The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-06 00:00:00

CfaNS AND SHIPS.

Captain Cowper P. Coles, in a letter to a con-
temporary, says :—The question of heavy guns and
the preparations to be made to enable our ships to
carry them having been reopened in your columns,
I beg the favour of a small spice for some remarks.
1. Although we have not yet produced a heavy
gun to stand the tests required by our authorities,
the late reports from Russia leave no doubt that
Mr. Krupp has completed one that satisfies the
Russian Government, and which can send shot and
shell at 700 yards through a Warrior target. There
can, therefore, be no doubt that wo must prepare
ourselves to use similar or superior weapons, and
that they can only be of equal or greater weight
than Mr. Krupp's gun, viz., 12 tons.
2. I believe I have already shown that on my
system of a revolving turret a heavier broadside can
be thrown than from ships armed on the broadside ;
but it possesses this further advantage, that my
turrets can be adapted to the heaviest description of
ordnance ; indeed, no other plan has yet been put
in practice, while it is impossible to adapt the broad-
side ships to them, without the enlargement of the
ports, which would destructively weaken the ships,
and leave the guns' crew exposed to rifles, grape
shot, or shells.* For instance, the armament origi-
nally proposed for the Prince Albert was 12 110-
Pt3andere, mounted in six cupolas, which would
4" Given to her, a vessel of 2,500 tons, a broad-
sate of 1,3201b—11b for 1.88 tons. The Warrior, a
a,P216,100 tons, carries a broadside of 8841 b only
arh-ui()Prro3tected, and 740113 from unprotected guns—
inereme:btons ; and though this may be nornirally
110.p„nj the substitution throughout in her of
leg her batte'riiit would diminish instead of increas-
clad ship,. Bec Power as against other armour-
gun, and not theiB' convinced that it was the heavy
determine faturenuatitiaber of light ones, which would
from the Admiraltyvtaol actions, I obtained permission
each
earrailbstitute in the Prince Albert
three turrets,
I%n! one 300-pounder, iv:done
cupola carrying two
ulittetunders, for the original
six cupolas. It is true
nally reduced to 1,1201 b. (till in broadside is nomi-
a excess of the War-
rior's if compared with tent,
but it gives this
great advantage, that wheretles)'
asercan be made
have demonstrated that 4.l..ineb, late Plates
experiments
68vounder and 110.p0,n
to resist
have also shown that the 300. pounder
szasshhet, they
formed into a "Warrior targ o .
s them
whenet with the
The Prince Albert
greatest ease.
,therefore, can
,though the Warrior
eattie3 no
gun that can injure her ; . she, as a broadside
d to carry heavier guns.
ship, be altered
in seem to believe that the turret
cannot be carried
3. The Admiralty
a sea-going ship, and eaeun-
.,.
seaworthiness of the Monitor has occasionally been
against my invention. But the
quoted as bearing t
all;
they are merely flit-
Monitors are not ships a
with the water, designed
bottomed rafts nearly flush
w d not intended for
for coast and river warfare, and not
sea-
going vessels. In support of my views I would
quote, first, the opinion of the present Constructor
.
e
of the Navy, who wrote in the Engtriet of August
2, must
2, 1861, showing the advantages
my
have over the old one in strength, height out of water
for sea-
and stability, and consequent adaptation
going ships; and, secondly, I would add the con-
viction of one whom the country acknowled ff
nes as
among her ablest shipbuilders, who writes thus :
"bear Captain C.,les,— . . I beg to say that
in the speech I made at Birkenhead on Friday last
I iLtendcd to convey to the public my conviction
that, unless the Admiralty allow the vessels they
are fitting with your cu olas to be properly masted
and rigged, the p
P
would not be doing justice to
your invention. I
may add that I have myself.
no
doubt whateeer that vessels properly designee and
fitted with your c 1
Cient SeEt.,, Ihe oin Shipsthe g for service in any part of the
hitherto been built American ironclad Monitors have
for
and are not adapted for river and coast service,
They cannot, therefore, ba all
regular sea-going work.
ships you have been urging this c classed with the
untry for so long
a time to adopt.—Yours truly, °
"Birkenhead, Oct. 29," „
JOHN LAIIID.
4. 1
would point out the fact that the following

* In the late action of Japan it is reporteoclutidthaaetnbo less
than than seven men wore killed, besides Others w
expk6ion of a Amble slat;11 in the face of an open Y e

turret ships are building for foreign Governments,—
one vessel by the Millwall Ironworks Company,
2,500 tons, to have a speed of 17 knots ; Mr. Laird's
two vessels at Birkenhead, 1,800 tons, of which I
have heard but one opinion as to their sea-going and
formidable qualities; Mr. Samuda, one vessel of
1,200 tons; Mr. Mitchell, one of 1,200 tons, and the
Rolfe Brake, a vessel of only 1,200 tons, but carry-
ing two turrets, has been designed, built, and sent
to sea by Messrs. Napier, of Glasgow, and has been
so approved by her purchasers—the Danish Govern-
ment—that they are about to order another of the
same construction.

In presence of these facts, I ask, why is a sea-going
turret vessel not to be designed and built to try the
experiment against the numerous broadside ships
building an built for our own country ? It cannot
be said that the Royal Sovereign and Prince Albert
will try it. The Admiralty have declared that they
do not intend theta for sea-going ships, and, from
their not being designed for masts (contrary to my
wishes), they must necessarily be unsteady ships in
a sea way. The former has, by a scratch of an offi-
cial pen, been deprived of the bulwarks that I had
designed for her.

I submit these remarks for consideration because
I see the public money spent to build ships which
cannot be adapted, without infinite cost of money
and time, to the new guns that are fast coming upon
us, and because it is only by public discussion and
trial that we can arrive at the right conclusion.

Guy Fawkes' Day at Guildford.

A representation was rece GUILDFORD, Thursday.
ntly made to Sir George
Grey, hoping that some steps would be taken to
prevent a recurrence
of the riotous proceedings
which have annually taken
place at Guildford on
the sth, and one ground for the prayer was alleged
inefficiency of the local authorities to suppress such
disturbances. Sir George accordingly placed himself
in communication with the mayor, Mr. H. Piper,
and as a result of such conference, measures were at
oncetaken to aid the police. This was the more ne-
cessary as up to the last moment it was announced
that, whatever opposition might be offered
by the local authorities, the " guys" had
resolved not to be deprived of their accus-
tomed bonfire and procession. The announce-
ment caused great excitement, which was in some
sort kept up by a defence of the rioters, which ap-
peared in one of the local papers.
The rumours which have been current during the
last few days have, of course, been mightily exag-
gerated, but the surprise of nearly everybody was
complete to see on Wednesday morning not fewer
than 50 Dragoons and 150 men of the 37th Regi-
ment marching to their quarters at the various
publichouses in the town. The former had come
in by road on the previous night, under the com-
mand of Captain Robertson, and the latter arrived
by a special train from Aldershott, via Tongham,
under Lieutenant-Co:onel Gray. Upwards of 160
special constables had also been sworn in, and the
two local corps of Rifle Volunteers, the 13th and
24th, were also ordered to be ready to assist in
preserving the public peace. The county consta-
bulary, under Mr. Superintendent Parr and Mr.
Inspector Barker, have had supplementary forces
to prevent any outbreak beyond the jurisdiction of
the borough authorities. It was at first intended
to have a number of i.he metropolitan A reserve
police, but these have not yet arrived.

The " guys" had determined to anticipate the
authorities by holding their " lark" on Tuesday
night. But their purpose was discovered. The
authorities at once ordered into the town the mili-
tary, who had indeed been in readiness ever since
Sunday to come away from Aldershott at any
moment. The soldiers were kept for an hour on
the Farnham-road, near the New County Hospital,
not knowing if they should be ordered to actual
service immediately on their arrival. The rumour
that the soldiers were within a few yards of the
entrance to the town had the effect of preventing
any attempt to form a procession ; but, as it was,
the military were received with yells and other
cries similar to those in which the "guys" usually
enter the town. A number of equibs and crackers
were thrown among them, but no personal injury
was sustained.

To-day the town seems to be in a state of great
excitement. The speckl constables are under
orders. The whole of the High-street, from the Ram
Inn, at the top of the town, to the bridge leading to
the railway station, is to be kept by military, and
every avenue leading from other parts of the town
into High-street is to be guarded, so that the
" guys" are this year prevented making, as usual, a
bonfire opposite Trinity Church. Mr. Superinten-
dent Vickers and the borough police force are under
orders to take into custody every person either
shouting, letting off squibs, or in any other way
inciting to a breach of the peace.
While we are writing (8 o'clock) it is reported that
the " guys" have pitched upon three spots, close to
but outside the borough, where they intend to have
their usual bonfire, if possible ; and this evening a
number of names have transpired of respectable
townsmen who are " marked" as victims on the first
possible opportunity. Some of these have wisely
barricaded their houses, tl preserve their windows
from destruction ; and few of the peaceable inhabi-
tants are disregarding the Mayor's published cau-
tion to remain within doors. A large number of
" roughs" are about, but as yet (S o'clock) no cases
of serious damage or injury have been reported to
the police authorities. The rumour still runs afloat
that as soon as the military are withdrawn the
rioters will " come out stronger than ever," but it
is doubtless competent for the local authorities to
retain the police and military force now at their
command so long as any fear of an outbreak is
apprehended.