The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 23, 1863

reception. Such a despatch as this referred to is far
more likely to " prolong and envenom" the course
of affairs than any plan proposed by the three
Powers, which Prince GORTSCHALOFF has so per-
emptorily refused to entertain. There is an im-
patience and an irritability manifested in the tone
of this reply that is only too lipparent throughout,
and which argues the worst for the cause of justice
and the hopes of peace. The fact is, that the Rus-
sians will not own themselves in the wrong; they
will persist in maintaining their predetermined
course; they will stop their ears like the deaf adder,
and refuse the suggestions of wisdom and the
warnings of well-meaning advocates. Experience
may teach them a sterner lesson in the time to
come, and, when too late to retract, they may regret
the day when, in the plenitude of pride and the
intolerance of tyranny, they so ill appreciated the
friendly counsels and earnest appeals of the Powers
of Europe.

The feats of ropewaikers have ceased in our day
to be anything extraordinary. Since the marvel-
lous performances of BLONDIN were celebrated
across the Atlantic, and were even said to be ficti-
tious from their daring, we have had such crowds
of aerial acrobats and flying men that it would be
difficult for any of them to renew the excitement
which was at first called forth by the American
adventurer. Our eyes are greeted at every turn by
announcements of the wonderful performances of
male and female BLONDINS, of ropewalking at
fabulous heights, and kindred exploits whose dis-
tinctive feature is their extreme likelihood of break-
ing the performer's neck. In their eagerness to
court popular favour and to obtain profit these un-
fortunate performers seem to be running a race for
danger, and trying who can go nearest to death
without actually coming within his grasp. The
familiarity of the scene and the risk render them
indifferent; each thinks the chances are in his or
her favour, each tries to secure the favour of the
manager and the applause of the public by some
venture more startling and perilous than his
rivals, and so the game goes on. It was not
difficult to foretell, as many did foretell, the conse-
quence of such a state of things. The old proverb
about the pitcher and the well is too often verified
in the case of the performers of extraordinary feats.
The keepers of wild beasts have too often paid the
penalty of their temerity with their lives, and the
rope or the ropewalker's nerves are no less
treacherous than the lion or tiger's half-subdued
ferocity. It is melancholy to read, as we often do
read, in the narrative of some fatal disaster, that
the sufferer had expressed a disinclination to go on
the rope, or a doubt as to its security, and we not
unfrequently find that he or she has previously ex-
pressed a belief that an accident would sooner or
later occur. This conviction may be founded on
observation as well as on conviction, for the risk to
the most accomplished of 'the fraternity is terribly
great. BLONDIN himself, though looked upon as
nearly as safe at his familiar attitude as other per-
sons are on terra firma, is by no means out of the
category, and the hosts of imitators whom his suc-
cess has called forth a ere certain to furnish their
tithe of sacrifices. Seldom, however, has the pub-
lic mind been startled by a more painful and
melancholy case than that occuring at Birmingham
a few days ago. It is not very long since the most
famous of the female BLONDINS fell from her rope,
and, after weeks of dreary suffering, was discharged
a helpless cripple from one of our metropolitan hos-
pitals, to be a burden on the family she was pre-
viously supporting. A few subscriptions were raised
for her benefit, and she passed out of sight among
the crowds of poor and struggling sufferers in the
heart of this great city. No matter, the public must
be amused, and plenty more are ready to take her
place. But increased numbers bring also increased
danger. All cannot equal BLONDIN in their cool-
ness, skill, and caution, though all who please may
run the same foolhardy risks. Accordingly, but a
short time since came another disaster, the news of
which probably served to add great zest to the ex-
citement of looking on such sport. Another tra-
gedy occurs at a shorter interval, and a woman, the
mother of a young family, the contributor to the sup-
port of her aged father, falls dead at the feet of her
husband. A speechless protest against that ruthless
love of sport and excitement which is willing to
sacrifice everything to the gratifcaton of the
moment. As a proof of the recklessness encouraged
by these dangerous performances, we learn that the
rope upon which the poor creature had to walk was
so old and worn that her husband was compelled to
splice it at one part. The very point on which life
and limb depended was thus neglected, with fatal
consequences, for it was the snapping of the rope
which led to the catastrophe. But the public are
getting used to these things now, and it was not
considered worth while to stop the fete because an
accident bad happened to an acrobat. The lifeless
body was carried away, and the amusements of the
day went on. They had already cost a life, so it
was as well to have them to the full. But the
callousness inspired by such scenes does not extend
to those who hear of it at a distance, who think
with horror of the wife falling dead at her husband's
feet, of the little motherless children vainly waiting
her return. The question remains—Are such
things to be allowed to continue? Is no restric-
tion to be placed on these senseless exhibitions,
which imperil life and limb for no possible end but
the gratification of a morbid love of excitement. So
far as the display of skill goes, it is evident that all
the feats could be gone through at a few feet from
the ground ; that BLONDIN might carry his stove
and cook his omelet, and the host of his imi-
tators might wrap their heads in sacks,
tie their hands and feet, and go through any
other variations of their irrational programme at a
height which should exhibit their agility without
running the risk of breaking their necks. But the
excitement would be gone, and pleasure-seekers of
the present day cannot be satisfied without a large
introduction of the "sensation" element in life as
well as in fiction. Crimes, disasters, and accidents
must flavour real life as well as give a pungency to
novels and dramas, and to see a performance with-
out " hairbreadth 'scopes and snares" would be no
amusement. This taste affords a curious contrast
to the professing humanity of our age, which can
scarcely endure that felons should undergo their
just punishment, and has a helping hand
for every form of human misery. How is
the prevalence of such a degrading and cruel taste
consonant with this ? Let us boast no more of our
humanity while such things are tolerated. Let
us talk no more of the Roman and the gladiator
butchered to make his holiday, while we can find
pleasure in such spectacles. It is time for legisla-
tive interference. It is evident that it is vain to
trust to the caution of the unhappy performers, to
the discretion of the managers of such fetes, and
above all to the taste and humanity of the sight-
seers. The catastrophe at Birmingham teaches us
a striking lesson as to the effect that such spectacles
have upon public taste and feeling. Their ten-
dency is in every way evil, and as no disaster, how-
ever appalling,
seems likely to effect a reform, let it
be henceforth stipulated in the licences of owners of
public places that they shall allow no sport directly
dangerous to human life. " A human life having
succumbed," says CHARLES READE, satirically, in
his "I‘Tiever too Late to Mend," something will pro-

bably be done. Our English justice generally
waits for a catastrophe before it takes active steps.
In the present case there has been more than one,
and we are glad to see that the Home Secretary
will be questioned on the subject. We had better
decide what coarse to pursue, as if we are to go back
to the tastes of the middle ages for cruel sports and
recklessness of life and limb, we had better not
talk, henceforth, quite so much about our humanity,
refinement, and civilisation.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

WORCESTER, Wednesday.

The " vanward clouds" of gloomy days did not
quite exhaust themselves in yesterday's rain, for
this morning opened dark and gloomy, and por-
tended another wet afternoon. Fortunately for
the success of the show on yesterday and to-day
the forenoon wore only a bad prospect, and as those
who are bent on excursions of pleasure generally
assume the sunny side o the future, this san-
guine class of persons argued that the day
would hold up—that the clouds would break,
and the evening turn out fine, Thousands who
came to see the show under the uncertainty of the
weather would undoubtedly have postponed their
visit, if the mornings of Tuesday and Wednesday
were anything like what the afternoons turned
out to be. The success of the show, so far as the
number of visitors was concerned, though imperilled,
was not spoiled, and when it is stated that 7,683
persons paid their half-crowns yesterday, and pro
bably as many more to-day, it will be recognised
that, in spite of adverse circumstances, the Worces-
ter show is a great fact. The total receipts up to Tues-
day evening amounted to about £1,450, of which
£960 was taken yesterday (the first half-crown day),
£403 on Monday (the half-guinea day), and £9O
last week. The receipts of to-day cannot fall far
short of those of yesterday. The steam cultivators
were again at work this morning on Mr. Coney's
farm, but they seem to excite little attention,
except on the part of those who are immediately
interested in the result. I do not know
whether any of our agricultural " Excel-
siors" devote much of their spare moments to the
reading of the archives or the Lags do University,
but they will find there that Switt reports as one of
the ingenious contrivances proposed for the plough-
ing of land that acorns and chesnuts should be 8 by
5 inches apart, and that a drove of swine should be
then turned into the fields to be rooted up. By this
ingenious process three results would be accom-
plished at once—the fields would be turned over,
they would be manured, and the pigs would be fed.
Last night a public meeting was held in the Guild-
hall on this important subject—not the pig plough-
ing system—but the steam cultivating system ; Mr.
J. C. Morton, of Streatly, Reading, in the chair.
The meeting was very well attended, and was ad-
dressed by lir. J. A. Clarke, of Long Sutton, Lin-
colnshire ; Mr. Sewel head, of Plumstead, Norfolk ;
Mr. Dring, of Cloxby, Lincolnshire; Mr. Williams,
of Bay don, Wiltshire ; Mr. Williams, of Abingdon ;
Mr. Duckham; Mr. Denton, of Stevenage, Herts ;
Mr. Hatfield, of Stamford; Mr. Smith, and Mr.
Howard Reed, all of them having had more or less
experience of cultivation by steam. That practice
was recommended to farmers for general adoption ;
and,as the expense of steam cultivators was admitted
to be generally beyond the reach of individual
farmers, it was suggested that a company should be
formed for the purpose of enabling farmers to buy
the cultivators by instalments, or to hire them.
The horse•ring was the principal attraction of the
show to-day. There were some thousands of per-
sons surrounding the parallelogram which fenced
the ground, and the action and bearing of the ani-
ma's were the theme of general admiration, It was
mentioned that Lord Coventry was a purchaser of
two or three of the principal prize horses.
A considerable number of the principal visitors,
however, went to Malvern in the early part of the
day, in order to be present at the laying of the
foundation stone of a proprietary college in that
beautiful and healthy locality. The Bishop of
Worcester presided at the ceremony of laying the
first stone.

In addition to the other ,ttractions at Worces-
ter a horticultural exhibition was opened at the
Arboretum, the grounds being gaily decorated
for the occasion. The entrance gates were sur •
mounted by banners, and down either side of the
central walk poles entwined with evergreens had
been erected, from top to top of which festoons were
led, and these, ornamented with banners, had an
exceedingly pretty effect. The flower and shrub
show was held in a spacious marquee, pitched on the
lawn before the restaurant, white those of vegetables
and fruit were exhibited in smaller tents adjoining_
A covered platform had been erected for the band of
the Coldstream Guards, which, under the able conduct
of Mr. Godfrey, played a choice selection of music
through the day. The exhibition was a very good
one ; the collection of stove and greenhouse plants
being particularly noticeable. On enterin4 the tent,
a fine collection of fuchsias on the left attracted the
attention of the visitor, as did also a magnificent
vase of plants, shown by T. Chalk, , but not for
competition. Lord Coventry, Miss Savage, H. All-
sopp, A. H. Royds, T. R. Hill, and H. Walker,
Esqs., were among the principal exhibitors.
It was generally stated and believed that the
Duke of Cambridge would pay a visit to Worcester,
and make his appearance at the Agricultural Show
to-morrow. It is also expected that, in consequence
of there being so many persons congregated at
present in Worcester from all parts of the kingdom,
a conference will be held on the subject of the pre-
servation of salmon fisheries.

Although the show will not be open to the general
public till to-morrow, the symptoms of its decay are
visibly placarded over the town in the shape of bills,
addressed " to builders," who are invited to tender
and bid forthwith for the materials—timber, iron,
&c.—with which the sheds are constructed. On
to-morrow and Friday excursion trains are adver-
tised to run from " all the country round," and if
the weather be propitious there can be little doubt
that tens of thousands will visit the Agricultural
Show on those days.

Sir Morton Peto, on Monday, will ask her Ma-
jesty's Government whether they have heard of the
re-marriage of a Mr. and Mrs. Hulin by the Rev. Horatio
Walmesley, vicar of St. Briavels, Gloucestershire, after they
had been previously married in a dissenting chapel, an on
which re-marriage the vicar entered the parties in his re-
gister-book as bachelor and spinster, knowing of the pre-
vious marriage; and, whether her Majesty's Government
will prosecute the vicar for making such false entries under
the statute 76th Geo. IV., sec. 29.

PIRACY AND MURDER.—Sentence has been pro-
nounced on a charge of piracy and murder on board
the British ship Beatrice, 470 tons register, brought before
the Supreme Court at Hongkong. Four English seamen,
named Timothy Driscles, George Bailey, Charles Atkins,
and William Hardy, were charged with the wilful mur-
der of Mr. John Adams, the chief officer of the ship. It
appears that very bad discipline was kept on board, and
that the crew were in the habit of getting into the hold and
drinking spirits and wine, which formed part of the cargo.
On the night of the 10th of June the deceased, having charge
of the watch on deck, was sitting on a hen coop on the poop
when one of the prisoners came behind him and knocked
him down by a heavy blow on the head. Almost imme-
diately afterwards Atkins picked him up and threw him
overboard. The poor fellow screamed murder several times
and cried out " Help, help!" but no effort or alarm was
made to save him. The prisoners had endeavoured to pre
vail on most of the crew to join them to take the ship. After
disposing of the mate they went to the cabin to secure the
captain and the rest of the officers. The second mate, hear-
ing the scuffle on deck,was coming up the companion ladder
to ascertain the cause when he was met by Atkins, armed
with a harpoon or boarding pike, and h thrust was made at
him which luckily missed. He then returned to the cabin,
and the captain and he armed themselves, as also the car-
penter, who was with them. One of the gang named
Baynes went to the skylight of the cabin with the inten-
tion,
it was supposed, of doing mischief. The captain see-
ing him from the cabin, and hearing that the mate had
been thrown overboard, called upon the second mate to
shoot him. Howard, the cfficer obeyed, and shot the man
dead on the spot. This act had the effect of overawing the
prisoners, who all went forward, when they were seized
and placed in irons. The jury found three of the prisoners
(Driseles, Hardy, and Bailey) guilty of piracy, and Atkins
guilty of wilful murder. The verdict was accompanied
with a statement to the effect that to the gross mismanage-
ment and neglect of their duties by the captain end officers
was to be attributed, in a great measure, if not entirely, all
that had hapt,ened on board. The prisoner Atkins was or-
dered for execution,

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

AUSTRIA.
THE RUSSIAN REPLY TO AUSTRIA.

VIENNA, JULY 22 (Evening.)

The reply of Russia, dated the 13th inst., for-
mally invites Austria to an exchange of ideas upon

their common interests.

The reply suggests that the matter in question
only affects details of international administration,
and that the three Powers concerned in the parti
tion should consequently, as in 1815, deliberate at

present together.
The reply makes no allusion to the proposal of an

armistice.

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.

POSEN, JULY 23.

The Posener Zeitung, of the 22d, states that it
considers the establishment of a state of siege neces-
sary in the frontier districts of the Duchy of Posen,
and in the districts of Kuhn, Thorn, Grandenz, and
Strasburg in Prussia Proper.

RUSSIA.
ST. PETERSBURG, JULY 22.

The Journal de St. Petersburg of today publishes
the replies of Russia to the notes of the three Powers
upcn the Polish question, despatched upon the 13th

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, July 22.
The Queen and royal family walked and drove
in the grounds this morming.

Foreign Courts.

PARIS, July 21.
A Council of Ministers was held yesterday at
St. Cloud, the Empress presiding.
The Count de Morny, who has been at Trouvilie
for a week past, arrived in Paris yesterday morn-
ing, and went to St. Cloud in the course of the
day.
Count de Kisseleff, Russian Ambassador at Rome,
arrived at Marseilles the day before yesterday by
the Vesuvio steamer from Civita Vecchia.

Their Serene Highnesses Prince and Princess
Edward of Saxe-Weimar will entertain a distinguished
circle at the Duke of Richmond's late residence, near Good-
wood, during the ensuing week, for the races.
The Prince Serge Obolensky has arrived at
Claridge's Hotel from Germany.
The Prince and Princess Bandini have left
Claridge's Hotel for Paris.

The Duchess of Manchester had a select evening
party yesterday, at her residence in Stanhope-street.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne and
family are at present staying at Spa, in Belgium. The
noble marquis, who repaired there for the benefit of the
waters, has derived great advantage from them. In all
probability the noble marquis and marchioness will return
home early in the ensuing month.

The Earl de Grey, Secretary of State for War,
left Carlton-gardens yesterday for Osborne, on a visit to her
Majesty.

The Earl and Countess of Yarborough leave
town early next week for Brocklesby Hall, Lincolnshire.
The Countess (Dowager) of Morton and Lady
Alice Douglas leave town at the close of the week to visit
the Hon. Mr. and Lady Gertrude Rolle in Devonshire,
before leaving for Scotland for the autumn.
The Count de Giorgi has arrived at Fenton's
hotel from Verona.

Lord George and Lady Adeliza Manners intend
to leave Cheverley Park, Newmarket, at the end of the
month for Windsor, where his lordship's regiment is sta-
tioned on duty.

Lady Charles Wellesley and family left town on
Tuesday for Conholt Park, Hants, fer the autumn,
Lord Londesborough has left Thomas's Hotel,
Berkeley-square, to attend the regatta at Hull.
The Count and Countess Nostelz have left Mau-
rigy's Hotel for St. Petersburg.
Lord and Lady :flermont have arrived at Cla-
ridge's Hotel for Ireland.
The Hon. Mrs. Vanneok and the Countess Anna
de Gersdorff have left Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square,
for the Isle of Wight.

Lady Macdonald Lockhart and the Misses Mac-
donald Lockhart have left Farrance's Hotel for Lee Castle,
Lanarkshire, N,B.

The Right Hon. Sir Robert and Lady Emily Peel
entertained a select circle at dinner last evening, at their
house in Whitehall-gardens.
The young Marquis of Hastings, whose coming
of age at Donington Park, next week, is to be
celebrated with the greatest magnificence, directed his
steward to invite all the labourers employed in his mines
to the interesting ceremony. "At a rough calculation,"
remarked the man of business," it will cost LlO,OOO to bring
them up." "If it costs double," responded the youthful
heir, " they shall come."
Well-informed persons (says the Court Journal)
pretend to know that Lord Derby has the intention
of proposing Lord Grey as his successor in the leadership
of the Conservative party. May the day be far distant, say
we, when the country loses the services of Lord Derby 1 And
so say all true and loyal Englishmen.
Horace 'Walpole, who loved mischief, never did
a more mischievous act (says the Saturday Review)
than when he recorded, for the torment of posterity, the
alleged remark of his quondam friend Gray, " that if any
man were to form a book of what he had seen and heard
himself, it must, in whatever hands, prove a useful and
entertaining one,"

The Dramatic College Fancy Fair at the Crystal
Palace, on the 25th and 27th of July, promises to be a
great success. Among the novelties of the occasion, Mr.
and Mrs. Howard Paul have had presented to them a slice
of the Prince of Wales's wedding cake. This is to be
divided into small portions, and sold as souvenirs of the
fete at the stall over which Mrs. Paul will preside.
NAVAL FORCES OF RUSSIA.—The Europe of
Frankfort gives the following as the naval forces of Russia :
—She has in the Baltic, Anioor River, White, Caspian, and
Black Seas and Lake Aral, 122 vessels, nine being ships of
the line and 13 frigates; the whole mounting 2,246 guns,
and are manned by 355 officers, 453 sub-officers, and 20,485
seamen.

THE KITCHEN AND REFRESHMENT-ROOMS OF
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.—The select committee
have just agreed to a fourth report, in which they say they
have agreed that the wines and spirits shall be provided by
wine merchants approved of by the committee, and in com-
pensation for the consequent loss to the keeper of the re-
freshment-rooms, they have applied for an increased allow-
ance from the commissioners of the fee fund. To facilitate
and improve the attendance they propose to increase the
width of the room, and recommend that smaller dining..
tables should be introduced into the room. With respect
to the future management of the rooms, it is proposed that
the following charge for dinners shall be charged next ses-
sion; Cold meat, including table, &c., 2s. 6d. each; and
hot mews, including table, &c., 3s. each, For dinners with
fish, entrees, &c., a written notice of at least half an hour
must be given, the price for which will be regulated by a
printed tariff. This, they hope, will obviate the confusion
and discontent which the present system necessarily in-
volves. Mr. Barry states that the proposed alterations in
the rooms can be completed before February next, pro-
vided that the necessary orders are given at once.
THE ASSISTANT MESSENGERS IN THE BANK-
RUPTCY COURT.—A petition to Parliament is in
the hands of an hon. member, praying that the assistant
messengers of the Court of Bankruptcy may be placed on
a similar footing with the service officers of the Insolvency
Court, who were deprived of their situations by the aboli-
tion of that court. The assistants in the Bankruptcy Court
having no provision made for them by the new Bankruptcy
Act, although their duties were very onerous, having the
charge of a vast amount of property and fre-
quently managing large estates for months for the
benefit of the creditors, and also recovering a
considerable amount of property which had been concealed,
they pray that, as sow they will be but casually employed,
they should be allowed £4O a year each, with the usual
allowance when on duty ; and taking into consideration the
20 per cent, deducted formerly, charged by the messengers
for "risk" in employing assistants, but now not charged,
as the messengers, whose salaries are now fixed, scarcely
ever take posession, wou d only entail a charge of about
£l,OOO a year on the funds of the court, the equivalent
being a much greater benefit by avoiding forced sales.
ALLEGED MURDER OF A MAN IN LEATHER-
LANE.—Yeaterday morning a man was found lying
in Leather-lane by Police-constable Smith, 209 G, and was
taken by him at once to the Royal Free Hospital, Gray's-
inn-road, where the house surgeon pronounced him dead.
From what has come to the knowledge of the police there
can be no doubt but that the unfortunate man was knocked
down by one or two men, who at once decamped. Inquiries
were instituted by Inspector Allen, of the G division, and
it was ascertained that the unfortunate man is named Wil-
liam Housdon, aged 40, a working man, residing at 33,
College-street, Camden-town. It would appear that the
men suspected were seen to attack the deceased, and to
knock him down, and although he lay on the pavement in-
sensible, no one attempted to assist him, nor were the police
informed of the facts until after they had returned from
conveying the man to the workh,nse. Information hasbeen
forwarded to the different police-stations, with the descrip-
tion of the supposed murderers ; but, up to the time we
write, they have managed to evade being apprehended. The
deceased is represented as having been a vary steady man,
and has left a wife and family to deplore his untimely
loss.

THE SEWING MACHINE AND THE DRESS-
MAKERS' TRUE FRIEND.—Tbe merest mention of
the meney.saving to any country by the sewing machine
suffices to show the absurdity of any resistance to its use.
In the United States, five pulls since, the annual money-
value of the necessary sewing which could be done by the
machine was estimated at £58,000,000. On the clothing of
men and boys the saving at that time made in the city of
New York alone was a million and a half (not dollars, but
pounds sterling) annually—and Massachusetts saved as
much on her great manufacture of shoes and boots. Be-
sides creating new branches of manufacture, the machine
had revolutionised forty already existing. This is not an
invention which can be opposed or neglected. One of the
industrial branches which it is clearly destined to revolu-
tionise is that of making ladies' dresses; and it seeing to
me that Mary Ann Walkley's dying bequest to society,
and to every one of us in it, is the duty of seeing the con-
dition of the dressmaker ameliorated by the due application
of this most effectual means.—Once a Week.

NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITITTION.—A gentle-
man under the initials of A. 8., residing in Cheltenham, has
presented £3OO to this institution, to enable it to establish
a lifeboat on the coast in memory of his deceased wife,
after whom the boat is to be named.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.

The Alacrity, 6, screw despatch vessel, Comman-
der J. K. E. Baird, arrived at Spithead on Tues-
day from the Mediterranean, having left Gibraltar
on the evening of the Bth inst. Sne received orders
soon after arrival to proceed round to Sheerness to
pay out cf commission.

The floating batteries iEtna, 200-horse power,
and Thunderbolt, 16, 200-horse power, ;which have
been stationed in the Thames for sever..\l months
past to protect the passage of the river during the
dismantling of the batteries at Shornmead and Coal-
house Point, have been withdrawn from the posi-
tion they have hitherto occupied, and are now
stationed at the entrance to Chatham harbour
where they are to be kept fully manned and
equipped, with all their armament, shot, shell, 3cc.,
on board, to assist in the protection of the entrances
to the Thames and Medway. The reconstruction
of the two forts on the Kent and Essex shores of
the Thames is to be immediately proceeded with.
Her Majesty's steam storeship Dee, Master
Commander Raymond, recently commissioned, after
thorough repairs, was yesterday inspected by the
Commodore Superintendent, Sir Frederick Nichol-
son, C. 8., at Woolwich, when the crew were
mustered, and put through the usual course of exer-
cise. The Commodore expressed his approval of
their aptitude and clean appearance.
Two hundred tons of armour-plates are now be-
ing delivered at Portsmouth Dockyard by vessels
from France, the manufacturers being Messrs.
Petin, Gaudet, and Co., the makers of the armour-
plates for the frigate La Gloire, and other iron•clads
in the French Imperial Marine. 100 tons are of
41in., and have been purchased by our Admiralty at
£45 per ton. The remaining 100 tons are of
51in., the price being £5O per ton. Like all other
French plates which have been supplied to the
English Government, these from Petin, Gaudet,
and Cu. have a very rough, blistered, and un-
finished appearance ; but this may not detract at
all from their cohesiveness or shot-resisting power.
They are, however, such plates as the Admiralty
would not receive on any terms from English manu-
facturers. The latter, indeed, are loud in their com-
plaints, and have been now for some time past, of
the restrictions the Admiralty place upon them in
compelling them to give their plates such a perfectly
even surface, and to bestow upon them such an im-
mense amount of " trimming and polishing. They
say that the plate is ruined in its defensive quality
as ships' armour, and that they therefore do not
compete with the French makers on equal terms.
In the previous trials of plates at Portsmouth, fur-
nished by Messrs. Petin, Gaudet, and Co., and M.
Cchencking, of Toulon, the plates themselves,
although roughly manufactured, showed an extra-
ordinary degree of resisting power to the 681 b solid
shot at 200 yards range, and the metal of which
they were composed was evidently of a very sup-
rior quality.