The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-14 00:00:00

THE FRENCH FLOATING BATTERIES.

In The Sun, of yesterday we noticed the appear-
ance of an interesting article in the Moniteur on
the floating batteries. The following is the text of
the article :
" The reports of Admiral Bruat on the attack of Kin-
bourn have pointed out the powerful effect of the float-
Some journals have already excited pub-
ing batteries.
lic curiosity by describing the particularities of their
construction, but they have not made known the in-
venter of this new arm. It will be heard with pleasure
that they are due to the initiative of the Emperor.
" When, at the commencement of the war, the for-
midable fleets of England and France set sail for the
Black Sea and the Baltic, persons little initiated in the
elements of naval war thought that these fleets would,
in the twinkling of an eye, destroy all the Russian for-
tresses. The Emperor, to whom his studies on gunnery
had rendered these questions familiar, was not deceived
in the matter, and he felt persuaded that if the Russian
fleets, not daring to come out and give battle on the open
sea, took refuge behind the fortifications which had been
constructed during a time of peace at enormous expense,
the Allied fleets could scarcely attempt anything against
their walls. He even insisted, in a note which he sent
to the Minister of Marine, that the Admirals should
use the greatest prudence in engaging their fine
and numerous ships ; for, said he, in war the
chances should be equal. An 80-gun ship carrying 1,200
men, and the construction of which had cost years of
time and millions of money to the State, should not be
hazarded against a wall of little value, armed with a few
guns, and served by a small number of men. The first
campaign confirming these provisions, the Emperor
sought for the means of creating what may be called a
siege fleet, the ordinary fleet being only made to engage
with ships."
On these data let us proceed to a few details :
" A line-of-battle ship of 100 guns of large calibre, and
a squadron which carries thousands of them, produce
very prompt and decisive effects against adversaries of
the same nature, but it is not the same against fortifica-
tions in masonry or in earth, because in that case one of
the two combatants is much more vulnerable than the
other, bei.ng alone exposed to the danger of sinking.
The land forts throw balls against ships which pass
through their sides, carry away their masts, and scatter
about splinters of wood and iron which kill and wound
a greater number of men than the projectiles themselves.
Red-hot shot produce different but even more dang-r•
ous effects. If they lodge in the sides, they gradually
ignite the timber, and, unless prompt attention be paid,
occasion a fire which compels the abandonment of the
vessel. Some balls of this kind reached one of the
French line-of-battle ships at the time of the can-
nonade of Odessa, and did considerable damage. It
must also be added that the fire of cannon on shore placed
on solid platforms must be more just than on board a
vessel agitated by the sea ; that the line-of-battle ship
presents a large target fur the fire of the battery, and
that her draft of water will not generally allow her to
place herself in whatever position may be wished.
" But what has rendered the artillery of forts still
more formidable, is the invention which has rendered
illustrious the name of General Paixhans, and which con-
sists in throwing horizontally, and with as much preci-
sion as solid shot, hollow projectiles of large calibre, one
of which only, in lodging in the side of the vessel, jus t
between wind and water, may, in bursting, produce a
leak which it will be found impossible to close ; one of
these projectiles may, therefore, be sufficient to sink a
line-of-battle ship. The same effect is not produced by
an ordinary cannon ball passing through the side ; the
fibres ef the wood againsglose, and only leave an opening
for the water, which can be readily plugged.
" Before this discovery of General Paixhans, these
shells were only thrown vertically, and although they
mirgh,t by falling on a vessel make their way through the
decks, yet the uncertainty of their fire rendered them in
reality not. very formidable.
"The principal object which the Emperor had in view
was to find a means of constructing vessels at a less ex-
pense, which could• be built with greater expedition than
a large vessel, draw less water, and consequently ap-
proach nearer the shore ; and baying their sides covered
with a thick coat of iron, the hollow shot fired at them
from the Paixhans' guns would break like glass against
them. The original idea, therefore, was not to render
a vessel invulnerable, but to counteract the effects of the
invention of General Paixhans.
" Impressed with this idea, the Emperor ordered ex-
periments to be made, which were tried in his presence
at Vincennes. Panels of wood, representing a section
of the side of a ship, were erected, and covered with
plates of iron of different thicknesses. Guns of large
calibre were placed at a short distance, and the effect of
their fire allowed a calculation to be made as to the thick-
ness of the iron sheathing required, which, without en-
cumbering the vessel too much by its weight, would pro-
tect her sides against these hollow shot. The experi-
ments showed that the iron sheathing also resisted more
solid shot than would be likely to strike it during a long
engagement. This fact being determined, the Emperor
commenced the planning of a special vessel accotding to
the following programme : one tier of guns light draw ht
of water, not very high above the water-line, and effec-
tual protection against every kind of projectile. Sailing
qualities were obliged to be sacrificed to the particular
object in view, and the Emperor gave to this new engine
of war the name of 'floating-battery,' in order to show
that it was not a vessel made like any other, to pursue
or avoid the enemy, but a real siege battery, to ener-
getically, and for a long time contend against fortifica-
tions considered by the enemy as unattackable by sea.
" On the French naval engineers being consulted, they
readily comprehended the proposed plan, which was
promptly decided on. The fl Jating-hattery could only
Le mated in such a way that the masts could be entirely
lowered before going into action, and a steam-screw
which would allow of its taking up its proper position
without other assistance.
"The 'floating battery' has the great attribute of
practical and important inventions, that it is the right
thing at the required time. Not only does the screw
give it a facility of handling without which such a veseel
would be almost useless, but the plates of iron which
cover it could never have been properly fashioned and
forged if our foundries Lad not been furnished with those
enormous hammers which steam at the present day go-
verns with a power and facility that is perfect:y astound-
ing. It is unnessary to dwell on the fabrication of these
plates, and other details of construction, and other ad-
vances in mechanical science, which, we may safely say,
Russia, reduced to her own resources, cannot for many
years successfully rival.
"As soon as the first experiments of the firing had
confirmed the ideas on which this new invention was
based, and even before the plan was fully decided on,
the Emperor eagerly communicated his views to our
faithful and great ally. Competent persons, men of
knowledge and experience, at first felt some surprise, for
the question was regarded as one that could not be
solved ; but experiments on the effect of the fire havicg
been made, fully confirmed the result which had been
obtained in France. The two Governments then agreed
' to build a certain number of those floating batteries,
which have just made their first trial at Kin-burn. The
projectiles which struck them, notwithstanding their
size, could neither pass through nor dage therr
and they 5000 opened practicable breaches in the . stove
walls. Thus, not only have the floating batteries, as
the Emperor wished, neutralised the formidahle props r-
ties of the Paixans' shot, which produced suchlidkirAtrtoUs
effects Sinope, but the experience. of
have proved twhaatr,th , the ex-
periments at Vincennes,
tit round shot. Our navy, and that of our ey es'nule.
are nOW acquainted with the properties of these allies, who
niac!,ines, will know how to turn them to a good ac-
count. count. The Emperor had before that furnished France
with a description of artillery which performed a very
material part in the victories of the Alma, of Inkermati,
and of Traktir ; he has now endowed the navy with an
arm which has only just made its appearance, and of
which the future career will prove the power."

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD, Nov. 13.
In a Convocation held this day, at two o'clock, the
grant of 251. per annum, by way of augmentation to the
living of Suttesbury, or Shottesbnrcy, w
con. The election of a Professor of
iiemaisstcarsrrwieads
nthene'n.
proceeded with. The Registrar read It had
to vote.
the indenture, after
which the Doctors present proceeded
been Supposed that there would be no opposition to Mr.
B. C. Brodie, but after a short time it
votes were being given for Mr. Storey Maskelyne,e
transpirdthaot_
IVadham College. Mr. Maskelyne himself voted for
Mr. Brodie, and exerted himself strenuously in his be-
half. After about an hour of languid polling few per-
sons being aware of the mock contest, the numbers were
declared to be :
For Mr. Brodie ... . .... ..................... 36
For Mr. Maskelyne ........................ 10
Majority ........................... --26
Mr. Brodie was consequently declared duly elected.
Mr. Lee's Reader in anatomy (Dr. Acland) proposes
to coinmence his lectures on Tuesday, the 20th inst., at
12 o'clock. Gentlemen who desire to attend the course
are requested to enter their names at the Christ Church
Museum on Friday or Saturday next between the hours
of 1 and 4.

ferring to a---- ru irTnr that Lord
Lord Cianriearde, re
Dunkellin was to proceed from thetinCr•
Secretary to the new Governor-General,
desires it m
he known that his so:i Las no intention of • -aY
quitting the
Crimea at present.
[ADVERTISEMENT.]—We have read with much pleasure Du
Barry's report on the cure of diseases without medicine by Du
Barry's Food, of Indigestion( Dyspepsia), Flatulency, Constipa.
tion, Nervous, Bilious, and Liver Complaints, Cough, Asthma,Consumption, and Debility. The following are a few extracts
which appear to merit the attention of many:—Cure No. 417,121.
—Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of Nazing Vicarage, Walthamcross,
Ilerts: a cure of extreme nervousness, indigestion, ,gather.
lugs, low spirits, and nervous fancies. Cure No. 48,314.
itoia;cEalrsisa. beth Yeoman, Gateacre, near
_Liverpool.: a. cure.. of
dyspepsias and all the horrors of nervous irritability.
—Rosstre,'"°°roger, Countess of Castlestuart : Cure 52,612.
The Dow,:eri, County of Down, Ireland, 9th Dec.,1854
The Dowager of Suffering humanity,
of Castlestuart feels indned, in the
celient Rovaleurttng humanity, to state that Du Barry's ex-
al failed, of all medicines .haadArabioa Food ha-s - cured her, after
nervousness and
Food deserves therFrio ofofau indigestion, bile, great
ability of many years' Standing. This
sidered areal blessing. in ..sufferers, and okay be con-
In canisters, Ilb. 25. ad tpuries will be cheerfullyanswered.
The 121 b., carriage free,.i) 2113. 4s. 6d..
, 311). lls, ; 121 b. 22e.
Du Barry di co. 77, ite:,erentoeiti3t Of Post-office order. Barry
pipcadilly; 60, araeechure-t8 rete!., London,; also at 162,
4, Cheapside 60 and 68, scorn t' 343„0; and 451, Strand;
55, Clliaring-cross; 51, .Upper Bake' Blithl*
te-street '
Ozfordstrect • 89, High-street, CaraPnr4t '' ' ' and-1591,-
malt; 7, Pall:mall-East ; 132, Nevi Bone alt:twn ; 18, paid.
coinb-street ; 13, King William-street, City Bond-street 24, ict,t.
street; 21, Cockspur-Ftreet; 95, Farringdon!stre,ote. ondni:,-
Paul's (la ur4llTard; 6, 4:dward,streek Purtulau6equar6o.7's'.