The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 17, 1863.

THE THIRD EDITION
OF

"THE SUN,"
Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,
can be had of
G. It. GLENIE,
NEWS AGENT,
No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park.

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-
GARDEN.
under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W.
Harrison, Sole Lessees.
THIS EVENING 13alte's new Opera, the ARMOURER
OF NANTES : Miss Louisa Pyne, Mrs. Cook, Miss A. Hiles,
Messrs. W. H. Weiss, H. Corti, Santley, A. Cooke, C. Lyall,
and W. Harrison.
After which, FREYA'S GIFT, an Allegorical Masque, in
which Miss Louisa Pyue will appear.
Conductor—Mr. A. Mellon.
Doors open at hall-past onimenoe at 7.

THEA TR E-R OYA L, DRURY-LANE.-'
Lessee and Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer.
THIS EVENING, EXTREMES ; or, Men of the Day
Mes.rs. henry Lorraine, IL Sinclair, S. Calhaem, J. Robins
; Mrs. D. P. Bowers, Miss Clara Weston, and Mrs. Ed-
mund Falconer.
After which, BONNIE DUNDEE, introducing the Picto-
rial and Spectacular effects of The Gathering of the Clans.
To conclude with THE SPANISH DANCERS. Mr. J.
Robins and Miss Lydia Thompson.

Commence at 7,

THRAT Rl,; (1 HAYMARKET.
T.essce. Mr. .1. 13. Ruckstone.
THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, will be performed
CUR AMER I CAN COUSIN. Asa Trenchard, Mr. Buck-
stone ; Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothern.
After which, a new and original Extravaganza, entitled
EASSELAS, PRINCE OF AI3YSSINIA ; or, The Happy
Rasselas, Miss Louise Kelley.
Concluding with OUR MARY ANNE.

THEATRE-ROYAL LYCEUM OPEN, under
the Sole Management of Mr. FECHTER.
THIS EVENING, March 17, to commence with an Original
Sketch, entitled A SUDDEN ATTACK. Messrs. Shore,
Garden, H. Widdicomb, Miss Henrade, and Mrs. Lee.
After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New Romantic
Drama, in Three Acts, and Pr3logue, entitled THE
DUKE'S MOTTO, by Paul Feval and John Brougham.
The principal character will be sustained by Mr. Pechter,
aunported by Messrs. G. Vining-, J. Brougham, H. Widdi-
combe, W. M'lntyre, F. Charles, Garden, Raymond, H.
Butler, Dawson ; Misses Carlotta Leclercq, Kate Terry, E.
Lavenne, and Elsworthy.
To conclude with an Epithalamium to the Prince and Prin-
cess of Wales.

Stage-Manager, Mr. G. Vining. Aoting-Manager, Mr. H.
Barnett.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE
Lasses and Manager. Mr Undue.
THIS EVENING, LAW v. LOVE. Miss M. Oliver.
After which, at a quarter to 8, AURORA FLOYD. Miss
Amy Sedgwick. 31Iss Henderson, and Mrs. Simpson ; Messrs.
it. Roxby, 11. Vezin, G. Belmore, C. Seyton, Wallace, and
Collett.

To conclude with the Drama of ALL THAT GLITTERS
IS NOT GOLD. Messrs. Fitzjames, Belmore, Vezin, and
C. Seyton ; Misses Constance Aylmer, M. Jones, and Mrs.
11. Marston.

NEw THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.--
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster.

THIS EVENING, THE GREEN BUSHES. Miss Avonia
Jones, Miss Woolgar, Mrs. Billington ; Mr. Toole, Mr. Paul
Bedford, &c.

To be followed by THE GAMBOLS OF ARTHUR AND
BERTRAND AND GEORGE DE BARNWELL : Messrs.
J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, Stephenson, C. J. Smith, Romer ;
Miss Woolgar. Terminating with the Transformation Scene.
Atter which, A VALENTINE : Messrs. J. L. Toole, Paul
Bedford, Miss Kate Kelly, and Miss Seaman.

Commence at 7.

ANOTHER LARGE ISSUE OF

it was Indispensable to build of wood for y third
reason, that tkey had no iron at hand, and if they
had there were neither tools nor men capable for the
work I Hence the dilemma. Still the sticklers for iron
would not budge in their demand—iron was the best
and iron they must have. So to calm the rising storm
in Parliament, or rather to parry the attack, Lord
PALMERSTON, with his usual happy tact, became
politically honest all of a sudden, and proposed an
armistice—let them suspend their decision until an
estimate were furnished of the comparative time
and cost of wood and iron. Meantime he promised
to rest on his oars, while for his own part he frankly
confessed that iron was the best for building ships
of war, with a good balking of wood to support it.
And thus he captivated both parties by his wily
palaver, but only stooped to conquer in the end,
like a good naval captain-general, or a politic Ser-
geant EITHERSIDE !
The Premier kept good faith with the bellige-
rents, but the Controller of the Navy rather marred
the matter. He produced his report in such a
manner as to create a feeling of great excitement.
His own sympathy for wood was too apparent to
justify impartiality in his decision. He freely ad-
mitted the advantages of iron, but with qualifica-
tions that detracted much from its merits. He said
—"lron possesses these advantages over wood : an
iron ship can be built of larger dimensions than a
wooden ship with no loss of strength. An iron ship
has more rigidity and strength of structure, as a
whole, than a wooden ship, though locally weak
and liable to be penetrated by blows which would
fall harmlessly on a wooden ship. An iron ship
has much greater durability in certain parts of
the structure, indeed in all parts where no wood
is in contact with the iron, than a wooden
ship, and after a lapse of years the iron frame would
have suffered next to nothing as compared with a
wooden ship. But against these advantages must
be set—The serious local weakness of the compara-
tively thin plates of which the bottom of an iron
ship is necessarily composed: the danger, conse-
quently, of getting on rocks in such ships, and the
necessity which this weakness entails of construct-
ing double bottoms, thwartship bulkheads, water-
tight compartments, sluice-doors, &c., and various
other complicated arrangements, which add both to
the weight and cost of an iron ship; the rapidity
with which the bottom of an iron ship gets foul,
and the immense loss of all the ship's qualities that
follows from the adhesion of marine zoophytes ; no
practical remedy has been found for this serious dis-
advantage; repeated docking and cleaning is the
only palliative ; the extreme uncertainty as to the
quality of the materials used ; in fact, the small
quantity of really good iron of the best ship-build-
ing qualities that can be found in the market ; the
prodigious ravages caused by the splinters of iron
when the plates are broken and smashed by shot ;
and the far greater facility with which iron ships
can be pierced below their armour-plating by sub-
marine guns than wooden ships; lastly, as the pro-
gress that may be made by artillery, and all de-
structive agents of warfare, is quite without a limit,
the immense price pail in an iron ship for dura-
bility may not be an advantage, as new forms for
ships of war may, before long, be absolutely requi-
site—the iron ship of to-day, for which so large a
price has been paid, may not be the weapon we
require to-morrow. It may prove therefore wiser
and more economical to supply the wants of the
moment by a cheaper and less durable structure,
which at least is of the same quality as those with
which we may have to contend. The most able 1
designer of war ships in Europe, whose success has
been so remarkable, M. DITPUY DE L'Omz, is of this
opinion, and constructs the ships that are to form
the French line-of-battle of wood in preference to

iron."

But these were not the only disadvantages apper-
taining to iron. We had only one dockyard,
Chatham, where iron ships could be built—and if
we preferred iron we must have recourse to con-
tractors—people who never, " in one instance, kept
to their agreements, either as to time or cost."
These were serious disadvantages to be sure—but
these were not all—" The general slovenliness of
the work performed by iron shipbuilders rendering
the presence of an Admiralty inspector necessary on
the premises wherever the contract ships are build-
ing and leading to many difficulties between the
contractor and the Admiralty;" and further, " The
great temptations that beset the contractors, owing
to the cost and difficulty of procuring good iron, to
use inferior and cheaper metal." All these and
many more ; but next as to time—" the iron ship
would take 25 months to build by contract, such
as the Hector ; and the wooden, to build leisurely
and to the best advantage, about as long; but if the
workmen were much pressed, and were entirely
uninterrupted, the period might be shortened to 21
months."

So much for the Controller's estimate of time
and character. Charges not likely to be endured
by honest men without a word or two in their de-
fence ; and so wo gave, on Saturday, a letter from
Mr. JOHN FORD, the Managing Director of the
Thames Iron Works, who built the redoubtable
Warrior—the first great iron war ship of this or
any other country. Mr. FORD feels, no doubt,
justly indignant at the gratuitous charges preferred
against the iron contractors, but we will let him
speak for himself. He says :--'• To all these accu-
sations we give an indignant and complete denial.
We challenge the Controller of the Navy and all
his officers to produce a single example of
slovenliness in workmanship or inferiority in
material. We appeal to the thousands who have
seen the Warrior, to every practical man
who has examined her (and where are those
who have not?) as to her present condition after
more than twelve months' trial through the worst
weather, and to the. reports of her captain, as our
vindication against these charges, and with the great
companies for whom we have built some of the
finest vessels afloat, with foreign Governments, by
whom we are largely employed, and with the pri-
vate firms for whom we have worked, we hope that
we have established a reputation which will with-
stand even such a blow as one in the high position,
and armed with the authority of Controller of the
Navy, has thus sought to deal against it. With
respect to the charge of claiming exorbitant terms
for making alterations, we are able to prove that in
no instance have we received adequate remunera-
tion. Such an accusation could only have been
made by those who, not having to spend their own
money, know little of and care less for cost. As to
our failure to fulfil our engagements either as to
time or cost, we have specific facts to deal with.
The Controller states that we agreed to build the
Warrior ' for £210,225, including extras.' We
never made any such agreement, nor anything giv-
ing even colourable ground for such a complete mis-
statement. Our original contract sum for the War-
nor Was £190,225. On Alarch 16, 1861, six months
before the Warrior left the Thames, we sent in to
the Controller an account of extras amounting to
£40,808, intimating at the same time that we had
other large claims, and when all was finished we
claimed, not the sum of £254,728, as stated by the
Controller, but £269,600, of which ~
we were pale
only £251,646."
He further says that the changes and additions
in the construction of the Warrior beyond her ori•

ginal design were enormous, and, consequenty, the
-cost—so much so, that to come to an amicable set-
tlement the company offered to take 12i per cent.
on the cost, which the Controller of the Navy re-
duced to 5 per cent. Mr. FORD is not satisfied, and
no wonder, for 5 per cent. is but half the usual pro-
fit on labour and work done, and in the construc-
tion of such a ship as the Warrior we think 12k
not over much. He then answens the charges
against. iron :—" That plates of iron can, in excep-
tional circumstances, be pierced more easily than
wooden bottoms we admit; but the example of the
Great Britain in Dundrum Bay, and many others
that could be referred to, show that iron ships may
be stranded with more safety and less damage than
wooden ones. The bulkheads and doable bottom,
which are most disingenuously stated to be compli-
cated and costly arrangements, introduced to remedy
local weakness, are in fact advantages which cannot
be overvalued, which exist only in iron ships, and
for which wooden ones possess nothing equivalent..
The Great Eastern struck lately on a rock, and was
saved by her double bottom. Many vessels have
been saved by their bulkheads, and, indeed, if there
were no other recommendation of iron, this alone
would be a reason for preferring it to wood. That
a copper-bottomed ship will Toni less rapidly than
an iron bottom must be admitted; but better dock
accommodation and somewhat more frequent clean-
ing will remedy this defect. Even copper is not an
absolute protection."
And, again, Mr. FORD goes on :—" We are igno-
rant of the authority on which the Controller an-
nounces that it is the opinion of M. DIIPREZ DE
OmE that wood is better than iron for iron-cased
ships, but we have very good reason to believe that
this gentleman employs wood only because France
possesses wood, but not iron, and workmen in wood
but not in iron, and uses the means that he has at
his disposal, although admitting their inferiority,
and we know as a public fact that having begun in
wood they are now resorting to iron, We could
say much more on the question of the time to be
cceupied in building in wood in the dockyards as
compared with iron by the contractors, but we will
only remark in conclusion on the comparison given
as to cost, and the effect of one course on the other
on the navy estimates. The Controller gives the
cost of an iron ship at £214,000, as compared with
a wooden one at £187,000, showing a saving of
£27,000 per ship. Without questioning these
figures, which cannot, however, be admitted as
correct, we would observe that this is the only
cost of the hull, and that in each case is to be
added, the cost being the same, the machinery, say
£50,000; the rigging and outfit say £20,000;
the armament, stores, say £20,000 more.
The real difference, therefore, is not between
£214,000 and £187,000, but between £304,000 and
£277,000. In other words, on the cost of five ves-
sels as proposed, out of a million and a half for iron
the country is to save £135,000 even on the Con-
troller's own showing, and that for the sake of
this difference it is wiser and more economical to
supply the wants of the moment by a cheaper and
less durable structure.' We do not believe in the
cheapness, but we only point out now how small
the economy is to be."
And now we have done, having let the Controller
and the Contractor have ample space and no favour.
As these five ships are to be built of wood, and in
our own dockyards, we trust that the Admiralty
will not be deaf to any suggestions for their im-
provement. Why may not some one or more of
these ships be cased with iron all round of from
one to two, and at the water-line of five or six,
inches i❑ thickness all round the water-line, even to
two feet below it, for better protection. In that
case, as it will take nearly as long to build a wooden
ship leisurely as one of iron, why not case a dozen
of our large 90 and 50 gun ships with iron coating
of this description. The extra weight may be com-
pensated not by reducing the number of guns, but
enlarging their calibre. We shall thus be prepared
in a few months for sudden emergencies, while
the dockyards are constructing their improved
wonders.

Earl RUSSELL has not always been happy in his
foreign correspondence, and on more than one occa-
sion he has put his foot in it in his negotiations
with European powers ; but, as regards the Ameri-
can question, he has maintained the character of
the nation which he represents. We would gladly
have seen the Southern Confederacy acknowledged
from the commencement of the war, but the refusal
to do so was a matter for the decision of the Cabi-
net, not for the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Among the American correspondence recently
laid on the table of the House, the one relating to
the Confederate cruiser, or privateer, or, according
to the shipowners of New York, pirate Alabama, is
well worthy of perusal. This vessel was built in
the yard of Messrs. LAIRD and Co., at Birkenhead,
and, as she was openly acknowledged to be built as
a fighting vessel, the attention of the American
Consul at Liverpool (Mr. DUDLEY) was naturally
attracted to her, and on the strength of certain infer-
formation communicated by him to Mr. ADAMS,
the American Ambassador, that gentleman re-
quired on several occasions that the Government of
Great Britain should detain the said vessel. Earl
RUSSELL, however, did not feel himself justified to
interfere upon the doubtful evidence laid before
him, but referred the matter to the law officers of
the Crown. Before these worthies had come to a
determination on the matter, the vessel upon the
fate of which they were deliberating took the hint,
and settled the question, by going out on a trial
trip, which proved so satisfactory that she never
returned. Meanwhile, orders had been sent to
Liverpool to detain her, but the precaution came
too late, for the bird had flown. Upon this point,
and the subsequent captures of the Alabama,a length-
ened correspondence took place between the Foreign
Secretary and the American Ambassador, Mr.
ADAMS having called the attention of Earl RUSSELL
to the fact that, soon after the breaking out of the
French revolutionary war, the British Government
remonstrated with that of the United States respect-
ing the fitting out of privateers in the United States
ports with an intent to prey upon British commerce.
Earl RUSSELL in answer, after showing that there
is similarity between the cases of 17944862, while
regretting that the QUEEN'S Proclamation should
have been disregarded by certain of her MaaEsTv's
subjects, observes that both parties baying benefitted
by the said infringement, the Northern Powers have
' no reason to complain, and goes on to say that
"It is right, however, to observe, that the party which
has profited by far the most by these unjustifiable prac-
ntoiterdecSeitvaeteeel,l be-
causethetices has been the Government of the
ttyi
h of
men forceuf
abey
safely
.
dusucepderißorrii
sea, and having blockaded most of the Confederate ports,
that Government havinasgnidna,
thwuaarsrelriskbeeaenstiudpampbleliere,cshowna nhtitschhteo oistre send to to United States ports in vio-
lation of the Queen's Proclamation, and, on the other hand,
to intercept and capture a great part of the supplies of the
same kind which were destined from this country to the
Confederate States. If it be sought to make her Majesty's
Government responsible to that of the United States, be-
cause arms and munitions of war have left this country on
account of the Confederate Government, that Confederate
Government, as the other belligerent, may very well main-
tain that it has a just cause of complaint against the British
Government, because the United States arsenals had been
replenished from British sources. Nor would it be pos.
Bible to deny that, in defiance of the Queen's Pro-
clamation, many subjects of her Majesty, owing allegiance
to her crown, have enlisted in the armies of the
United States. Of this fact you cannot be ignorant. Her

Majesty's Government, therefore, have just grounds of
complaint against both of the belligerent parties, but most
especially against the Government of the United States, for
having systematically, and in disregard of that comity of
nations which it was their duty to observe, induced subjects
of her Majesty to violate those orders which, in conformity
with her neutral position, she has enjoined all her subjects
to obey. Great Britain cannot be held responsible to either
party for these irregular proceedings of British subjects,
and an endeavour to make her so would be about as reason-
able as if her Majesty's Government were to demand com-
pensation from the United States for the injuries done to
the property of British subjects by the Alabama, resting
their demand on the ground that the United States claim
authority and jurisdictir,n over the Confederate States, by
whom that vessel was commissioned."

He then proceeds to show that with the best inten-
tions, it was impossible for the Government, under
the circumstances, to have prevented the departure
of the Alabama, and
" That this should have happened is a circumstance not
calculated to excite much surprise in the United States,
for two reasons ; first, because the principal municipal law
of the United States (passed almost at the same time as
that of this country, and, it is believed, after a full under-
standing between the two States) is, in fact, almost identi-
cal with that of Great Britain upon this subject; and,
tecondly, because its notorious evasion, during the late war
waged by Great Britain and her allies against Russia, was
the subject of remonstrances on the part of her Majesty's
representative at Washington to the United States Go-
vernment. Great Britain was then, as on ether occasions,
assured that every effort which the law would permit had
been made to prevent such practices; that the United
States Government could only proceed on legal evidenoe,
the law as to which is almost, if not entirely, the same as
in this country; and that without such evidence no con-
viction could be procured. In the case of the Alabama, it
is not denied that strict orders were given for her detention
as soon as it appeared to the legal advisers of the crown
that the evidence might be sufficient to warrant them
in advising such a course, and that the Alabama
contrived to evade the execution of those orders.
Her Majesty's Government cannot, therefore, admit that
they are under any obligation whatever to make compensa-
tion to United States citizens on account of the proceedings
of that vessel. As regards your demand for a more effec-
tive prevention, for the future, of the fitting out of such
vessels in British ports, I have the honour to inform you
that her Majesty's Government, after consultation with the
law officers of the crown, are of opinion that certain amend -
ments might be introduced into the Foreign Enlistment
Act, which, if sanctioned by Parliament, would have the
effect of giving greater power to the Executive to prevent
the construction, in British ports, of ships destined for the
use of belligerents. Btit her Majesty's Government con-
sider that, before submitting any proposals of that sort to
Parliament, it would be desirable that they should pre-
viously communicate with the Government of the United
States, and ascertain whether that Government is willing
to make similar alterations in its own Foreign Enlistment
Act, and that the amendments, like the original statute,
should, as it were, proceed pail passu in both countries. 1
shall acordingly be ready to confer at any time with you,
and to listen to any suggestions which you may have to
make by which the British Foreign Enlistment Act and the
corresponding statute of the United States may be made
more efficient for their purpose."
To this Mr. ADAMS makes a lengthened reply, that
admitting that large supplies of arms and warlike
stores have been purchased in this country, and
shipped from British ports to New York,
for the use of the United States Government, that
is no reason why the Confederate States should
have any right to the same privileges, even though
they import their goods at a considerable risk. He
maintains (in which opinion we beg to, differ with
him) that—

" The United States have made an actual blockade of
the ports occupied by the insurgents— a blockade the vali-
dity of which Great Britain does not dispute. They are,
therefore, entitled to consider every neutral who shall at-
tempt to enter one of them, or carry anything to the be-
sieged, as violating his neutrality and converting himself
into an enemy. Hence, it happens that every British
subject engaged in the work of aiding the insurgents, by
introducing contraband of war into blockaded ports, not
only violates his duty to his Sovereign, but commits an
exceedingly aggravated and injurious offence to the Go-
vernment of the United States. To associate such pro-
ceedings with the mere purchase and export of arms on
behalf of the United States, as of equal significance,
would seem to be most inequitable. It is a fact, that few
persons in England 'will now be bold enough to deny, first,
that vessels have been built in British ports, as well as
manned by her Majesty's subjects, with the design and
intent to carry on war against the United States ; secondly,
that other vessels owned by British subjects have been
and are yet in the constant practice of departing from Bri-
tish ports, laden with contraband of war, and many other
commodities, with the intent to break the blockade and to
procrastinate the war; thirdly, that such vessels have been
and are insured by British merchants in the commercial
towns of this kingdom with the understanding that they
are despatched for that illegal purpose. It is believed to
be beyond denial that British subjects have been and con-
tinue to be enlisted in this kingdom in the service of the
insurgents with the intent to make war on the United
States, or to break the blockade legitimately established,
and to a proportionate extent to annul its purpose. It is
believed that persons high in social position and in fortune
contribute their aid directly and indirectly in building and
equipping ships of war, as well as other vessels, and fur-
nishing money, as well as goods, with the hope of sustain-
ing the insurgents in their resistance to the Government.
To that end the port of Nassau, a colonial dependency of
Great Britain, has been made and still continues to be the
great entrepot for the storing of supplies, which are con-
veyed from thence with the greater facility in evading the
blockade. In short, so far as the acts of these numerous
and influential parties can involve them, the British people
may be considered as actually carrying on war against the
United States. Already, British property valued at
£8,000,000 sterling is reported to have been captured by
the vessels of the United States for attempts to violate the
blockade, and property of far 'greater value has either been
successfully introduced, or is now stored at Nassau await-
ing favourable opportunities."

Here, we may say, the mattyr rests. That the
Northerners are discontented and annoyed at the
success of the Alabama is not to be wondered at ;
but they must bear in mind, as Earl RUSSELL truly
observes, that England has also suffered from the
depredations of privateers fitted out in former times
in the ports of the United States.

OUTLAY ON FORTIFICATIONS. The sum of
£2,070,000 in all has been raised for the construc-
ton of fortifications under the Acts of 1860 and 1862. For
this sum annuities amounting to 4133,827 have been created,
exLiring in 1885. The rate of intet est at which the annui-
ties are calculated is 31 per cent. In the balance-sheet for
the year 1862 the sum of £1,170,000 is set down as the ex-
penses of fortifications in that year, causing an excess of
£515,123 in the expenditure over the income of the year;
but that sum of £1,170,000, though part of our expenditure,
had not in fact to be provided out of income, but was raised
by means of this creation of terminable annuities.
ANOTHER EXODUS.—Since President Lincoln has
given his signature to the Conscription Bill hundreds of
families residing on the frontiers have made a "change of
base," and departed for Canada. Some time ago " Artemus
Ward" announcer that the Eagle and Goddess of Liberty
had left Washington for Canada to keep boarders here for
3 dole, a week.--Montreal Gazette.

SIGNAL CORPS.—There is in the Federal army
a small but distinct body of officers known as the
"signal corps." When an action is imminent, one or more Of
them, generally informed at head• quarters of the movements
contemplated, proceed to an eligible position, from which
they can communicate to the commanding officer instant
advice of the enemy's movements, either direct or through
persons posted at intermediate stations, if distance or moun-
tain or forest make this course necessary. Information is
also sent as to the points most susceptible of damage from
artillery. In the daytime the signals are made by flags of
different colours and waved in -various directions; at night
torches are used, asbestos being substituted for ordinary
wicking, because it emits a clear and brilliant fame and isnot
easily extinguished by the wind. The telegraph also is em-
ployed; an officer starting for a signal post carries a pocket
apparatus, and is followed by an attendant unrolling a coil
of wire as he travels along. There are about 150 officers,
who have been detailed and instructed as signal officers,
and are distributed with the several armies. Frequent
changes in the signals are made to prevent their being in-
terpreted by the enemy, and perhaps to prevent something
else, for it is avowed that serious embarrassment has oc-
curred, " sometimes half a dozen times in one night," from
the countersign having been designedly or "accidentally"
divulged to the other side.
BREACH OF PROMISE.—An action for breach of
promise of marriage, which from the position of
the parties has excited much interest in Ireland, was
concluded on Saturday at the Galway Assizes. Tho
plaintiff, Miss Lucy Evans, is the daughter of a gentleman
residing near Tamil, and defendant, the Rev. Harlon Flem-
ing, is rector of Bally macward, in the county Galway. The
case on behalf of the plaintiff was stated by Mr. Blake, Q.C.,
who read several letters which had passed between the par-
ties, on which he relied as showing that the defendant had
promised to marry the plaintiff. The father, sister, and
uncle of the lady were examined, and proved that ate de-
fendant had admitted having made the promise, but that
he
alleged that circumstances prevented him from fulfilling his
engagement, and also that the plaintiff had released hire
from it. After an able speech by Mr, Robinson, Q.C., on
behalf of the defendant jury, his lordship charged the who
found for the plaintiff, with £l,OOO damages, and 6d. costs.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

ROME.

ROME, MARCH 16.
The following sacerdotal appointments have taken
place :

"Monsignor Falcinelli, to be Papal Nuncio at the
Court of Vienna. Monsignor Sanguigna, to be in-
ternuncio for the Brazils. Monsignor Orelia, to be
iuternuncio for Holland.

The present internuncio of his Holiness at the
Hague, Monsignor Vecchiotti, is appointed Coun-
cillor of State.

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, MARCH 16.

The military committee of the Chamber of De-
puties continued its deliberation to-day upon the
amendments proposed by Herr von Forkenbeck to
the law on the military organisation of the country.
None of the Ministers were present.

Paragraph 3, as proposed by Herr von Forken-
beck, is worded as follows :—" The strength of the
army in time of peace shall be fixed by a special
law. The yearly budget of military expenses
shall be based upon this law."
This paragraph was, with a slight addition,
almost unanimously agreed to, two members only
voting against it. The Royal commissioner who
represented the Minister of War on the committee
declared that the Government could not agree to
the amendment of Herr von Forkenbeck, and would
not bring forward an organic law on the military
organisation. He further stated that by such dis-
cussions the conflict between the Government and
the members would not be avoided, but, on the con.
trary, be increased.