The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-03 00:00:00

actually reducing the assaulted fortress to a heap of
ruins without shedding one drop of blood among
the garrison. Besides the battle which is known
to have taken place yesterday before Missunde, there
have already been several minor engagements on the
frontier line, as, for example, at Breckendorf.
Whatever else may be said in regard to these
events, the fact is there, that the war has in truth
literally and absolutely commenced. It is not
simply that a line of demarcation has been passed
by the aggressors—it is not merely that the first
shot has been fired, that the first blood has been
drawn, that there has been a preliminary skirmish,
that an ultimatum has been presented and declined,
and that, in consequence, the diplomatic representa-
tives of the opposing Governments have respectively
left the capital to which each had been accredited. It
is that the first Battle has been fought and fought
out to a definitive result—to the defeat of the
assailants and to the consequent triumph of the
assailed. Not a drawn battle, not even a
doubtful battle, but a battle at the close cf
which the attacking troops are shown to have
been repulsed. Remembering that the conflict
is one arisiLg out of the commencement by
Austria and Prussia of a 'War of Conquest, it is
not for one instant to be imagined that the rest of
the Great Powers of Europe can be expected to look
on at these events with even an appearance of
apathy. England, we know almost for certain,
will be driven into it, if the fight continues. In
which event, will the like occur in regard to
France ? Can France look on with a show even
of phlegmatic indifference ? We do not conceive it
to be possible. But—at the same time—France in
that contingency will choose her own opportunity.
France will not—we may be quite certain of that—
be in any way precipitate. She will, most wisely
and judiciously, as it appears to us, chooseiher own
opportunity. And— what is surely not less
wise, not less judicious—she will make the
best of her opportunity. NAPOLEON 111.
has reason to bear very vividly in his recol-
lection, has reason to bear rather poignantly, in-
deed, in his remembrance, the singularly offensive
discourtesy with which England rejected his pro-
position of a Congress—a Congress designed to pre-
vent the outbreak of the European war that then
appeared to him very imminent, a War which has
now, in point of fact, actually commenced.

carried round the entire ship on the water-line ; in
other respects she will be undefended. To enable
a vessel of this class to be lively in a seaway, she
will carry neither bow nor stern chasers. She will
likewise be rendered more buoyant at the extremi-
ties by the substitution of iron for wood in the con-
struction of those portions of the hull above the
water-line. The weight of propelling machinery
has been reduced some 25 tons from what was de-
signed for her as a 19-gun wooden corvette. Al-
though in her new form the Enterprise will
carry some 200 tons extra weight, her speed is not
therefore expected to exceed some nine knots per
hour. These details are, we believe, to be relied
on ; and, we would ask, of what possible use such
ship can be, unless it be to surprise an enemy in a
fog, for, with her paltry rate of steaming, any sail-
ing clipper would walk away from her with a mo-
derate breeze, and if chased by an enemy of supe-
rior strength, she would not have the advantage of
a long stern-chaser to cripple her antagonist, and
could only bring a gun to bear by deviating from
her course, and thus losing ground every time she
fired. Again, a fast adversary, although less
heavily armed, might steam round her at will, and,
if necessary, close the engagement at pleasure by
steaming away. In fact, she will be unable either
to give chase or to run away. If contending with
a ship mounting guns equal to her own, at close
quarters, her armour-plates could be pierced at
every shot ; if with a lighter and swifter vessel,
her unprotected extremities might be riddled
through and through. Owing to her slow powers
of progression, she would be unable to come to close
quarters. These strictures are no doubt severe, but
they are nevertheless too true. The Research,
which is a aister ship to the Enterprise, has not
been improved to the same extent, and although
carrying 5 inches of armour-plating steamed round
from Milford to the Thames in a satisfactory manner,
attaining at times a speed of ten knots and a half,
but as times go, this is too slow. Speed and han-
diness are of more consequence to small crafte than
invulnerability. It is impossible to combine every
desideratum, with a small tonnage. Therefore let
our small vessels be provided with a belt of armour,
extending above and below the water line; let all
practicable protection, combined with lightness, be
provided for the ship's company, but let the first
care be for the safety of the ship itself, and the
capture or destruction of the enemy. By reducing
her armament to a very few heavy gnns, an
accident may disable the ship's power of offence, or
defence, most materially; therefore, we believe that
a broadside in proportion to the light tonnage of
the vessel, should be provided, and above all her
engines should be powerful enough to give her a
speed of at least 13 or 14 knots per hour. The
constructor of the navy objects to the use of twin-
screws. But we agree with Admiral SARTORIUS
that the advantages to be derived from their
adoption are most important, and that as the
screw propeller superseded the paddle, slowly but
surely, so will the twin-screws take the place of
the single one. The advantage of being able to
turn a vessel upon her axis is alone most impor•
taut, even in merchant services, and may often
be the means of saving her, on a lee shore, or
amongst breakers, but to a ship exposed to an
enemy's fire, the benefits are incalculable.

Some curious and important facts have been
elicited during the experimental cruise of the
French ironclads. We are in possession of no
official report, but an interesting account of the
trip has been published in the Revue des Deux
Mondes from the pen of M. XAVIER RAYMOND,
who enters minutely into all the details of the
various experiments and trials between the vessels.
One of the most important results of this cruise is
the fact that the rolling of a vessel is not by any
means increased by the weight of her armour
plating ; for, although the subject is still open to
discussion, an important conclusion may be derived
from an experiment made upon the Normandie,
This vessel (which was the first ironcased ship
that crossed the Atlantic), on her return from
Mexico, in 1862, encountered a severe gale of wind
off Madeira, which lasted for upwards of 48 hours,
throughout which she behaved remarkably well.
But, with the object of rendering her still steadier,
it seems that the weight of her deck tower was
reduced from 50 tons to 15, and her masts and spars
were shortened in order to lower the centre of
gravity. The unexpected result of this proceeding
was that in the first part of the experimental cruise
she showed herself so sensible to the motion of the
sea that it was found advisable to raise the centre
of gravity by bringing up 200 tons of cable, guns,
&c., after which her rolling was much diminished.
Although at first sight this may seem extraordinary,
the fact has long since been familiar to merchant
captains and shipowners, and the practice
of stowing copper or other ore on alter-
nate tiers of casks is a practical exemplifi-
cation of the theory. In regard to speed the French
ships acquitted themselves very satisfactorily ;
the Solferino, with her 1,000-horse power engines,
attaining a speed of 14 knots, and the smaller class,
powerful vessels, in proportion. It may be said that
this is a Frenchman's account, and that he possibly
gives rather a couleur de rose to his history of the
performances of his national fleet, but the same may
be inversely said of English writers when describ-
ing French ships. Be this as it may, England
must not stand still or be satisfied with what has
been done, or what the Constructor of the Navy
promises to do. If all that his admirers say of him
be true, or even if he be able to fulfil his undertak-
ings to his own satisfaction, England cannot be too
thankful for his services, bat we confess We look
forward with considerable doubt, not to say appre-
hension, at the sweeping innovations being about
to be introduced into our navy. When ironplated
floating batteries were first employed in the attack
upon Kinburn, dusing the Crimean war, they suc-
cessfully resisted the fire of the Russian guns of
the calibre then in use. These batteries were, how-
ever, only intended to be used against forts, possess-
ing, as they do, neither speed nor sea-going quali-
ties. The Emperor of the FRENCH therefore deter-
mined to cover a frigate with armour-plating ; his
object being to combine invulnerability with all the
requisites of an ocean cruiser, The success of this
experiment disconcerted all the maritime nations.
The introduction of steam into their navies did not
create a greater revolution than did the presence of
this "ship in armour" on the deep. The first idea
was that all ships must in future be plated, and
doubts arose as to whether it would be pos-
sible to attack them with success, but this
superiority was not suffered to exist long unchal-
lenged. Artillerists were aroused BLAKLEY,
WHITWORTH, and ARMSTRONG, were contending
for superiority at home, and engineers of other na-
tions have not been idle. The French, with a com-
paratively light gun, can pierce four and a half inch
plates at the distance of 1,100 yards, and no plating
has yet been produced which cannot be pierced by
the guns constructed by any of our three leading
engineers. \Vith these facts before us, it seems in-
judicious to sacrifice every other requisite condition
of a man of war, for the sake of obtaining a security
at the best only doubtful, Mr. REED has remarked
with great truth that vessels of the size of the War-
rior and Black Prince are too large, and draw too
much water, to be employed either at home or
against the shores of an enemy for coast service,
and that a smaller and handier class of ships are re-
quired. Ile stated a short time ago to an audience
at Greenwich, that he would construct vessels
swifter, handier, better protected, and in all points
superior to our present ironclads, at a less cost to
the country. The Enterprise is to be launched
early next month ; and although it may not be alto-
gether fair to take such a small 950 tons vessel as a
sample of what his larger designs Tiny realise, still
the plan on which she is plated and armed, and the
slow rate of speed which she is expected to attain,
must create surprise among all classescoornivgeirnsaainiyt
with naval affairs. The Enterprise was
intended to carry 17 32-pounders, but Mr. REED
has substituted in their stead four 110 pounders,
and the space occupied by the battery is protected
with four and a half inch plates similar to those
of the Warrior. A thick belt will also be

The first annual meeting of the Metropolitan
Association for Promoting the Education of Adults
took place a few evenings since at the house of
the Society of Arts. The value and public benefits
of this association are as 3-et but imperfectly
developed or understood. That something of the
kind was needed is an acknowledged fact, and
the character of this scheme, and its connection
with the Society of Arts, afford every prospect
of an active and useful career. The early age at
which the children of the lower classes are re-
moved from school, besides their irregular and
uncertain attendance when there, renders it per-
fectly impossible that they should acquire anything
beyond the mere rudiments of knowledge. It is
useless to lament or wonder over this fact—it is
better to accept it as inevitable for practical pur-
poses. It is useless to suppose or to hope that
parents who can scarcely keep the rent paid and
the mouths fed will continue to pay for the school-
ing of a boy who is old enough to earn a few shil-
lings a week, set 12 or 13 is a very early age to
leave off study for life. It is then that close appli-
cation should begin. It is enough, before that age,
to exercise the memory, to train the mind to habits
of diligence and attention, but the learning before
the teens can, especially in a large school, be little
more than learning by rote. Yet the boy of 12 who
has left his reading, writing, and arithmetic behind
him on the forms of the National School, may be
reluctant or unwilling to remain always ignorant.
Perhaps he is a mechanic, and wishes to understand
the great principles of science which rule the
machinery he works with; perhaps he is anxious
to know a little more about his own country, its
history, its constitution, and its possessions. Or he
may be fitted by character and tastes for a higher
position, but is debarred from reaching it by his
ignorance of book-keeping, or his imperfect hand-
writing and orthography. A youth of solid tastes
in the lower middle classes may desire
to extend his knowledge of foreign tongues,
dead and living, or ho may have
artistic talents which the great expense hitherto
attending such studies debars him from exercising.
Many chances have been lost, many tempers soured,
many driven to vice and dissipation through sheer
idleness and lack of interest. To these and many
more a helping hand is now stretched out. By es-
tablishing evening schools, which the busiest can
attend, the means of education are now placed
within reach of all classes. According to the sta-
tistics published the other evening, the association
we have spoken of have within a short time brought
no less than forty educational institutions into the
Union with them, They have 230 candidates com-
ing forward for examination, and a still larger
number is anticipated for next year. Seeing that
the committee of management was only constituted
in December, 1862, these results of their labours are
extremely gratifying. Part of their efforts have
been directed to the establishment of working men's
clubs, police instruction classes, and other associas
tions of the sort. The institutions now in connec-
tion with the society extend to all parts of the
kingdom, and all respectable institutions which
promote the education of adults are free to enter the
Union on liberal terms. The examinations and
consequent prizes offer a great encouragement to
the young student whose hours of application are
most probably snatched from his brief time of
leisure. It spurs each on to sustained exertion, tied
makes him feel as if some interest were taken in his
individual progress. Such an association paves the
the way for the enjoyment and appreciation of
mechanics' institutes, working men's clubs, &c.,
which wid hold out a powerful attraction to the
man who has cultivated his faculties, while the un-
lettered man, who can hardly uudorstand what he
hears, and does not care for reading, which is an
effort and a task to him, finds no fascination so
powerful as the public-house. It is satisfactory to
find in the statement of affairs that the accounts
of the society are very fairly balanced, sod
that, consequently, it will not be crippled by
debt, like so many other excellent under.

LREUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

this evening :

noon.

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 3, 1864.

takings. An interesting feature of this Irish
annual meeting was the announcement of the Prince
of WALES as patron. The services rendered to the
country by the countenance afforded to art, science,
and education during the present reign are very
great, and the beneficial results of the extension
of knowledge and refinement is everywhere felt.
One of the strongest claims of the late lamented
PRINCE CONSORT to the recognition of posterity
is, that he gave every encouragement in his power
to the cause of knowledge. It was always his
desire to see it unrestricted by class or occupa-
tion—diffused throughout all grades, all profes-
sions, all ages. Such an institution as this would
have received his warmest help, and it is grati-
fying e
a toe the young
in e
hisheir apparent beginning
to tread t:g ssteps. He has been well
seef a
teu
qualified by education to appreciate the blessings
of knowledge, and his travels must have taught
him to compare the condition of his own country
with those he visited. It will be a great advan-
tage to the eager inquiring young generation
now growing up, if the
PRINCE will put himself
at the head of a movement which has so unques-
tionably the general good for its aim. It has
been said by the poet, that a little learning is a
dangerous thing, and the truth of the aphorism
has been much applauded, but it would have been
truer to have said, that ignorance is still more peril-
ous. If it be unsafe to walk in uncertain light,
it is surely worse to grope on in total darkness.
The mists of superstition, prejudice, intolerance,
and error, can only be gradually cleared away by
the advancing light of intelligence and knowledge,
and every such effort as the present hastens on the
better day, and deserves the support and sympathy
of all who would further the true interests of the
people.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

Schmerling will speak to-morrow, with the view
of obliterating as much as possible the great im-
pression produced on the public mind by the argu-
ments of the Opposition, but it is very doubtful
whether they will succeed in dissipating the grow-
ing uneasiness.

THE WAR IN DENMARK,
DETAILS OF THE BATTLE.
PRUSSIAN HEADQUARTERS,
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia employed
74 guns in the attack upon Missunde yesterday.
His Royal Highness was convinced that the
Danes will oppose serious resistance to the Austrian
and Prussian advance.
There were nearly 100 killed and wounded in
yesterday's engagement. The troops behaved
with great valour.
The vanguard and the 11th Infantry brigade
were under fire.
Missunde was in flames.
COPENHAGEN, FEB. 2, 11 P.M.
According to reliable information a severe en-
gagement between the Danish and German troops
has taken place near Missunde to-day, and minor
engagements near Breckendorf.
A thaw has set in.

FEB. 2, 11.41 P.M.
The following despatch has been received here

Attention should be drawn to a statement of one
of the beet informed Opposition speakers, warning
the house that the Government would demand
another supplementary credit, alleging the neces-
sity of increasing the force in Venetia and upon the
Gallician frontier.

SCHLESWIG, Feb. 2, 8.30 P.M.
The German attack upon Missunde commenced at
10 a.m. and lasted until 4 p.m. to-day.
Notwithstanding repeated assaults, all the works
remained in possession of the Danish troops.
One regiment and a half of the Danish infantry
were engaged.
The engagement between the outposts which took
place near Breekendorf was unimportant.
KIEL, FEB. 2, 9.15 r.m.
A severe engagement, lasting three hours, took
place this afternoon neer Missunde, on the Schlei.

Troops of all arms were engaged, more especially
artillery.
The Danes were repulsed at the tete.de-pont.
RENDSBURG, FEB. 3.

The Danish prisoners taken in the attack upon
Missunde were brought in here yesterday after-