The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-30 00:00:00

ROYAL ALHAM BRA. PALACE.—Signor
and Signori FRANCESCO in a Grand Divertissement
and Pas Deux—Operatic Selections from " Ernani " and
" Lucia de Lammermoor." Di iss M'Gregor, Mr. Laurence
Albert, Signor Georgini, Mr. Vernon Rigby, &a. &c. Band
and Chorus of Sixty -Performers.

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray's-inn-road
in the immediate vicinity of the Great Northern Rail•
way Terminus, at King's-cross.
Patron—The QUEEN.
President—The Duke of BUCCLEUCU, K.G.
Treasurer—Edward Masterman, Esq.

This was the first hospital to introduce the principle of free
and instant admission to the destitute sick, without the for-
mality of governors' letters. It is entirely devoted to desti-
tution in its most pitiable form—viz., that which is accom-
panied by sickness and disease, and is now of sufficient
magnitude that, with adequate support, it may be rendered
capable of admitting into its wards a very large proportion of
the casual sick of this great metropolis. It requires but the
funds in order to have 500 beds available for the reception of
these the most wretched of our fellow-creatures. Moreover,
it gratuitously affords medical advice and medicine to more,
on the average, than 3,000 out-patients a week.

The Weekly Board feel it their imperative duty to make an
EARNEST APPEAL to the public for continued support,
to enable them to admit and relieve the distressing cases that
daily present themselves.

Contributions are received by the Treasurer, Edward
Mae terman, Esq., Nicholas-lane; also by Messrs. Coutts and
Co. ; Drummond and Co. ; Herries and Co. ; Ransom and
Co. ; Prescott, Grote, and Co. ; Smith, Payne, and Co. ; Glyn
and Co. ; Jones Loyd and Co. ; Barclay and Co. ; Denison
and Co. ; W (Maras, Deacon, and Co. ; Overend, Gurney, and
Co. ; Nisbet and Co. ; Messrs. J. Barned and Co., Liverpool
and at the Hospital

STANFORD S. SMITH, Secretary.

STAMPED ....sd.

these guns were constructed before any experiments
upon them had been concluded. A statement has
been prepared by Mr. Whiffin, one of the Assistant
Accountants-General of the War Office, showing

the cost of guns and projectiles obtained from the
Elswick Ordnance Company, compared with the
rates of those produced at the Royal Arsenal, Wool-
wich. According to this statement, taking the
class of stores which have been supplied from
Fdswick and from Woolwich, and which there-
fore admit of P. direct comparison, the sum of
£242,173 Ws, id, on an expenditure of £593,275
10s. 11d. would have been saved to the public had
these guns, projectiles, and fuzes, supplied by the
Elswick Ordnance Company, been manufactured in
the Royal Arsenal. he value of this compatison
this subject is conflicting. The committee believe
restsupon l
weni
whichcthi r ehl
aytshnbepe oecnno
cost
T hr
roef accuracy
tni
and the
fet
hs the
epervoprinciplesrod
t
tpchuoermpAmo rs
ame
ns sd. t
irnoHgn gii
His Royal
field-gun
W. Armstrong's system surpasses in completeness
known khFni
isoewoupn.i formno Field-Marshal
heslaidir
di
gf us Highness
aitsest hthe ab that
any other, and hie conviction is that England in this
respect is ahead of any other country. Col. Bing-
ham, Adjutant-General of Artillery, states that
he is perfectly satisfied with the Armstrong
field-gun. At the same time, sortie of the
military officers examined state that, in their
opinion, we ought not entirely to rely (for field ar-
tillery) on breech-loading guns, as they are com-
plicated and liable to injuries from rough
handling : and various accidents, and are in-
clined to retain a proportion of muzzle-load-
ing guns for horse artillery. The failure of some
of these field-guns appears to have ark 'on from
faulty manufacture. With respect to the 110-
pounders, it is on all hands admitted that, although
useful as chase guns, they ought not to be intro-
duced into the naval service as broadside guns.
They were originally required for use against
wooden ships, and whilst not sufficiently powerful
for penetrating iron-plated ships, are as yet imper-
fect for general naval service, owing to the diffi-
culty of managing and manufacturing the vent-
piece. Nevertheless, the 110-pounder is considered
by naval men of eminence in their profession as a
most valuable weapon in its present proportion to
the armament of a ship, and the Duke of Somerset
is of opinion that the navy has not got too many
of them. His grace states that "we have nothing
better now for close quarters than the 68 pounder,"
and concurs with all the naval witnesses in con-
sidering that in the armament of her Majesty's
ships only a small proportion of 100 pounders
should be included. His grace farther adds, " that
it was not till we tried a 100 pounder and a 68
pounder against Captain Coles' copola that he be-
came aware that the 68 pounder struck a harder
blow than the 100 pounder at short range." This
comparison was made when the charge of the 100
was 141b5.; it has now been reduced to 121bs. The
Duke of Somerset informed the committee the Ad-
miralty " had a report that the Armstrong gun had
the greatest range and the greatest power of pene-
tration of any gun tried ; when they came to try it
themselves, that was not confirmed by the facts.
For naval purposes at 200 yards, it certainly had
not the greatest power; our old 68 pounder is a
mare powerful gun than the 100 pounder Armstrong
gun." The old 68 pounder is therefore the most
effective gun in the service against iron plates.
While almost every witness gave testimony to
the superior accuracy and range of the Arm-
strong
guns, great doubts have been expressed
as to whether they are not too delicate a
weapon. But the officers who commanded
Armstrong batteries in the late operations in China
found no difficulty in keeping them in order in all
weathers and under all circumstances. The com-
mittee express a hope that the different systems,
not of Sir W. Armstrong and Mr. Whitworth only,
but of the other able men whose minds are now
engaged on ordnance questions, may be fairly expe-
rimented upon. A uniform system of accounts is
recommended for the manufacturing departments
at Woolwich, by which the cost of guns and other
produce may be clearly ascertained.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

PON TEFRACT:Maj or Waterhouse, who con,
tested the seat with Mr. Childers, has come
forward in the Conservative interest with
a fair prospect of success. Sir Edmund
Head, formerly governor of Canada, also
offers himself. The hon. baronet, who is totally
unacquainted with the borough, signifies his ad-
herence on the whole to the principles of her
Majesty's present advisers. Still, however, he
ms7mWbeer
de-
clines to fetter himself with any specific promises.
The writ was proclaimed yesterday afternoon at
the Market Cross. In the evening Sir Edmund
Head was to have addressed the electors. Both
parties are, of course, busily canvassing, but it is
still difficult to say which has the greatest pop.,
wßirilleD:
IsoThßnlcsoTn,otFhe BreosiipeoeutGe:
larity.
regret to have to announce the death of Captain
InG ouittelE
for the above district. Captain Johnson was first
elected for the Montgomery boron b ' g s in 1861,
JoMhnONSal
having succeeded Mr. David Pugh, ,hie father-in-
law, who represented Montgomery
district from
1832 till 1861. We understand that the Conserva-
tive candidate for the seat is Mr. Pugh, son of Mr.
David Pugh, and it is not probable there will be
any opposition.
DEVON PORT.—In the recent revision of the re-
gister in this borough, consequent upon the inquiry
into the payment of rates by registered electors, it
must be a gratifying fact to Conservatives to know
that every Conservative
qualified, while no less than 22 Radicals will have
to deplore the absence of their names on the register.
As Mr. Ferre.nd was returned by a majority of 20
against a First Lord of the Admiralty, his seat is
now probably secure against all corners, and so in-
censed are the dockyard workmen with the unjust
treatment they have met with from the Secretary
of the Admiralty that the Government will have
great difficulty in retaining their present seat. The
recent success will be followed up energetically in
the registration courts, when, there is every reasclii
o believe, fresh gains will be realised.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

SOME CIRCUIT.—MAIDSTONE, July 29.
CROWN SIDE.
(Before Mr. Baron Channell.)
MURDER.

wi
a stmhartthesowldilifeurl-limkeurldoeokionfg
hyiosunehgilmd,ane,lewveasn
Alfred Holden, 25p,laeaparitvoattlen
iinndtilictemßoenyt,aalnAdratlislo-
leirmy,
h
placed at the bar to
name
the
an inquisition by the coroner,r both of which charged
lthheen
months old, named Alfred James Holden.
In some of the counts of the indictment the child
was described as an infant of tender years, known
by
guofiTltoym o prisoner.
When
r nwaostguilty of h
called upon
ttoes ay
felony whether
murder of which he was accused, he replied in a
calm and deliberate tone, "I am guilty."
Baron Channel asked the prisoner 'whether be
was aware that he was charged with the crime of
wilful murder, for which his life might be forfeited,
and he at the same time told him that he must
clearly understand that pleading guilty would not
And
h e pleaded
have the slightest effect or in any way alter the
sentence that would have to be pronounced on him.
The prisoner, coolly, said that he was aware of all
that the learned judge had etated.
Baron Channeil—And do you still say that you
are guilty ?
Prisoner—I do, my lard.
His lordship then passed sentence of death in the
usual form, and the prisoner, who was perfectly
unmoved, when he had concluded, turned hastily
round and retired from the bar apparently quite
' unconcerned.