The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-18 00:00:00

The Connector Steamvessel.

A model vessel, which is intended by its project
tors to Le the precursor of a large fleet of cargo- 1
carrying craft for the coasting trade, has for many
months been the object of curiosity and remark to
the traveller by the river steamboats. The pecu-
liarities of this model vessel—the Connector—have
already been described in The Sun, and it is only
necessary to remind our readers that she is in-
tended to show the practicability of adding together
separate cargo-carrying compartments, in the same
way luggage trucks are formed into a train upon a
railway, the motive power being comprised in a
distinct compartment. The object sought to be
gained by this arrangement has special reference to
the London coal trade, and consists in the avoid.
ance of delay and consequent waste of expenditure
by detaining the machinery compartment while
the cargo sections are being unladen, and there,
fore it is proposed that upon a laden water-train--
as it may be termed—reaching its destination the
machinery section shall be disconnected and trans.
ferred to another train of empty vessels, with which
it will return, while those which it has just brought
into port are being unladen. The advantages of
such a plan, if practicable, are obvious ; but the
means proposed to that end are so novel that at the
sight of the model vessel few persons can avoid
firsentetrtaining doubts as to its success. The vessel,
as it at present lies in the river, consists of three
compartments connected together by projecting
bolts fastening in the eyes of overlapping iron spoil.
sons.-,The idea of excessive friction upon these con.
necting points naturally presents itself as a pro-
bable difficulty to the success of the plan ; but the
inventor and captain of the vessel, Mr M'Sweeny,
affirms that the amount of friction is surprisingly
small, and certainly after more than two years' wear
no signs of injury are discernible in either
bolts
to
e
or sponsons, although the vessel has
w
made the passage from Hartlepool
London, laden with 43 tons of coal in
heaicvy weather. When it is borne in mind that the
three connected compartments aro 110 ft in length,
with a beam of only Bft 4in and bulwarks of only
2ft in height, the Jnotive power being an engine of
10-horse power, the exposure of such a craft to the
rough waters of the North Sea would seem to be a
bold venture. However, the Connector went to Hart-
lepool and returned, and on Tuesday she started
upon an experimental trip down the river to Sea
Reach. Notwithstanding her disproportionate
length she got easily through the intricacies of the
crowded Pool, her singular appearance and the
snake-like motion of her various sections exciting
, great ouriotaity. At Tilbury stoppage became ne.

rR
STA VMPED:—.6d.

cessary to receive an accession of visi leis, who were
brought off from the pier by the stern ci-mpartment
alone, containing the machinery, which- w,as discon-
nected from the other sections in less than half a
minute, the means employed being a rack worked
by a key upon deck which drew inwards the con-
necting bolts. The machinery section was after-
wards reunited to the other compartments, an ope-
ration which occupied scarcely two minutes, and the
journey towards the Nore was resumed. There was
but little wind and less sea, so that it was not pos.
sible to judge of how the Connector would behave
when encountering heavy waves. Upon meeting the
heavy'wavo caused by a large paddle steamer the
force compartment leaped up to a very considerable
angle, but the following compartments were entirely
unaffected by the motion. The managers of the ves-
sel stated that such was the case at sea—that the
fore compartment does all the tossing, and opens a
quiet path for the next section, a feat interesting to
many sea travellers, but the importance of which is
qualified by an admission that, although not much
given to rolling, the connected vessels are apt
in rough weather to acquire a considerable " list."
During a portion of the ran sail was hoisted upon
the masts, one of which is carried by each sec-
tion, but there was no opportunity of testing the
alleged stiffness under canvas of this novel craft.
Whatever may be the ultimate practical value of
the invention, which it is said has received the
approval of many nautical and engineering authori-
ties, there can be no doubt of its ingenuity, nor of
the success which has attended the performances of
the experimental Connector.

Great Liberal Demonstration at Rochester.
Yesterday afternoon Messrs. Kinglake and Mar-
tin, the Liberal members for the city of Rochester,
met their constituents, to render an account of their
Parliamentary stewardship, and express their opi-
nions relative to various important public questions.
The honourable members were met at the North
Kent Railway Station at two o'clock by many
hundreds of the freemen, electors, and burgesses of
the city, and a procession was then formed, which
marched through the principal streets to a meadow
situated on the Maidstone-road, where arrangements
had been made for a banquet in a spacious booth,
capable of accommodating at least 1,200 guests.
The line of route from the railway station to the
Maidstone-road was crowded with spectators, and
flags, banners, and various devices were freely
exhibited. At four o'clock upwards of 800 of the
Liberal freemen and other electors and friends sat
down to an excellent dinner. The chair was
occupied by Mr. Stephen Steele, one of the City
magistrates, and amongst the guests present, in
addition to the members for Rochester, were Messrs.
Lee and Buxton, the Liberal members for Maid.
stone; Mr C. W. Martin, formerly M.P. for West
Kent ; and a large number of the most influential
Reformers of the district.
The usual loyal toasts having been duly hon•

oured,
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Army, Navy, and
Volunteers," which was ably responded to by
Colonel MOODY, of the Royal Engineers, and Mr
C. W. MARTIN, the late Liberal member for West
Kent, who, in the course of an excellent speech,
thanked the assembly for the honour they had ren-
dered to his son—one of the members for that city
—and stated that he had himself already stood eight
contested elections in the Liberal interest, and al-
though a veteran in the cause he had just completed
his ninth canvass, and he felt perfectly certain that
when the next general election took place he should
again enter the House of Commons as a supporter of
' the great cause of Reform and human progression.
The toast of " The Archbishop of Canterbury, the
Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese, and the Ministers
of other Denominations," was ably responded to by
the Rev. J. KINGLAKE, and the Rev. E. W. SHAL-
DERS, Congregational minister.
The CHAIRMAN, in an impressive address, then
gave the toast of the evening, " The Members for
the City of Rochester, Messrs. Martin and ing-
lake."

Mr. P. W. MARTIN, M.P., in responding, ob-
served—He well remembered the time—nine years
since—when he first appeared before the citizens of
Rochester as a candidate to represent them in Par.
liament. At that time he was a mere boy, and the
Tory party in the city was supreme. Bat where
were they now? Talk about Conservative reaction—
where was it at Rochester ? He did not see it when
he looked around him ; and it was a well-known
fact that the Conservatives had not only lost
the representation of the city, but their power
and prestige in the corporation. He had been
returned as a pledged supporter of the great Liberal
party, and that party had for its object to confer
the greatest happiness upon the greatest number.
He believed the pfesent Government had endea-
voured to carry out that principle, and the tendency
of recent legislation had been to remove the fetters
which obstructed the free development of industry,
and to reduce as far as possible the taxation which
pressed most directly upon the necessary articles of
life, and therefore most injudiciously affected the
working classes. When he first appeared before
that constituency, this country was in the midst of
a war with Russia, and a large expense was incurred
by that war. It was, however, satisfactory to state
that at least one-half of that additional expense had
already bean paid off; and that notwithstanding
every drawback, this country, and especially the
industrial classes, was at present in a condition of
comparative prosperity. He believed that the policy
of the present Chancellor of the Exchequer was a
sound and good policy. Some time since this country
was naturally in a state of great alarm as to the
detrimental results arising from the frightful civil
war raging in America. The loss of the cotton
required for our manufacturing districts was at first
severely felt, and by the last returns it appeared
that our trade with America had decreased twelve
and a-half millions ; but to counterbalance this we
had the French treaty, carried out by Mr. Cobden,
and which, in the corresponding period, had in-
creased our trade with France by seventeen
millions. The honourable member then referred
to various acts passed during the past session
which he considered of a beneficial nature, and
stated that he had felt it his duty to give a steady
and consistent support to the Government Lord
Palmerston, believing that the' policy of that Go.
vernment, especially under the difficult circum-
stances in which it had been placed, was, on the
whole, conducive to the prosperity of the country
and the happiness of the people. It was scarcely
necessary that he should recapitulate to them his
political creed, which they had heard so often; He
was sorry to find that the question of church rates
was still in a very unsatisfactory position. As a
Churchman, he did not believe that the prosperity
of the Church depended upon the rate, and he had
therefore voted for its abolition. His views upon
the necessity of a measure of reform remain un-
changed. He was returned as a supporter of those
principles, and to those principles he still adhered.
The time had surely arrived when the franchise
should be extended to the honest, intelligent work-
ing men of this country, and that meed of justice
could not much longer be delayed. Referring to
the question of Denmark, the hon. member said that
he supported the Ministry because he believed the
honour of this country was not at stake, and that it
would be unwise and impolitic for England to rush
into a war, the result of which would be to in-
crease taxation, and the end of which could not
be foreseen.
Mr. Serjeant KINGLAKE, M,P., observed that
whatever might be said as to a reaction in the
country in favour of Toryism, he thought that meet.
g
' might be taken as a proof that such reaction did
inuot extend to Rochester. At the same time, it be-
hoved them to be vigilant and watchful, so that if
the enemy came like a thief in the night they
should nut be caught asleep. He hyped auto h.

r' EWS FA:PT:a
.1,,..3..e5crttr57-ki.,
4,,.•,i,,,,,, ----,-*-4.,,,s ti,
k.,,,::.,.
lieved that when the day of trial . rtrtio44-41, .•:,- :R.4
C
--:*"
might come, the Reformers of Root istii: •'''
. /4
be found wanting. They racist not orto% .!.'• /14,
enemy was watchful and vigilant. ' - qopserVe—,:,
fives were most anxioas; to regain power
,Ad vere
for that purpose; they
willing to spend mon( IT
were, in fact, very hungry. They had been out of
place some years, and wanted to get back again.
They reminded him of a picture he had recently
seen, " The Hungry Be ars"—they were ready to
gnaw at the flag of old. England, and grind the
bones of John Ball. He was not at all alarmed
with respect to any Tory reaction at Rochester,
This so-called Conservative reaction, what was it?
The Tories wished to regain power, and they would
humbug the people it they-cc:aid. They well knew
the principles he enunciated when be was returned
for that city, and. he bad always consistently sup-
ported those principles and was prepared to stand
by them. Ho wished far a great extension of the
suffrage, the vote by ballot, a.rd other measures
which would secure a fail, free, e,nd fair reprEseri-
tati:nn of the people in I),7.r.liarnent. A valued fricnct
of his, 31: Coleridge, who WaS recently a canditle.o
for Excar, had seen quite enough during that.
election to ;make him a decided advocate of the
ballot. As an independent member of the Houst2,
of Commons, he believed ths,t that house did really •
watch over the interests of the people, and that this
majority of the members were most anxious for the
welfare of the working classes. Ho coincided
generally with the policy of Lord Palmerston's
Government, and believed that tho commercial
policy of that Government had been productive of
the most beneficial results to all classes of the people,
and more especially so to the industrial classes.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing- " The health of the
two Liberal Members for Maid.s tone, Messrs. Lee
and Buxton," referred to the past
history of that
borough, which, under Tory domination, had been.
celebrated for all sorts of undue .influence, but now
maintained a character for the movt sterling hones'cy
and independence.

Mr. LEE, M.P., in a brief addrc as, expressed
his
opinion that Conservative reaction: existed only in
name, and that the constituencies of this country
were prepared to return as representative s those w ha
would stand fast to the cause of Refor m and pro.
gress. He anxiously desired to see a comprehcrta
sive measure of Reform passed, and sue: h a measure
could not long be withheld. He was :proud to at-
tend such an assembly as the present, as it ccn-
vinced him that the Conservatives could not boast
of a reaction in the city of Rochester.
Mr C. BUXTON, M.P., observed that the present
large meeting of freemen and other elects ►rs proved
that the constituency of Rochester had no t deserted
the cause of Liberalism, bat was prepared again to
return their present excellent representatives, who
were, in fact, two of the most useful members of the
House of Commons. Unity was at present espe-
cially desirable in the ranks of the Liberal party..
These were most eventful times, and there -were
many things which could not fail to depress all fru e
lovers of liberty and constitutional free den r.
America, that great country to which all tri is
Liberals were wont to refer with pride, was now
plunged into the horrors of dreadful civil war, a;ad
no matter whether he advocated the cause of the
North or South, all must deplore the fearful state
of things which existed on that continent. Looking
at Europe, the Polish revolution had been finally
crushed by the execution, a few days since,. of
patriots whose only crime was that they loved their
country too well. The Circassians had been driver
as fugitives from their native land by the, do.
spotie power of Russia. Prussia and Austria hart
succeeded in crushing constitutional liberty in Deus
mark, and very recently the French Emperor had
punished some leading citizens of Paris for the
crime of peaceably meeting together. Viewing
these things, it was essential that the Liberals of,
this country should, by unity of purpose and a ctio-a,
maintain their position, and prevent any posi,,i bility
of that Tory reaction which had been so ranch
vaunted, but which did not i❑ reality exist.
The CliainmaN then gave "The Health of. Sir
Edward Dering, M.P., and the Liberals of :East
Kent."

Mr. 'PLUMMER, of Canterbury, in reply, observed,
that the last eicction for East Kent was a striking
instance of what might be Effected by a ccmp lets
unity in the ranks of the Liberal party. Sir E.
Dering was returned by a majority of 80, notwith-
standing ell the adverse circumstances with widc.:4
they had to contend. Tne Tories were generally
more united than the Liberals. They followed t heir
leader without asking questions, but the Liberals
had many crotchets and shades of opinion. If .;bey
wished to beat the enemy they must, however,
sink all minor differences, and be firmly united.,
" The Health of the Mayor of Rochester" was
then given, and responded to.

Several other toasts followed, and the esccnably
broke up about eight o'clock.

BAD NEWS FROM THE WHALERS.—lntelligence
was received in Dundee on Monday that the Intrepid:and
Elena had arrived at Peterhead on Sunday, the former
vessel with just what she was last reported as having (GO
tuns seal oil), and the Elena clean. They report the whale
fishing at Greenland almost a total blank. The Polynia, of
Dundee, is said to have been seen before the 25th of July,
but it is not said if she had any success. The Elena left
from getting short of provisions. and all they vessels out are
expected to remain another month if the weather keeps clear.
—Dundee Courier.

THE BLOOMSBURY FLOWER Sirow.—Bat here
in Russell-square I was among the friends of my
childhood. I knew the elegant full-belled fachsias, hang-
ing with their bursting petals each over each, and drooping
over the pots containing them ; I knew the sturdy gera-
niums, with their scarlet flowers, their bread soft hairy
leaves, their thick resolute stems ; I know the annuals,
bright and gaudy, and fleeting ; and I pushed my way in
among admiring crowds, and felt quite young again a: I
looked upon many a bud and leaf once familiar, but long
forgotten. I was not critical in my judgment, but there
were plenty who were ; old men and women, dod-
dering and placable, mechanics severely scruti-
nising each prize, and openly speaking their minds
as to the justice which had awarded it, boys and
girls swooping down upon the assembly with a pleasant dis-
regard of corns. So through the tent, looking to the right
and left, and remarking many excellent specimens of my
favourite flowers. Outside the tent a police band, all the
members in blue coats and oilskin-topped hats ; number-
less young ladies in the most delightful of summer costumes
with young gentlemen to match, behaving as the youth of
both sexes do under such circumstances; numberless rich
old people bored, and stupid ; numberless poor old people,
wondering and dazed "which how they can wear them
bonnets on the tops of their 'eads, and such rolls of 'air be-
'ind, good gracious!" numberless poor children; save those
who were evidently exhibitors, there did not appear to be
many poor people of middle age, they were mostly veterans
or children, interspersed among the promenader. And it was
one of the curious sights of the day, to witness how
thoroughly at home the children made themselves, and how,
in the blessed ignorance of childhood, they utterly ignored
any deference to the powers that were. They sat in little
knots under the trees, and played at being owners of the
ground; and they played at a game which culminated in
the height of the fashionable promenade, so that gentlemen
bowed over the (in many cases) extensively jewelled ears of
their inamoratas, were nearly Bung to the earth by a little
infantile procession running in and out among their legs,
the members whereof were shouting, " Thee's thimple
Thally, and the'th thold her thop," and with outstretched
forefingers and hissing voices invoking objurgations on the
said Sarah. I believe that heretofore the presence of a num-
berofin muffin caps had not been considered essen-
tial to
ceoss of a flower show ; I am bound to say that
boysthe
su
those young gentlemen added in no small degree to the
enjoyment of ours. Before quitting the garden, I
had some talk with the genial and earnest hono-
rary secretary of the flower-show, and learned from him
some of its statistics This exhibition at which I assisted
was, it appeared, the fourth exhibition of the Blooms-
bury Bouquets : the first took place at a private house in
Little Coram-street ; the second at the National School;
and the third and fourth were, through the kindness of the
inhabitants, held in Russell-square garden. They are self-
supporting ; there is no touting, or sending round of the
hat ; there are 1,500 shilling tickets subscribed for by the
well-to-do parishioners ; and that amount, with the shilling
charged for admission to casual visitors, and 500 entrance
tickets for poor parishioners at a penny each, amply cover
all expenses.—Dickens's" All the Year Round."

[ADVERTISEMENT,]—HoIIoway's Ointment and
These highly esteemed medicaments cannot be too strongly
recommended for curing most of the maladies to which
humanity is heir. They are as suitable for the child first
entering on the journey of life as for the old man tottering
towards its end. The Ointment is a specific. for the cute,
bruises, abrasions, and eruptions often witnessed in the
nursery; and it is no less efficient in healing up soundly
and permanently the chronic uicera and bad legs which so
often heap misery on advanced years. By an early attention
to the illustration wrapped round each packet of Ointment
and Pills any moderately intelligent per may abridge or
avert Cho disormifort and misery of eltronie ill-health.

VTR. ALFRED MELLON'S CONCERTS 1
EVERY EVENING, at Eight.
ROYIL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT-GARDE.
MENDELSSOHN NIGHT, THIS EVENING.N
Mdlie. Carlotta Patti, Mdlle. Marie Krebs ; Mr. Levy, Mr.
B. S. Pra ten. and Ali Ben Son-alle.
BAND OF ONE HUNDRED PERFORMERS.ection
The first part of the Concert will consist of a
Sel
from the works of Mendelssohn. The second part will be
Miscellaneous.
Conductor, Mr. ALFRED MELLON.
Promenade, Amphitheatre Stalls, and Amphitheatre, One
Shilling ; Dress Circle, 25. ed. ; Private Boxes, £l. 15. and
10s. ed.
On Saturday next, a Volunteer Night.

OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
s Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining.
EVENING, BORN TO GOOD LUCK. Paddy
o'l:afferty, Mr. Dominick Murray.
Alter which, THE
D. ::,TRELTS
DD.M OP LONDONNeIson, . MessrH.
s.
Viuing, J. W. Ray, GREET her. urray, J.
Forre,- ter. U. Mellon ; Mrs. Henry Slaiston, Miss Emma
Baruett, and Miss F nuy Gwynne.

gISIV.)Ie
tO VA. 1,47.
BATJvcriblitPriti
TI: IS EVENING, MY WIFE'S MAID. 'Messrs.
Toole, F. Bedford, It. Phillips, and Mr . Alfred Mellon.
After' wllich, MASKS AN D FACES. Messrs. B. IVebster,
P. Bedfc.rd, Billington, Stuart; Mrs. Stirling',
Billington. and Miss H. simms.
o conclude with THE ACTOR'S RETREAT. Messrs.
J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, R. Phfllil a, and Miss Iffoolg..r.
Commence at 7.

-EW BOWER OPERETTA ROUSE.—
Senora Georgi Cardinal, the eminentt Spanish Come-
dienne, in Smyth Lee's new and eminl uccessfel Come-
dietta, HER ONLY FAILING ; chicb, tcg,rether with
CYAoN AND I PHIGENIA, ICED CHAMPAGNE, and
THE KISS AND THE ROSE, will be repeated EVERY
EVENING.

MOSES AND SON
FA • respectfully call attention to their large and well-
assorted stock of JUVENILE CLOTHING. The newest
fawics are combined with the latest and most fashionable
designs, and the best workmanship. E. MOSES and SON
give particular
cn to this important branch of their
with confidence affirm that the prices
m.siness, and they
are such as asfy the most economical. This depart-
ment is in a distinctd part of. the premises, which will be found
a gre, t convenience for ladies and children,

E.
MOSES AND SON
resp
ectfully invite public attention to their large and
well-assorted

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utroduced by them) is the newest and most fashion ible
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IL.I MOSES AND SON'S
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154, 155, IP, 157, Minories ; 83, 84, 85, 80, 87, 88, 89, Aldg,ate ;
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MOSES AND SON'S
E• COUNTRY ESTABLISHMENT,
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T . MOSES AND SON'S
s'J • Estabiishments are closed every Friday evening at
sunset until Saturday evening at sunset, when business is re-
sumed il 1i o'clock.
A 1 articles arc marked the lowest prices in plain figures.
Any article not apprJved of will be exchanged, or the money
returned.
List of Prices with Rules for Self-measurement, Fashion
Card, and our new pamphlet, "The Tercentenary; or, The
Three Hundredth Birthday of William Shakbpear,?," gratis
Acid post free.

COALS.—The LILLESHALL COMPANY'S
COALS.
Direct from their own Collieries.
Marquis' 23s. per ton. I Double.. 20s. per ton.
Top 22a. „ Deep ....215. „
Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De-
pots, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf,
Paddington, W., and Maiden-lane, N.
Best Coke
Terms cash.
JOIIN SCOTT, Sole LF,-7,nt.

THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN,"
_k Containing: the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENt E,
Zan be had Every Evening- of
G. Et GLENLE, NEWS AGENT,