The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-12 00:00:00

TRE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER, 12, 1863,

thickness of plating would be liable to be penetrated
by steel shot. This fact was practically illustrated
in a trial with this kind of shot fired from a 100-
pounder smooth-bore Armstrong during late expe-
riments on board the Excellent gunnery ship at
Portsmouth. The result of the few shots fired
showed that where cast-iron spherical shot and
even wrought-iron bolts failed in Effect, the
steel projectiles crashed through the plates
which had successfully resisted the others.
The following extract from the report of
the trial shows what reliance our seamen may
place on this doubtful protection :—" Spherical and
steel shot have been fired from the gun with 201 b.
of powder, only a fifth of the weight of the shot,
and have penetrated through a 5A- inch armour-
plate, bolted on the side of the Monarch target ship,
and also through the side of the ship itself, covering
the deck of the target ship with splinters of the
Ship's planking, timbers, and iron knees, fragments
of the broken plate, and of the steel shot itself,

which had broken into small pieces in its course."
It is absolutely impossible for a vessel of reasonable
size to carry more than six-inch plates, and we enter-
tain serious dcubts if even that thickness of metal
can be carried with safety, and certainly not with
convenience. Yet even at this comparatively early
stage •f experiments, we have reached the limit to
which we may carry iron plating, while we are as
yet ignorant to what perfection artillery may be
brought. The question naturally suggests itself,
whether it would not be better to let well alone for
the present, and for the Admiralty to rest satisfied
with armour-plated ships as they are. Let them
convert as many of the old three-deckers as possible
into armour-plated frigates, protecting only their
most vulnerable parts, rather than go on building
at a vast cost vessels constructed upon theories
which have never had the advantage of a practical
test. Mr. REID is a clever man, and we have great
conidence in his ability ; his new ship, the Belle-
rophon, according to his own showing, is to do
wonders. 'We hope that she may realise his expec-
tations; but we cannot help entertaining- doubts
whether, in endeavouring to make her perfection,
and trying to accomplish too much, he may not be
disappointed. The cleverest engineer of our time,
the man who first demonstrated the theory i❑ ship-
building that "length gives stability," and who
built one of the handsomest and fastest steamers
even now afloat, in endeavouring to sur-
pass himself and carry out his theory
ad extrenzis produced the greatest failure in naval
architecture ever constructed ; and yet the lines of
the Great Eastern were with certain alterations
only an extension of those of the Great Britain. If
it be necessary to cover a ship with heavy plates, it
will be necessary to increase her tonnage in propor-
tion to the weight she has to bear, and by so doing
her draught of water would be necessarily increased.
Upon this principle the *Warrior, Black Prince, and
Minotaur have been constructed ; and yet, although
these ♦essels are so large that they can be of little
or no service against an enemy's harbours or in
shoal water, even they cannot carry plates thick
enough to withstand steel projectors at close quarters.
We may, however, console ourselves in this much,
that if we cannot render a seaman as secure on
board our men-of-war as they would be at home,
and if we cannot render our ships so many
impregnable iron safes, we aro at least as well off
as our neighbours. The American Monitors and
ironclads have had to retire from the fire of the
Confederate batteries. The iron plates with which
the French frigates have been coated are inferior
to those turned out by the English firms. Despite
all the invectives that have been launched against
Sir WILLIAM ARMSTRONG'S guns, we do not think
that any other nation can produce better field artil-
lery than his 12 and 40 pounders. 'We do not
for an instant excuse the Government for
granting him, as it were, a monopoly of
the trade, and refusing, until quite recently,
to allow a competition between his guns and
those of WIIITWORTII, BLAKELY, and others, but
we do maintain that, for the purpose for which
these guns have been constructed, they have
answered every requirement. Extreme range was
never his object, what he aimed at was accuracy
of the fire to a certain distance, and with a most
destructive shell. Now, for all practical purposes
4,000 yards is quite as far as a gun would, with
rare exceptions, be required to throw a shot or
shell, and up to this range, and even beyond it,
the Armstrong guns are very effective. As regards
guns of a heavy calibre, suitable for our large
frigates, we must await the result of the experi-
ments at present being carried on, and as we
trust that now a fair field and no favour may
be granted to all parties, our navy will soon be
provided with as effective batteries as the army is.
In speaking thus highly of the ARMSTRONG gun we
do not wish to deprecate his rivals, but only desire
to show that the wild declamation raised in certain
quarters against SirW. ARMSTRONG are unfounded,
and that although there is no doubt that there is
room for considerable improvement in our ordnance
it can, nevertheless, bear comparison with that of
any other nation. The go-a-head Americans use
three hundred pounders as ordinary service guns,
and boast of being able to throw shot and shell
seven miles,with what accuracy we do not pretend
to say ; but this is at least certain, that at the siege
of Charleston, it has been in general a toss up
whether the enemy or the gunners were killed by
these large overloaded pieces. According to the
course at present followed we may go on increasing
the size of our ships and guns until both become
unwieldy and unmanageable. There is moderation
in all things, except the theories of enthusiasts, and
it is the duty of the country to place some restraint
on the proceedings of such individuals, especially
when the nation has to pay the cost.

LIMITED LIABILITY.—Wo observe from a report
of the law Proceedings in the Scottish courts last
week that the Court of Session, in the case of a judicial
factor appointed under the Pupils' Protection Act, refused
to accept as security the bonds of guarantee of the National
Guarantee and Suretyship Association (Limited), a com-
pany which was started in Scotland about six months ago,
The grounds of judgment were that, whilst admitting the
respectability of the company, it being only established
under the provisions of the Limited Liability Act, it was
not possessed of that direct legislative authority which the
Pupils Protection Act appeared to contemplate in allowing
the bonds of public companies established under Act of
Parliament to be taken as security; and, further, that the
Court could not sanction the acceptance of the bonds of a
company as security where the liability of to shareholders
was limited to the amount of their shares.

MAGNETIC POWER.---A lecturer was dilating
upon the powers of the magnet, defying any one
to show or name anything surpassing its powers. A
hearer demurred, and instanced a young lady, who used
to attract him thirteen miles every Sunday. —American
Papey,

A COMPLETE VIEW OF ST. PAUL'S CATLIEDRAL,
th© east
--.lt will be remembered that -
regret at the t.
stack of buildings o
vanta,,,
o,
.. nue that the City
~it was a. matter Of
vztrhiaur, Ka—,
authorities did not take ad-
see,„an't:n4intoPeuing at the west end of Cannou-street to
, instead
derrfuptect view of St. Paul's Cathedral from
permitting to be erected a semi-circular
an old-fashioned thereon, which is more like the stern of
land operations,
messrsAtAthe rear of this obstructive pile, a
gtztorthrOugalin
wan-of-war than the abode of commercial
dtoEvlvanast,linthge-s St Vree lel:,
kpnriovlavuteaflurdUletztelisi,,
um; which, running
eei
~.„°""193, have raised a struc-
itsorieinaallysobumt and as the sacrifice
tsehroniscisnabtoeldit. eleAgesinfrtloymthis
aaniaresatil:d
no
one
polgthfare might have been
our noble cathedral be now obtaim:clan ac°l4Plete view of
, the public must
oreditabl '
e an tm-
ervnt yet csilied olg."—MOrning 2,03 f.
prov. -
not be
sisurnperiedseedd

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

T HE CONGRESS.

PARIS, DEC. 12.

The Constitutionnel of this morning publishes an
article, signed by M. Limayrac, upon the replies
to the Congress proposition, which are now nearly
all known. The writer says :—" The events in
Denmark prove the t the proposition was opportune.
The line of conduct to be followed by France is
traced out. After having expressed regret to Eng-
land, and thanks to the Powers who accede to the
propositions, France can give the required expla-
nations. Nothing is adverse to a preliminary un-
derstanding, the advantages of which are manifest.
In the midst of all the uncertainties and differences
this understanding would create fixed points; and
if the majority of the members of the European
family concurred therein a considerable result
would be obtained, on which we should have to
congratulate ourselves."

The reply of the King of Denmark to the
Emperor Napoleon's invitation to a Congress is
published this morning.
Letters received here from Japan, to the 15th
October, state that at an extraordinary meeting of
Daimios it was decided, by 65 against 47 votes,
that there was no ground for declaring war against
foreigners.

PRUSSIA.
BRUSSELLS, DEC. 11 (Evening).
Advices received here from Copenhagen state, as
a current rumour, that the majority in the Rigsraad
intended to propose that the execution of the con-
stitution of Nov. 18 be suspended until further
orders.

The Dagbladet and Flyvepost announce that the
negotiations for the treaty of alliance with Sweden
h
resumed.
the treaty will be upon what is
said
de been
tobereliahleauthority, that
sanctioned.

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.
ST. PETERSBURG, DEC. 7.

The Invalide Ruase publishes a military bulletin,
whence is extracted the following remark upon the
population inhabiting the confines of ancient
Poland:—'' The women have re:inquished mourn-
ing in the centre of Poland, and even at Warsaw.
The use of Polish national costumes, however, is
c3nstantly on the increase in Kieff—the cradle of
the Russian people."

CRACOW, DEC. 8.

The Czas continues to appear. It is said that
the Minister of Justice at Vienna displayed great
surprise at explanations being asked of him respect-
ing the suspension of the paper for three months.
The Minister is stated to have replied that he had
no knowledge of the measure, which must be ex.
elusively attributed to the local authorities of this
city. It is believed, therefore, that the interdict
upon the publication of the paper has been removed
by superior order from Vienna.

The C_-as of to-day says:—" A. skirmish took
place yesterday between the police of this city and
the political prisoners, to whom the police refused
water. One of the prisoners, M. Victor Daszewski,
was seriously wounded by a bayonet stab above the
left eye, and obliged to be taken to the hospital.
" More numerous patrols than ever continue to
effect arrests en masse in the streets.
" The Lemberg police have made a minute search
in the post-office of that town.

" An insurgent chief in the palatinate of Lublin,
M. Laplachta, formerly an officer in the Austrian
army, has been sentenced to his weeks' confinement.
His advocate vainly urged the exemplary conduct
of his client while in the Austrian service, and the
six months' preliminary confinement the accused
had suffered previous to trial."

health is good. They are well-provisioned, and
have plenty of ammunition. General Chamberlain
has resigned the command on account of his wound
and ill-health; Major-General Garvock is appointed
to succeed him.

AMERICA.

(Per the Persia, via Roche's Point, December 1
10 p.m.)
NEW YORK, Nov. 30.

General Meade continued his advance on the 27th,
the Confederate skirmishers falling back before
him to half a mile beyond Robertson's Tavern, on
the Fredericksburg and Orange Court-house-road,
where he formed his centre in line of battle. Sharp
skirmishing then commenced, and was kept up by
the centre and on both the right and the left
throughout the day. The heaviest skirmishing
was on the right, which was commanded by Gen.
French.

At nightfall Gen. French being hard pressed, and
having suffered a loss of between 500 and 900 killed
and wounded, besides many prisoners, fell back
upon the Federal centre. The left, after conside-
rab,e fighting, succeeded in joining the centre. The
Federal cavalry was also engaged at different
points, and met with heavy losses—in the divisions
of Gen. Gregg the killed alone amounted to 250;
and a portion of Gen. Kilpatrick's cavalry, which
attempted to cross the Racoon Ford under the fire
of the Confederate batteries, were driven back,
with the loss of 250 killed and wounded.

Oa Saturday morning the whole Federal army
was again on the advance in line of battle, and
skirmishing in the front had been renewed. It was
believed that a general engagement would be fought
in the vicinity of Orange Court-house.
Quartermaster-General Meigs has submitted to
Mr. Stanto❑ a detailed official account of the bat-
tles near Chattanooga on the 2d, 24th, and 26th.
He states that great advantages were gained over
Gen. Bragg, but does not give the exaggerated re-
sults of previously-received telegrams, and esti-
mates the Federal captures at several thousand pri-
soners and 30 cannon, which reduces Gen. Bragg's
reported losses by fully one-half. The Federal
losses during those three days were between 3,000
and 4,000 killed and wounded. The latest de-
spatches are to the 2Stb, on which day no fighting
had occurred.

General Bragg was concentrating his forces south
of and near to Dalton, in Georgia ; the Federal
advance was south of Ringgold. The same de-
spatches state that an order from General Bragg
recalled General Longstreet from before Knoxville
on the 26th.

Cincinnati telegrams give news from Knoxville to
the 25th, which announces that the northern por-
tion of the town, including the rail way depot, had
been burnt,but do not mention through what agency.
They also state that General Langstreet raised the
siege during the night of that day, and withdrew
towards Dalton. General Burnside had started in
pursuit, and if he failed to prevent a junction of
Generals Longstreet and Bragg would himself join
General Grant to co-operate against the combined
armies of these generals.

General Banks occapied Corpus Christi and
Aranzas, in Texas, with but slight opposition, on
the 15th and 17th. At Aranzas there was a small
fortification, mounting three guns and garrisoned
by 100 men, which capitulated. The terms of the
capitulation are not named.
General Hamilton left New Orleans on the 19th
to assume the military governorship of Texas. nis
headquarters will be at Brownsville.

The news from the Teche country is still confused
and contradictory. GenEral Franklin is now re-
ported to be still in that district, and to have tele-
graphed that his cavalryon the 19th surprised a camp
of Confederate cavalry, killed 40 of their number,
captured 100 prisoners and all their equipments,
arms, and horses.

The Confederate General Morgan and six of his
officers escaped from the Columbus (Ohio) Peni-
tentiary, where they had been confined since their
capture last summer, before daybreak on Saturday
morning last. They dug through the floor of their
cell, which was constructed of masonry nine inches
in thickness, into an air chamber running beneath
the buildi9g, and which communicated with the
outside wall. One thousand dollars reward has been
offered by the authorities of Columbus for the return
to custody of General Morgan, alive or dead.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
The unfavourable news from Virginia caused an
advance in the price of gold to 149 at ten o'clock
this morning, when a rumour was circulated that
two of General Lee's army corps had been cap-
tured, which produced a decline of 2 per cent.
within the ensuing hour. The report being later
contradicted by despatches from Washington, the
market reacted to 148 ; at 4 o'clock it closed at 147,-I.
Exchange, 1621.

United States' Sixes, registered, 1881, 108 ; Trea-
sury 7-30 Notes, 106 k ; New York Central Rail-
way, 134 i; Erie, 105,1- ; Illinois Central, 117 k.
Cotton declining. Breadstuffs irregular. Pro-
visions firm. Sugars dull and nominal.

DEC. 1.
It is announced that immediately upon crossing
the Rapidan General Meade, having from 10 to 15
days' supplies and rations in his trains, severed his
communications with Washington, which accounts
for the non-receipt of news from his army since
Saturday last. The Government is asserted to be
as completely in ignorance of his movements as the
public. The skirmishes which have occurred are
admitted upon all hands to have resulted unfavour-
ably to General Meade ; but at the same time the
belief exists that General Lee has fallen back
beyond Orange Court-house with the design of
exhausting Gen. Meade's supplies before accepting
a general engagement, but that he will certainly
make a stand at Gordonsville.

Chattanooga telegrams of the 30th state that no
fighting has taken place for several days, and that
the campaign was considered at an eud.
There is still no later authentic news from Knox-
ville. The rumour that Gen. Longstreet had raised
the siege has been contradicted.

Gen, Foster reached Cumberland Gap this morn-
ing, and was expected to proceed immediately to
Knoxville. One account of the burning of a portion
of the town explains that the houses in that locality
had been occupied by Confederate sharpshooters,
and it was consequently shelled and destroyed by
the Federals. It is reported that reinforcements
under Gen. Grainger have been sent to Knoxville
from Chattanooga.
Gee, Hurlbert, commanding in Tennessee and
Kentucky, has issued an order impressing into the
Federal military seivice all the able-bodied men in
his department.
General Morgan reached Toronto, via the Great
Western Railway, yesterday, and telegraphed his
arrival there to Columbus. No accounts have yet
been received of the 'whereabouts of his officers who
escaped with him.

Tho members of the Senate and the House of
Representatives for the approaching
Congress are
beginning to assemble in Washington. The elec-
tions of Speaker and Clerk already obtain much
interest. The contest for the former
asPh sihurne of
is thought, will be between Mr.
Illinois and Mr. Colfax of Indians. For the Clerk-
ship 4 several caLdidates are named,
i made Saturday and Snnday
An iitterapt was on .