The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-28 00:00:00

States as hardware." Nay, he continues, "I
have very good reason fur saying that a vessel of
2,000 tons was charterrd six weeks ega for the ex-
press purpose of taking out a cargo of ' hardware'
to the United States." The hon. member, however,
had yet another batch of facts to particularize, for
he pursued his observation at this point by saying
—" The exportation has not yet, ceased. From the
Ist of January to the 17th of March, 1863, the Cus-
toms' bills of entry show that 23,870 gun-barrels,
30,803 rifles, and 3,105,800 percussion-caps were
shipped to the United States." So much for the
loyal truthfulness of the systematic revilers of those
who have had anything at all to do with the far-
famed Alabama.

England would be independent of American wars,
to the benefit alike of herself and her great
Eastern Empire. It is estimated that the
present crop might have been raised from
an average of £12,000,000 to about £06,000,000
per annum, with the possibility of further increase.
More than 20 years ago the Court of Directors
admitted that India was capable of producing
cotton, which in quantity and quality could com-
pete with the cotton of North America. Mr.
MERCER, an American planter, openly said that
the Berar cotton Equalled good Mobile or Up-
end Geori.Pia ; while another American authoriy
admitted that the product of the west of Guzerat
was as good cotton as he had ever seen. The Ame-
ricans, in truth, began to tremble for their fortune.
Apprehension of the possible consequences to their
trade rendered them more keen-sighted as to the
capabilities of India than our wise merchants and
rulers. Mr. LAWRENCE, the American Ambassador
in this country, warned the Southern planters to
direct their attention elsewhere, and not to persist
in reckless extension of their cotton cul-
tivation, for that they could not com-
pete with India if ever Englishmen resolved
in earnest to give its people and resources fair play.
Surely, then, in face of these various testimonies,
our statesmen should not lose a day in forwarding
by every means in their power the development of
our Indian resources. Too much time has been
already lost. No system of agriculture or manu-
facture will thrive if discouraged and neglected.
The field is open to enterprise and capital. The
population is numerous and intelligent. Let us
then avail ourselves to the utmost of the means in
our power to resuscitate a once thriving trade, and
to bring relief to our brave and suffering country-
men.

It was the close, however, of the brilliant speech
delivered last night by Mr. LAIRD in the British
House of Commons that told the most damagingly
against his antagonists and assailants, but particu-
larly against his arch-assailant among them all !
" Seeing" said he manfully, " that the American Go-
vernment (he means here, of course, the Northern
Government) are making so much work about other
parties, whom they charge with violating or
evading the law, though in reality they have
not done so, I think it only fair to state these
FACTS !" A few more remarks, and he added, " I
do not wish to occupy the house longer, but I must
say this, that to talk of freedom in a land like the
Northern States of America is an absurdity. Almost
every detective that can be got hold of in this
country is employed." Not satisfied with generali-
ties, he thus enters in particulars—" I believe," he
said, " there are spies in my son's works in Birken-
head, and in all the great establishments in the
country. A friend of mine had detectives regu-
larly on his track in consequence of some circum-
stances connected with his vessels. If that," ex-
claimed Mr. LAIRD, "be freedom, I thing we had
better remain—as we are !" Whereat the House
cheered lustily, not without some laughter. "In
conclusion," quoth Mr. LAIRD, in the midst of the re-
peated cheering of the House of Commons, " I have
only to say, that I would rather be handed down to
posterity as the builder of a dozen Alabamas than
as the man who applies himself deliberately to set
class against class, and to cry up the institutions of
another country which, when they come to be
tested, are of no value whatever, and which reduce
liberty to an utter absurdity." Hardly have the
cheers called forth by those outspoken words of a
true-hearted Englishman, ceased to vibrate within
the walls of the House of Commons, down at
Westminster—when new evidences are flashed to us
by telegraph, as we write, new evidences of the con-
tinued and miserable collapse of the power vaunted
with such disloyal enthusiasm by the thoroughly
un English and u/gra.American member for Bir-
mingham. How deplorable this collapse of the
Federal power, both ashore and afloat, continues to
be, will be recognised upon a glance at our latest
Telegrams.

Captain COWPER COLES has again done good
service to his country by the apparently easy
means of a lecture delivered by him before the
Royal United Service Institution. Readily, how-
ever, though the lucid explanations fell from his
lips, they are the result of many years' assiduous
and laborious application of his energies to the fab
rication of these extraordinary cupola and shield
ships, of which he has the distinguished honour of
being the inventor. Elaborately as the nature of
his invention has been explained, before now, by
himself and others, it really almost appears,
upon an examination of his remarks the other even-
ing down at Whitehall, that we knew next to
nothing at all about it until yesterday. The par-
ticulars given by him in his lecture this week,
bringing the peculiarities of his invention out to
view in so lucid and vivid a light, that there is now
no longer any room whatever of misapprehension
in regard to them. Now, at any rate, we may be-
gin seriously to believe that we do at last know
something about the capabilities of (that terrible
alliteration !) Captain COWPER COLES'S Cupolas !
The objection raised against those formidable
ships of iron, the shield ships of Captain COLES, it
will be remembered, was, from the fist, above all
things, that they could not be masted. How has
this alarming objection been at once and completely
obviated ty the ingenuity of the inventor ? By the
supplementary contrivance of the rigid iron tripod
masts! Not only does that contrivance so
strengthen the floating fabric altogether, that a
vessel so masted is enabled to spread half as
much canvass again as another ordinarily
masted and rigged, but the hollow tubes of the
rigid iron tripod masts actually enable the ship to be
thoroughly well ventilated even in the foulest
weather. The lecturer indeed pointed out the
other evening to his audience (illustrating his re-
marks by means of a little model placed on the
lecture table) "how the topgallant masts and yards
could be quickly struck and placed on deck, and
nothing but the tripod masts be left above deck
with CUNNINGHAM'S patent reefing apparatus, so
that the sails could be taken in from below, or
reefed fore and aft. There was no lower rigging"
he added, " to interfere with the training power cf
the shield or deck. The yards and lower stays
could be braced fore and aft, and in a lire with the
keel, or the square sail could be set when under
steam. On going into action the topsail could be
furled or taken in without exposing the men to the
fire of the enemy." Besides all which, even if shot
away, there was this instant and obvious advantage
with the iron masts that they sunk at once, being
of iron, and thus got rid of the otherwise, all
but inevitable additional hazard of fouling the
screw. Again, it was remarked very forcibly
by Captain COLE, in his recent lecture, that
whereas clipper ships that made a voyage out to
China and home, often required on their return new
sets of masts and rigging, owing to the influence
of change of climate This could not be the case it
iron masts were substituted for wooden masts.
Nay, he even went so far as to assert, with the
confidence purchased by experimental comparisons
hi the way of tests, that " assuming the adoption of
his system of iron tripod masts effectually to re-
move objections urged against hie shield ships on
the ground of the difficulty of malting them, he
could claim for his cupola ships as contrasted with
the old broadside class, greater powers of effence
defence, greater speed, better sea-going qualities,
and lighter draught of water." In direct and con
elusive testing of which it has only been
necessary to compare the broadside iron clad
Defence with the Prince Albert shield
ship now building at Blackwell. The latter
.vith a tonnage of only 2,529 tons, throws a broad-
side of 1,1201 b., while the Defence, of 3,700 tons,
only throws a broadside of 5601 b., so that, as Cap-
tain COLES shows with comprehensible exultation,
with less tonnage the broadside of the cupola ship
was twice as great as that, say, of the Valiant !
The advantage, however, he went on to argue is
positively still greater, for with all the large crews
at present on board our men of war, they could,
when fighting both broadsides, only use every
alternate gun, so that the actual broadside of the
Defence is only 2801 b., assuming both sides to be
engaged ; while the shield ship, working the guns
by mechanical appliances, can continue to throw two
broadsides, each of 500th. Added to which, the
shield ship draws Mt. Bin. less water, and is
completely covered with 5-lin. armour plates, while
the Defence is only partially covered with
iron plates! Finally, " Compared with the Valiant,
the Prince Albert, shield ship, throws 261 b. less in
her broadside, but her tonnage is 1,380 tons less, she
draws sft. 2in. less water, is wholly covered with
armour plates, while the Valiant is but partially
protected. Compared with the Warrior, the shield
ship is 3,430 toes less in tonnage, and throws
2401 b. less broadside, but draws Oft. 2in. less water,
and is wholly protected, as against the partial plat.
ing of the Warrior. Compared with the Fuvourite,
the Prince Albert throws 7611 b. more, is 340 tons
large, but draws l? feet less water, is covered with
Si inch plates, as against partial protection afforded
by 41:inch plates." While, to crown all, Comparing
the shield ship with the Royal Sovereign, it is
shown that the latter throws a broadside of five 300-
pounders equal to one thousand!

Although our Indian Secretary may felicitate
himself on the assistance he has given to the
development of the railroad system of India, his
good deeds in this respect are counterbalanced by
the disfavour with which he has always regarded
the increase of the water communication in that
country. To the want of a better system of water
traffic is principally due those disastrous seasons of
dearth and scarcity which regularly desolate ex-
tensive districts in British India. There is little
doubt that the newly-formed irrigation works in the
delta of the Godavery, have been instrumental in
saving the lives of thousands, as well as an immense
amount of property. At the time of the periodical
droughts, if no means had been taken to alleviate
the distress, the destruction of cattle and agricul•
tare would have been certain, while famine would
have decimated the population. We have always
strongly advocated the importance of these mea-
sures, and we are glad tc find the Irrigation Com-
pany of Madras has so well fulfilled our expecta-
tions. We learn from a recent pamphlet by Mr.
DiCKEN SON that the water supplied by them to a
region withered by the drought season produces a
change " like from death to life," and restores fresh
hope and prosperity to the earth and its dwellers.
The Madras Government have stated that in Raja-
mudry district the goods traffic had augmented
thirtyfold, the passenger traffic sevenfold, and the
exports twelvefold, in consequence of the public
works. This was said two years since, and great
increase has taken place since that time. It must
be remembered that these results arose from the irri-
gation of only 700,000 acres, and that the gift of free
navigation, which cost the Government lid. per acre,
produced a speedy return, which averaged £2 an acre.
The water rate charged was at the rate of 6s. for
one crop, or 10s. for two; the highest annual charge
for water leaving, consequently, a clear profit of
£1 103. per acre above the profit on very inexpen-
sive carriage.

Mr. DICKENSON, in the pamphlet referred to, sets
forward plainly and forcibly the arguments in
favour of an extended system of irrigation. He
remarks on the beneficial effzcts, not only of the
great canals, but of the aide channels; a narrow
ditch will float a boat that can carry a ton weight,
and which, under the management of a boy, will
convey as much weight as a heavy cart, which
with the two bullocks, and the man in charge,
would be a very great expense. The lessen-
ing of the cost and trouble of traffic will
greatly encourage commerce by increasing the
value of the articles sold, and diminishing the cost
of what is bought. A striking proof of the benefits
arising from increased facility of communication is
found in the fact that the freightage on merchan-
dise from London to Madras, a distance of more
than 12,000 miles, is about 30s. per ton ; while the
carriage of the same goods over the 400 miles which
intervene between Madras and Bellary amounts to
£6 a ton ! If efficient water communication were
provided the cost would be but 10s. a ton, were the
distance even 500 miles, while instead of the goods
being three or fcur months on the road, exposed to
all the risks attending a protracted journey, as
many days would suffice for their conveyance
by water. Argument and illustration, however,
ire alike hopeless with our Indian Secretary of
State. Sir CHARLES WOOD will neither be per-
suaded nor convinced. He refuses to credit official
reports and private evidence, declaring them to be
exaggerated and mistaken. He is determined to
have railways, which will probably be of great
benefit to India as to England. But the different
nature of the climate necessitates due attention being
paid also to the water system. The countless
little tributaries which supply our own rivers keep
the ground fresh and fertile, and so the streams
which would supply our Indian canals would irri-
pditatyintsootfhle npdeiocp,
laen. d
rprove e
vai ss oautrtce en
do
-f
geaetaeltthheanadri
ing the cotton scarcity have induced Sir CHARLES
WOOD to propose cotton roads ; but these, however
desirable, the absence of the water
w
notsupplycommunications so greatly needed for the
ork sa n d will
encouragement of the Indian cotton trade. The slow
and mischievous mode of transit from the interior to
the value of Indian cotton,
the ports greatly reduces
and indeed, after reading an account of its journey,
one is tempted to wonder that it is tit for use at all
when it reaches its destination, Were the cotton
resources of India developed to their full extent,

Altogether, after carefully scrutinising the simple
and unanswerable data now accumulated, it appears
that Capt. COLES can reasonably claim, as in point of
fact he actually does claim, foz his cupolas " greater

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVgNING, MARCH 28, 1863.

power of broadside in proportion to tonnage, lighter
draught of water, greater resisting power, and a
very great saving of weight, in consequence of the
exposed portion of the ship's side above water ne-
cessary to be protected in action being reduced, so
to speak, to a minimum !" Tolerably large, surely,
advantages like these ? Important, each of them, if
regarded singly! Overwhelmingly in favour of the
shield ships when thus massed together in the
perior capabilities! simple enumeration of their su

6111°1 flrtthn
qv,

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, March 27.

The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness
the Princess of 'Wales, drove out yesterday after-
noon, attended by Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. D. de
Ros.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales drove out this morning.
Viscount 'Torrington and Lieut.-General the
Right Hon. J. Peel arrived at the Gistle yes-
terday.

Earl Russell and Baron Gros, the French Am-
bassador, arrived at the Castle this morning.

Earl Russell had an audience of the Queen.

Baron Gros had an audience of her Majesty, to
which he was introduced by Earl Russell.
Baron Gros afterwards had an audience of the
Prince of Wales, and presented his Royal High-
ness with the decoration of the Grand Cross of
the Legion of Honour from his Majesty the Em-
peror of the French.
Lord Alfred Hervey and I.4ieut.-Co!onel Keppcl
were present as Lord and Equerry in Waiting to
the Prince.

Mr. Vinter had the honour of submitting to her
Majesty, their Royal Highnesses the Prince and
Princess of Wales, and the Prince and Princess of
Hesse his portrait of her Royal Highness the Prin.=
cess of Wales, lithographed aftEr Lauchert for
Messrs. Colnaghi, Scott, and Co.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.
(Per Arabia.)
ENGAGEMENT AT PORT HUDSON.

EXIC 0.

SPAIN.

MADRID, INIARciI 27 (Evening).

DENMARK.

COPENHAGEN, MAncn 27 (Evening).

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

NEW YORK, MARCEL 19 (Evening).

The I?ichmond Whig, of the 17th inst., says that
the bombardment of Port Hudson commenced at
two o'clock on the 14th inst. At twelve o'clock at
night a desperate engagement comma, the Fede-
rals attempting to pass the batteries under cover of
the darkness. One gunboat passed in a damaged
condition. The Federal sloop of war Mississippi
was burnt to the water edge in front of the bat-
teries. One large vessel was completely riddled, a
third badly crippled, and the rest driven back.
Thirty-six of the crew of the Mississippi were cap-
tured. Admiral Farragut's flAg-ship went down
the river disabled. The Confederate victory was
complete.

The Northern accounts of the engagement have
not yet been received.

None of the reported Federal successes or captures
on the Yazoo river are yet confirmed.
A Federal expedition, consisting of 2 steamers,
5 small gunbcats, and 18 transports, arrived at the
confluence of the Tallahatchie and Yallabusha
rivers on the 14th inst., when the advance steamer
came upon a Confederate battery of 5 guns. Fight-
ing between the steamer and the Confederate
batteries continued all day, but was not resumed
the following day, the steamer being damaged and
short of ammunition.

In addition to the battery at Greenwood, the
Confederates are reported to be strongly fortiflEd
at Yazoo City and Manchester. The fleet, at last
accounts, arrived at Greenwood at the confluence.
The Federals attacked the Confederate entrench-
ments at Franklin on the Biackwater River on the
17th inst., and were repulsed.
The Confederates, under Generd D. H. Hill,
attacked Newbern, North Carolina, on the 13th
inst., but were defeated.

The Federal cavalry have crossed the Rappahan-
nock at Kelly's Ford, and had a spirited engage-
ment with the Confederate cavalry under Fitz
Hugh The Confederates retreated behind
their entrenchments, and the Federals brought

away 25 prisvners.
The report that the Cenfederates were near Fort
Donelscm is said to be untrue.

Deserters from Mobile report that the-Confede-
rate fleet left that port four weeks ago to attack
the Federal blockading spadron, but, owing to one
of the vessels getting aground the expedition was
temporarily abandoned.

Colonel Fry, of the regular army, has been ap-
pointed Provost-Marshal under the Conscription
Act. The appointment has been favourably re-
ceived by the public.
The New Jersey Legislature has declared itself
in favour of peace measures by a large majority.

The steamers Britannia and Gertrude have
arrived at Confederate pmts.
The steamer Havzlock has arrived at Charleston.
NEW YORK, MARCH 18 (MoRNING).

A steamer, supposed to be a privateer, entered
Savannah harbour on the 9th inst. and fired two
guns, but left again before the Federal guns on
Sy bee Island could be brought to bear upon her.
Mr. Chase has returned to Wash ngton after con-
sulting with the New York financiers without ne-
gotiating a lean. It is stated that he is amply
supplied with means for presz.nt demands, and his
ruture policy remains undecided.

The New York Herald's corresponthnt asserts
that the rising in San Dumiego is an unimportant
affair.

The inundations in Mississippi and Louisiana,
caused by the eutticg of the levees at Y3zJo Pass
and Lake Providence, cover a great extent of coun-
try. It is calculated that in Mississippi a district
nearly as large as Scotland has been laid under water,
and that in Louisiana a region covering 5,000 square
miles has been converted into a lake.

Telegrams received via Cairo and Chicago report
that Vicksburg was about to be, or had been eva-
cuated, while a statement in the _Richmond Despatch
of the 10th asserts that the bombardment of Vicks-
burg by the Federals had commenced, and con-
tinued at the date of the last advices, without doing
material damage to the city. The works on the cut-
off, or canal, have been brought to an unexpected
termination. The Mississippi has broken through
the levee and filled the trench with earth and
rubbish, thus rendering it useless.

NEW YORK, MARCH 7, Evening.

Money easy; gold 56 per cent. premium. Ex-
change on London Bankers' Bills 171 to 172.
Stocks steady. New York Central, 116; ; Illinois,
912 ; Erie, 79. Cotton improving ; middling up-
land, 97c. Flour, wheat, and corn improving.
Provisions good inquiry. Coffee and sugar dull.
Crude petroleum, 21 to 22,

QUEENS ['OWN, MARCH 28.

The Royal mail steamship Arabia, from Boston,
on the 18-h, and Halifax on the 20th inst., arrived
here at 9.20 a.m. with 26 passengers and 232,370
doll. in specie. She landed all mails and two pas-
sengers, and proceeded at 9.40 a.m. All well.

NEW YORK, MARCH 19.

The Richmond papers of the 17th inst. contain
A deepatch received by telegraph from., HouStan,
Texas, announcing that the French troops had cap-
tured the city.. of Mexico.

The news reached Huston across Rio Grande,

News from Galveston, of the 2d of March, says
hat the French Consul at Matamoras had received
a despatch stating that the French had captured
Mexico city.
It is supposed that this eircumstence may have
given rise to the report which reached Richmond.
the report is considered' premature, and does not
obtain universal credence.

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.
THORN, MAncll 26, Evening.
The insurgents in the Governments of Plock and
Augustown have received 1,000 Minie rifles.
WARSAW, MARcH 26.
Two persons known to be spies have been stabbed
to death in one of the streets of this city.
VIENNA, MARcir 28,
Yesterday Langiewiez still remained in the citadel
of Cracow.
The report current here that he had procezdtd
to BrUnn with his followers is therefore premature.

The President of the Council has in a conference
stated to Senor o:czaga, that the new Ministry
,foes not continue the policy of the O'Donnell
C4binet, but that its programme is based upon
liberal-conservative principles.

The Danmark of to-day, in announcing that
Englanc, has entered into negotiations with the