Ches-
nut or light bay horse.
Chief Commissioner Wortley said he thought it might
be taken as a fact it was Superintendent Hughes, and
that he had supreme command on this day.
Mr. Ellice said he was there, and had supreme com-
mand, but there was a discrepancy in the witness's de-
scription of the man.
Chief Commissioner Wortley said that he thought it
had been established that Superintendent Hughes bad
the chief command on this day, and anything that was
done wrong in that particular quarter be would have to
answer for. If any specific charge was brought against the
superintendent, it would be necessary to be particular in
his identity.
Witness stated that when he was more than 50 yards
from the railing he saw the police make an attack on
the people, beating them right and left. Two men were
brutally struck by the police, and had their clothes torn
off their backs. He detailed other cases of ill-usage on
the part of the police generally. He saw Superintendent
Hughes strike at the people with his whip. It caused
great excitement, many observing he ought to be un-
horsed. The conduct of the police on this occasion was
reprehensible. Their conduct generally was exemplary,
and he had always rendered them assistance when they
required it. He had no animosity against the police.
He had been a licensed victualler for 27 years and never
had a complaint made against him. He saw two fema'es
en the ground in the park, but he could not say if they
were knocked down by the police.
Mr. John Blandford army case maker, 24, Tothill-
street, Westminster, was in the park from 4 till 6
o'clock. He was not in the habit of going there,
but did so that afternoon from seeing the prohibitory
notice of the police. He saw a superintendent
on a "pale horse" make an attack on an old grey-headed
aristocratical-looking gentleman. He saw 385 A
strike a young man on the left arm, who was struck by
two other policemen at the same time and felled to the
ground. After this the ma❑ on the " pale horse" made
his appearance, which was the signal for general hiss-
ing. Another charge was ordered by him, in which 385
A took a prominent part, the leading policeman of the
body saving "he would have no more of it." 385 A
lifted his truncheon to strike a stout boy—" a buffalo
cut down"—(laughter)—but the boy threatening to
knock him down, the policeman desisted. 385
A. caught a man by the collar, and as he held him
struck him a violent blow on the lower part of
the back. He joined with several in conversation
'on the Sunday Trading Bill. The meeting was
anything but political.
Mr. Geo. Kimpton, book-finisher,ll3l, Wardounstreet,

Soho, was in the Park from four o'clock till six o'clock.
Thera was a little hissing as a carriage or horse passed
by. He saw two horses rather startled by the noise, ai.d
the police hi consequence rush on the people. He saw
several ladies in broughams, who appeared to enjoy their
ride.

Mr. James Bawstead, commercial traveller, 36, Far-
ringdon-street, was in the park with his wife, from 4 to
5 o'clock, they were on their way to Brompton to see a
friend. The people coming along in a body he took hold
of the railing to protect himself and wife. The Inspector
on the chesnut horse ordered the police to " take that
fellow into custody with the light waistcoat and gloves,"
meaning witness. The polite seized him and dragged
him over the railings. The hspector then came up when
witness said " What a d— fool you must be to give me in
charge, having done nothing." The superintendent told
the men to take him away,aul charge him with resisting
the police. He was dragged to Stanhope-gate, and not
liking to be dragged through the streets by the police,
a cab was procured, and he was taken to the station-
house. He was taken into cult, dy entirely by the order
of Superintendent Hughes, wto was pale with rage, and
acted like a madman. His wife was escorted by a
stranger to Brompton, and she returned to the station-
house with a friend, to bail him, but orders, the police
told her, had been given to bail no one. One of his
employers offered to bail him on Monday morn-
ing, but he was refused. Witness was put into an
underground cell, like a pig-stye, in which there were
more persons than could sit down, It was intensely
hot during the night, and had not a policeman kindly
opened the door several times he thought they would
have been suffocated. The policeman who attended to
them was very civil, and they had anything they could
pay far. The place reminded him of what he had read
of the Black Hole at Calcutta. He was bailed on Mon-
day evening.
Chief Commissioner Wortley asked who had the
power of bailing ?
Mr. Ellice said it was a discretionary power under the
i
police act, n the person in command of the station,
probably an inspector.
Mr. Commissioner Armstrong—Then on this occa-
sion any of these persons might have been bailed by the
inspectai on duty ?
Mr. Ellice said it appeared so, but he could not say.
Witness said that he appeared at Nlarlborough-street
on Tuesday, and was discharged, no charge being pre-
ferred against him.
Chief Commissioner Wortley asked to be furnished
with the Metropolitan Police Act, and the regulations
with reference to bail.

Mr. Ellice said he would endeavour to procure them.
Mr. H. R. Markwick, 16 years of age, clerk to a
solicitor, 65, Gray's-inn-lane, was in the park from 3
to 5 o'clock when he was taken into custody for hooting
and waving his hand at a carriage with a livery servant
that passed. The inspector said he charged him with
shaking his band at a carriage.
Chief Commissioner Wortley—What made you hoot ?
Witness—l don't know ; others did it, and I did the
same. Witness was taken to Vine-street, and placed in
the cell with the previous witness. At 12 o'clock on
Sunday night he was taken in a van to Marylebone-
lame, and put in a cell with 17 others. That cell was
rather worse than the one at Vine-street. He felt faint
during the night, and the police gave him water occa-
simally. Most of the prisoners were young men like
himself. lie was one of the number brought up on
Tuesday and discharged. The sergeant on duty refused
on Monday afternoon to send for his bail, because Gray's-
ion-lane was too far off. A policeman told him from 2s.
to Is. 6d. was charged for procuring bail, according to
distance.

Ey Mr. Commissioner Armstrong—He understood the
police were in the park to keep order, and prevent hoot-
ing and hissing.
By Chief Commissioner Wortley—He went to the
parli from curiosity, attracted by the police notice.
Br Mr. Mitchell—Prisoners confined without money
were not supplied with food gratuitously until after they
bad )een in custody 48 hours. On a prisoner applying
for i, a policeman replied, "You don't expect to get
fat here, do you ?" (Laughter.)
Faulconer, flour factor, 97, Lupus-street, Pim-
lico, was in the park from half-past two till six o'clock.
He taw a person named Woodward with his eye cut
oper. The police appeared b strike where they could
do tie most injury. It struck him Superintendent
Hugles' object was to excite the people. There was no
bad iieling on the part of the people against the pollee ;
and then the latter, in making a rush, missed their point
and lot amongst the crowd, they withdrew to let them
(piety and peaceably join their comrades. He saw
no bits inviting the people to a "monster concert" or
" °pin air fete" in Hyde-park. The people were con-
versng in groups on the conduct of Superintendent
Hugees.

B' Commissioner Henderson—When the police drove
the leople from the rails they made no attempt to pre-
ventthem coming forward again.
/Or. Richard Stiff, linendraper, 67 and 68, Old-street,
St. ],uke's, was in Hyde-park from 3 to 6 o'clock. He
was induced to go there from the bills issued by
the police, to see what really was going on. A
nunner of ladies and children were there, who betrayed
no far. He saw several men struck by the police, and
repectable youth taken into custody. He saw a po-
licenan strike a boy of 12 years of age across the legs as
lie tut on the grass under the railing, and a second pass-
ing gd the same. The people cried " Shame. He also
saw 6man, surrounded by a cumber of pollcenien, struck
se'Tely on the legs, head, and thigh, and then m irchei
oir ii custody. From the Park he went to Park-street,

and the first thing that attracted his attention was a
cry of " Run for your lives." He detailed the
conduct of the police here in much the
same terms as the other witnesses already examined ;
be heard a cry in the park, "Now for Lord Robert
Grosvenor's," and some of the people left by the marble
arch.

Mr. M. Stroud, hosier and glover, 99, Tottenham-
court-read, was in the park from three to five o'clock.
He gave evidence as to the general misconduct of Super-
intendent Hughes and the police in charging the people.
Henry Pickenpack, fitter and turner, 4, Philadelphia.
terrace, Mount-gardens, Westminster•road, working at
Messrs. Maudsley's, a native of Schleswig Holstein.
He was in the park about three-quarters of
an hour, and from thence went to Park-street. He
was there attacked by at least half-a-dozen policemen as
he was quietly walking down the street making the best
of his way home. He was struck on the head, neck,
arms, and back. His head was cut open and his clothes
covered with blood, and he was afterwards taken by a
policeman to St. George's Hospital. He left at least
half a pint of blood on the road in Park-street. The
policeman who took him to the hospital said it was
" unfair to maul a man about in such a manner who was
doing nothing, but when they received orders they were
bound to obey them." Witness lost his hat. He was
unable to work for a day and a half from the injuries he
received.

Mr. John Pyemont, 33, Kensington-park Gardens, a
member of the Stock Exchange, was in the park at four
o'clock with his children. He walked by the Serpentine,
and whilst standing with his children, who were under
10 years of age, by the railings, be saw a body of police-
men go over the railings on the opposite side of
the drive, and strike indiscriminately amongst men,
women, and children. The police rushed at the people
from different directions, so that they knew not which
way to go. He saw a man taken into custody solely
for smiling. He saw one or two policemen's hats knocked
off, evidently for the purpose of annoyance, but not ac-
companied with violence.

William Reynolds, waiter, 54, Park•street, Grosvenor.
square, was apprehended in the Park without cause by
403 A. Four policemen had him across the rail-
ings, and he was struck twice. 403 A. re-
quested the men not to strike him. He had
his clothes and shirt torn. He was taken to
Vine-street in a cab. On the way witness held up his
handkerchief to attract the notice of a friend, when
403 A knocked him back in the cab. The witness's
description of the cell, and the proceedings at Vine-
street station and Marlborough-street was similar to
that already given. At the Vine-street station the po-
lice charged 3d. for a id. cup of coffee. (Laughter.)
The court was densely crowded during the day, a
number of respectably-dressed females being present.
The Court adjourned till this morning at eleven
o'clock.