The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-21 00:00:00

EXPERIMENTS AT SHOEBURYNESS,

The 9 inch muzzle-loading gun made at the Royal
Gun Factories, Woolwich, and rifled on the plan
proposed by Mr. Lynall Thomas, was tried yesterday
at Shoeburyness, with somewhat unsatisfactory
results.

semTbhliessgaunn,
owrdhiincharcyarmr
aiersz al
e -31o0a0d1bi n sgh
Ao t
r,
ncloselyg r
in
outward appearance, the muzzle, however, being
more prolonged. Mr. Lynall Thomas's invention
consists in Substituting
a series of ribs for the usual
grooves. The shot are made with grooves coated
with soft alloy to fit the ri •
bs of the gun, and are
similar in form to those used in the Armstrong, but
appear to be slightly longer. It is perhaps hardly
necessary to add that the " shunt"
principle is not
employed by Mr. Lynall Thomas. To test the
range and accuracy of the gun 10 rounds of cast
iron shot were fired from it at 2 deg. elevation, 10
at 5 deg., and 10 at 10 deg., the charge being
401 b in every instance: The initial velocity of the
projectiles was ascertained in the care of those fired
at 2 deg. elevation by Major Navez's electro-ballistic
apparatus. It was intended to repeat the experi-
ments with cast-iron shells, but Mr. Thomas ob-
jected to those upon the ground of being too long ;
a similar objection to the shot was also urged by
him during the course of the experiments. He also
stated that the ribs were finished too abruptly at
the spot where they join the chamber of the gun.
It seems a pity, however, that as the gun, shot, and
shell were made at Woolwich, under Mr. Thomas's
directions, he did not make these objections during
the progress of the work, The velocity and range
of the shots fired are very unequal. This is
accounted for by Mr. Thomas by the facts mentioned
above, and by the powder not being always rammed
heme to exactly the same mark. Whether the latter
circumstance has any weight or not is doubtful, as
in other rifled guns the ramming home of the pow-
der to the same place within a few inches does not
seem to affect materially the flight of the shot.
Notes were taken at each round of the exact depth
to which the charge was rammed ; it will therefore
be seen hereafter whether this circumstance really
has any influence on the projectile or not. If it
should turn out that it has, it would be, we imagine
a serious defect in the gun. The exact lateral de-
viation of each shot has not yet been correctly cal-
culated; it WRS stated, however, to be irregular.
Gen. St. George, Col. Lefroy, and Capt. Heath
were present during the experiments on the part
of the Ordnance Select Committee.
While the experiments were being made with
Mr. Thomas's gun Mr. Randall and a party of men
were busily engaged in taking off a series of impres-
sions of the inside of Sir William Armstrong's
monster gun, to ascertain if the rifling had sustained
any injury during Thursday's trial, but not a flaw
of the size of a pin's head could be detected over the
whole of " Big Will's" interior. In our impression
of yesterday it was stated that the bore of this gun
was 13ft. 3in. in diameter—a very obvious typogra•
phical error for 13.3 inches. It is intended shortly
to try the gun upon a massive floating target, which
will he moored about 2,000 yards from the firing
point. The experiments yesterday were again
favoured by calm, warm, sunny weather.
It is not known at present when Mr. Thomas's
gun will be tested with shell.

THE' CITY lIEMEMBRANCERSHLP.

•-

A Committee of the Common Council to whom it was re-
ferred on the 2d July last to inquiry into the nature, duties,
and emoluments of the ancient office of Remembrancer in
the corporation of London, and whether it was susceptible
of amalgamation with advantage either with the office of
City Solicitor or that of Town Clerk, or partly with both,
have just presented a report on the subject. The inquiry
arose on the retirement, from advanced age and failing
health, of Mr. E. Tyrrell, who had spent upwards of 50
years of his life in the service of the corporation, and who
had at one time thought the amalgamation of the office with
some other in the corporation practicable. He was in the
receipt of a salary of £l,OOO, besides professional charges
he was allowed to make for business done by him, and
which on an average of the last ten years raised his net
Income to £2,020, in addition to an allowance of £250
a year for office expenses. The office of Remembrancer
has ex;sted during nearly 300 years, having been instituted
in 1570. Its first holder appears to have been one Thomas
Norton, on whose death, hi 1588, Queen Elizabeth deigned
to address an autograph letter to the Court of Common
Council recommending as his successor " our well-be-
loved Dr. Fletcher, distinguished for his learning, inte-
grity, and other commendable parts." With such a cer-
tificate of character, it is presumed the worthy doctor was
appointed to the vacant berth. Originally the emoluments
could not have been at all equal to their amount in late
years, seeing that her then Majesty charged the Common
Council to award the successor of Mr. Norton " a decent
maintenance." The Parliamentary duties, so called, of the
Remembrancer are said to require a daily attendance at the
House of Commons, and a point is made that he has from
time immemorial enjoyed the privilege of a seat under the
gallery of the House of Commons. He is there to keep watch
and ward over the interests and privileges of the city, and,
as his official designation imports, to keep the Common
Council apprised from time to time of all
mpasures in any
way affecting the rights of the corpoi:ation— in other words,
to see that they are not caught napping, for the civic autho-
rities always appear to fancy that "every man's hand is
against them." For years past they have had a standing
committee whose special function has been to watch and
resist all attempts at reform in the corporation when these
have been in contemplation by the Government of the day,
and among this most conservative body for that purpose
are men holding liberal opinions on most other political
subjects. The Committee on the Remembrancerebip, after
an elaborate recital of the duties incident to it, ceremonial
and Parliamentary, recommend that the office should be
continued as a distinct and separate one, having regard to
the interests of the corporation, and that the income at-
tached to it should be no longer fluctuating, but fixed at
£1,500 a year, with an annual allowance besides, not ex-
ceeding £lOO, for office expenses. The committee pay a j ust
compliment to Mr. Tyrrell, the retiring Remembrancer, to
the effect that he has at all times well and faithfully dis-
charged the trust reposed in him, and in recognition of his
services in the business of the corporation, extending overls
half a century, they recommend that he be alTlohweedsaalapryeno-f
pen-
sion of £7OO from the date of his retirement.
£1,500 which has been recommended is equal to that
an
Under-Secretary of State, and the committee sayof
Io nd e
thes i
postred
fixed it at that amount after having carefully Co they have
the position which the gentleman appointed to
must necessarily occupy, and the important and peculiar
duties he will be called upon to discharge, and with the de-
sire to see the corporation fitly represented in their commu-
nications with tho Crown and
the Government of the
country.

A letter from Rome states that the Roman Rail-
way Company has engaged to construct, in two years and a
half, a line from Civita Vecchia to the Tuscan frontier.
The .Revue de Saint-Pons (Herault) mentions that
the summit of the Summail and other mountains in that
neighbourhood are at present covered with snow.
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MANCHESTER, Nov. 20,—There is
change in this market since Tuesday.
has been exceedingly flat throughout the
the yarn-market buyers could be found t(
to give out very considerable orders, but only 7at
lower prices than spinners are disposed to accept
The market closes with little or no disposition on
the part of buyers to opeirate, and at lower prices..
It is steadier than it was last week and in the early
part of the present week. 1-lome-trade yarns are
more depressed than hank yrrus, but both descrip-
tions are easier to buy. It liacl been: pretty confi-
dently anticipated that ae the Ba nk made no alte-
ration in the rate of discounts yes,`o.-day, we should
have had an improvement in the d,'Lland for yarns
to-day, and consequently a feeling ofe great disap-
pointment has been prevalent. In the cle•th-market
there has been rather more inquiry, with a more
cheerful feeling, but still the business effected has
been of a very limited character. The inqn:ries
made have led to but few offers, ressi.on
and the imp
is that they have been intended only as feelers witl.%
a view to ascertain prices without applying ae
actual test. The few purchases reported are said to-
have consisted only of small quantities. There seems
to be an almost universal conviction on the part of
buyers that prices will shortly range lower, and
they are consequently still disposed to hold off till
a more considerable reduction has taken place than
manufacturers have yet shown a disposition to sub-
mit to. In the report of last Friday's market refe-
rence was made to a circular which had been issued
by Messrs. Whitworth and Brot.clers, Manchester
merchants, giving next year
a much higher .estimate of the
probable supply of cotton forthcomltq
than any which had hitherto been givet. That esti-
mate was by no means adopted as our °Wit; it was
merely referred to as having had an influc!ice upon
that day's market. The numerous letters Will c
'll
have since been written in reply to it go far to Wove
_
that we did not exaggerate in saying that it ;lad

• CI, HDIFF, 20th.—The steam coal trade continuo*
active. Quotations for iron are going up, and the
ironmasters are well supplied with specifications.
Bars are now quoted at 1.6 15s. to .E 7, free onboard.
The paddlers have commenced working at the rise,
which in nearly all instances is 10 per cent.
NOTTINGHAM, 20th.—At this Exchange•hall to-
day there was a pretty good attendance, and there
was a rather better feeling in the demand for lace
yarns, at prices quite equal to those of Tuesday.
For
hosiery yarns the demand remained slow, at

little or no alteration from late rates. Silks sup-
ported their former value. The inquiry for brown
nets has rather improved, and prices were 5 to 71
per cent. higher than last week. The demand for
these, it is believed, is chiefly speculative. Prices
are still below prime cost.

Vacancies, Promotions, and Appointments
in the Civil Service.

(From the Civil Service Gazette.)
FOREIGN-OFFICE—The consulship at Scutari has become.
vacant by the death of Sir Francis H. Gilbert, Bart.
THE ADMIRALTY—Mr Ralph Neville Leycester has been
appointed a clerk in Somerset House—Mr W. L. Anderson,
first-class clerk, has been appointed to be acting clerk, first-
class, first section, in the director of transport's department
—Mr R. W. C.:Richardson, second-class clerk, has been
appointed to be first-class clerk, second section, in the di-
rector of transport's department—and Mr R. G. J. T. Col-
lings, third-class clerk, has been appointed to be acting
second-class clerk in the director of transport's department.
BOARD OF TRADE—Mr Alfred Sturton Pinn has been
appointed a temporary clerk, London—Mr Samuel William
Tomkinson has been appointed a temporary clerk, London
—Mr Adolphus Frederick Wright Bell has been appointed
a temporary clerk, London—Mr Henry D. P. Winstanlcy
has been appointed a temporary clerk, Loudon.
CUSTOMS—A surveyor• generalship has become vacant by
the death of Mr Frederick St. John. Mr Patrick Joseph
Brady has been appointed an out-door officer, London—
Mr John David Simpkin has been appointed an out-door
officer, London—Mr Charles Willingale has been pro-
moted from sth to 4th class of out-door officers, London—
Mr Charles M. Hutchinson has been promoted from sth to
4th class of out-door officers, London.
INLAND REVENUE—Stamps and Tax Branch—Mr F.
W. Croly has been promoted from the second to the first
class, legacy duty-office—Mr D. Pritchard has been pro-
moted to be superintendent, second class, in the legacy duly
department—and Mr J. A. Gossett has been promoted from
the third to the second class, in the legacy duty department.
Excise Branch—Mr John Dempsey second class assistant,

Drogheda collection, has been appointed second class as-
sistant, Sligo collection—Mr Ramsay Mauls Wood, second
class assistant, Glasgow collection, has been appointed se-
cond class assistant, Argyle collection—Mr Peter Murphy,
second class assistant, Ayr collection, has been appointed
second class assistant, Argyle collection—Mr James IL.
Wilson, second class assistant, Edinburgh collection, has
been appointed second class assistant, Argyle collection—
Mr James Evans, second class assistant, Bristol collection,
has been appointed second class assistant, Isle of Wight,
collection—and Mr Robert Scott, second class assistant,
Middlesex collection, has been appointed second class as-

sistant, Isle of Wight collection.
Chapman,
to the Board of
cretary, has been appointed to be secretaryane,
officiating junior
THE EAST INDIES—Mr R. B. officiating se-
Revenue, Bengal—Mr T.
Craster has been
Board of Revenue, Bengal— rbeEj.ucn.ior secretary to the
secretary, has been appointed
appointed to be a magistrat.
• ?v. magistrate and 3ollector of
ai:teol.d collector of the Ist grade
—Mr A. J. Elliot, officitaedi
Mlbe a magistrate and collector
M‘Donell has been appointed
and deputy collector of Nuddea—
magistrate
to be joint-magistrate
to be a magistrate and
Air \V. Ainslie has been app
offfirthhe°2td' hgarsadbe—eenlNalprploVin F.
to be a member of the Board of Exa-
miners,c-o-lleetr of the Ist grade in Rungpore—Mr C. F. Carnac
has been appointedl3engal—Mr R. D. Rime has been appointed to
officiate temporarily as magistrate, collector, and salt
agent of Poorec—Mr W. G. Young, officiating cote.-
mission • er has been appointed to be commissioner
of revenue and circuit of Chittagong division— Mr. C. F.
Montresor, officiating commissioner, has been appointed to
be commissioner of revenue and.circuit of the Durdwan di-
vision—Mr IL L. Dampier, officiating commissioner, has
been appointed to be commissioner of revenue and circuit
of the Nuddea division—Messrs. W. M'Cracken and J.
Woodhouse have been appointed assistant accountants, 3d
class, and posted to Mysore to fill existing vacancies—Mr
w. J. R. Carnac, officiating commissioner of Agra, has
been appointed to be judge and session judge of Mynpoory,
N.W.P.; Mr 13. Sapte, C. 8., judge of Mynpoory,
has been appointed to be judge of Ghazeepore—Cap-
tain W. B. Tyler, deputy-commissioner, 4th class,
at Lullutpore, has been appointed to act as deputy-
commissioner of the Ist class Captain T. A.
Corbett, assistant-commissioner, Ist class, at Lullut-
pore, has been appointed to act as deputy-commis-
sioner, 3d class, in the room of C. J. Daniell—M j
ajor .
Davidson, assistant commissioner, Ist class, Jhansie, has
been appointed to act as deputy-commissioner, 4th class,
tthe room of Captain W. B. Tyler—Mr P. J. White,.boon
o_,
offi-
ciating assistant-commissioner, 2d class, Jaloun, has
appointed to act as assistant-commissioner, Ist BP
Major J. Davidson—Mr J. Alone, assistant-commissioner,
9
2d class, Jaloun, has been appointed to officiate T. Cor-
commissioner, let class, in the room of t
to the judicial
assistant bett—Alr J. S. Saunders, assistant.co:
appointed to officiate as personal as
commissioner.
6isPsioner, has been