The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-19 00:00:00

Rooms, Southsea, under the pat:onage of the Lords of
the Admiralty, in aid of the funds of the Seamen's and
Marines' Orphan Schools, and thus materially benefit that
very excellent institution. The fleet is expected to sail again
from Spithead in the course of a few days for a cruise on
the coasts of Scotland. The performance of the Enterprise
(one of Mr Reed's construction), is spoken of by the officers
of the fleet very favourably. Some, who are from their
position capable of giving competent opinions on the subject,
say that a few improvements may be introduced on board
with advantage, but that on the whole she is a very efficient
vessel.

The 11-inch experimental cast-iron gun, made by the
Blakely Ordnance Company to the order of the War De-
partment, was fired yesterday at the proof-butt in Woolwich
Arsenal, with a charge of 701 b of powder and a proof cylin-
der weighing 4001 b. A good deal of doubt was expressed
among the officers present as to the result of the proof with
so mach powder, and Mr Campbell, who was in attendance,
together with Mr Vavasseur on behalf of the Blakely
expressed his opinion that the gun must give
wConyco.p
anTyhe first round was, in consequence, most anxiously
awaited, Those engaged in the office of proving the gun,
and, in fact, every one present. sheltered themselves within
the bomb-proof cells, apprehensive of danger by exposure
outside. The instant the report was heard a rush was
made towards the spot whence the firing took place, and
about 40 or 50 huge fragments rose with the smoke into the
air above, and were soon strewed about the place. This
being the first gun made on the principle, the experiment
may be considered important, the object being to ascertain
if a cheap gun of a large calibre can be made by shrinking
a cast iron jacket over a cast-iron tube. The Blakely guns
to stand a similar charge—namely, 701 b. of powder—are
constructed entirely of steel. Thia one, however, was pur-
chased with a view to economy, and hence the result.

A
The freight ship Percy yesterday sailed from Woolwichrsenal, having embarked war stores for Hobart Town ;
and Vie Avon left Woolwich at the same time, laden with
Volunteers' pontoon equipment for Dowlais, South Wales.
The following garrison of der was yesterday issued at
Woolwich, by order from the Horse Guards, for the infor-
mation of detachments and the numerous corps of Volun-
teers who are in the habit of using the Woolwich range :
" All practice in the Marshes will, until further orders,
be suspended, in conformity with instructions received from
the Field Marshal Commanding-in- Chief of the Army."
Yesterday the large portable shears for lifting the massive
iron stem for the iron-clad frigate Bellerophon, in progress
at Chatham Dockyard, were successfully fixed in their place
at the head of No. 2 dock, and the work of raising and fixing
the stem will be undertaken next week. The portion of the
iron frigate forming the stem has been forges in three sepa-
rate pieces in the dockyard smithery, and is the largest un-
dertaking of the kind ever attempted by that department.
The entire weight before its removal to the factory to be
planed and cut to shape was nearly 30 tons, but its lobs dur-
ing the operations to which it has been subjected at the
hands of the mechanics will reduce its weight by about 10
tons. The Bellerophon's stem will stretch a considerable
distance forward below the water-line, and will consequently
differ very materially from either the Achilles or the Warrior
—the bows of neither of which have a very formidable pro-
jection. In the Bellerophon, however, beauty of form has
been entirely sacrificed to utility. The curve of the stem is
as nearly as possible in the shape of the latter S, the pro-
jecting portion of which will be hidden below the water
line, and will be thrust forward some 10 feet. As it is
intended to arm this portion of the vessel with a cleaver-
shaped weapon, the destruction of any shin with which a
vessel of her size and tonnage might be brought in contact
would appear a matter of certainty. Within the last few
days the naval representative of the French Government
has paid a visit to Chatham Dockyard, for the express
purpose of inspecting the Lord Warden and the Belle-
rophon iron-clad frigate.. It was the latter vessel, how-
ever, to which attention was chiefly directed, and in a
very minute inspection, on which a considerable time was
spent, the officials connected with the dockyard affording
every information in their power without the least possible
reserve, the opinion was candidly professed that the Belle-
rophon surpasses all other iron vessels of war hitherto con-
structed, and that there is no vessel in the French navy
which can be compared with her. The engines for the iron
frigate are now in course of manufacture by Messrs John
Penn and Son, who constructed those for the Achillts and
the other large iron vessels of war. They are intended to
be very powerful, and although of nominally 1,000 horse
power will weigh, with boilers filled, nearly 1,000 tons.
They are designed with surface condensers, super-heaters,
and to work the steam expansively, with other improve-
ments, by which it is anticipated that they will work up to
even greater indicated horse power than the engines of the
Warrior. The Bellerophon is constructed to carry about
800 tons of coal, but in consequence of the numerous im•
provements to be effected in her engines it is confidently
anticipated that the consumption of fuel will be compara-
tively small, and the quantity of coal on board sufficient to
propel the ship at a high rate of speed for a much greater
distance than any other ironclad in the navy could steam,
without replenishieg her c Jal.
A general order from the Horse Guards has been received
at Chatham garrison, in which it is announced that as the
Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief has decided that it is
not necessary for acting assist.-surgeons to wear uniform,
general officers commanding districts and divisions, and
officers commanding depot battalions, are desired to recog-
nise them in the performance of their duties, without being
in uniform.

It was yesterday announced at Chatham, by Admiralty
order, that the iron frigate Minotaur, 26, 6,621 tons, 1,350
horse power, now being fitted for sea in the Victoria Dock,
is intended to be fitted as a flag-ship, but her intended des.-
tination is not stated. "Under this arrangement all the
officers will live on the maindeck in time of peace, the
cabins which have been fitted for the officers on the lower
deck being reserved in the event of war. A suite of cabins
and offices for the Admiral will be fitted beneath the poop.
An Admiralty order has been received at Chatham ap-
pointing Messrs Barnaby, Crossland, and Barnes assistant
constructors of the navy under the direction of Mr Reed,
chief constructor.

Alleged Attempted Murder by Brickmakers.

On Wednesday, at Heaton—Norris' Waliarn Slater and
Holland Cheetham, members of the Brickmakers' Union,
were charged with feloniously wounding, with intent to
murder, Thomas Wild, a brickmaker, at Reddish, on the
2d August. The prosecutor has been in the Infirmary
since the affray, and was with difficulty brought into court
to give evidence. He seems to have been cruelly ill-treated,
having his right arm in splints, and suffering from great
exhaustion arising from other injuries. He was accommo-
dated with a chair. Cheethamwas formerly a member of
the Manchester police force. Me, F. Bale, surgeon, who
was called in at the prosecutor's residence, at Reddish,
about 7 o'clock on the morning of the 3d inst. stated that he
found him suffering from a Punctured wound on the right
arm, and a fracture of the bone. The shoulders, ribs,
left leg, and right eye exhibited marks of great violence,
which placed his lifein danger, The cart legs produced
would cause the wounds inflicted on the eye and arm.
In cross-examination the witness said the punctured
wound on the arm was evidently caused by a blow, and
not by a stab. The prosecutor did not say anything
about the persons who attacked him.—Wild, the prose-
cutor, then gave his evidence. lie said he was a brick-
burner at Reddish, where he had resided six months, and
had worked for Messrs. J. Meadows and Sons six }ears, at
Oldham. After he came into the district a " strike" took
place amongst the brickmakers, against the pressed bricks.
The whole of the hands of the iiessrs. Meadows, 26 in
number, turned out on the Friday, and the next day they
attended at the Pack Horse, and received 5s each club-
money from the prisoner Slater. The turn-out lasted five
weeks, but he and two others returned to work at the
month's end. On the whole ho
to hireceived 20s from the club.
ce of what was said him
In consequen mhe sent 6s out of
his wages as contribution money to the club. On one occa-
sion during the turn-out, while at the club, Slater said to
him, "If you go into the yard again
your pay will be
stopped ;" and on another occasion
he said, " you must not
be seen in the yard again until the master sends for you."
He replied, " All right." On the 2d August it was his shift
to watch the kiln. He went on about 9at night, and im-
mediately afterwards he saw a brickmaker, named James,
washing himself at the canal side. He said, " Good night,"
and witness returned the compliment, Before that, he ob-
served a stranger, a brick temperer, standing near the foun-
dation for the mill, watching. At midnight, while he was
getting coal, a man came between the shed and the lamp.
It was Wm. Slater, he thought. He said, "Can you show
us where I can lay down an hour or two?" He answered
"yes." Slater did not do anything. Five other men then
stepped out from the end of the office, and commenced to
strike him with pieces of woed. He was struck down six
times, and was ill-treated. While on the ground he ex-
claimed " Lord have mercy on me—you've finished me."
One of the men replied "He'll burn no more," and then
left him, and he scrambled on as well as he could, 90 yards
off. The person who used the cart legs he took to be the
man who was washing himself—Slater. He did not know
any of the other five by name except Holland Cheetham,
and he said he was not certain about him. Mr Torr was
proceeding to cross_examine the witness when he swooned
away, and the inquiry was interrupted. Wild was then
carried out of court, followed by Mr Bayle, the surgeon,
who returned in a short time and stated that, it would not be
safe under the circumstances to continue the examination.
The prisoners were then remanded, bail being refused.

A VETERAN OF THE GRANDE ARMEE.—An old
soldier more than a hundred years of age, has just
died at Montmiral, near Romans (Drone). He entered the
army at the beginning of the Revolution, and terminated
his military career at Waterloo. He never suffered from
illness, and died at last of decay,