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

which is the American theory, aims at inflicting the
greatest amount of injury by concentrating the
whole force of the vessel's armament into a single
blow, while at the same time pre venting the smallest
possible mark for the reception of the enemy's fire.
Although the advantages and disadvantages of these
two opposite principles have been frequently dis-
cussed in the public journals, no very satisfactory
conclusion appears to have been arrived at up to the
present period ; for the experiments which have
taken place from time to time upon the other side of
the Atlantic have been so vaiied in their results
that, so far from helping to settle this difficult ques-
tion, they have tended rather to envelop it in greater
obscurity. At one time we were told of the com-
plete failure of the monster gun theory ; and the
repulse of the monitors at Charleston in the earlier
for artit of
was
quoted in support of this view,
saidthar the monitors found it impossible
partthe year w
to sustain the oombat with their few, slow working,
heavy guns against the rapid firing and storm of
shot and shell which was directed against them.
On the other hand, there is the case of the Atlanta
and Weehawken, in which instance one single shot
from the monster gun of the smaller vessel is said
to have actually decided the action, by smashing in
the iron sides of the Atlanta, killing 40 of her
crew, and making a prize of her in 15 minutes.
We are well assured that all that can be said on
this subject, if unsupported by the test of actual
experience is of little avail. Admiral Dahlgren
may continue to blow the Warrior to pieces in his
imagination, while Sir William Armstrong is occu-
pied in driving his bolts through Capt. Ericsson's
iron turrets upon paper, but we shall remain at as
great a distance from the conclusion we wish to
arrive at as ever. This is a question which can only
be decided by the experience which is to be obtained
in actual conflict, or by such a bond fide experiment
as the construction of a vessel on precisely the same
model as that of the American turret ships, and
trying the effect upon her of a broadside from the
Warrior. On the other hand, it would be wise to
see what effect a 4401 b. shot would have upon the
bows or stern of one of our favourites, instead of
confining our experiments to firing comparative
pop-guns at models of her strongest sections. If she
bears the shock without flinching, then only we
shall be satisfied that our money has been well laid
out ; but, if not, and we should have the misfortune
to discover that we had only generated another
Atlanta, the sooner she was disposed of to a needy
neutral, and her place supplied by something supe-
rior to her, the better. This, unfortunately for the
pockets of the public, is the age of new inventions,
and we have necessarily to buy our experience. It
is our business to set about doing this without loss
of time, and in the most thoroughly effectual man-
ner within our reach. We cannot afford to stand
still, or we shall soon be left behind in the race with
other nations. Great Britain and America, as the
exponents of two opposite theories, stand before the
world as two rival candidates for public favour;
and, while the question of the superiority of the two
systems is as yet undecided, we turn with come
pardonable anxiety to see what view other unpre-
judiced nations take of this matter. France is in a
measure committed to the principle of the broadside
armament, having been the first nation to introduce
armour plating, and cannot, therefore, be looked
upon es a wholly unprejudiced supporter of this
theory; whereas Russia and Holland, nations that
may be said to be wholly unprejudiced, appear in-
clined to favour the turret principle. If then, we
wish to be upon the safe side, we had better make
up our minds at once to conduct experiments upon
a scale that will be better calculated to solve this
very important point.

COUNTRY MARKETS.


NEWARK--WEDNESDAY.

About an avarage supply of wheat at our market to-day,
and sales were made at easier rates. The weather has been
very favourable for pastures and root crops during the past
week. _ _

.. —.
White wheat new, 42s to 45s ; Barley,'grinding.. 30s to 32a
Red do. 4ls to 43s j Oats, old, .. 2Bsto 31s
Old white 44s to 47s I New do 22s to 24s
Red do. 40s to 42s Beans.. 388 to 4113
I
Barley, malting....36s to 41s Beans, new —s to —s