The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-25 00:00:00

rfiE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 25, 186

time reconstruction is fairly commenced enterprise
will be quickened into new life, and, with its integ-
rity established, the only drawback upon the national
prosperity, and the only stain upon the national es-
cutcheon removed, the great Republic will move for-
ward again on its career of prosperity and honour,
scarcely staggered by such a struggle with a gigan-
tic rebellion as would have broken any other nation
into fragments.

" You will perceive by the statement of the con-
dition of the Treasury on the Ist inst. that the Go-
vernment circulation has not been diminished.
Whether or to what extent this circulation will be
reduced depends upon circumstances that cannot
now be clearly foreseen. I have been and am still
of the opinion that it must be curtailed before a re-
turn to specie payment can be effected ; but it cannot
be denied that the course of the market for the past
month has been such as to justify a reconsideration
of the opinions which have been so generally enter-
tained in relation to the inflation of the currency.
The increased demand for money which is the result
of the diminution of individual credits may not have
been fully estimated, and it may turn out that
no considerable reduction of paper circulation will
be needed for the restoration of the specie basis.
At all events, the Government will have no interest
in retiring its direct issues if the desired object can
be obtained within a reasonable time without it.

" That any valuable interests are to be perma-
nently injured by a return to specie payments is
hardly credible, and I cannot but think that your
apprehension of disaster to the manufacturing in-
terests of Pennsylvania as the result of it are with-
out reasonable foundation.

" The general tariff policy is, I apprehend, settled
by our national debt. The discussion of it, there-
fore, at the present time is unnecessary. That the
present tariff needs revision is undoubtedly true.
This revision it will receive by the commission which
is to be appointed to revise the revenue laws, from
whose labours I anticipate the best results.
"The necessities of the Government will give to
our manufacturing interests all the protection they
will require to shield them from destructive foreign
competition ; and before the close of the present
Administration I confidently expect to see these in-
terests more prosperous than they ever have been.
What recommendations I shall make to Congress
upon the tariff question I am not now prepared to
say. I expect to be able to endorse the bill that
shall be prepared by the :commission, and shall be
disappointed if this bill does not harmonise our
foreign and internal duties, and produce a revenue
which shall be sufficient to meet the interest on the
public debt, and gradually reduce the principal
without being oppressive to the people.
"In conclusion, permit me to say that I see no
cause for discouragement in the present or prospec-
tive condition of the country. Our national debt
is large, but our national resources are sufficient to
carry it without embarrassment. While it would
be foolish to call it a national blessing, it may be so
managed as not to be a national calamity, and in
the worst view that can be taken of it it is a small
matter in comparison with the inestimable value of
the Union, in the maintenance of which it has been
created.—l am, very truly yours,

"H. M'CULLOCU.
" Mr. H. C. Carey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief will
hold a levee at 1 o'clock on Wednesday, the 3d May.
Further experiments with reference to the trans-
portation of troops and horses by railway were
made at the Farnborough-station, on the South-
Western line, on Friday, in the presence of Lieut.-
Gen. Sir J. L. Pennefather, K.C.8., commanding
the division at Aldershot; Colonel Herbert,
Assist.-Quartermaster-.Gen. ; Major-Gen. Hodge,
commanding the Cavalry Brigade ; Col. Phill-
pods, C.B;, commanding the Royal Horse Artil-
lery, and other officers. The experiments were
under the direction of Cot Herbert, and on this
occasion were carried out by D and F troops of the
Royal Dragoons, under the command of Col. Rad-
ford. Thirty-six men of the D and 32 of the F
troop, with a corresponding number of horses of
each troop, were engaged, the first object being to
ascertain the time which would be occupied in trans-
ferring the men and horses to the train completely
equipped for service. On arriving at the railway
station the men dismounted, relieved the horses
of their bridles, removed the carbines, and
divested themselves of their accoutrements. They
then led their horses to the trucks and re-
versed the position of the animals, after which
they resumed their accoutrements, and took
their places in the carriages. On leaving the
train they again divested themselves of their
accoutrements and led the horses from the trucks.
This accomplished, they re-armed, mounted, and
formed line. The same operations were then re-
peated, with the exception of reversing the horses
in the trucks. Twelve horses were transferred to
two trucks and the men seated in the carriages in
ten minutes, but the trial was unfavourable in some
respects, and under ordinary circumstances would
be accomplished in less time. The next experiment
was with a view of ascertaining the time which
would be occupied by the cavalry in having the
train completely equipped and ready for service.
This was accomplished in six minutes by the F troop
and seven minutes by the D troop, who were under
a slight disadvantage by being further removed from
their horses. The experiments, which were consi-
dered very satisfactory, concluded with the weigh-
ing of an average trooper and horse. Their com-
bined weight was ascertained to be 131 cwt.
Nos. 22 and 24 troops of the Military Train will
arrive at Aldershot from Liverpool on Saturday next.
The 74th Highlanders will arrive at the camp at
Aldershot early next month, from Edinburgh, and
will be quartered in the South Camp.
The headquarters and five companies of the 69th
(South Lincolnshire) Regiment, under the command
of Colonel Mackirdy, arrived on the North Camp,
Aldershot, yesterday evening, from Gosport.
The 83d Regiment, under the command of Lieut.
Col. Hankey, left the North Camp, Aldershot, last
evening for Sheffield, per special train on the South
Eastern and Midland Railways. Five companies of
the regiment are detached for Weedon, whither
. they will proceed this morning. Prior to their leav-
ing the camp the regiment was inspected by Major
General David Russell, C. 8., commanding the 3d
Brigade, who expressed his great satisfaction at the
conduct and general bearing of the regiment during
its 12 months' stay in the camp. The strength of the
seven companies for Sheffield is as follows :-26
officers, 37 sergeants, 442 rank and file, 14 drum-
mers, 51 women, and 61 children. The journey was
to be broken at Warwick for one hour for refresh-
ments. The strength of the Weedon detachment is
as follows :—Major Venables in command, 11
officers, 15 sergeants, 271 rank and file, 9 drum-'
mers, 34 women, 36 children; and one horse.

The members of the Ordnance Select Committee
of Woolwich Arsenal, 'comprising Capt. L. G.
Heath, C. 8., R.N., vice-president ; Col. C. Hogge,
R.A., C. 8., Col. Younghusband, R.A., F.R.S. ;
Lieut.-Col. T. L. J. Gallwey, R.E. ; Lieut.-Col. R.
S. Baynes, Capt. H. Heyman, RA., secretary, and
Capt. K. W. Haig, assistant-secretary, assembled
at the proof butt in the Plumstead Marsh yesterday
morning, at 11 o'clock, and resumed the preliminary
test to which the experimental wrought-iron gun
carriage and slide made after the designs of Lieut.-
Col. Shaw, are ordered to be subjected. The car-
riage was mounted, as on the former occasion, with
the " Big Will," from which ten rounds were fired
in succession. The first eight consisted of car-
tridges of 601 b. of powder and 5141 b. shot, and the
last two charges were increased to 701 b. of powder
and 5591 b, shot. The firing was witnessed by a
large number of Generals and other officers. After
each round the carriage and appurtenaz ices were
carefully examined and searched, with a vi ew of de-
tecting any signs of weakness or defect, and each
time with the most favourable results. Not vitstand-
ing the terrible shock occasioned by ti le heavy
charges, the carriage resisted with admiral. le effect.
The average amount of recoil was found to be 4ft.
7in. in the eight rounds, and sft. 11in. with the
increased charges. The carriage and gma. will be
forthwith forwarded to Shoeburyness, to complete
the destined trial at an elevated range.

The crew of tilt, screw steamship Revonge, 73,