The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-01 00:00:00

AMERICA,

THE C.

(From the Times' &eclat Correspondent)

NEW YORK, Oct. 18.

able scheme of Federal Government, and keep it in
unison with the liberty of populations, rendered di-
verse by the operations of climate and of natural or

social laws, as well as by commercial interest. The
opponents of State rights are not, however, to be
convinced. They ask triumphantly whether, if the
right of concession were conceded, the little com-
monwealth of Rhode Island—not much larger than
the English county of Kent—might not if disposed
withdraw from the Union, set up a separate na.
tionality, resume her allegiance to the British
Crown, or otherwise dispose of herself ? As the
answer is in the negative, they think the whole
question of State right is decided and exploded.
But the anti-State right argument is a misconcep.
tion of the facts. The Union was politically no more
than an agreement for mutual defence against ex-
ternal enemies. For internal purposes it was in-
tended to be a practical nullity, and if to the Central
Government, which it was the design of the founders
of American liberty to render as purely nominal and
as little felt as possible were conceded certain rights
and privileges in the matters of the Post-office, the
Mint and the Customs, it was solely for the general
convenience and considerations of economy. The
Northern people forgot this, or remembering it ena
deavoured to reform or revolutionise the Constitution
by bringing domestic matters, notably slavery,
tinder the action of the Central Government. If the
South had seceded from the Union because it pre•
ferred to adopt that course rather than take part by
men or money in the defence of the Federation
against a foreign aggressor, its perfidy would have
warranted the execration of its Northern co-part.
ners and the contempt of the world. But in seceding
because for thirty years the North had made per-
sistent efforts to interfere with matters exclusively
reserved by solemn agreement to the action of the
several States, each in its sovereign and never-abdi-
cated capacity, the question of secession assumed a
different shape. The North, and not the South,
was false to the agreement of union and to the
principles of liberty consecrated by the Constitu■
tion, a docament drawn up and accepted by all the
States at a time when the North held slaves as well
as the South, and when not only slavery, but
the slave trade, was recognised by the high
contracting parties. Of course, if only one
little State had exercised its right of secession
in 1860-1 its action would have been unfortunate
if not ridiculous. To be in a minority of one,
even when you are right, is not pleasant, and
more unpleasant in proportion to the value and
sanctity of the principle involved. But when the
minority on a question of vital importance is almost
as strong as the majority, and hopes to overcome
that majority by argument in the first place, and
if that be impossible, to try what can be done by
force, all questions of written argument or abstract
right cease to be of any value. This is what occurs
in all revolutions. It was the question to be decided
between George 111. and the Thirteen Colonies. It is
the question that has to be decided between North
and South. If the Northern Americans were a
wise and rational people, they would not have fired
a shot in anger to compel the unwilling partnership
of the South, but would have met in convention to
decide whether, if the old Union had become dis-
tasteful, a new and better Union might not have
been formed; and whether, although North and
South were thenceforward to be two towards each
other, they might not continue to bo ono against
all the world besides. To this complexion things
must ultimately come. The misery not only is that
both parties should have sacrificed so many hun-
dreds of thousands of valuable lives, such countless
treasure, and, worst of all, the liberties of this, and,
too probably, of future generations, to bring about
a mutual understanding—which wes quite pos-
sible without loss either of life or temper—but that
in the inflation of Northern pride no end to the
war can be foreseen, except the utter exhaustion
of one or other of the combatants, or the division
of councils in the Northern c %nap serious :enough
to create a strong diversion in favour of the South.
Mr Lincoln is powerless in the matter so long as
the people clamour for war and are willing to pay
for it in men and money. General Al'Clellan, if
elected, would have as little power as his predeces-
sor. The war would have to go on, and prove the
aword to be not only the last argument of kings, hnt
of popular democracies. There would, however, be
this diMrence in favour of kings, and especiallyof the
king against,whose wishes the Americm Dt.noccracy
rras enabled to take a place among the Powers of
the earth—that kings are consistent in compelling
the allegiance of their subjects if they can, and that
Democratic Republics are false to liberty and to
themselves in making war against their fellow-citi•
zens on any political pretence whatever. Mr. Lin-
coln, in 1848, when he was an obscure politician,
laid down in the following memorable words the
doctrine, which his luckless stars have doomed him
in later life to controvert with fire and blood :
" Any people,' said he, in a speech in Congress,
"and any where,being inclined and having the power,
have the right to rise up and shake off their exist-
ing Government and form a new one that suits them
better. Nor is this right confined to cases where
the people of an existing Government may choose
to exercise it. Any portion of such people that
can may revolutionise, putting down a minority
intermingled with or near about them who may
oppose them." This is the doctrine of George Wash.
ington and of Jefferson Davis, and might again be-
come the doctrine of Abraham Lincoln if the logic
of fact were superadded to the logic of words. Gen.
Beauregard or Gen. Hood has only to recapture
Atlanta and defeat the army of Sherman, or Gen.
Lee to drive Grant from Petersburg and the James
—both of which events are possible, and some per-
sons think probable—to justify revolution by the
success which Mr Lincoln implies in the word "can''
and " having the power," and to authorise him in
recognising the Southern right of establishing a new
Government in 1864, as implicitly as he did in 1848.
The sword alone can undo such a knot as that into
which the American Union has twisted itself. There
is no present chance for an armistice and a conven.
tion of the States, or for any discussion of the prin-
ciples enunciated this week by Vice-President Ste.
phens, and sixteen years ago by Mr Lincoln, unless
it be found in a great Southern victory. Failing
that the Chicago platform remains a dead letter, and
the letter of Mr Stephens mere words and waste
paper

The failure of Grant's attempt to capture Rich.
mond via Chapin's Farm, the absence of news from
Gen. Sherman, and the undoubted activity shown
by General Hood in Georgia, and the renewed im-
petus given to his movements by the presence of
General Beauregard in his camp, have had such an
effect upon the gold market as to alarm the Admi-
nistration for the results on the Presidential elec-
tion. The premium rose yesterday as high as 222,
being an advance within a week of 231 per cent.
This morning, although the tenour of the war news
is not such as to inspire greater confidence in vic-
tory than was felt yesterday, the premium dropped
to 20C—a fall of 16 per cent. This end appears to
have been attained by the efforts of the Govern-
ment brokers to " bear" the market by offeringgold
for sale in quantities far greater than the legiti.
mate demands of commerce.

The '' victories" which have recently done so
much to improve the chances of Mr Lincoln have
diminished so vastly in their importance, as their
details and results have become better understood,
that they are now found to be insufficient unless
followed up rapidly by new and greater successes,
to carry him into the Presidency by the triumphant
majority which his supporters desire, They find
that Grant takes a long time to consider his moves,
and urge him to make another if not a final effort
before the end of the present month. Grant is stated
to be nothing loth, and to have an army sufficiently
numerous to sacrifice a new batch of 10,000 men as
the price of victory. He has already received, it is
supposed, the final instructions of the President,
and returned to his camp from Washington ten days
ago. In the interval he has been visited by the Se-
cretary of War and the Secretary of the Treasury,
both of whom have been with him since Saturday
last, for what purpose is not known. The hint,how•
ever, is given in the Ministerial journals that a new
movement may be daily expected, the results of
which cannot fail to inflict a heavy blow and great
discouragement upon the rebels, even if they should
not lead to the capture of Petersburg or Richmond.
In Georgia the situation appears to be mach more
critical, though it is not so easy in the absence of
S n:thern news to verify the conflicting and ob.
scare statements issued b; the War Department
at Washington—all of them evidently coloured to
suit the electioneering exigencies of the President
rather than to convey correct information to the
public. Great interest is felt in every circle to re-
cive authentic intelligence of the movements of the
two armies. The Confederates, under Beauregard
and Hood, evidently mean mischief against Chat-
tanooga or Atlanta—perhaps against both, and
Sheridan is quite as evidently put to his mettle to
hold his own in presence of the distinguished op-
ponent who has been sent by the Southern President
to rescue Georgia from his grasp. In Missouri the
news is altogether bad for the Federals. General
S:irling Price and his coadjutors are carrying every-
thing before them, and scarcely meet with the show
of opposition in any quarter.

The great political excitement of the day is not,
however, provided by the war news, but by the
extraordinary attitude assumed by Mr Lincoln
towards the deputation of the inhabitants of
Tennessee, which yesterday waited upon him at
Washington. The ohjsct of the deputation, headed
by a Mr Lellyett, was to draw his attention to the
attempt of Governor Andrew Johnson to impose an
illegal and unconstitutional test oath upon every
voter who should present himself at the polls on
the 8h of November, and in the event of their
refusal to take such oath to prevent them by miii-
tory force upon depositing their ballot. The ad-
dress, which was read to the President, contained
nothing personelly disrespectful to the President
or to the subordinate dicer of when complaint
was made. Having heard it with apparent patience
Mr Lincoln imputed bad faith to the deputation
by asking how long it took Mr. Leilyett and
tee New York politicians to concoct the docu-
ment—thus insinuating that it did not emanate from
Tennessee. Mr Lellyett indignantly denied that it
had been concocted in New York, or by New Yorkers,
tut has Inon dsa.wa up in Nashville, the capital of
Tennessee, and by citizens of Tennessee only. Mr
Lincoln, as if he were a full-blown autocrat and
Emperor, and not the elected servant of the sove-
reign people, liable to be dismissed by their displea-
sure, or retained if it suited their will and conve-
nience, replied emphatically, " I will answer that I
expect to let the friends of George B. M'Clellan
manage their side of the contest in their own way;
and 1 will manage my side of it in my way." "Ma y
I have that answer in writing ?'' inquired Mr Lel-
lyett. "Not now," replied Mr Lincoln. " Lay those
papers down here. I will give no other answer now.
I may or I may not write something about this here-
after. I understand this. I know you intend to make
a point of this. Bat go ahead ! You have my
answer." Mr Lellyett, astonished, if not indignant,
withdrew without further parley; wrote down the
words while they were fresh in his memory, sub,.
mitted them to Judge Mason, who was present at
the interview, and that gentleman having vouched
for their correctness and appended his signature
in verification thereof, sent copies to all the New
York journals. The publication has created a very
bad impression. The Republican papers say nothing
on the subject, but those in favour of Gen. M`Ciellan,
knowing as well as Mr Lincoln that a point is to
be made, not only of the remons:rance of the Ten-
neeseeana, but of the President's mode of treating
it, are loud in their denunciations. Even Mr
Lincoln's friends admit that he has made a mise
take. Ha virtually confessed that he would sup,
port Governor Johnson in carrying the election in
the State of Tennessee by an illegal and unconsti-
tutional mode, and that he had made his mind to
win, whatever might be the means employed or
the consequences that might result. If Mr Lincoln
had had the tact of a statesman he might have re-
ceived the document and taken time to reply, Mr
Seward would have extricated him from the diffi-
culty, concocted a politic, a courteous, and a mean•
ingless answer, which would have left him as free
to manage the contest in his own way as if he had
never spoken, and deprived the supporters of Gen.
M'Ctellan of an advantage which they would be
fools indeed if they did not push to the utmoet.
The letter of the Southern ViceaPresident, Mr
Alex. H. Stephens, in which he follows up the ac-
tion of the Chicago Convention by stating his con.
viction that a convention of the States would lead
to a termination of the war, has also excited, end
still excites, considerable attention. The war party
denounce the proposition both as futile and puerile.
The peace party, on the other hand, eulogize it as
that of a statesman, a patriot, and a philosopher,
and declare that unless the Southern people are to
ba utterly exterminated, root and branch, until not
a white male be left in all the fertile region which
they claim as their own, the time must come, when
the sword will have to be laid aside, and some kind
of negotiation commented. Mr Lincoln is doubtless,
in his secret heart, as strongly of this opinion now
as he was in March,lB6l, when in delivering his in-
augural address, he said, " Suppose you go to war.
You cannot always fight. And when, after much
loss on both sides, and no gain on either, you cease j
fighting, the identical questions as to terms of inter-
course are upon you." For the purposes of his re-
election, and to meet the necessities personal, pecu-
niary, and political of the party which supports
him, he may assert there has not been loss enough
on both sides cr on either, and that there has been
too much gain in his own, to justify him iu with-
drawing the dispute from the bloody arbitrament of
battle, and that, under the circumstances, no re-
source is left to him but to keep pegging away in
the future as he has done in the past. Mr Stephens
and the Chie.itgo Convention have reason and joss
tice on their side. The liaicu was voluntary. it it
ceased to be agreeable to half th© country and to
one,third of the people, the true mode of prece.cd-
lag was to meet in convention and agree to separate
without bloodshed, as Mr Seward declared in 1813,
and as he again repeated in 1858, would be done, in
vindication of the principles upon which the Federa-
tion was founded, and as a glorious illustration of
the superiority of republican to monarchic .1 insti-
tutions. This is the doctrine of "State rights"—the
only doctrine, as has been proved, that could impart
vitality to the otherwise cumbrous end untnanagea

Mr Roger B. Taney, the Chief Justice of the Su-
preme Court of the United States, and who had
filled that office for 27 years, died a few days ago,
in his 88th year, after a short illness. He retained
the full possession of his mental and bodily facul-
ties, and his mind was clear and unclouded to the
last, Since the accession of Mr Lincoln various
efforts had been made to induce Mr Taney to resign,
but he persistently declared that nothing but death
should remove him from office, as long as Mr Lin-
coln or any other Republican chief magistrate was
in power. It was supposed that ex-Secretary Chase
was desirous of the position—the most influential as
well as the most dignified that an American can fill,
and the object of as much ambition in this country
as the Lord Chancellorship is in England. It is
probable that Mr. Lincoln, as a reward for the kind
turn the ex-Secretary has rendered, in making stump
speeches and writing letters in his favour, and being
so generously forgetful of the ungracious mode in
which he was dismissed from the Treasury, may
tender him the appointment. - Mr. Chase is consi-
dered a sound jurist, and has high professional as
well as personal and political claims to the seat.
Mr. Taney was a pillar of the Democratic faith, a
strong believer in the doctrine of State rights, and
a conscientious opponent of the centralisation of the
Government. Ile had no faith in the war as a means
of restoring the Union, and looked with gloomy
forebodings to the future. The following letter to
a distinguished member of the bar and 'legislature
of Maryland, which has never yet been published,
and of which the original now lies before me, shows
now keenly he felt the anticipated ruin of his
ccuntry: It was written in re ply to a congratula-
tory epistle on his birthday :
" Washington, March 20, 1861.
My dear Sir received your very kind birthday letter
to-day. When a man bas arrived at the age of 87 years ho
wilt always find that he has outlived nearly all the contem-
poraries and friends of his early lite ; and it is then that he
sensibly feels the assurances of regard from men whom he
has known from their boyhood, and who belong to another
generation. He perhaps hopes that their approbation of his
life and official conduct is evidence of the judgment which
impartial and enlightened posterity will pass upon it.
I have not on:y outlived the friends and cot:alai:lions of

my early life, but I fear I have outlived the Government of
which they were so justly proud, and which has conferred so
many blessings upon us. The times are dark with evil omen,
and seem to grow darker every day, At my time of life I
cannot expect to live long enough to see these evil days pass
away. Yet I will indulge the hope that you who are so
much younger will live to see order and law once more re.
turn, and live long enough to enjoy its blessings.
With since regard and respect, I am, your friend,
To-, Esq., Baltimore. R. B. TANEY.
This is both an eloquent and touching letter, and
when it comes to be published in this country may
perhaps cause some of the bitter fanatics who have
already begun to assail his memory, to regret that
they did not allow even the grave to silence their
rancour against a political opponent, so eminent, so
learned, so honest, and in all the relations of private
as well as public life ro pure and unspotted as Roger
Brooke Taney.

of free trade had had upon British commerce and
finances, The British Government had sent round
to all the Governments copies of very valuable
papers, published by the Board of Trade, abstracts
of the commercial statistics of Great Britain, and
which set the effect of free trade in a very striking
light. At present, however, Germany was much
divided. There was a Free Trade Association which
had branches in the South, and in many other parts
even in Austria. Free-trade views were represented
in the Prussian Chambers and in the Lower House;
and in the Upper House, which consisted of landed
proprietors and the nobility, they were free.traders
to a man. But the smaller States were opposed to
free-trade, such as Hesse-Darmstadt, Nassau, and
others; and the Government was not independent
enough to act without deference to the commercial
classes; the latter had such an influence that the
most enlightened statesmen were not able to go
against them. That explained the great difficulty
which Bavaria, Wurtemburg, and Southern States
had in adopting the reductions by the treaty with
France. It was only at the very last moment fi aed
by Prussia, two days before the Ist of October, that
she got the consent of the other States to the mea.
sure. The export duty on rags had been reduced
from 9s. to 53. per centime—and to certain classes
of this country this was a most important thing.
The advantage of these questions of tariff being
discussed now was, that the opinions of the Cham-
bers would be brought before a tribunal which met
every three years, at which these questions were
discussed, and recommendations made regarding
alterations. Austria would by the new arrange-
moots lose the preference which she had hitherto
enjoyed. He had heard that the Austrian states-
men talked very much of adopting the free-trade
system and liberalising their tariff, and had ex-
pressed a wish for some practical men from the
English Chambers of Committee to go over, in
order to help them to carry out the free-trade
policy. He was not very sanguine that anything
would come of it. It was much to the interest of
Russia to make some alterations in her tariff, in
order to find better markets for her raw produce ;
and as soon as the reconstruction of the Zallverein
was completed negotiations were to be opened cfli-
cially with Russia. With regard to the trade marks
there was a clause in the new arrangement by
which piracy of them was guarded against, but the
provision was only to extend to new marks counter.
feited after the passing of the treaty—therefore,
upon the face of it he considered it was rather illu-
sive. In conclusion, Mr Ward said that any resolu-
tions which the Chamber might adopt he would
press upon the authorities.

After Mr Ward's address some conversation took
place upon matters of detail. Mr. G. A. EVERITT,
of the Kingston Metal Works, complained of the
injury sustained by English manufacturers, in con-
sequence of the Frency treaty subjecting brass and
copper tubes to a much higher duty than was levied
on the materials of which they were composed.
Mr. ROBERT BARTLEET, of Redditch, exhibited a
card of patterns used by a German maker of needles
in which the goods were described as being made
by Messrs. Bartleet and Sons, it being particularly
added that none others than those his packets con-
tained were " genuine."

In the course of subsequent discussion Mr. WAG-
NER was understood to hold the opinion that the
Prussian law which regulated trade marks was good
and cheap, but the experience of all the other gen.
tlemen present seemed to be decidedly at variance
with his account of it. It was stated by another
member of the Chamber that, under the present
practice, Prussia charges 30 dole, per cent on steel
peas, but that, from the separate agreement between
Austria and Prussia, they could be sent through the
former country via France, at a charge of only
13 dole.

Mr. WARD explained that Austria would, by the
operation of the treaty lately effected between
France and Prussia, lose the be,mfit of such a transit
as this. Ai regarded the substitution of ad rolorem
for specific duties charged by weight, Mr. Ward
stated that there was no hopes of its being cdopted
by the Germans, the prejudice among whom was
very strong against such an alteration.

The discutsion on these points having been
brought to a conclusion, the following resolutions
were moved by different members of the Chamber
and unanimously passed :
" 1. That this Chamber receives with great satis.
faction the information that there wiil be a conside-
rzble reduction made i❑ the new tariff of the Ger-
man Customs Union in the duties on hardwares,and
trusts that the attention of her Majesty's represen-
tatives will continue to be given to the subject,
with the view of obtaining such further modification
as will enable the productions of this neighbour-
hood to be more extensively introduced into the
States of the Z)llvereio.

" 2. That this Chamber is desirous of drawing the
attention of the Government to the subject of trade
marks, the piracy of which, so far as English manu-
facturers of established rcpute is concerned, is at
present carried to such an extent by the German
manufacturers that a most serious injury is done to
the legitimate trade of England ; and that Govern-
ment shall request their representatives abroad to
use their good offices with foreign Powers to adopt
such measures as shall prevent the continuance of a
system
i whichth. is contrary to common justice and
good

"3. That the best thanks of this Chamber be
given to Mr Ward for his able address, and for the
information affirded by him with reference to the
soowl
ul et
idogni2n g the compliment
new fiscal arrangements of the ZAlverein."
thanked the Cham-
ber for the favourable attention which had been
con:AtiarinWedAltipn 't
the laasetkren
given to his remarks, and assured them that there
was a great increase of activity at the Foreign-
effice in regard to the treatment of matters relating
to international commerce. He assured the Cham-
ber that there should be no relaxation of endeavour
on his part to procure for English traders whatever
advantages his position might enable him to pro%
cure for them.

Naval and Military Intelligence.
The ironplated iron screw steamship Achilles, 20, Capt.
E. W. Vansittart, left Sheerness or the Nero o Wednes-
25day,
th Oct. 19, and arrived in Plymouth Sound on Tuesday,
. During her passage down Channel she encountered
severe weather, and took shelter in Torbay. This is her first
trip at sea, and being one of an entirely new class of ships
of large dimensions, 6,121 tons, and carrying four masts,
her performance has been watched with considerable inte-
rest. Mr Moore, assistant master shipwright, and Mr
Penny, superintendent of fittings, from Chatham dockyard,
Mr Wigzell, of the firm of Messrs John Penn and Son, who
supplied her engines, and Mr Robinson, from the depart-
ment of the Surveyor of the Navy, were on board. The re-
results of the trip were not entirely satisfactory, but this re-
fers chiefly to the difference of speed at the contractor's trial
and in the Channel. The officers speak well of her sea-going
qualities, and all on board are hopeful that the cause of the
loss of speed tinder steam
On the 21st, by plunging Will be found out and remedied.
during a severe gale, the Achilles
carried away her jibboora and her whiskers (two stout spars
projecting at right angles from either bow), She also took
in several heavy seas at the bow ports, and it was in conse-
quence determined to run in for Torbay. Hero she arrived
on the 22d, and dropped her starboard anchor, but having
drifted with her full broadside to the wind, the chain, 50
fathoms of which were out, broke, and recourse was then
had to the port anchor. The vessel, however, was kept under
steam all the time she continued in the roadstead. On Mon-
day the lost chain was fished up. On Tuesday morning, the
25th, in weighing the port anchor with the steam capstan,
it snapped off near the junction of the shaft with the Hues,
both of which were left below. The diameter of the shafts
of the anchors of the AQlilles is nearly the same from the
ring to the flues. Formerly anchors were made with shafts
increasing in their diameter as they approached the flues
an arrangement which would strengthen what has proved
to be the weakest part of this ship's broken anchor. The
Achilles arrived at Plymouth at 3 30 p.m. on Tuesday,
and having discharged her powder was assisted on Wed.
nesday afternoon by the Medusa, Confiance, and Scotia into
Haraeazl. The M. dusa, which has engines of 312 horse
power, went purposely from Sheerness to be at her service.
On Thursday the Achilles was placed in the south basin of
Ke3 ham sto anyard, where the new hog for scouring the
bottoms of iron ships was tested, under the superintendence
of Mr Robinson, from the Admiralty, Whitehall, by the
help of the ship's diver. This hog is an enormous brush of
birchbroom, about five feet long by three feet broad, Its
back consists of a frame of wood 16 inches thick, having
round the edge a groevo, into which is inserted a rope with
iron thimbles attached to each of its four sides, to receive
the guides by which the hog is moved under water. The
system is much practised at Malta. In the present instance
the experiment was not considered very satisfactory. Some
shellfish were brought up, but the hog could not detach
thee?, which were on and near the lands, or projecting

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 1, 1864.

strakes of the Achilles. On Saturday she was placed in
dock No. 3, or the Queen's dock, recently lengthened to
430 ft. It will be recollected that the ship measures 380 ft
from stem to stern, or 392 ft over all. Her draught aft was
26ft 3in, the depth of water in the dock was 28ft. Her en-
gines are of 1,250 horse power nominal, and at the con.
tractor's trial were worked up to 5,067 horses, in the Chan-
nel 3,200 horse power only could be attained, the pressure
of steam being occasionally 261 b, and the revolutions 40 per
minute, against 46 on the trial. The speed first attained,
and which at the time gave great satisfaction, was 141 knots,
but during the passage to Plymouth, although an especial
effort was used on one occasion, vary little over 10 knots was
produced. Scotch and Welsh coals mixed were used. The
trim of the ship, her great immersion, and the foulness of
the bottom may account for the loss of from 2 to 3 knots,
but what remains puzzles all concerned. After her repairs
in dock the Achilles will be removed into Hamoaze, where
several experiments will be made in reference to her line of

flotation, centre of gravity, &c., under;the superintendence
of Mr N, Barnaby, the second assist.-constructor at

Whitehall. At the contractor's trial the ship was 15in. by
the stern—her immersion now is 2ft more, and she has
about 30,000 superficial feet under water. Soon after leav-
ing the Nore it was discovered that she was too much by the
head, some of her weights were moved aft, and the coal in
the fore bunkers was reduced as speedily as possible. The
armament of her main deck is 16 100-pounders smooth-bore
Armstrongs, weighing 61 tons each, snd on the upper deck
four 110-pounders. On the passage, when going ahead, the
screw revolved 73,500 times—when backing and performing
other evolutions not accounted for it is calculated that the
revolutions were 26,500, making a total of 100,000. The
screw is considered very powerful. It was occasionally out
of water to a small extent, but the " rest" was not great,
because the screw is provided with four blades. The
A chilies dipped very quickly. In a fresh gale there is little
motion; but she did not answer so well in a rolling sea.
She has been 10 months afloat, chiefly in the Medway, and
it was expected that much weed and quantities of large
shell-fish would have been found on her bottom. When she
got into a rough sea large patches of barnacles were washed
off—some were removed in Keyham basin by the hog, and
as the water was pumped out c.f the dock the crew, as
usual, cleaned her sides, but as soon as the dock was
dry, and those parts untouched could be surveyed, it
became apparent that no extensive fouling had occurred.
There was comparatively no weed, but she was well
studded with barnacles, upon rough patches of
which muscles of no great size had here and there become
attached ;:the starboard counter was the worst place. On
the blades and boss of her brass screw many barnacles
were quartered, and this would undoubtedly retard its revo-
lutions. The Achilles was paid over at Chatham with Mr
Hay's composition, which was much rubbed off at her high-
water lines by the stages and floating factories alongside her
for many months after she was undocked. The line of
flotation was, of course, gradually raised as she received her
engines, armament, &c. In addition to this, the several
coatings of red lead applied previously, in November and
December, were scarcely dry enough to receive varnishes
without being further softened; but in other parts the
composition adheres firmly, especially where it was placed
directly on the iron. The bottom of the ship is, however,
generally speaking, not much corroded. Green's composi-
tion is to be now applied. The crew of the Achilles, all
told, would be about 755 men. On departure from Sheer-
ness she was 180 short of all descriptions ; since she has
been at Plymouth she has obtained 160 men from the
receiving ship, Canopus, 8, Captain Charles H. May,
in Hamoaze. Out of 75 men engaged in the engi-
neer's department 61 only were effective in the stoke-
hole. During the height of the gale 27 stokers were unfit
for work at one time, chiefly through sickness, occa-
sioned by her liveliness. Such an amount of prostration
is very unusual, but may be accounted for chiefly by the
fact that many of the stokers are unseasoned men. The
ship is considered a great credit to the country, her
frame appears to be perfectly firm, she did not give one inch
in the dock, and the engines are in excellent condition. The
fittings of the ship, which were executed at Chatham, are
very satisfactory. The crew are a fine body of men, and well
conducted. By recent Admiralty order a diver is appointed
to every ironclad ship. In consequence of the limited pay
these men are mere divers ; it would seem to be more econo-
mical to increase the pay and thus secure the services of a
class of men capable of stopping a leak or performing other
mechanical duties which might prevent the delay of a ship,
or the necessity of incurring the cost of placing her in dock.
Tho ironcased screw steamship Research, 4, Capt. Arthur
Wilmshurst, from the Channel squadron, arrived in Ply.
mouth Sound on Sunday afternoon. The Black Prince, the
Prince Consort, and the Defence are expected there to-
morrow.

The Dutch frigate Adolph Hertogvan Nassau, 50, 400
home power, Capt. T.Tlmberg, has been placed in the dock
at Sheerness dockyard until recently occupied by the screw
frigate Bristol, 39, 600 horse power, in order to make good
defects and repair damages. The captain and the whole of
the efficers of the frigate were entertained at dinner and a
ball on Saturday, at the Admiralty-house, by Vice-Admiral
Sir C. Talbot, commander in chief at the Nore, the
ward room officers at the naval barracks having previously
entertained them. On Thursday Capt. Ulmberg and the
officers of the Dutch frigate will be the guests of Colonel
TLiddoll, O. , end the ofgoore of tho ney-ef drtillovy.
The Chesapeake, 39, 2,377 tons, 400 horse power, has been
placed in No. 3 dock at Chatham, where she is to undergo
a thorough repair preparatory to being brought forward for
commission, 'this fine frigate was one of the last of her class
built at Chatham dockyard, and for the last few years she
has been lying idle in the hasbeur, attached to the third
division of the Steam Reserve. Her engines and machinery
have been taken cut and removed to the factory. The
Chesapeake has been surveyed by the officials connected
with the master shipwright's staff, who have ascertained
that she will require extensive repairs, necessi ating her de-
tention in deck for a period extending over several months.
The extensive alterations which have seen for some time
is progress at the general hospital, Fort Pitt, Chatham, for
the enlargement of that establishment by the erection of
additional buildings for the accommodation of the whole of
the troops of the garrison requiring hospital treatment, hav-
ing been completed the building was yesterday handed over
to the military authorities at the garrison, and a portion of
the patients from the western hospital at once removed into
the new ward. The alterations and additions carried out at
Fort Pitt will enable that building to be used as a hospital
for the entire garrison, and will thus dispense with the ser-
vices of a separate staff of medical officers at each of the
military hospitals at Chatham. The block of buildings
hitherto used as the garrison hospital, near tha inner line of
fortifications, will bo vacated by the whole of the patients
to-day, and the hospital converted into quarters for the
troops of the line at the garrison, the numbers of whom
have recently very considerably increased.
Her Majesty's Royal yacht Alberta, Staff Commander
Welch, made a trial of her machinery at Portsmouth yes-
terday.

The Sirsoom screw troopship was docked yesterday at
Portsmcuth for repairs. Report states that the Admiralty
intend to give the command of this fine old ship to Captain
F. B. Lethbridge, late of the Adventure, a very popular
and energetic officer.

The Urgent screw troopship,Capt. Samuel H. Henderson,
arrived at Portsmouth yesterday from Plymouth Sound,
with Lieut. Irvin and 27 men of the 87th Regiment, and a
company of Royal Engineers of 76 men, with 20 women and
22 children, The detachment of the 87th landed at Ports-
mouth and joined regimental head quarters, and the Royal
Engineers will be landed and sent en to Aldershot this
morning.

The regiments and depots comprising the 3d battalion of
infantry at Chatham garrison have vacated the hut barracks
hitherto occupied exclusively by that battalion, and have
removed to St. Mary's casemated barracks, which wore oc-
cupied by the invalid depot until the removal of the latter
to Netley. The barracks at St Mary's have been empty for
nearly two years, during which advantage has been taken
to carry out some important alterations for the health and
comfort of the troops, in accordance with the suggestions of
the Army Sanitary Commissioners. The situation slid gene-
ral arrangement of the barracks are such as to render them
anything but dealrable quartero Ittr ettner officers or men,
and the entire barracks should be taken down and re-erected.
The hut barracks at Brampton will be set apart for the pre-
sent as quarters for the married non-commissioned officers
and men of the several depots.

The Lords of the Committee of Council on Education, in
.conjunotion with the Admiralty and the Institute of Naval
Architects, having determined to establish a school of naval
architecture and marine engineering, it will be formally
opened at South Kensington to-day. Mr Merrifield, F. R.S.,
who has been appointed principal, will deliver an introduc-
tory address. The school is intended for the instruction not
only of Admiralty pupils from the Royal dockyards and
officers of the Royal Navy, but also for the use of naval
architects and shipbuilders in wood and iron, marine engi-
neers, foremen of works, shipwrights, and the public gene-
rally. The Admiralty have deposited their collection of
naval models at the Museum, and have issued an invitation
to private shipbuilders to afford their assistance in render-
ing the collection more complete. It is intended that di-
plomas shall be given to all persons, whether they have
receive their instruction at the school or not, who pass the
final examination of the school, provided that they give
satisfactory evidence of having gone through the course of
practical work recommended by the Council of the Insti-
tute of Naval Architects. These diplomas will be of two
grades, according to the success of the candidate in the ex-
amination, the title of the higher grades being Fellows, and
of the lower, Graduates of the Royal School of Naval Ar-
chitecture. Certificates for success in special subjects, and
prizes also, will be given to the students. Tho school will
have a session at S ,uth Kensington from November to
April, and when the school is not open arrangements will
be made, if possible, for study in the Royal dockyards and
in private yards. The Rev. Joseph Woolley, LL.D., of St.
John's College, Cambridge, Principal of the School of Naval
Architecture at Portsmouth, "as been appointed, with the
concurrence of the Admiralty, Inspeltor General and Di-
rector of Studies. Mr C. W. Merrifield, F.R.S. Principal,
and Mr H J. Purkiss, 8.A., of Trinity College, 'Cambridge,
Vice-Principal.

- - -
REPORTED DEFEAT OF LONGSTREET.—MAN-
CHESTER, OCT. 29. —The knowing telegram has been re-
ceived here :—" New York, Oa. 21.—Sheridan defeated
Longstreet on the 19th inst. near Strasburg, capturing 50
guns, including 20 lest early in the engagement,",