The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-23 00:00:00

BANK OF ENGLAND (SCOTLAND) BILL.

On the order for the second reading of this bill, a length-
ened discussion took place, in which the whole of the Scot-
tish system of banking was leviewed. The result was that
Sir J. Hay, the promoter of the bill, withdrew it.

JERSEY COURT BILL.
On the order for going into committo on this bill,
Mr PAULL, for Mr ROLT, moved as an amendment,
that the States of Jersey be heard by their counsel, and to
adduce evidence at the bar in opposition. He denied that
the people of Jersey desired this bill.
The debate was then adjourned.

SUPERANNUATION (UNION OFFICERS) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
PILOTAGE ORDER CONFIRMATION BILL.

This bill was read a third time and passed.

COUNTESS OF ELGIN AND KINCARDINE'S
ANNUITY BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
The house adjourned at eight minutes to 6 o'clock.

ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY, Jane 21.—Mr. J. Craw-
ford in the chair.—A paper was read on the sup-
posed infecundity of human hybrids or crosses.—Connect-td
with hybridity a theory has lately sprung up, and chic fly
obtained currency in France and America, that supposes the
mongrels resulting from the union of two different races of
the human family ought to be sterile, as is the case with
the progeny of two opposite species of the same genus of
lower animals, and one of the advocates goes the length of
asserting that the continuation of a race of mulattoes is as
impossible as the continuation of a race of mules. The
ea
unot
uh
so rf' l
Ipaacpi
eesr
on
aws h eovhot
thee d
ttho e illustrations ot to. tihs ef
founded
nn
ds pe
di
Professor Busk differed from the author in respect to what
he had considered the crucial test—namely, the descendants
of the mutineers of the Bounty left on Pitcairn Island in
1793. From the photographs exhibited at the society's
rooms last session he thought even in the short interval that
had elapsed in this case the descendants had relapsed pretty
nearly into the Taheitian condition. Mr. Christy, however,
who had visited Mexico and Algeria, saw great reason for
concurring with the author as to the fecundity and perma-
nency of mixed breed races. Sir James Alexander said that
when he was engaged in 1835 in the Caffre war they met
with a race of native warriors who offered their services to
theEnglishsoas brothers," and who stated that their tribe,
numbering me"
600,
Were descended from
the three ladies
who were shipwrecked in the Grosvenor, East Indiaman.
In 1836 he obtained a Dutch journal giving an account of
the transactions of the envoy sent by the Dutch governor to
rescue these ladies, but who, being married to native chiefs,
refused to return to their own country. Such an increase in
53 yeaas was very remarkable, but was possible, allowing
six children to each of these ladies. The second paper was
by Mr Christy, on the human and other relics from the Dor-
dogne caves in Southern France. No part of France appears
to be richer in caves, which have been inhabited by man,
than the ancient province of Perigord. In small caves
known as " grotles," 100 feet above the river, or in the
sheltered recesses of overhanging cliffs, have been found the
resting places of an early race: The deposits of the caves of
the district present accumulations of broken bones, pebbles,
flint knives, flakes, and the cores from which they have
been broken, portions of horns and bones from which
various domestic articles have been made, with those rude
knives even to small, neatly drilled needles. Examples of
these were placed on the table, and excited great attention.
More than this, all the deposits examined by M. Lartet and
the author have given examples of ornamental work, and
three of them of incised drawings and sculptures of various
animals, perfectly recognizable as to species. That these
rock-dwellers fared not badly as to food is evidenced by the
many bones of birds and salmon found with those of deer,
ox, vnd other animals, mixed with the refuse, and with such
evidences of abundant living it is not surprising these
ancient people should have found leisure for less necessary
work than the chase, and snare time for works of pleasure
and rude art. Mr J. Evans, Dr. Falconer, Professor Busk,
and the Vice-President took part in the discussion which
followed, Dr. Falconer differing from the author's opinion
that these inhabitants of the Dordogne country had not ac-
complished the domestication of any animal. The reindeer,
whose remains were found with these relics, you ,d, he
thought, have soon been caught young, end have been kc p;
for - useful
werepurp alsooses
n by
m themnumerous.
s; as also the lit rse, the remains
fwhich. Mr. Christy objected that
o u e
in the rude sculpture of animals the reindeer were repre-
sented in herds, and that in none of them was there any-
thing to indicate a bridled horde. An extra meeting of
the society was announced for Tuesday week, lor the
of papers on the tribes of Central Asia by the
readingtrave traveller Vairment, and on same African skulls by Preen-
. sor Huxley.

In the Court of Queen's Bench, yesterdly, Ser-
geant Glover moved the posponement of his action against
the Duke da Persigny, until after the commission sent out
to Mr Chalice Stokes, at Manilla, had returned. ,Ater
some discussion the trial was Pe6t1",01104.

Voluntee:

;owe Park,

the Duke of Manchester's cavalry swept down on
the squares and endeavoured to carry off the artil-
lery. In this attempt he was defeated, and Lord
Ranelagh, continuing the movement from the point
where it had been interrupted, was successful in
making further progress towards the point at which
the defenders from the first intended to make their
final stand. Just at this moment the Buckingham-.
shire Yeomanry in close column of troops, with the
Hon. Artillery Company following in the rear,
passed suddenly to the front, deployed on the
centre squadron, and charged the whole line of the
attacking party, which naturally formed squares
to resist the onset. Suddenly the two wings of the
cavalry force wheeled outwards, retired round the
flanks of Lord Ranelagh's force, thereby unmasking
the guns which had followed in their rear, and these
had now an opportunity of playing with destruc-
tive effect upon the hostile infantry still in their
formation of squares. Lord Ranelagh ultimately
placed his line with its right resting on a fort, per-
manently erected within the demesne, in which were
two 9-pounders and four 6-pounders; and, as this
accession of strength was more than sufficient to
redress the inequality of artillery force from which
the defenders had previously suffered, the attacking
party were obliged to desist from their operations,
The proceedings closed with a march past on the
part of all the troops, and with a trot and gallop by
the cavalry and artillery. In speaking of the per-
formances of the latter branch separate mention has
not been made of the artillery troop belonging to
the Buckinghamshire Cavalry, because this was
attached to and worked with the Hon. Artillery
Company, and, except at very close quarters, when
it was seen that they adhered to the old artillery
dress with its five rows of buttons, it was nearly inns
possible to distinguish one from the other. It is
right, however, to add that among the surprises
which the provinces have this year prepared for the
metropolis in matters connected with volunteering,
the appearance and efficiency of this corps must be
ranked. It used to be supposed that the flying bat-
teries of the Hon. Artillery Company were unique
of their kind, but the Buckinghamshire Artillery
are by no means unworthy rivals, though lacking
some of the style of the older regiment. The entire
Yeomanry Corps looked to great advantage; the
men were well mounted, and had enjoyed the bene-
fit of several days continuous drill. Of the different
infantry corps it is enough to say that they fully
sustained the reputation of that service.
The display as a whole was highly successful.
The weather, with the exception of one smart
shower, was all that could be desired, and as the
assembly left the ground there seemed to be but
one pervading sentiment—that of gratification at
the liberality shown by the Duke of Buckingham
and at the skill with which the mancenvres from
first to last were conducted by Colonel M4Murdo
and the force under his command.

Yesterday a Volunteer Review, exceedingly pic-
turesque in character, and successful in all its de-
tails, was held at Stowe-park, the seat of his Grace
the Duke of Buckingham. The total number of
troops present did not in the aggregate exceed 4,500,
but the display was remarkable beyond its many
predecessors by the large force of cavalry taking
part in the evolutions, and by the fact that a sv.g-
gestion more than once put forward in The Sun,
that Yeomanry might mingle advantageously 'with
Volunteers at such reviews, was carried into opera-
tion with the happiest results. The park, compris-
ing within its available area about 1,300 acres,
made one of the noblest review grounds yet placed
at the disposal of the Volunteers. Its formation
permitted the troops, over a circuit of some two or
three miles, to be kept continually in sight of the
spectators, and the surface of the ground was so
beautifully even that, although cavalry and artil-
lery charges were frequent and rapid, not a single
accident was reported as having occurred. Con-
trary to the usual practice, according to which the
commencement of Volunteer reviews is often post-
poned till the shades of evening are settling down
upon the scene, the assembling of the troops was
fixed for a very early hour; the original proposal
being, in fact, that the first gun should fire, not in
the afternoon, but before 12 o'clock. The directors
of the Oxford, Buckingham, and Bletchley Rail-
way, having regard to this fact, and also to the cir-
cumstance that theirs is but a single line, made up
their minds to suspend all the ordinary traffic and
to run none but special trains—an arrangement no
doubt convenient to neighbouring Volunteers and
residents, bat attended with obvious drawbacks to 1
sight-seers from a distance who placed their depen-
dence upon " Bradshaw." According to this
guide a choice of two trains, one at the early hour
of 6.30 a.m. and one at it o'clock,
was open
to the public desirous of proceeding to Bucking.
ham, but, for those who acted upon the faith of this
information, the company might as well have fol-
lowed the American example and torn up the rail-
way. A trainfull of disappointed passengers was
duly deposited upon the platform of Winslow junc-
tion at 12 35, in abundant time to proceed to the
review, but there were no carriages to take them on.
The special trains had gone off hours before to give
the local public a good long day at Stowe, and, in-
stead of returning for additional passengers, they
acted in the spirit of Mr. Gladstone's suggestion
about our transports in the Crimea, and " waited
till the fight was over to bring them back again."
As regarded the passengers who had put their trust
in " Bradshaw," there were two courses open• to
them—one to give up the review altogether, and
the other to walk to Stowe, a distance of 11 miles,
not a horse or vehicle of any kind being procurable
in the district on any terms. What made the matter
additionally provoking was that a special train con-
veying the railway staff to Buckingham was
actually in the station while the train from Blotch-
ley was waiting for admittance outside, and could,
it detained a few seconds, have carried on the whole
party with the greatest case.

The Shoeburyness Competitive Trials,

After so much trying work, though not the less
nteresting, we have at last come to one of the comic
ncidents naturally inherent to all competitions.
When the parallelograms were brought forward,
and communicated to the two competitors, the com-
parison was entirely founded on the methods of
points described in last week's notice, whereby the
Whitworth gun had a slight advantage over the
shunt Armstrong, while the breech-loader was dis-
tanced by both. Then, we have every reason to
believe that, in a certain quarter, the tables were
well received, it was a triumph. But it so happened
hat—led on by our sense of duty, and by a strong
doubt as to the validity of such a method, for it
must obviously disguise when it does not faithfully
convey the truth of the case—we took two quite
distinct lines for own independent investigation,
and thereby came to a very different conclusion as
to the order in which the guns stand by reason of
the parallelograms. Taking the mean ranges as
they are at present erroneously calculated, we made
ap the areas, and then their sum for each sort of
ammunition, and each separate gun determined the
order of merit in the minor categories of common
shell, solid shot, and segment shell. It followed
that, by adding for each gun its three category
areas, we were sure of obtaining a correct measure-
ment of their performances, the greatest surface
representing the least merit. Moreover, we deter-
mined on preying this method by a third plan, viz ,
that of enclosing the fractional areas of every degree
into the largest amongst them for each kind of pro.
jectile, thus taking the greatest surface as the
expression of the highest degree of erraticity possible
for each, when firing one particular ammunition.
The result confirmed that of the second method,
placing the breech-loader first, the shunt second,
and the Whitworth third ; and consequently, apart
from the appearance both these methods carry along
with them, as to logical soundness, there is indeed
good reason to abide by their conclusions. The num-
bers arising from these modes were not given by us,
oat of regard to the calculations which might be car-
ried on by the special committee ; but the facts th
.oy
establish were, we trust, explained clearly `..,nough
in oar columns of last Wednesday. Wl,
..en this be-
came known, that same party wb
..dhad rejoice
' ' d
at the order of merit first estr!olished, and found
nothing to say against the -
were given, immediatel parallelograms, as they
and altogether repu :1 turned round upon them,
''.:fated their correctness. On the
ground of the ',node pursued for fixing the mean
range, this determination is not untenable, though
the mean "proper" might bear out just the same
order of merit. Objection may even be taken against
.•
Lne use of a mean range at all to determine the de-
grees of error. Be this as it may, we have, at any
rate, subject for a warm debate, which, besides caus-
ing merriment, may eventually turn out very useful
with regard to the scientific points it will necessarily
bring under the notice of the committee. What,
however, we sincerely regret is the feeling shown
towards the principal originator of this change in
the reading of the parallelograms. In the discharge
of our duty we have never looked forward to the
approbation of one rival more than of the other;
but to the gratification that springs from the ac-
knowledgment of our doing the country good ser-
vice. Nevertheless, we can only deplore the feeling
which would either smother or corrupt public
opinion, and which then requites impartiality with
a Penalty of childish sulkiness.
inferiority
v,
c et
that
weanrelativeaitstbr g.i nthhg t
Exception is taken to the finding of the paral-
breeca.
lelegaams on two grounds--vie., that, firstly, the
loader was known to fire unsatisfactorily,
wberefore it cannot stand ahead of the Whitworth ;
and secondiY. that the flatness of thetrajectory being
the hexagonal than in either of the
more markedtwoe3rai
pnetitive guns, it must necessarily fol-
lowother
that the parallelograms of the former will be
longer than those of the latter. Whence, considering
7 each desirable fatness an
the question o
the influence exercised,
accuracy,it is obvious that the method
defective for the "troarative error on the
of drawing out Drees of
horizontal plane, is radically
deter-
mination of "range accuracy." al
-.°l", in the first:place,
found
the steel breech-loader was
chiefly as 'compared to that of the RA, :
practice of
iron toil 12 pounder. It is in this sees,
'ffice;ra and men, who were used to the
th:e latter, complained of that made by the former.
On examining into the causes of this
inferiority, we soon attributed it to the steel block
not expanding under pressure, in the same way as
the wrought iron coil; and though this reason wasnot accepted at the time it was given, yet it has
proved true, and it is pleaded in extenuation of the
first performances made with the breech-loader. In

The magnificent avenue along which the approach
lies to the scene of the review from the town of
Buckingham in its general character very much re-
sembles the Long-walk at Windsor. The rolling
nature of the country interrupts the line of sight
and dispels in this case the disheartening impression
produced upon the pedestrian at Windoor, where
every step seems to repel instead of bring nearer
the equestrian statue in the dis'ence. But in actual

mcasartatent there cannot be any great diffrence
between the two approaehes. The parallel lines of
tree end with an arch, constituting the great gate
of Stowe, and passing through this the specta-
tor finds himself gazing on an exquisite pano-
rama of grassy kno.ls and valleys, wooded uplands,
dotted here and there with miniature lakes. The

ground was kept in the most admirable manner by
detachments of the Buckinghamshire, Oxford, and
Northamptonshire police, whose task was facilitated
by a very simple arrangement, which may be com-
mended to the notice of the Department of Works.
It consisted in a few stakes planted in the ground
at long intervals and connected by a strip of wire,
drawn "taut," as sailors would aay, by an ordinary
farm engine. An effectual restraint is thus imposed
upon the spectators, at the same time that all fid-

getting as to an imaginary boundary line is ariated

Those gradual encroachments and sudden repulses,
regarded hitherto as inevitable incidents of " keep-
ing the ground," were entirely avoided. The grand
stand, moreover, within which the elite of the county
found accommodation, was a structure very much
in advance of the ordinary type at Volunteer re-'
views. The force upon the ground was dividcd into

two bodies of nearly equal strength, the attacking
force, stationed, in the first instance, at Home Farm-
hill, being under the command of Colonel Erskine,
C. 8.; while the defending force, posted at Obelisk-
hill, was under the personal direction of Colonel

C. 8., who commanded in chief. Lieute-

nant-Colonel North, M.P., filled th© post of Briga-
dier-General to the former gallant officer, and Lord

Ranelagh acted in the same capacity towards Col.
I'4'3/Inrdo. The divisions respectively were composed

as follows :

relation to the other guns, this unforeseen defect of

- • - non-expansion, by increasing the disadvantages due
to lower initial velocity, as well as to the greater
elevation required for target prcetice, naturally
tended to that of the other two guns ; in fact, with
regard to the number of times it loses, its position
of rank is the worst in all three classes of the pro-
jectiles used. But what retrieves the breech loader
is its greater regularity in point of erraticity ; thus,
the sum of the areas made with common shell by the
breech loader is about 85 times greater than the
smallest amongst them ; while for the Whitworth
the total is about 1,520 times; and for the shunt
125 times greater than their respectively least sur-
face. With solid shot, the sum of the measurements
of each gun taken separately is equal to about 81
times the least amongst them ; in the case of the
breech loader it is like-vise equal to 81 times its own
minimum area for the Whitworth, and equal to 215

times for the shunt. With segment shell the total
sum for the breech loader is about 99 times its mini-
mum area in this category. For the Whitworth it
is 330 times; while for the shunt the sum of its own
areas is no less than 700 times the smallest amongst
them. The superior tendency to regularity which
we thus find existing in the practice of the breech
loading gun fully accounts, in our mind, for the
advantage it ultimately gains, and for the anomaly
that we meet in its losing more frequently than
gaining, when its parallelograms are taken in detail,
and yet coming out foremost of all when the areas
are summed up. As a proof we are not wrong in
entertaining this opinion we need only examine the
amount of difference that passes between the smal-
lest surface of error and the largest, for each gun
and each projectile separately. We then find that
with common shell the breech loader makes a maxi-
mum surface equal to about 29 times the minimum,
the Whitworth makes the former 450 times larger
than the latter, while the greatest of the shunt mea.
sures 50 times its smallest. With solid shot the
breech loader attains a maximum area 13 times
greater, the Whitworth 21, and the shunt 68 times
larger than their respective minamum area. With
segment shell the breech loader's maximum error is
about 21 times its least, the Whitworth's 78, while
the shunt's .largest rises to not less than 200 times
the smallest area it can show with this projectile.
Here again we have numbers which speak for theme
selves, and though the method may be novel yet we
trust its operations, as well as its conclusions, may
appear clear enough to confirm our views of the
case, and explain how it is that the sums of the
parallelograms assign the least amount of error to
the breech loader, though it did certainly lose much
more frequently than either of the other two com-
petitive gamin detail. Thus, by the method of com-
paring the minimum area to the total sum for each
category of ammunition and each gun, be it well
understood that the co-efficients are, for the breech
loader, 85, 81, 99 ; for the Whitworth, 1,520, 81,
330 ; and for the shunt, 125, 216, 700 ; the sum of
the first being 265, of the second 1,931, and of the
third 1,040. By the second method of comparing
the largest to the smallest area for each gun and
projectile used, we find that the co-efficients are for
the breech loader 29, 13, 21; for the hexagonal
450, 21, 78; and for the Armstrong muzzle
loader 50, 68, 200; the sum of the first being 63,
that of the second 549, and that of the third 318.
These details may at first sight eeem elaborate and
uninteresting, but we feel sure that the question is
of itself so popular, the liability to be misled by
specioua arguments so great, and the interests
involved in the choice which public opinion may
help in making so vital to the country, that we
could not hesitate entering into such explanations,
though endeavouring all the while to render them
in the best shape to convey persuasion, and captivate
the attention of our readers.
In the next instance, it is a serious mistake to
mix up flatness of trajectory with "range accu-
racy," because, on reflection, one cannot fail to see
that they are, and must ever remain, entirely inde-
pendent the one of the other. In fact, if the flat-
ness of trajectory had anything to do in the crea-
tion of inaccuracy, then we should see the parallelo-
grams getting longer as the angle of elevation
diminishes, and, vice versa, shorter as the angle of
fall increases. In mortar practice we have extreme
curvature, yet we have bad parallelograms, in
smooth-bore practice, where we have fiat trajecto-
ries, the parallelograms greatly improve; with rifle
guns the trajectories improve still more, while the
surfaces of error sink down into comparative insige
nificance. A glance at the Plate E, in the report
on ordnance, fully sets this matter at rest. On the
contrary, far from the flatness of trajectory inter-
fering with ecsuracy, it diminishes inaccuracy, for
the simple reason that deviating influences have
less action as the time of flight is shortened, or the
angle of fall is lessened. That, in point of fact,
swiftness is an element favourable to the probabili-
ties of hitting is well known; indeed round shot at
high velocities and two trajectories give better
results than when fired at low velocities, and con-
sequently with higher trajectories to attain a given
range. We cannot therefore see the wisdom of
questioning the merits of low trajectories by attri-
buting to theca an evil iufluence on the length of
parallelograms, when we know that they are pur-
posely sought not only on account of their im-
portance as a means of partly making up for the
i mpossibility of correctly estimating distances,
but also in riew o: the greater chances they give
with regard to accuracy in all respecte. If, how-
ever, independently of these considerations, ac-
curacy, as it is asserted, should
firing exclusively at vertic.-.4i determined by
planes, where low
trajectories ere not sup
surely it is tacitly
the results 'thised to be harmful, then
nog
that the latter cannot affect
atte •
amed on the hosizontal plane.
fire it The car
ages which do really affect regularity of
a rifle guns are many, and it is to them that
seference should be made for the object of under.
standing and explaining the reasons why the Whit-
worth gun does not stand out satisfactorily in the
parallelograms. Firstly, the position of the Tent,
whereby the front layers of powder are ignited be-
fore those of the rear, giving a too immediate rise
to motion in the projectile. Secondly, the shape of
the bore, which does not surround the cartridge
with the closeness of a cylinder. It follows that,
through these causes, the density of the gases is
very liable to vary from one shot to another, to
the prejudice of a constant initial velocity. Thirdly,
the smallness of the cross section area entails the
necessity of greatly increasing the length of the
projectile for shell purposes ; this adds to the sur-
face on which the vertical component of resistance,
which is due to the air, acts ; and thereby submits
the projectile more fully than otherwise to the dis-
turbing effects that spring from variations of atmos-
pherical pressure. These causes, two internal and
one external, are of themselves sufficient to cause
serious fluctuations in the height of the trajectory,
and thereby to considerably modify the ranges, par-
Ccularly when firing at high elevations. In the
shunt Armstrong the density of the gases will not
be to an equal extent .iable to oscillate, and thence
the initial velocity will depart less from its normal
amount. Moreover, the projectiles having a greater
sectional area, their length is shorter, the difference
between the solid shot and the shell is reduced to
smaller proportions, and these peculiarities must
necessarily suffice to give the vertical component of
the resistance to flight less disturbing power. The
height of the trajectory will, therefore, fluctuate
within narrower limits than in the case of the
Whitworth, and thus more regularity Will be
obtained for the ranges. Buts itt the breech-
loader, the retardation to motion due to the slugging
of the shot contributes in the /Lost efficient way to
squiring various various
keep the gases from e.
degrees of densi+:l4 The layers are furthermore
le the rear to the front, whereby altoge-
tighnerit!d fro
t'ne volume within which the gases expand
prior to sensible motion is reduced to a minimum,
and so guarded from variation that it may practi-
cally be considered constant. It follows that this
latter gun will naturally possess great regularity
of ranges, and in this respect—we mean that of
range accuracy—will stand ahead of its rivals. It
also follows that the Whitworth will be endowed
with the greatest amount of irregularity, especially
at shell practice ; while the shunt will take an in-
termediate position. This is the very order in which
the guns stand, in accordance with the total area of
the parallelograms. So far, then, practice agrees
entirely wfietrhftrheemcoanhclaueseiounrastwe eexsahmouilhdathielveef th
been
led to in
e
conditions
ofs carried
oro u n
d o
en
we have just referred to.
During the first four days of the last week prac-
ticelva
9
each,
witha thhde
37a0h -dp
6o pounders
e .T
to h the
e
accuracy of these guns was beautiful, the shots
falling much about the same spot. The shunt seemed
extent
ahead of the breech-loader by about 200 yards;
while the Whitworth at three degrees had the best
by about 60 to 70 yards.

have decided on rejecting or on admitting it, we
must keep it in abeyance. The diteulty that has
arisen with regard to this practice is due to some
irregularity in the bursting charges made use of
for the shrapnels. These experiments do not sup-
pose one cognisant of the distance at which the shell
bursts from the line of troops they are fired at, in
which case it might he possible to modify the charges
according to circumstances. Their main object is to
ascertain what the effect of the rival shells would be
should their explosion chance to take place at the
stated distances, very properly supposing that the
range had been mistaken from 10 to 100 yards nearly.
In the course of this target practice, ever since it
began, shells have frequently burst at the muzzle of
the Armstrong gun. Naturally such rounds had to
be gone over again, for the object of getting the
same number of hits out of each field-piece; but the
fact of the shell bursting easily at the muzzle is far
more serious than the stripping off of the lead in the
case of the breech-loader, and of which we have
heard so many complaints. When firing time fuzes
we remarked and noticed the premature exploding
of shells from the shunt; the cause of this has been
attended to, and apparently with success, in a slight
but most important rearrangement in the external
part of the fuze. Now, however, it is through the
concussion fuzes that this evil arises. It is thought
that the shells broke up occasionally in the bore,
but experiments have proved this fear to be un-
founded. At present it is imagined that the dry
wad which Sir W. Armstrong introduced at an
advanced period of these competitive trials may, by
being forced between the surface of the bore and
that of the shell, cause a sudden jerk, as the prin-
ciple of the shunt rifling comes into play. T:lis is
quite possible, and suggests an improvement in the
wad by lining its front face with a resisting disc.
But we should not be surprised if the jerk were
caused by the grooves having been deprived of their
perfect furm in consequence of the great number of
rounds they have had to go through. Bo this as it
may, no such thing should happen, no more than i
does in either the Whitworth or the breech-loader
—Telegraph.

The Royal Military Adademy, Woolwich.

On Tuesday the old 12-pounders were fired for 10
rounds each at 15 degrees elevation, the Whitworth
gun attaining nearly 5,000 yards range. The prac•
rice at 800 yards, through screens so placed as to
explode the shell at 10, 25, 50, and 100 yards dis-
tance from the line of targets, at two series of
heights frcm the ground, was brought to a close.
The result was, we believe, favourable to Colonel
Boxer's shrapnel; but until the committee shall

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge yesterday
attended at Woolwich in his capacity as President of the
Council of Education and Governor of the Royal Military
Academy, and distributed the midsummer prizes to the
Gentlemen Cadets of the establishment. The Duke, who was
attended by Colonel the Hon. R. W. Penn Curzon, Grena-
dier Guards, aide-de-camp, entered the garrison soon after
10 a.m., and was received within the grounds of the
Academy by the Lieutenant-Governor Commandant, Major
General Sandham, R.E., Colonel Yorke, and Lieutenant-
Colonel Gibb, Second Commandant and Inspector, and
Assistant-Inspector of Studies, and the entire Staff, to-
gether with the company of Gentlemen Cadets, drawn out
under arms, 210 in number, and the full regimental band
of the Royal Artillery. The usual salute, hoisting the
Royal standard, and "God save the Queen," having been
gone through, the Duke was joined by a brilliant Staff of
general officers from the Horse Guards and others, among
whom were General Sir John Burgoyne, G,C.8.,
Director of Works—Major-General Blomfield, Inspe3tor-
General Royal Artillery—Colonel Gambier, Adjutant-
General Royal Attillery—Colonel Chapman, C. 8., Deputy
Adjutant-General Royal Engineers—General Sir George
Pollock, G,C.8., Commandant of the C Brigade, wearing
the " Star of India"—Lieutenant-General Sir Hurry Jones,
G.C.8., R.E., Governor of Sandhurst—Major-General
Warde, C. 8,, Commandant, and the garrison Staff of
Woolwich- -Major-General Hamilton and Sir Frederick
Abbott, the Vice-President, and one of the members
of the Council, and many others. Dr. Eden, Bishop
of Moray and Ross, whose son is a pupil in the
Academy, and Sir Thomas Head, wore also present. Soon
after his arriving on parade, the Duke commenced an
inspection of the company, in which ho was accompanied by
the officers abovenamed. After marching past in slow and
quick time, in command of (colonel Yorke, they changed
front by the wheel, countermarched by subdivisions round
the centre, and marched past in quarter distance columns,
formed on the original ground, and deployed on the front
company ; wheeled in open column, left in front, and formed
line on the leading company; charged front on central com-
pany, formed square, re-formed column, and opened out to
wheeling distance from the front, left wheel into line, and
fired at 200 yards. The drills were commanded by Gentle-
men Cadets Macdonald, Georges, and Greenstreet, and, as
remarked by the Duke, without a mistake. His royal high-
ness then called upon Mr Tisdal to prove the company,
which he did by close sections, subdivisions, and forming in
fours. The company then drew up at the grand entrance to
the academy, where in consequence of the fineness of the
weather, the prizes were laid out on a table for distribution.
The Duke and staff in the meantime proceeded to an inspec-
ticn of the drawings of the cadets during the pest half-year,
and on their return Major-Gen. Hamilton read the report
of the council, in which they stated they had the honour to
submit to his royal highness the result of the examination
they had recently held for awarding commissions in the
Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. There being 50 can-
didates on this occasion, and it having been decided that
one-third of that number should be appointed to the Royal
Eugineers,the names of 19 gentlemen cadets first in order of
merit, of those who elected to be commissioned, if possible,
in that corps, are reported in the returns in the usual man-
ner. The report expressed approbation to his royal high.
ness, as to the result of the examination of the council,
which they pronounced satisfactory, both as shown by the
high marks gained, and by the fact that no gentleman cadet
has failed.
Then followed the reading, by Col. Yorke, of the follow-
ing report of the lieutenant governor :--
"Royal Military Aead my,
e Woolwich, June 22.
" have the honour to report to your royal highness
that the gentlemen cadets of the first class who from the
results of the recent examination have been reported quali-
fied for commissions by the Council of Military Education
are equally qualified in conduct, military exercises, and
discipline.
"The monthly returns of this term show that the emula-
tion and exertion in the classes so favourably reported upon
at the end of the last term has in no way relaxed.
" The results of the examination of the junior classes on
the whole are favourable, although the examining master
has reported that among the last joined cadets he has found
a want of correctness and exactitude in working by loge:
rithms, and in the solution of arithmetical and algebraica
questions.

"I cannot report too highly of the attention and zeal ex-
hibited by the officers, the professors, masters, and military
instructors connected with every branch of study, and of the
officers, the responsible and subdivision under officers, on
whom the discipline so materially depends ; the duties have
been carried out by them with firmness and judgment, and
their example and manner have tended much to uphold a
military and satisfactory bearing among the cadets them-
selves.
" The drills, gymnastics, and riding have been carried out
as fully as time could be devoted to those exercises.
_ _

I "I have the honour to be, Sir, your Royal Highness's
• moat obedient hu mbie servant,
"H, SANDRAX, Major-General, Royal Engineers,
Lieutenant-Governor,"
His RovAL HIGHNESS then addressed the assenoblcd com-
pany, and informed them that he was exceedingly pleased
with the rostilt of his visit. He had no cause now, he said,
fe 'find c•,, ,inatzari, ha had Mftnifegt P"'"f
that they had profited by the wholesale advice which he
gave them on a former occasion. They would never regret
their observance of good order and discipline in the outset
of their career in a military life, especially while under pro-
bation in this important institution. "You have," he added,
" been wall guided, and you have acted up to your guidance
with spirit and emulation. As I have so often repeated, the
times in which we live are eminently scientific, and it be-
hoves you all to be on your guard. Some of you are not so
forward as I could wish. I would counsel those not to relax,
but to make up for lo6t time, which can be done by steady
application and perseverance. I am sorry there are no com-
missions vacant. This is one of the inconveniences you will
have to bear. You will have to wait a short time, and
although I cannot enter into explanations I have reason to
believe that you will not have to wait long. You can make
that a period of scientific research and study, and the time
may be well and profitably employed."
The return of the Gentlemen Cadets recommended by the
Lieut.-Governor of the Academy as deserving rewards and
prizes for exemplary conduct and acquirements was then
placed in his Royal Highness's hands, and the prizes were
awarded accordingly. Mr Menzies received a regulation
sword; Mr George the Pollock gold medal, which the duke
requested Sir Geo. Pollock himself to place in the recipient's
hands. Then followed the delivery of the prizes, according
to the following list of names, each of those named receiv-
ing an elegantly bound book, a microscope, barometer,
telescope, or case of instruments :--Mr Macdonald (two
prizes), Mr James (two prizes), Mr Dodsworth, Mr Nichol-
son, Mr Alexander, Mr Chadwick, Mr Awdry, Mr Boyce,
MrPulford, MrWaehington, Mr Hart, Mr Jacob, Mr Taub •
men (one prize each), Mr Beresford (two prizes), and Mr
Hildyard (one prize). His Royal Highness then expressed
his intention of taking a small class for examination in Ger-
man, and retired to one of the class rooms for that purpose.
A squad proceeded to the school of arms, and awaited the
duke's arrival to go through a course of athletic sports, and
the remainder of the company broke up and dispersed. His
Royal Highness thereupon returned to London, to be in
attendance at her Majesty's Levee,

Persons in debt may obtain instant protection against
imprisonment or seizure of their goods, and an entire release
from all debts and liaLilities without publicity, by application
to Messrs. Marshall, solicitors of the Court of Bankruptcy.
Charges under £5 payable by easy instalments. Offices_
(established 1830), 12, Hatton-garden, City branch 6, Moor
gate-street, Bank.—ADvT,

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 23, 1864.

Thb

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES.—At last the Conference of London on the
affairs of Denmark may be looked upon as at an
end. The delays which have marked its career were
strangely epitomised in the proceedings of yester-
days, For some reason that only Court function-
aries can understand it is thought necessary that the
Plenipotentiaries should attend every levee, and
consequently the diplomatists on whose deliberations
the peace of Europe depends duly presented theme
seine before his Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales at two o'clock, and were unable to assemble
for the most important meeting of the series
until a later hour than usual, The discussions may
have been interesting; they were certainly long.
It was past 6 o'clock before the members separated,
and the last effort of England to preserve the peace
between Denmark and its opponents was shown to
have been in vain. The Conference, wo believe,
will meet again on Saturday. but this is only as a
matter of form, in order that the protocol of yes-
terday's proceedings may be read, and the members
may exchange the courtesies which are usual at a
separation. As far as business is concerned the
Conference is at an end, and it has ended in failure.
On no side has there been a disposition to accept
the proposals which this country has thought it
advisable to make in the interests of peace. After
six months of ceaseless exertion, after having used
every argument which could be addressed to the
justice, the humanity, or the prudence of the Ger-
man Powers, the British Government finds that it
must either retire from the dispute and leave Den-
mark to the fate it is so anxious to brave, or enter
upon active operations for her defence. The
proceedings of the meeting may be soon told. The
members met only to hear from Prussia and Austria
their definite rejection of the proposal of arbitra-
tion, and their acceptance of the alternative of a
renewed campaign. There was, indeed,
,on their
part an offer which in such circumstances can
only be looked upon as a mockery. This was, that
sny Power that chose might arbitrate on the ques-
tion of frontier, but that they would reserve to
themselves the right of rejecting the award. It is
needless to say that this absurd proposal was
scouted by the representatives of this country, and
was justly held by them to mean that the two Ger-
man States were determined to brave the public
opinion of the world, and proceed to the last ex-
tremity in their career of violence, At the same
time, Denmark showed an equal unwillingness to
submit her claims to the arbitration of any foreign
State. The one idea of the politicians of Copen-
hagen is that no settlement can be agreed to by
them which does not give Denmark the line of the
Dannewerke. They would prefer that of the
Eider, of course, but with the Dannewerke, which
is involved in the line of the Schlei, they would be
content ; anything else they have been all along
determined to reject. The idea that a foreign
and, it might be, an unfriendly potentate should
have the power of depriving them of half Schleswig,
and giving them only a strip without a definite
geographical area, without a defensible frontier, has
all along been so distasteful to them that are not
surprised that they should now add their refuea' I to
that of their opponents. They have had time tore:
cover from the shock of Duppel. Their army, though
weakened by the late campaign, is still respectable
in point of numbers, their fleet is ready for opera.
tions, they hold Alsen, they are at present enthreat-
ened in Funen, the German shipping offers them a
rich prize, and, all things considered, they are per-
haps in a better military situation than when they
occupied positions on the mainland which were*
exposed to the full strength of the German armies.
Their enemies are equally anxious to complete
the work they have so unscrupulously and yet so
successfully begun. All that remains for them
now is to achieve the conquest of Alsen. With that
done they might rest on their arms and refrain from
any further operations against their humbled adver-
versaries. Alsen alone is required to given them full
possession of the Schleswig territory, and as yet
they profess to want nothing more. Jutland they
may occupy in order to force a peace from Den-
mark; Funen or Zealand might be the object of any
great access of vindictiveness, such as the Germans
might conceive against the people who have resisted
them for so many years, and who have in this war
threatened the blockade of their ports and the des•
struction of their marine. But this extension of the
area of hostilities is not necessary for the success of
the German policy. Their highest hopes will have
been gratified if they can detach the whole of
Schleswig and Holstein from the kingdom and
erect it into an independent State under a Prince
of their own choosing. This, in fact, can now be
done by a simple proclamation. With the excep-
tion of Alsen, they hold the country, and, unless
some other Power intervenes, they have only to de-
clare it separated from Denmark, and to constitute
the new Government. They may then leave Den-
mark alone, so far as the invasina of any new ter-
ritory is concerned, and content themselves with
resisting its efforts at sea, and holding J utland as
a guarantee for the payment of the expenses and
losses that may have been inflicted on Germany.
Something like this is possibly the Prusso-Aus-
trian programme, though it certainly may be that
a more ambitious war is contemplated, and that
Denmark left alone would have to expect an in-
vading force in Fence, and perhaps at the capital
itself. The passion which animates the Germans,
and the ambition which possesses the Prussian
reigning family and their Minister, may lead to
any excesses. In this latter case there can, we
thuds, be no doabt of the course which honour and
international duty would recommend to Europe.
Whatever may be the decision of the country with
respect to operations on the mainland, we feel sure
that the expression of English feeling would be uni-
versal to the effect that the Danish islands should
be made safe against any attack of an enemy. In
this there would be no difficulty, as a small squadron
would be quite sufficient to bid defiance to any arma-
ment which the German Powers could put to sea.
These speculations, however, are almost premature.
rnere must be to-day, or very shortly, an explana-
tion in Parliament by Ministers, and a discussion of
the present critical state of affairs. Parliament,
which has left matters so long under the come
plete control of the Cabinet, contenting itself
with occasionally showing its sympathies and
the intensity of its interest in the struggle, will
now take care that the national honour is not
ecni:Laut, "of eromised. Though this country cares little for t
the
foreigners,t it cannot bear to have an
and it, therefore, becomes her
Ile
ent. to make to Parliament such
opinionjesty's
Governs: o : e,e
convince it that the nation
recommendations as w.,'l
is being directed is a wise and honourable course.
To maintain our own honors.-and reputation by
fulfillingstrictly our international ties is the wish
of every patriot and every man of sense'.
POST.—The meeting of the Conference, yester-
day, may be considered as virtually its last sittog;
though an adjournment till Saturday at one o'cloci;
was agreed to—for what purpose it is difficult to
understand. There seems nothing remaining to be
done. The German and Danish Plenipotentiaries,
though differing on every other point, were as one
man in opposing an arbitration upon the question
of the boundary-line, It is stated, indeed, on less
reliable authority, that Austria and Prussia ex-
creased their willingness to accept the proposed re-
ference, but clogged their consent with such condi-
tions as effectually precluded Denmark from acced-
ing to the arrangement. The prolongation of the
armistice stands in much the same position. The
German belligerents would not oppose such an ex-
tension, but they declined it for any period less than
two months. For obvious reasons the negotiations
went off at this point. We find, therefore, all the
preliminary subjects in dispute as far from a settle
men t as ever. Tne boundary line itself, the reference
of it to arbitration, the prolongation of the arnai-
stice, are still matters upon which no agreement
has taken place. On this account we repeat that
we are at a loss to see cur ban° another
meeting of the Conference on Saturday. The are
rangements that have been found impracticable
in so many sittings can scarcely be made in
one. The armistice expires on Monday, and the
German troops in Jutland are then free to recom-
mence their work of devastation. Of the British
fleet the operations are by no means so easy to be
foreseen.

Last evening the "unenfranchised masses" were invited
to a meeting in the Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen-street,
to claim the franchise for all not morally or intellectually
disqualified. Mr r. Beales, M.A., occupied the chair, and
he was ,3apported by Mr Nicholay, Mr Washington Wilke,
Mr George Jacob Holyoake, Mr Odgers, and others well
known in connection with political and trade agitation.
Letters were read from Liberal members of Parliament who
had been solicited to attend, but who, from various causes,
had not accepted the invitation. Among these letters was
one from Mr John Bright, who said "I think you are quite
right to move for manhood suffrage, for that is what you
must approve, and it would be absurb for working men to
propose a scheme which would exclude three out of four of
them from the franchise. I think the people everywhere
should ask for what they want, but at the same time 1 would
recomtfiend that they who ask for much should not regard
as enemies and opponents those who ask for less. By a com-
bined and friendly movement we shall get something, and
that once gained is never lost again, but becomes an additional
power to obtain more. I think the time is near when we shall
see another step in the path of reform. The present Govern-
ment lives only on the name of its chief Minister. It it can
survive his time of office, it can only be by adopting liberal
principles and by keeping to them and acting on them. We
are every ,lay nearing the time when the House of Commons
must undergo another change, and that change will be
largely in the direction of what is popular. In this I see a
botter day for our country and for the great people' hitherto
excluded from political rights. In the contest which is ap-
proaching, I hope I need not say you may calculate on my
hearty exertions in your favour." These views were loudly
cheered, as were those given by Mr Potter, M.P., Mr W.
Cox, M.P., and other gentlemen. The chairman,in the course
of a lengthy speech, expressed his hearty sympathy with
the cause of the unenfranchised, and said that in his belief
the government of the country would be carried on better
than it is if the working classes had a greater amount of
power. Mr Leno, a working man, in the course of a tempo-
rate speech, proposed the following motion That this
meeting is of opinion that the existing limitation of the
right to vote in the election of members of the House of
Commons is most unjust to the people of this great country,
and a gross violation of the true principle of representation,
by depriving of the franchise millions who contribute to the
real strength and wealth of the nation, and who, as liable
to the duties and obligations of citizens, have as well founded
a right to the franchise as those to whom it is now caprici-
ously restricted.' Mr Nicholay seconded the motion, and
said this was the time for this agitation, as Parliament was
about to die a natural death ; and he urged the working men
to mark well the names of those who had voted against Mr.
Baines's motion on the franchise and against the ballot.
The present Government, he reminded his hearers, had
come into power pledged to reform--a pledge, he said, which
had been forgotten. His motto was—' No taxation without
representation.' He urged that if the working men could
as volunteers ho intrusted with arms, they could be trusted
with the vote ; and, in conclusion, he expressed his willing-
ness to take his seat in the Senate-house' for the sake of
the working men. Mr W. T. Malleson supported the mo-
tion, and said the fact of Mr Coningsby, of Pengo, writing
to the Times declaring that he did not want the franchise,
was the exception which proved the rule that the working
men desired it. The resolution was then carried unani-
mously. Mr G. Howell, another working man, proposed
the second resolution, which was as follows That in
the opinion of this meeting, the time has arrived when the
unenfranchised masses of the people of this country should
be admitted to a share in the right of election of members
of the House of Commons, by that right being extended
to all resident and registered male persons of sound
mind and unconvicted of crime.' The mover quoted
Blackstone to show that, in the opinion of that great legal
authority, every man was entitled to the vote, an opinion,
the speaker said, which was also held by Jeremy Bentham.
He added that the working men, though they had not agi-
tated in lawless assemblies for the vote, had not the less
thought of the injustice which kept them from their right.
He said he had read ' Plato,' as well as Mr Coningsby, but
had learnt a different lesson from that learnt by the person
named, for he had been taught to take his stand as a man
for the right to which he was entitled. Capt. D. Rogers
seconded the resolution, which was supported by Mr Wash-
ington Wilks, who in the course of a long speech argued
that to debar the working man from the iranchise was to
lower him in his own eyes, and degrade him in the presence
of his fellow-citizens. The resolution was then carried
unanimously. The concluding resolutions laid down steps
for organising committees to confer with ruembersof Parlia-
ment on the opinions expressed in the first two resolutions,
A vote of thanks to the chairman conQluded the proceedin

HERALD,--The last faint hope of peace hasdis
appeared. The reference by the Danish and
Ger-
man plenipotentiaries of the English proposalasut a
ofn
empty courtesy yet so long
arbitration to their respective
coCourtsts w
propositions
eevennominally discussion
sanguine
f or a
mindser
mig t
nnp under
eagainst
aallspeace
probabilities
successful issue to the labours_oftheConf Conference.
Now the most sanguine must look forward
renewal of hostilities. We shall hear no more of
y of t e enough
bitter, the
spueua
tcne, until t
Ei
utrhoep
en
ho ra tvho , d ar
un
nd k pt
hi.
no
ibra
fillb
yet, perhaps, not unwholesome cup of war. At the
sitting of the Conference yesterday the plenipoten-
tiaries proved a second time the impossibility cf
their agreement ; but this time, having the con-
sciousness of a fearful struggle impending, in which
nations which had been for centuries allies would
find themselves opposed upon the battie-field, they
adopted a more moderate and a more becoming
tone. They felt that they were about to fight, and
that they could not do less than emulate the cour-
tesy of the professors of the noble art who shake
hands before they begin to maul each other. The
sitting was not only remarkable for the good tem-
per displayed, but for a singular inversion of the
arrangements which have been wont to obtain when,
Germans meet other nations in negotiations. ,
Danes, generally men of few words, read a long
memorandum detailing the reasons for which they
were unable to accept the last British proposition ;
and the Prussians, who equally refused that pro.

position, expressed their refusal in a very few
words. An ominous sign—when a German diplo-
matist speaks shortly and to the purpose be must
be completely overmastered by an overpowering
determination. Having received these declarations,
and mutually acknowledged that there was not the'
faintest chance of arriving at any accord until their
views had been modified by a few blows, the pleni•
potentiaries adjourned until Saturday, upon which
day they will revise and sign the protocols of a Con-
ference which will be recorded in history as a signa
failure. The war, therefore, recommences on Mon-
day. The Germans will probably be in possession of
the whole of Jutland before the week is out;
and, on the other hand, the German ports in the
Baltic will again be placed under a rigorous-
blockade. The advantage of the change so long-
as it does not go farther, will be entirely with the
Danes. Now Jutland is particularly lost to theln.,,
but the German ports are open. Then Jutland will
still be lost, but the German ports will be shut.
The further course of the war will depend upon the
policy of the P,'wers which at present profess them:
selves neutral. '.17,11e organs of the Government tell
us that Lord Paln:erston will be equal to the
emergency, and that, ha ving submitted for a number
of months to every insult xhich the Gertnan Powers
chose to offer him, having eaten more dirt then ail,
English Minister has swalklwed since the days of
Charles 11., he will now remember his "7/1 reputirs
tion, and take some thought for his country'
honour. They tell us that Engla2
Denmark to be despoiled and the Principles o:
public law to be set at naught. They itiave told no_
d will not ilia/Ir..
so several times before, and with the full consent
of
their employers, in whose names they prof&sedt
speak. Denmark has been despoiled, and the p i"
ciples of public law have been trodden under 100.11
Little authority will be attached to their present
promises by Germans or Danes. We can ourselves
give them little or no credit. What has been done
before would be done again, if it could be done, but
happily the decision does not now rest with tbe
Ministry. The negotiations are at an end, and /t
is for Parliament to pronounce, of its own instance'
if the Ministry will not inaugurate a policy and ask
its approbation, what course England shall pursue
in this momentous juncture. What that course
should he will be easily determined. England, witl.l.
Lord Derby, loves peace ; but, with the noble lead"
of the Conservative party, she loves honour more.
If she finds that her honour and her interests call
upon her to give her energetic support to Deninar,t,7
that support will be given, at whatever sum tue
cost may be estimated. If the Ministry will, even
at the twelfth hour, recognise their duty and declare
their determination to pursue to a successful issue
the policy for which the country calls, well and
good ; they will have the warm, the general stir
port of Parliament. But if they will not announce
their pc.icy, or if they propose to basely abandon
the cause the nation is resolved to sustain, then/.
days are numbered. If Ministers will not them'
selves ask the support of Parliament by a Pelhicj
which commends itself to the national syntPat'q
and thus excuse in part their past weakness and
folly, her Majesty's Opposition will give the repre-
sentatives of the nation the opportunity of declaring
what course the country should pursue.