The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-02 00:00:00

Gentlemsn complained that his evidence before the corn•
mittee had been published under peculiar circumstances;
that he had not had an opportunity of revising or cor-
recting an expression used:by him, a right which was
usually conceded to all witnesses.
The meeting separated highly pleased with the pro-
ceedings.

PARLIAMEN-CARY REFORM.—PROGRESS.
Mr. Hume has brought forward his motion tor reform
in the sessions ol 1848, 1849, 1850, and in 1852:
In 1848 his motion was supported by B6
In 1849, by members who did not vote in 1848 22
In 1850, by members who did not vote in 1848 or 1849 15
In 1852, by do. who did not vote in 1848,1849, or 1850 18

Total number of Members who have voted in support
of Mr. Hume's motionin 1848, 1849, 1850, 1852 141
Deduct members not now in the House 9

THE BALLOT.
DIVISION&

Aye. No.
1836
1837
1838
1839
1842
1847
1849
1850
1851
1852

In 1851, it will be remembered, that Mr. Berkeley,
by an accident, was successful—the success, howerer,
coming to nothing.

lONIAN ISLANDS.

It may be remembered that when Sir HENRY WARD
last convoked the present lonian Parliament, he held
out a promise of several important retorms, which
seemed to be ardently wished for by the lonians, pro-
vided the spirit of the new Parliament were more con-
ciliatory than that of the preceding one. It appears,
however, that the Lord High Commissioner's wishes
have again been thwarted. In a proclamation addressed
to the lonian people, dated the 18th inst., he says in
conolusion:—

" I have now only to return my thanks to those members
of the majority who have honourably redeemed the pledge
given upon their election, by supporting a plan which they
thought conducive to the true interests of their country.
Their names comprlse all that is most distinguished in Corfu
and Cephalonia for talent and integrity. They have been
opposed by men whose objects and characters I leave to the
judgment of their fellow-citizens.

"For myself, I can only say, that I have exhausted every
means that some political experience could suggest to bring
this matter to a happy issue, and that having been thwarted
in my designs by men whom I could neither satisfy nor lead,
I have not to add to the mortification of failure the belief that
it has been caused by any want on my part of frankness or
conciliation."

A telegraphic dispatch from Trieste states that intel-
ligence had arrived from Corfu that 22 bankruptcies had
taken place at Zante, to the amount of about 1,120,000 f.,
and that others were expected.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.
LONDON ♦ND NORM-WESTERN' RAILWAY.—Ritarn of
Traffic for the week ending March 23:
Passengers, parcels, mails, &c. £22,145 7 9
Merchandise ... 18,428 18 0
Cattle .. ... 789 0 8

Total ..• ••• £42,363 6 5
Corresponding week last year ... 41,465 15 11
Ncte.—The returns as published are exclusive of the
traffic of the Huddersfield Canal and Shropshire Union, North
Union, Preston and Wyre, South Junction, Manchester and
Buxton, and Buckinghamshire Railways, and of the propor-
tion of traffic deducted under agreement with the North
Staffordshire Company.
LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY. -- (260 miles
open.)—Traffic for week eliding Mar. 28 .C 15,891 10 3
Corresponding week in last year (260
miles open)
....C14,770 2 7
Tug GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY... ( Miles in work, 241%)
—Return of Traffic for the Week ending March 21, 1852:
Passengers, parcels, carriages,
horses, dogs, and mails £4,631 3 3
Merchandise and minerals ... 6,094 18 2
Cattle 141 2 5

Total .. ... X 10,867 3 10
Corresponding week, 1851 (236 miles) :
Passengers, parcels, &c. £ 3,738 11 2
Merchandise, Cattle, tke• ~. 3,509 17 1

Total ... ... ....£7,248 8 3
LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—Amount of
Passengers ...
~. ..• £6,724 10 8i
Traffic for the week ending March 28 :
Goods ... ... —. ••• 2,539 7 8

Total ..• .£9.263 18 4i
Corresponding week last year... 8,933 17 6
Nonni STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. (Miles 0pen,112.)...
Return of traffic for the week ending March 21
Railway and canal . JC4,780 0 0
Corresponding week last year ... 4,766 0 0
Note.—The above is exclusive of the receipts available
under the agreement with the London and North-Western
Railway Company.

CHESTED AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY....TrafEC for the
week ending March 28:—

MAIN LIRE.

Passengers ... ... £B9O 13 6
Parcels, H. C. and D. ... 96 4 4
G6ods, cattle, &c. •.. 510 3 3
Mails ... 575 0 0

Total .. £2,072 6 6
MOLD.

Pastengers I. .C. 37 12 10
Pamela, H. C. and D. ... 2 7 4
Goods, cattle, &c. 77 2 S

Tot4l
.Cll7 2 10
STE-Ur-BOATS.

P&ssengers .. £123 0 7
Parcels, H. C. and D. 15 6

Total ... ... £152 16 1
SWITISit CE—NTRAL RAILWAY.—Traflic for the Week
ending March 28, 1852:
Passengers (7,208), parcels, horses,
and carriages ...
Goods, cattle, &c.

-•- £764 11 9
••• ••• 917 15 11

Total ••• .. 1,742 7 8
Corresponding week in last year... 1,633 11 6
Perth, March 31, 1852.
CORK AND BANDON BAILWAY.—(2O miles open)—Return
if Traffic for the week ending March 27, 1852:
Passengers, parcels, &c. ••• £l.O 16 1
Merchandise, cattle, &c.... 36 3 7

Total ... ..• £147 1 8
Corresponding week in 1851 (10 miles open) :
Passengers, parcels, &c. ~• 29 8 5
Merchandise, cattle, &c.... ... 015 0

Total .. 30 3 5
Total traffic this half-year, Jan. 1 to
March 27, both inclusive ... 11 9

PREMATURE CONDEMNATION OF IRON
VESSELS FOR WAR PURPOSES.
TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE MORNING HERALD.
Sir,—As an old gunnery officer I cannot allow the re-
marks made by Lord Palmerston. and followed up by
Captain Duncombe, in the House of Commons last
night, to go forth to the world, that " iron mer-
ch ant steamers are not fitted for the purposes of war,"
without giving my most unqualified dissent. In
the first plat©, the experiments made and conclusions
come to have not been satisfactory to the public, or made
with due consideration to a large and powerful interest
in.this country, viz ' the iron masters, iron shipbuilders,
and steern_boat proprietors. The purport of the re-
marks made by these gentlemen in the British House of
Commons is to iaffict gi
miler), othe,r,
im-
portant branch in this country.
listing injury to a most
11;
Y wbc'En have iron easels been condemned? Not by
form-
ing an opinion upon, or those educated
What have been
the experiments gunnery
this unjust condemnation
educated and capable of
neon which
"'I been made? sided sections,
intended to
gunners fancierde,parnwsehinryt•
Si-
moon, fired at from theazportion of
t.,,
__
the
amateur
cfent in their estimatio;ratyo
zeellent.un
dii "
theone side of the
uponßi-
them sufli-
cewooaunspdielnemtioinef
purposes.
I ask this simple question--
rWooden
fis aid eta withcietd yi
tas i St
ai dii
II ea'3Wra and
ell ot achit 'lire: :reel:il ,uel:atilsnendce number
gia
isofnbo ree:rwilif oai
parison at ;he time made?
i 5 it possible to arrive
at a concldsion upon a subject.:f
lees a trial had been made upon h a
latter
um pat magnitudetogtnea
ri
the
:hats
el
,t-
-c u m a t a n c e s ?
Again, sulmitting the shot breawkowohtlettrinder similar cir-
iron, this is an argument in favour of thestriking
°°flsidereds
inasmuch that so large a hole is not
vvililisdtoeffecti will
opposite side of the ship, as tho shot or
through—an experiment not yet tried. rag
In the event of another war, shot will beens nts pegs
only a secondary projectile. The percussion
take the load, and if reports are true,
these shells upon iron compared with wood? It is haveatat
by an able authority who witnessed the practice at tr
iron butt with these shells that not ono exploded, but
only broke, as in the case of shot. Consequently iron
has an advantage over wood.
Again, I contend that less damage to men at their
quarters would be caused by splinters from iron vessels
than from wood. This is an experiment not yet tried,
which could easily be done by placing canvas screens
between decks of the vessels fired at.
I contend also that shot hdlcs in ken can be more
readily stopped than in .Wooden vessels, Laving less
thickness of side, and by the assistance of flat iron plates,
lined with thick vulcanised India rubber, and a chain
from centre set up inside.
In conclusion, I maintain that iroa has bcoa prema-
turely condemned, through the opinion and influeoc.) of
certain amateur artillerymen; and until a vessel of wood
and iron of similar scantling he fired at under equal ad-
vantages, I do assert from my experience iu these
matters, and opinions formed from having attended 1
various practice upon wood and iron, that iron had
most decidedly the adveutage over wood—Rot
only in a naval point of view, but as a com-
mercial question. The Government iron steam-vessels
have been prematurely condemned, and others sold out
of the service—and why ? Because the vessels have been
neglected and allowed to rust into holes for want of com-
mon attention and a little paint.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
J. R. ENGLEDUE,
Late Gunnery Lieutenant and Instructor of Practical
Gunnery on board her Majesty's ship Excellent.
Southampton, Marcia 31, 1852.

Ie4NCHtBTER - AND SALFORD EDUCATION BUT.—
CIONTh CTmitt:''3 CU this Bill we 1174ieociv, azad §at wiry