The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-09 00:00:00

yards' distance from each of them, or exactly the
distance at which the experiments at Shoeburyness
tend to prove the fire of large rifled ordnance would
be most effective. But, in case of a serious attack
being contemplated on our dockyard and arsenal
at Portsmouth, the mid-channel would not be left
open, but, like the channel of the Needles' passage,
would be clogged with rope nets moored between
and stopped with chain booms, or, best of all, with
vessels moored stem and stern and chained together,
leaving open only a channel close in front of the
guns of each fort, round which the floating batteries
could be moored in a curved line, so that the enemy
would have to endure the discharge of both bat-
teries and forts. Supposing it possible that vessels,
iron or steel, or anything could pass these forts and
batteries, and yet be able to float, they would still
have to encounter another circular fort similar to
those they had passed, which is to be erected on
Sturbridge Sand, and to cross fire with the for mid-
able batteries to be built on Gilkicker Point. There
would in fact be a second line of defence, and as
strong as the first. It is very probable, however,
that an enemy who had succeeded in passing the
first would not care to attack the second, but be
glad enough to remain in the open water between
the two, and from there throw shells into the dock-
yard, or at least into the harbour before it ; but
where fire from ships could reach Portsmouth dock-
yard.er harbour the defences, such as they are,
would at least be able to reply again. But to these
rather doubtful defences it is not intended to trust
much. The distance between the No-man and Horse
forts and that at Sturbridge is 4,500 yards—not so
far but that all three might converge their fire upon
vessels in the space of open water we have spoken
of as between the first and second lines. But to
make assurance doubly sure, it is intended to con-
struct on Puckpool, Southsea, and Gilkicker Paint
three mortar batteries, each to mount at least 30
mortars of the largest. kind, and all so placed as to
be able to drop their shells in every and any part
of the open water in which the enemies' ships c )uld
lie, It must not be forgotten that the deck is the
vulnerable part of an iron frigate, and that no fri-
gate could float at sea with an iron deck thick
enough to keep out a 13-inch shell coming down
from a height of 2,000 feet. With these works and
the moored and steaming floating batteries around
them' such as Sir John Hay recommended, our
greatest national arsenal and dockyard would be
perfectly safe against the world. As it is now, it
is absolute y defenceless, and at the mercy of the
first iron-clad which should be sent against it as an
enemy.

IRONMASTERS' QUARTERLY MEETING.

WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday Evening.
The quarterly assemblies of the ironmasters of this dis-
trict commenced in this town this afternoon. The attend-
ance was unusually small; several of the leading members
of the trade were absent, and the few present who were
consumers or interested with that class showed little dispo-
sition to do business , the consequence was that a quieter
quarter day has seldom been experienced. Everything was
reserved for the Birmingham meeting, which takes place
to-morrow (Thursday).
The prevailing opinion to. day was that the trade is, if any-
thing, rather better than it was prior to the preliminary
meeting, but that there is no approach to animation, and
that business is kept down and in an unsettled state by rea-
son of the puddlers' strike, which discourages consumers
from sending orders into South Staffordshire from the un-
certainty as to the time at which they may be executed. No
doubt dome such operation as this is in force, and the trade
here has suffered very materially, possibly permanently,
from the cause now referred to. As to the " strike," there
does not appear to be much prospect of its terminating,
though what purpose the men serve by holding out it is
difficult to say, as the masters are not likely to yield any-
thing while the price of all descriptions of iron remains as
low as it now is. American agents have been over induc-
ing the men to go over to the States, and wonderful pro-
mises have, it is said, been made to such of them as have
evinced any willingness to assent. A few have done so,
to experience, most likely, hereafter more than the usual
amount of disappointment and regrets. The only fear is
that the most mischievous will stay at home, for it is quite
certain that but for a few of that class the strike would have
been over long ago.
The principal transactions reported to-day were in bars
and sheets, but the demand is so slack that there are com-
paratively few makers who are obtaining the trade prices.

Pig-iron is in moderate demand. The number of furnaces
in blast is less than it was three months since, but prices
have rather retrograded.

The general trade of the district is pretty good, the ton-
nages on the Old Canal being well maintained.

MARKETS--This Day,

MARK LANE.

IMPERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES. —Wheat, 46s lld ;
barley, 308 9d ; oats, 23s Ild ; rye, 32s lld ; beaus, 39s 6d ;
and peas, 38s Od.
THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGES. Wheat, 46s 9d;
barley, 318 9d ; oats, 23s Od ; rye, 34s 9d ; beans, 39s 8d ;
peas, 36s ltd.
ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.—Wheat, 66,191;
barley, 785; oats, 3,405; rye, 46; beans, 1,920; peas,
170 qrs.