The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-12 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The 2d battalion of the Tat Royals, now stationed at
Portsmouth, are under orders for service in the Channel
Islands. Three hundred men of the regiment who have
been employed, under the direction of the Royal Engineers,
on the defensive works of Portsdown hill, return to regi-
mental headquarters to-morrow. A company of Royal En-
gineers expected at Portsmouth from Gibraltar will replace
the detachment of the Ist Royals on Portsdown.
The 64th Regiment, at present stationed at Gosport, will
succeed the Ist Royals in Portsmouth garrison, and the 64th
will be succeeded at Gosport by the 87th Regiment from
Aldershott.

The iron East Indiaman Michael Scott, 1,197 tons, Capt
J. W. Padley, belonging to Messrs. Fenley and Campbell,
41, Threadneedle-street, which has been chartered by the
Government for the conveyance of reinforcements to India,
embarked yesterday for Bombay the following cavalry and
infantry troops from Custom-house. quay, Gravesend—viz.,
30 non-commissioned officers and men, two women, and
10 children of the 3d Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards,
Canterbury—one woman of the 6th Carbineers, from
Maidstone—one officer of the 19th Hussars-14 men,
two women, and one officer's wifc of the Royal Horse
Artillery, and 158 non-commissioned officers and men,
six women and ten children of the Royal Artillery, from
Woolwich, Worley, and Sheerness—two non-commissioned
officers of the Army Hospital Corps, and seven men, three
women, and five children of the Ist Battalion of the 4th
King's Own Regiment, from Chatham-71 noncom-
missioned officers and men, five women, and two children of
the 56th Regiment, from Colchester-67 non-commissioned
officers and men of the 102 d Royal Madras Fusileers, from
Chatham—and 30 men, three women, and four children of
the 103 d Royal Bombay Fusileers, from Colchester—total,
3women
reinforcements :—Major
101 v 380 menag etn ofe
earl al ranks,embarked 2
with theand 21 children. The fol-
R. Pittman, Royal Horse Artillery—Cornet A. B. Donni-
thorne, 3d Dragoon Guards—Lieut. 13-. C. B. Taylor, 19th
Hussars—Lieut. C. E. B. Leacock, Royal Artillery—Capt.
Attilio Scheberras, 98th Regiment (ix charge or detachment
of the 103 d Fusileers)—Lieut. J. Charley and Lieut. G. D.
Grimes, 55th Regiment—Lieut, C. F. Hooper, 4th King's
Own Regiment—Lieut. J. Maule, 102 d Fusileers—Ensign
G. H. Stoddart, 103 d Fusileers—and Staff Assist.-Surgeon
W. T. Paliologos, in medical charge. The Michael Scott,
which is an entirely new ship, and is about proceeding on
her first voyage, was inspected by Major-General H. Eyre
prior to the embarcation of the troops, when all the arrange-
ments for the health and comfort of the officers and men
during the voyage were found to be satisfactory. The
embarcations were effected under the superintendence of
Brigade-Major Congreve and the officers connected with
tue Quartermaster's Staff, Chatham, and the Michael Scott
will proceed on her voyage to-day.
Yesterday a detachment of Royal Marine Artillery and
Light Infantry, numbering four non-coramisdioned officers,
one drummer, and 34 gunners and privates, under the
command of First-Lieut. J. L. Needham, Royal Marine
Artillery, left head-quarters Chatham, and embarked on
board the screw corvette Clio, 22, 400-horse power, fitting
for sea.

In consequence of the companies of Royal Marine Artil-
lery being below their proper strength volunteering for
that branch of the service has been opened at Chatham.
Yesterday 42 volunteers, the names of whom had previously
been submitted for approval at the Royal Marine-office,
left head-quarters for Portsmouth to join the Artillery
companies.

The iron-cased screw. frigate Prince Consort, Capt,Willes,
has been detached temlorarily from the Uhauhel Fleet, at
Spithead, and anchored in Cowes Roads, where she will re-
main during the sojourn of her Majesty at Osborne.
The Nugent, screw troopship, Capt, Henderson, tried her
machinery yesterday at the measured mile in Stokes Bay
prior to being formally handed Over by the steam factory
department to the Steam Reserve for commission.
The Frederick William, screw coastguard line-of-battle
ship, Capt. E, Codd, will, according to present arrange-
ments, go out of Portsmouth harbour to Spithead on Thurs-
day next, make her official trial II the measured mile on the
following day, and on Saturday sail for a cruise in the
Channel, and afterwards take up her station at Portland, in
the place of the Colossus.

The Pigmy paddle-steamer, Master-Commander Vine,
under the comniand of Commander Colotub, R.N., sailed
from Portsmouth yesterday morning to resume her station
south of the Isle of Wight as as experimental signal ship,
in conjunction with a signal patty on St. Catherine's Down
Isle of Wight, under the command of Capt. Balton, 12th
Regiment. The experiments bring carried on by these two
officers are most important and interesting.
The Accountant-General of the Navy, Mr. .I'. Beeby,
assisted by some of the officialsconnected with that depart-
ment, has been engag d at Ctatham Dockyard in the in-
vestigation of the accounts and returns previously prepared
at that establishment by 4li.
11 W. R. Walker, the inspec-
tor and auditor of dockyard accounts, and Mr Watson, con•
netted with the construction the Royal Oak, ironplated
wooden frigate, in order that an actuate account may be
obtained of the entire cost of that veso, previously to the
returns being made up of the cost of tle other armour-clad
wooden ships built at Portsmouth, Vroolwich, Plymouth,
and Pembroke.

__
The following appointments were trade yesterday at the
Admiralty :—Lieut. John J. Martin, to tho Prince Consort
—Lieut. C. J. Carey, to the Clio—Henry S. Ley, master,
to the Indus, for the Calelonia—Francis E. Wolrige,
Wm. Y. Ottley, Wm- C. S. Hathorn, :-A E. S. Vidal, G. H.
Pto Caledonia _J• Harris, naval cadets, to the Clio—C. Icely,
hthe Caledon—
. Oliver, chief J. Downes, chief engineer,
engineer, to the Royal Sove-
reign—F. G. Barr, chief engineer, to the Asia, for the im-
cEt
oditee the
Eden,
engineer,
c ando _ H .
Clio—W.
mortalite when paid off—W- Ash and J. IV. DV ilenzie,
engineers, to the Royal Soverei
en-
gineer, to the Clio---V- Hartle, assist. engineer, to the Cale-
donia-T. M'lntyre, H. Onions,
. J, Dinwoodie, and H. W.
gu Hetherington, 1
Wilkins, assist. engineers, to the Royal Sovereign—R. H.
Cooper,er, Cumberland, for the Wild-
fire—and W. Gentles and J. T. Coombs, assist. engineers,
to th
j
Clio.
engineer, to the Pe C'

Speech of Ba°11 Beust.
•

DRESDEN, July b.
The Premier, Baron von Beast, the represen
ta tva
the London Con.
ference,
at noon to-day from io
arrived the Germanic
h here
Diet at
Frank-
fort-on-the-Main, and was. received by a large crowd
convinced that the course
at the railway station With .
enthusiastic cheers. A
future
deputation subsequently waited opoa his Excellency
with an address of welcome, t
.° which he returned
the following reply :
and' ItearniminmantisotnConference could not
favourable
permit,
favourable
Londont
have
anv e
tanner than has
have operated innaf entirelythe
more
nee of Schleswig-
Holsteinbeen balanced by
5 f Germany. ' I
been
an d uponthe
power
i nodnedp e n d e
position Rained there with-
outam of opinion that the
any sacrifice could
most .
any agreement, even theadvantageous, which
personally
thethe
will
least csirpceuedmdoisul tyba
doubt
be
eehsat thiswould
recognised a
somewhats.
assertion
19 easily precise truth.
The judgment, however, prejudiced in a
matter in which one has been concerned;
extended
no forger, as at the
and it, therefore, affords me the utmost comfort and
pleasure to see that I have not forfeited the confi-
dence of my fellow-citizens. The assurances of
trust which accompanied me fro so many parts of
Germany alone enabled m° mote I h9n once to make
decisive statements without authority, actuated
merely by the consciousness of their necessity. May
that confidence which the German Governments are
epnletnittlyed! thediarhianvge also not
to them in lavish
und people of outset of the Conference, threatened by the fo-
tTo
hcelaniamtiobneale:lteu
fo-
reigner. May the Governments
Ger-
many strive in unison that it may not now be en-
dangered from within after Europe has learnt to
respect it ! May they c(rmbine their efforts that
the noble fruit which eipened at the London Cone
ference be not agai:,l lost—mutual and faithful
brotherhood betwf,el2 the German, Powers and the
~ Ciermanic Diet 1"

The Independance Beige of Sunday evening says
" The resolution suddenly formed by King Chris-
tian IX. to engage in direct negotiations for peace
with the hostile courts, in consequence of the disas-
ter of Alsen, sufficiently indicated that the pressure
of the war party at Copenhagen was beginning to
weaken, The addresses of the Chambers, approving
of the absolute abandonment of the Duehies in ex-
change for the complete emancipation of Denmark
from all Germanic influence, afford the best proof
of it. Tne Conservative journals first, and in their
wake the Dagblad, which is known to be the organ
of the party of the Eider, had shown without die-
guise the desperate situation of Denmark, and pros
claimed the necessity of taking a definitive part. It
was under these circumstances that King Christian
decided to send his young brother to Germany to
offer peace, and to dismiss the Monrad Ministry,
which was too much compromised for its continu-
ance in power not to be an obstacle to the success
of the negotiations which are going to be opened.
The despatch which brings us this news adds that
the King has charged Count Moltke, who was for.
merly part of the Bluhme Ministry, with the
formation of a new cabinet. The necessity of
making peace, even at the price of great sacrifices,
being once recognised by Denmark, the German
powers probably will not refuse to treat on this
basis, and it is to be presumed that negotiations
will proceed rapidly. Among the rumours which
the brusque determination of the King of Denmark
has given rise to, one has been circulated at Paris,
according to which King Christian offered to the
allied courts to enter with the whole Danish mo-
narchy into the German Confederation on conside-
ration that the personal union of the duchies with
the crow❑ of Denmark should be preserved. We
do not see what great advantage Germany would
find in such a combination, and we are certain that
it would please neither the Danish people nor the
European powers. We regard it simply as a con-
jecture."
The Temps of yesterday says that the entering
of Denmark into the Germanic Confederation would
be tolerated neither by France, England, nor Rus-
sia. It would perhaps tempt the German popula-
tion, by the prospect of supremacy in the Baltic,
but it would raise the liveliest resistance in the
Danish nation, the war party still preserving a
marked preponderance in the Rigsraad. " The
more we consider this Danish question as affected
by ev ents,;:the more," says the Temps, "we are
convinced that there is but one radical solution for
the difficulties of the present and the threats of the
future, and that is the Scandinavian union. Apart
from that there is nothing but the insufficient pal-
liations and convulsions of a government at bay."

Armstrong and Whitworth,

Shoeburyness has not been established all these
years without having had to go through its share
of experiments which have been found worthless
when tried, and experiments which were known
to be worthless before they were tried at all. Yet
we venture to say that few more valueless in its re-
sults either for ships or guns have ever been made
than those which have just concluded between the
competing 70-pounders of Sir Wi liam Armstrong
and Mr. Whitworth against a Warrior target.
What comparative results the Special Committee
may draw from this portion of the programme of
course we cannot say, but every one at Shoebury
knew from the commencement that it was a mere
folly and waste of time to fire such light ordnance
as 70-pounders against iron targets at all. The re-
sult has only been what all foresaw and told. The
arget is just so much shaken as to make it useless
as a test for heavier ordnance, and just so much un-
injured as to prove that men under its cover might
have slept with the most perfect confidence, and let
both uumpetitoro hammer away as they pleased
'Ws is an unsatisfactory return for the large out-
lay this ordnance competition will cost the country
and what is more unsatisfactory still is that we
must look for no better so long as the competition
is confined to 70-pounders. We are ignoring all
that we have learnt with so much cost at Shoe-
bury during the last four years; we are literally
going back to experiments which were proved to
be worthless now fully three years ago. Until
these trials commenced no one ever dreamt of
seeing a 70-pounder used at Shoebury again.
Since Sir William's breech loader 70-pounder was
withdrawn from both services it has become an ab-
normal piece—a calibre to which no one expects or
wishes we should return ; too heavy for light work,
much too light for the heavy work of smashing
iron frigates for which now-aadays naval guns
should only be made. Yet, in spite of the tremen-
dous lesson the Lord Warden target got from Sir
William's 160-pounder the other day; in spite, too,
of the equally conclusive experiment of the Rear.
sage's heavy guns on the Alabama,we once more see
at Shoebury time and skill and money deliberately
lost in bringir.g forward these guns to destroy a
Warrior target. What makes this more annoying
to those who really wish to see this great contest
have a proportionably valuable result to the country
is that side by side with the 70-pounders cn the
ground Sir William has 150-pounders, and Mr
Whitworth has another ready at Manchester which
could be brought to Shoebury in a week; yet,
strange as it may seem, it is not intended to make
any trial with these 150-pounders, which are ex.
eluded from the Special Committee's programme
altogether. The £40,000 or £50,000 which this com-
petition will certainly cost the country would be
well spent if it in any degree helped to bring out
clear and definite results on a vexed question, in
the solution of which every reflecting Englishman
must be deeply interested. What makes the matter
more singular still is that both Sir William and Mr
Whitworth are willing that their rival 150-pounders
should be tried, and each alike agrees in the futility
of trying with light 70-pounders to pierce the
massive target opposite which their guns are now

result.

placed.
Anotner uupinotiant Tettioro, no far an *hel proper
armament of our ships and batteries is concerned,
is the apparently illimitable nature, in point of
time, of the controversy which our authorities have
undertaken to settle. Sir William and Mr Whit.
worth may think that the race now lies between their
two selves, and that whoever is declared the victor
will be acknowledged to have designed the best
gan, and thus the question will be set at rest.
They may be right, or they may be wrong, in this
opinion; but, as a matter of fact, it is by no means
shared by other inventors. When this fresh com-
petition—for it is the second—was allowed between
Sir William and Mr Whitworth, other and by no
means unimportant artillerists were allowed a
trial also. Thus there are two committees to de-
cide on rifled guns, one the Special Committee,
which it is hoped will settle the Armstrong and
Whitworth rivalry ; the other the Ordnance
Select Committee, which has to choose between
the claims of five guns—the French rifled can.
non, Mr. Bashley Brittain's system, Mr. Lan-
caster's system, and the systems of Mr. Scott and
Mr. Jeffereys. EAch kind of gun has been made
at Woolwich, and experiments with some of the
five have, we believe, actually commenced. The
trials of these five guns are certain to take a much
longer time than the trials of the Armstrong and
Whitworth, which are not likely to be over before
October, nor reported on, perhaps, before the end of
the year. At present nothing is known of an
authoritative kind of the performances of the
five guns we have spoken of, but among them there
are said to be at least two which can equal if they
do not surpass either Armstrong or Whitworth. If
these promises ate supported by performances, it
follows as a matter of course that the best of these
five guns will claim, and be allowed to try, conclu-
sions with whichever is victor of the Armstrong or
Whitworth. Thus,. Wen, about this time twelve-
month, at the earlieeti we shall begin really to get

on the track of the best gun, i f no better invention,
or what is claimed to be a better invention, turns up
in the interval to insist on another endless trial. In
the meantime the supply of rifled guns to the forts
and fleets stands still, while ali Europe and Ame-
rica are manufacturing them by hundreds. The im-
portance of the time we are now lo3ing may not be
remembered is we remain at peace—it will never be
forgotten should we unfortunately become involved
in war. Rifled guns cannot be manufactured off-
band by scores like the cast iron rubbish cf old ;
and the worst rifled gun is better than the best
smooth-bore ever cast. The most uncompromising
partisan of Armstrong or Whitworth will always
admit that they are both admirable guns—the !Asti
certainly, that are known to exist in any country.
Is it too much, then, to ask, in the interest of the
public, that a certain number, say 100, of the 150-
pounders on each system should be ordered at once
and placed on board the large ships in commission,
there to be used with the other guns under all the
varying conditions of temperature, wind, weather,
and range which an ordinary cruise of six months
would be sure to develope ? The public who read
the marvellous results obtained at Shoebury in this
competition hug themselves with the idea that all
is going well, and that the country possesses an
invincible ordnance. This is a fatal delusion. It
cannot be too strongly impressed upon their minds
that these guns are being tried not manufactured.
War to-morrow would find this country without
any recognized rifle gun in either service, and what
is worse, with no means of manufacture to supply a
fraction of the want in this respect which hostilities
would instantly call forth. Nothing, in fact, can
be more unsatisfactory or even more dangerous than
the present state of our rifled gun question. The
old saying of " two stools" would have a fresh illus-
tration of its truth in the number of our ships that
would some to the ground if war broke out suds
denly.

One of the most recent stages of the competition
with the 12-pounder field-guns was made with their
trail buried in the ground, so as to enable the guns
to get the enormous elevation of 33 deg. Several
rounds were fired, and at this contest for range
Mr. Whitworth gained a most clear victory, as,
indeed, in the matter of range he has throughout
been more or less ahead of the shunt gun. This,
indeed, was to be expected from the much smaller
circular area, and therefore diminished resist-
ance, of his shot. But what at trials of 6,8,
or 10 degrees had at most only been 400 yards,
at 33 degrees rose to a most formidable gain. In
rough numbers Mr Whitworth averaged the im-
mense range of 8,800 yards, or a little short of five
miles, and Sir William's shunt gan averaged about
6,700 yards, or short of four miles—an increase of
range to Mr Whit worth of nearly a mile and a quar-
ter. Even if we call it only a mile, this is a most
important advantage. It may be said that field-guns
are rarely, if ever, wanted to be used at this eleva-
tion, which is true enough, but it is equally true
that the gun which possesses it in addition to other
qualifications is in range by so much the better gun,
and unless the committee consider that what is
gained in superiority of range by diminished area
of shot is lost in efficiency as a shell gun, this vic-
tory of Mr Whitworth's must weigh seriously in
their decision.

As regards the trials against the armour with the
70-pounders, we have already expressed our opi-
nion as to their very unsatisfactory nature and
Two things, however, they have very
conclusively proved, if proof were needed, which
are—first, the immense importance and value of Mr
Chalmers's principle of backing targets; and, second,
that though there are no soft places in a target,
there are some which are very much harder than
others. Singularly enough, as regards Mr. Chat.
mers's principle, two allots, ono from Sir Wil•
liam's shunt-gun, and one from Mr. Whitworth's,
struck full upon a plate where it was supported
behind by one of the horizontal stringers which
are used at wide intervals in the Warrior piAi of
building, but which, according to Mr Chalmers's
patent, ought to be used at intervals of about
nine inches apart. All were astonished to see that
these two shots fired at 50 yards had failed to
penetrate to little more than one-third of the depth
which on the previous day they had accomplished
at 600 yards. It was some minutes before this
apparent mystery was solved by finding that both
shots had struck on where, as we have said, the
plate was supported by one of the stringers pro-
posed by Mr. Chalmers, and all on the ground
could only look with astonishment at this unex-
pected proof of the value of an invention which to
this hour the Admiralty persist in depreciating. As
to striking upon hard parts, it often happened that
the shot struck on bolt heads or just in front of
where the plate was supported by a main rib, and
though, of course, in war there would be the same
chances to contend against, yet in a trial of this
kind the widely differing results, according as the
shots strike on supported or unsupported parts,
make it exceedingly difficult to arrive at a good
general average of the performance of each gun.
Mr. Whitworth got a fine result from one of his
shells, which went clear through the armour plate,
and burst in the wooden backing, giving the target
a great shake and slightly, but very slightly bulging
the inner skin. With one of his shells, also, Sir Wil-
liam got a still finer result, drawing the lower plate
on which it struck with all its massive bolts bodily
forward, nearly 2in., knocking off the,heads of 10
out of the 40 bolts, which fastened all the plates of
the target, and setting the target itself on fire. This
shell shook the target more than any which was
fired against it. With solid shot the result was
pretty equal—that is to say, all got more or less of
their noses through the plate, and some got through
it almost entirely, except when, as we have said,
they happened to hit on very hard places. It must
be recollected, however, that the small sectional
area of Mr. Whitworth's shot has always enabled
it to penetrate iron:; it is in damaging effect that
his solid shot frequently fails. The sectional area
of the Whitworth is 23,75, of the Armstrong 31.17,
and the reerk to be done in penetration must be taken
inversely as the areas, that is it DOM shot penetrate
say Gin., the Armstrong would have done more by
reason of its having made the larger hole. From
this competition against iron Sir William withdrew
his side- wedge breech-loader, and, though it remains
to compete in other stages, it is by its withdrawal
from the armour contest virtually put out of this
competition altogether. From its lightness this in-
dividual breech-loader can effect very little worth
speaking of against armour, and Sir William per•
haps did well in withdrawing it, lest its failure might
have damaged the reputation of the principle of
this breech-loading system. This new principle of
closing the breech by powerful wedges of such
solidity that it is apparently almost impossible
to break them, while they fit with such accu-
racy as to slide easily into their places, seems
to answer very well up to the present. It is most
earnestly to be wished that either this or some
other principle of breech-loading for our heavy
pins may be discovered by mechanicians, for with-
out some such apparatus the use of very heavy
ordnance, which seems now absolutely essentteist
on board ships, will be attended with the grc
made last
difficulties. In the trials for rapid firing
week, when each gun was to fire 120 rounds at a
get)
.4,through its
target, this new breech-loader
hitworth
th. . in
in 132 minutes.
work splendidly in 88 minutes,
127 minutes, and the shunt gull
withutt.ere was some
water, merely
h
All the guns were worked
ones or twice.
dry sponged, and
difficulty in getting home the wed
wedges of the breech-
loader, which were covered with the white dry sul-
phurous deposit of the
powder. After it had got
through its task a bucket of water was thrown
into the breech,
when all parts instantly worked
with the most perfect ease. Once during these ex-
periments with the heavy guns Mr Whitworth's
shot jammed in the muzzle, and was not got home
without great difficulty and the use of a heavy

metal rammer. This is the first time1a.100,,.,,',.;
occurred with Mr Whitworth's gun ; but
occasions there has been great difficulty in geiklf g
home, the shot of the shuntguo, which has -
been accomplished after continued blows. All these
hitches may, in a great measure, be said to arise
from the trials being concluded with dry guns—that
is, no wet sponging allowed to remove the fouling.
Considering that these guns are intended entirely
for the naval service, where, as a matter of course,
a bucket of water can always be got on shipboard,
and where, as a fact, wet sponges are always used,
it seems curious that the ordnance at Shoebury
should not all be worked with wet sponges. How-
ever, it is indisputable that a gun which works well
dry will work still easier wet, and so far, therefore,
it is not an unfair condition cf trial, and, fair or un-
fair, it is applied with the must. rigorous imp',/,'
ti&lity to all.
During all this week trials will go on with the
70 pounders for rauge end accurr.ey. The fe.:ld
guns have now fired bearly 2;500 rounds each. Im-
pressions taken cf their burrs lest week show no
perceptible wear—in fact, for war purposca they
are all as good es the Cloy they ciime from proof at
Woolwich.

The Prince and Princess of Wales at
Clothworkers'-hall,

Yesterday the corporation of Clothworh-crs, one of the
oldest and wealthiest of the ancient guilds of the city of
London, presented the freedom of their order to the Prince
of Wales, and afterwards entertained his Royal Highness
with the Princess of Wales and a select company at lun-
cheon in their hall in Mincing•lane. In February, 1863,
at a special meeting of the Court of Assistants, as the
governing body is designated, his Royal Highness was
unanimously elected a freeman of the company, on the
motion of Mr Justice Willes, seconded by Alderman Sir
John Musgrove, the Court desiring thereby to manifest its
loyalty and attachment to the Throne and its esteem for his
Royal Highness. The resolution electing him to the freedom
recorded the fact that his illustrious and lamented father had
conferred upon their ancient and loyal corporation the honour
of accepting a similar compliment at their hands, and also
of becoming a liveryman. The Ciothworkers were incorpo-
rated by Royal Charter in 14$0, in the reign of Edward IV.,
and the guild at different periods of its histo..- has enrolled
kings, princes, statesmen, and other distinguished persons
among its members. In 1607, during the mayoralty of Sir
John Watts, himself a Clothworker, James I. was admitted
to the brotherhood and entertained at'a grand banquet in
the hall, in consideration of which his Majesty was pleased
" of his princely bounty" to order that two brace of bucks be
presented to the company yearly for ever--a behest which
is observed to this day. Again, in 1662, Sir John Robinson,
then Lieutenant of the Tower of London and Lord Mayor,
entertained in the hall of the company Charles 11. and his
Queen, the Queen Mother, and their Royal Highnesses the
Duke and Duchess of York. On the 25th of March, 1814,
the Dukes of Kent and Sussex honoured the company with
their presence at a banquet, as did also in 1844 the then
Premier, Sir Robert Peel, and the rest of her Majesty's
Ministers ; and in 1860 his Royal Highness the late Prince
Consort. Secretary Pepys, the author of the famous Diary,
was a member of the company, and presented them with a
magnificent drinking cup of silver gilt, which they retain
to this day and aro justly proud of exhibiting.
The ancient hall of the company, then upwards of 180
years old, was restored after the fire of London in 1666, but
having, nearly 200 years later, become dilapidated by time
and unsuited to the requirements of the corporation it was
taken down, and the present stately edifice was erected on
its site in 1859. A memoir of the company states that "the
associations of the old hall were venerated. Kings, Princes,
and nobles of the land had assembled there, and met men
eminent in every station of life. It was decorated with the
effigies and records of the bequests of the good and great,
and it had an aspect of comfort as well as of state." The
present hall is one of the most magnificent of the kind in
the city of London, though as yet but little known. Situated
in a crowded thoroughfare and among a class of modern
edifices, some of them more like palaces than places devoted
to trade and commerce, its exterior, handsome though it be,
is apt to escape notice. The most imposing feature of the
interior of the building is the banqueting hall, which is of
stately proportions and elaborately decorated. The roof,
divided into small compartments, is supported on pillars of
polished granite and splendidly embellished with gold. The
arms of the twelve principal civic companies are emblazoned
on the walls, and those of eminent past masters, in stained
glass, ornament the windows. The banqueting hall is ap-
proached by a spacious vestibule and a noble flight of stairs,
which is lighted by a lantern in the roof of elegant propor-
tions and design. A spacious court room, a reception room,
and two drawing rooms make up the rest of the interior of
the building.
The ceremony of yesterday took place in the court room.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess arrived
at the ball at half-past 1 o'clock, and were received at the
entrance with every mark of consideration and respect by
the Master and Wardens, accompanied by their clerk, Mr
It. B. Towse, all of whom wore their robes of office. A
detachment of the Hon. the Artillery Company, of which
his Royal Highness is Captaln General and Colonel, formed
a guard of honour on the occasion, under the command of
Capt. Ritherdon. On alighting the Prince and Princess
were tuwily cheered by the peoplo who had auszeuddaa cut..

bic;,,, and the b ,nd played the Notional Anthem. nom tho
cwrance their s,cs were escort, d to the re-
ception room, where the Wardens and members of the
Court of Assistants had the honour of being formally pre-
sented to them. Their Royal Highnesses were attended by
the Marchioness of Carmarthen, Earl Spencer, Lieut.-Gen.
Knollys, and Capt. Grey. The Prince wore the blue
riband of the Order of the Garter on the occasion. Their
Royal Highnesses were then conducted to the court room,
attended by the members of their suite and household men-
tioned, and the Mat ters, Wardens, and Assistants being
constituted a Court, the ceremony began. The Duke of
Manchester, the Bishop of London and Mrs. Tait, and Miss
Burdett Coutts were also present among others. The Master

having requested the Prince and Princess to be seated, the
clerk of the company (Mr Towse) read the resolution of the
Court inviting his Royal Highness to assume the freedom.
This done, the MASTER (the Rev. Edward John Ward,
A.M.), addressing the Prince, who rose as he did so, said
the pleasing duty devolved upon him of requesting his Royal
Highness to accept the freedom and livery of the Com-
pany of Clothworkers, and of expressing, on the part of the
governing body, their sense of the honour his Royal High-
ness had conferred upon them by condescending to become
a member of their ancient guild. He hoped that might not
be the last occasion on which they would be honoured by
the presence of his Royal Highness. They esteemed it a
high privilege to enrol the name of his much-lamented
father on the list of their brotherhood, and they trusted
that hereafter, as in times past, there would be a continuous
association between them and the Royal family of this king-
dom. The Master then handed to the Prince the gold box
enclosing the document relating to the freedom, and re-
marking that it was set in a table of chestnut wood, part of
a beam of the ancient hall of the company, on the site of
which the present building was erected.
His ROYAL HIGILNESS, turning to the Master, Wardens,
and Assistants, assured them that it was a great source of
gratification to him to receive the freedom of their company
and to be enrolled among its members, and he thanked the
Master for the kind words he had been pleased to address to
him on the occasion.
The Clerk then tendered to the Prince the accustomed
oath, which he took and subscribed. It pledged his Royal
Highness substantially as a freeman to be good and true to
oar Sovereign Lady Queen. Victoria ; to observe, maintain,
and keep the laws and ordinances for the government of
" the fellowship of the art or mystery of clothworkers," and
for its common profit; to be obedient at all times and in all
lawful matters to the Master, Wardens, and Assistants, and
to attend before them at all times upon a lawful summons
either of clerk or beadle, having no lawful or reasonable
excuse to the contrary.
On day ulutiuu ut Alderman Sir J. Musa'toVE, seconded
by Mr Alderman ROSE, M.P., the seal of the companY was
affixed to the deed of enrolment, and with that the ore-
roony terthinated.
The Prince and Princess were then conducted to the.ban"
and on lath:11re::
queting hall, where their Royal Highnesses
which was served with befitting splendour. The Master
presided at the entertainment,
of the Master, the Marquis
right hand, and the Prince on his left,thnee
dent.-General linollys, and
and left of their Royal Highnesses were Duke of Man-
chester, Mrs Ward,
and Marchioness of Carmarthen, the Bishop of London
and Mrs Tait, Earl Spencer, 1.4
Captain Grey, Miss Burdett / Mrs Thwaytes, and
and 'lend s. The hall was taste-
fully Lieut, Colonel Csvendish. The
the Wardenseonipally Asstt 150
ter theref-
of
the a r
company,
a Assistants d and
ith nhi
membersn
Teni
dhruemtahnivibecelAcreo decoratedbs, raa their
chair of
oiawfri
teieftt.cahl:u
tdi
Master
ee
ad a
bannerss
was a grand display of
gave the toast cf " The Queen," which
was drunk with every mark cf respect. He afterwards
proposed in complimentary terms, " The Prince and Prin-
cess of Wales.”
His Royal
taid.::mneassstetrh, emPyrtLloNrcdEs:dies, respondingan d Gentle-
men,--I h
compliment,
beg to tender my wannest thanks ler the very
kind words in which the Master has proposed my health
and that of the Princess, and for the way in which the
the
wife
coe:tt.t.s the
Frincsa
sat
on
his
toast h4s been received by every person in this hall. I need
hardly assure you that it has been a source of sincere gra-
tification to me to-day to be enrolled as a member of this
ancient corporation. I feel proud to think tint I follow in
that• respect in the footsteps of those Kings, ray ancestors
and relations, and of my beloved and lamented father, who
received a similar compliment at the hands of the company;
In my turn I beg to propose a toast, which I am sure
will be well received in this hall. It is " Prosprity to
the Clothworkers' Company, coupled with the Master and
Wardens."
The MASTER having acknowledged the honour which
his Royal Highness had paid them, the Prince and Prin-
cess took their departure, attended as before. Their
Royal Highnesses wereescaVtehdeyteletfht etihrechearlrliatghee by the
Master and Wardens, and
outside raised an enthusiastic cheer.

..---gs----"-...--------_
11,0 AYL ITALIAN OPERA,
Covent-garden.
Last Week but Two.
Mdlle. Artot.
TFIIS EVENING (Tuesday), July' 12, will bc performed
Verdi's opera, in three acts, LA TB..AVIATA. Vio'etta,
Mae. Artot ; Flora Bervoix, Madame Tagliafico ; Annina,
151d11,.. Si ; Georgio Germont, Si no Graziani ; Baron
Duphol, Si nor Tagli,iileo II astone, Sig-nor Lucchesi;
pottore Grenvil, Sig Capponi ; Giuseppe, Signor Roaei ;
an d Alfredo, Signor Naudin.
Conductor, Mr. Costa.
Ater which the Divertissement, L'lle Enchantee. Sup-
ported by 3ldlle. Salvioni, Mdile. Car Min, Millie. Navarre,
II dlle. Assunta, M. ")esplaces, and Mr. W. 11. raYIIC.
Commence at half past Eight.
Fit tickets, 7s. ; amphitheatre t,ta Is, 10s. 6d., 78.,
ampldtheatre.:2B. 6d. Boxes, stalls, and tickets may be had
at the t,ox-offict! under the portico of the theatre, which is
open froo ten to five, and at the principal musicsellcrs' and
librarians '..
__________..--. -------.

___
___-.. --_
11 0Y A 17_, PRINCESS'S THEATRE,—.
Sole Lcssee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining.
`MIS EVENITNG, BORN TO GOOD LUCK. paddy
O'Rafferty, Mr. Dominick Murray.
After which. the ne;v play by John Oxenford, Esq., THE
MONASTERY OF SI. JCS l' : .Messrs. Vining-, H. M4r
too, J. Nelson, J. NV. Ray, H. Mellon, W. Robins, t_. Seyton,
Chapman ; Mrs. H. Mazsto.l, and 3ldlle. Stella Colas.
----------

NEW THEATRE-11,0 Y AL, ADELPHI.—
Sole Proorietor and Manajer. 31r. B. Webster.
THIS EVENING, SHAKSPEILE'•S HOUSE. Mr. J. L.
Toole, Mr. R. Phillips.
After which, JANET PRIDE Mea.Ars. B. Webster, J. L.
T0.,1e, P. Bedford, St fart, son. Stephen Kola
; Mit3S Woolg-ar,
3liss Denman.
ELLE, with a
Woolgar, and
horrible Tale:
Followed by THE AREA B
Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, K. itornerMies
Mrs. H. Lewis.

terms (there is really no other word for it) upon
that portentous mare's nest discovered by Mr.
CAVENDISH BENTINCK, the rumoured compact en-
tered into between the Irish Catholic Members and
the chiefs of the Conservative Opposition. Only
that we regard this absurd canard as really too
contemptible in its way for one moment's serious
consideration, we should be tempted to quote
the article, here referred to, in its entirety.
As it is, the division list has caused Mr. BEN-
TINCK'S extravagant hallucination to melt into
thin air—leaving, still vibrating as it were, upon
the tympanum of our memory, a very ludicrous
sense of that gentleman's noisy outburst of virtuous
indignation !