The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-11 00:00:00

Lockfa3t Breechloaders.

While the greot story of the guns has been narrated from
day to day, and Armstrong and Whitworth, like the princi-
pal heroes of a drama, have held possession of the stage, an
underplot has been advancing, pari passe, and in the opi•
nion of very many of quite as much interest. Ten years
ago the English fowlingpiece and rifle were looked upon as
the acme of perfection, and yet in less than seven years a
revolution in these arms has occurred as rapid and complete
as the triumph of the percussion cap over the flint. Daring
these seven years many patents have been taken out for
improvements on fire arms, chiefly for breechloaders, some
which have enjoyed an ephemeral reputation, but none of
which have acquired, among men of experience, the slowly,
surely, but soundly earned approval. Mr Dougall, who had
long enjoyed considerable celebrity not only as a gunsmith
but as as able writer on fire arms, and the art of shooting, in
the year 1359 had his attention drawn to the insufficiency
of the French breechloaders for the exigencies of British
sportsmen. The superior strength of our gunpowder and
the heavy charged stied, demanded a solidity not possessed
by any breechloader then extant. The absence of an inter-
locking of barrels and false breech was painfully apparent,
At every discharge of the gun the breech rose, recoiling off
the upper surface of the bed in which it lay—on "action,"
as it is technically termed. Fur every degree the breech so
rose the muzzle dipped some thirtylold, and this rising had
also the certain effect of loosening the whole fittings and
jointing of the gun, To remedy this defect Mr Dungan
choose a most simple and effective means. The hinge
upon which the barrels play to expose the breech and for the
insertion of the cartridge had hitherto been a fixture, per-
mitting no longitudinal play of the barrels; but by convert-
ing this fixture into an eccentric rod he gained at one a
stronger hinge, and the means of opening and shutting the
barrels directly udou the face of the false breech, instead of
these merely meeting as fist surfaces upon each other. 0/
this direct impingement upon each other he was not slow to
take advantage. Ho had gained the means of completely
sealing up the rear end of the barrels before firing the gun ;
whereas formerly a mere piece of grit would have prevented
the closing of the barrels, he had it now in his power to fit
on the face of the false breech projecting discs, one of which,
and exactly fitting it, enters each barrel, or, to write more
correctly, the barrels retire on the discs, thus not only clos-
ing up their rear, but of necessity preventing any of the
dipping of the muzzle and other insufficient grip formerly
complained of. Thus, with much less mechanism Mr
Dougall has gained greater results, and produced a breech.
loader that appears as solid as any muzzleloader, The
locking power is certainly over 1,2001 b, and this can be in-
creased for heavy guns at pleasure. The cartridge used is
Eley's, which has its advantages, and is much safer ogainst
accidents, Those conversant with firearms are aware of the
fact that in breechloaders the base of the cartridge is rarely
if ever in contact with the face of the false breech, so that
on being fi"ed " cushioning " and great consequent loss of
powder takes place. In Mr Dougall's gun the "cushion-
ing" is prevented, the above locking power being equally
exerted upon the cartridge. The superior result in shoot-
ing powers are theoretically au immediate consequence,
and, practically, we have been at the trouble to ascertain,
is a matter of fact, the experience of five shooting seasons, a
sufficient teat fur any gun whatever, having proved the
" lockfast "to possess extraordinary powers. From the
velocity which it discharges its projectiles, and its perfect
solidity, the gun h:s consequently bean adopted by many
experienced Indian sportsmen, and we believe that several
of these guns will be the chief prizes at the meeting of the
Northern India Rifle Association in December next. To
produce a breech as strong as a muzzleloader, and capable
of firing either explosive shells or solid conical balls, with
heavy charges of powder, is no mean triumph. Whether
or not the lockfast gun be adapted for military purposes is
an open question. For cavalry it is probably an available
arm, and Mr Dougall was lately requested by the military
authorities of a foreign Government to send in his estimate
for 20,000 of these guns, all double-barrelled, and adapted
for firing explosive shells, made to burst with frightful
effect on striking an of j. et. If to put an end to war by
making it annihilation be d-.sirable, iu .oils Weapons and
projectile we Jane a means to an end,

v
Cliiirt - 0111110

HER MAJESTY.

BALMORAL, OCT. 8.
The Queen drove to Alt-na-Guithasach yester°
day, accompanied by Princess Helena and Princess
Beatrice, and attended by Miss Bauer.
The Countess of Fife and Mr Gladstone had the
.
honour of dining with her njesty and the or!
family.
Prince Alfred honoured Lieut.-Colonel Foga'
harson with his company at a drive for deer in the
Ba!loch Buie Wood.
The Dean of Westminster and Lads Angiif°
Stanley have arrived at the Cc.stle.

... _
r oreign Courts.

T. PETERSBURG, Oct. 2. a
At one o'clock today a salvo of 101 guns' fire
from the ramparts of the fortress, announced to the
inhabitants of the capital that the Hereditary
Grand Duke would ehartly be united to the Prince%
Dagmar. At the same time the subjoined nottflee
tion was posted on the walls :
" In conformity with a despatch received froll/
his Majesty the Emperor, the Governor. General ,
St. Petersburg informs the inhabitants of the cap;
tal that his Imperial Highness the Hereditary
Grand Dako Cesarewitch has been affianced to the
Princess Dagmar of Denmark. In giving the "deli
to announce this happy event to the population °s
the capital by a salvo of 101 guns, his Majesty acid
that be is persuaded that all his faithful subject°
will partake his joy, and with him will implore,t2be
Divine benediction on the august young couple.
BERLTN, Oct. 8.
The King is expected to return from Baden 01/
the 14th inst.

According to the testamentary dispositions dram
up by the late King Frederic William IV., ill'
body was to be deposited in a vault before the alEar
.
at the Friedenskirche, in Potsdam. Hitherto these
instructions could not be carried out, and in the
meantime the coffia has remained in the sacrists et
the church on the left of the altar, near a sea
arranged for the Queen Dowager, who severs
times a week has visited the church, and has there
offered up her silent prayers. The injunctions °f
the late King will now be obeyed, and bis presel3l
Majesty has appointed Oct. 15, the birthday of bi 6
brother, as the day on which the mortal reins°
shall be transferred to their last resting-place.
It is announced that Prince Freeeri2 of Sobles
wig-Holstein•Noer will, on the 18th instant, mar/
the daughter of a rich North American gentleman'
BRUSSELS, Oct. 9
On the sth instant his Majesty the King of the
Belgians arrived at Darmstadt, on his way
Heidelberg. His Majesty was met at Mayence by
Prince Louis, and at the railway station the Frill'
cess Louis (Princess Alize) was in waiting to receivethe venerable King. After dining at the palace
his Majesty continued his journey. He reached
Baden on the next day, accompanied by the Grand
Duchess Marie of Russia, and Princess Eugenie °f
Leuchtenberg. His Majesty proposed to stay at
Baden for some days.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Prince°
of "Wales are expected to arrive in England from the CO3la
tinent on or about the 28th inst.
PRINCE ALFRED.—We (Scotsman) understand
that his Royal Highness Prince Alfred is expected
to arrive at Floors Castle, near K3lso, on the 17th install"
on a visit to their Graces the Duke and Duchess of 13°'
burghe. It is as yet uncertain whether he will be pre;
sent at the Kelso races, which take place on the 19th an'
20th, although it is very likely that he will be; but the
main object of his visit is to enjoy the sport of salmon
angling for a day or two in the Floors water. Fr°,sra
a
his success last autumn on two different occasions in t."`"
same water, coupled with his practice along with the Daka
of Roxburghe in Norway during this past summer, the
Prince may be regarded now as a successful, as ho is
keen, angler; and it is to be hoped that the Tweed, which
is at present, from the continued drought, in a very lout
state, and rather unsuitable for angling, will be by the
time of his visit in such a condition as will ensure big
Royal Highness some satisfactory sport.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge
arrived at Cambridge Cottage, Kew, on Saturday last, frog'
visiting the Earl of Scarborough at Sandbeck Park, near
Tielthill, Yorkshire, and Lord and Lady Foley at Works°P
Manor, Notts.
The Earl and Countess de Grey arrived at
Wishaw Castle, Scotland, on Friday, on a visit to Lord
and Lady Belhaven.
A marriage has been arranged between the ITO'
George Filzwilliam and Miss E, Anson, youngest daughter
of the late Hon. General Anson.
Sir Coutts and Lady Lindsay have left Farraucels
Hotel for their town residence in Grosvenor.square.
The marriage of the Hon. and Rev. Walter
Berkeley Portman, youngest son of Lord Portman, and
Rector of Corton Denham, to Alice, youngest daughter of
the late Sir John Mordaunt, Bart., and sister to Sir Charlet/
Mordaunt, Bart., M.P. for South Warwickshire, IcaB
solemnised in Walton Church, on Wednesday last, in the
presence of a select circle of distinguished guests. All3°l3°
those who witnessed the ceremony were the Marquis Call"
den and Lady Augusta Pratt, Lord and Lady Poitraell9
Lord Willoughby de Broke, Lady Willoughby de Broke,:
Hon. Miss Verney and Hon. Walter Verney, Sir John and
Lady Pakington. Sir C. Mordaunt, Hon. Ellen and Leniaeb
Portman, Mr Gustavus Smith and Lady Mordaunt, Hong
Edward Portman, Hon. Maurice Portman, &c, The 10131"
riage ceremony was performed by the Rev F. Murray,
assisted by the Rev E. Cadogan. After passing a few (148
at Lord Portman's residence at Prince's-gate, the newir
married pair left London for a tour on the continent.
Oa Saturday last, the Bth inst., Sir Charles
Henry Coots, premier baronet of Ireland, of Ballyfin House'
Queen's County, expired at his town residence, 5, Call:
naught-place. The deceased represented Queen's Count."
in Parliament for many years. He is succeeded by his 50/4
Charles Henry, born at Ballyfin in 1815.
The little difficulty between the Marquis of
Donegall and the freemasons has been settled. The
Grand Lodge of Ireland has received communications from
the noble marquis containing assurances, given in thefrankest manner, that in the observations which he Ina`A,,,l;
on the occasion (~f his installation at Belfast as Provinol'
Grand Master he had no intention whateveiof infringing 6
fundamental rule of Masonry, and expressing his sincere
regret for having done so. The amens e has been offered 101
his lordship in terms so unreserved and emphatic that the
Grand Lodge have accepted it in a generous spirit, and
missed the subject. They have deemed it right, however'
to address an admonition to the masonic body to avoid Any
discussion calculated to produce disunion in assemblies 13`
Freemasons, and also impressing neon the brethren gene
rally the necessity of excluding all persons not belonging 1—
the order from meetings conveyed to carry out the businesa
of this ancient institution.

Professor Anderson makes a very fair offer to the
Davenport fraternity. He says :—" I offer them the use ni,
St, James's Hall, illuminated as it is during my own per'
fcrmance, for any night they may select, if they can the"
and there perform—.l care not by what means—the tricks
(I mean no offence in the word) they now do under the
cover of darkness, and, as I believe, with the assistance of
confederates (else wherefore the darkness ?) I will not calif
acknowledge their right to take any name or assume anT
attributes they think proper, but I will pay the sum of
£lOO into the hands of the Lord Mayor for charitable Pur
poses. 1 thus offer them an opportunity of satisfying the
public that they do possess such attributes as warrant them
in assuming the supernatural agency they are laying star
to. Of course, should this challenge be acceptei, I renerv6)
to myself the right of explaining any natural means or OP'
pliances by which the tricks are performed."
A GIRL DASHED TO PIECES.—On Friday last all
inquest was held at Donington, before Mr 13idlakei
on the body of a young woman named Jackson, 20 yea" c).
age. Deceased's father is chartermaster of a pit at Lodge
Bank, and on Thursday had occasion to descend the pit ill'
company with another man, leaving his daughter standing
on the bank. The men had arrived at the bottoni of the
shaft in safety, and were turning to enter the working,
when they were alarmed by hearing the sound of a body
falling behind them. On looking round Jackson was hoe'
rorstruck at discovering the neangled body of his daughter
lying on the ground. Had tho unfortunate girl fallen
minute earlier both men must have been killed, It apPetar4
that she was leaning against a chain which fens-s the top
of the shaft, and this giving way, she was precipitated to
the bottom, a distance of 190 yards. The body was literally
dashed to pieces. The jury returned a verdict of accidental
death.

AN ORPHAN WANTED.—At the weekly meetil3s
of the St. Luke's board of guardians a letter was
read from a gentleman is tho neighbourhood of the CRY:
road aching forth that ho had been requested, on behalf 0'
a lady of property, to ask if the Buard had "a comPl°t°
orphan," with blue eyes and flaxen hair, not more th't3
two years of age, and cf gentle manner, to be given up t.()
be adopted, the lady agreeing to take such a child, oducat:
her as a lady shou!d be educoted, and fiaally to will °ve
£3OO per annum. The letter was reteried to the House a 7,
Visiting cowiniLtee, to see if there might be a " blue-eYe $
flaxen-haized, complete orphan!' in the Union,