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

Lockfmt Breechloaders.

While the greet 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 possessiou of the stage, an
underplot has been advancing, pari passtc, 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. During
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 an able writer on fire arms, and the art of shooting, in
the year 1859 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 used, 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 oft
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 dipi,ed some thirtyfold, and this rising had
also the certain effect of loosening the whole fittings and
jointing of the gun. To remedy this defect Mr Dongall
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 once a
stronger hinge, and the means of opening and shutting the
barrels directly upon the lace of the false breech, instead of
these merely meeting as flit surfaces upon each other. Ot
this direct impingement upon each other he was not slow to
take advantage. He 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 race 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 against
accidents, Those conversant with firearms are aware of the
fact that in breechloaders the base of the cartridge is rarely
it ever in contact with the face of the false breech, so that
on being fired" 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 arc theoretically an 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 test 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 his consequently been 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
prcduce 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 a lapted for military purposes is
an open question. Fur 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
fur 20,000 of these guns, all double-barrelled, and adapted
for firing explosive shells, made to burst with frightful
effect on striking en of j,:ct. If to put an end to war by
making it anuihitatien be desirable, in kuch weapons and
projectile we have a means to an end,

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HER MAJESTY.

BALMORAL, OCT. 8.
The Queen drove to Alt-na.Guithastich 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 Mj?sty and the royal

farnily.
Princo Alfred honoured Lieut.-Colonel Farriv
harson with his company at a drive for deer in the
13.1Hoch Buie Wood.
The Dean of Westminster and Lady Augusta
Stanley have arrived at the Castle.

Foreign Courts.
ST. PETERSBURG, Oct, 2.
At one o'clock to day a salvo of 101 guns, fired
from the ramparts of the fortress, announced to the
inhabitants of the capital that the Hereditarys
Grand Duke would ehortly be united to the Pone es,
D igmar. At the same time the subjoined notitica
tion was posted on the walls
In conformity with a despatch received fro!
his Majesty the Emperor, the Governor-General 01:
St. Petersburg informs the inhabitants of the esPi
tal that hia Imperial Highness the Hereditary
Grand Dake Cesarewitch has been affianced to the
Princess Dagmar of Denmark. In giving the order
f
to announce this happy event to the populati°a,A°.
the capital by a salvo of 101 guns, his Majesty se"
that he is persuaded that all his faithful subjects
will partake his joy, and with him will inoplore!he
Divine benediction on the august young couple.
BERLIN, Oct. S.
The King is expected to return from Baden °I/
the 14th inst.
According to the testamentary dispositions dill.°
up by the late King Frederic William 1:V.1 1113
body was to be deposited in a vault before the pita`,
at the Friedenskirche, in Potsdam. Hitherto these
instructions could not be carried out, and in the
meantime the coffin has remained in the sacristy of
;
the church on the left of the altar, near a seat
arranged arranged for the Queen Dowager, who seve
times a week has visited the church, and has there
offered up her silent prayers. The injunctions 0f
the late King will now be obeyed, and his present
Majesty has appointed Oct. 15, the birthday of ?le
brother, as the day on which the mortal rem
shall be transferred to their last resting-place.
It is announced that Prince Freeeri3 of Schles‘
wig-Holstein-Noer will, on the 18;h instant, marry
the daughter of a rich North American gentlemaii.
BRUSSELS, Oct. 9.
On the sth instant his Majesty the King of the
Belgians arrived at Darmstadt, on hie way
Heidelberg. His Majesty was met at Mayeace .1"
Prince Louis, and at the railway station the Pr!II
cess Louis (Princess Ali3e) was in waiting to receive
the venerable King. After dining at the palace
his Mejest.y continued his journey. He reached
Baden on the next day, accompanied by the Grand
DucheseaMarie of Russia, and Princess Eugenie f
at
Leuchtenberg. His Majesty proposed to stay
Baden for some days.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and PrinCOS
of Wales are expected to arrive in England from the Con'
tinent on or about the 28th inst.
PRINCE ALFRED.—We (Scotsnzan) understand
that his Royal Highness Prince Alfred is expected
to arrive at Floors Castle, near Kelso, on the 17th instant,
on a visit to their Graces the Duke and Duchess Of 11°1*
burghe. It is as yet uncertain whether he will be pre-
sent at the Kelso races, which take place on the 19th and2oth, 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.
in Yrthe
°La
his success last autumn on two different occasions
same water, coupled with his practice along with the Duke
of Roxburghe in Norway during this past summer, the
Prince may be regarded now as a successful, as he is a
keen, angler; and it is to be hoped that the Tweed, whieb'
is at present, from the continued drought, in a very IoW
state, and rather unsuitable for angling, will be by t"
time of his visit in such a condition as will ensure hie
Royal Highness some satisfactory sport.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge
arrived at Cambridge Cottage, Kew, on Saturday last, fret'
visiting the Earl of Scarborough at Sandbeck Park, near
Tickhill, Yorkshire, and Lord and Lady Foley at WoiksoP
Manor, Notts.
The Earl and Countess de Grey arrived at
%Vishay? Castle, Scotland, on Friday, on a visit to Lord
and Lady Belhaven.
A marriage has been arranged between the gamy
George Filzwilliam and Miss E. Anson, youngest daughter
of the late Hon. General Anson.
Sir Coutts and Lady Lindsay have left Farrand°
Hotel for their town residence in Grosvenor-square.
The marriage of the Hon. and Rev.
Walter
Berkeley Portman, youngest son of Lord Portman, 5114
Rector of Corton Denham, to Mice, youngest daughter 0'
the late Sir John Mordaunt, Bart., and sister to Sir Charles
Mordaunt, Bart., M.P. for South Warwickshire, was
solemnised in Walton Church, on Wednesday last, ill
e
presence of a select circle of distinguished guests. Anlen'
those who witnessed the ceremony were the Marquis Cal:6V
den and Lady Augusta Pratt, Lord and Lady Portineilf
Lord Willoughby de Broke, Lady Willoughby de Drekeci
Hon. Miss Verney and Hon. Walter Verney, Sir John sn
e'
Lady Pakington, Sir C. Mordaunt, Hon. Ellen and Louis
Portman, Mr Gustavus Smith and Lady Mordaunt,
EJward Portman, Hon. Maurice Portman, &e. The war'.
riage ceremony was performed by the Rev F.
assisted by the Rev E. Cadogan. After passing a fewd4Y
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 Cbarle°
Henry Coote, premier baronet of Ireland, of Ballyfin 1-10oe'
Queen's County, expired at his town residence, 5, Gea.*
naught-place. The deceased represented Queen's County
in Parliament for many years. lie is succeeded by his a°/3'
Charles Henry, born at Ballyfin in 1815. : of
The little difficulty between the Marquis
Donegail and the freemasons has been settled. Thy
elrand Lodge of Ireland has received communications froa
the noble marquis containing assurances, given ill
the
frankest manner, that in the observations which he mad
I
on the occasion of his installation at Belfast as Provinein
Grand Master he had no intention whatever of infringing a
fundamental rule of Mesonry, and expressing his sinccr°
regret for having done so. The amende has been offered bf
his lordship in terms so unreserved and emphatic that the
Grand Lodge have accepted it in a generous spirit, and dis-
missed the subject. They have deemed it right, hoWever'
to address an admonition to the masonic body to avoid ea
discussion calculated to produce disunion in assemblies of
Freemasons, and also impressing upon the brethren gene'
to
rally the necessity of excluding all persona not belonging
the order from meetings conveyed to carry out the business
of this ancient institution.
Professor Anderson makes a very fair offer to the..
Davenport fraternity. He says :—" I offer them the use °I
St, James's Hall, illuminated as it is during my own per-
formance, for any night they may select, if they can then.
and there perform—l care not by what means—the tricke
(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 only'
acknowledge their right to take any name or assume any
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 claim
to. Of course, should this challenge be accepted, I reserve
to myself the right of explaining any natural means or alr
pliances by which the tricks are performed."
A GIRL DASHED TO PIECES.—On Friday last so
inquest was held at Donington, before Mr Bidlalter_
on the body of a young woman named Jackson, 20 years or
age. Deceased's father is chartermaster of a pit at Lodge
Bank, and on Thursday had occasion to descend the pit in
company with another man, leaving his daughter slandieg
lon the bank. The men had arrived at the bottom of the
shaft in safety, and were turning to enter the workings,
when they were alarmed by hearing the sound of a body
falling behind them. On looking round Jackson was hel-
rorstruck at discovering the mangled body of his daughter
lying on the ground. Had the unfortunate girl fallen a
that ee
shaft,awral iser leaninga bnodt hi
asegngaimivniusi
ataata
have
We
haya
nbewehnikchillfeedn.c
sit
tahpepeteor:
of thesh
minute
the bottom, a distance of 190 yards. The body was literallY
dashed to pieces, The jury returned a verdict of accidental
death.
AN
A 0 aPHAN WANTED.—At shethewas
weekly precipitated
meeting
Of the St. Luke's board of guardians a letter via°
read from a genTrnan in the neighbourhood of the CitY:
road aching forth that he had been requested, on behalf of
a lady of property, to ask if the Beard had ~a comPlGto
orphan," with blue eyes and flaxen hair, not more ll'ato
two years of age, and cf gentle manner, to be given °P
ate
be adopted, the lady agreeing to take such a child, eduea
her as a lady should be educated, and finally to will
£3OO per annum. The letter was referred to the House
Visiting committee, to see if there might be a "
flaawn-haired, complete orphan': iu the Union.