The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-23 00:00:00

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cation will be tnade to the India-office through the
proper channel.

PRICK.... -..4d.
STAMPED ....sd.

A miniature breach-loading cannon upon a new
principle, the invention of Mr. L. W. Broadwell, of
New Orieens, in America, was proved yesterday
on the experimental niduance range of Woolwich
Arsenal, and gave satisfactory results. The chief
recommendations of the new gun are the remark-
able simplicity of its breech-loading arrangements,
and the solid and substantial method on which it
appeas to be constructed, as proved by its resist-
ance of the severe test to which it was subjected
on trial. The gun is on a small scale, for experi-
ments only, and when brought out on larger dimen-
sions will, as stated, prove a most serviceable
weapon. No training is required to initiate the
gunner, the method of loading being simply the re-
moval and replacing of a small block of iron for the
introduction of the charge. 'I here is a self-acting
expanding ring, which serves to seal the breach
hermetically at the moment of discharge, and which
does not impede the movement of the vent-piece.
The projectile invented by Mr. Broadwell to be
used with the gun is an elongated shot, and is
simple and plain in construction.

brie:; iu his dread of responsibility, to belie.ce that
119 will be guilty of any such folly. But what a
13,,sition bee he permitted himself to he drawn into
I he champion of non-interceution in the Awe] ican
war, where hundreds of thousands of men die yearly
in a hopeless and objectless struggle, and where
every month's hostilities adds to the misery of half
a million of our own countrymen, intervenes use-
lessly between Russia and the Poles. He does so
knowing that a war with Russia would convulse
the whole continent, that it is England alone that
can prevent that war, and that every step the Eng-
lish Government takes in conjunction with France
to bring Russia into direct diplomatic collision
with its proposals is a step towards an actual con-
flict. We sincerely trust we may he wrongly in.
formed. If it be true that these demands are on
their way to St. Petersburg, we are on the eve of
serious complications. We are simply " drifting,"
as we were nearly ten years ago, without any
settled policy, and we may wake up some day to
find that we have reached a point whence we can
neither recede with honour nor advance without
imminent peril to ourselves and the whole of
Europe_
DAILY NEWS.—General Hooker has returned to
his camp on the north of the Rappahannock. It is
plain from what we now know of the battle of
Sunday that no other course was left open to him.
The New York papers explain the movement by the
rising of the river, the confined position into which
he had been driven, and other local circumstances.
But the truth seems to be that he retreated because
he was fairly overpowered. We do not see why
the friends of the North should try to " dodge" this
fact. Hooker showed great skill and conduct in
those earlier movements of his army which were
most within his power. But the disgraceful be-
haviour of the Eleventh Corps at a critical moment
deprived him of the advantages he had gained, and
of those which he might reasonably expect to gain.
Notwithstanding this misfortune his army fought a
splendid battle, and inflicted upon the enemy a loss
at least equal to its own. Lee then received im-
portant reinforcements from Richmond, for although
the Richmond papers state that Federal cavalry had
penetrated audaciously into their neighbourhood
and broken up the railway communication, it is
certain that this object was not accomplished in time
to prevent the transit of the troops which assailed
Sedgwick. Had Hooker been reinforced from
Washington, as Lee was from Richmond, he might
have renewed the battle with a fair prospect of suc-
cess. His troops are full of spirit, for they know
that although the fortune of the field was against
them they have fought a good fight. Hooker's
short campaign south of the Rappahannock must
be added to the list of Federal failures ; but it is a
failure which has inspired the enemy with respect.
General Lee announces a " grad victory ;" but he
does not announce that he has pursued a flying
enemy, or that he holds a foot of ground more than
he did when Hooker began to move. Early in the
present week it was "known in well-informed
impossiblequarters in
to th
cross RthaaptpaHhoaonkneok
rch,aadnafotuhnatd
ha
had surrendered with all his army. And this was
e City"t h
only a reasonable expectation, it ought to have been
true, supposing the appreciations of the recent
Sghting which many of our contemporaries put
forth to be at all accurate. It is now seen, how-
ever, that Lee has simply foiled his adversary at an
enormous cost of life. The result of these battles
has caused much disappointment in the North.

THE FRENCH OPERATIONS AT PUEBLA.

HAVANA, May 3.

A French man-of-war steamer, the Merceau,
arrived here a few days ago, bringing despatches
from Gen. Forey, which have been forwarded to the
Emperor. According to the news brought, the last
mail from Puebla, which arrived at Vera Cruz be-
fore the departure of the abovo, left the French
headquarters on the 12th. At that date, according
to the French accounts, they continued penning up
the Mexican garrison. The latter only occupied the
part of the city the least able to be defended, and
found themselves as it were cooped up in the space
comprised between the last barricades (the district
of S. Jose) and the forts of Guadalupe and Loreto.
"Gen. Forey," says the Dian() de la Marina, in

its
tce core
pr
teebsr pea otfiinondnaeslnwcr eee,srue"lgwt
going
grs
there
b
It was believed in Vera Cruz, according to the last
news received, that the English steamer which leaves
there on the 2d inst. would carry news to Havana
that Puebla was in the hands of Vie French.
It is also said that a large force of cavalry sallied
out of the city a little before the departure of the
onc
could ut r uhe
d d
be nes tyu
no atdne labstitio.B fi7' el
yd
mail, in order to join Gen. Comonfort, but they did
not succeed, and were obliged to enter the city
again, with a rather large loss of killed, wounded,
and prisoners. As the same time it is currently
stated that Comonfort had been flanked, and was in
a very critical position.

The official accounts also state that the fort of
Guadalupe, the most important in the city, was sur-
rounded on the outside with intrenchments and
parapets constructed by the French, and that by
this means Juarez's soldiers were prevented from
getting out, whilst provisions and ammunition were
prevented from being got in. These latter were
alarmingly scarce, according to the deserters, and
the want of water, which threatened to be shortly
complete, kept all in a state of alarm.'

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The French chief of the counter guerillas, Colonel
Dapin, was about to remove, if he had not already
done so, with all his force to Coatzacoaleos, where
some Mexican guerillas had bhown themselves.
Moreover, the river of that name was protected by
two gun-boats.

THE NAVY.

At 11 o'clock yesterday morning five gunboats,
with 300 Marines, went through a portion of the
rehearsal of the naval engagement which is to take
place at Southend on Monday. Vice-Admiral F.
W. Hope Johnstone, K.C.8., commander-in-chief at
the Nore, and Capt. Luard, R.N., were present upon
the occasion. Capt. Butcher was in charge of the
Marines.

The news that Merida had pronounced in favour
of the intervention is confirmed, the pronuncia-
mento including the whole country as far as Car-
men. The governor of Yucatan, Don Liborio
Irigoyen had fled, and it was thought that Senor
Regil had been appointed in his place, although
two other candidates, one of whom was Don
Thomas Marin aspired to the same office.
A force from Campeachy that attempted a second
time to attack the city of Carmen was completely
routed, and retired in a very demoralised condition.
The French admiral, M. .Turien de la Graviere,
is on his way to France. He embarked on the 21st
at Vera Cruz on board the French frigate Driade,
which was signalled some days back at the Moro
Castle on her way to New York.

The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, com-
prising his Grace the Duke of Somerset,K.G., Vice-
Admiral Hon. Sir F. Grey, K.C.8., Rear-Admiral
Chas. Eden, C. 8., Rear Admiral Robinson, Con-
troller of the Navy, and Mr. Stansfeld, M.P., accom-
panied by Col. Greene, R,E., director of works to
the Admiralty, and Capt. R. Hall, private secretary
to the Duke of Somerset, paid a somewhat unex-
pected visit to Portsmouth dockyard yesterday.
They arrived about 2.30 p.m., and were received by
Vice-Admiral Sir M. Seymour, G.C.8., and Rear-
Admiral G. Elliott, who, attended by the different
heads of departments, accompanied them though the
yard and adjacent Government grounds. The Royal
Sovereign, turret ship, and the Defence, 18, iron
frigate, lying in No. 10 dock, were inspected, after
which their lordships went on board the Hector,
iron frigate, lying in the steam basin. The inspec-
tion of the Hector concluded the Board proceeded
through the yard and out by the Eastern gate,
through the fortifications, and over the glacis and
past immense piles of timber. The Board then arrived
on the site which is to be occupied with the new
Naval Barracks, which were evidently the chief
object of their visit. They were engaged for some
time in inspecting the ground and plans, Colonel
Greene, ILA., and Mr. Woods, C.E., explaining the
details. Reentering the dockyard by the eastern
gate the new dock (No. 11), now being constructed
by Messrs. George Smith and Co. at the north-east
corner of the steam basin, was hurriedly inspected.
After this the workshop for the manufacture of ar-
mour plates was visited, and Mr. Murray, C.E., the
chief engineer of the dockyard, explained the
various processes by which they are prepared,
by bending, planing, and drilling for the ship's
side. They next proceeded to No. 5 build-
ing shed, where, under the bows of the
Royal Alfred, are stored the two French
armour plates which were lately tested at Ports-
mouth, and to which allusion was made in The Sun
of yesterday. This concluded their visit ; shortly
after they left the yard and returned by train to
London. In their progress through the yard, hur-
ried though it was, the members of the board could
not fail to be struck with the excessive care with
which iron masts are protected from the weather,
while wooden masts are lying about by scores with-
out covering of any kind.
A reply has been received to the memorial trans-
mitted to the Admiralty some few days since from
the inspectors employed on the iron frigate Achilles,
building at Chatham dockyard, requesting that they
may be placed on the same footing as regards in-
creased pay as the junior officers and mechanics
working on the iron frigate for the additional num-
ber of hours they are employed in the dockyard.
The Lords of the Admiralty intimate that they can-
not accede to the wishes of the memorialists, who
are reminded that, as salaried officers ofthediessptoasba-1
lishment, the whole of their time is at the
ahhei
eAddims
siartailst
doe: y
faction Th.
This decision has caused consi-
e Edgar.
The Leander, Capt. Harvey, sailed from Spithead
yesterday for Devonport.
The Liverpool, Capt. Ron.pirt.bsehret,caornrviveeydedatrSoupnitd.
head yesterday from Dev
Brevet Major Pym, Royal Marine Light Infan-
try, yesterday from the latterlepfotrvirt moeonlwoinchl,eatvoe from
embarkth
for ergvaire.
e
on board her Majesty's ship Formidable, now at
namlton to the
Es
Lieut. H. F. C
Regard
rt
do R; esaars-.
at Sheerness.tThhee following
Admiralty :—ptC
hCuarch. tSo .
bFe ;1. r ironan to the
Excellent; L. W. E. Booker to
Adkoa;irLailenut.acEre.s.l:.a.B. ;
tahgeLl,i'
Ward, '
chief engineer, to the Esk • G Weeks,arwcohoidef,
class
engineer,las
sassist,
t the Majestic; D. A. Campbell, first
engineer, to the Esk ; \V.. Harwood, acting first class assist. engineer, to the Esk ; T. J.
Andrewortha, acting second class assist. engineer,
to the Esk ; and N. J. Beale, assist. clerk, to the
Liverpool.

Admiral Bosse, who has taken Admiral Jurien
de la Graviere's place, arrived on the 20th ult. at
Vera Cruz on Board the Bellone.

Some excitement has been occasioned by the re-
port that a one-masted vessel armed with a cannon
and manned by 12 persons had boarded and searched
another one-masted vessel (English) that left this
port the other day, and also a coasting schooner
that entered a few days ago inside the marine
limits of the island. The aggressive vessel carried
no flag to show to what nation it belonged. The
Spanish war steamer Lezo has been despatched to
find out the stranger.
Since the above-mentioned occurrence took place
the English schooner Dream, which left here on
the 40th ult. for 'Matamoros last Thursday, came
back on the following morning, having been chased
a few leagues from the shore by another schooner,
which, it is said carried the United States flag.
Since then the Spanish steamer Lezo met, about
four miles from the coast, the American vessel in
question, and sent a boat with an officer to examine
its papers. The vessel proved to be the Annie, Com-
mander Williams, fitted out apparently by the
United States Government for war purposes, and, as
was stated by its commander, to be commissioned to
cruise from Tortuquilla to Cape San Antonio, at the
western extremity of Cuba. The Annie was over-
hauled by another Spanish war steamer, the Nep-
tuno. The captain of the Dream stated to the cap-
tain of the Lezo that in the chase by the American
vessel, several balls and other projectiles were fired
at his vessel, one of which latter burst over the
schooner, making a hole in the sail and injuring th
e
deck. The English captain and his crew having
signed the protest, affirming that the above
occur-
rence took place within a mile and a half of the
coast, the commander of the Annie affirms the con-

trary.
Another English schooner had also sought refuge
in the harbour of Bones, which, like the Dream,
was on her voyage to Matamoras, and was afraid
to continue it lest she should be taken. Two war
steamers had been seen in the vicinity of that port r
carrying the French flag and the Aine • p ,
nant. American pen.
_ . .

thienfLormation
, Neptuno,
of the
___
Three Spanish war steamers,
and Lealtad, which, on receiving ezo
abovenamed events, had
coast, are on the lookout all t
ll ceeded towards the
in constant communication, ong the seashore, and
The Spanish corvette steamer
been sent to San Domingo Santa Lucia has
thc eastern hydro-
graphical mission— go on an important namelY, to rectify the charts of
coast of
many maritime that island, on account of the
n accide t
ss which occur in that part
at Cabo, Engano, and
The United States atna.
s miner Huntsville, Rogers
commander, and theleft Sonoma, Stevens commander,
here y ;the
yesterday latter came in the same
day, the 2d inst from Ivey West.
The Corsica
, Which ba
British Queen, arrived here 3 staakfeelny etnhe °
tplacelst of the
having made the voyage between New York, Nas-
sau and Havana in six days. She brought out
freight and 40 passengers for here. This is her first
voyage out. The day of departure for her return
voyage for Nassau and New York will be on the 9t12.
The Confederate or English steamer Neptune,
for it would be hard to say which is which, arrived
likewise at this port on the Ist inst., from Mobile,
with a cargo of cotton.
The Corsica brought news from Nassau to the
25th ult. The Confederate steamers Calypso and
Antonica had arrived here with cargoes of cotton
arrd so close together
from Charleston.
that it was thought oth
as they iveentered the harbour
that one was pursuing the other. The steamer
Ella and Annie had left the same place for St.
John, N. 8., with an assorted cargo.
The English war steamer Landrail anchored
the port of Trinidad on the 29th ult and ln
"
English vessels of the West India fleet two other
at no great distance from shore—the were seen
the Rosario. Ariadne and

THE ARMY.
A General Order, promulgated from the Horse
Guards, expresses the satisfaction Her Majesty de-
rived from her visit to the Royal Victoria Hospital
at Netley on the Bth inst., when she was highly
pleased to observe how carefully and amply the
comfort and requisite attendance upon the sick
soldiers were provided for.

A circular Memorandum addressed to the army
at home and abroad, just issued, directs that officers