The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 13, 1863.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.
The Sun of Wednesday, July 8, contained a de-
tailed account of the lengthened frigate Constance
and a description of her engines. They were de-
scribed as double cylinder, or compound, of 500
horse power, and as designed especially to econo-
mise the use of fuel. In order to test them the fri-
gate was taken outside Plymouth Breakwater on
Monday last. The trial was under the superinten-
dence of Capt. Edmonstone, chief of the steam re-
serve, aided by Mr. Dinnen, inspector of machinery
afloat, and by Mr. Steil, assist.-engineer of Key-
ham-yard. Mr. Batt, master of the Indus, had
charge of the ship, and Mr. Joseph H. Ellis of the
engines. Mr. Randolph, senior partner of Messrs.
Randolph, Elder, and Co., of Glasgow, the contrac-
tors, was also on board. The wind was from the
south-west, the force from 2 to 5, and the weather
moderate. The Constance made six runs at the
measured mile, with the following results:—She
made the first run in 4m. 545.; rate,12.245 knots;
the second in 4m. 405.; rate, 12'5 knots; the third
in 4m. 505.; rate, 12081 knots; the fourth in sm•
25.; rate, 11.921 knots ; the fifth in 4m. 428.; rate, i
12.766 knots; the sixth in 4m. 425.; rate, 12.766
knots. The other results were—average speed per
hour, 12.325 knots; revolutions per minute, 55 to
58 ; steam pressure, 321-Ib.; barometer pressure,
301 b.; vacuum, 281 in.; temperature of the stoke-
hole, 96 deg.; engineroom, 74 deg.; deck, 68 deg.
There was no indication of hot bearings. With
half-boiler power she made the first run in sm. 435.;
rate, 10.496 knots ; the second in 6m. Bs.; rate,
9.783 knots ; the third in sm. 125.; rate, 11.538
knots; the fourth in sm. 555.; rate,lo.l4l knots. Her
average speed was 10.544 knots per hour, the num-
ber of revolutions was 46, and the steam pressure
281 b. The results as to speed are very satisfac-
tory. Although the consumption of fuel was less,

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correct conclusion can be arrived at in reference to
the quantity of fuel required. It is therefore sug-
gested as being very desirable to test the competing
engines fitted on board the sister frigates Constance,
Arethusa, and Octavia at an early period by placing
them all in commission. The Constance went out
on Friday last, but, owing to the state of the
weather, her engines were not tried. When re-
turning through the Sound, about four p.m., three
shots were fired from the practice battery in the
lower fort of Plymouth citadel, which passed over
the deck of the Constance scarcely funnel high.
They seemed to be only a few feet from the heads of
those on her bridge.
The brig Ferret, 8, Lieut.-Commander Robert
Mansell, from Ireland, which arrived at Plymouth
on Tuesday, was appointed to return again yester-
day.
The troopship Windsor Castle, Capt. Price, left
Plymouth on Monday evening for Bombay.
The hulk Thisbe was towed on Tuesday from her
moorings in Hamoaze to the Devonport dockyard,
where she will be prepared for a chapel ship, and
will probably leave for Cardiff on Saturday.
The Fire Queen steam yacht, Master Comman-
der Pearl, with Vice-Admiral Sir M. Seymour,
K.C.8., Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, sailed
from Portsmouth yesterday morning for the Chan-
nel Islands, where the Admiral will make his an-
nual tour of inspections. During the absence of the
the Commander-in-Chief the duties of the port will
devolve on Rear-Admiral Elliott, Superintendent of
Portsmouth dockyard, who has shifted his flag to
the Victory. The Lucifer, paddle, in temporary
command of Master-Commander Allen, accom-
panied the Fire Queen.
The Orontes troopship, Capt. H. W. Hire, is
under orders to proceed to Gibraltar on or about
Saturday next, to be employed in removing troops
to and from Malta. This will occupy her until
about'the middle of September. She will take out
a few supernumeraries, to be distributed among the
ships on that station.
The Admiralty have directed temporary roofs to
be erected over the stacks of timber deposited at
Chatham dockyard, in order to preserve them from
the effects of the weather until required for use in
wooden shipbuilding. This latter contingency,
however, appears to be exceedingly remote, as the
whole of the hands are at present employed, and
will be employed for some years to come, in the con-
struetion of those iron and iron-cased vessels which
are already ordered to be built at Chatham.
Mr. 0. Lang, the master-shipbuilder at Chatham
dockyard, has within the last few days sent in a
formal application to the Admiralty, requesting to
be relieved of his appointment, and for permission
to retire from the service. Mr. Lang is one of the
most eminent shipbuilders in her Majesty's service,
and during his comparatively brief career as master
shipbuilder has designed and superintended the
construction of nearly all the finest and best of our
modern vessels of war. He was the constructor of
the Royal Oak, the pioneer of the squadron of iron-
clads which has turned out so complete a success. His
step has created considerable surprise, not unmixed
with regret. We have reason to believe, however,
that Mr. Lang is firm in his intention to retire from
the service, which, in consequence of some recent
important appointments at the Admiralty, has be-
come distasteful to him. It was yesterday an-
nounced at the dockyard that a reply had been
received from the Admiralty accepting Mr. Lang's
resignation, but requesting him not to quit the ser-
vice until the completion of the iron frigate Achilles,
the construction of which he has superintended up
till new. It is probable that Mr. Lang's retirement
will be followed by that of others at some of the
dockyards.

VIE ARMY.

On Tuesday afternoon there was another remove.
of troops from the camp at Aldershott, which has
been rendered necessary in consequence of the great
scarcity of water which has this summer been ex-
perienced there. One hundred and eighty-nine
non-commissioned officers and men of the D brigade
of Artillery, with 92 horses, left for Sborncliffe
sinking
Camp until the winter quarter, when the supply of
water is usually greater than in the summer months,
and when they will return to their old quarters. A
movement is to be at once set on foot to procure au
adequate supply, either by an arrangement with the
it is at pre
ofathing of
Company of the town of Aldershott or by the
new artesian wells within the precincts
Col. T.
Camp. Still further removals of troops are
daily
expected. The number of troops at Alder-
shottthe was neveraet SO SMAII since it has been a camp as
Tuesday evening G.
works,Greene, director of engineering and
Devonport. TheDuakt
architectural
gvictualling department, arrived on
and the other Lords of
. and Mr. Charles Richards, the
wheel steam yacht Moorshead's Royal Hotel,
Potley, were expected toar es9'
theot' Somerset,K.G, First Lord,
panch Admiralty, in the paddle-
wheel
lordships 1, Master John E.
at Devonport yes-
terday evening,
d:siyralulfavour of the
Admiral
dine on Friday
and to
trtohneise a ball erin.ia-mSirwhH. Houston
their annual
inspection to-day, '
at Mount Wise with Port
trivn
tShteewart,K evening.C.pßa,
Chief, and in
Royal British Female Orphan
be held in the new mess-room
Marine Light Infantry at StoLfl:
Saturday, at 11 a.m., the Duke of Somerset. n
hold a levee for the reception of 59 officers
si will
in the
office of the Admiral Superintendent Thos. M. C.
Symonds, C. 8., at the dockyard, Devonport.
Detachments of the 18th Hussars are expected to
arrive at Norwich, Ipswich, and Northampton bar-
racks to-day or to-morrow. The headquarters of
the regiment will be at Norwich. Some of the men
have already arrived. The regiment succeeds the
sthLancers at Norwich, Ipswich, and Northampton,
the Royal owyclialli
The Royal Stuart, hired transport, disembarked

her troops and invalids yesterday. The invalids
were removed to Netley Hospital, and the troops to
their several depots. The Royal Stuart sailed for
the Thames yesterday afternoon.

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

(From the Times' Correspondent.)
NEW YORK, July 31.
The conscription is to be enforced in the city as
well as throughout the State of New York. In New
Jersey the Governor has made an attempt to render
it unnecessary by resorting to the old system of
voluntary enlistments and high bounties—but his
success is problematical. In New York the system
has been twice tried, the last time unsuccessfully,
and is even now in operation without perceptible
results. And as the Government has actually put the
whole machinery of the law into motion throughout
the New England States, it is compelled, by regard
for its own dignity, not to be, or seem to be, turned
from its purpose in the principal city of the Union
by the dictation of the mob. Consequently, it is ex-
pected, after a futile attempt on the part of the State
I autborities to raise the quota required under the Act,
that the draught will be ordered to recommence.
The Republican prints loudly proclaim the fact, and
urge upon the Government the utmost rigour as
well as vigour in carrying out the law. Apprehen-
sive of disturbance, or, as many affirm, anxious to
provoke it, the Administration has sent either three
or four gunboats to the North and East rivers, so as,
in case of need, to command any of the lateral streets
of the city in which disturbances may break out ;
and poured into the neighbourhood all the Federal
troops it can spare from other service. The emigrants
from the Old World, who in continually increasing
numbers arrive in the New, no sooner land at Castle
Garden than they see before them all the means,
appliances, and paraphernalia of war. The green-
sward of the Battery, where Castle Garden stands,
is covered with the white tents of the soldiery.
There are 12 pieces of artillery on the ground ; the
lean, scraggy steeds of a whole regiment of cavalry
are tethered to a rope, ready for immediate service;
and two regiments of infantry bivouac on the
square. Should Charleston ever be occupied by a
Federal force, it will scarcely present an appear-
ance more like that of a captured city than that
which the lower part of New York presents at this
moment. The sentinels pace to an fro, and allow
no one to penetrate their lines, turning the nursery
maids and children and the usual stream of pedes-
trians out of their precincts, with a brutal insolence
of speech and demeanour that bespeaks the rowdy
class from which they sprang—a " rowdyism" in-
tensified and aggravated by their war training,
and that does not promise, in case of collision be-
tween troops and people, any such fraternisation
of the military with the insurgents as the world has
so often seen in the street
,revolutions of Paris and
other European cities. The design of the Admi-
nistration to override local authority is glaring.
Disappointed in Gen. Wood, who was too honest,
and in General Harvey Brown, who was too indis-
creet to play into its bands, it will doubtless find
some strong end unscrupulous military tyrant who
will take advantage of the first symptoms of riot or
insurrection to declare the city under martial law.
The object is openly avowed by all the " shoddy "
contractors, negrophilists, war " Christians,"
doctrinaires, emancipationists, and zealots who
usually support the Government. The favourite
candidate for the office is General Butler. And as
it is highly probable, if he should accept it, that he
will irreparably ruin his present fair prospects for
the Presidency, Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Stanton, and all
the other Presidential candidates in the Cabinet,
may not only see no objections to his appointment,
but may gladly give him the chance to serve their
purposes, and damage his own reputation by one
and the same process.
Persons whose houses, shops, and other property
were destroyed during the late riots have sent iu
claims of compensation to the amount of 451,266 dols.,
equivalent, at the present depreciation of greenbacks
as compared with gold, to about £70,000 sterling.
But the list is far from complete. The negro claims
have not been investigated ; and the stage and om-
nibus companies whose traffic was stopped for four
days intend to demand compensation for the whole
amount of the earnings which they did not receive,
in consequence, as they allege, of the failure of the
municipal authorities to keep the peace. The claim,
it appears, will be resisted for the reason that, it
allowed, the fashionable jewellers, haberdashers,
and other retail traders of Broadway, who were
compelled during the same interval to close their
establishments, might, with as good a plea of equity,
demand compensation for their lost custom. The
operations of the draught, when resumed, will have
to be carried on in booths or hustings in the open air,
it having been found impossible to hire premises for
the purpose in any part of the town; so fearful are
property-holders and occupants that new scenes of
incendiarism and pillage will be the result of any
attempt to make men soldiers against their will.
The conscription—enforced or unenforced—.
threatens to be the test question of the war. If un-
enforced, Mr. Lincoln and his party will be defeated
in the field for want of soldiers, and in the Council
for want of that popular support without which no
Government can live, least of all a Government
that expires like the Parliaments of England by the
operation of the law that brought it into being. If
enforced, the chances are that it will provoke civil
strife in all the States where the Democratic party
is in the majority, and that it will be so extensively
evaded in the States where the Republicans are in
the ascendant as to become virtually a nullity. In
New England, where it has not been contested with
violence es in New York and the North-West, the
prudent and "canny" people seem to have discovered
that there are other and better means of avoiding
unpalatable military service than by taking np arms
in the streets, plundering shops, burning down
orphan asylums, and hanging inoffensive negroes.
Persuasion being better than force in their estima-
tion, they have resolved to persuade the medical
gentlemen of their villages, towns, and cities to tes-
tify to their physical incapacity to perform military
duty. According to a Connecticut journal, the
Hartford Times, the exemptions by surgeon's cer-
tificate of draughted men since the commencement
of the draught in New England
amount to the
enormous proportion of 73 per cent. The amount
of fee given for this service is variously estimated.
If a man be very poor—and the surgeon. also—a
glass of whisky is sufficient honorarium to offer and
accept. But as a general rule the •
price varies with
the worldly circumstances of the person " who will
not be a soldier," and ranges from 1 to 20 dols. The
would-be exempt is stripped, and if the
surgeon finds
a greenback between the man's toes, under his arm-
pit, behind his ear, between his teeth, or elsewhere,
the matter becomes as clear to his it
was
capacity as i was
previously to that of him who does not wish to risk
his life for his country, and the business is settled to
the mutual satisfaction of doctor and patient. But
the dishonesty does not answer its purpose, the
Government having resolved to treat all such cer-
tificates as of no avail, and to admit of no exemp-
tions but each as are signed by its own appointed
army surgeons. The figures prove, nevertheless,
how little real heart there is in the war, even in
one of the
New England. In municipal districts of
out of 1,135 conscripts
the city of Boston, submitted
to examination last week, 937 were
exempted,
either on the ground of foreign citizenship, physi-
cal incapacity, or err
or in the enrolling lists, which
included boys under 18 and
men over 46 years of
age. Another batch of 70 paid 300 delv_ each as
the exemption fine ; 108 provided substitutes ; and
ten, being too strong for exemption, and too poor to
pay for substitutes, were compelled to do duty, or
suffer the penalty decreed against desertion. Nor
do these numbers, unfavourable as they appear to
the Government in its hour of need, convey the
whole extent of the evil. A regular business of
"substitution" has been organised throughout New

England, the substitutes provided being for the most
part " rowdies" and ruffians of the great cities, who
have all the physical and none of the moral attri-
butes of the good soldier, and who make it their
business to desert as soon as possible after receipt
of their money, to carry on the same trade in a new
locality. The name of " bounty jumpers" has re-
cently been applied to them. This morning a
steamer with 117 conscripts and substitutes arrived
an the East River, from Newhaven, in Connecticut.
The vessel no sooner touched the pier than the men
endeavoured to escape. Some jumped overboard,
and a scene of the greatest confusion ensiled, the
bystanders generally doing all in their power to
assist the runaways. The result was that 47 got
clear off and defied pursuit. The remaining 60
were marched to the Park Barracks under escort,

to be removed forthwith to Washington.
The enrolment of negro regiments has proved a
greater failure in point of numbers than most people
anticipated. There are about 2,000 white men be-
sieging the official bureaux at Washington for cap-
taincies and colonelcies in black regiments; but
there are not nearly as many black candidates
throughout the whole North for the perilous honour
of serving the Federal Government in the capacity
of private soldiers. The negroes know their friends
from their enemies. They feel that the North has
no affection for them, and that it is only anxious
for black soldiers because it is running short of the
white supply. If they did not, they might be un-
deceived by the speech of the Rev. Horace James,
chaplain of a Massachusetts regiment, delivered a
few nights ago at Roxbury, Boston, in favour of
the establishment of a negro colony on Roanoke
Island. " Remember," he said, " that every black
soldier who is put into the field may intercept the
bullet that would other wise pierce the breast of a
white man. How can any individual, with one
spark of human feeling, look coldly on an experi-
ment the object of which is to save the lives of our
own young men, as well as to elevate and interest
an oppressed but tractable and courageous race ?"
The tender mercies of the Northern Aboli-
tionists are cruel. If this passage meant anything
it meant that white blood was valuable, and that
black blood was not, and that the cheapest food
for the gunpowder of this strife was the black food.
The negro understands the matter perfectly well.
He says little, but he prefers to sweep chimneys,
whitewash walls, or be a waiter in taverns and
eating-houses, to shouldering the musket as a
soldier; more especially since it has become the
fashion, first set by General Banks, to place him in
positions of the greatest danger, where the whole•
sale massacre of himself and his companions is in-
evitable. Though such a proceeding answers the
double purpose of sparing white blood and of prov-
ing what no one ever doubted—that a negro pro-
perly drilled, educated, and fed, will make almost
as good a soldier as an Irishman—the negro may be
well excused for not seeing any advantage to him-
self in the experiment.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was
held yesterday, at the Euston Station. Mr. R.
Moon, the chairman, presided.
The CHAIRMAN explained that, in order to enable
the warrants to be prepared ready for issue, as
usual, immediately after the declaration of the
dividend, the transfer books had to be closed on the
29th July, and the meeting now called within a
fortnight of that date was usually held on the 3d
Friday in August ; bat as the accounts could not be
issued so as to be in the hands of the proprietors
seven days prior to the day of meeting, the ordi-
nary business would be adjourned to the 21st inst.

at noon.
A SHAREHOLDER wished to know what the
dividend was likely to be on the 21st £
The CHAIRMAN saidtbat the dividend would be at
the rate of 41 per cent. per annum, which had been
fairly earned, leaving a small balance over. He
stated that since the first half of 1855 they had not
been able to add anything to the surplus forward

for the second half year.
The remainder of the ordinary business of the
half-yearly meeting was then adjourned to the 21st
inst. at noon.
The special general meeting was then held, to
consider the propriety of raising further capital.
The CHAIRMAN moved a formal resolution autho-
rising the directors to create additional capital to
the amount of £2,197,666, in shares of £lOO each,
having a perpetual preference dividend of 5 per
cent. per annum, payable half yearly, at the same
time as the ordinary dividends.
After some discussion the motion was carried by
a large majority.
Resolutions were passed authorising the directors
to convert a further amount of the debenture bonds
into a perpetual 4 per cent. debenture stock to the
extent of £5,000,000.