The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-10 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,-It is now between two and three years since Sir
William Armstrong and Mr. Whitworth have challenged
each other to friendly competition with rifled cannon at the
country's expense. From the very first I have expressed
my willingness to join in the competition, offering to pay
all the cost of constructing, moving, and firing my guns,
and to accept without discussion, whatever programme of
shooting the others might agree to. My proposals have
always been refused ; no reason has been been given but
he polite "The Secretary of State has decided to limit the
competition to the guns of Sir William Armstrong and Mr.
Whitworth." Such being the case, I was a good deal
startled the other day by reading in the report of parliamen-
tary proceedings that the following conversation had taken
place in the House of Commons : _

" Sir J. Ferguson asked the Secretary for War whether
the trial of the Whitworth guns, which was to take place
before the committee appointed for the purpose, was to be
against the service field and garrison guns of Sir W. Arm-
strong, or against any others of a different pattern now in
use?

" Sir G. C. Lewis said no restrictions were placed upon
the guns to be used in the trial."
I immediately wrote to Sir G. C. Lewis, asking if I
might really at last send a gun to Shoebaryness to compett,
with Sir W. Armstrong and Mr. Whitworth. By return
of post I received the following reply:—
"War-office, March 17, 1863.

" Sir,—l am desired by Sir George Lewis to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, and to inform
you that the trial to which you refer is limited to &ir W.
Armstrong and Mr. Whitworth, and that no restriction is
placed upon them as to the guns which they may think fit
to bring forward.—l have the honour to be, sir, your obedient
servant, "SIDNEY G. OSBORNE.
"To Captain Blakeley."

I called the attention of Sir G. C. Lewis to the fact that
in the House of Commons he had inadvertently used words
which conveyed the errone,us, and to me injurious, im-
pression that I was now, and always had been tree to com-
pete, and I asked him to remove that impression, by an ex-
planation in the house. After vainly waiting till the Easter
recess for this explanation (which I cannot help thinking,
was due to me), I again wrote, and in reply received per-
mission to publish Mr. Osborne's letter—quoted above. I
appeal to your sense of justice, sir, kindly to give publicity
to it ; for nine persons out of ten who read Sir G.C. Lewia's
speech have taken it literally, and believe that "no restric-
tions are placed upon the guns to be used at the trial," and
when I say I am not allowed to compete, those who do not
know me cannot help doubting my word.—l am, &c.,
Army and Navy Club, April 8.

T, A. BLAkELEY.

THE COTTON FACTORY OPERATIVES.—On Mon-
day last 27 representatives of the Lancashire and
1 Cheshire factory districts met Mr. Ferrand, M.P., at the
Palatine Hotel, Manchester, for the purpose of placing before
him the state of the operatives and their views and wishes
with regard to the future. A unanimous opinion was ex-
pressed against living any longer in degrading idleness, and
in favour of being removed whe're there is a prospect of re-
plar employment without injuriously competing with others
in the labour market. It was also stated that there is a very
strong feeling in favour of emigration. After the business
was concluded they dined with Mr. Ferrand, and drank the
in with an
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maimed, by an accident
have been killed, and a number
ACCIDENT TO A CATTLE TRAIN.-32 head of cattle
which has just occurred on the Chester and Holyhead line,
near Abergele. The train, which consisted of 3a waggons,
all full of cattle, broke down through the tire of one of the
waggon wheels breaking. The concussion which followed
sent the greater part of the train across the line, the wag-
gons being piled in a heap of wreck to a height of 40 feet.
The mangled carcases and dying moans of the poor animals
were piteous in the extreme.
EXECUTION OF DANIEL WAB,D.---On Wednes-
day morning at 8.20, the execution of Daniel Ward for the
murder of Charles Wilgar, on the 10th May last, took place
in front of the county gaol, Belfast, in presence of between
8,000 and 9,000 persons. The unhappy man made a full
confession of his 'guilt some time since ; but it was not
made public till after the execution,