The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-15 00:00:00

THE ARMSTRONG GUNS.

Mr, BERKELEY—As the Armstrong breech-loading
guns, constructed by Sir William Armstrong, and now
under trial at Shoeburyness, are made chiefly of solid
blocks of mild steel (tempered in oil), and consequently
totally different from the service guns which they are con-
sidered to represent, asked the Under Secretary of State for
War whether it was the intention of the War-office to in-
stitute any and what trial of the Armstrong guns as at pre-
sent employed in her Mrjesty's service, it being evident,
from
Ac'mirul K.uper's report, that come trial is urgently
needed.

The Marquis of lIARTINGTON said that, when he
proceeded with the army estimates he would be in a position
to make a full explanation on the subject. He might-, how-
ever, then state that there was very little tlifference between
the guns on trial at Shoeburyness and those which have
been in use in the service, but they were undergoing a
practical trial.

LABOURERS AND PUBLIC DOCKYA.P.,r,S.
Sir A. BULLER. asked the Secretary to the Admiralty
whether the Government inten4 doing- anything towards
the relief of the labourers in the several public dockyards,
who are at present paid at a rato considerably below the
ordinary market value of labour.
Lord C. PAGET said that it was not proposed to make
any alterations in reference to this subject. By the prac-
tice in operation in the public dockyards shipwrights em-
ployed there could earn very good wages, and the labourers
STATE, &c.
benefiotFs.
could participate
SECRETARIESi n their

Mr DISRAELI drew the attention of the house to the
fact that the (Bees of Principal Secretaries of State and
Under Secretaries of State had been given to no less
than five sitting members of the house, in contravention
of the provisions of the existing statue which limited the
number to four. This was a constitutional question in re-
spect to which he wished for some information.
Lord PA LMERSON said that the distribution of the
officers referred to was at present the same as it had been
for some time, and the question was too important to be
discussed off-hand. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DISRAELI wished to be informed by the Speaker,
whether this question was not one of privilege, and
whether as such, it cuuld not be brought on at any time.
The question of the right hon. member elicited no
reply, and the subject dropped.
TRADE WITH FOREIGN NATIONS.

On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Mr NV. FORSTER called the attention of the house to
the arrangement between the Foreign Office and the Board
of Trade in reference to trade with foreign nations, moved
for a select committee thereon, and was

[LEFT SPEARING.]

LONDON GAZETTE.—Thies Evening,

FOREIGN OFFICE, APRIL 6.

The Queeu has been graciously pb-aced to appoint the
Hon. Frederic Henry North, now Attache to her Majesty's
Embassy at Berlin, to be a Third Secretary in her Majesty's
diplomatic service.
FOREIGN OFFICE, APRIL 12.

,
The Queea has been pleased to approve of 'Mr. ;fames H.
Hunt as Consul at Falmouth for his Majesty the King of
Denmark.

The Queen has also been pleased to approve of Mr. C. F
Burch as Consul at Cardiff for the United States of America
CROWN OFFICE, APRIL 15.

MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN THE PRESENT PAR_

LIAMENT.

Borough of Lancaster—Edward Matthew Fenwick, of
Burrow Hall, in the county 0+ Lancaster, Esq., in the room
of William James Garnett, Esq., who has accepted the office
of Steward or Bailiff of her Majesty's manor of Northstead,
in the county of York.
WAR-OFFICE, PALL-MALL, APRIL 15.
BRLVET.

Second Captain Henry Clement Swinnerton Dyer, Royal
Artillery, to be Major.
COMMISSIARIAT DE£ART:WENT.—Acting Deputy As-
sistant Commissary-General William J. J. Warnetord to
be Deputy Assistant Commissary-General.

HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY OF LONDON.
Second Lieutenant Edward Moses to be First Lieutenant,
vice Dawes, relieved.—The Commission held by Captain
Frederick Riviere is renewed for a farther period of fivo
years from 4th March, 1864.