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

THAMES.

DRUNK OR So➢ER.—AFFRAY ON THE BLACRWALL
RAILWAY.— Henry Byford, a well-dressed man, was
brought before Mr. Partridge, charged with being noisy on
the Blackwell Railway, and assaulting James De wdney, a
signalman.
It appeared from the evidence that on the arrival of the
Woolwich train at the Skedwell station of the London and
Blackwell Railway at half-past four o'clock yesterday after-
noon, the prisoner was standing in the doorway and ob•
structed the passengers who were passing out. He was
requested by a porter named James Floyd to pass on
down tho platform, where ho would be out of the way.
The prisoner used the most disgusting language to the
officer, and threatened him. The passengers leaving
the train were put to great inconvenience, and as the
prisoner refused to desist, James Dowdney. a signalman,
took him by the arm and led him down the stairs. The
prisoner turned round on the signalman on the stairs and
struck him. Ho also seized him by the throat and torn his
collar right away. A police constable was called, and the
prisoner was given into custody. All the witnesses said the
prisoner was the worse for liquor, and two of them said ho
was neither drunk nor sober. Mr. Partridge asked the
constable, 493 K, if the prisoner was drunk or sober ? Ho
replied that ho was neither one or other.
Mr. Partridge could not understand such fine drawn dis-
tinctions. A man was said to bo the worse for liquor, but
not drunk, and two witnesses said that he was not drunk
and was not sober. A man must be ono thing or the other.
The prisoner said ho was making a little merry with some
sailors on the platform, and if he had ,offended anyone he
was sorry for it. He caught the signalman Dowdney, who
was pushing him down stairs, to save himself from falling.
Mr. Robert Wilding, of No. 23, Newgate-market, said
ho was; with the prisoner, and confirmed his statement up
to the period of being led away by the signalman. They
had been drinking a little wine.
Mr. Partridge said it, was not proved the prisoner was
drunk. The sooner the police constable Stapleton could
give a decided answer the better, Ile fined the prisoner
203. The money was paid.

The examinations of naval engineers at Portsmouth, with
a:view to candidates receiving catificates from the Rev. Dr.
Woolley, commenced at the dockyard school on Monday
and concluded yesterday (Wednesday). Only 15 candidates
presented themselves for examination.
The foNwing appointments have been made at the
Admiralty:—Commander J. Ward (b), to command the
Rifleman, her complement having been altered, vice Mr.
Reed, master, suspended at his own request on account of
ill health—Frederick A. Johnston, master, to the Indus,
additional for the Assurance—Alexander Cross, staff-sur-
geon, promoted to be a Deputy Inspector General of Hos-
pitals and Fleets, on the retired list—llenry Louis Fleet,
nominated to a naval cadetship—and Thomas Robinson,
assistant clerk to the Princess Royal.

• THE ARMY.
A general order from the Mass Guards signed by Lieut.-
Gen. Sir R. Airey, 1i.C,8., Quartermaster-General, has
been received at Chatham garrison, announcing that in con-
sequence of the numerous accidents that have occurred from
the use of sails in garrison boats the Field-Marshal Com-
manding-in- Chief, with the concurrence of Secretary of
State for War, has directed that, as a gen : -1:e, in future
sails are not to be used in boats manned by t,roops. If a
general or other officer commanding at a station wishes an
exception to be made to this rule in the case of any particu-
lar boat, and considers that the use of the sails may be re-
sorted to with safety, special application is to be made to
the Quartermaster-General fcr the retention of the necessary
sails, a report being at the same time forwarded to the de-
partment. All sails not proposed to bo specially retained in
possession of the troops are to be forthwith given into the
charge of the principal military store officers at the respec-
tive stations.

In accordance with a special order received at the ord-
nance store department, Chatham, from the War Depart-
ment, all heavy Armstrong guns, including 7-inch and up-
wards, aro t) be in future designated ty their calibres, in-
stead of by the weight of their projectiles. The terms " 110-
pounders," " 70-pounders," &c., will consequently cease
to be recognised in the service.
A couple of 300-pounder smooth-bore guns, with coiled
tubes and solid ends, made in the Royal gun factories at
Woolwich, have been proved this week at the Plumstead
butt. The first gun proved was fired two rounds, with a
charge of 501 b of powder fulcra 6001 h. cylinder shot, and
two subsequent rounds with 351 b. of powder and a 3001 b.
cylinder shot. Itt was then ascertained that the shot could
not be driven home. The fifth charge, partially loadcdoo as
extracted, and on examination a flow was discovered in the
inner tube near the breach. The second gun withstood
the test well, and will 1.).3 sighted and prepared for cupola

service.
An order has been received at Woolwich from the War
Departmunt for the wh,le of the Armstrong guns now in
store to be fitted with new sights before any further i'sue
takes place, which will cause some considerable delay.

MARKETS—This Day.
MARK-LANE.

IMPERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES.—Wheat, 40s 61 ;
barley, 32s Od ; oats, 198 4d ; rye, 39s Od ; beans, 33s ld ;
and peas, 32s 9d.
THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGES. -- Wheat, 40s 91 ;
barley, 328 Id ; oats, 198 Id ; rye, 303 lld ; beans, 338 bd ;
peas, 33s Od.
barley, 75,953; oats, 18,418; rye, 2; beans, 8,333; peas,
ENGLISH GRkIN SOLD LAST WEElC.—Whent, 100,242 ;
1,577 quarters.