The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-31 00:00:00

gen his reign with a show, at least, of benignity,
strikingly in contrast with the characteristics of the
genius and temperament of his father NICHOLAS.
But—since the incident of the Emancipation of the
Serfs—more than one dark and sinister changeh as
come over the spirit of the dream of all Europe in
regard to the Emperor ALEXANDER. Any more
terrible series of episodes than those recently re-
counted in regard to the Polish insurrection, can-
not be found recorded anywhere in the annals of the
reign of the late Czar NICHOLAS. And it is upon
the passionate decision, at any moment to be arrived
at, by the Autocrat now wielding thus relentlessly
the bloody scourge of his despotism over Russian
Poland, that the momentous alternative of Peace
or IN ar,may be said, with perfect truth, to be abso-
lutely dependent—and not only absolutely, but
tremblingly, at any instant of time. That—is
about the most conspicuous reason for our regard-
ing war as now just possibly very imminent, and
this a general war, a war throughout all Europe
and about Principles.
Other reasons there are around us, so to speak,
in all directions, reasons for regarding a war of this
i
character as just now and just possibly very
mmi-
nent. A few only of which additional reasons it
will be sufficient here simply to enumerate, For-
most among them—that to France and to other
nations besides France, the outbreak of war.would
in some respects be so much of an opportunity. So
many European questions appearing, moreover, to
require for the settling of them that last and
supreme arbitrement. Diplomacy if left en-
tirely to itself may still go on wrangling
interminable with no result whatever in the
way of any satisfactory settlement about
Schleswig-Holstein, about Venetia, the Duchies,
and other divisions of the great and complicated
Italian Difficulty, about this very matter of Poland
that is suggestive of the war now regarded as pos-
sibly so very imminent. The great Scandinavian
family of nations has to work out its destinies—
to all appearances through the medium of an amal-
gamation or combination, uniting Sweden and
Norway permanently with Denmark, a blending
together of the three kingdoms into one homogene-
ous power, that the shock of an European War
might at once render practicable. The long latent,
and still undecided, rivalry between Austria and
Prussia for supremacy over the Germanic Confede-
ration, might, in the same way, be opportunely pre-
cipitated. France having already, in a manner,
virtually accomplished the chief part of the
difficulty connected with her war of con-
quest or of emancipation (which is it to be
called ?) in Mexico, is prepared, however, for the
contingencies of any contest that may become un-
avoidable nearer home, having perpetually within
her the incentive to warlike exploits in the pos-
session of the Imperial dynasty born of the conquer-
ing genius of NAPOLEON. Numerous other reasons
there are, but the foregoing are the most salient
that need now be enumerated in evidence of what it
would be certainly difficult not to recognize, namely,
that there is in truth just now an imminent pos-
sibility of a General War in Europe.

The recently published Report of the select com
mittee appointed to inquire into the merits and
expenses attendant upon our improved ordnance,
will be read with considerable interest, not only by
scientific and military men, bat by all who concern
themselves in public matters. The question as to
the best form of rifled guns has long been hotly
argued by the partisans of Sir WILLIAM ARM-
sTRONG and Mr. WHITWORTH, besides the uphol-
ders of various other designs. The Armstrong gun
as is well known, is the one almost entirely in use in
the service of the Government, and, in fact, the
committee, finding the expenditure into which they
were desired to inquire related almost exclusively
to Armstrong guns, have thought it desirable to give
a short outline of the introduction of those guns into
the service. The Armstrong gun was, it seems,
first brought under the notice of the Government at
the close of 1854, when the Duke of NEWCASTLE,
then Secretary for War, gave Mr. ARMSTRONG an
order for six of his guns for trial. The guns were
of various sizes, and the reports of the inspectors
were highly satisfactory. Of one of them—an
18-pounder—Lord PANMURE expressed himself
most favourably. "I am clearly of opinion," said
the noble lord, " that this is a most valuable contri-
bution to our army. For all purposes of projection
and accuracy of flight of the projectiles the
experiments are conclusive," In 1858, General
PEEL, having had his attention called to the
fact that We had to rifled ordnance for field
service, appointed a special committee to advise
him on the subject. This committee, after ex-
amining into the matter, came to the conclusion
that it was not advisable to try experiments with
any other guns than those of Messrs. WHITWORTH
and ARMSTRONG. In thin we think they were mis-
taken ; and in fact the present report virtually re-
verses that decision by strongly advising that all
future experiments shall be open to scientific men,
and that the systems of able men who are now
studying the subject shall be admitted to trial
along with those of their more famous and favoured
rivals. This is a step in the right direction. Free
competition to all who are worthy to enter the lists,
and a ready recognition of real merit, even if it
exist beyond the bounds of official favour, should
surely form the first principles of judgment in a
case of national importance. The reason for the
limitation proposed by the committee of 1858 was
a regard for the expense; but this could be at best
but a trifling saving, while the securing of the best
system of ordnance would be a much more effica-
cious
method of practising economy, seeing that
frequent changes in such departments entail an
At that time, says the report,
extravagant outlay.
Mr. WHITWORTH had not any guns of his own
construction, nor did he propose any system. The
system of Mr. ARMSTRONG was therefore the only
complete one, and was finally selected for field
guns, The present committee endorse this decision,
which they consider as fully justified, seeing that
at the present day they have no practical proof that
any other method of constructing rifled ordnance
has yet been suggested which can be compared
with that of ARMSTRONG. Arrangements were
accordingly entered into with ARMSTRONG. He
was appointed Engineer of Rifled Ordnance and
Superintendent of the Roy al Gun Factory—offices
which he resigned in the spring of this year, and
during that
,
With re season the agreement between the Go
vernment
and the Elswiek Company terminated.
regard to the application of the Armstrong
40-pounders
Committee nrs
and 110
-pounders to naval purposes,
theo.Speak with somece
1854, and
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have considerably changed
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a very different calibre would be required at the
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probably be made the
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all other matters
subject of speedy experiment, and we hope the re-
commendation of the Committee, that such trial
shall not be restricted to one or two systems, but
offer a fair test of national skill in the design and
construction of ordnance, may be carried into effect.
Much interesting information is contained in this
Report, which is the result of a long and careful
examination, and it is given in a fair and temperate
tone, which it is to be hoped will satisfy all parties.