The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-31 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAN. EVENING, JULY 31, 1863.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
The fact stated by Sir WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, that,
out of 3,000 of his guns, no one has burst explosively,
is certainly testimony in his favour; but the Com•
mittee frankly state that, while every witness has
borne testimony to the superior range and accuracy
of his guns, great doubts are felt whether they
would not prove too delicate and liable to disorder
to be extensively relied on in actual warfare. It
is, certainly, not much use to provide armies with
ordnance for experiments which will not serve for
a campaign ; and this objection, if well-founded, is
a very serious one. The details of the system the
Report does not, of course, enter into, merely stating
that the weight of scientific evidence is against any
breech-loading system for the larger guns. The
Armstrong shell is universally admitted to be the
most successful, and in that Sir WILLIAM bears the
undisputed palm. We hope this inquiry and
Report will lead to practical consequences, and
secure s reform and re-arrangement of our ordnance
system on a scientific, impartial, and satisfactory
basis. Enough has been already spent to secure to
England the pre-eminence in all such matters—a
superiority which her engineering skill and me-
chanical appliances ought surely to give her.

(REUTEVS TELEGRAMS.)

MEXICO.

PARIS, JULY 31.

The report of Marshal Forey, dated 14th June,
giving an account of the operations of the French
army in Mexico, up to that date, has been pub-
lished this morning.
Marshal Forey states that he had sent a column
to protect the mines at Real del Monte, which the
enemy intended to plunder, and to destroy the en-
gines. The Marshal announces that he is occupied
in forming a ProvisionalPovernment, which, fol-
lowing the intentions of the Emperor, will be com-
posed of men of moderate views, belonging to all
parties.

The news of General Marin having taken San
Juan Baptista, and of Colonel Dupin having occu-
pied Huatuses, has been confirmed.

_
The Constitutionnel of this morning publishes an
article, signed by M. de Limayrac, dwelling ener-
getically upon the insufficiency of the Russian
reply.

The interview of the King of SWEDEN with
,he King of DENMARK will doubtless produce

THE BRAZIL MAIL.

LISBON, JULY 30.

some effects. The particulars arc strictly private
for the present, the Danish President of the

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's ship
Magdalena, which arrived here to-day from the
Brazils, will leave for Southampton at 6 p.m., with
106 passengers, £15,074 in specie, 300 bales of
tobacco, and 385 packages of sundries.
BUENOS AYRES, JUNE 28.
Cordova is in the hands of the insurgents.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Exchange, 665., no takers ; ounces, 463. Wet
salted ox hides, 374: ; dry American, 36 to 371
wool firm ; tallow 141 ; lumber, 32 ; flour nominal ;
refined sugar, 16.

Council being the only other person present
After the interview of the Sovereigns the Presi

dent had a conference of an hour and a half with

the King of SWEDEN. This intelligence is of
great importance, and the conference with the
Minister seems, if possible, more significant thaH

even the interview with the King on the part o

the Kiug of SWEDEN. It seems, too, that his
MAJESTY concurs with the Danish authorities in

the views they entertain in the present discussion
and it is earnestly to be hoped that he will lend
them his aid and assistance in the difficult and
dangerous position in which they are placed.
When we recollect the force of the expressions that
were used by Lord PALM ERSTON the other night
in the House of Commons, the state of affairs for
Denmark appears much more encouraging. The
noble lord could not have spoken in stronger terms
than those he employed on that occasion, and
doubtless the effect of his words has already been
very great. If the Kieg of SWEDEN will render
his assistance, and employ his powers as a mediator
between the two parties, or at least testify his
intentions to be an ally, if circumstances should
make necessary any immediate succour, the result
cannot be otherwise than propitious. It is to be
hoped the Germanic Confederation will take heed
of these circumstances, and now withdraw their
absurd pretensions, and alter a line of conduct which
is based neither upon reason nor honour. If so, all
Europe will have cause to rejoice at the happy issue
of a long vexed question, and also at the removal of
an irritating subject of dispute that must eventu-
ally have drawn many other nations into the con-
flict and entailed the most serious consequences.
The Danes deserve great credit for the spirited way
in which, for so many years, they have maintained
their own rights, and not given way in the face of
obstacles most difficult to overcome, and in spite of
an opposition that many more powerful states
would have thought it hopeless to compete
with. It is an instance of the value of persever-
ance, and if they eventually gain their point, its
success will be mainly due to their own native in-
dependence and daring evinced throughout. Meet-
ings between crowned heads are the fashion just
now. We learn that the Emperor of AUSTRIA is

The scarcity of gold continues.
MONTE VIDEO, JUNE 30.

Exchange, 511(?). Wet salted hides, 5.65 ; dry
American, 4.50 to 5; dry German, 5.40. Wool,
none at market. Tallow, 1.721.

Political affairs unsettled.

DENMARK

FLENSBURG, JULY 31.

The Schleswig Diet was c!osed yesterday, on
account of the necessary number of deputies not
having attended.
In the evening the loyal inhabitants of this city,
headed by a band of music, made a demonstration
in honour of the Royal Commissioner and the loyal
deputies, who were warmly cheered.

SPAIN.

MADRID, JULY 30

At the monthly auction for the sinking fund of
the Passive Debt to-day the prices fixed by the
Government were for the foreign portion 34.14;
for the seriee of the home Passive 36.10; and for
the second series, 24.10.
The tenders sent in for the foreign passive ranged
from 33.97 to 37.50 ; for the first series of the home
portion from 36.25 to 36.65; and for the second
series from 24.10 to 24,24.

likely to pay a visit to the King of PRUSSIA at
Gastein, in the early part of August. It is possible
that this visit may be of service, for it is well
known that the Emperor's views regarding Poland
are of a very favourable character to the right
cause, and his immense influence may be of essen-
tial service in the object of satisfactory adjustment,
which is desired by all well-wishers, The King of
PRUSSIA has now been some time in retirement.
He will have had leisure to reflect upon the conse-
quences of the changes and innovations that his
Ministers have effected in the Constitution of the
State. Perhaps an important personage now com-
muning with him may inform him of the deleteri-
ous effects that his tyrannical course has had on
the country, in the opinion of lookers-on in
neighbouring countries. It is with Poland,
however, more than with Prussia, that the Em-
peror of AUSTRIA can be of essential service.
Affairs have been much worse in that country
since the Prussians so strenuously supported the
Russians, and if the King could be led to see the
importance of terminating such a deplorable state
of things speedily, it might be of great benefit to
the cause of peace. At present it would seem as if
King WILLIAM was urging on the Government of
St. Petersburg to use their utmost vigour in restor-
ing order, and then to maintain discipline with
strong measures, assuring them of his faithful ad-
herence end continued assistance. The French
papers assert that now Lords PALMERSTON and
RUSSELL have agreed to support energetically the
common action of the three Powers, and have for-
warded communications to that effect to Paris and
Vienna. If that is the case it is not likely that the
Austrian EMPEROR will now draw back, especially
when it is recollected how detided a stand was
taken by his Government a short time since, and
the reception of the Russian despatch. Altogether,
then, there is a chance of good resulting from this
meeting, and it is high time that some indirect in-
fluence be exerted, as it is evident that the prospect
of open assistance is very doubtful. It is dreadful
to contemplate this state of things going on much
longer in Poland, and unless some one takes an
especial interest in the welfare of this unhappy
land, and also possesses power to be of service as
mediator, no prospect of better days seems likely
to dawn.

Naval and Military Intelligence.
---

THE NAVY.
Yesterday the Lords Commissioners of the Admi-
ralty paid an official visit to Chatham for the pur-
pose of making their annual inspection of the
dockyard and other naval establishments at that
port. The members of the Board present com-
prised his Grace the Duke of Somerset, K.G., First
Lord; Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir F. W. Grey,
K.C.8., Rear-Admiral C. Eden, C. 8., Capt. the Hon.
3. I. Drummond, C. 8., and Mr. J. Stansfeld, M.P.,
Junior Lords ; Rear-Admiral the Right Hon. Lord
Clarence Paget, C. 8., M,P., First Secretary ; Rear-
Admiral R. S. Robinson, Controller of the navy;
Col. G. T. Greene, director of Admiralty engineer-
ing works.; Mr. E. J. Reed, chief constructor of the
navy ; Capt. R. Hall, private secretary to the Duke
of Somerset, and other officials. The members of
the Board arrived at the dockyard shortly before
noon, and alighting at the official residence of the
Capt.-Superintendent were received by Capt. E. G.
Fanshawe, Sir R. Mayne, Mr. Superintendent Mel-
ialieu, Mr. Lang, master-shipbuilder : Mr. Moore
and Mr. Hutchens, assistant-master shipwrights;
Mr. Churchward, store receiver; Mr. Uhatworthy,
accountant ; Mr. Rivers, clerk of works, and the
other heads of departments. The members of the
Board repaired in the first instance to the office of
the Captain Superintendent, and were occupied for
about half an hour in the transaction of official busi-
ness, after which they commenced the tour of the
yard for the purpose of inspecting the various ves-
sels under construction and repair. The large
iron frigate Achilles, 6,000 tons, 1,250 horse-
power, was the first vessel visited. Confi-
dent hopes are now entertained that she will
be afloat some time before the close of the
present year. Although her first armour-plate
was only fixed in its place on the sth of Febru-
ary last, no fewer than 238 plates had been bolted
to her broadsides up a:le yesterday afternoon, leav-
ing only about 100 more to be affixed to render the
whole exterior surface, down to sft. below her water-
line, as nearly as possible invulnerable. When it
is remembered that the whole of the iron work on
board the Achilles has, for the last 12 months, been
performed exclusively by the dockyard shipwrights,
who previously possessed no knowledge whatever
of iron shipbuilding, the progress made in the con-
struction of the iron vessel is without a parallel at
any of the Royal dockyards. Their lordships
ascended the upper deck of the frigate, over which
they were conducted by Mr. Lang and his subordi-
nates, and they afterwards went below to the main
deck, where a short time we spent in inspecting the
progress made in the work. Leaving the shipbuild-
ing department of the establishment the members
of the Board visited the ropery, in which nearly
the whole work of preparing the largest descrip-
tion of cables used in the navy is performed by
steam machinery, It will be necessary, however, to
erect other machinery to keep pace with the require,
merits of the increasing demands of the establish-
ment, which will involve an outlay of ',bout £lO,OOO.
After deciding on the additional machinery to be
provided, the members of the Board resumed their
inspection of the naval portion of the dockyard, and
visited the Anchor-wharf, on which it is intended
to erect steam machinery for loading and unloading
the various vessels at the dockyard, thus doing away
with the great demand for manual labour for that
purpose. After inspecting No. 1 slip, which is at
present unoccupied, their lordships proceeded to the
second building shed, where the 17-gun screw frigate
Reindeer is in the frame, but on which not a single
hand has been employed for several years. They next
visited the factory, in which the iron slabs as well as
the whole of the iron required in the construction
of the Achilles is prepared. Shortly before their
arrival the fine iron screw frigate Tamar, 2,800
tons, 500 horse power, steamed into the harbour
from Millwall, where she has been constructed for
the Admiralty by a private firm. This vessel will
be placed in the first dock which becomes
vacant for the purpose of being surveyed,
previous to her being taken over from her
builders. Their lordships partook of luncheon at
the official residence of Captain Superintendent
Fanshawe, and afterwards proceeded to inspect the
various wooden vessels lying on the several slips,
including the line-of-battle ship Bulwark, 91, the
Belvidere, 51. the lienai, 22, and the Myrmidon, 4,
on neither of which is a single hand employed. The
last slip inspected was that on which the blocks for
the new iron clad frigate the Lord 'Warden, the
first of the squadron of that class of vessel to be
constructed on Mr. Reed's plan, will be built.
Their lordships gave directions for some addi-
tional machinery to be erected on this slip to
facilitate the building operation, and, after inspect-
ing the stock of timber, left the dockyard. They
were then conducted over the block of buildings
recently erected by Messrs. Foord and Sons, Ro-
chester, adjoining the dockyard, for the married
officers and men of the Metropolitan police doing
duty at Chatham. At 3 o'clock their lordships
arrived at the Royal Marine Barracks, and were
received by Major-General A. B. Stransham, In-
spector-General ; Colonel T. Lemon, C. 8., Com-
mandant, and the entire staff of the division. The
battalion, which now numbers nearly 2,000 officers
and men, was drawn up on the ground parade.
After the division had defiled past their lordships
proceeded over the barracks, and afterwards made
a lengthened inspection of the additional barrack
buildings, now nearly completed. As soon as ready
for occupation, they will afford accommodation
for about 800 more men than can be crowded
into the present barracks, in addition to which
there will be commodious quarters erected for the
field officers and subalterns, and a parade-ground
double the size of the existing one provided. At
4 o'clock their lordships visited Melville Naval
Hospital, over which they were conducted by
Deputy-Inspector Kinnear, M.D., and the medical
staff of the establishment. The Lords of the Ad-
miralty afterwards returned to the dockyards to
visit the works at the eastern end of the establish-
ment, on St. Mary's Island, for the enlargement and
extension of the dockyard. They efterwaads went
on board the Enchantress, Admiralty yacht in the
harbour, where they dined, and on board which
they slept last night, in readiness to resume their
inspection this morning.
The Channel fleet, under the command of Ad-
miral Dacres, which left bunderland on Tuesday
morning, arrived in Leith roads on Wednesday
afternoon at 4 o'clock. The Edgar, 71, led the van
in coming up the Firth, and was followed by the
Emerald,
Liverpool, Defence, Black Prince, War-
rior, Royal Oak, and Resistance. The anchorage
selected is a mile to the west of lochkeith, and
about three miles from Leith harbour. The fleet
will remain for about a week in Leith roads, The
Channel fleet is expected to visit the Mersey before
completing its present cruise. Its appearance there
is not anticipated before the middle or end of next

month.
The Wye, iron screw storeship, 700 tons, 100
horse-power, Master Commanding Valentine G.
Roberts, which has recently received extensive
repairs, and been fitted with new boilers built by
Messrs Denney Brothers, at the hands of the ope-
ratives of Sheerness Dockyard, was taken out for
trial at the measured mile off Maplin Sands on
Wednesday. The vessel was in charge of Capt. W.
K. Hall, C. 8., of her Majesty's ship Cumberland,
guardship of the Sheerness steam reserve, and
the engines were under the superintendence
of Mr. W. Rumble, inspector of machinery afloat,
and Mr. G. Blaxiand, chief engineer of Sheerness
dockyard. The average speed attained was 9.591
revolutions, maximum 71,
knots, v.: cuum 27in.;
mean 70.16 per minute; pressure of steam, 151 b.
draught of water—for ward, loft. 4in., aft, 12ft. Gin.
The vessel is fitted with Griffith's sere w, pitch 16ft,,
diameter, 12ft. Gin.; and the indicated horse-power
of her engines is 540. The trial was considered
very successful, and the vessel will shortly leave
this harbour for the west coast of Africa as a store-
ship.