The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-10 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

Palmer, R.A., acted as umpire, and considered the shooting
had been good. Battery Sergeant-Major Moore took first
prize, and Sergeant Stephens second. Out of 48 shots fired,
8 bulls' eyes and 11 centres were scored.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE,

CALEDONIAN.

The report of the directors states that, after pay-
ment of the dividends on the preference stock and
shares, amounting to £47,718, there remained
£122,574, out of which the directors recommended
a dividend on the ordinary stock of the company at
the rate of 61 per cent, per annum, leaving a sur-
plus of £2,992 to be carried to the credit of the con-
tingent filed, which would then, after certain de-
ductions, amount to £11,326. The revenue and
working expenses, contrasted with those of the cor-
responding period in 1863, showed that the revenue
amounted to £468,950, against £409,318, showing
an increase of £58,732, and the working expenses
amounted to £182,113, against £165,381, showing
an increase of £16,732. The working expenses were
£3B 18s per cent. against £4O 8s per cent. of the
receipts. The expenditure of capital during the
half year amounted to £300,946, which was repre-
sented by lands, works, and plant for new branches
to the amount of £217,238, by additional land,
works, and plant to meet the requirements of the
rapidly expanding traffic on the other sections of
the railway to the amount of £22,043, and by
the company's subscriptions towards the capitals of
the Wemyss Bay, the Bushby, and the Portpatrick
railways, £61,667, The Cleland, Stonehouse, and
Leith branches were about to be opened for goods
and mineral traffic, and the Rutherglen and Coat-
bridge branch was approaching completion. Acts
were granted in the last session of Parliament to
sanction an agreement for the use by this company
of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company's line to
the harbour of Glasgow, and the formation of a
joint station at the harbour, the company being thus
enabled to modify their own Harbour Branches Bill
so as to save them the cost of an independent access;
to authorise the construction of a short branch to
Tennochside for the mineral traffic of the district;
to sanction the company's acquisition of the Hamil-
ton and Strathaven Railway ; and to enable this
and the Glasgow and South Western Company to
make a branch from the Glasgow and Paisley
joint line to Govan, on the south bank of the
Clyde below Glasgow, and to improve the access
to the Eglinton goods station. The company suc-
cessfully opposed during the past session the several
schemes promoted to their disadvantage, with the
exception of the Glasgow City Union, which, sup-
ported by neighbouring companies in breech of
their engagements to the Caledonian, received the
sanction of Parliament. The capital account showed
that £10,241,658 had been expended, leaving a
balance against the company of £90,291. The re-
venue account for the half-year ending the 31st of
July showed that £476,250 had been received and
£192,730 expended in working the traffic, £4,996
for feu duty and ground rent, £56,682 interest on
loans, £2,609 debentures, and £48,940 for guarani.
teed dividends, leaving a balance of £170,292.

PETERBOROUGH, WISBEACH, AND SUTTON.
An extraordinary and general meeting of this
company was held yesterday at the offices, 41, Par-
liamentary-street ; Mr. Fox in the chair.
The notice convening the meeting having been
read,

The CITAIRMA.N proposed a series of resolutions
to the following effect :—That pursuant to the
powers contained in the Company's Act of last
Session there should be created 5,250 shares in the
undertaking of £2O each, such shares to be denomi.
need A shares; that the shares of the company
created by the company's Act of 1863, numbered
from 1 to 9,000 and amounting in the aggregate to
£lBO,OOO should be cancelled, the owners of the
3,441 shares issued having consented to surrender
them, and that there should be created in lieu
thereof 7,500 shares of £2O each, to be denominated
B shares, and 1,500 shares of £2O, to be denominated
A shares; that the A shares created by these reso-
lutions, amounting in the aggregate to £135,000,
should be issued on the conditions that the holders
of such shares should not be entitled in any finan-
cial year to any dividend on such shares until the
owners of the B shared had had assigned to them a
dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum; and
that the A and B shares should be disposed of in
such manner and to such persons as the directors
might think fit.
Mr. HUNT seconded the resolutions, which were
carried nem con.

A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the
proci.:edings.

Railway Traffic Returns for the Week.
Miles Opened. Receipts.

Railways. ~,,....-d,--,,..,_-___"....-____,
1864. 1863. 1854. 1863.
£ £
Belfast and N. Counties 136 136 2,3" 2 2.471
Belfast and County Down 49 49 750 721
Blyth and Tyne 2B 28 2,190 1,847
Bristol and Exeter l2ll 1211 7,654 7,279
Caledonian 2621 2441 19,444 19,111
Cambrian 9l 81 1,916 1,6)3
Cockermouth & Workington Bl 81 389 329
Cork and Bandon 2O 20 358 3)2
Cork, Blackrock, & Passage f 61 210 374
Cork and Youghal . 324 321 533 510
Cornwall 651 53 2,064 1.7u5
Deeside l7 17 519 383
Dublin &11-elfast Junction 63 63 1,517 1,501
Dublin and Drogheda 75 75 1,713 1,863
Dublin and Meath
Dub. & Wicklow and Wextd 9ll 51 4,137 3,630
Furness, &c 5O 5J 3,355 3,043
Glasgow & South-Western
Gt. Eastern,Zlrlk.,&E.Union
Great Northern 287 351 35,370 32.951
Great North of Scotland 5B 58 1,815 2.045
Gt. Northn. & Westn. (Irel.) 7ll 71 671 531
'4t.Southn. & Westn.(lrind.) 2874 3511 8,437 8,801
Great Western 1205 1153 73,9 i 7 65,595
Hull and Ilornsea l3 - 153 -
Inverness & Aberdeen June 1064 1061 1,855 1,625
Inverness & Perth Junction 1191 - 2,..,50 -
Irish North-Western 145 145 1,597 1,745
Kent Coast 27 10 2,950 125
Lancashire & Yorkshire 403 3951 43,387 39,356
Limerick and Ennis.
Limerick and Foynes 261 261 95 111
Llanelly l6l 461 795 731
London & North-Western
London and Blackwall i 51 5 2,115 2,00 J
London & South-Western
Loud. Brighton, dc S. Coast
London, Chatham, & Dover 721 721 8,053 6 452
Do. Metropolitan Extension 114 101 2,415 1,335
Man.,Shetlield, & Lincolnsh
Manch. S.Jun.& Altrincham 9l 91 1,449 1,302
Alarrport and Carlisle
Metropolitan
Midland (incl. N.-Wcstern) 641 641 52,147 48,403
Midland Gt.Wcstn. of Irind 262 259/ 5,905 5,524
Monkland
Monmouthsh. Rail. & Canal l4 44 2,990 2,816
North British, Edin., Perth
and Dundee
N-Eastern and Stock. & Darl 1095 1095 65,%00 59,285
North London 9 9 3,373 3,u55
North Staffordshire 251 252 8,755 8,345
lihymney l9l 191 1,031 744
Scottish Central
Scottish North-Eastern l3B 138 6,062 5,792
Somerset and Dorset 66 391 962 405
South Devon
South-Eastern 306 306 31,662 30,506
Taff Vale 57 57 6,027 5,557
Ulster lOl 1051 2,444 2.423
_

Vale of Clwyd. - 255 214
Vale of Neath 43t 431 2,908 2,543
. _

Waterford and Kilkenny 3l -
31.- 449 4cl
Waterford and Limerick 77 77 1,358 1.378
West Cornwall 274 274 855 859
W.Hartlepool Hasbrizßail 524 52} 4,956 5.4?.2
W'havcn,Cleator,& Egrmnt lO 7 742 578
Whitehaven Junction l3 13 1,053 891
Whitehaven & Furness Jun 35 35 097 811
FOREIGN AND COLONIAL.
Austrian B2B 825 39,974 33,888
Bahia and San Francisco
Belgian Eastern J unction 264 264 336 318
Bombay, Baroda, & Cen. India 1854 1854 2,057 1,067
Detroit and Milwaukie lB5 185

Dutch Rhenish
Eastern Bengal
Eastern of France
East Indian
.0331 21,476 18,734

Grand Trunk of Canada - '
1335 1335 2/,432 18,052
Great Central of Belgium lBO 6,425
Great Indian Peninsula 553 495 6,132 5,703
Great Luxembourg 134 134 4,503 1,932
Great Southern of India
Great Western of Canada 345 315
Madras.

Madrid, Saragossa &Alicant 650 490 17,805 17,490
Northern of Canada ... ..... 9l 91 1,733 I,oqB
Northern of France 697 697 61,711 59,80[
Norwegian Trunk
Ottoman __ ...
. .- 481 48i 395 368
___ ... .._

Paris, Lyons, & Mediterrn 1805 1713' 130,827 131,293
Paris and Orleans 1614 1491 72,180 18,038
Pernambuco 774 71 595 452
Royal Danish 69 69
Scinde lO5 105 1,728 2,889
South Austrian 1527 1484 54,896 51,916
Southern of France .. ~.. 770 680 34,326 34,323
Victorian lO6 196 8,778 10,117
Welland
West Flanders
W. and :N. W. of France

TEE WILTSIIIIIE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.—Lord
Palmerston has signified his intention of being present at
the presentation of the prices by Lady Herbert of Lea, in
Wilton Park, to the successful competitors at the Wilt-
shire County Rifle Assoriation, and the 300 guineas All
• Comers' Meetings, to be held at Laverstock, near Salis•
bury, on Wednesday, the 14th inst., and following days.
The presentation will take place on Wednesday, September
'2l, and the event will be made the occasion of a grand
fits in the beautiful and classical gardens at Wilton, The
prizes amount in the aggregate to the handsome sum of
nearly £7OO. Lord and Lady Palmerston, with other dis-
tinguished visitors, will be the guests of Lady Iferbert at
Wilton Helve.

Tl➢iEs.--The return of Royal Sovereign from
her second experimental cruise recalls our atten-
tion to the question of Cupola Ships and the treat-
ment of Captain Coles's invention by the Admiralty.
The history of this innovation in naval architec-
ture, short as it is, is long by comparison with that
of other so called improvements which have been
adopted one year only to be superseded the next.
The cupola principle has now been before the world
for nine years; it was strongly recommended for
use in the Russian War by a committee of eminent
naval officers in November, 1855 ; it was submitted
to a crucial test in April, 1862, by the formal selec-
tion of the Royal Sovereign for the purpose of con-
version ; it has since been the subject of constant
discussion among naval engineers, and it has under.
gone a final ordeal in the late voyages of the Royal
Sovereign. It is now time that the public should
be informed whether it has or has not succeeded. If
not, or if its value has been so impaired by more re-
cent experiments in gunnery or armour-plating that
it has ceased to be worth adopting, let us not throw
good money after bad. Captain Coles will still be
entitled to our gratitude for the labour which he
has upended upon what appeared, not only to
good judges in this country but to onr American
rivals, a most promising discovery, and no one will
think that he has been unduly rewarded by the
£5,000 assigned to him in 1862 by the Admiralty.
If, on the contrary, Captain Coles has performed all
that he undertook, and the seagoing qualities of
shield-bearing ships have been fully verified by ex-
perience, the sooner we avail ourselves of this im-
portant result by the construction of similar vessels
the better for the efficiency of our Navy. In order

to understand the merits Of the case, so far as they
can be grasped by landsmen, we must recur to the
original proposals of Captain Coles, and the original
objections urged against them. Captain Coles's
original model was adapted to gunboats with a
light draught of water, and capable of carrying
heavy guns over the shallow waters of the Baltic
or Black Sea. After the war with Russia was at
an end he still advocated the same design, with
some slight modifications as applicable to coast de-
fences. It was with reference, we believe, to this
object that the experiments which first convinced
the Admiralty of its utility were carried out in the
Trusty, and the exploits of the Monitor occurring a
few months afterwards placed the defensive advan-
tages of turret ships beyond dispute. The real doubt
was whether they would be suitable for service on
the high seas. Capt. Coles boldly asserted that they
would and pledged himself to build two classes of
ships against all competitors, the one shot proof rafts
for the defence of harbours, the other seagoing fri-
gates and line.of-battle ships. "I will undertake,"
he said, "to prove that on my principle a vessel
shall be built nearly:looft. shorter than the Warrior,
and in all respects equal to her with one exception,
that I will guarantee to disable and capture her in
an hour; she shall draw four feet less water, require
only half the crew, and cost the country for building
at least £lOO,OOO less." The Admiralty did not
think proper to accept this challenge, but they made
over the Royal Sovereign, an old three-decker, de-.
signed by Sir W. Symonds, to be transformed into
a 12-gun shield-ship on Capt. Coles' plan. Many
were the misgiving of naval men as to the working
of the turret principle in a ship of this size. It was
at first suggestei that it would be impossible for her
to carry masts at all, owing to the great space re-
quired for the "training" of the guns. It was next
insisted that, even if fitted with only five shields
and manned by a reduced crew, she would not con-
tain sufficient stowage room or accommodation for
officers and men. It was predicted that she would
never be able to carry her guns at the requisite
height above water with all her stores and armament
on board. That she would work terribly, and prove
very unmanageable in a sea-way, was assumed al-
most as a matter of course. Now, it is these forebod-
ings which ought to have been set at rest, one way
or the other, by the trial trips of the Royal Sove-
reign. It must be admitted that Capt. Coles was
placed at a great disadvantage in having to operate
on a vessel which had not been laid down with aview
to such a superstructure as his cupolas. Even if the
Royal Sovereign had strained more than she ought
in pitching or rolling, allowance should have been
made for this circumstance ; but as she had behaved

admirably well, and answered all• the expectations
of her constructors, it is surely desirable that fur••
ther development should be given to this system.
We are far from imr u ing to the Admiralty, as at
present constituted, any deliberate wish to suppress
the ideas of independent designers. When we are
told that no less than 596 suggestions for shot-

proof vessels had been submitted to them in the
three years previous to 1862, we can almost sym-
pathise with the official presumption against each
new plan that comes before them. It there were
anything like agreement among private firms and
men of science about the best method of arming
ships of war, the Admiralty might be blamed most
justly for shutting their eyes to it, but it is noto-
rious that no such agreement exists. Last year
there was a grand conference at the Institute of
Naval Architects, where the various projects were
most ably represented and canvassed, and the only
two points upon which a tolerable degree of unani-
mity was attained were the superiority of iron to
wood, and the probability that greater calibre in
guns and greater thickness in plates may yet be
achieved. The grand controversy between whole-
plating and half-plating, es well as all the minor
controversies about the depth of immersion, the
shape of turrets or central batteries, and their re-
volving or stationary character, remained unsettled
as before. The fault of the Admiralty does not
consist so much in its hesitation to give large orders
for vessels that may be obsolete before they are
launched, or even in its jealousy of competition, as
in its persistence in practices which it admits to be
exploded, and its neglect of principles which it ad-
mits to be of high practical value. In short, it is
the vis inertia, rather than active obstruction, that
has to be overcome. The Admiralty might have
been perfectly justified in declining to take up Capt.
Coles's theory, or it may possibly be able to show
reasons for pronouncing it a failure; but if it is a
success, and that in spite of the unfavourable con-
ditions under which it was tested, why not allow
Captain Coles at least to build a man-of-war in his
own way ? If he has triumphed over all obstacles,
with make-shift materials and assistants who dis-
trusted his scheme, may we not expect still more
satisfactory results if his hands be left free ? It
was creditable to the judgment of the Admiralty,
as well as to that of another Department of the
Government, that Messrs. Laird's steam rams were
purchased for the public service, and great things
are expected of them, but we are not aware that
there is any notion of reconstructing the British
navy on this model. Cupola ships would not be a
substitute for these, but for the wooden vessels, or
iron vessels of an exploded type, which the Admi-
ralty persist in building, while they confess, if
challenged, that they are all but worthless. If in
the present transition state of naval architecture
we must buy our own experience, and cannot wait
to profit by that of our neighbours, let us at least
avoid proved waste, and risk our expenditure on
attempts that have some claim to approximate
towards the ultimate ideal.
POST.—It would seem that the German Powers
are resolved to wring the submission of Denmark
and the patience of Europe to the uttermost, and
that they are not only driving a hard bargain
usuriously but suicidally, and so as to constitute a
precedent which is sure, sooner or later, to be quoted
against themselves. t is impossible to dissemble
the consequences of this proceeding. Whether
Denmark yields to what can only be described as
extortion, or whether the extreme pressure provoke
a desperate resistance, it is plainly not calculated to
promote peace or to restore confidence on the Con-
tinent. There can be no doubt that Prussia is pri-
marily answerable for such an iniquitous, and at
the same time perilous policy. It must be admitted
that Austria has hitherto made war and peace on
the principles which actuate great military powers.
In Italy and in Hungary, in her triumph and in
her humiliation, she maintained the dignity and
the forbearance which have preserved to her the
respect of Europe. The Government of Vienna
has exercised its authority sternly, severely, op-
pressively ; but it has never descended to mean,
ness, nor ever betrayed its martial honour; and,
even now, though bound by a new and dubious
alliance, Austria will, it is to be hoped, repudiate a
transaction which is averse from all her antecedents.
Prussia, on the contrary, when successful, has copied
the license of brigandage, and when defeated has
naturally experienced corresponding treatment.
The passion which animated Blucher reigns in the
breast of Bismarck ; and forgetting her own mis-
fortunes, and ignoring an obvious responsibility,
deaf to the suggestions of prudence, and insensible
to the claims of justice and mercy, it is Prussia that
inscribes vice victis! on the flag she has herself more
than once furled in the presence of an invadisg
army. The Prussian idea carried out, would com-
pass the destruction of the defeated Power. Prussia
has scind the Duchies, and now modestly It-quires
a mortgage on the remaining Danish territory to
reimburse her for the expellees incurred in the
seizure, It is not, however, the money that she
wants so much as the security. The right of fore-
closure is what is really sought. Plainly, the com-
mand of the Baltic is contemplated. It is the dream
of naval power which has inspired this monstrous
claim. The demand, it is true, is made in the name
of the Duchies; bus that is only adding insult to
injury, and the subterfuge is transparent. Now,
what is the sum of the ability on which Prussia is
presutving ? She is exulting in her might, and re-
joicing
over an ieglorieus victory. 'Tie is the day
of her strength—strength acquired by the toleration
she is abusing. Austria is her accomplice; the minor

German Sovereigns are her satraps, and the people
of Germany either her dupes or her slaves. 611,6
commands a considerable and efficiently equipped
army, a force capable, if well handled, of putting.
down any professorial insurrection in Berlin, lA'
which Austrian officers believe they could give
good account of in the field. For the rest P/11013
depends on an alliance that is at present simply for'
midable in its diplomatic appearance, and on the
reluctance of England and France to engage
prematurely in a war the results of which the/
cannot forecast. The latter is, probably, not the
least consideration ; for Count Bismara
would hardly have demanded from Dell'
mark more than she could with honour and see"
lity afford to pay if he had not been intimateli
persuaded that he was dictating terms to a fella
and friendless nation; and this, that aggravate
the criminality and cowardice of the proceeding, i 6
the fatal error which Prussia may not discover
until it is too late to retreat from the position she
has taken up. Every act arising out of the aggree
sion which has gratified Prussian ambition at the
expense of Denmark proves more and more cogentll
that it is necessary to maintain some code of inter'
national law, and that such a law can only be main,
trailed by force of arms. It is too evident that, a°
things now are, the Powers of Europe think theft
may do what seems right in their own eyes, and
that the possession of might is often held to consti.
tote right. This, however, cannot go on, and iliac'
way or in another the securities for peace must be
reestablished. Prussia is only heaping fuel on the
fire she has kindled, and her avarice can precipitate
the inevitable conflagration. We do not ask the
Germans to believe what it is not likely they ivll,,
now believe until the conviction is brought homely
them ; but they might at least take warning frog
the history of their own country, and from its actor;
condition. Let them place no dependence on the
military power of Prussia, for it is neither more Pe`,
less than it has been in times past. No doubt the
Prussians could have beaten the Danes single:
handed, and would have done so if Austria had Ile,'
for reasons of her own, resolved to keep them ld
view. That was altogether an unequal battle, se,
one, it should be remembered, in which the 'Lyle'
people, as a people, did not take part. The invasier/,
of Denmark Proper would be quite another affair:
and within the last few years a far greater Povie'
than Prussia has paused in a career of victory ratbet
than accept an extension of the conflict. Many re'
cent predictions have not been verified, but it remall?,
true that the first cannon-shot fired in the Bahl"
will proclaim war on the Rhine and in the Adriej
tic. If there ever was a question that (Matted
moderation it is that which is the subject of disel
sion in the Vienna Conference. According to
law and all reason the liberated Duchies should p 0,0;
the cost of their liberation. There is no measure A
extortion which, in so far as Europe is concern/
Count Bismarck may not practise upon the peoPi
he has emancipated. It is right that they
be made to feel practically the worth of their d';
liverance. But to pretend that in parting
Denmark violently they are entitled to make
claim for compensation, either as regards the Soue
Dues or the Danish fleet, and, above all, that rrtlll
sia is entitled to prefer and support such a elaiei
is only not absurd because it has been serious
mooted. Prussia is mistaking both her own P°g4
tion and the position of Denmark. The Dsol
monarchy, it should be observed, is intact. Den
;
mark has lost nearly half a kingdom, but Nvl'
remains to her is her own past all quibble. 1.100
0
; are German Powers that hold provinces which
not nearly so securely guaranteed to them as t
little land he reigns over is to King Christie,
They cannot, as he does, rely on the royalty
their subjects, and they have forfeited, as he !I,
not, the confidence of foreign Powers. Prudence"
; for it is, we fear, useless to think of moderation
should therefore advise Prussia to hold her Illel/‘e
She has already done more than enough to exael)
rate Europe, and the indignation of powerful 111,
▪ tions has not been restrained without difficult
i In this country we have every reason to desire ',Po
the Prussian throne should be sustained.
r strengthened; but we can net help seeing the'c
policy which is tyrannical to the weak will Pr°o
t weak in itself when opposed with its own are
i ; and that those who attempt to crush
vanquished will, when their turn comes, invoke b,
i vain the aid of the justice they denied, and
. mercy they refused to consider.