The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-01 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVE'NING, OCTOBER 1, 1863.

Ser-
vice and Enfield Corps added greatly to the plea-
sure of the day. The performances of the bands of the Civil
All passed off without a single
accident, and to the entire satisfaction of every one
who had taken part in the proceedings,
The annual inspection of the whole of the four
Bent Volunteer Artillery belonging to the
citcoeohrt
h Administrative Brigade, stationed in the
district, under the command of Lieu-
nPaatsnhtl.i Kencolonel Gladdish, has been brought to a most
satisfactory conclusion. By direction of the Field
Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, Lieutenant-Colonel
Talbot, commanding the Ist division of the Depot
Brigade, Royal Artillery, was selected to report to
his Royal Highness on the state and efficiency of
each corps, which the inspecting officer found to be
in a most satisfactory condition, not only as regards
the knowledge possessed by officers and men in the
theoretical branches of the science of artillery, but
also in the practical duties with which a volunteer
artilleryman is supposed to be conversant, relating
to the mounting and dismounting of heavy guns,
and the shiftings so necessary to be thoroughly un-
derstood in the transportation of iron ordnance.
The four corps comprise the Ist (Gravesend), con-
sisting of two batteries, under the command of Cap-
tain G. E. Sharland ; the 4th (Sheerness), consist-
ing of one battery, under the command of Captain
J. E. Beveridge; and the 13th (Sheerness), consist-
ing of two batteries, commanded by Captain J. H.
Harper. The annual allowance ofgarrison gun and
exercise ammunition, consisting of 100 ronnds of
shot, 25 rounds of common shell, and 30 rounds of
blank to each of the six batteries, has been already
expended, which bespeak a zeal in the attainment
of a sound practical knowledge in the use of heavy
guns not to be overlooked. The practice has been
divided between two sorts of guns—viz., 68-
pounders of 95cwt., and 32-pounders of 58cwt.,
smooth bores, and has been carried out at
the entrance of the river Medway, where an excel-
lent range to seaward is obtainable. The precision
in the art of gunnery attained by each corps was
found to be most satisfactory. In every instance
the guns wore admirably laid, the elevation accu-
rately calculated, the deflection of the shot very.
slight, while the cutting and fixing of the fuzes in
firing the common shells was characterised by great
accuracy. It is not yet known whether the Govern-
ment intends to exercise Artillery Volunteers in the
use and management of rifled ordnance, but it is de-
sirable that their instruction should not be confined
to the old smooth-bore cannon, which are being
rapidly supplanted by Armstrong rifled guns.
On Monday the members of the Ipswich Corps
and the Watton Battery of Artillery were enter-
tained by Mr. J. C. Cobbold, M.P., in his picturesque
grounds at Holy Wells. 'The fete attracted a very
large attendance. Various evolutions having been
performed, dinner was set out on a liberal scale in a
large tent in the grounds below the mansion, The
chair was occupied by Mr. CobbolC, who was sup-
ported by Lord Itanelagh, ALP., Captain Jervis,
M.P., Lieut.-Col. Schreiber, the Mayor of Ipswich
(Mr. G. C. E. Bacon), Captain Renick, Adjutant
2d Suffolk Administrative Battalion, &c. The prin-
cipal speaker of the evening was Lord It anelagh,
whose name was associated with thu toast of "The
Volunteers." The noble lord said he had been looked
upon during the progress of the review as a kind of
" bogie," hut having watched the troops closely, he
mu,,t express his gratification at the manner in which
the various movements had been peiformed. The only
thing of which he could complain was that the troops
did not give the " British cheer" when they charged.
It was a proud thing to be an Englishman, for Eng-
land Was, after all, the land of freedom. Americans
might boast of theirs, bat we were fifty times freer in
England than they ever were. He was at
of the Volunteer movement, he had followed it
LIP,
and he should never forsake it, for he believed itry in m
tended to the advantage of the country ways
than one. the birth

The annual meeting of the sth Hants Rifle Volun-
teers for the competition for prizes commenced on
Monday at their practice range on the shore of
Langston harbour, near Portsmouth. For a prize
value £lO 10s., the gift of Mejor Ford, five shots
were allowed at each of two ranges-900 and 500
yards; Private 111Theane was the winner, with 25
points. A money prizo of £5 55., given by Sir J.
Elphinstone, M.P., was won by Private Winkworth.
The saooting was continued on 4

./ a so- t6© 'rift of Si, T. Baring: M.P., was
won by Ensign Eveleigh. A field-glass, the gift
of Captain Rake, by Burrows, of Malvern, was won
by Private Winkworth, who made 21 marks in his
seven shots at 600 yards. For a cup, value £5 55.,
given by the Rev. J. Knapp, chaplain to the
corps, seven shots at 500 yards were to be fired ;
Sergt. Chestle, Lieut. Grant and Private M‘Cheane
tied the winner, but in shooting off, Sergt. Chestle
won the first prize, and Lieut. Grant the second. A
ladies' prize, value £lO, was won by Sergt. Caplin,
12th Hants, with 38 marks. Of a prize of £5 55.,
the gift of Ensign Davis (seven shots at 300 yards;,
Private Winkworth was the winner with 20 marks.
On Monday a grand display of the Volunteers of
the counties of Anglesey and Carnarvon was made at
Holyhead, and a friendly engagement took place be-
tween them and the seamen and marines of her Ma-
jesty's ship Majestic, 80 guns, supported by the can-
non of their ship. An immense concourse of people
assembled from all parts of the northern counties, and
on the grand stand were among others the Bishops
of Oxford and Bangor, Col. the Hon. E. G. D. Pen-
nant, M.P., Sir R. W. Bulkeley, M.P., &e. The
force consisted of a brigade of artillery and another
of infantry, the whole commanded by Major the
Hon. W. 0. Stanley, M.P. The companies forming
the artillery brigade where the Ist and 2d Anglesey
(Holyhead), the 3d Anglesey (Beaumaris), and the
Carnarvon company. The infantry brigade consisted
of the Bangor and Carnarvon Rifles, end two com-
panies from the Penrhyn quarries. Special trains
conveyed the troops to Holyhead by 12 o'clock, and
from the railway station they marched to the market
hall, appropriately decorated for the occasion, where
a substantial repast had been provided by Mrs. Stan-
ley. The dispositions for action were then made as
follows:—On the railway 4.gun battery was posted,
with its face towards the sea; half-way up the hill
another 2-gen battery, direct!), behind the other;
and on the road two field pieces, worked by the Ist
Anglesey Corps, were placed, so as to meet any
attempt at turning the other batteries by a flank
movement. Between the road and the two-gun
battery the infantry brigade was massed. Shortly
after 3 o'clock the guns of the Majestic, which lay
some half mile from the beach, gave the signal of
battle, and seven boats, fully equipped, darted ra-
pidly towards shore. A brisk cannonade was kept
up between the ship and the batteries, till it was
seen that the attacking party would make their first
attempt at landing near the creek on the left flank.
A flying battery of Capt. itighy's 2d Anglesey Ar-
tillery was hurried along the railway upon trucks
drawn by a steam engine, and arrived in time to
open fire on the marines landing from the boats.
The marines, however, compelled the 2d Anglesey
to hurry off at express speed, and commenced a
movement for possessing themselves of the road
running up from the creek. They were met by
the Ist Anglesey, who worked their two field
pieces in creditable style, but ultimately the marines
succeeded in gaining the crest of the hill, driving
the artillery before them. The blue-jackets of the
Majestic, having supported the landing of the
Marines, passed in their boats to the right flank of
the four-gun battery, and effected a landing on a
spot partially covered by a knoll of rising ground.
Here they formed, and, led by Captain Inglefield,
ran on to the battery, pistols and cutlasses in hand.
but were driven back twice by the heavy firepoured
upon them. Meanwhile the Marines on the crest
of the hill advanced towards the two-gun battery
under a heavy fire from the rifles posted behind
the walls on each side of the advance, and com-
pelled the 2d Anglesey Artillery, in charge of
the battery, to retire. The two guns being new
worked by the enemy made the position of the
four-gun battery below untenable, so that, on the
third attack of the seamen, the artillery broke and
fled. A lull of half an hour succeeded, during
which the Volunteers rallied, and a plan
of attack was formed. The field pieces, supported
by the Rifles, advanced on the two-gun battery,
and re-took it from the Marines, who retired in
good order towards the four-gun battery, closely
followed by the Rifles, whose file-firing W4EI very

effective. While the Marines were retreating the
four-gun battery was suddenly attacked on the
right flank by the artillery, and a heavy fire from
the recaptured battery on the height completed the
discomfiture of the enemy. He now retreated to-
wards the boats, under a sharp fire from the Rifles,
who by this time had gained the beach ; but, covered
by the ship's guns, the boats retired. The departure
of the Volunteers and of the immense crowd of sight-
seers was as well managed as could have been ex-
pected in such a miserable shed as the railway sta-
tion at Holyhead. One painful occurrence cast a
gloom over the proceedings of the day. The gun-
boat Goshawk was moored within 100 yards of
the beach for the purpose of covering the landing
with her guns. After a few rounds had been fired,
a man engaged in working the gun neglected to
sponge it before putting in another charge. While
ho was in the act of ramming it down the charge
went off, and precipitated the poor fellow into the
sea. Late at night his body had not been recovered.
Another man had his arm shattered at the same
time.

The annual carbine contest by the five Western
batteries of the Duke of Cornwall's Artillery Volun-
teers took place on Wednesday at St. Ives. The
proceedings were witnessed by a very large con-
course of spectators, who had arrived from dif-
ferent parts of the county. The weather was fine.
The prineipal event was the battery prize for the
highest aggregate score. Each corps were allowed
14 men, and each man five shots at the respective
distances of 100, 200, and 300 yards. The St.
Ives corps scored 439, three points more than
the competitors from Marazion. Other prizes, total
value about £3O, were also shot for, On Friday
the 2d Duke of Cornwall's Rifle Volunteers com-
peted for various money prizes at the ranges of 150
and 200 yards. Private J. Harris seared 24 for five
shots at each distance, and won the principal prize.
The 39th West Yorkshire Rifle Volunteers, Bing-
ley Company, held their annual prize shooting on
Saturday at their range on Baildon-moor, The
scoring was good, and a large number entered. The
first prize was won by Private W. Sugden, 35
points, seven shots at 200 and 400 yards.

sister's eyes, lackened, and scars on her face from his ill- I
usage. They had lived an unhappy and miserable life.
The prisoner, in defence, said his work called him away,
and it was too far for him to go home. He had been out
of work lately, and the week he obtained employment he
went home to his wife with come money. The following
week he was thrown out of work, but last week ho obtained
employment. He went home on Saturday night and found
his wife had been removed to the workhouse. He saw her
on Sunday and he was told by the porter that there was a
warrant out against him. He went on Monday night to
make an arrangement and to see his wife, but he was re-
fused admission to her, and he was taken into custody.

Mr. Ingham pointed out to 1%1 r, Edmonds that the pri-
Boner's work caused him to be a distance from his home.
Mr. Edmonds said that if ho had time he could produce
evidence to show that the prisoner was never out of London
during the time in question.
Mr. Ingham then remanded the prisoner till Tuesday.
The prisoner applied to be admitted to bail to attend the
funeral of his wife as he wished to see the end of her,

Mr. Ingram said he would take bail, but as it was not
forthcoming, he was removed to the cells.

WANDSWORTH SYSTEMATIC ROBBERY BY A
SERVANT.—James Fisher, a carpet planner, was finally
examined on a charge of robbing his employer.
Charles Quilter, in the service of Mr. T. 0. Clark, an up •
holsterer at Clapham, stated that for the last five weeks he
had had his suspicions of the prisoner, and had watched him
in consequence of his keeping back after the other workmen
had left at leaving-off time. About five minutes after five
o'clock on the afternoon of the 21st inst., he discovered a roll
of carpet in Mr. Clark's chaise, in the coach-house. He com-
municated with Mr. Clark, and it was arranged that witness
should watch till the police arrived. About eight o'clock,
being concealed under the chaise, he saw the prisoner enter
the coach-house, and unfasten the gates. He then went up
to the side of the chaise. Witness could not see him take
anything, but as soon as he had gone out he felt in the
chaise, and found the carpet had disappeared. He rushed
after the prisoner, and caught hold of him as he was leaving
the gates, when he dropped the carpet into witness's hands.
He then seized witness by the throat, and said, "Don't
holloa; for God's sake don't holloa." Mr. Clark came up
at the time to his assistance, and the prisoner was given in
charge.
Mr. Clark said the prisoner had been in his service about
two years as a carpet planner, and had access to his stock.
On the day in question ho received information from Quilter.
In the evening ho heard a cry of help, and on going up he
found the prisoner and Quilter struggling together outside
his gates. Witness collared the prisoner, who then said,
" Let me put on my exit, and I'll go quiet." The piece of
carpet was 71 yards in length, and had been cut off a roll in
witness's shop. The witness added that the coach• house
was 70 yards from the shop. He had lost a great deal of
property.

The prisoner did not deny taking the carpet, and said it
was his first offence.

Mr. Ingham committed him to the Wansworth House of
Correction for six months, with hard labour.

AN INCORRIGIBLE IMPOSTOR,

Wolverhampton would seem to be fatal to impostors.
Here the notorious Alice Grey was committed to the assizes,
from which she was sent to penal servitude ; a few months
ago another female impostor, who had feigned illness and
alleged that she had been robbed in railway trains, was
committed from the same town; and now a third Alice Grey
has been effectually stopped for a while in her extraordinary
career. Yesterday in the Wolverhampton borough police-
court a young woman named Mary Ann Jones, alias Hutton,
alias 'Williams, alias Taylor, who had been remanded from
that day week, was again brought up, charged with being an
imposter.

Capt. Segrave, the chief constable—l have made inqui-
ries about the prisoner, and hold in my hand a number of
letters which I have received from nearly all parts of Eng-
land. Her history seems a long one, and it proves her to be
a rogue and a vagabond beyond any room for doubt.
John Chidlev, chief warder at the Stafford gaol, deposed
that he knew the prisoner had been committed to that pri-
son seven times. On the first occasion, on Oct. 3d, 1861,
she was sent for a month's imprisonment as a disorderly
pauper. He did not remember where she had been commit-
ted from in this or any of the cases, as he had come away
with little notice.

The prisoner—From Burslem.
Witness—On the 13th Nov., 1861, she was sent to prison
for 21 days as a rogue and vagabond. On the 11th of the
following December she was sentenced to three months for
want of sureties. On the 19th of March, 1863, she was com-
mitted for a month under the Vagrant Act. After being out
about a day she was sent back also for a month, likewise for
being a rogue and vagabond. On the 25th May, again
under the Vagrancy Act, she was sent to prison for three
months ; and on the 31st of last month she was committed
as a rogue and vagabond for 21 days.
Police. constable Henry Tew stated that about half•past 4
on Sunday morning he was on duty in Queen-street, and
saw the prisoner standing at the top of Plineess-street.
Hearing her groan very much, he went and asked her what
she was doing there. He could get no reply further than
that she came from Stoke, and that she would go and drown
herself. She subsequently sat down on a step and annoared
to go In to hysterics, and although he put many questions,he
could get no satisfactory answers. He at length took her to
the station, and she then said she had run away from Bur-
lem with a young man, who had deserted her near Wolver-
hampton. Judging from the smell of her breath that she
had taken poison, he sent for a surgeon, and the result was
that it appeared she had taken something of the sort.
Mr. T. H. Wolfington, surgeon, and assistant to Mr.
Dehane, surgeon to the police, deposed that he was sent for
by the police on Sunday morning, the 20th inst., to the
police-office, where he found the prisoner attempting to
vomit. In reply to him she said she had taken some powder
as a poison. He gave her an emetic and afterwards several
nauseous draughts. The emetic produced a slight vomiting,
and the nauseous draughts cleared the stomach. The pri-
soner appeared very ill, and being himself alarmed, he called
several times during the day. She appeared better after she
had taken the medicine, and calling him aside said a young
man had given her the powder to obviate the consequences
of previous misconduct, and that she was likely in five or six
months to become a mother. Yesterday morning, however,
on the instruction given by the Mayor a week ago, he made
an examination which enabled him to state positively that
the was not in that condition.

The prisoner declined to put any question to either of the
witnesses.

The Chief Constable said there was an officer present who
could depose that there was no such person in Burslem as
the imaginary young man charged by the prisoner with the
offence named. It was not thought necessary to examine
this witness.

Mr. Iremonger then read to the prisoner certain of the
communications that had been received by the police autho-
rities. From those documents it was gathered that the pri-
soner's name is Mary Ann Hutton. She is the daughter of
respectableitworking people of Burslem ; for some time she
lived as servant in the family of an uncle, who is a grocer
in that town, but she absconded about six years since.
Nothing was again heard of her until about two years ago,
when sho was found ty the roadside at Stone by Mr. R.
S. Adderley, who having been told by her that she had
been violated by three men at Trentham, took her in his
carriage to the Stone Workhouse. The abominable charge
was proved to be unfounded, and she afterwards con-
fessed as much. We next hear of her in the city of Chester,
where she made a somewhat similar charge, and was de-
tected, but being destitute, the magistrate only sent her to
the workhouse. At Eliza Ann Williams she has also been
in the custody of the county police of Chester, on the charge
of feigning fits in the streets of Tarporley, in that county.
For this offence she was imprisoned four days. She is well
known at the General Railway (Station at Chester, from
which place, after feigning fits, she was taken to the Chester
Infirmary. Because of her celebrity, the Chester police
had her photographed, and the likeness was yesterday pro-
duced in court. The prisoner was evidently the original,
notwithstanding her effort, by closing her eyes when the
photographer was before her. to disguise her identity. At
midnight on the 22d of May this year a young woman was
found in the streets of Eccleshall, in Staffordshire. She
appeared very much excited, and said " I will destroy my-
self. Oh I I wish I had never done it." She was ap-
parently in great pain, gave her name as Mary Ann Taylor
Hutton, of Burslem, but would not say what she had done.
She was searched, had refreshment given to her, and was
put into a cell for safety. On the next morning she ap-
peared very ill, and Mr. Greatrex, surgeon, was sent for.
She told him that she had taken arsenic that had been
purchased at Shiffnal, in Shropshire. Every attention was
paid to her on Saturday. On Saturday morning she seemed
a great deal worse, and Mr. Greatrex was again called in.
She told him she had taken more arsenic, which she had
concealed in her stays. Mr. Hawthorne, another medical
man, was sent for, and they both considered that her depo-
sition should be taken. Accordingly, the magistrates (Mr.
E. Lyon and Mr. H. Hillick) were called out of church to
be present, when the clerk took down her statement. On
Monday morning Policeman Keith saw her in the cell,
and at once recognised her as the woman whom Mr.
Adderley found on the roadside at Trentham, and further-
more
showed that three months after that time, when a
keeper on the Trentham estate had been nearly killed
by poachers, she alleged that she could give evidence
which would secure the conviction of the offenders, and a
house pointed out by her at their rendezvous was searched,
only, however, to prove an imposture. This evidence the
officer gave before the magistrate on that (Monday) morn-
ing, and they committed the now fully-recovered impostor
for three months' imprisonment. Since that time she has
been further imprisoned by order of certain of the Pottery
magistrates. We next hear of her in the South Staffordshire
Hospital, at Wolverhampton, to which place she had been
conveyed from the adjacent village of Moxisy on the 11th
of last March, alleging that she had been poisoned, &c.;
but Mr. Keogh, the house surgeon, who had detected a
similar case a few months before, soon discovered the cha-
racter of his patient, and she was discharged on the follow-
ing day. Although she gave, the name of Mary Ann Taylor
Hutton, yet Mr. Keogh has identified the prisoner as one
and the same person. On the 12th of March last, the very
day she was sent from the Wolverhampton Hospital, a Mary
Aun Hutton was found on the road at Secigioy,

threatening to commit suicide, and complaining of having
been violated. She was taken first to the workhouse, and
then before the magistrates, by whom she was admonished
and discharged. Next, and last, she is found on the 19th
inst. in the streets of WoWerhampton by Policeman Tew.
In reply to the magistrates, the prisoner said she had no
urther statement to make than that she had never lived as
servant to her uncle, and she hoped their worships would
send her for three or four years to a reformatory school.
The Bench committed her to take her trial at the next
Staffordshire Quarter Sessions as an incorrigible rogue and
vagabond.

While she was being taken to her cell she told the gaoler
flat she was as glad as though she had had £2O given to
her that she had been committed for trial.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES.—We must again bespeak attention to the
experience now daily accruing on the important
question of Artillery and Fortifications. It has been
stated as a reproach to our authorities that we have
allowed no free competition between artillerists at
home, but the complaint, whether well or ill founded,
is of little importance, since all the requisite expe-
riments are conducted for us abroad. If Parrott and
Blakeley guns have had. no trials at Shoeburyness,
they have had enough and to spare at Charleston,
and we can measure their merits and defects with
as much ease as if they were in use at Woolwich.
The question in fact resolves itself into a comparison
between the ordnance used by the Americans and
that used by ourselves. If what the Americans
have done and are doing is more than we are doing
or can expect to do, we are certainly in arrear of our
duties, but that as yet is by no means certain. Both
Federals and Confederates have got far bigger guns
both afloat and ashore than we have brought into
use, but it is not yet established that the biggest
guns are the best. It is beyond doubt that Charles-
ton was shelled at five miles' distance—that is to
say. a few shells from the batteries did actually fall
into the town. But it is evident that the bombard-
ment was altogether ineffective, and our correspon-
dent in the Southern States has related a report
that after the first three or four rounds the projec-
tiles all fall short, owing to the damage suffered by
the guns. This account is all the more probable
from what we know of the final result—namely,
that after very short practice many of the pieces
actually burst. We are prepared, however, to ad-
mit that even these facts are not decisive of the
whole question. If a dozen 16-inch shells could be
thrown into a fort or arsenal at a five-mile range, it
might be well worth our while to purchase such a re-
sult at the cost of a gun. Better dis-
lodge an enemy and lose a battery than
keep a battery and leave the enemy unharmed. If
these heavy guns do really, before they burst,
perform feats hitherto thought impracticable, and
calculated to secure some of the great objects of
warfare, we cannot discard them on account of their
short-lived powers. This drawback of sudden decay
must be taken into the reckoning, and we must pro-
vide for an expenditure of cannon as well as of
cartridges, and that is all. But this condition being
granted, it is not at all certain that the Americana
are ahead of us. A correspondent informed us on
Friday last that our 110 pounder Armstrongs could
make excellent practice, and without bursting, at a
range quite as long as that from which Fort Sumter
was bombarded. Ho added, too, that the smaller
Armstrongs had thrown their bolts more than twice
that distance with a given elevation, so that the
larger pieces might be expected to do at least as
much as any American gun at Charleston. From
this it follows that the range of our artillery is
fully as great as that of the American artillery,
and if the calibre of our pieces is lighter their
strength is fur more to be depended upon. As to
the heavier guns, we also have got some 300-poun-
ders, pronounced " effective," but our monster cane
non, like those of the Federals, are found, unfor-
tunately, apt to burst. The question, therefore,
must ultimately turn upon a balance of advantages
and disadvantages. If large guns cannot be made
powder-proof, we shall have to weigh their cost
against their service and decide accordingly; but
we must record as a piece of practical experience
that the 800-pounders of the Confederates have
already been condemned by General Beauregard
himself. That distinguished engineer, after making
trial of this enormous ordnance, has, it is said, re-
quested that no more such cannon may be sent to
him. Equally uncertain is the lesson to be drawn
from the con tests between forts and batteries in
Charleston Harbour. We do know that Fort Sum-
ter was riddled with shot and shell at a range of two
miles and upwards, but we also know that the Confe-
derate flag was still flying over the work when the
last intelligence was received. We know, too, another
thing, and on Federal as well as Confederate autho-
rity. Though Fort Sumter was so shattered, Fort
Wagner resisted the same artillery with perfect im-
punity Neither Parrott nor Dahlgren guns, neither
shot nor shell, produced the least effect on the de-
fences of this fort, which was abandoned only be-
cause the sappers had worked close up to it by the
rfficky of coi.",-.”, and which was found by the be-
siezers to be absolutely uninjured. When we ask
of what these bulwarks consisted, we learn that they
were formed of sandbags, so that defences which
could be extemporised on any seashore are disco-
vered to be proof against the heaviest artillery ever
yet brought into battle. It seems as if we should
nyver get to the end of the race between Forts and
Ships. Of the naval experience derivable from the
American War we can say at present but little,
owing to the peculiar character of the vessels em-
ployed. There is not one of these vessels, unless it
be the Ironsides, the armour of which would be re-
garded in this country as fit even for an experimen-
tal target. Their very latest model, the Tecumseh,
which was launched the other day at Jersey City,
is protected only by five wrought-iron plates each
one inch thick. We know that such plating is
worthless, and that our artillerists would hardly be
at the trouble of trying a gun against it. The
Armstrong 110 pounder has smashed twelve such
plates in a mass, and the old 68 pounder would do
as much with equal ease. The truth is that no valid
comparison can be sustained between our iron-cased
ships and the American Monitors. We not only
forge our plates in solid sheets, but we scrutinise
every one of them with extraordinary minuteness,
and reject every month at our dockyards as much
iron as would arm a Monitor. The Americans, from
the very necessities of their position, adopt a rough-
and-ready practice, but with what results is per-
haps hardly yet known. '[ho performances of the
Monitors at Charleston seem enveloped in mystery.
We certainly do not hear of their being sunk or
captured, but they appear to have received consi-
derable injury, and we know that the military
authorities have complained angrily of the ineffec-
tive co-operation of the fleet in the work of the
siege. But the relative inefficiency of the Confe-
derate guns is a mystery also. Unless our experi-
ments are delusive, we have guns which would to
a certainty pierce the sides of any vessel armed,
like the Monitors, with built-up plates, and yet,
though the Confederate batteries are said to
mount guns of our best manufacture, it is remark-
able that they perform no such complete service.
POST.—The cordial receptions which Admiral
Dacres and the officers and men under his command
have received from the inhabitants of the various
ports visited by the Channel fleet during its re-
cent cruise have been all duly chronicled, and it
is extremely gratifying to observe the pride and
interest which is taken by all classes in the ap-
pearance of these fine ships and their crews—a
result which is perhaps as much due to the re-
collection of the debt which the country owes to
the past achievements of this particular branch
of the service, as from the certainty that our
future position among nations depends upon our
maintaining the supremacy upon the ocean, for
the day on which Britannia relinquishes the task
of ruling the waves would most assuredly be the
day on which this nation would sink into the
position of a mere third-rate Power. Every one,
therefore, having the welfare of his country at
heart must view with peculiar interest the huge
iron monsters which are destined to take the place
of our old wooden walls. And it must be admitted
that such splendid triumphs of engineering skill
as the Warrior and her consorts represent are
well calculated to inspire all who gaze upon them
with confidence. But while indulging ourselves
with these feelings of satisfaction, it is impossible
—indeed it would be most unwise—to close our
eyes to the fact that these magnificent specimens
of naval architecture are after all but so many
experiments the value of which has yet to be
proved by the results, which can only be obtained
in actual war. It is well known that the im-
provements which have been made in artillery of
late years have compelled us to adopt a stronger
material than the one formerly in use for the con-
struction of our ships of war. The first plan of
giving protection to the vulnerable wooden hull by
means of a covering of iron plates has given way to
the system of constructing vessels entirely of iron,
while the third and last point consists in deter-
mining which is the form or model calculated
to produce the most formidable engine of
war out of the materials at our disposal.
On this point we are at direct issue with enter-
prising rivals upon the other side of the Atlantic.
Great Britain and America have been for the last
two years steadily pursuing directly opposite courses,
each fully satisfied of the correctness of their own
theory. And while we have had the benefit of much
leisure for calmly considering the merits presented
by either system, the Americans have had the ad-
vantage of experience in actual war for guiding
them in the conclusions which they have arrived at.
The chief characteristics of the two theories may be
summed up in the following words—few but very
heavy guns in strong and diminutive hulls, versus
well armed, large, and powerful ships, The first,