The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-27 00:00:00

STATES OF AMERICA.

"Honoured Sir,—A portion of the British press, led by
the infamous Times, an arrogant aristocracy, and some of
the moneyed classes of this country, having misrepresented
the wishes and feelings of its people with regard to the
lamentable conte,t between two portions of the great repub-
lic, of which you are the legal and constitutional chief, we,
the Trades Unionists and working men of London, in pub-
lic meeting assembled, desire to assure you and the people
of the Northern and loyal States of America that our ear-
nest and heartfelt sympathies are with you in the arduous
struggle you are maintaining in the cause of human free-
dom. We indignantly protest against the assertion that
the people of England wish for the success of the Southern
States in their diabolical attempt to establish a separate
Government on the basis of human slavery. However
much a liberty-hating aristocracy, and an unscrupulous
moneyocraoy may desire the consummation of such a crime,
we, the working men of London, view it with abhorrence.
We know that slavery in America must have an indirect
but real tendency to degrade and depress labour in this
country also, and for this, if for no higher reason, we should
refuse our sympathy to this infamous rebellion. The history
of our race has been the story of a long continued struggle
for freedom; and we prize too highly the liberties bequeathed
us by our fathers to desecrate their memories by descending
to associate with the conspirators who seek to sink the pro-
ducers of human necessaries and human wealth into soul-
less beasts. Though we have felt proud of our country, of
the freedom won for its children, by the sacrifices and blood
of our fathers, yet we have ever turned with glowing
admiration to your great republic, where a higher political
and social freedom has been generally established, but we
have always regretted that. it, citizens, our brothers in the
great Anglo-Saxon family, should have allowel the foul
stain of negro slavery to remain a black spot on their other-
wise noble institutions. When you, sir, were elected chief
magistrate of the great American republic we hoped for the
inauguration of a policy which should cause slavery to dis-
appear from the soil of the United States, and we have
not been disappointed. Though surrounded by difficulties,
though trammelled by enactments made during the ascend-
ancy of the slaveowners, you have struck off the shackles
from the poor slaves of Columbia; you have welcomed as
men, as equals under God, the coloured peoples of Hayti
and Liberia, and by your proclamation, issued on the first
day of this year, and the plans you have laid before Congress,
you have opened the gates of freedom to the millions of our
negro brothers who have been deprived of their manhood
by the infernal laws which have so long disgraced the civi-
lisation of America. We believe that the endeavours already
made by you are only intimations of your earnest intention
to carry out to completion the grand and holy work you
have begun, and we pray you to go on, unfaulteringly, un-
dauntedly, never pausing until the vivifying sun of liberty
shall warm the blood and inspire the soul of every man who
breathes the air of your great republic. Be assured that in

following out this noble course our earnest, our active sym-
pathies will be with you, and that, like our brothers in
Lancashire, whose distress called forth your generous help
in this your own time cf difficulty, we would rather perish
than band ourselves in unholy alliance with the South and
slavery. May you and your compatriots be crowned with
victory, and may the future see the people of England and
their brothers of America marching shoulder to shoulder
determinedly forward, the pioneers of human progress, the
champions of universal lit erty 1"
A vote of thanks was then passed to the chair-
man, who briefly acknowledged the compliment, and
the vast assemblage then separated.

Institution of Naval Architects.

The naval architects opened their session yester-
day at the room of the Society of Aits, in the
Adelphi ; Sir John Pakington, Bart., M.P., the
president, taking the chair. The four papers were
read in succession upon the great subject of iron-
clad ships : by Mr. W. Fairbairn, " On the Con-
struction of Iron-plated Ships ;" by Mr. Samuda,
" On Iron-plated Ships ;" by Mr. Scott Russell,
"On the Present state of the Question at issue be-
tween Modern Guns and Iron-coated Ships ;" and
by Mr. E. J. Reed, of the Admiralty, "On Iron-
cased Ships."
Mr. Fairbairn's paper had reference chiefly to
the importance of the working of the iron, and the
methods of obtaining the greatest mechanical
strength. As a rough statement, it might be said
that thickness of plate would represent strength,
but much depended upon the process of hammering
and rolling, by which the fibre and texture of the
metal were improved. He recurred to the views he
had expressed in former papers, which were founded
upon many experiments, and said that the cellular
structure employed in tubular bridges and girders
was the best form for obtaining greatest strength.
He advocated the use of this principle in the con-
struction of iron ships, and would have the cellular
compartments run the whole length of the bottom
and sides of a ship, her armour plates to come above
this, and the decks to be made very strong means
of support by making the beams of iron. A ship
ought to be so stiff that she would bear suspending
on two points, one at each end, or even upon one
amidships. As to steel, it was difficult to say what
might not be done with it, as its strength was much
greater than that of iron ; still, as yet it had not
been sufficiently tested. He was not inclined to
building very large ships. He showed a diagram
of a vessel in which he would arrange the heavier
burden of engines and guns in the middle, and these
two be protected with more extensive armour plates,
while a belt might be carried round the ship at the
water line, covering the steering apparatus and
screw, but leaving parts unprotected. As to large
guns, he was much of opinion that the limit of their
strength had been attained in the 300 pounder.
Mr. SAMUDA, as one of our professed iron ship-
builders, condemned the errors in the first four ships
built by the Government of having their ends left
unprotected. Still he considered that our millions
were well spent even in this costly experiment, as
we had now found out the error, and were building
the iron ships with plates all over the fighting parts
of the ship. Building wooden framed ships of the
Royal Oak class was he thought better than doing
nothing, though there could be no question that
they would never stand the decaying influences
which arcse between wood and iron, and they were
essentially too weak for the heavy strain upon their
sides. A better step, however, would have been to
employ private yards in building iron ships. The
cupola ships he unhesitatingly approved on prin-
ciple. They allow concentration of weight and
armament, and require less armour in the propor-
tion of 11 to 20 feet in depth. They keep down
tonnage and increase velocity, and would, he ex-
pected, he developed into highly important vessels.
The Prince Albert, which he is building, he thought
should have engines of 800 horse power instead of
500 ; this would make her a 13-knot ship, and im-
prove her draught. The Government should, he
said, employ the private yards, and £500,000 should
be spent this year, and the same sum the next, in
building cupola ships. This he would advise with-
out waiting to try the Prince Albtrt, so satisfied
was he that Captain Coles' plan was applicable to
seagoing ships, though he admitted that how they
will act is yet doubtful.
Mr. SCOTT RUSSELL reminded the Society, that
they were considered heretics two years ago for ad-
vocating iron..ships. The question had progressed

since then, and now the demand for the new navy
was for ships with great speed and immense strength.
They must be 14-knot ships; they must be long to
have speed, and broad to have stability, and keep
their ports nine feet out of water. lie put the case
of there being an Alabama upon the track of our
China and Australia trade; he would not call
her a pirate, but supposing such a ship in
time of war, we had only two ships that
could chase ; the Ih:fence and the Resistc.r.ee
would only follow in her wake, We saw the
whole availf.ble American navy engaged in trying to
c..tch this Alabama. Mr. Russell would do away
with the timber-backing of the AVarrior, and sub-
stitute iron plates. It did no good ; it only caua,ed
buckling of the plates, tending to draw out the bolls,
and took fire with shells, as we saw at Shoebury-
ness. The weight of this wood would be better

exchanged for iron plating. Mr. Russell gave Mr.
Pole's formula for the relative strength required for

plates versus guns. For
68 pounder
130 „
200 „
290
400 „
500 „
600 „
We have now to provide against a 300 pounder
sending shot with a velocity of 1,500 feet per second,
and we have to mount and fire this gun rapidly and

easily to the ship ourselves. He could not but think
that this would be done with all the able mechanics

and engineers the country possesses. Capt. Coles's
cupola he had made himself, and this one had been
tried successfully. The turntable was the only

mode he knew of which enabled such heavy guns
to be moved with so much ease ; and by this means

too the weight was kept in the central line of the
ship. The Prince Albert he could not think a judi-
cious application of the principle, and the Royal
Sovereign was much worse. But give any one of
our gallant naval officers a 15-knot ship, with a
cupola forward and one aft, and the engines and
rudder shot proof, and he would be bound they
would give a good account of any Alabama in the
world. But if it was required to work guns even

on the broadside by machinery, it was only to say
so, and there were plenty of mechanics who could

do this. Mr. Scott Russell intimated that he knew
how to make a larger number of guns available than
in a cupola. He could see how the 300-pounder
broadside gun could be put on a par with the turn-
table 300-pounders. The portholes in the cupola
have the great advantage of being small, but it
would be quite practicable to work a 300-pounder at
any elevation in an opening which shall not be larger
than the muzzle, only sufficient to allow of aiming.
As to weights of armour,he would expect to see used
' 7i-inch plates, with 31-inch iron backing, in vessels
600 feet long and 70 broad, of 12,000 or even
22,500 tons—Great Easterns, in fact, 700 feet long
and 83 broad. Mr. Scott Russell pointed out that
the Hector and Valiant are not proof against shell
at their unarmoured parts; they would be blown
up by shell entering here. But we must adopt ex-
pedients of partial protection and partial battery.
The Warrior has more iron in her than the Great
Eastern, in consequence of its not being used with
economy. Protection to the water-line he did not
much care about,as the water-tight compartments
serve the purpose of protection. He attributed much
to the labours of the Iron-plate Committee, and
looked to next year to show us how much progress
had been made in scientific knowledge and profes-
sional acquirement, and ended by saying that engi-
neers and naval architects were ready to serve the
Government, and to put up with loss rather than
the servioe of the country should suffer.
Mr. REED then followed with his paper, which,
after a few observations alluding to his having re-
signed his office of secretary to the society so as to
avoid embarrassing them, referred chiefly to a de-
fence of bis plan of construction adopted in the En-
terprise sloop of 950 tons, and an attack upon Capt.
Coles's cupola plsn. His iron-cased ship was as
unlike the Monitor as possible; it was well out of
water, well supported at every part, the armament
in the centre, of few guns of long range, with the
steering apparatus and engines protected by proof
armour. He would armour, plate every ship of
every size to a certain degree, giving them large
guns with long range and high speed. Anything
like the Monitor would be a decadence, a disgrace
to our pride and to the " flag that has braved the
battle and the breeze." The form of ourships should
never be compromised as it is in the cupola plan.
They must have good handsome masts and rigging.
He advocated wooden ships, and especially wooden
bottoms in small ships particularly. But if 14-knot
ships must be had, iron is the only material to make
them of ; and this was according to the first design
he had the honour of submitting to the Admiralty.
He stated the evidence of the surveyor of Lloyds',
that in some iron ships not five years old 1,000
rivets had disappeared in the bottoms. And in
private yards he knew of the plates being joined so
badly as to require caulking, as the records of the
society, he believed, would show. Still he would
not deny that now no labour or capital is spared in
private yards, and a high degree of excellence is
attained. Mr. Reed described the enterprise, and
said the frame of this ship was of timber converted.
She had her battery in the centre, in a water-tight
compartment, with means for fore and aft firing of
the guns. In the Renard and Favourite the iron
upper work was avoided, and they were completely
plated. He alluded to the severe criticisms his plans
had met with from the press, and especially from
Admiral Halsted, defending the Enterprise from the
charges brought against her in that gallant officer's
pamphlet. As to the cupolas, or turrets rather, of
Captain Coles, they were exposed on at least 10
square feet on ali points. The trials with the
Trusty in 1861 he tt ought not conclusive, as breech-
loaders were used. Then these cupolas could be
easily wedged by boarders. He could see no pro-
spect of such vessels being made seagoing, and in
action, as the bulwarks are permanent, the guns
could not be fired fore and aft. By an array of
figures on the black board Mr. Reed showed that the
statement in the Mechanics' Magazine (Feb. 27) as
to the weight of broadside being in favour of the
cupola, was not only erroneous, but that the advan-
tage was largely in favour of the Favourite. Guns
of 20 tons he expected to see worked by machinery;
and if we dispensed with these 120-ton turrets we
could afford to use machinery. Small shield ships
could not be constructed, and as to the ship now
proposed by Captain Coles, it was impossible to con-
struct them as designed. Rapid turning of a ship
with broadside ports like the Favourite would be
gained by using the double screw system and high
speed ; experiments upon which had recently been
successfully made by Captain Astley Cooper Key.
He did not regard the Enterprise, Resolute, and
Favourite as specimens of the class of ships he con-
ceived would become the future style of naval
architecture.
Mr.FAIRBAIRN stated that he had proposed in 1855
to the Admiralty to investigate the subject of iron
plates for ships, but was not encouraged to proceed.
Admiral HALSTED, in reply, admitted that he was
mistaken as to the statements in his pamphlet about
the Research having the iron box, as he called it,
or rectangular cupola. He protested, however,
against being provided with these ships of war,
one-third of whose guns were useless, and main-
' tained that no trials had ever been made of targets
representing ships' sides until the ships were in pro-
gress of construction. The Whitworth shell fired
upon a target stronger than the Minotaur in Novem-
ber last had initiated a revolution in naval gunnery
and shipbuilding, and henceforth it was shell that
was more difficult to keep out than shot, for it pene-
trated with more facility than solid shot.
The reply of Capt. Coles, who was present• yrs!,
by csnsent, deferred till this a..Y, when he will
read his paper upon •••gol'g shield ships.
After the discumsion, Mr. LANCASTER, the well-
known artillerist, stated, in reference to the future

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drical form and hollow-headed, fired—fi6Tic In 18, .S
ton gun, which pierced plates of 9 inches thick at . .
long ranges. These guns were used in turrets, to •
which was attached a lower and smaller turret, in
which the loading of the gun was managed by the
crew of the ship; and this was much facilitated.by
using a small tralilway, on which the gun worked.
The time ocztipied in the reading of the papers
and the discussion was so long that it was found
necessary to defer any observations which the mem-
bers present had to make until after the reading of
Capt. Coles' paper.

SEA-GOING SHIELD SHIPS.

A discussion took place last night at the United
Service Institution, on the merits of Capt. Coles's
cupola or siaieM ship=, a paper on which subject
had been read by the in-v.:I-nor on the nrevious
day. The chair was occupied by Sir J. P„lting-
ten. The right hon. baronet also presided on the
day when the paper etas reit'. At then quest 0f the
right hon. baronet Colts briefly stated the •
advantage which he claimed for his principle of a
moveable central turret armed with heavy guns, as
against the old system of fixed broadsides.
Commander SCOTT slid he had submitted a plan
to the Admiralty in connection with broadsides,
which he thought would make ships armed on that
principle more efficient than cupola ships. His
plan was to give additional
.strongth to the more
exposed parts of tha ship by greater thickness of
armour plates, and by giving the ship six or eight
largo Horsfall guns, each working in a separate
casemate. One objection which he urged to the
system proposed by Captain Coles was that it
would be impossible to work two 300-pounder
'breech-loading guns in thi confinec4space of the
interior of the cupolas. The concussion of heavy
charges of powder would also be most injurious to
the crew working the guns. An ordinary 68-
pounder with 161 b of powder required 173- feet to
work it, while th,p 300-pounder with 801 b of powder
would have been 19 feet clear in the cupolas. The
firing of a heavy gun with 801 b. of powder over the
deck would cause such a concussion as to sweep
not only everything off the deck, but one portion of
the deck itself. The concussion of firing a gun on
board would be terrific, and he did not believe that
300-pounders with 801 b. charge could be fired at
all. The arrangement of Captain Coles simply
amounted to fighting his ship from cupolas amid-
ships, and the question was, whether a ship would
be more efficient upon this plan than by fighting
the guns from broadsides. He believed that the
latter would be really more serviceable. With re-
spect to these heavy guns, of which so much had
been said, it must be borne in mind that there
really was no large gun now in existence, which
had stood even the tests of target practice. The
Whitworth large gun was known to be unwell in
its interior, and the Armstrong shunt gun had its
muzzle nearly blown off at the late experiments.
The only gun which had stood the test was the
Horsfall, one of which they might probably hear
again. Until these large guns were found to be
reliable it would be bad policy to build ships for
oarrying them.
Admiral ORSTED said he did not think there was
much force in the objection that heavy guns could
not be fired from the cupola without injury to the
floor of the deck of the ship. The proposal to work
guns of 22 tons weight in active service for broad-
side guns was certainly not of a practical character.
Such guns would require steam engines or hydraulic
rams to work them. They might be pretty in
models, but for real service they might as well try
the monster guns of the Dardanelles. (A laugh.)
Captain OSBORNE wished to know by what me-
chanical arrangements it was proposed to ensure the
moving of the heavy cupolas at a time when a heavy
sea was rolling, so as to obtain the great range
which was claimed as one of the merits of the sys-
tem of Captain Coles.
Captain FISHBOURNE, R.N., confessed that he saw
a difficulty in respect to these cupolas in the shape
of the recoil. He felt convinced that large guns
would be obtained, and then large charges would be
necessary in order to obtain the requisite velocity,
and this would lead of necessity to great recoil,
which would be most inconvenient in the confined
space afforded by the cupolas. They would be
towersor turrets worked by turntables, which would
be useful not only for these turrets, but which might
be very conveniently applied to the working of
heavy broadsides.
A GENTLEMAN present contended that the effect
of the firing of large guns with these enormous
charges of 801 b., or very nearly a barrel of powder,
would be absolutely to kill the men who had to
work the guns in the cupolas. (A laugh.)
Captain BLAKELY argued that guns of very largo
calibre could be made; and instanced in support of
his views the fact that in America they used 300,
600, 800, and even 1,000 pounder guns. He had
offered the Admiralty a 700-pounder gun on con-
dition that they would use it. The offer had not
been accepted, but he was still prepared to lend the
gun if the Admiralty would condescend to use it.
(A laugh.)
Captain SYMONS thought that with the use of
the double screw lately introduced, it would give
so much facility in the movement and handling of
ships as to afford to the broadside ship all the
advantages claimed for the movable cupolas.
Captain Coles's ship itself might be improved by the
adoption of two screws.
Captain COLES replied to the various objections
urged. He pointed out that the proposal of Com-
mander Scott to have six heavy broadside guns of
24 tons each would not in action be more effective
than a cupola ship, which would engage the broad-
side one on equal terms with three guns only, and
those placed in the centre of the ship. The shield
ship was therefore equal to a broadside ship of
twice the same number of guns. He denied that
there would be any serious effect from concussion
in the cupola, and stated that Captain Hewlett and
other naval officers, with himself, were in the
cupola at the time of firing 110-pounder guns and
felt no inconvenience either from concussion or from
the effect of smoke. The space allowed for the
recoil in his shields was, he contended, quite
sufficient. The experiments made on the Trusty
showed that the concussion of powder had no
serious effect on the deck. He fully approved of
the suggestion of applying the two screws to his
ship, as it would enable his cupolas to be worked
more rapidly and efficiently. He regarded as
groundless the objection that the shield or cupola
would become jammed in action or be difficult to
move in a heavy sea. Various other points having
been replied to by Captain Coles, a vote of thanks
proposed by Sir John Pakington was unanimously
agreed to, and the discussion was brought to a
close.

Mr. Chichester Fortescue, M.P., is still indis-
posed, and unable to attend to his official parliamentary
duties. The hon. member is attacked with measles.
A NEW SYSTEM OF CONTROLLING CLOCKS BY
ELECTRICITY has been hit upon by M. Verite of
Bervais, while experimenting at the new terminus
of the Chemin de Fer du Nord in Paris. Under
the pendulums of acme of the many clocks in this
vast establishment he placed email electro-niagnets
which, upon becoming active, exercised at a given
moment an attraction upon the iron or steel in the pendu•
lums. On the pedestal of the normal clock he placed a pile
which communicated with it at each second, and renderel
the magnets active. Mr. Verite found, to his great surprise
and delight that, under the influence of this simultaneous
action, all the pendulums oscillated in the most perfect syn.-
ehrunism, even when their rate varied otherwise five or tea
minutes a day. A current every two seconds is found quite
sun:l6mi: to ensure the most delicate regulation. N. Bon-
'rat( rre, a letter from whom appears in Les Mondes, states
that the result is most satisfactory, and that for very little
outlay one will be able to contlol all the clocks of a town
by the best among them, so as to be no longer compelled to
hear 12 o'clock strike for a quarter of an hour; he suggests
that a normal clock should be established in the tower of St.
Jacques, and that all the principal ones in Paris should be
connected with it. Alas I that we 12.ve no M. Bonnaterre
in this London of ours, where above all places on earth
" time is /1130.e'Y', and such an arrangement would be most
"
~Iwirge.—.The Reader.

The Armstrong Guns, by constant improvement, sre now
peifection. Tne same is the case with Herrin's Magnetic
brushes, which are now so periccted that failure with them
is all but impossible. They are the true remedy for grey
hair, neuralgia, and nervous headache. N.B.—Counterfeits
are being made. ()dices, 32, Basinghall-street, London,

TIER MAJESTY'S THEATp,E.-1
Mr. MAFLESON has the honour to announce that
• ills UPERA SEASON of 1E63 will commence on SATUR-
DAY, Aprllll.
The prospectus, with lull particulars, may be obtained on
application at the Box-office, wh!ch is open daily, under the
superintendence of Mr. Nugent, from Ten to Six; and at all
the principal Libraries and Musicsellers.

THE ATR E-R YA L, DRURY-LANE.--
Lessee and Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer.
THIS EVENING, EXTREMES ; or, Men of the Day.
Dies. re. Henry Lorraine, Missncl S. Calhaem, J. Robins,
Mrs. D. P. Bowers, s Clara Weston, and Mrs. Ed-
mund Falconer.
To conclude with THE SPANISH DANCERS. Mr. J.
Robins and Miss Lydia Thomon
Commence at 7.

THE RE-RO7 Al„ HAY MARKET.
I,essce. Mr. J. B. Bnckstone.
THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, will be performed
OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Asa Trenchard, Mr. Buck•
k tune I Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothern.
followed by MY AUNT'S ADVICE. Messrs. Howe,
and :•_iothern ; Miss Linley, an d Miss Coleman.
To conclude with LUCK HUNTING.

THEATRE-ROYAL LYCEUM OPEN, under
the Sole Management of Mr. FECHTE R.
THIS EVENING., March 27, to commence with an Original
Sketch, entitled A SUDDEN ATTACK. Messrs. Shore,
Carden, H. Widdicomb, 11:88 Henrade, and Mrs. Lee.
After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New Romantic
Drama, in Three Acts, and Pr3log-ue, entitled THE
DUKE'S SfOTTO, by Paul Feval and John Brougham.
The principal character will be sustained by Mr. Pechter,
supported by Messrs. G. Vining, J. Brougham, H. Widdi-
combe, Mlntyre, F. Charles, Garden, Raymond, H.
Butler, Dawson ; Misses Carlotta Lederer', Kate Terry, E.
Lavenue, and Elsworthy.
Stage-Manager, Mr. G. Vining. Acting-Manager, Mr. H.
karma.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE
Lessee and Manacer, Mr Lindus.
THIS EVENING, THE LOTTERY TICKET. Messrs.
G. Belmore, Fitzjames, and Cathcart ; Miss Hudspeth and
Mrs. H. Marston.
To be followed by the drama of AURORA FLOYD. Miss
Amy Sedgwick. Miss Henderson, and Mrs. Simpson ; Messrs.
it. Roxby, H. Vezin, G. Belmore, C. Scyton, Wallace, and
Collett.
To conclude with THE HONEYMOON. Messrs. Roxby,
Vezin, Belmore, Stephens, and Cathcart ; Miss Constance
Aylmer, Miss M. Oliver, and Miss M. Jones.

NEW THFATRE-RO AL, ADELPHI.—
sole Propriotor and Manazer, Mr. B. Webster.
THIS EVENING (oth time) AURORA FLOYD. Miss
Avonia Jones, Miss H. Simms, Mrs. Billington ; Mr. Benj.
Webster, Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. R. Phillips, Mr. Billington,
air. Stuart, Mr. Sefton, Mr. Romer, Mr. C. J. Smith.
After which, A VALENTINE : Messrs. J. L. Toole, Paul
Bedford, Miss Kate Kelly, and Miss Seaman.