The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-14 00:00:00

at noon.

PRANCE.
M. DE PERSIGNY CREATED A DUKE.
PARIS, SUNDAY.
M. de Persigny has been created a duke, in testi-
mony of regard for the services he has rendered
to the state, and for his personal devotion to the
Emperor.

BOURSE, Sept.l2.—The market has much changed
from the tone it exhibited yesterdoy. Stock has
been freely offered, and prices have generally re-
ceded. Threee, for the Account, are now at 68f.
85c. Railway Shares are also quoted lower. The
market again improved a little towards the close,
and left off as follows :

It per Cents. 96
Do. end month
3 per Cents
Do. end month 69
Credit Mobilier 1187 50
Do. end month 1192 50
Bank Shares 3380
Credit F oncier 1410

Italian Loan 73 50
Do. end month 73 80
hew ditto
Do. end month 73 55
Russian
Austrian

Spanish Threes —
Home Debt _

RA IL'

rAYB.

Cash. Account.
Orleans
Northern
New ditto ....
11000_405 10 45
--
•
Lyons and Mediterranean 1057 50 .. 1057 50
Geneva............
Southern 746 25 .. 742 50
Western
Eastern ....... , 512 50 .. 512 50
Sardinian
Austrian
Lon-bard
North of Spain
Saragossa

iitto to Barcelona .... 3" 75 ..

RUSSIA.

The following is a translation of the article in
the Journal de St. Petersbourg of the 9th Septem-
ber, a telegraphic summary of which has already
appeared :—" We have more than once pointed out
the rnanorivres of some organs of the press to drive
public opinion into a path which can only lead to
deception. Thus, when the second despatches of
the three Courts respecting the affairs of Poland
were forwarded to St. Petersburg, the foreign news-
papers vied with each other in promulgating a report
that the Russian Government accepted the proposi-
tions made to it with some insignificant modifica-
tions. Hopes were thus engendered which were not
in keeping with the real state of affairs, and when
the truth became known the inevitable explana-
tions which followed were turned to account in
the most hostile manner by the very men who had
propagated the rumours. At the time we warned
our reader to be cautious in believing them. We
fulfil a similar duty to-day by putting them on their
guard against rumours of a similar nature. The
foreign press is launching forth into the wildest
conjectures respecting the projects of the Russian
Government as regards Poland and Germany.
Radical reforms are spoken of, which are to be im-
mediately introduced into the kingdom of the em-
pire ; new alliances are hinted at respecting the
affairs of Germany. The conclusions which are
drawn from them are as false as the premises. The
position taken by the St. Petersburg Cabinet rela-
tive to the affairs of Poland, in accordance with
the unanimous sentiment of Russia, is perfectly
clear, and there is nut anything toindicate an incli•
nation to deviate from it. The sentiments of the
Sovereign towards his Polish subjects have not
undergone any change. But, in his solicitude for
their welfare, his Majesty has declared that he con.
sidered it his first duty to proceed to the re-estab
lishment of material order. The experience of thi,
last two years has sufficiently proved that nothing
solid can be erected upon ground upset by anarchi-
cal passions. As regards the diplomatic question,
the Imperial GOVerDlll,?,llt remains resolved to him
its international obligations, but also to maintain
can
the rights of Russia within the limits of treaties.
at
"As regards the affairs of Germany, the St.
Petersburg Cabinet follows them with all that
nseseia t
o providebut
wish for the unionrs
which
might t e n t g
e o mr
hnyer ou
than
terest which they deserve ; but also with that
benevolent reserve which appertains to its tra
ditions and to tai
ha
n ters nesto m rs. Re u
d basis of the rights and interests of all the States et
s result
of Germany
againstwhich
di t
ange consists. She
Germany has to guard against dangers coming from
Russia. The rumours which have been circulated
are, therefore, unfounded. They testify extreme
levity, if not malicious premeditation. At all events,
they can only serve to mislead public opi •
nion, ana
for our part we think that the mission of the
journalist is not to participate in an error with a
view to certain objects of political cleverness, but
to endeavour sincerely to ascertain and honestly to
declare the truth."

MODERN ARTILLERY.—In this journal the atten•
__on of the Government authorities has been called
again and again to the Parrott and Dahlgren guns. The
Americans have constructed cannon of calibres which to us
are known only as of theoretical and probable attainment,
and they have armed batteries hundreds of miles nom their
arsenals with the most Powerful guns ever used in war,
which have been carried by sea and in stormy waters to the
enemy's shores. Before such projectiles as these gunscarry
the breaching of masonry, whether of brick or stone, is but
a question of short time. And in the face of these facts we
are obliged to record that our scientific officers are of
opinion ' that our best gun for breaching purposes is the old
68-pounder I Why, we know what that can do. We
know that at 3,5j0 yards its fire would be about as
effectual ae that of Mons Meg. These trials at 200 yards
are perfectly fatuous, if no other results than these, or such
as these, be gained by there. It is of no use saying Sum-
ter was of brick; it was at least as good work as most
of our existing fortifications, and infinitely less easy "to
splinter up" than a work of granite or rabble masonry. In
substance it very much resembled our martello towers on
the beach at Hythe. Rave we any gun which could breach
one of these at 3,500 yards g Do, pray, gentlemen of the
Ordnance committee bestir yourselves, and get us a gun
with such results. Let Mr. Whitworth or SirW. Armstrong,
Capt. Pallisser, Capt. Blakeley, Mr. Bashley Britten, Mr.
Thomas, any one, give us a gun as good and as cheap as
the Parrott to begin with, and then we can rest content
while you are going on with your experiments. One
thing is certain—that any forts which may be assailed by
such artillery as the Americans have employed at Sumter
must be faced with iron plates. We are yet in doubt as to
the mode in which stone works can be coated with iron, but
it is obvious that mere masonry will not stand unprotected
against the heaviest order of rifled projectiles. Do not let us
pooh-pooh the Americans. If wo are wise it is the last thing
we ought to do. Our artillerists think they are wrong in the
matter of the Dahlgren guns ; for breaching purposes they
may be, but unquestionably the Admiralty would be rather
nervous about the result of firing a 45018. shot against the
stele of the Warrior, at 200 yards' distance, notwithstanding
the experiments which seemed to indicate that large shot
with comparatively kw charges of powder were inefficient.
Tho authorities have had no experience of the effect of such
shot as Dahlgrens propel. They have not the guns to dis-
mcheanrgmeetehtelmet.
their minds to the little experi-
ments the Americans have been making for their benefit at
Sumter. It them apply
neat the Ordnance officers and gentle-
. is astounding to see what progress has been
made in artillery since the Crimean war. It is undeniable
that the establishment of a few of Brigadier Gillmore's bat-
teries before Sebastopol, on Oct. 17, 1854, instead of the
" tremendous armament" of which Lord Granville boasted. ,
would have "knocked the place into a cocked hat" in 24
hours.—Army and Navy Gazette.
THE FRENCH IRON-CLAD FRIGATE MAGENTA.
—The France publishes the following naval moms :--" The
iron-clad frigate Magenta has just terminated her experi
mental trips at Brest in presence of the commission presided
over by Commandant Dieudonne, and they have been com-
pletely successful. On the 9th she took on board 300 seamen
and officers, and went into the roadstead. On the following
morning she left for Cherbourg to take part in the move-
ments which are to take place there. The Magenta is, like
the Solferino, armed with a spur, and great interest conse•
quently attaches to the manoeuvres she will go through."
TERRIBLE INCREASE OF PAUPERISM. -- The
annual report of the Poor Law Board, shows that during
the last year, which ended March 25th, 1862, the sum of
£6,077,927 was expended for the relief of the poor, being an
increase of £295,984 as epropared with the year preceding,