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

States as hardware." Nay, he continues, "
have very good reason for saying that a vessel of
2,000 tons was charterrd six weeks ego 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.

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 ultra-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
illiteration!) 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 first, above all
things, that they could not be masted, How has
this alarming objection been at once and completely
obviated Ly the ingenuity of the inventor ? By the
supplementary contrivance of the rigid iron tripod
masts ! Not only dces 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 of
the shield or deck. The yards and lower stays
could be braced fore and aft, and in a live with th©
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, eve❑ 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 if
iron masts were substituted for wooden masts.
Nay, he even went so far as to assert, with the
confidence purchased by experimental comparisons
in 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 meeting them, he
could claim for his cupola ships as contrasted with
the old broadside class, greater powers of offence,
defence, greater speed, better sea-going qualities,
and lighter draught of water." In direct and con

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 to find the Irrigation Com-
pany of Madras has so well fulfilled our expecta-
tions. We learn from a recent pamphlet by Mr.
DiCKENSON 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 1 td. 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 10s. 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 effects, not only of the
great canals, but of the side 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

elusive testing of which it has only been
necessary to compare the broadside ironclad
Defence with the Prince Albert shield
ship now building at Blackwall. The latter
with 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

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 four months on the road, exposed to

was twice as great as the, 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

all the risks attending a protracted journey, as
many days would suffice for their conveyance

Defence is only 2801 b., assuming both sides to be
engaged ; while the shield ship, working the guns

by water. Argument and illustration, however,

by mechanical appliances, can continue to throw two

•
are alike hopeless with our Indian Secretary of

broadsideF, each of 5601 b. Added to which, the

State. Sir CHARLES WOOD will neither be per-

shield ship draws aft. Sin. less water, and is

suaded nor convinced. He refuses to credit official
reports and private evidence, declaring them to be
exaggerated and mistaken. He is determined to

completely covered with 51in. armour plates, while
the Defence is only partially covered with 4ein.
iron plates! Finally, " Compaced with the Valiant,

have railways, Nlhich will probably be of great
benefit to India as to England. But the different

the Prince Albert, shield ship, throws 261 b. less in
her broadside, but her tonnage is 1,380 tons less, she
_ _ _

nature of the climate necessitates due attention being
paid also to the water system. The countless
Little tributaries which supply our own rivers keep

draws sft. 2in. less water, is wholly covered with
armour plates, while the Valiant is but partially
protected. Comparcti with the Warrior, the shield

the ground fresh and fertile, and so the streams ship is 3,430 tons less in tonnage, and throws
which would supply our Indian canals would irri- 2461 b. less broadside, but draws 6ft. 2in. less water,
gate the arid plains of India, and prove a source of and is wholly protected, as against the partial plate
health and plenty to the people. The evils attend-
ing of the Warrior. Compared with the Favourite,
ing the cotton scarcity have induced Sir CHARLES the Prince Albert throws 7641 b. more, is 340 tons
WooD to propose cotton roads ; but these, however large, but draws .1 feet less water, is covered with
desirable, will not supply the absence of the water 51 inch plates, as against partial prott etion afforded
works and communications so greatly needed for the by 4i:inch:Plates." While, to crown all, Comparing
encouragement of the Indian cotton trade. The slow the shield ship with the Royal Sovereign, it is
and mischievous mode of transit from the interior to shown that the latter throws a broadside of five 300-
the ports greatly reduces the value of Indian cotton, pounders equal to one thousand!
and indeed, after reading an account of its journey, Altogether, after carefully scrutinising the simple
one is tempted to wonder that it is fit for use at ail and unanswerable data now accumulated, it appears ,
when it reaches its declination Were the cotton that Capt.COLES can reasonably claim, as in point of
resources of India developed to their full extent, fact he actually does claim, for his cupolas "greater

England would be independent o' 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 L 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-
and Georgia ; while another America❑ anthoriy
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 I
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
car power to resuscitate a once thriving trade, and
to bring relief to our brave and suffering country-
men.