The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-02 00:00:00

Trial Trip of a New Iron-Clad Battery.

(From the New York Times of Dee. 17.)
Yesterday morning, in compliance with orders from the
Navy Department, the United States iron-clad battery
Montauk started on her trial trip. In order that there
should be no doubt about the result of the important expe-
riments, Secretary Welles appointed a naval commission to
witness the trial trip and report upon it. The commission
consisted of the following officers, all gentlemen of the
highest professional reputation in the service :—Commo-
dore Stephen C. Rowan, commander of the iron-clad frigate
Roanoke; Captain Rogers, late of the Galena; and Captain
John Rogers, of the Ericsson battery Catskill. The follow-
ing distinguished officers were also on board :—Captain
Lacoffski, of the Imperial Navy of Russia; Captain Erzen-
leoff, naval constructor in the same service, and a Russian
colonel of ordnance, Commodore Gregory, Engineer Stimers,
Captain Worden, and others.
At ten o'clock all embarked on the Montauk at the Navy-
yard, and at half-past ten o'clock, amid a severe shower of
drizzling rain, the vessel shoved off unaided, and headed up
the North River. Her engines were put in quick motion,
and with 27 pounds of steam on, gave fifty revolutions a
minute. This was the first report. The distance from the
Navy-yard to the Battery was accomplished at the rate of
about 51 miles an hour. Soon after the speed was increased
to six, and she was ordered to be driven even faster, when
the boilers began to foam. As the revolutions can be put
up to 70, at least, with the remaining untested power of
steam, the speed of the Montauk will be almost exactly
that of the Passaic, seven miles an hmr. The tide was
against her yesterday, and also a very stiff breeze, but their
influence in retarding a craft so low down, and so " settled,"
was not -very great. We stopped at the foot of Thirteenth-
street, to take on board Mr. Orr, one of Mr. Ericsson's
representatives, who came to see how things worked.
At twelve o'clock, off Thirty-fifth-street, 35 pounds of
steam only produced 48 revolutions, 27 pounds having
previously obtained 50, or two revolutions more, but the
foaming of the boilers had not commenced during the first
half hour. From Thirty-five-street up the river the pro-
gress was even and satisfactory. Six miles an hour was
easily accomplished, notwithstanding the newness of the
boilers. The trip of the Passaic did not seem to familiarise
steamboat travellers with iron-clads, for they evinced all the
characteristics of pristine curiosity as we passed. After a
cold sail we reached the Palisades at about ono o'clock, and
made preparations to anchor; soundings were taken, and
15 fathoms of chain run out, which secured the vesssel.
The Naval Commission then adjourned, tofthe.turrets and
directed the initiatory movements for thing. Bewiler was
taken from a steam-tug, which brought, it from Bedloe's
Island.

At about half-past two or three o'clock camtpenced.
Three hollow shots, two solid ones,.:ared two:fhells:'were
sent into the bosom of the Balisades. They attnglynkock
the entire shore for hundreds of yards, and where theittolict
shot fell rocks and gravel, for nearly a quarter a mile,-
rolled into the river. A gentleman came' from shore and
stated that the shots tore up the earth fearfully. He also
informed patties onboard that dui ing the Passaid's trtal ohs
of ber shot struck a tremendous rock, and sent it in frag-
ments in the air. The commission intended firing 10 shots,
but only fired seven, as stated, it being rather dark to con-
tinue. The trial trip of the Passaic was made under the
auspices of Captain Ericsson, who did not object to a
minute report of it. The Montauk is in the hands of the
Government, and Captain Worden, its reprosentative,;does
not wish particulars printed. But the following statement
of the results of the experiment can give no comfort or in-
formation to the enemy :
First—The various principles involved in the experiment
are proved practicable.
Second—That the turret port-hole need not be widened
is now established beyond all doubt.
Third—The Montauk, in her present shape, will go to
sea on active service this week. Commodore Rowan and
both Captains Rogers expressed themselves individually
highly satisfied with the general success of the experi-
ments. Not a bolt gave way during the entire trial. The
commission of course suggest improvements in various de-
tails, which can be effected in forty-eight hours.

THE CRIMINALS UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH.—
A further application was made yesterday to the
Home Secretary in the case of the old- man Wm. Ockold,
who was convicted at the last assizes at Worcester of the
wilful murder of his wife at Oldbury, on the Bth of Novem-
ber last, with the view of inducing the right hon. gentle-
man to recommend the extension of the mercy of the crown;
but Sir George Grey, after a long and anxious considera-
tion of all the facts of the case, could not find sufficient
grounds to justify his interference with the due course of
the law, and its extreme penalty was therefore carried into
effect at Worcester Gaol at. 8 o'clock this morning. In
the case of Thomas Edwards, who was convicted at the
Liverpool Assizes of the wilful murder of a woman named
Isabella Tongue, no application of any kind has been made
to Sir George Grey, notwithstanding the verdict of the
jury was accompanied by a recommendation to mercy. The
murderer will, therefore, be executed to-morrow at twelve
o'clock. In the case of William Mei gan, convicted at
Bristol of the murder of a police-constable, the Home
Secretary has respited the sentence of death, and commuted
it to penal servitude for life; and the same decision has
been come to in the case of the married woman Elizabeth
Boughey, who was convicted at Shrewsbury of the murder
of her illegitimate child in August last.
ANOTHER FRIGHTFUL DEATH THROUGH CRlNO-
LlNE.—Yesterday evening an inquiry was held at
the London Hospital, by Mr. H. Raffles Walthew, the de-
puty coroner, respecting the death of Louisa M'Carthy,
aged four years, who lost her life on Saturday last through
her crinoline catching fire. It appeared that deceased's
father, who is a silk weaver, residing in Brick-lane, left her
and another girl alone in a room with a fire. Deceased put
some apples on a tray, and endeavoured to bake them over
the fire. Her dress, which was distended by a very capa-
cious crinoline, was thrust by it between the bars, and
blazed up instantly. The poor child rushed out upon the
landing, and nearly set the house on fire. She was ulti-
mately taken to the hospital, where she died in dreadful
agony. 41"4.C" of 44 Accidfalt4 Pott4" was retartml,