The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-26 00:00:00

WEST INDIA MAILS.

, -
SOUTHAMPTON, JAN. 23.—The Royal Mail Com-
pany's steam. ship Clyde, Captain Moss, arrived this
morning at half-past ten o'clock from the West In-
dies, with the usual mails, in charge of Lieut. Perci-
val, R.N., Admiralty agent.
Oa the homeward voyage of the Clyde she expe-
rienced strong westerly and south-westerly gales
from the western islands home.
The dates by this arrival from Jamaica are to the
30th December, on the morning of which day the
Derwent left with the present mails for St. Thomas.
The Assembly, which adjourned on the 23d De-
cember over the Christmas holidays, was to have re-
assembled on the 29th, but no quorum could then be
formed ; it was not improbable that a further adjourn-
ment would take place. The measures that had
occupied the attention of the House were not of the
first importance ' • some of the principal questions—
those relating to financial affairs—had not, been dealt
with, but there had been, nevertheless, a decided
improvement in the mode of conducting the public
business, and more expedition secured. Some even-
ings had been devoted to the discussion of the election
law, in which it was sought to make some amend-
ment, in order to place the franchise on a more re-
spectable footing. Much diversity of opinion existed
on the question, as is usually the case, whenever it is
brought fo:ward, but still it was believed that, as far
as practicable, the bill when finally disposed of would
be ,etisfactory to irll parties. Another measure
before the hcuse, introduced by Mr. Brockett, mem-
ber for Hanover, was a bill to abolish the office of
coroner, and throw the duties thereof on the magis-
trate of the island. This had received very strong
opposition.
The mercantile interests of the island of Kingston,
in particular, were suffering severely from the with-
ae.
drawal of a large amount of their foreign trade,
Which had been transferred to the island of S.
This was properly attributed to the absence
Tharect and regular communication between Ja-
maica, Santa Martha, Chagres, and other ports, since
the alteration in the routes of the Royal Mail Com-
pany's steamers. Meetings had been. held by the
Kingston on the question , they . , pe-
titioned_
obtaiDed, „Ali be of Assembly for a grant whim), if
apiltarstock
e.appropriated either towards the esta-
blishment of a '
establishing company for the purpose of
lowing the RoyalumePallt"
in the event of their being'
quired communication. Willing
'fl3Pany an annual allowance
steamer, or towards al-
The Christmas holidays had
passed off most quietly ;
to restore the re-
the several places of worship
werepeasantry.
ntorpened and gene-
rally The cholera had not quitted the:a:roar
well attended by the
was comparatively
thYeretrifiTin.g.
ttihveslide of the
island,
Small-pox
still
mortalityl raged
to
south side was quite clear, and generally the islandne
was healthy.
There 15 nothing of interest from the other islands
he weather, generally
touched at. i speaking, had
been favourable for the crops.
STATIONS OF
THE COMPANY'S STEAM-SHI
oo W 'le at PL—The
Great Western, Captain . y,Jamaica,n Dec. 2S•
' Clarke, left Carthaeena 26, '
the Trent, Captain for
Captain Weller, at Dec.s: rho-
Chagres; the Derwent,
v• C etain Sawyer, at St.t '
The-
lulu, Jan. 4; the Con WU., • '..
Jellicoe, B
at arbadoes,
teas, Jan. 4; the Eagle, Captain . .
. Restarricie, at St. Thomas,
Dec. 30; the Esk, Captain
Jan. 4.
STATIONS OF HER MAJESTY'S Saws.—The Cum-
berland flag-8W at Jamaica, Dec. 30 ; Arrogant,
ditto, ditto; Devastation, ditto, ditto; Inflexible,
ditto, at Havannab
, Dec. 25 ; Expresp, ditto, at Grey-
town, Dec. 20 •Sappho, at Carthagena, Dec.
ditto,
27; Scorpion, ditto, at St. Thomas's, Jan, 2.

(From Cordova
's
Al A illiErs.
GENERAL REMARIES.—The Christmas trade has dis-
appointed even the nioderate expectations of dealers.
The demand for goods having
'8
Mercantile intelligencer.) .
inquiry
only to a very trifling extent. Both pickled and
dry fish are wanted, and Would be taken—the fowl"
especially at advanced. rates. The Hour market is bouvy
exceeded the ordinary
both as regards supplies and. deraand. A good bminess
might possibly be done with speculators, but holders
will
not listen to their terms. Produce generally is
quiet.

LONDON,

"\,..Freigbt+s—Ndtbing is being done at preient, All yes-
eel* are proenzatl2 la 453. per ten fur England.
Er;ehen;;f:3—On L:,ndon—Colonial Bank, 90 days,
par cent. prumiva2; 60 days, 1 per cant. premium; 30
days, I per neat, ptemium. Jamaica Bank: 90 days,
par; 60 days, per e:l.lt. premium; 30 drys, Ir, er cent.
nremiwn Merchant.' bids: 90 days, par. On NOW
GO dayc. 1 per cent. premium.

GOVERNMENT CONTRACT FOR ARMS.
BIRMINGHAM, FRIDAY.—The public are already made
acquainted with the fact that the Board of Ordnance has
issued specifications to the gunmakers of Birmingham
and London for the immediate " setting up" and supply
Of 23,000 rifle muskets. The barrel?, lock 4, and other
eppolirments of these rill-2s are supplied to the gun-
makers by the Board of Ordnance, and have been for
some years in the course of manufacture in this town
and neighbourhood. The rifle required is on the Minid
principle, and provided with " sights" regulated to carry
balls of a peculiar description distances varying from
400 to 900 yards. In other respects the muskets are ex-
actly the same in quality es those supplied to the Board
of Ordnance, with which many regiments of the line have
b.- en furnished for the last ten years, and commonly
known ty the name of the " new line musket."
The tenders from Birmingham were returned to the
Board of Ordnance on the 22d inst , and this day (Fri-
day), being board day, it is presumed that the orders to
successful competitors for the contracts will be issued
forthwith. The specifications set forth aro to the fol-
lowing effect:—" What number of rifle muskets upon the
principle stated, you fit up in a given time, and at
what price?" subj.ct, of course, to the usual inspection
of Government inspectors, of which there is at present a
numerous unemployed staff at the Proof•house at Bagot-
street in this town.

It is calculated hat if Birmingham should be fortunate
enough to obtain these contracts, they will give employ-
ment to about 2,000 workmen, who have not had living
employment since March last. The operative gun-
makers for the:Ordnance and Tower work constitute an
entirely different branch from those of the birdiug and
fowling-piece trade, and in consequence of the inexpli-
cable vagaries of the Government Board have for a con-
siderable period past been subjected to the greatest des-
titution for want of employment.
But notwithstanding the desperate condition of the
operative military gunmakers, as distinguished in some
degree from other branches of the gun trade, there ap-
pears to be great dissatisfaction among the workmen
respecting the prices to be paid for various descriptions
of work required in the " getting up" of the new con-
tracts. The workmen in London during the early part
of last week delivered to their masters a list of prices,
demanding the same to be paid for the stocking, screw-
ing, and finishing, which they were last paid when em-
ployed upon jilt)," new Tower musket."_To this list the
Birmingham workmen demurred, and have caused the
metropolitan journeymen gunmakers to send a second
list of prices at an advance of about 121 per cen t.
Thus, in 1849 stockers were receiving 3s. sd. for stock-
ing, and screwers and finishers (which in Birming-
ham is one branch, and in London two) 103. 10d.
They now require, in obedience to the dictation
of the Birmingham men, 3s. 9d. for stocking, and 12s. 3d.
for screwing and finishing. This advance, although ap-
parently small, would amount in a large contract to a
very considerable sum; but, notwithstanding, the master
gun-makers of Birmingham, seeing the great extremi-
ties to which the men for some years past have been re-
ducd, are, if they could without endangering the con-
tract, inclined to accede to the requirements of the men.
The spirit is willing. It is, however, generally con-
sidered thet the workmen are much to blame, in times
of great competition like the present, to demand an ad-
vance of prices on those paid for the last guns of the
same quality, and which in 1849, both in London and
Birmingham, were deemed not only good but highly
satisfactory. There is no more work in the MiniO rifle
musket than in the new line musket, although, from the
fixing of the sight by screws instead of soldering them,
greater risk is incurred and a greater liability to masters.
The rifling of the barrels has nothing to do with the
prices paid to the gunfitters, as that charge is paid by
the contractor at his own cost. If, however, it should be
contended that Minie 's rifle occasions more trouble in
the fitting than the new line mu:ket, it should be re-
collccted that in the new invention the loops of the bar-
rels are prepared for the bolts which the workmen for-
merly prepared themselves, and that neither is there
any sight to affix, which they formerly had to affix to
the new line musket.
The public will see by the above statement that, at
whatever lower prices than formerly the Board of Ord-
nance is supplied with the 141 mo muskets required, the
reduction will not be obtained out of the prices paid to
the workmen, but entirely from the profits of the con-
tractors.
It is necessary that, in the present state of the menu-
facturkg interests, these plain facts should be related,
and that the operative gunmakers in London, as well
as in Birmingham, should be made aware of the circum-
stances in which their employers, as well as themselves,
are placed. The disposal of the contracts of the Board
of Ordnance must, of course, greatly depend upon what
have been the demands of the men. It may be that the
gunmakers, by their meetings in Birmingham and Lon-
don hare, like the machinists of Lancashire and the me-
tropolis, overshot the mark.
It is considered that the rifle muskets, for which the
specifications are out, will cost the Board of Ordnance
about 31. 5.. each, exclusive of the cost of viewing, in-
spection, packing, &c, This may appear a very high
price for soldiers' muskets, but if the public were aware
of the strict manner of viewing each article as it is
manufactured, they would not be surprised at the amount
of the cost. The great fault committed by the former as
well as present Governments has been the wretched
weapons (and wretched because cheap) which have been
placed in the hands of our army and navy.
For several months past the gunlock makers of Dar-
laston, Wednesbury, and Wolverhampton have been
very nearly in full employ; but it is understood there are
not less than 18,000 new musket locks in the Tower; so
that an addit'oaal supply of 5,000 will be all that is re-
quired, to make up the proposed contracts for new miv-
kets. The bayonet makers are also in full work. The
contract for bayonets was given by Government to one
manufacturer;
.but to enable him to complete the order
he has been obliged to employ several other makers.

TILE NEW STEAI"rI-,SIIIP ORINOCO.
This magnificent steam-ship, which has recently been
built for the Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company, and
is of the same size and class as the ill-fated Amazon,
sailed from Blackwell on Friday afternoon, on a trial
trip in the English Channel, for the purpose of testing
her engines previous to taking her position on the pas-1
sage between Southampton and the West Indies, where '
she will be employed in the conveyance of passengers
and the mails. The Orinoco was originally to have left
Blackwell on her experimental voyage on Thursday, but
a stiffish breeze blowing at the time appointed for her
departure it was considered more prudent to defer at-
tempting the difficult navigation of the river with a ves-
sel of her dimensions until the wind had moderated.
Yesterday, however, the weather was extremely
favourable, and all being in readiness she
got under weigh at one o'clock, P.M , and
steamed steadily down the river against the tide,
threading her way skilfully amidst the numerous craft
outward and homeward bound which at all times enliven
the scenery of the meandering Thames. She has a
party of gentlemen on board who take a lively interest
in her success, among whom are Captain Mangles, R.N.,
one of the directors of the Royal Mail Steam-Packet
Company; all Mr. Mandalay, the constructor of her
machinery. She arrived off Gravesend about half-past
three, where she landed several of her party, and then
resumed her course in gallant style towards the Nore,
where she was to anchor for the night. In the morning
she was to proceed down Channel, and would probably
sail as far as the Lizard Point, and then return by Sun-
day evening to Southampton, where she will take on
hoard her passengers and the mails. She leaves for
the West, Indies, on her first voyage, on the 2d of
February. The Orinoco was built at the same time
as the Amazon, and although of about the same ton-
nage and power .as the latter vessel, is yet
slightly different from her in construction. She was
built by Pitcher, her engines being by Mandalay,
whilst those of the Amez m were made by Seaward.
Her dimensions are as follows:—Length between the
perpendiculars, 270 fr.; length of keel for tonncge,
245 ft. 11 in.; lennth on spar deck, 276 ft. 6 in.; length '
on the main deck, 270 ft.; breadth (extreme), 41 ft.
10 in.; breadth for tonnage to a 6-inch bottom, 41 ft.
6 in.; breadth moulded, 40 ft. 6 in.; breadth from out
to out of paddle-box, 71 ft. 10 in. Her cabins and
state-room are fitted up in the most elegant and com-
modious manner. With respect to her engines, her
boats, and the precautions which have been taken
against casualties, with the view of preventing the re
currenco of such a deplorable catastrophe as that which
lately befell the Ana%z)tf it may not be uninteresting to
our readers to subjoin the following extracts from the
report of. Captain Allan, who at present has temporary
command of the Orinoco, his own vessel, the Parana,
bring now at Greenock receiving her fittings. Captain
Allan was employed by the directors to make an official
inspection of the Orinoco, and to report upon the state
of her boilers, engines, &c. :
" The chimneys enter the funnel below the spar deck,
the beams and woodwork are all clear of them, and lined
with lead. A good hatchway opens on the main deck,
directly over the main galleys, and from the open and
couviceous position of them, there cannot be the least
stores,
fromtere e
, them,whie hnor
havef roaml l thebee
been
different
carefully
funnels
fitted
obilkheads and decks. The
copper casings are l
with casing of copper, with air space between, and the
odfantligeersoalfo
ace is double what we have had
fire
nfes
are clear o
phlbaecdeswitrzcianbf
Tamhepsspar oomy, carefully fitted, and
aloonithanca
rehension from fire.
in our ships for the last ten_ years.d In all
Ithe other
"I have carefully inep'cted with Mr.
noshingfittings
tb
sauce connectedabwithy a
pt
ph e s
Guarsibblce,anchsieeef
The boilers are well clear
and engineers' stor: -rooms.
engineer, all about the boilers. engtee•room, bulkheads,
no woodwork near where fire can reach. .
funnels and casing, and
from the decks ship's sides, and bulkheads, anTdhtehreerearies
1 four inches air space between the
side of each funnel we have had large main-hole
two feet from the outer casing to any woodwork. Ondeoaocrhs
(iron) cut from the main deck, where you can see all over
the boilers at a glance, and direct the fire-hose in all di-
rections if requisite. You can walk all round the boilers
and bulkheads—the latter are all lined with zinc."
In connexion with the engineer's storeroom, the re-
port stated that there is " separate apartment for oil and
tallow, which are to be stowed in tanks. From the
manner of their construction and the situation they or
iv, I have no doubt of their safety from fire. The ar-
rangements all throughout the engine-room departments
are most satisfactory, and from them there is no appre-
hension of fire.

The fire engines, hose, and fire buckets of the Ori-
noco I consider will be most effectual in case of need.
66
_Abaft the foremast, on the main-deck, is Downton'd
patent fire pump and 120 feet of hose. Amidships is the