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

ject was first mooted, and as yet we have really no
gun for the navy, which is greatly superior to the
old mut :h-abused 68 pounders. It is tree that there
see a fa-7r exceptional cases, in which 110 Armstror g
and small bore 100-pounders are supplied ; but even
thet•e are not capable of penetrating heavy armour
plates in experiments at short range. It is very
naturally asked by the public how this can be,
seeing that upwards of two millions and a half
sterling have bean expended, or rather should have
bteeti expended, upon experiments and the construe-
then of available artillery. The question is simply
answered in the short statement, that it is due to
Go vernment jobbery and professional exclusiveness.
Committee after committee has been appointed to
consider the quesfon, hat nreil quite recently one
ins entor only has been allawed to figure upon the
st:tge. Sir WILLIAIt A.BMSTIV,iNG was the first to
construct a trustworthy riled cannon ; as far back
as 1858, his 12-pounder breech-loading field pieces
wore celebrated. The system both of the construc-
tion and the projectiles were new, and the com-
mittee were of course justified in electing it for
service. Sir W. ARMSTRONG richly deserves the
reward he has earned for his genius and patriotism,
and far be it from us to impute to him any share in
the shortcoming and unfair dealings of other autho-
rities. Jn 1859, heavy guns being urgently re-
quired for the navy, a large number of Armstrong
guns were ordered to be constructed-40 and 70-
pounders; bat these guns were, we believe, ordered
and distributed throughout the navy without ever
having been experimented upon. Experience has
proved that breach-loaders are unfitted for sea
service, bat, in cases of emergency, people
must not be particular. Experiments still went
on, and other inventors came forward to have
their guns tested, but the Ordnance Select Com-
mittee invariably rejected their claims; or if, im-
portuned to grant a trial at the- inventor's personal
expense, contrived that the trial should take place
with closed doors, as it were—that is to say, the
parties connected with the gun were excluded from
witnessing the trial, and had to abide the decision
of a prejudiced jury. In fact, they as good as said,
" We have found a gun which may hereafter an•
swer the requirements of the service ; we will con-
tinue to experiment upon 'the gun before us,
and we may ultimately succeed ; in toe mean
time, let us " rest and be thankful," Such a
feeling is but natural, for, according to the old
saying, subordinates may safely follow in the
foo'steps of their masters. Upon this principle
WHITWORTH, BLAKELY, and other inventors were
given the cold shoulder, until Mr. WHITWORTH,
being enabled by hie vast resources to carry out his
plans at his own expense, e.stoei:led everybody by
the extensive range and accuracy of his 80 pounder,
at Southpool, in Lancashire. Upon this becoming
known the gun was afterwards tried on the Thames,
in the presence of the Lords. of the Admiralty,
against the iron-plated battery Trusty. Four
successive shots penetrated the four •inch plate
with ease and passed into the vessel. And such
was the effect that the Lords of the Admiralty for
bade a continuance of the practice, under the belief
that a few more shots would have sunk her. This
conelusive experiment took place in 1860; but of
what use is success to an outsider ? Faults were
found with the gun, and the matter was smuggled
over. In 1862 Mr. I,VMTWoRTH produced a
70-pounder, weighing only four tons and a half,
that propelled a shell through four inches of iron•
plating and its backing, while a shell from
a larger gun of his pierced five inches; so that at
last experiments are about to take place with heavy
artillery, to sea whether better guns than the Arm-
strong can be produced by any other manufacturer.
Surely these trials might have been made years
ago, but cfficial routine could not be broken. In
fact, even those high in authority are powerless
against professional etiquette. The Duke cf
SOMERSET, we believe, stated some time ago in
evidence, that he had desired that some of Mr.
WHITWORTH'S guns, the excellence of which he
had just witnessed, might be ordered for service;
bat as the Ordnance Select Committee had not
examined and experimented upon them, it might
not be. This, however, was not the case when the
Armstrong 40 and 70 pounders were ordered. We
have recapitulated these facts to show our readers
the real state of the case. It by no means follows
that because obstinate or prejudiced officials could
only find one man capable of furnishing a first-
class gun that there were no others to be found in
England. Sir W. ARMSTRONG has produced
splardid field artillery, and at length, after five
years' labour, has produced heavy artillery, bu
upon a very different plan from the one first pre-
sented to the Government. Bat in the meanwhile
his less fortunate competitors have sought in other
lands the recognition of their inventions which the
prejudice and partiality of their own Government
denied them in their native land. The Federal
States of America may thank Captain BLAKELY
for the destruction of their Monintrs at Charleston,
and although the craven Ministry of this country
dared not recognise a bravo people struggling for
independence, the Confederate States owe much of
their success to British enterprise. Russia, and
other continental Powers, heve also been supplied
from the same source. Perhaps it is a matter of little
or no consequence how ships are armed, seeing that
they are not intended to fight but only for show,
and a great saving would be achieved by substitut
ing dummies for the heavy broadside guns, reserving
just a few real ones to salute crowned heads and
continental ambassado:s. But if the expenditure
must go on, let proper guns be provided at once.
If it be considered necessary that another seven
months be expended in trials between the twelve-
pounders of ARMSTRONG and WHITWORTH, be it so,
in spite of the waste of money ; although it is admit-
ted on all hands that any of the three guns now on
trial is superior to what is required by the army.
Bat let no time be lost in making fair trial of ship
guns of calibres capable of penetrating iron-
plating, varying from 4a- or 5 tons up to 9
and 12 tons weight, end let the contest be thrown
open to all comers. A preliminary trial will dispose
of all questionable productions, and then let a short,
sharp, and general test determine not the best gun,
but what guns come up to a given standard; let
orders be given for a reasonable number of pieces at
once, and then let further trials settle the question
of superiority. In the meantime let us make the
most of the guns we have by providing them with
steel shot, to place us at least on a footing with the
French and other nations on that point. It is proved
that cast-iron shot breaks to pieces on the impact
with armour-plates, whereas steel-shot, even if it
do not penetrate, does far more damage. It by no
means follows that because a gun is superior in one
particular, and has peculiar advantages to recom-
mend it, another may not have other points
of superiority. The into trial of the Armstrong
600apoander at Shoeburyness proved that it was
capable of demolishing the Warrior target at e
distance of 1,000 yards, and it is probable would
have done the same at twice the distance, but it
must be borne in mind that each of these de
structive monster shells costs Z5O sterling. The
Armstrong shell is the most destructive yet pre.
duced, but at the same time the costliest. Mr.
WHITWORTII'S gun is simpler, and his fiat-heeded
shot the beat suited for penetratiug arittour, while
hip bhelis, thongs not go distructiye, hs'cre a gratin

poster of penetration, and are far less expensive.
Experience will no doubt enable engineeis to com-
bine the advantages cf both. While the Board of
Ordnance were despairing of being able to rifle the
smooth bores on hand, and ARMSTRONG, WIIIT
WORTH, and others were endeavouring to reduce
the windage of their guns as much as possible,
Messrs. MACKAY have produced a rifled cannon in
which the projectile does not fit the grooves, but
the gas of the explosion passing through the grooves
as it passes out, gives a far greater rotatory motion
to the prej-ctile than any yet attained by the old
system. The shot so propelled passed through a
plate of iron five and a halt inches thick on Crosby
Sands not long ago. Might not this plan be tried
with advantage with the old 63 pounders, for by
this contrivance the strain on ti'e gun would not
be much increased. N-.lver again should the Go-
vernment bind itself down by contract to one gun
or one individual. One would have thought we
had had enough of the old anchor contract, which
bound the Admiralty to furnish the navy with old
fashioned anchors, contracted for at a high price
for many years, because their predecessors, in bye-
gone times, had stipulated with one firm for the
supply, when they might have been furnished with
TROTMAN or PORTER'S superior articles at a less
cost. If experience is thrown away upon fools, it
is equally wasted upon those who have the ability
but not the wish to profit by it.

The absence of Lord DERBY at this critical
juncture is very much to be regretted. It is one
of those inopportune events whicu so often come in
to subvert the plans and hinder the pre ects of
those who have sedulously endeavoured to carry
their point. On this occasion, however, there are
many attendant circumstances which, in some
degree,atone for the disappointment created by the
absence of the noble earl. In the first place the
tug of war does not take place in the House of
Lords, and it is not there that the momentous de-
cision will be made which settles the fate of the
Ministry. Besides, the followers of the Conserve.
ive chief are about to engage in a struggle to vin-
dicate their party from any collusion with Minis-
ters in their present policy, which at the same time
jeopardises the preservation of peace, exhibits a
dastardly fear of war, and compromises the cha-
racter of the country in the most serious manner.
Lord MAL3IESBURY has undertaken the task of
bringing the subject forward in the Upper House.
Etas lordship explained his purpose at the meeting
which the Conservatives held the other day. He
then stated that, in the unavoidable absence of Lord
DERBY, he would inform them of the noble earl's
wish that the resolution moved in the House of
Lords should be submitted on a day that might
-render the decision of the two Houses aS nearly as
possible simol;aneous. This is a wise suggestion,
and all sides must concur in the desirability of such
an arrangement. In pursuance of this plan, the
noble lord gave notica that on Friday he would
move a resolution that,in the opinion of that House,
the course pursued by her AIAJESTY'S Government
in the Dano-German conflict, instead of maintain
ing its avowed policy of upholding the indepen-
dence and integrity of Denmark, had lowered the
just influence of this country in Europe, and
thereby diminished the prospects of peace. The
terms are nearly the same as in the resolutions
moved in the Cammons. It is very desirable that
the opinion of the Peers should be taken in a case of
such magnitude es this before us now. It is well
that the contending parties should know that this
is considered an affair of such magnitude that both
houses of the Legislature deliberate upon its phases
and speculate upon its bearings. If, with the intel-
ligence that these debates have taken place, it can
go forth to the world that in both the assemblies
a vote of misuse has been passed on the pusillani-
mous and insulting course pursued by herMajeety't
Ministers, the effect will be electsical in the Coun-
cils of Europe. Not only will the report be of
weight where armies congregate, " where foe meets
foe, and trumpets rend tee shies," but in
cities and Cabinets the momentous tidings
will b 3 of great import. It is certain that
Lord MALMESBUItY is a very fitting substitute for
Lord DERRY, because he has for some time past
devoted his attention to foreign sffeira, and on both
occasions when his party was iu power he held the
responsible effice of Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs. In both instances be was eminently suc-
cessful in the discharge of his onerous duties, and
in the face °foyer overwhelming diffisultiee. Lord PAL-
especially on the latter occasion
MERSTON when he took office
and his friends had left behind them a fear
fat heritage for their successors; and bee cute these
latter tied the wit and wisdom to extricate them
selves, they were told that they only trod in tbt
footsteps of their predecessors. Competent kidgeb
were aware, however, that we were in imminent risk
of a war with France. Tills evil, which is one of
the greatest that can befall the interests of civili-
saiion and the balance of power in Europe, was pre-
vented by the wise moderation displayed by Lord
MALMESBURY ; while by the exercise of judicious
firmness he at the same time maintained the
honour of the country whose majesty he was called
upon to represent before the nations of the world.
It is not, then, as a novice that the noble lord
now comes forward to take part in a debate
which treats of matters in which unfor •
tunately our Cabinet has complicated the
interests and compromised the honour of
the country once again. may it prove now,
as heretofore, that they are checked in their
course and frustrated in their attempts- It is when
an assembly or a house of representatives honestly
and honourably acquits itself of a grave duty, and
fulfils a solemn trust, that it can best lay claim to.
the respect, the reverence)and the love of the coml.
try. Home questions
may he trifled with, to a great
extent, with impunity., ;t is comparatively of little
consequence if a change is made this year or nest
on most of the topics which come under considers.
Lion; but when foreign affairs are put forward—
when war maecouvrts and peace policy are in the
balance, it is incumbent upon all who hold a re-
sponsible position to lase no time, and throw away
no opportunity of exercisin-
the right of expression
and affording the example of decisive action. It is
to be trusted that if the debate close on Friday in
the House of Lords, that the absence of their chiet
will not impede the Proeress of the Conservatives,
and prevent their carrying on their motion to a
triumphant issue. They have VOW a grand oppor•
tunity of vindicating their countey's honour and
doing credit to their own house. There have not
been wanting critics and cevillers to deny the ser
vices and question the value of the hereditary branch
of the Legislature. Li the peers of England now
prove that they are as faithful and fervent to de-
fend the interests and protect the honour of the
land from injury or mat-administration as their
forefathers were to march under the banners of their
Sovereign to the bettlefieldes which made famous
some of the noblest namts in the aristocracy of
Great Britain. It will be a lose to the assembly
if the RUPERT of debate cannot appear to advocate
with his matchless eloquence the cause so dear to
the heart of the cauntry as its honour and its in-
fluence, but it is to be hoped that his earnest ex-
pression of opinion so recently mede ou the Subjec
of-our policy with Denmark will be borne in =Lad
and impels Value who may Wirer, 411 d nitZate