The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 14, 1862.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.

The paper read on Jan. 28 was " On the Form and
Materials for Iron-Plated Ships, and the Points requiring
attention in their Construction," by Mr. Joseph D'A.
Samuda.
The author sta'ed that iron-plated ships having now be-
come a necessity, it was important to ascertain, first, the
best description of construction of ship and armour, and
secondly, the best form and dimensions of vessel.

HOUSE OF LORDS-YESTERDAY.

To effect these objects, there were four indispensable con-
ditions : first, these vessels must be of such dimensions and
power, and be built on such lines, that they should always
command a superiority in speed over the best timber-built
frigates afloat ; secondly, they must be protected with ar-
mour over their entire length; thirdly, the armour must
be so applied as to be capable of rapid replacement or
_ _

repair; and fourthly, the armour should enter into the
construction of the ship, and thus give strength to the
whole fabric, as well as protect it from an enemy's fire.
These conditions had only been partially attained in the
vessels already constructed or proposed to be constructed;
for the Warrior class obtained speed alone, the Defence
class failed in all, the Valiant class only approached the
second condition, and the three new ships of 6,700 tons
burthen, recently contracted for, at a cost with their
engines of £400,000 each, would probably possess the firth
and second, but not the third and fourth conditions.

Although the Warrior was highly creditable as a first
effort, and was not deft ctive in strength, yet it was a cora-
plicated and costly construction, and its character should
not, therefore, become stereotyped, as incapable of further
improvement, or as if it were not desirable to seek for it.
The author proposed, that the framework of the hull
should be built as in an ordinary first-class steamer of the
same size ; and that outside the frame-work, and rivetted to
it, there should be five longitudinal ribs, at intervals of 6
feet, reaching 20 feet below the gunwale. These longitu-
dinal ribs should be of bars of rolled iron 2j inches in thick-
ness and 16 inches wide, the outer 4 inches on each side being
recessed 1 inch. The ordinary skin plates, 1 inch thick,
were then to be rivetted in these recesses, so as to form a
fiat surface for the reception of the armour, each strake ef
which was to be made to correspond with the distance,
from centre to centre of the longitudinal ribs. The edges
of the armour plates, 5 inches in thickness, were then to be
bolted, or rivetted through the ribs longitudinally, the verti-
cal butt joints of each plate, made to break joint with the skin
plates being rivetted to corresponding ribs 21 inches in
thickness, placed between the longitudinal ribs, and at-
tached to them with fish plates. It had been determined
by experiment that this thickness of rib would be sufficient
to render the edges of the armour plates, when weakened
by the rivet holes, equal in strength to the central body of
the plates. By this arrangement a perfect ship without
armour was made ; then a complete armour case was at-
tached through the longitudinal ribs, without interfering
with the joints or fastenings of the ordinary skin of the
vessel. Indeed the skin would be so distinct from the ar-
mour that, in time of peace, the armour could be removed,
and the vessel be used as a transport, if desired. By these
means the armour could be rapidly repaired at any point,
and there would be no necessity for tongueing and grooving
the plates, adopted as an expedient by the Admiralty, to
remedy the bending up at the edges, which the present im-
perfect mode of fastening rendered them liable to.
Thus, protection would be obtained over the entire length
of the vessel, by the armour admitting of rapid replacement,
and entering into the construction of the ship. It re-
mained only to show what dimensions and power were
necessary to secure speed. For a 32-gun frigate, constructed
as described, the best dimensions would be 382 feet long,
.55 feet beam, and 311 deep to the main deck; 5,600 tons
burthen, and fitted with engines of 1,200 horse-power, ley
which a speed of 15 knots an hour could be obtained, with
the armament, ammunition, and coal on board, and with
the port sills 9 feet above the water line. Such a vessel
would have even greater speed than the Warrior, and be
wholly protected over the entire length of the sides.
As the importance of complete protection bad now been
recognised by the Admiralty, it was desirable to compare
this armour-skin vessel, of 5,600 tons burthen, with those
now building. The Admiralty vessels were to be 6,700
tons burthen and 1,269 h.p., but they would not be able to
carry a heavier armament, or possess a higher speed than
the proposed vessel. They would be less manageable, form
larger objects to fire at, and cost £400,000 each instead of
£340,000, or in a fleet of twenty. four such frigates, one mil-
lion an a half pounds sterling more.
For coast defences vessels might be built, protected from
stem to stern, having a length of 200 feet, beam of 48} feet,
depth of 25 feet, burthen of 2,200 tons, and engines of 350
horse-power, pierced for thirty-two 68-pouuder guns but
carrying only sixteen, with a draft of water of 16 feet when
the guns, ammunition, and coal were on board, and capable
of attaining a speed of 11 knots an hour.
In conclusion, the author thought that the time had ar-
rived when the Admiralty should see the propriety and the
advantage to the public service of abandoning the mono-
poly of restricting all advance in the construction of mail-
clad vessels to plans and systems emanating from them-
selves; and that it would be far better to trust to the
engineering skill of this country, leaving it free to take the
initiative in improving this branch of national defence, and
the Admiralty only exercising a veto within such limits as
experience fitted them to form a judgment upon.

SP 081 ING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALLS'—YESTERDAY.
LINCOLN HANDICAP.
7 to 1 agst Suburban (taken)
GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE.
9to 1 agst The Dane (taken)
10 to 1 agst Huntsman (taken)
25 to 1 agst Bucephalus (taken)
TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS.
3to 1 agst Old Calabar (offered)
9to 1 agst The Marquis (taken)
15 to 1 agst Wingrave (taken)
THE DERBY.
17 to 2 agst Old Calabar (taken)
23 to 1 agst Ensign (taken)
40 to 1 agst Master Fenton (taken)
Nothing done on the Cheater Cup.

BETTING AT MANCHESTER-THURSDAY.

The business of the day was almost confined to Hunts-
man and The Dane for the Grand National Steeple Chase ;
10 to 1 was taken about the former, and offered against
the latter; but towards the close 10 to 1 was taken rather
freely about The Dane, and 100 to 6 was booked a few
times against Jealousy.— Closing prices:—

GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE.
10 to 1 agst The Dane (taken)
10 to 1 agst Huntsman (taken)
100 to 6 agst Jealousy (taken)

THE ADULTERATION OF BREAD.—Out of 32
samples of bread recently analysed by the Zama Analyti-
cal Sanitary Commission, alum was found in 17 samples, or
more than one half. The quantities ranged, per quartern
loaf, between 25.91 grains and 158 09 grains ; and per sack
of 92 41b. loaves, between 5 oz. 4 drs. and 33 oz. 2 drs. It
appears that as a rule the more respectable high-priced
bakers, whobuy the best flour and sell superior bread do not
make use of alum, for the employment of which no necessity
whatever exists. The principal reason why alum is generally
used by the bakers who sell cheap bread is, they are thereby
enabled to use a less expensive flour, and to impart to it the
colour and appearances which belong to flour of superior
quality and of higher price. That the addition of a power-
ful substance like alum, and in the large quantities detec-
ted by TU Lancet Commissioners, is prejudicial to health
and is productive of derangement of the digestive organs,
is well ascertained. The adulteration of bread with alum
is contrary to law, and bakers using it are liable to punish-
ment, both under the Bread Act as well as under the
recent Bill for the Prevention of Adulteration; the former
Act is, indeed, rarely and at long intervals, enforced ; but
the latter, as respects the adulteration of bread as of other
articles, is inoperative. It is, therefore, obvious that the
law is at present wholly ineffectual in putting a stop to a
very scandalous and injurious adulteration of a prime
article of daily consumption.
EXTRAORDINARY DETERMINATION TO COMMIT
SUlClDE.—Yesterday morning, about two o'olock, a man,
with his face hideously disfigured, and the flesh
charred from the effects of pistol shots, was brought to St.
Thomas's Hospital by two police constables. The officers
stated that as they were going their beat that morning
along a road in the neighbdurhood of Bromley, Kent, they
had found the unfortunate man lying. on the pathway in the
state in which he then was. Their impression at first was
that a murder had been committed,
. as no pistol or gun could
thatall they must have been
be found near, but upon conveying him to the divisional
surgeon that gentleman pronouncedy hivromuntdoodb?
annodt dead,upon
do:temporary remedies, and
directed the constables to convey him at once by train
sbectixautfofimninitoiisnotgtesdte.nrieoHuisnel
injuries
to St. Thomas's Hospital.. Mr. Bell (house surgeon
of that institution) immediately attended, and found that
iefa
applied nhoet
ssomami
there must have been two shots fired, the first directed
against the forehead, where the bullet, however, did not
enter the skull, but glanced off under the scalp. From the
burnt condition of the flesh, the pistol muzzle must been
held within an inch of the
forehead when the shot was fired.
This shot having failed in its effect, the wretched man must
have placed the muzzle of the pistol in his mouth for ano-
ther attempt, because the palate is completely charred, as
well as the lips, and though a bullet entered the roof of the
mouth, the front teeth had not been broken. Even this
shot did not prove fatal, the ball having evidently glanced
from the palate and lodged in the neck. Death is, how-
ever, almost certain, and may be hourly expected. The
name of the unfortunate man is unknown; but from the
appearance of his clothes, which were of blue pilot cloth, it
is inferred that he belonged to some marine institution.
His linen was marked " 9 kt 9. D. 2.„
THE FATAL ACCIDENT IN
THE WATERLOO-
IiOAD.—This afternoon Mr. Sergeant Payne opened an in-
quest at St. Thomas's Hospital on the body of the unfor-
tunate man Robins, who loet his life by the falling of the
pavement in the Waterloo•road on Monday last. Before
the inquiry can be fully entered into a survey and exami-
nation of the scene of the accident Will have to be made.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at fivo o'clock.
THE NEW EDUCATION MINUTE.

Lord Lyttelton, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Lord
Belper, and the Bishop of Ripon presented petitions against
the educational minute.
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER.

Lord EBURY said with respect to the two bills he had
introduced for making certain omissions from the Prayer
Book, that he did not intend to move the second reading of
either till after Easter.
THE EDUCATION MINUTE.

Earl , GRANVILLE said in making the explanation he
had stated his intention of doing with respect to the new
educational minute, he could not but notice the very strong
feeling that existed on the subject. The noble lord having
referred to the state of education some few years ago, pro-
' ceeded to notice the principal points in the new code of re-
gulations, and also the interest the noble lord (Lyttelton)
had taken in the subject. The new code, he thought, was
well calculated to realise the best results. All old grants
for educational purposes were by it swept away, and in
place of which a capitation grant was made, which
would result in giving the greatest advantage to
those who undertook the responsible task of educating the
young. The capitation grant would not be paid
merely on the number of attendants at schools, but
the degree of proficiency of the pupils would be taken
into consideration. He fully anticipated that in the event
of the revised code being found acceptable, the grants to be
made to schools under it would, in a short time, be found
to amount to quite as much as that obtained under
the old system, while an enormous increase of usefulness
and success would be the result. With regard to the reli-
gious point, upon which so much stress had been laid, he
did not look upon it as an objection, because in the new
code there was no alteration as far as religion was concerned.
With regard to what was said as to lowering the position of
the schoolmaster in consequence of disconnecting them s ith
the state, he was of opinion that both in a financial point of
view and in the interests of the schoolmaster himself his
position would be bettered. His independence would be in•
creased, and he would be placed in a natural position with
reference to his employers; instead of being as now in an
anomalous position with the government of the country. At
present he is not an officer of the government, but he is in
a manner dependent on them. He (Earl Granville) had
always endeavoured as much as possible to raisetheposition
of schoolmasters in the eyes of those who surrounded them.
He believed them to be a very superior class with regard to
their moral, their intellectual, and their religious attain-
ments, and on the whole he believed that they devoted
themselves with great industry and public spirit to one of
the most important tasks which could devolve upon any
citizen of a free country. (Hear, hear.) He was not sure,
however, that if their lordships turned to the speeches
and the memorials of the schoolmasters, they would not
arrive at the opinion that the present system had been
somewhat injurious to them. There was a sort of depen-
dence on the government, and the speeches and memorials
evidenced a tone of querulousness with the act of the go-
vernment which was not at all desirable. •He was not,
thei efore, disposed to regard unfavourably the altered posi-
tion which the schoolmaster would fill from the severance of
the existing connexion of the schools with the government.
He trusted the remarks he made would be understood in
the spirit in which he made them. He made no charge
against the teachers individually; but he thought the pro-
posed system would introduce some advantages in their
favour. He now came to the pupil teachers. It was said
that the proposed code tr ould destroy the institution of
pupil teachers, as it would limit the hours of instruction,
and allow the children to be taught in evening schools.
He did not think that this would affect their position. The
next objection was, that instead of assisting the schools in
the poorer districts we were doing them an injury. He
could not understand the reasoning on which that objection
proceeded. At present in poor schools of less than 100
pupils, these schools only received assistance if the) had a
certificated master or a registered master of 25 years ofage.
That was a considerable limitation in districts of this kind.
We now proposed to give them the capitation grant if they
could get registered masters of the age of 22, or a pupil
teacher who had received five years' training, and who at
the last examinaticn had passed and been declared qualified.
The pupil teachers might be of the greatest use in giving
instruction under the inspection of the clergyman of the
district, or the promoters or managers of the schools. Only
yesterday he received a large deputation of schoolmasters,
who stated their case with great ability and moderation.
One gentleman stated, as an instance of the injury that
would be done to small schools, that he knew one in Wales
where they would not be able to get a single penny, He
asked what could be the state of the schools where the pupils
could neither read, write, nor count? Another teacher
of considerable intelligence said that he was a
teacher in a Welsh school, but as he did not know
Welsh, and as his pupils did not know a word
of English, there was a difficulty in that school in
instructing the children in the rudiments required.
(Laughter.) He (Earl Granville) presumed this was not
one of the schools under inspection. If it was there had un-
doubtedly been great dereliction of duty. He mentioned
this instance to show that there were circumstances under
which a gentleman acquainted with the language peculiar
to a district might impart more information than a certifi..
cated master, however qualified. The only way of really
solving the question of the education of the labouring
classes was by affording them the means of education in
evening schools. (Hear, hear.) Lord Stanley, in a speech
he made at Bury, showed that it was impossible to get the
children of the labouring classes to remain at school after
ten years of age. It was folly to expect, and perhaps hardly
to be desired, that a labouring man should give up the tenth
part of his income. If he had one he had at least a hundred
remonstrances from the managers of schools, saying that
the restriction of not allowing day schoolmasters to be em-
ployed in the evening schools was fatal. Now we proposed
to give very large pecuniary assistance to theme schools,
because, after 12 attendances, they gave a penny for every
attendance, provided the children answered the require-
ments with respect to reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Now there was another point on which they had been much
attacked by friends and foes—be referred to the principle of
grouping the children by age, and for not giving payments
for more than one examination after 11 years of age. It
might have been expected that be should have yielded
those points; but after the most careful consideration of the
matter, they had come to the conclusion of adhering to the
principle which had been laid down. Of course, under
any general rule, cases of individual hardship would
oocur, bat he believed the present regulations
would meet individual cases as far as possible. The pro-
posed system would induce managers of schools to exert
themselves to get the children to school young. This was
most desirable, for if a boy left school at ten years old un-
able to read, write, and count, it did appear a result which
the country could hardly be called on to pay for. He
had read a memorial published by the committee over
which the Duke of Marlborough presided, in which this ar-
gument was used. It stated it was a notorious fact that the
children of the labouring classes left school at ten years of
age, but that the children of artisans and farmers remained
there longer, and thus received the benefit of the pecuniary
aid given to schools intended for the labouring classes.
That argument was fatal to the argument he was combating,
namely, that you should go on to pay for boys after ten years
of age, but it geve the advantage of two years' additional
education to the children of persons who were able to pay for
the education of their children. The first pressure of this
minute would be to compel parents of this class to pay a much
higher sum for the education of their children, and thereby
to make them appreciate much more the advantages of edu-
cation. Another difficulty which had been referred to was
that which regarded the examination of the children. It
was said it was unfair to the inspectors to subject them to
such degrading work. But he could not see that there was
much more of drudgery to an educating man in seeing
whether children could read, write, and count, than in exa-
mining them as to the trade winds, or the river system of
Hindostan. He had ventured to meet some of the prin-
cipal objections which had been made to the code. There
were doubtless a hundred others which would be made, but
as the subject would be more fully discussed at a future
period he would reserve any further answer till then. He
now came to the modifications in the system. In the first
place it was not intended to apply the revised code to Scot-
land, for two reasons. The first was, that as the great reli-
gious communities of Scotland were agreed that religious
education should be given the schools the time was ripe for
applying to Scotland a general system of education. The
second was that one of their lavish grants in this country—
the capitation grant—never had been applied to Scotland.
For these reasons they thought it more prudent and wise to
postpone, for a time at all events, the application of the re-
vised code to Scotland. He now came to the training col-
leges. We included them in the code contrary to the recom-
mendations of the commissioners; but since then we received
strong representations on the subject, and therefore it was
now intended not to include them in the code. As to the
religious objection, there never was any real cause for alarm
on that ground ; for the inspectors were bound to ascertain
that the school was in a satisfactory religious state before
examining on elementary subjects. With regard to the
' number of pupil teachers required, they now proposed that
it should be one for every 30, instead-of for 40 as heretofore

The Earl of DERBY said that was, he supposed, for
every complete 30 over the first 50, on the same system as
an additional teacher was now given for every 40 over the first
50. Thus 90 children gave one pupil teacher, and 130 gave
an additional pupil teacher.

Earl GRANVILLE—That was just so. He now came to
another important point, namely, the examination of in-
fants. It had been said that this was impossible in the
case of children under seven years old. The fact was, how-
ever, that this class had hitherto stood their examination
better than their seniors. But, on consideration of the
whole matter, it appeared that some difficulties might pre-
sent themselves, and therefore they now proposed instead
of the examination that they should attend 200 instead of
100 times, after which there should be a payment for their
attendance. The next question was as to the vested interests
of the certificated masters. What they proposed was, that
in every school receiving the capitation grant, there should
be a certificated master duly paid; and the certificated