The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-23 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

A General Order, promulgated from the Hove
Guards, expresses the satisfaction Her Majesty de-
rived from her visit to the Royal Victoria Hospital
at Netley on the Bth inst., when she was highly
pleased to observe how carefully and amply the
comfort and requisite attendance upon the sick
soldiers were provided for.
A circular memorandum addressed to the army
at home and abroad, just issued, directs that officers

A miniature breach-loading cannon upon a new'
principle, the invention of Mr. L. W. Broadwell, of
New Orleans, in America, was proved yoterday
on the experimental ordnance range of WoolNTich
Arsenal, and gave satisfactory results. The chief
recommendations of the new gun are the remark-
able simplicity of its brecch•loading arrangements,
and the solid and substantial method on which it
appeas to be constructed, as proved by its resist-
anc? of the severe test to which it was subjected
on trial. The gun is on a small scale, for experi-
ments only, and when brought out on larger dimen-
sions will, as stated, prove a most serviceab'e
weapon. No training is required to initiate the
gunner, the method of loading being simply the re-
moval and replacing of a small block of iron for the
introduction of the charge. There is a self-acting
expanding ring, which serves to seal the breach
hermetically at the moment of discharge, and which
does not impede the movement of the vent-piece.
The projectile invented by Mr. Broadwell to be
used with the gun is an elongated shot, and is
simple and plain in construction.

TEE FRENCH OPERATIONS AT PUEBLA.

HAVANA, May 3.
A French man-of-war steamer, the Merceau,
arrived here a few days ago, bringing despatches
from Gen. Forey, which have been forwarded to the
Emperor. According to the news brought, the last
mail from Puebla, which arrived at Vera Cruz be-

fore the departure of the above, left the French
headquarters on the 12th. At that date, according
to the French accounts, they continued penning up
the Mexican garrison. The latter only occupied the
part of the city the least able to be defended, and
found themselves as it were cooped up in the space
comprised between the last barricades (the district
of S. Jose) and the forts of Guadalupe and Loreto.
"Gen. Forey," says the Dian° de la Marina, in
its correspondence, "writes that he is quite satisfied.
The operations were going on prudently and slowly,
but of the final result there could be no doubt."
It was believed in Vera Cruz, according to the last
news received, that the English steamer which leaves
there on the 2d inst. would carry news to Havana

hat Puebla was in the hands of the French.

It is also said that a large force of cavalry sallied
out of the city a little before the departure of the
mail, in order to join Gen. Comonfort, but they did
not succeed, and were obliged to enter the city
again, with a rather large loss of killed, wounded,
and prisoners. As the same time it is currently
stated that Comonfort had been flanked, and was in
a very critical position.

The official accounts also state that the fort of
Guadalupe, the most important in the city, was sur-
rounded on the outside with intrenchments and
parapets constructed by the French, and that by
this means Juarez's soldiers were prevented from
getting out, whilst provisions and ammunition were
prevented from being got in. These latter were
alarmingly scarce, according to the deserters, and
the want of water, which threatened to be shortly
complete, kept all in a state of alarm.' 5
The French chief of the counter guerillas, Colonel
Dupin, was about to remove, if he had not already
done so, with all his force to Coatzacoaleos, where
some Mexican guerillas had shown themselves.
Moreover, the river of that name was protected by

two gun-boats.
The news that Merida had pronounced in favour
of the intervention is confirmed, the pronuncia-
mento including the whole country as far as Car-
men. The governor of Yucatan, Don Liborio
Irigoyen had fled, and it was thought that Senor
Regil had been appointed in his place, although
two other candidates, one of whom was Don
Thomas Marin aspired to the same office.
A force from Campeachy that attempted a second
time to attack the city of carmen was completely
routed, and retired in a very demoralised condition.
The French admiral, M. Jurien de la Graviere,
is on his way to France. He embarked on the 21st
at Vera Cruz on board the French frigate Driade,
which was signalled some days back at the Moro
Castle on her way to New York.
Admiral Bosse, who has taken Admiral Jurien
de la Graviere's place, arrived on the 20th ult. at
Vera Cruz on Board the Bellone.

Some excitement has been occasioned by the re-
port that a one-masted vessel armed with a cannon
and manned by 12 persons had boarded and searched
another one-masted vessel (English) that left this
port the other day, and also a coasting schooner
that entered a few days ego inside the marine
limits of the island. The aggressive vessel carried
no flag to show to what nation it belonged. The
Spanish war steamer Lezo has_been despatched to
find out the stranger.
Since the above-mentioned occurrence took place
the English schooner Dream, which left here on
the 40th nit. for Matamoras last Thursday, came
back on the following morning, having been chased
a few leagues from the shore by another schooner,
which, it is said carried the United States flag.
Since then the Spanish steamer Lezo met, about
four miles from the coast, the American vessel in
question, and sent a boat with an officer to examine
its papers. The vessel proved to be the Annie, Com-
mander Williams, fitted out apparently by the
United States Government for war purposes, and, as
was stated by its commander, to be commissioned to
cruise from Tottuquilla to Cape San Antonio, at the
western extremity of Cuba. The Annie was over-
hauled by another Spanish war steamer, the Nep-
tune. The captain of the Dream stated to the cap-
tain of the Lezo that in the chase by the American
vessel, several balls and other projectiles were fired
at his vessel, one of which latter burst over the
schooner, making a hole in the sail and injuring the
deck. The English captain and his crew having
signed the protest, affirming that the abovehalf o
coast, the commander of the Annie affirms the con-

trary.
Another English schooner had also sought refuge
in the harbour of Banes, which, like the Drea
was on her voyage to Matamoras, and was afraid
to continue it lest she should be taken. Two war
steamers had been seen in the vicinity of that port,
carrying the French flag and the American Pe'a.

nue.
Three SP' -di war steamers, the Lezo, Neptuno,
and ealtaedd,
which, on receiving • f i
In ormaton of the
am
events, had. proceeded towards the
aho
coast, are on the lookout all along the seashore, and
yLen
in constant communication.
The Spanish corvette steamer Santa Lucia has
been sent to San Domingo on an important hydro-
graphical mission—namely, to rectify the charts of
the eastern coast of that island, on account of the
many maritime accidents which occur in that part
at Cabo, Engano, and Saona.
The United States steamer Huntsville, Rogers
commander, and the Sononia, Stevens commander,
left here yesterday ; the latter came in the same
day, the 2d inst., from Key West.
The Corsica, which has taker. the place of the
British Queen, arrived here safely on the Ist
NanNB-..,
having made the voyage between New York,
sau and Havana in six days. She brought out
freight and 40 passengers for here. This is her first
her return
for
the 9th.
voyage out. The day of departure
will be on
voyage for Nassau and New York
steamer Neptune,
The Confederate or English.c. ,s which, arrived
ib.
Ile,
for it would be hard to sayevillisti u '
inst.) from 1% 9
likewise at this port on the

with a cargo of Cottonht .
The Corsica broug news from Nassau to the
25th ult. The Confederate steamers
Calypso and
Antouica had arrived here with cargoes
close otogether
f cotton
from Charleston. Both arrived so
that it was thought as they entered the harbour
o other
that one was pursuing the other. The steamer g
Ella and Annie had left the same place for
—t.
John, N. 8., with an assorted cargo.
The English war steamer Landrail anchored in
the port of Trinidad on the 29th ult., and
English vessels of the West India feet tw
at no great distance from shore—the 'were Been
the Rosario. Ariadne and

TIIaEATEE-ROitAli, HAY MARKET.
1 Lessee, Mr. J. B. Rtickstone.
THIS EVENING, BORROWING A HUSBAND. Pa-
mela, Miss Maria Harris.
After which, 7th time, a new and original comedy, entitled
FINESSE; or, Spy and Counter-Spy : Mr. Bu ketone, Mr.
Howe, Mr. Chippendale, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wigan, and
Miss Louisa Angel.
Followed by an apropos Dramatic Sketch, introducing a
Panorama of the Tour of the Prince of Wales in the East.
To conclude with MY HUSBAND'S GHOST.
Commence at 7.

THE DUKE'S MOTTO.
THE HUNDREDTH AND EIGHTH NIGHT.
On Whit Monday, and during the Summer Season, the
doors will open at 7 o'clock; performance commence at half-
past 7. -

THEATRE-ROYAL LYCEUM OPEN, under
the Sole Management of Mr. FECHTER.
THIS EVENING, at 7, to commence with an Original
Sketch, entitled A sUDDEN ATTACK. Messrs. Shore,
Garden, H. Widdicomb, Miss Heurade, and Mrs. Lee.
After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New Romantic
Drama, in Three Acts, and Pr3logne, entitled THE
DUKE'S MOTTO, by Paul Feval and John Brougham.
The principal character will be sustained by Mr. Fechter,
supported by Messrs. J. G. Shore, G. Jordan, J. Brougham,
H: Widdislombe, F. Charles, Garden, Raymond, Dawson;
Misses Carlotta Leclercq, Kate Terry, P. Lavenne, and
ElswOrthY• Acting-Manager, Mr. H. Barnett.

Magyars, to be defeated, and degraded, and dis-
placed.

It must have been already remarked how complete
has been the success of the Confederates—as demon-
strated by those important telegrams which we were
enabled to place before our readers in our
third edition of last evening in anticipation of our
contemporaries of this morning. The enterprize
manifested by Me. REUTER in sending out a fleet
steamer like the Sapphire yesterday forenoon to
meet the New York, and to beaten back, after meet-
ing her, direct to Southampton with our eagerly-
looked for despatches—placed thus within reach at
the earliest moment possible the notable intelligence
of the actual Retreat of General HOOKER
back again across the Rappahannock. As if
to render still plainer the lucid record, given
already in black and white, of the last movements
of the opposing armies of the Federals and Con-
federates, more American Maps' now offer to
us a wonderfully distinct illustration of these
marches and countermarches, advances and re-
treats, victories and defeats, with a promptitude
highly commendable for its opportuneness.
Glancing at these maps, and bearing in mind the
simple data given in the terse but succinct and
perfectly sufficient sentences of the telegrams—the
nature, the import, the intrinsic value of these
events may at once be very easily appreciated. Their
real value is already obviously this—that they
tend yet more to shorten the already
abbreviated tether of the warlike power of the
North. The circle is narrowing. It is not any
longer Richmond—it is rather Washington that is
threatened.

NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHL—
Bole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster.
THIS EVENING, a petite Drama, THE ANGEL OR
DEVIL. Miss A. Jones, Mr. Toole, and Mr. Billington.
After which (10th time), a new Drama, in one act, entitled
THE WOODEN SPOON MAKER. Messrs. B. Webster,
Stuart, Stephenson, Sefton ; Miss H. Simms, and Mrs. B 1-
lington.
Followed by a new Burlesque, entitled ILL-TREATED
IL TROVATORE. Messrs. Toole, P. Bedford, R. Phillips,
Ebnrne, C. J. Smith, Romer ; the Sisters Nelson, Carry and
Sara, and Miss K. Kelly.
To conclude with DOMESTIC ECONOMY. Mr. J. L.
Toole, &c.

Commence at 7.

THE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SuN,y,
Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,
can be had Pier,' Evening of
G. R. GLBNIE, Nrws AGENT,
No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park.

The Weather—Sun Office, May 23, 1863.

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 23, 1861