The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-15 00:00:00

TRIAL OF ARMOUR PLATES.

Danmark is following in the wake of the great
Gratinental Powers, who, before commencing their
armourclads, have instituted competitive trials
between the resistance offered by various plates of
the same thickness manufactured in England and in
France. The announcement mode some time back
that French plates were about to compete with ours
ta
fir erds
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ment, and which became almost one of consternation
when at a trial of some French plates at Portsmouth
they gave some really remarkable results as re-
garded their powers cf resistance. How the French
managed to produce such good plates as were then
experimented upon is a mystery to this day ; for,
although since the unlooked for success of these few
specimens they have regularly competed side by
side with ours in various parts of Europe, their
hb.ilure has been so rapid and so total as to drive
them out of the market almost as quickly as they had
entered
t. Nowhere were they more signally de-
tested than ,',efore the French officers at Vincennes,
and since that time they have been officially con-
demned in Russia, .11olland, Sweden, England, and
now, again, in Denms.i:k• This last experiment was
begun in the arsenal near Copenhagen on the 27th
of last month. The trial lasted over several days
and the results have just been made public. Five
plates were experimented upon—namely, one from
Gaudet and Co., Lyons ; one from the Lancefield
Company, Glasgow ; one from the Thames Ironworks,
London ; one from Messrs. Rigby's works, Glas-
gow; and one from the Atlas works of Brown and
Co., Sheffield. All the plates were or about the same
size-15ft by 3/ft; each was 41-in thick, and backed
to resemble the Warrior target, which is evellywhere
taken as the standard of resistance, upon 18'n. of
teak beams. The guns used were the usual 95ewt.
63-pounder naval ordnance, loaded with the fall
service charge of 161 b. After three shots at each
plate those of Gaudet and Co., the Lancefield works,
and Thames Ironworks were so injured as to be de-
clared by the Commission to be unfit for farther
competition. Messrs. Rigby's plate received four
shots as close together as they could be aimed, and
Messrs. Brown and Co.'s five shots, similarly
directed, in a small space, without either showing
signs of crack and very little of yielding. The firing
was resumed on the 4th of this month, whtn another
42-inch plate of Messrs. Cammell and Co., of Shef-
field, was added to the list of competitors, and it
was then determined by the Commission to continue
the firing as nearly as possible upon the same spot
on each plate till it was fairly destroyed. Messrs.
Cammell's plate was the first of the three which.
yielded. Eight shots destroyed it, but both the
seventh and the eighth carried away large pieces of
the iron which had previously cracked. Messrs.
Rigby's plate tools seven shots in addition to what;
it had received on the first day before it was broken
through, and the eighth shot carried a large piece
of the plate through the backing. The firing at
this plate, however, had, ae it happened, been more
than that against Cammell's. Messrs.
Brown and Co.'s plate received nine shots, in a space
of 60 inches by 30 inches. The " last straw" was
the ninth shot, which cracked the plate severely,
bat no part of it was broken, nor, comparatively
sneaking, was the backing irjared. The Thnish.
C3mmission, therefore, declared the order of merit
to be—Messrs. John ltroa'n and. Cn., Shcfn:!!de
first; Messrs. Rigby and Ca., GlasgoW, seeottl ;
and Messes. Cammell and Co., Sheffield, third.

THE GREAT CLOCK.--" It is a triumph. of ingenuity."
Daily Telegraph, 31, 1832. Clocks by the first artists
of the day for the drawing room, diming room. bed room.
library, hall, staircase, bracket, carriage, church, turret, rail-
ways, warehouse, counting house, musical, and astronomical.
Church and turret chcks specially estimated for. Benson's
illustrated pamphlet un clocks Oren by post for two stamps),
with descriptions and prices, enables those who live in any
part of-the world to Klee a clock. Also a short pamphlet
on cathedral and public cloc,o, tree fur one stamp. P
medal and izonourable mention in classes 3; and 15. J. W.
Benson, 33 and 34, Luc gate-hill, London. Established 1749.
Wat^h and clock maker by special warrant of appointment to
H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.

_
THE MODERN AUGUSTUS, or The Lie of a
Lifetime, in FUN This Week.—One Penny.

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA,
COVENT-GARDEN.
Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and
Mr. Harrison.
THIS EVENING, to commence with (11th time) an en-
tirely new Operetta, entitled FANCHETTE. Miss Louisa
pyne and Air. W. Harrison.
After which, a Grand Christmas Pantomime, on a scale of
unprecedented magnificence, entitled
HARLEQUIN ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON.
Doors open at half-past Six—Commence at Seven.

111HEATRE ROYAL DR U R Y-L AN E.
Managers, Messrs. Edmond Falconer and
ie. B. Chatterton.
• •-

- •
THIS EVENING, the Performances wiil commence with
the Liew Serio-Comic Drama, by Edmund Falconer, entitled
INICAIT AND MORN. Principal characters by Mr. Phelps,
supported by Messrs. Ryder, Raynor, Fi zjames, and Misses
R. Leclercq, Atitinson, and Heath.
.lo conclude with the new Grand Christmas Comic Panto-
mime of SINBAD TILE SAILOR ; or, The Seven Wonders
of th.• Cot Id. Clowns, Messrs. H. Boleno and C. Lauri ;,
harlequins, Messrs. J. Cormack and S. Saville ; Pantaloons,
Messrs. W. A. Barns and J. iu orris ; Columbines„lladaw,e
Boleno and Misses Gunniss.
Prices as tig.uaL Box Office open from 10 till 5 daily.

itOYAL, LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Sole Management of Mr. Fechter.
BEL CIENTO:if° (a Triumphant ,uccess) will be repeated
Every Evening during the Week.
THIS EVENISO, the performance will commence with a
New and Original Farce, entitled THE LOST CHILD :
Uess.s. 11. Widclicombe, Shore, Garden, F. Charles Collett,
Moreland; Nlissel 4 Percy, Pauline LeJlercq, Wood, Mrs. Lee,
and Miss E. Lav eym.
A tter which, at Eight o'clock, BEL DEMONIO, a Love
etot I, in Twelve Tableaux, taken from Stendhars "Italian
Ehmnicle,," by ?or. John Brougnam. Principal charac-
. tlty Mr. Fecht er, supported by Messrs. Jordan, Charles,
I.nughorri, Emery, itaymond, Moreland, Smith, Clifford,
tot-,lert, Sims ; ML is Kate Terry, E. LaveuU, Airs. Lee, and
Miss Elsworthy.
The Public are e; /treated to take notice that No Charge is
made to the occupy ate of Boxes, Box-places, or Stalls, either
for play bills or for the safe keeping ot hat-, and cloaks, and
at the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to
:Iceive any gratuities whatever.
Box-office open, ,daily from 11 to 5. Commence at 7.

LIEATR'E ROYAL HAY NI ARKET.-
Sole Lessee, and Manager, Mr, Buckstone.
THIS EVENING,. OUR AMERICAN COUSIN: Messrs.
Sothern, Buckstone, Chippen tale, Braid, Gordon, Rogers,
Clark, cullentord, ; Mesdames Angel, Snowden, Terry,
Lindley, Hill, Sco
Atter which, -KING ARTHUR ; or The Days and Knights
of the Round gable. Messrs. C'llpnendale, Compton, Braid,
Clark, Rogers, Tilbury, &c. ; Mesdames L. Keeley, Brough,
Wright, Terry, Lindley, Rogers, &c.
Commence at 7.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
Sole Lesee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining.

THIS EVENING, DONNA DIANA.

After which, HARLEQUIN LITTLE TOM TUCKER;
or The Fine Lady of Banbury Cross, and the old Woman
w,ho Lived in a Shoe and Had so Many Children she didn't
icnow what to do

A-
ENV T HEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHL---
Sole Proprietor and Managor. Mr. B. Webster.

THIS EVENING, THE MOTHER AND CHILD
.A.RE DOING WELL : Mr. J. L. Toole,
At to Eight, the New Drama of LEAH : Miss Bate-
=irk supported by Messrs. Arthur Stirling, R. Phillips, Bil-
ino;ton, Stuart, Stephenson, Eburne ; Miss H. Simms, and
Mrs. Biningten.

To conclude with LADY BELLE BELLE; or, Fortnnio
and his Seven 31agi3 Men. Messrs. J. Clarke, Lt. Phillips,
Stephenson ; Miss Woolzar, Miss K. Kelly, Miss
_Patti
jose,.lhs, Miss L. Laidlaw, Miss Seaman.

Commence at 7.

LEAH.-EVERY NIGHT,

Actress,
MissNG
INIMOBIsAt aTpEpealraAnNcre. of LthEe A
greatTrrr arizijoS AEctidr-
BAl: EMAN, in the character of L.EAII. In emsequenee of
the unbounded success with which Miss Bateman's imperso-
nation of the principal characrer in the new Five Act Drama
of LEAH has been attended. Mr Webster bel4.s to announce
that it will be performed EVERY EVENING until further
notice.

110YAL ST. JAMES'S 'THEATRE. under the
Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER.
G12.141AT ATTRACTION.—First Week of Mr. and Mrs.
CHARLES MA PHEWS.—Mr. J. L. Toole as Mrs. Brown,
Mr. PheLs. Mr. Fechter, and Lady Audley every evening.
1813 or, the Sensations of the Past Season, until further
notice. Among the artistes who will appear here are Mr.
Benjamin Webster, Mr..J. L. Tole, Mr. Paul Bedford, and
Mr. Charles Mathews ; Mrs. Stirling. Mrs, Frank Mat-
thews, Miss Cottrell, Miss Wentworth, Miss Fanny Josephs,
and Mrs. Charles Mafaews.

THIS NVENING. and during the Week, at 7, THE
ADVENTURES OF A LOVE LETTER; COOL AS A
CUCUMBER ; and 1863; or, THE SENSATIONS OF
THE PAST SEASON.

ItOYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough.
THIS EVENING, ORANGE BLOSSOMS : Miss K.
Carson.
After which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, ORPRECA
AND EURYOICE : Messrs. Honey, Wood, James Fenton,
Mesdames Swanborough, Marie Wilton, Hughes, &c.
Followed by MARGATE SAN DS.
'.1:o conclude with TURN HIM OUP.
Commence at 7.

THE
THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN,"
Containinz the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,
pan be had Every Evening. of
G. R. GL EN lE. NEWS AGENT,
No. 4, Connaug,ht-terrace, Ilyde-park.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tars DAY.—Morning, 613. 25m.—Afternoon,',': 6h. 48m
10-sfoRROw.-Morning, 711. lOrn.—Afternoon, Th. 36m,

The Weather—Sun Office, Jan, 15, 1864.

THEIt3IO3I ETEIt.
This day at Two o'clock. 43

Barometer-30.32.
Wind—N.•E. ; moderate, and hazy.