The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-07 00:00:00

•
li

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7, 1864.

N°. 22:319.

LIU RN I ÜBE, U.A. It PETS. BEDDING, and I
FLOORCLOT 11, CA RRIAG E-FREE to any house in
the kin2dom, regardless of amount or disfance. First. class
goods at second-class prices. Terms peculiarly liberal to
Clergymen and Gentlemen. An iminense stock to select
from, displayed in Showr( oms occupying an acre of ground.
Every ar;icle warranted
CLEuGYoiEN and GENTLEMEN ABOUT TO FUR-
N iSTI are respectfully informed that Messrs. Cobbett and
Co. are publishin.r an entirely New Edition of thei" un-
f quailed HOUSE FURNISHING GUIDE, illi,strated by 110
admirable engravings of every description of Furniture and
Bedsteads, with prices attached. A copy sent gt atis and
post-free on application. This costly work also contains
complete estimates for furnishing cn the fallowing revised
scale :
A Six-roomed Parsonage
An Eight-roomed ditto
A Ten-ra.men ditto
A Twelve-roomed ditto l9l 11 0
Together with a crirfe List of purified >:e tiling, and a mass
of valnable informationto all requiring Inuseh )In furniture,
carpets, or bedding. References kindly permitfet to Cier.:y-
men and gentl. men in or near Great mitlvefm, Southimpton,
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Wells, Oxford. Brighton, Gainsborough, Margate. Kidder-
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Wrexham, and above 500 ocher places In all parts of Great
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COB BETT and CO., General House Furnishers, Deptford-
bridge, London, B.E,

WHERE CAN WE EE VAFI ER TRE
PANTOMIMES ? My dear Fellow, Gentlemen sup
at E VANS', Covent-garden.

of Grand Cross of the Order. of Hanover, already possessed
by the gallant Admiral, and in May, 1862, he was promoted
to the office of Admiral of the Fleet. He held office from
1841 to 1846 as a Lord of the Admiralty, and was com-
mander-in-chief at Plymouth from 1848 to 1851.

reconstructed Uaion bolding out its right hand
with fifty millions of dollars for Garibaldi, saying,
Take possession of Rome;' and one hundred mil-
lions for the Republicans of Paris, saying, Make
Napoleon sit uneasy ;' and one hundred millions
for Germany, saying, ' Make Kings tremble.' If
Europe leaves America to Republicanism, well ; if
she interferes, we interfere, and the right hand of
our resistance is clasped in brotherhood with the
Radicals of Europe to upset every throne on the
Continent,"

KINAHAN'S LL WHISKY v. COGNAC,
BRANDY.
This celebrated Old IRIS LI WHISKY rivals the finest
FRENCH BRANDY,
It i, Pu- e, Mild, Mellow, Delicious, and very Wholesome.
Sold in Bottles, 3s. Bd., at the Retail Houses in London ; by
the Agents in the principal towns in England ; or wholesale
at

The following appointments and promotions were made
yesterday at the Admiralty -- Capt. R. Gibson, to the Dun-
can; Lieut. P. P. Luxmoore, Lieut. H. C. Best, Lieut. M.
B. Medlycott, Lieut. H. N. Heppisley, and Lieut. Ernest
Rice to the Duncan; J. G. Dathau, master, to the Dun-,
can ; Sub-Lieut. H. T. Paulin, Sub-Lieut. R. W. Davies,
and Sub-Lieut. A. G. Maechnie, to the Duncan; S. M.
E. Wilmot, C. G. Williams, W. A. Jukes, C. D. Smith,
T. E. Maxell, W. F. Rock, E. W. Hodgkinson, R. R.
Jaffrey, and G. A. Ellis, midshipmen, to the Duncan ; A.
O' R. B. Ternan, naval cadet, to the Aurora ; Lord L.
Gordon, H, B. Callender, G. S. H. Jackson, A. C. Corry,
T. E. Cochrane, R. M. Rumsey and F. E. W. Lambart,
naval cadets, to the Duncan; R. Pottinger, Staff•surgeon,
to the Formi :able ; J. Little, surg., to the Duncan ; J.
Towell, paymaster, to the Duncan ; Dr. H. Maxwell, assist-
surg., to the Duncan; J. C. Milne, acting assist surg., to
the Duncan ; E. W. ICVeale, assist-paymaster, to the
Cornwallis; Henry P. Brevan and George S, Goddard,
assist-paymasters, to the Duncan; W. C. S. Hyne, clerk,
to the Hawke ; Gilbert J. Vaux, clerk, to the Duncan ;
R.
W. S. Bishop and W. C. Pullen, assist-clerks, to the
Duncan ; John H, Brimacomb, assist-clerk, to the Aboukir;
H. W. Paul, assist-clerk to the Cambridge; James Coade,
chief engineer, to the Fisgard, for the Mutine ; Adam
Shoolbread, assist-engineer, to the Tamar ; William
Walker, of the Triton, Thomas Cape, of the Esk, Mark
Hawkins, of the Cumberland, Henry Darrell, of the Royal
Oak, Thomas Jones of the Dasher, Robert Horne of the
Asia, and Henry S. Pemberton, of the Edgar, promoted
to be first-class assist-engineers ; James Hook, of the Bao-
chante, Gustav A. C. Beucke of the Grappler, William H.
Smith of the Bacchante, William A. Stewart of the Ariadne,
and George J. Barber of the Immortalite, promoted to be
acting first-class assist-efigineers; and Gerald Trevor, no.
minated to a naval cadetship.

8, GREAT WINDMILL-STREET, W.
Observe the Red Seal, Pink Label, and Cork branded
Kinahan's LL Whisky."

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE best TROUSERS for gentlemen to wear
are those mad.! by ELSTOB, of 60, New Bond-street
They are neither so low in price as to necessitate their being
carelessly put together, nor so dear as to gain only the
wealthy purchasers. "In medic) tutisimus ibis."
ELSTOB'S TROUSERS, TWENTY-ONE SHILLINGS
PER PAIR.

Gold, 1514. Exchange, 166.

Treasury 7-30 Notes, 106-1-. New York Central
Railway, 132/,; Erie, 1071; Illinois Central, 1171.
Cotton, 80c.

The City of Washington takes 45,000 dole. in
specie.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

Secretary Welles, Admiral Dupont, and

THE NAVY.
The difficult operation of fitting the iron masts cal board
the Achilles was successfully accomplished yesterday by
means of the massive floating sheers, which were towed
down from the dockyard to Gillingham Reach for that pur-
pose. The iron masts are the largest ever constructed for a
vessel of war, and were manufactured at the Bridge Works,
Chepstow, by Messrs. Finch and Heath, who have supplied
the whole of the masts to the iron and iron clad vessels al-
ready built. The Achilles will be the first vessel in the
British navy to carry four masts ; but even with this advan-
tage each of her masts will be 100 ft apart, or considerably
further distant from each other than in the ordinary line-cf-
battle ships. From the success which has attended the use
of iron masts in the navy it is probable that in a short time
wooden masts, even in wooden vessels of war, will entirely
disappear, their advantages over the ordinary kind of masts
making their general adoption a paramount consideration.
Experience has shown that iron masts last much longer than
wooden, that they are lighter and stronger, that they serve
as valuable ventilators, and are also better conductors of
electricity. If they are shot away and fall overboard they
will immediately sink, insteaq of fleeting alongside and
fouling the screw, as is the case with wooden masts. The
mainmast of the Achilles weighs no less than 21 tons 12 cwt ;
its length being 121 ft 9in, diameter 3ft 4in, and length
of head from hounds 20ft. The weight of the second fore
mast is 19 tons 2 cwt, its length 103 ft, diameter 3ft 4in,
and length of head from hounds 20ft. The foremast weighs
15 tons 18 cwt., its entire length 103 ft 10in, diameter 2ft Bin
and length of head from hounds 13ft. The mizenmast is
84ft in length, its weight 8 tons 12 cwt, diameter 20in, and
length of head from hounds, 13ft. The diameter of the
main and second fore masts at the head is 30in in each,that
of the foremast 24in, and of the mizenmast 191 in. Each
mast is formed of three curved plates half an inch in thick-
ness, which form the skin, or outside shell of each,the joint
where the vertical edges of the plates meet being so formed
that the outsides of the masts show no ridges. Under each
of the vertical joints three strong tie-irons are placed, to
which are riveted the plates forming the mast, the rivets on
the outside being counter-sunk, or let in flush, the exterior
of the meet consequently presenting a round and perfectly
smooth surface. The masts are parallel from the heel to'
the hounds, where a horizontal plate is introduced which is
made to carry the top, and this plate facilitates the reduc-
tion of the size of the mast from the hounds to the cap.
Where the shrouds pass over the masts the plates are double
to resist the extra strain and wear. In the transmission of
the iron masts from Chepstow to Chatham considerable dif-
ficulty was experienced. From Chepstow they were con-
veyed by special train to Brentford, where it was necessary
to ship them in barges, which conveyed them safely to
Chatham, where they were landed at the dockyard.
Mr. E. J. Reed, the Cbief Constructor of the Navy, paid
a lengthened visit to Chatham dockyard on Tuesday, and
was occupied till late in the afternoon in his official duties
at that establishment, his visit relating chiefly to the pro-
gress made in fitting the iron frigate Achilles, on board
which he spent a considerable time. Mr. Reed devoted
some time to the examination of the steering apparatus just
completed, and from the trials made during the inspection
there is every probability that it will work satisfactorily.
Whether or not the apparatus will answer when tested at
sea remains to be proved, but it appears exceedingly doubt •
ful whether a vessel of the vast size of the Achilles, covered
as she is from end to end with some 1,300 tons of armour_
plating, will ever be made to steer handily or answer her
helm rapidly. In this respect the Royal Oak, previously
built, and the new iron-clad frigate Bellerophon, now in
hand, each of which is some 100 ft, shorter than the
Achilles, undoubtedly possess a great advantage. As was
fully anticipated, Mr. Reed strongly objected to the under-
water scuppers which have been fitted to the Achilles, and
there is little doubt that they will now be dispensed with.
The absurdity of fitting a vessel like the Achilles with
scuppers of that description was pointed out some months
since in 11e Sun, and the positive danger that would un-
doubtedly arise from their continuance urged upon the
authorities. Still. however, they were permitted to remain,
but it is satisfactory to find that means will now be taken to
render them safe and reliable by closing them in with thick
wrought-iron plates. It is to be hoped that the mistake in
this respect will not be perpetrated in the iron vessels now
in progress. The want of proper accommodation for the
large number of workmen--upwards of I,2oo—who are now
employed without intermission on board the Achilles during
this inclement weather engaged the attention of Mr. Reed,
and measures will be at once adopted for placing at their
disposal one of the sailing vessels attached to the ordinary,
which will be fitted up as a receiving hulk for the men, and
supplied with plenty of hot water and other conveniences,
so as to enable them to wash themselves before leaving
their work. Before quitting the iron frigate Mr. Reed in-
vestigated the causes of the numerous accidents which have
recently occurred on board. It would seen . that most of
them might have been avoided had proper precautions been
observed, and the officials on board were therefore requested
to urge upon the workmen the necessity of exercising the
utmost care in the various operations on which they were
employed.
Yesterday M. Bokamo, the chief constructor of the Im-
perial Austrian navy, paid a visit to Chatham dockyard,
by special permission of the Admiralty, and was engaged
for some time in inspecting the factories and other depart-
ments, as well as the vessels fitting at that establishment.
In the course of his visit Mr Bokamo made numerous in•
quiries respecting the iron-clad frigate Lord Warden and
the frigate Bellerophon, both recently commenced. The
latter vessel, it appears, has excited considerable interest
not only among the Austrian and French Government offi-
cials,lbut also among those connected with the navies of
most of the European Powers, the recent experiments on
the Bellerophon target at Shoeburyness proving that there
is not a gun afloat belonging to any country which could
even pierce her inner skin.
A large number of additional labourers have been en-
tered at Chatham dockyard dutiug the present week for
service on board the iron frigate Achilles.
Admiral Ayscough, whose death has just been announced,
was the oldest officer in the service. He was born on board
her Majesty's ship Swan, during a desperate action fought
by that vessel while on her passage home from North
America, and was son of the lace Capt. John Ayscough,
R.N., who was in command of the Swan on the occasion.
This officer entered the Navy (under the auspices of the
late Admiral Sir J. Wallace) Aug. 12, 1787, on board the
Goliath, 74, Capts. A. Dickson and Sir A. S, Douglas. We
afterwards find him serving as midshipman and master's
mate on board the Juno and the Hebe frigates, and the
Hector, the Alcide, and the Monarch, 74's, and employed in
the first of those vessels under Capt. S. Hood. On Nov. 6,
1793, the deceased obtained a lieutenancy in the Monarch,
flagship, on the Newfoundland station. Being appointed
July 6, 1799, to the Blanche, troopship, Capt. Ayscough,
attended the ensuing expedition to Holland, where he served
as a volunteer at the time of the debarkation near the Hel-
der, and was in one of the first boats that effected a landing.
In command of the Inconstant he attended the expeditions
to Quiberon and Cadiz, on each of which occasions he
volunteered his services on shore, and was selected to com-
mand a party of seamen. He similarly joined in the Egyp-
tian campaign of 1801, and for his exertions was presented
with the Turkish gold medal. After various services in the
West Indies, the Arctic Seas, and the Mediterranean,
Captain Ayscough, with two frigates and several sloops
under his orders, was assigned the deeply 'responsible duty
of protecting Sicily against the threatened invasion of
Joachim Murat, whose attempts, although in command of
40,000 troops and of about 200 gunboats, to gain a footing
on the island he succeeded in frustrating. He was next em-
ployed, with seven men-of-war at his disposal, ire reconnoi-
tring the line of coast between Naples and Civita Vecchia.
He afterwards, from April, 1822 until the spring of 1825,
superintended the Ordinary at Plymouth; and for his sub-
sequent able management as Commissioner of Jamaica and
Bermuda dockyards was honoured with the thanks of the
Board of Admiralty. He attained flag rank Nov. 23, 1841,
was promoted to Vice. Admiral Dec. 24, 1842, and to Ad-
miral Oct. 3, 1855.
The death took place on Monday of Admiral Sir W. H.
Gage, Admiral of the Fleet, G.C.8., G.C.H., and Knight
Bachelor. The gallant admiral, who died at Thurston-
cottage, Suffolk, entered the navy when he was only 12
years of age, and in 1796, being lieutenant of the Minerva,
he distinguished himself in an action with two Spanish fri-
gates and in the capture of a French corvette. In the fol-
lowing year he became a captain. In 1801 he was concerned
in cutting out from under the batteries of Camarel, near
Brest, La Chevrette, 20 guns and 300 men. As post captain
he' commanded the Thetis and the Indus, and attained the
rank of Admiral of the Blue in 1846, and in 1854 was made
Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom. The dignity of
Knight Grand Cross of the Bath was in 1860 added to that

the Monitors.

Now ready at all the Libraries, in 3 vols.,
FOR EVER: A STORY OF ENGLISH
COUNTRY LIFE. By A CLERGYMAN.
"A well-written, interesting story. It will not fail to
secure a large share of public f+vour."—Observer.
Burst and Blackett, 13, Great Marlborough-streot.

(From the New York Times.)

The publication of the voluminous documents
which accompany the report of the Secretary of the
Navy puts us in a position to form an intelligent
judgment respecting various points connected with
that department, and, among others, of the opera-
tions in Charleston harbour which resulted in the
recall of Rear-Admiral Dupont. This particular
question is one of great interest, both as regarding
the reputation of a distinguished naval officer and
the merits and capabilities of the new class of-ves-
sels on which our Government has bestowed so much

MRS. MUTER'S TRAVELS.
Now re Idy, at all the Libraries, in 2 vols., 215.,
TRAVELS AND ADVENTURES OF AN
OFFICER'S WIFE IN INDIA, CHINA, AND
NEW ZEALAND. By sirs. MUTE wife of Lieutenant-
, olonel D. D. MUTER, 13th (Prince Albert's) Li, ht Infantry.
"There is a great deal of pleasant reading in Mrs. Muter's
book, and a mass of valuable information."—Daily News.
Hurst and Blackett, 13, ,reat Marlborough-street.

Now ready at all the Libraries, in 3 vols.,

A
WOMAN'S RANSOM.
By the Author of " Grandmother's Money," &c.
"An excellent tale."—Daily News.
" A Woman's Ransom' will fascinate the attention of the
reader to the very end."—John Bull.
Hurst and Blacsett, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

Immediately, in 1 vol., crown Bvo., with Two Illustrations,
Os.,

T HE
THIRD end CHEAPER EDITION of
NED LOCKSLEY, the Etonian.
'The new corner whom we hail . . . writes with force,
with heart, with knowledge, and—what we want most in a
novel—with freshness."—Nimes, Dee. 25.
Richard Bentley, New Burlington street.

TEETH.—Mr. ESK ELL'S INVENTION in
the construction of ARTIFICIAL TEETH has the
following. aavantas.fes :—A set oi teeth, of excellent work-
manship and mechanism, can be made and fitted with the
most perfect accuracy and success, in a few hours, without
pain or extraction of stumps, and to answer all the purposes
of mastication and articulation. They are fitted without
wires or fastenings, and adapt themselves so perfectly to the
gums, that they are quite immoveable, except at the option
of the wearer. Invalids or residents in the country can ad-
just these teeth to many changes of the mouth without the
aid of a dentist. They are not so liable to injury, are always
useful, and will last a lifetime. Comfort guaranteed. Trea-
tise explaining Mr. Eskell's Patent, &c., free for 7 stamps.
Inspection of specimens andconsultations tree.-B,Grosvenor-
street, Bond-street, W ; and at 39, Bennett's-hill, Bir-
mingham.

PRIZE MED AL -INTERNATIONAL
EXHIBITION, 1862.
FRANCIS TUCKER & CO., Wax Chandlers, &c., &a,
To the Qu, en and the P, ince of Wales.
(Established 17'0.)
The Jurors' Report on Wax and Church Candles, in 1862,'
testifies to he excellence of the quality rot Messrs. Tuckers
manufacture.
A disti guished Dignitary, in a letter addressed to Francis
Tucker and Co., on the subject of
WAX CANDLES with PLATTED WICKS,

says :
" I have found them fully equal to the recommendation
which you gave them, and can sincerely, in my tircn, com-
mend them to the clergy for the use of the altar."
Finest quality, with Platted Wicks, patented.. 34, d. per lb
Ordinary quality Od. per lb.
VEGETABLE CANDLES, with a Mixture of Wax.
Best quality ▪ .. Is. sd. per lb.
Second quality •• •. •• is. 3d. per lb.
Third quali y is. ld. per lb.
Carriage pad in London on Orders of F▪
ive Pounds in value.
FRANCIS TUCKER AND CO,
8, South Molten-street. Grosveno -square. Manufactory—
Kensington (Established i 730).
The largest Establislimmt in England for the Manufacture
- of Wax Candles for the uge of the Altar.

RUPTURES.—BY ROYAL LETTERS' PATENT.
WHITE'S MOC-MAIN LEVER TRUSS
(PERFECTED AND EXHIBITED IN THE GREAT
X[IIBITIONS OF 1851 AND 1862), is allowed by upwards of
Two II unfired Medical Gentlemen to ue the most effective
nvention in the curative treatment of It EItN 1 A.
Che use of .a steel spring so often hurtful in its effects,
s here avoided—a soft bandage being worn round the
ody, while the requisite resisting power is supplied by the
oc-Main Pad and Patent Lever, fitting with so much ease
nd closeness that it cannot be detected, and may be worn
uring sleep. A descriptive circular may be had, and the
russ, which cannot fail to fit, forwarded by post, on the cir-
mterence of the body, two inches below the hips, being
.ent to the manufacturer,
Mr. WHITE, 228, Piccadilly.
A Single Truss, 165., 215., 265. 6d., and 31s. fid. Postage, Is.
t Doublu Truss, 31s. 6d., 425., and 525. 6d. Postage, is Bd.
k.n Umbilical Truss, 425. and 525. 6d. Postage, ls. 10d.
Yost-office Orders to be made payable to John White, Post-
office, Piccadilly.
NEW PATENT
ELAST IC STOCKINGS,
KNEE-CAPS, &c., for Varicose Veins and all cases of
Weakness and Swelling of he Legs, Sprains, &a They are
lorous, light in texture, nd inexpensive, and are drawn on
Ile an ordinary stocking. Price 4s. 6d., 7s. 6d., 10s., to Its.
each. Postage 6d.
JOHN WHITE. Manufacturer, 228, Piccadilly.

.AMBERT'S ASTHMATIC BALSAM.-AN
AA EFFECTUAL TM MEDY, without confining the bowels
or affecting the head, truly efficacious and pleasant, is ad
mitted to be the best medicine for immediately relieving
cou2hs, colds, ionfirmed cases of asthma, and incipient con-
sumption. It frequently cures persons whom the faculty
pronounce incurable, admirably allays the tickling which
provokes frequent coughing. In approaching consumption
its effects arc truly beneficial. Persons deprived of sleep, or
even lying down for fear of suffocation, may depend on relief
in a few minutes atter taking it. Prepared on ,y and sold by
W. LAMBERT, Chemist, 8, King-W.lliam-street, Charing-
cross, London, and by all drugg•sts, in bottles, 130., and
thre qantiis in one, 2. Od each. Be particular. and ask
fore Lariubert'tse Asthmatics Balsam. The name and address ae.
engraved on the st ,mp.

LIFEBOAT SERVICES.—During the recent
heavy gales some of the I oats of the Royal National
Lifeooat Institution have been instrumental in rescuing the
c-ews of the tollowing wrecked vessels :—Schooner Theophi-
lus, of Aberdeen, 6 men ; barque Tamworth, of Norway, 17 ;
schooner 15 ellen Lights, of Preston, 4 ; pilot boat, of St
Ives, 7 ; schooner Aron, of Working! on, 4 ; schooner Gipsy,
of Drt gheda, 4 ; smack Saucy Ja k, of Inverness, 1 ; barque
M arietta, of Lisbon, 1 ; fishing boat, of Filet': 2 ; Tenby
fishing b. at, 3; and barque Providence, of Dantzic,7. Total
lives saved, M. The li:eboats also assisted in bringing safely
into port, with their crews, consisting* of 29 men, the Italian
brig Camoglino, the schooner Sir Cohn Campbell, ot Whitby,
the schooner Guilia, of Palermo, and the ketch Snip, of Am-
sterdam. 'the hteboats also went off in reply to signals of
distress on fourteen occasions, but their services were not
ultimately required. The amount of reward p .id for all
these servi!es was 4216.
The Committee of the Institutionearnest-y AP EAT. to the
public tor A..!,SI,,TAN E to et.able them to met the con-
tinued heavy demands on the Society's 25 liteb at e
ion
stab-
lishments.' Contributions are receiv, d by all the Lo
and country bankers ; and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis,
El*, at Me institution, 11, John-street, Adelphi, Loclon..

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expense.
The professional skill, and even the persona
honour, of Admiral Dupont have been so inexcus•
ably impugned by Secretary Welles and his satel
lites that the press would be derelict if, with the
means of authentic information in its hands, it
should neglect to do that officer justice. Not only
does Mr. Welles put slurs on him in his report, but
the Baltimore paper which has been the foremost
ally of the department in defaming Admiral Dupont
has, within the last day or two, been made the
vehicle of suggestions which are disgraceful to him
if they are well founded, or to the makers and in-
spirers of them if they are not. It was insinuated
that Admiral Dupcnt did not wish to take Charles-
ton, since its capture would put a stop to blockade-
running and deprive him of 200,000 dollars a
year of prize money which he is alleged to have
been making. Such charges are atrocious; and, as
they are supported by no evidence,—nay, as contra-
dicted by all the evidence—they must provoke the
indignation of honourable men. It must be a sordid
mind that can easily admit the possibility of a high
naval officer preferring precarious pecuniary gains
to the glory of recapturing the great nursery of the
rebellion. If motives of this kind were to be sur-
mised, it would be easier to conceive that an inven-
tor should be over sanguine respecting the merits
of his ships, and the proprietors of ship-yards in-
terested in the continuance of their contracts, than
that such a man as Dupont could prefer pelf to re-
nown, when an opportunity afforded to make the
whole world resound with his fame.
The practical question is, which has failed to meet
public expectation—Dupont or the Monitors P
Secretary Welles, in his report, declares strongly in
favour of the Monitors; but Secretary Welles is not
qualified, either as a naval expert or as an engineer,
to have any opinion on the subject which should
oatweigh that of the commanders of the vessels.
He has every reason for making it appear (if he
truthfully can) that he did not commit a mistake in
authorising the expenditures that have been made
on these vessels; and in this view his interest is
identical with that of the inventor and the builders.
But as the men who fought the vessels have strong
personal motives for wishing them successful, being
sharers in all the glory that is won by their means,
their judgment, formed in actual trial, ought to
have some weight. But the appeal is not to vague
and conflicting judgments, but to specific and well
attested facts, which until now the public had not
the means of knowing.
When the attempt to take Sumter, in April last,
miscarried, it was the policy of the Government, for
entirely justifiable reasons, to conceal the weakness
of the Monitors. It was expedient to keep up the
demonstration against Charleston, and to continue
to play upon its fears, and so prevent the sending.
away of any part of its troops to reinforce the other
rebel armies. It was accordingly given out that the
Monitors were not materially damaged, and that the
attack would be immediately renewed. Whether
such a renewal would have been safe—whether, in
fact, it would not have been foolhardy and ruinous,
the reader will presently be in a condition to judge.
Time and events have, indeed, done much to render
this testimony unnecessary ; for although General
Gilmore has taken the batteries on Morris Island,
and demolished Fort Sumter, Admiral Dupont's suc-
cessor has not yet taken the Monitors into Charles-
ton harbour, nor does anybody now expect that he
will, except under cover of military operations.
But if most intelligent men think Admiral
Dupont has long ceased to need any vindication,
they must still be interested in knowing the precise
extent of the injuries received by the Monitors in
the principal test to which they have been put.
We accordingly insert the following brief extracts
from the reports of their several commanders, made
immediately after the engagement.
Captain Drayton, of the Passaic :
"At the fourth shot from the 11-inch gun I was
struck in quick succession in the lower part of the
turret by two heavy shots, which bulged in its
plates and beams, and forming together the rolls on
which the 11-inch carriage worked, rendered it
wholly useless for the remainder of the action, seve-
ral hours being necessary to put it again in work-
ing order. Soon after it was discovered that there
was something the matter with the turret itself,
which could not be moved, and on examination it
was found that part of the brass ring underneath
it had been broken off, and being forced in board
had jammed ; on clearing this the turret could
again be moved, but for some time irregularly. A
little after this a very heavy rifle shot struck the
upper edge of the turret, broke all of its 11 plates,
and then glancing upward took the pilot house, yet
with suoh force as to make an indentation of
inches, extending nearly the whole length of the
shot. The blow was so severe as to considerably
smash in the pilot house, bend it over, open the
plates, and squeeze out the top, so that on one side
it was lifted up three inches above the top on which
it rested, exposing the inside of the pilot house, and
rendering it likely that the next shot would take off
the top itself entirely."
Captain Rodgers, of the Weehawken :
" Two or three heavy shot struck the side armour
near the same place. They have so broken the iron
that it only remains in splintered fragments upon
that spot ; much of it can be picked off by hand, and
the wood is extemed. The deck was pierced so as
to make a hole, through which water ran into the
vessel, but it was not large. Thirty-six bolts were
broken in the turret, and a good many in the pilat
house; but as these are concealed by an iron lining,
I have no means of knowing how many. At one
time the turret revolved with difficulty in c.•nse-
quence of a shot upon its junction with!the pilot
house, but it was worked well again after a few
turns had been made with higher steam."
Captain Worden, of the Montauk :
" I desire to say that I experienced serious em-
barrassment in manoeuvring my vessel in the nar-
row and uncertain channel, with the limited
means of observation afforded me from the pilot
house, under the rapid and concentrated fire from
the forts, the vessels of the fleet close around
me, and neither compass nor buoys to guide me.
After testing the weight of the enemy's fire, and
observing the obstructions, I am led to believe that
Charleston cannot be taken by the naval force now

PRICE .4d.
STAMPED ....sd.

present, and that, had the attack been continued, it
could not have failed to result in disaster."
Commander Ammen, of the Patapsco :
" Forty-seven projectiles of the enemy struck the
vessel. No damage was done which disabled her,
although injuries were received which multiplied
would da so. Forty bolts of the smoke-stack were
broken, and a chain around it will be necessary to
its continued security. I am indebted to Acting•
Master Vaughan, transferred temporarily to this
vessel, for valuable aid in avoiding collisions, as it
is out of the question for one person to observe pro-
perly from the various light holes. I think a want
of vision one of the most serious defects of this
class, making it impossible to fight them
advantageously, and to avoid dangers, or
to make a satisfactory reconnoissance. Another
question of great importance as relates to their
efficient employment is the character• of the battery.
If it is proposed to batter down forts with a 15-inch
gun, then it is quite plain that we have to come
within distances which heavy ordnance, if employed
in heavy batteries against us, cannot fail in the end
to injure or, perhaps, disable us."
Commander Rogers, of the Catskill :
" I was surprised to find, even with this severe
fire, that these vessels could be so much injured in
so short a time, two or three having passed me dur-
ing the action to which some disaster had happened.
This vessel was struck some 20 times, but without
any serious injury, except one shot on the forward
part of the deck, which broke both plates, the deck
planking, and drove down the iron stanchion sus-
taining this beam about an inch, causing the deck
to leak."
Commander Fairfax. of the Gantucket :
" Our fire was very slow, necessarily, and not half
so observable upon the walls of the forts as the rain
of their rifle shot and heavy shell was upon this
vessel. After the third shot from the 15 .inch gun
the port stopper became jammed, several shot strik-
ing very near the port and driving in the plating ; it
was not used again. As the fleets withdrew the forts
materially slackened their fire,evidently not wishing
to expend their ammunition without some result.
Certainly their firing was excellent throughout;
fortunately it was directed to some half dozen iron-
clads at a time. The effect of their fire upon the
Keokuk, together with that of their heavy rifle shot
upon the monitors, is sufficient proof that any one
vessel could not long have withstood the concen-
trated fire of the enemy's batteries. The obstruc-
tions being placed at a concentrated point of fire
from the three forts shows conclusively that they
must have been of no mean character. Our fire
always drew down upon us four or five heavy rifle
shots aimed at our ports. One rifle shot struck
within less than six inches of the 15-inch port—
several struck very near. I am convinced that,
although this class of vessels can stand a very heavy
fire, yet the want of more guns will render them
comparatively harmless before formidable earth-
works and forts. I must say that lam disappointed
beyond measure at this experiment of monitors over-
coming strong farts. It was a fair trial."
Lieut. Beardslee, of the Nantucket :—" One rifle
shot struck on the lower corner of the 15-inch port,
disabling the outer plate about 11 inch, and bulging

the whole thickness, ao much so as to prevent the
port stopper from swinging. This shot was received
after the third fire of the 15-inch, and disabled the
guh for the rest of the fight, we not being able to
open the port. A 10-inch shot struck directly oppo-
site, and near the top of the turret, starting a num-
ber of bolts, and breaking the clamp ring inside.
During the action the turret became jammed. Oa
examination we discovered six or seven bolt-heads
and nuts that had fallen inside and into the recess
around the bottom of the turret, rendering it neces-
sary to keep the turret higher in order to clear them.
Upon attempting to revolve the turret again to-day
found that another had fallen since the first were
removed. The pilot-house was struck once, a square
hit, bnt doing no damage. The side armour was
struck nine times—once below the water-line. A
number of the side plates are started so much that
another shot in their vicinity wouid, in my opinion,
knock them off. Oae bolt was driven through
the iron and is buried i❑ the oak. One of the
deck plates is started from a blow on the side
armour. The smoke stank was riddled in the
upper sections, and received five shots in the
lower sections—one, a solid 10-inch, fell, after
striking upon the deck, and was secured. The
steam-whistle was cut off. The deck-plates were
cut in 12 places. One shot cut through the iron,
and about two inches into the beam, starting the
plate, several bolts, and the planking for some feet
below. This was directly over the Andrews pump
in the engine room. The others are not serious,
The discharge of the 15-inch gun blew off eight of
the heads of the bolts securing the muzzle-box.
The discharge of the 11-inch gun, or else the blow
of a shot o❑ the turret, lifted one of the perforated
plates on top. These plates are not properly secured.
The outer turret plate, in the 15-inch port, is started
about one-fourth of an inch—the next layer in a less
degree. Two of the guide? to the 11 carriage
were carried away through the gun not being
properly compressed. Some of the gear to the
engine-room bell was disabled at the first fire,
causing trouble and confusion in getting orders
promptly conveyed from pilot-house to engine-
' room."

Captain Downes, of the Nahant :
" We soon began to suffer from the effects of the terrible.
ani, I believe, almost unprecedented fire to which we were
exposed, and at 4.30 the turret refused to turn, having be-
come jammed from the effects of three blows from heavy
shot, two of them on the composition ring about the base
of the pilot-house (one of these breaking off a piece of iron
weighing 781 b. from the interior that assisted to keep the
house square on its bearings, throwing it with such violence
to the other side of the house, striking, bending, and dis•
arranging stearing gear in its course, that it bounded from
the inside curtain and fell back into the centre of the house),
and the other on outside of turret, bulging it in and driving
off the 11-inch apron bolted on to the inside to keep iaplace
the gun rails, and down the main trace of turret. The
bolt-heads flying from the inside of pilot-house at the same
time struck down pilot, Mr. Sofield, twice struck and
senseless ; and the quartermaster, Edward Cobb, helmsman,
fatally injuring with fractured skull, leaving me alone in
the pilot-house, the steering gear becoming at the same
time disarranged. We were within 500 yards of Fort Sum-
ter unmanageable, and under the concentrated fire of I
think 100 guns at short range, and the obstructions close
aboard. But, fortunately, we got the preventer steering gear
in working order in time to prevent disastrous results, and,
getting my vessel once more under command, I endeavoured
to renew the action, but after refuted futile efforts to turn
the guns on to the fort I concluded to retire for a time from
close action, and endeavoured to repair damages. We re •
ceived the following injury to the vessel and fittings, be,
sides those already enumerated—The plates oa side armour
broken badly in several places, and in one, where struck by
two shots in close proximity, partly stripped from the wood
and the wood backing broken in, with edging of deck plates
started up and rolled back in places. On port quarter side
armour deeply indented and started from side and extremity
of stern. The deck is struck twice damagingly—one shot
near the propeller well, quite shattering and tearing the
plating in its passage, and starting up 25 bolts ; another
starting plate and 20 bolts ; the slighter blows are nume-
rous. In smock stack armour there are three shot marks,
one that pierced the armour, making a hole 15 inches long
and 9 inches broad, displacing grating inside and breaking
seven bolts. In the turret there are marks of nine shots, 56
of the bolts are broken perceptibly to us, the bolt heads fly-
ing off inside of turret, and the bolts starting almost their
length outside, some of them flying out completely, and
being found at a considerable distance from the turret on
the deck. Doubtless many others are broken that we can •
not detect, as by trying them we find others loosened. One
shot struck the upper part of the turret, breaking through
every plate, parting some of them in two, three, and four
places. In pilot-house there were marks of six shots, three
of them 11-inch ; 21 of the bolts were broken perceptibly
and others evidently started. The plates are also much
started, and the pilot-house itself, I think, much damaged
and wrecked ; indeed, it is my opinion that four more such
shot as it received would have demolished it. One shot at
the base broke every plate through, and evidently nearly
penetrated it."
The facts here stated prove that if Admiral Du-
pont had immediately renewed the attack, as he
was pressed to do, and badgered for not doing, by
Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Welles, such an act of rashness