The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-09 00:00:00

and his Royal Highness and the rest of the visitors
returned to town.
Next week the contest between the guns will
go on at a stockade, and in firing at increaied
ranges, and during the latter part of it, the real
and most important trial of all, the question a en-
durance—the efforts to break down the guns by
rapid and continuous firing—will be made. such
experiments as those of yesterday are very subordi-
nate to the real test of all—endurance. In other
matters the guns are equal, as far as the trials hare
yet gone; for, as we have said, until the official r(-„_
cords are made out it is almost impossible to say
which has had the best, the Armstrong shunt Alla
or the Whitworth. But the whole issue now de-
pends on which can be injured first by rough and
rapid work at constant firing, and this test will be
applied next week.

Vacancies, Promotions, and Appointments
in the Civil Service

(From the Civil Service Gazette.)
HOME OrrlcE.—Mr Edmund George May has been pro.
meted to be chief clerk in the Commissioners of Metropolitan
Police-office, vice Mr Charles Irardley, retired on pensitya.
Mr Walter Cattermole has been promoted to be second
clerk in the Commissioners of Metropolitan Polioe-office.
COLONIAL-OFFICE,—The governorship of Ascension
Island has become vacant by the retirement of Captain
Frederick Lamport Barnard, R.N.

BRITISH MI.7SELTM.—Mr John Sylvanui Tupper has been
appointed an attendant. . _

THE POST-OFFICE.—Mr Henry Andrew O'Malony ham
been appointed a temporary clerk. Mr Maurice Doige Nor.
shey has been appointed a temporary clerk. Mr Thos. Ralph
Lowe has been appointed a clerk at Bury St. Edmunds. Mr
Edwin Bowles has been appointed a clerk at Swansea.
THE ADMlRALTY,—Greenwich Hospital—William R. E.
Smart, M.D., has been appointed to be Deputy Inspeator-
General of Hospitals and Fleets, ♦ice James W. Johnston,
M.D., promoted to be Inspector-General of Hospitals and
Fleets.

CusTords.—Mr T. C. Hepworth has been appointed an
extra clerk, London. Mr H. Skaif has been appointed an
extra clerk, London, Mr George M'Loughlin has been pro-
moted from the 6th to the sth chums of examining officers,
London. Mr S. Harris has been promoted from the 2d to
the Ist class of clerks, London-docks. Mr T. Johnson has
been promoted from the 3d to the 2d class of clerks, London-
stocks. Mr M. Blakeman has been promoted from the 4th
to the 3d class of clerks, London-docks. Mr W. Bindley has
been promoted from the sth to the 4th class of clerks, Lon-
don-docks. Mr F. Q. Home has been promoted from the
Gth to the sth class of clerks, London-docks. Mr John Pirie
has been promoted from the 3d to the 2d clerkship customs,
Londonderry. Mr John Thompson has been promoted from
the 4th to the 3d clerkship, customs, Londonderry.
INLAND REVENTE.—Excise Branch—Mr Henry Deary
Rix, supervisor, Devizes district, Salisbury collection, has
been appointed supervisor of Hackney district, London,
east collection, Mr Robert Hunt, supervisor, Oldmeldrum
district, Aberdeen collection, has been appointed supervisor
of Devizes district, Salisbury collection. Mr. John MadcLi-
son, examiner, has been appointed surveyor of Oldmeldrum
district, Aberdeen collection. Mr Thomas Reilly, super-
visor, Sherborne district, Taunton collection, has been ap-
pointed supervisor of Grantham district, Stamford collec-
tion, Mr Robert Roper, officer, Wakefield, 3d division,
Leeds collection, has been appointed examiner. Mr. Wm.
tiawthornwaite, officer, Kirkoswald division, Cumberland
division, has been appointed officer of Goole division, York
collection.

IRELAND.-A vacancy has occurred in the Commander-
in-Chief's Office by the death of Mr Dagg, Ist class clerk.
It has not yet been decided whether the vacancy will be
filled up. There are several vacancies in the Registry of
Deeds Office forjunior clerks.