The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-02 00:00:00

SUN,

Gentleman complained that his evidence before the cow,-
mittee had been published under peculiar circumstance s;
that he had not had an opportunity of revising or cor-
recting an expression used.by him, a right which was
usually conceded to all witnesses.
The meeting separated highly pleased with the pro-
ceedings.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.—PROGRESS.
Mr. Hume has brought forward his motion for reform
in the sessions of 1848, 1349, 1850, and in 1852:

. .
... .
In 1848 his motion was supported by B6
In 1849, by members who did not vote in 1848 22
In 1850,by members who did notvote in 1848 or 1849 15
In 1852, by do. who did not vote in 1848,1849, or 1850 18

Total number of Members who have voted in support
of Mr. Hume's motionin 1848, 1849, 1850, 1852 141
Deduct members not now in the House 9

TUE BALLOT.
DIVISIONS.
Aye. No.
1836
1837
1838
1839
184"
1847
1849
1850
1851
1852

In 1851, it will be remembered, that Mr. Berkeley,
by an accident, was successful—the success, however,
coming to nothing.

lONIAN ISLANDS.

It may be remembered that when Sir HENRY WARD
last convoked the present lonian Parliament, he held
out a promise of several important reforms, which
seemed to be ardently wished for by the lonians, pro-
vided the spirit of the new Parliament were more con-
ciliatory than that of the preceding one. It appears,
however, that the Lord High Commissioner's wishes
have again been thwarted. In a proclamation addressed
to the lonian people, dated the 18th inst., he says in
conclusion:—

4‘ I have now only to return my thanks to those members
of the majority who have honourably redeemed the pledge
given upon their election, by supporting a plan which they
thought conducive t. the true interests of their country.
Their names comprise all that is most distinguished in Corfu
and Cephalonia tor talent and integrity. They have been
opposed by men whose objects and characters I leave to the
judgment of their fellow-citizens.
" For myself, I can only say, that I have exhausted every
means that some political experience could suggest to bring
this matter to a happy issue, and that having been thwarted
in my designs by men whom I could neither satisfy nor lead,
1 have not to add to the mortification of failure the belief that
it has been caused by any want on my part of frankness or
conciliation."

A telegraphic dispatch from Trieste states that intel-
ligence had arrived from Corfu that 22 bankruptcies had
taken place at Zante, to the amount of about 1,120,000 f.,
and that others were expected.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.
LONDON •ND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—Return 01
Traffic for the week ending March 23:
Passengers, parcels, mails, &c. £22,145 7
Merchandise 18,428 18 0
Cattle ... 789 0 8

Total ... £ t 2,363 6 5
Corresponding week last year ... 41,465 15 11
Note.—The returna as published are exclusive of the
traffic of the Huddersfield Canal and Shropshire Union, North
Union,.Preston and Wyre, South Junction, Manchester and
Buxton, and Buckinghamshire Railways, and of the propor-
tion of traffic deducted under agreement with the North
Staffordshire Company.

LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY. (2GO miles
open.)—Traffic for week ending Mar. 28 £15,891 10 3
Corresponding week in last year (260
miles open) .. ....£14,770 2 7

THE GREAT NonniEnx Miles in work, 241}'
—Return of Traffic for the Week ending March 21, 1852 :
Passengers, parcels, carriages,
horses, dogs, and mails ... £4,631 3 3
Merchandise and minerals ... 6,094 18 2
Cattle 141 2 5

Total .. ....£10,867 3 10
Corresponding week, 1851 (238 miles) :
-Passengers, parcels, &c. ... £1,738 11 2
hiewhandise, Cattle, &c. 3,509 17 1

Total ... ....£7.218 8 3
LONDON AND .SOUTH-WEST) RN RAILWAY.—AELIOUIIt 01
Traffic for the week ending March 28:—
Passengers £6,724 10 8i
Goods ... ... 2,539 7 8

Total ... ... ... £9,263 18 4
Corresponding week last year... 8,933 17 6

NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. (Miles open,ll2.)
Return of traffic for the week ending March 21:—
Railway and canal ... ... £4,780 0 0
Corresponding week last year ... 4,763 0 0
Note. —The above is exclusive of the receipts available
under the agreement with the London and North-Western
Railway Company.

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic for the
week ending March 28:—

MAIN LINE.

Passengers ... ... ... £B9O 13 6
Parcels, H. C. and D. ... ... 96 4 A
Goods, cattle, &c. •• • ... 510 8 8
Alai's ... ... ... ... 575 0 0

Total

MOLD.

Passengers ... .., ... £37 12 10
Parcels, 11. C. and D. ... ... 2 7 4
Goods, cattle, &c. ... ... 77 2 8

Total ... £ll7 2 10
aTEAm-i:oArs.

Paasengera ... £l2B 0 7
Parcels, U. C. and D. 24 15 6

Total £152 16 1
St,‘orron CENTRAL RAILIVAT.—Traffic for the Week
ending March 28,1852:
Passengers (7,208), parcels, horses,
and, carriages £764 11 9
Goods, cattle, &c. "... ... 977 15 11

Total .. .. 1,742 7 8
Corresponding week in last year... 1,558 11 6
Perth, March 31, 1852.
COLIC AIID BANDON RAILWAY.—(2O miles open)--Return
.f Traffic for the week ending March 27, 1852:
Passengers, parcels, &c. £1 0 16 1
Merchandise, cattle, &c.... 36 5 7

Total ... .... £147 1 8
Corresponding week in. 1851 (10.milea open) :
Passengers, parcels, &c. ... 29 8 5
Merchandise, cattle, &c. 0 15 0

Total .. ... ... 30 3 5
Total traffic this half-year, Jan. 1 to
March 27, both inclusive ... ...£1,605 11 9

PREMATURE CONDEMNATION OF IRON
VESSELS FOR WAR PURPOSES.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HORNING HERALD.
Sir,—As an old gunnery officer I cannot allow the re-
marks made by Lord Palmerston. and followed up by
Captain buncombe, in the Houee of Commons last
night, to go forth to the world, that " iron mere
chant steamers are not fitted for the purposes of war,"
without giving my most unqualified dissent. In
the first place, the experiments made and conclusions
come to have not been satisfactory to the public, or made
with due consideration to a large and powerful interest
in this country, viz , the iron masters, iron shipbuilders,
and steam-boat proprietors. The purport of the re-
;arks wade by these gentlemen in the British House of
Commons is to inflict a lasting injury to a most im-
portanthom have iron vesselsbeen condemned? Not by
By w
dicers or those educated and capable of torm-
branch in this
. country.
artillery 0
Upon gunnery,. matters.. What have been
the experiment's Upon which this unjust condemnation
ing an opinion
pOn W
Why, a couple of one sided sections,
of' the side of the has been made?
intended to
the Excellent, until, as the amateur
moons, fired at from
gunners fancied, an injury was .
inflicted
upon them suffi-
represent a portion .
'erit in their estimation to condemn iron vessels for war
rovrouonddlien ship
purPoess.
is simple questi
I ask th' • on—Was there a section of a
and an equal number of
fired at it with similar velocities, and a placed by its side,
com-
parison at the time
at a conclusion upon made?
• of such
How is it possible to arrive
u a subject
un-
less a trial had been a magnitude
cir-
cumstances?
Again, admitting the against
made upon wood under similar
iron,
an argument ha f of the latter material,
opposite side of the ship,
inasmuch that so large a
holeier
ade upon the
this is
h is not In
natte e shot or fraginents pass
through—an experiment
In the event of another enlyret tried.,,
only a secondary projectile. ih ---. will - 11 will
take the lead,, and if reports
these shells upon iron compared wtiresue, what effect a d
ar: Percussion shell will
ve
by an able authority who the"mania-weed? It is aide
iron butt with these shells, that not practice at the
D
only broke, as in the case of shot. P," expl(gled, but
has an advantage over wood.—enseqiumay iron
Again, I contend that less damage .to men at their
quarters would be caused by splinters from iron
than from wood. This is an experiment not
'owls
which could easily be done by placing canvas acme
between decks of the vessels fired at.
I contend also that shot holes in irC)ll can be more
readily stopped than in wooden vessels, having f.;
thickness of side, and by the assistance of flat iron Platen
lined with thick vulcanised India rubber, and a chain
from centre set up inside.
In conclusion, I maintain that iron has been prema-
turely condemned, through tho opinion and influence of
certain amateur artillerymen; and until a vessel of wood
and iron of similar scantling be fired at under equal ad-
santages, I do awn from my experience in these
matters, and opinions formed from having attended
various practice upon wood and iron, that iron has
moot decidedly the advantage over wood—not
only is a naval point of view, but as a com-
mercial question. Tne Government iron steam-vessels
have been prematurely condemned, and others sold out
of the service—and why? Because the a easels have been
neglected and allowed to rust into holes for want of com-
mon attention and a little paint. .
__

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
J. R. ENGLEDUE,
Late Gunnery Lieutenant and Instructor of Practical
Gunnery on board her Majesty's ship Excellent.
Southampton, March 31, 1852.

111ANclisTris AN> SALKORD EDUCATION
'The Conunitoo on this pw wet on We'd=WAY, sad eityritls
closed 4LCUI.