The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-15 00:00:00

Destruction of the Confederate Barn Albe-
marle by a Torpedo Boat,

We have already published the official report
received by the last steamer from New York of the
destruction of the Confederate ram Albemarle by a
Federal torpedo boat. As the torpedo boat em-
ployed on this occasion, though of wooden con-
struction, was fitted with its torpedo battery on the
same system as that which has been applied to the
ironclad torpedo vessels, a number of which are
being constructed by the Federal navy, two—the
New Era and Stromboli, being already launched
and ready for sea—the following particulars, fur•
nished by the naval reporter of the New York 7ri
bone, as to this recent and striking instance of the
manner in which an enemy's ships, however formid-
able, are speedily and effectually disposed of by the

new armament, will be read with interest, espe-

cially as they undoubled!y confirm what has been
said about another new era being commenced by

he application of this new engine of war to iron

ships:—
" The Confederate ironclad ram Albemarle, re-
ported to have been destroyed on the 28th ult. by
the United States Picket Boat No. 1, was built in
the Roanoke River for the purpose of clearing the
waters of North Carolina of our naval vessels, and
driving off the United States troops who were
located at various posts. On several occasions
she has spread terror throughout that depart-
ment, and has caused serious annoyances to our

forces, both naval and military. On the sth of
May the Uaited States naval forces, consisting
of the wooden gunboats Massachusetts, Sassacus,
Wyabusing, Miami, Whitehead, Cares, and Com-
modore Hull, engaged the Albemarle and her con-
sorts Cotton Plant and Bombshell, and, after a ter-
rible conflict, the Albemarle was forced to retreat,
having been seriously damaged by the fire of our
gunboats, but principally by the Sassacus.
" The Cotton Plant escaped, but the Bombshell,
which had been captured a short time previous,
was recaptured. From that time until a few
weeks since the ram has been quietly receiving
repairs, and has been strengthened with a view
to accomplishing her object with a fatal cer•
tainty. Lieutenant Wm. Cushing, of our navy,
was anxious to have her come out, so that he
might test the merits of the torpedo arrange-
ment. It is, perhaps, proper to state that
the Albemarle was constructed upon the general
principles of the Merrimac and Tennessee class of
vessels, and was, perhaps, much stronger than either
of those vessels since she was repaired of late.
" She had the ordinary casemate, in which were
placed four heavy gnus; she was probably shot-
proof against any projectiles thrown by our vessels,
and the only hope of destroying her, before the
advent of the torpedo affair was by running her to
death—but with the torpedo boat the matter was
easily accomplished, provided always she could get
close enough to do the work without being observed
before the guns could be trained and fired upon
her. In case the little torpedo boat did its duty,
and but for a shot from a shore battery, she wculd
now be ready to perform a similar feat.
" PICKET BOAT NO. 1.
" The little vessel which has performed the deed
of destroying this noted ram is a boat not unlike a
ship's lan4h, and about the same dimensions. Six
of them Nave been built ender the superintendence
of Captaik* S. Boggs, U.S.N. Their engines,
boilers, Ste;,were put in them at Schenectady, New
York, and were brought down here Tia canal.
" They were designed at first for picket boats
exclusively, and for the purpose of relieving
the seamen from the hurtful and unhealthy
work of pulling boats on picket in all kinds
of weather. Before they were completed, how-
ever, the idea of placing the torpedo attachment
on them was suggested, and immediately adopted,
and the wisdom of the suggestion is already proven.
"No officer has laboured more faithfully to de-
stroy this Albemarle than has Lieut. Cushing. A
few weeks since he visited New York, and selected
some of the picket boats for service in Albemarle
Sound, and we now have the first results of his
daring and good judgment in using this new engine
of naval warfare, which in a short time will revo-
lutionise naval fights. The true plan is being
adopted. The bottom of a vessel is its most vulner-
able part, and by this arrangement it is reached,
broken through, and the vessel must sink or be
utterly destroyed."

The Ontario Inquiry —Decision of the

Court.

The assessors of the Board of Trade gave their
decision in the case_of the Ontario at Liverpool
yesterday. It was as follows :
The C.,urt, having carefully investigated the cira
cumstances connected with the loss of the screw
steamship Ontario on Hasbro' Sande, on the morn-
ing of the 16th tilt., has come to the conclusion that
this is not one of the class of cases in which blame
attaches to the master. The evidence shows that
the ship was under the charge of a licensed pilot
appointed by the owners, and that the master was
locally unacquainted with the coast. The Court
does not hold that in all cases the faot of a pilot
being on board is to relieve the master from re-
sponsibility ; but in this case, as they see no
neglect or dereliction of duty, either on the
part of the master or his crew, Mr. John Brook-
ing cannot fairly be held amenable for the loss
of his ship. The Court has, therefore, great
pleasure in returning Mr. Brooking his cer-
tificate. The Court regrets that it cannot take
so favourable a view of the conduct of the pilot. I,
is of opinion that Mr Alexander Scott evinced a
want of caution in the navigatio❑ of this vessel, in
continuing his course at full speed after failing to
make either the Dudgeon or Dowsing light vessels,
instead of hauling up and proceeding slowly until
he had ascertained his position. The Court cannot,
however, deal with the pilot under the provisions
of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, which regua
later these inquiries, but will feel it their duty to
report the opinion thus expressed to the Board of
Trade. It is unnecessary in giving this judgment,
to add anything bearing upon the collateral ques-
tion which has arisen out of this inquiry, relating
to the services of the Yarmouth lifeboat. The mat-
ter will be dealt with in the report which the Court
will make to the Board of Trade.
The decision was read by Mr Ebffies, the legal
assessor, on the part of himself and Captains Harris
and Baker, nautical assessors ; and the certificate
was immediately handed to Captain Brooking.

Examiner.

PAINFUL SCENE.—On Friday last an eitraordi
nary and painful scene took place at Woodston, near
Peterborough. The eldest son of Mr Thomea Powell, a
highly respectable farmer of the village, having died, his
parents wished to have him buried in the pretty litlo church-
yard of the parish. As a matter of courtesy, the Rev. A
Murray, Independent minister, Co whose congregation Mr
Powell belonged, waited upon the Rev. J. Ellaby, the
incumbent, and informed him that Mr Powell was a strict
Nonconformist, and objected to the use of some portions of
the Burial Servica. Subsequently, Mr Fkllaby went with
Mr Powell himself to the churchyard and chose a site for
the grave, and no obstacle of any kind was anticipated.
On Friday afternoon, when the funeral procession ap-
proached the churchyard, the grave was found prepared.
Halting at the entrance the corpse was placed on a chair,
while the Rev. A. Murray read a simple service such as
Dissenters use on such occasions. He was so engaged
when a messenger arrived with the intimation that the
Rev. J. Ellaby was waiting in the church. A courous
reply was returned that the services of the clergyman
would not be required, and a move was made towards the
grave. Mr Ellaby issued from the church, and declared in
an excited manner that the corpse should not be buried
there. Mr Murray stepped on one side and said,
•• You
aro aware, S:r, that we have the privilege of silent inter-
ment." 0I do not care for your privileges," the incum-
bent replied, " I will throw you into the Ecclesiastical
Court." He then left the churchyard, bidding the sexton
stand by the grave. Meanwhile the enlicted mourners
were looking ou in a state of grief and perplexity which
may well be imagined. At last the father stood forward
and said, " If no one would fill in the grave of his child he
would do so himself." He took a spade for that purpose,
but the sexton wrenched it by force out of his hands. A
crowd had gathered round, and hootings and cries of
" Shame" were raised, but Mr Ellaby did not return, and
without his authority the sexton would allow no one to
touch the grave. Eventually the relatives reluctantly with-
drew, leaving the body unburied. On the following day
(Saturday) the grave was filled in by the incumbent's order,
but whether the Church Burial Service was read over it or
not r
not our reporter has been unable to learn,—Naitrhe