The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-05 00:00:00

Experiments at Shoeburyness,

The long expected contest between the Whitworth
and Armstrong systems of artillery commenced yes-
terday afternoon at Shoeburyness in the presence of
most of the members of the Select Ordnance Com-
mittee and a large number of noblemen and gentle-
men interested in the subject.

Sir William Armstrong is represented by three
12 pounder breech-loaders and three muzzle-loading
shunt guns of the same calibre, and Mr. Whitworth
by three muzzle-loaders of the same size. These nine
guns are already on the ground, and three 70 poun-
der Armstrong breechsloaders, and three 70 pounder
Whitworth muzzle-loaders are on their way from
Woolwich to Shoebury.
The details of the trial are kept secret at present,
but it is pretty well known that a minimum of 3,000
rounds will be fired from each gun. The contest will
extend over a period of two or three months, if not
more. At first sight this seems to be an unneces-
sary expenditure of time and money, but the com-
mittee are desirous of testing these arms to their
very utmost capacity, at every range, with every
variety of projectile and against every kind of de•
fence. They will also be tested with reference to the
quickness with which they can be charged and fired.
After the 3,000 rounds have been fired, it is believed
that the guns will be subjected to a series of proofs
with gradually increasing charges of powder.
The trial c)mmenced yesterday with one each
of the three descriptions of 12 pounders. Seven
rounds of solid shot, three of dead segmental shells,
and five of dead common shells were fired point
blank, to test the exact range of each gun. Six
rounds of solid shell were then fired at 1 degree of
elevation, and the contest was prematurely stopped
by a violent storm of rain and wind, which swept
across the marshes from the south-west. Up:to the
last three or four rounds the weather had been most
balmy and spring-like, there being hardly a breath
of wind stirring to interfere with the practice.
A 3 so much work has to be gone through, it will
hardly be possible to get even a glimpse of the re-
sults of this most important and interesting contest
before at least seven or eight weeks have elapsed.
The results of the more interesting experiments
will be given from time to time, but it must be re-
membered that they will only form units in the
figure of merit that is to decide the contest.

Since last the Whitworth 12-pounders were tried
at Shoabury Mr. Whitworth has strengthened them
with an extra coil at the breech, making them
nearly 20 per cent. heavier than the Armstrongs of
corresponding calibre, which weigh rather more
than Bcwt. He also, at the suggestion of the Ord-
nance Committee, opened a vent through the top of
the breech as well es through the caseable, the
method of firing the gun through the caseable vent
being thought dangerous to the gunnels. The gull
tried yesterday was fired through the breech vent,
but the caseable vent can be easily unplugged and
used, if necessary, as the danger incurred from the
flying pieces is obviated by the vent being pro-
tected by a tube attached to the caseable.

Extraordinary Outrage on a Liverpool
Surgeon,

On Saturday night an outrage unprecedented in
its impudence and atrocity was commited upon Mr.
William Palmer Rowe, surgeon, Pembroke-place,
Liverpool. The facts of the case appear to be these :
Mr. Rowe some time ago corresponded with
a Mies Beaty, who afterwards married Mr.
James Brice, of the firm of Brice and Com-
merce, of Liverpool. The correspondence took
place prior to ber marrisge, but Brice appears
to have supposed they were still in commu-
nication, and to have taken summary action in
the matter. On Saturday night, a few minutes
before 8 o'clock, two gentlemen, afterwards found to
he James Brice and James Scott, an Irish farmer,
called at Mr. Rowe's house, and asked to see Mr.
Rowe. They were shown into a front room, and
Mr. Rowe shortly joined them, and the door• was
closed. Shortly afterwards cries of "Murder" were
heard by the ostler in the yard, and Mr. Reeve's
assistant heard his master say, "How dare you do
this in my house ?" Supposing something was wrong
he ran out, without informing the family, and
brought in a policeman, who was accompanied by
Inspector Crawley. The inspector heard the cries
of "Murder," and was about to enter the room,
when Mr. Rowe's mother and sister desired him not
to do so, as they believed that Da R )we was per-
forming an operation. He accordingly delayed a
short time; but as the cries continued, he at last
knocked at the door, and was about to force it, when
it was opened by Scott ; and on entering they found
Brioe and Scott in the room, and Mr. Rowe lying on
the floor, bleeding profusely from the mouth and
nose, and quite insensible. Brice and Scott were
given into custody on a charge of assault and at-
tempted robbery, and they were taken to the main
bridewell, where they were released on bail. In
the meantime medical assistance was called in. Drs.
Pennington, Barnes, and Parker examined Mr.
Rowe, and found his injuries c.. 0 be much more seri-
ous than was at first supposed. In short, they
considered him to be in an imminently dangerous
state, There had been excessive etrangulation, the
lungs were gorged with blood, and the heart much
oppressed. The breathing was very difficult, there
being thirty respirations a minute. On a more care-
ful examination it was found that the inner bone of
the left ancle was broken, and that the ancle was also
dislocated. The medical gentlemen recommended
that the injured man's deposition should be taken.
This was accordingly done by superintendent Ryde,
Mr. Superintendent Boyd being present. The
attendance of a magistrate was not deemed neces-
sary for this purpose. The nature of this deposition
was such that it was thought desirable to have the
men re-apprehended; and they, being met in a cab
in the street, accompanied by Brice's father-in-law,
Mr. Beaty, were brought back again to main bride-
well, where they are now in custody, and will be
brought up before Mr. Reifies this morning. The
particulars of what took place in the room appear
to be, so far as can be ascertained, as follows :—On
Mr. Rowe entering the room both gentlemen ap-
peared unknown to him, though he afterwards
thought he had seen Brice before. Mr. Brice an-
nounced himself'; the other man was not named.
Mr. Brice demanded certain letters and a locket from
Mr. Rowe. Mr. Rowe refused to give them up.
Thereupon Scott walked to the door of the room,
bolted it, and in turning round drew from kis sleeve
a riding whip, which was afterwards found to be
heavily loaded, and said, " I will now do what we
do in Ireland." He advanced towards Mr. B. we,
flourishing it, whereupon Mr. Rowe stopped back
and took up the fire shovel. Brice immediately
took up the poker, and together they closed upon
Mr. Rowe; Scott seized him by the handkerchief
and thrust him into a low chair, placing his other
band over his mouth and his knee upon his chest.
The violence then used was so great that blood
gushed from his mouth ; Brice, meanwhile, held
his legs. Mr. Rowe, however, being a strong man,
partly recovered himself, and seizing the poker
which Brice had dropped, struck Scott on the fore-
head and rushed to the other side of the room,
Scott again closed with him and kicked him on the
leg, and broke it. He fell to the floor, and Brice
then called out, " Now, use the whip ; lay on him
well.' Mr. Rowe, in the meantime, cried " Mur-
der" several times, but the blows now received made
him insensible. The prisoners then appear to have
removed his watch in searching for the locket, when
they were disturbed by the police inspector.
The accused were brought up at the Liverpool
Police-court yesterday (Monday).
The only evidence offered was that of Dr. Parker,
who said that Dr. Rowe was in a most dangerous
and critical condition, and could not of course ap-
pear. Mr. Cobb, who appeared for the defence,
applied for two other medical men to see Dr. Rowe,
but Mr. Raffles said he could not interfere.' Bail
was also refused, and the prisoners were remanded
for seven days.

Great sympathy is felt in Liverpool for Dr. Rowe,
who is a most popular and rising surgeon, and
whose recovery is exceeding!y problematical.

Persons in debt may obtain instant protection against
Imprisonment or seizure of their goods, and an entire release
from all debts and liaLilities without publicity, by application
to Messrs. Marshall, sollo tors of the Court of Bankruptcy.
Charges under £5 payable by easy instalments. Offices—
(established 1830), V, liatton-garden. City branch-6, Moor-
gate-street, Bank.—Apyr.

Naval and Military Intelligence,

THE NAVY.

VALETTA, March 27:-Iter Majesty's screw storeship
Fox, 2, Staff Commander T. C. Pullen, arrived yeethrday
from Corfu, heavily laden with War-office stores; and on
discharging will return for a fresh cargo. She brings no
particular news of interest. The demolitiOn of the
forts was actively gelhg Oii lip to the tithe of her
departtire (the 21th instant), and no accident of any
kind had occurred. The Liffey, 35, Captain G. Parker,
had arrived there from the coast of Syria, and was loading
ordnance.stores for Malta. The other ships there were the
Orlando, 46, Capt. G. G. Randolph (senior officer); the Peli-
can,l7, Commander Gomber (arrived therefrom Alexandria),
and the Growler tender. The Liffey may be expected here
to-morrow or next day. The Cossack, 20, Capt. W. R.
Rolland, was at Zante, loading the hired transport Thorn-
hill with stores. The Foxhound, 4, Commander W. A.
Anderson, has been ordered to Malta, having been relieved
at Patras by the Trident, 3, Commander C. J. Balfour, and
was to call at Corfu for War-office stores, and at Benghazi
to embark Vice-Consul Reads, who has been appointed to
Scutari. The only ships at the Firma are the Revenge, 73,
bearing the flag of Rear Admiral H. R. Yelverton, C. 8.,
Capt. the Hon. F. A. Foley ; the Resistance, 18, iron-cased
ship, Capt. W. C. Chamberland ; and the Wanderer, 4,
Commander M. C. Seymour. There have been some dis-
turbances at Patras, owing to the 9th Greek Regimen,
having mutinied, and the Magicienne, 16, Capt. W. Army-
tage, has in consequence been sent there from Malta. She
left this on the 23d inst, The Phoebe, 35, Capt. T. D. A.
Fortescue, and the Chanticleer, 17, Commander E. F. Risk,
were at Alexandretta on the 21st of March. The ships in
Malta harbour are the Marlborough, 121, flog of Vice- Admi-
ral Smart, Capt.C. Fellowes; the Royal Oak, 35, iron•
eased ship, Capt. F. C. Campbell; the Gibraltar, 81, Capt.
J. C. Prevost (refitting) ; the Surprise, 4, Commander W.
H. Whyte (refitting) ; the Caradoc, 2, Lieut.-Commander
E. Wilkinson (repairing) ; the Psyche, 2, Lieut.-Commander
R. Sterne; and the surveying vessels Hydra, Commander
A. Mansell, and the Firefly, Lieut.-Commander G. 8.,
Wilkinson. The latter two vessels will proceed to sea
in the first week of April to resume surveying service, the
former in the lonian sea, and the latter in the Malta
Channel, between Sicily and Tunis. There are also in port
a Dutch frigate, the Prince Mauritz of the Netherlands, 18,
and the Egyptian Government steamer Jefferia, which
arrived on Thursday from Alexandria, on her way to
England, to be lengthened. The Racoon, 22, Capt.
Count Gleichen, has been taken on the strength of
the Mediterranean fleet, and was at Gibraltar by the last
accounts. On the 220 inst. Mr. F. Smiley, Assist.-Engineer
second class, of the Psyche, was tried by court-martial on
board the Hibernia, President, Capt. Campbell, of the Royal
Oak, and officiating Judge Advocate Mr. T. Royle, R.N.,
on the following charges :-1. Of conduct unbecoming the
character of an officer in striking W. Barrington, ordinary
seaman of the Marlborough, and threatening to strike Joseph
Bromidge, Master-at-arms of the same ship, when on shore
at Valetta; and 2. Of drunkenness on shore. He was sen-
tenced to be dismissed the service, but in consideration of
his previotis good conduct and the good testimonials produced
by him he was recommended to the favourable consideration
of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. On the 26th
inst. another court -martial was held on board the Hibernia,
to try Mr. D. Langlands, engineer of the Caradoc, for strik-
ing his senior engineer and another engineer, and for drunk-
enness—President of the Court, Capt. Campbell, of the
Royal Oak, and officiating Judge Advocate Mr. T. Royle,
Royal Navy. He was sentenced to be dismissed the sera
vice. Her Majesty's ship Meanee, 60, Capt. G. Wodehouse,
is entering port from Corfu.
The line-of-battle screw steamer Bombay, 400 horse power,
Capt. C. A. Campbell, fitting in No. 3 dry dock at Chatham,
will be out of the hands of the shipwrights to-day, the
operation of planing the docks having been completed yes-
terday evening. During the time she has been in dock her
poop has been lengthened forward, and additional cabins
and offices erected for the Admiral and his suite. She has
also been strengthened throughout. The Bombay is a teak-
built ship, and was constructed in the East Indies for an
80-gun sailing vessel. She was subsequently sent to this
country and placed in dock at Chatham, where she was cut
asunder, lengthened, and converted into a screw steamer,
since which she has been lying idle in Chatham harbour.
According to existing arrangements she will leave dock on
the 7th inst., and will afterwards proceed to the south-
east coast of America to relieve the Forte, 39, 400-
horse power, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral R. L Warren,
Most of the officers who have been appointed have joined
and taken up their ccmmissions. There appears, however,
to be a difficulty in manning this vessel, as she has only
received a portion of her crew. Within the lest few days
the once common, but latterly unusual, course has been
resorted to by the Admiralty—of issuing large placards,
announcing that petty officers and able seamen are required
for the Bombay. A rendezvous for raising men has also
been opened at Chatham, but up to the present time the
hands come in more slowly then is wished, and unless she
is detained at Chatham some time she will leave the Med.
way short of her complement of seamen.
A letter received by our Chatham correspondent from on
board her Majfrty's ship Conqueror, 73, 500 horse-power,
Capt. W. Luard, reports the arrival of that vessel at St.
Simon's Bay on the 12th of February with the battalion of
Royal Murices on board, fur service in Japan. The Con-
queror was expected to sail on the following morning. The
whole of the Reyal Marines, a; well as the crew of the
vessel, were in good health, with the exception of First-
Lieut. A. Donellan and Second-Lieut. E. T. Richards,
Royal Marines, both of whom had been invalided. Her
Maksty's vessels in Simon's Bay at the departure of the
mail were—the Narcissus, 30, 409 horse-power, Capt. J. G.
Bickford, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Baldwin W.
Walker, K.C.B‘ ; the Rapid, 11, 15) horse-power, Com-
mander C. T. Tago ; and the Wasp, 13, 100 horse-power,
Capt. W. Bowden, which latter vessel arrived on the 12th
of February from Madeira; there was else a French gun-
vessel lying at anchor in the bay.

The following appointments were made yesterday at the
Admiralty :--James H. Kers, master, to the Duncan, for
surveying service—Richard L. Canney, chief enginner, to
the Himalaya—Thomas H. Symons, chief engineer, to the
Indus, for the Forth—James K. Keay, first class assist
engineer, to the Indus—Job Annable, first class assist
engineer, to the Himalaya—lvie A. Couper, second class
assist engineer, to the Himalaya—J. Preeble, second class
assist engineer, to the Hector—Henry Trafferd, nominated
to a naval cadetship.
The following appointments have been made in the Royal
Naval Reserve—To be Lieut., Williams Richards—and to
be Hon, Lieut., Gaorge Wm. Pierrepoint Bentinck, ALP.