The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 8, 1865.

exclusive sectarians, but men who have the general
good of the country at heart, not the personal
advantage of their own families, or predominance
of any one religious or political party. A man who
forms his opinions fairly and honestly, and acts up
to them, will be a better member than the smooth-
spoken professor who agrees to everything on the
hustings, only remembering to forget his pledges in
St. Stephen's. We have had too many professors
and time-servers in the last Parliament, let us be a
little more careful whom we send to the new House
of Commons.

Scarcely a day passes but what some intelligence
reaches us of the designs of the Prussians in Schles-

wig-Holstein. The Prussian Special Commis-
sionary in Northern Schleswig has drawn up a re-
port, in which he sets forth the grievances of the
Danish element in the Duchies. Judging by the
details thus furnished, this much-coveted posses-
sion and dearly - sought prize turns out to be
anything but a benefit or a blessing to any
of the parties concerned in the matter. We
read of disabilities, of persecution, of intolerance,
of insufficient and inadequate spiritual provision,
but nowhere is there the least glimpse of hope that
things will be set to rights, or that a state of
quiescence will speedily succeed to all this strife and
contention. The result of the inquiry which M.
BISMARCK has', set on foot has not been at all
favourable or very flattering to the feelings of the
Germans, who have lost no time in contradict-
ing its assertions, and repudiating its charges.
Doubtless few will be simple enough to
believe all- this, however, and indeed what
cause exists to prevent our thinking that all,
and more than all that is now stated, is the truth.
The condition of those in the Duchies who have
Danish tastes and sympathies is pretty certain to
be a most unenviable one ; but it is very like
poetical justice that the truth should come out
officially, through the investigations of the Prussian
Minister. No doubt there is more foundation
for the remarks made by the offended
parties, to the effect that the reasons
which induced him to set these inquiries
on foot were anything but sincere or bona fide ones,
but that he wished to force the Germans into ac-
quiescence with his views, and, above all, make
them recognise the claims he makes, on the part of
the Prussian Crown, to the sovereignty of the
Duchies. Also, he desires, it is said, to overrule
the officials, which at present the Austrians will not
permit him to do. Whatever the cause, it is at all
events an advantage that we should receive some
notion of the state of affairs as at present
existing. They are unpromising in the extreme,
but yet it cannot be said that they surpass expecta-
tion and arouse suspicion. What with one design
and another, and with the very awkward fact of the
arch-conspirators quarrelling among themselves,
the world seems likely to get at the truth of
matters in a manner which none of the chief
schemers would have wished at the outset. How-
ever, who can answer for consequences when once
a discussion has taken place and rival interests
contend for the mastery.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

SPAIN.

MADRID, JULY 7 (Evening).

The Epoco contradicts the rumour of a Minis
terial crisis circulated by the Soberania and other
journals, and also denies the report that order had
been disturbed at Zaragoza.

FRANCE.

PARIS, JULY 8.

The Minister of State has been entrusted with
the direction of the ministry of Public Works dur-
ing the absence of M. Behic.
The treaty of commerce and navigation between
France and Holland was signed yesterday at the
Hague, and will be presented on Monday next to
the States-General.

BOURSE, July 7.—Less firmness has been mani-
fested in the•markets to-day, and the rates of the
chief Securities show a slightly downward tendency.
Threes, for the Account, are at 67f. 10c., Italian
Five per Cents. at 64f. 65c., and Mobilier shares at
662 f. 50c. Mexican Loans (Old and New) remain
without change. The dividend has been detached
from the following Securities :—Flench Mobilier,
25f. ; Spanish Mobilier, 10f. ; Credit Foncier, 35f.;
Credit Agricole, 12f. ; Suez, 10f. ; Transatlantic,
12f. 50c.; Immobiliere, 25f. ; Italian Loan, 2f. 50c.;
Northern Railway, 42f. ; Victor Emmanuel, 15f. ;
Southern, 22f. 50c. ; Austrian, 12f. 50c. ; Saragossa,
15f. ; Pampeluna, 15f. ; Portuguese, 15f. The dull-
ness of the market has continued to increase, and
the closing quotations show a sensible reduction in
nearly all the chief Securities.
41. per Cents 96 -- Ditto Threes 64 60
Do. end month — New Mexican
3 per Cents. 67 05 Do. Bonds BO3 75
Do. end month 66 921 Russian —
Credit Mobilier ... 660 Austrian
Do. end month ... 653 75 Spanish Threes
Bank Shares 3570 Rome Debt • —
Credit Fonder 1235 Deferred
Italian Loan 64 40 Roman 73 75
Do. end month 64 40
BAIL

'AYS.

Cash. AcA,t.
Orleans
Northern 1026 25 ... 1027 50
Lyons and Mediterranean 837 50 ... 835
Southern 557 50 ... 550
Western 528 75 ... 528 75
Eastern 513 75 ... 513 75
Sardinian
Austrian

Lombard 477 50 ... 475
North of Spain l5O ... 147 50
Saragossa 290 ... 290
Ditto to Barcelona

THE HORSE SHOW.

The horse show at Islington last year was de-
servedly so successful that the experiment is again
repeated this season, though on a larger, a more
extended, and, if possible, a better scale. There are
in all nearly 400 entries, divided into 10 classes.
The first class is devoted to thoroughbred stallions ;
the second, to stallions for roadsters or coaching
stock ; the third, to riding horses, including those
up to heavy weights, park hacks, and ladies' horses ;
the fourth, to hunters of five years old and upwards;
the fifth, to hunters of four years old ; the sixth, to
carriage horses not under 16.3 hands in match pairs ;
then- there is a class for weight-carrying cobs, and
three classes of ponies. It is not too much to say
that in each and all of these classes may be found
some of the finest specimens of horses to be met
with even in England, which is saying a great deal
in a few words. It is most difficult to decide while
the animals are in their stalls which class con-
tains the largest number of fine specimens, and
the judges very properly are so careful and so
minute in their investigation of each before the
prizes are awarded, that it will not be before noon
to-day that the '/Srize list can be completed. As a
matter of course some of their decisions, as far as
they hive yet gone, have been open to criticism ;
yet we think the names of the noblemen
and gentlemen who have undertaken to discharge
the onerous duty of awarding prizes will be
sufficient guarantee that they are well quali-
fied to decide on the merits of horseflesh, and that
they are certaiia to act with the strictest impartiality.
The names of the judges, then, are :—Lord Chester-
field, Lord Portsmouth, Lord Falmouth, Lord
Combermere, Lord Suffield, Colonel Maude, C. 8.,
Mr. Frederick Winn Knight, and Captain Percy
Williams. The prize colours are—lst prize blue, 2d
prize red, and 3d orange ; extra prizes, orange and
green. The arrangements for the show are very
similar to those of last year, with only such additional
conveniences and improvements as that first attempt
shoWed to benecessary. The animals are placed in
comfortable, roomy, well littered stalls, occupying
the whole basement of both the great and minor
halls. They are fed andwatered three times a day,
and every stall is scrupulously cleaned each morning.
There are reserved seats in thegalleries, and a special
Royal box has been constructed for the Prince of
Wales, who is expected to honour the show with a
visit. The whole centre part of the hall has been
turned into a circus, in which the various classes of
horses are examined and exercised as to their paces
before the judges make their final award. As most
of the animals are very fresh, and not a few
of them are frightened on first making their
appearance in this novel arena, the judging
of each class generally affords as fine an exhi-
bition of horsemanship as of horses. One
groom yesterday, amid the applause of all the
spectators, maintained his seat upon a noble-looking
horse, who reared and plunged as though he meant
to kick his shoes off. The judging yesterday was
commenced at 10 o'clock, in the presence of a large
assemblage of visitors. The stallions of both classes,
ridinghorses, hunters, &c., were the first
taken.
however, the awards of
the judges are far from being completed, and we
Aswe
have
said,
must therefore defer the list of best animals to an-
other occasion, while we take a glance at the gene-
ral merits of the show. Foremost among the
thoroughbred stallions is our old friend Caractacus,
a winner of the blue riband of the turf, who took
the first prize last year, and takes it again this.
The idleness of stud life has told unfavourably in a
racing point of view upon the once splendid form of
this celebrated Derby winner. Anything less like
a racer than this now sleek, fat animal can scarcely
be imagined. Scottish Chief takes the third prize,
and though not nowin training still looks as small
a horse as ever, considering what he has done.
The second prize goes to Diophantus, who ran so
well in the Derby four years ago. An extra
prize is given to an aged mare belonging to Mr.
Casson. Lord Clifden is also here, looking sadly
fallen off in form, and here also are Rouge Dragon
and Marionette. In coaching stallions one of
the best shown is Prince of:Wales, N 0.31, belonging
to Mr. George Holmes. There are some fine speci-
mens also shown in the minor hall, particularly
numbers 37, 38, and 47. In riding horses the whole
class is not only very numerous but very excellent.
It would be difficult to praise this portion of the
show too highly. Among hunters Lord Spencer
takes the first prize with Brown Stout, a magnificent
animal standing over 16 hands high. By some
apparently unaccountable omission two splendid
looking hunters sent by Lord Rendlesham have been
entirely overlooked, though they are not surpassed
by auy horses of this class in the building. It is
among the hunters of four years old, however, that
the best animals are to be found. This class is ab-
solutely superb, as are also the weight-carrying cobs,
some of which are the very perfection of what these
stout, middle-aged gentlemen's horses should be.
The class of carriage horses is small, but very good.
Especially can we commend to notice the two pairs
sent by Messrs. Wimbush and Co. ; they have no
equals in the show. The ponies, as usual, form the
most numerous, and, to the general public, perhaps
the most popular class in the building. It is im-
possible to imagine anything more perfect than
many of these diminutive examples of equine
beauty some of them while faultless as to form are
literally no larger than Newfoundland dogs, and,
as far as gentleness, docility., and prettiness is
concerned, one might almost fancy they had been
the parlour pets of ladies. There are three classes
of these animals, and nearly 100 have been sent in
for competition, Altogether the fshow, both in its

attractions and arrangements, is one which is emi-
nently deserving the attention of all lovers of horses
—that is to say, the public generally. It will re-
main open till Thursday next, and the exercise and
hurdle jumping of the hunters will commence each
day at 3 o'clock. We are also requested to state
that one of the directors of the Agricultural Hall
Company will be on duty at the hall each day of
the show to answer all inquiries of visitors, and be
responsible for the care of the horses. To-day the
director in charge will be Mr. R. Leeds ; on Mon-
day, Mr. S. Druce; on Tuesday, Mr. W. J. Brown;
on Wednesday, Mr. J. Giblett; and on Thursday,
Mr. J. Banister.

The Wivern Iron Turret Ship.

-----..-

The Wivern, 4, screw iron turret-ship, ono of the two
vessels purchased by the Admiralty from Messrs. Laird, of
Birkenhead, is in dock at Portsmouth, having the iron
plates of her bottom scraped preparatory to their being
payed over with a preservative composition, and the ship
otherwise prepared for her trial over the measured mile and
for commission. This vessel, carrying as she does with her
sister ship, the Scorpion, the heaviest armament in her
Majesty's Navy, in comparison with tonnage and draught
of water, is exciting considerable attention among naval
officers and artillerists. Being also fitted with Captain
Coles's tripod masts, she represents more completely than
any other ship the turret principle, in the form advocated
by that officer. For these reasons a brief account of the
ship may not be at present without interest. The Wivern,
with her tripod rig, spreads ample canvass for her
tonnage, is buoyant on the water, and particularly
so for an ironclad, has a handsome appearance, and
is evidently a much better sea boat than many wooden
vessels on the Admiralty navy list. Yet the Wivern was
not built for a seagoing vessel. She was built to order for
a special purpose for service on coasts and in rivers where
her load draught of water of 16ft would have permitted
her to anchor with efficiency. Had she crossed the Pacific
or the Atlantic, she would on reaching the coast line have
cleared her upper deck of the commodious poop and fore-
castle now upon it, and have gone into her work as a
double-turreted Monitor ; but a Monitor with an ordinary
ship's bottom in lieu of the double flat boxes of the American
Monitors' bottom. In her present form of hull and rig she
differs in her main features from our turret-ship Royal Sove-
reign, in having only two turrets on her deck instead of four,
like that ship, in having a poop and forecastle at either end
of the upper deck instead of having those portions of the
deck clear for the fire of her guns in a line with her keel, in
having much less beam or width of hull, and in being
masted and rigged in a manner that enables her to spread
nearly 16,000 square feet of canvas in her sails in lieu of
only carrying short poles for hoisting a signal flag upon, or
for drying the hamocks and clother of her crew, as is the
case with the Royal Sovereign. The Wivern, in fact, seems
fitted to go to any part of the world, and to do good and
efficient service on any station. The hull of the Wivern is
constructed of iron, the stem falling inboard slightly above
the water-line, and projecting slightly below. The stern is
cone-shaped, and well overhangs and protects tho rudder
and screw. From the level of the upper deck to the usual
distance below the water-line the hull is clothed with 4i
inch armour-plates, tapering round the stem and stern to
three and a half and three inches. The interior of the
hull is divided into water-tight compartments, longitudi-
nal and cellular at the ends, at the bow and stern, and
transverse amidships. In the latter are fixed the en-
gines, boilers, turrets, &c., each standing in its
own separate compartment. The engines are on
the direct action, horizontal principle, of 350-horse
power nominal, and drive a three-bladed fixed screw, hav-
ing a diameter of 14ft., and a pitch of 21ft. The diameter
of the cylinders is 56in., and the length of stroke, aft. The
boilers are four in number, and the coal bunkers have a
capacity of 350 tons, or sufficient for 11 days' steaming at
full power. The ship's upper deck is covered with rolled
and stamped boiler-plating, filled in with cement, to save
the wooden planking from being scorched by the fire of the
guns. The fear of any such damage has been proved by the
firing from the turrets of the Royal Sovereign to be a com-
plete fallacy. The turrets of the ship are of precisely the
same height and diameter on their tables as the forward or
double-gun turret of the Royal Sovereign, and are similar
in bulk, being fitted to carry two guns as large as can be
made for them. Their outer circumference is clothed with
53-inch armour-plates resting on their iron rib and teak
backing in their unbent shape as received from the manu-
facturer, the teak backing being levelled to receive the
plate. The outer face of the turret's armour, with its
21 armour-plates, is polygonal. There is much to bo said
for and against this plan of armour. In the first place the
oost is considerably less, and there is also a considerable
saving in time and labour. On the other hand the deflective
surface Bi very much diminished as compared with the bent
plates of a circle, as with the Royal Sovereign's turrets,
and the chances of a direct impact from shot increased.
On the whole the chances appear to be greatly in favour of
the course that has been followed in fitting of the Royal
Sovereign's turret armour. Round the ports the Wivern's
turrets, like those of the Royal Sovereign, have 10 inches
of iron in two solid forgiugs on the outer circumference.
The inner walls of turrets are lined with wood over their
innetboiler plate skin. Two carriages for the guns stand
on the floor of each turret, but the guns are not yet
mounted on them. It is, however, a noticeable feature that
each carriage is fitted with a winch and chain for running
the gun in and out, such as Captains Osborn, Coles, and
Key have hitherto asked the Admiralty for in vain for the
Royal Sovereign. The four winches to the Wivern's car-
riages were fitted under a fortnight from the time the
rough drawings of them were received at Birkenhead. The
framing of the Wivern's turrets below the armour-plating
are stronger than those of the Royal Sovereign, and they aro
also set up on their base in a better manner than those of
the latter ship. The turn-table, resting on iron girders and
plating, is of immense strength. The beds on which the
Royal Sovereign's tables rest aro only of wood, and their
destruction is therefore only a question of time. There are
a few matters of detail in the fittings on board the Wivern
which require attention, such as the removal of the crew's
cooking galley from below forward to under the forecastle,
and the want of a door cut through from under the forecastle
to the " head" for the use of the men in rough weather.
There is great height between decks in the several compart-
ments below, but it is necessarily dark from the armour-
plating not being pierced for scuttles. The poop contains
excellent accommodation for the officers, and the cabin ap-
propriated to the senior lieutenant is perhaps the largest
and best ventilated of its kind in her Majesty's navy. As
reference has been made to the interference given to the
fire of the guns from the turrets by the ship's poop and fore-
castle, we append here the following angles of fire that can
be attained from the ship's guns, separately and combined,
with the poop and forecastle on the deck as they now stand :
—From foremost turret—firing forwards, from one gun, 68
deg. ; from both guns, 47 deg.; firing aft, from one gun, 80
deg.; from both guns, 72 deg. ; from after turret, firing
forward, from onefgun, 80 deg. ; from both guns, 65 deg. ;
firing aft, from one gun, 51 deg. ; from both guns, 40 deg.
The fore and main masts of the vessel each consist of one
long tube of wroughtiron, combining lower and topmast in
one. On each side of this main tube, just under the level
of the lower yard, are rivetted by flanges, boiler-plate
fashion, two shorter legs which extend down to the deck at
its extremity on each side, forming the tripod. Abaft the
short head of the upper part of the main tube is fidded a
wooden topgallantmast and royalmast in one spar. The
lower yards are of steel ; the upper—that is topsail, top-
gallant, and royal, are of wood. The misenmast carries
only fore and aft canvas, is iron built, and telescopic. The
approximate weight of the masts and spars is 40 tons. The
area of sail that can be spreadby the vessel is 15,748 square
feet. The whole of the workmanship on board, hull, spars,
and fittings, and especially so the make of the tripod masts,
is excellent, and reflects the highest credit on the Messrs.
Laird. As an instructive comparison we close our pre-
sent remarks upon the Wivern by placing her principal
features in juxtaposition with those of the Royal Sove-
reign. Of the Wivern the tonnage is 1,875 ; the engine
power, 350-horse; the draught of water, 16ft ; the number
of turrets, 2 ; and the number of guns, 4. Of the Royal So-
vereign the tonnage is 3,765 ; the engine power, 800-horse;
the draught of water, 26ft ; the number of turrets, 4 ; the
number of guns, 5. The guns in both ships are of the
same calibre.
The screw gun vessel Mullet, 5, 80-horse power, Com-
mander Cortland H. Simpson, has arrived at the Nore from
the West Coast of Africa, to be dismantled and put out of
commission. She yesterday steamed into harbour, and
commenced transferring her guns and ammunition to the
Ordnance vessels, to be landed at Chatham. She had been
on commission rather more than three years, and on being
paid off will be placed in third division of the Steam Re-
serve on the Medway.

LIEBIG'S NEW FOOD FOR INFANTS.—The theory
proposed by Liebig is, that ordinary flour as food
is not of itself sufficiently easy of digestion; but when
malt is mixed with the flour the diastase assists the
stomach in digesting the starch of the flour. In the earlier
preparations of Liebig's food, the flour was used raw ; and
the result was, that a process, similar to " mashing,"
was required before boiling, inasmuch as boiling at once
decomposes the diastase, and leaves behind nothing ex-
cept flour; while if cold or cool water is added, and the
mixture is taken at once, the food is raw and disagree-
able to the stomach. To meet these objections, Messrs.
Savory and Moore have modified the process by careful
baking of the flour before the admixture of the malt; this
modification is most important ; it cooks the flour ready for
use, and converts it partly into dextrine, with traces of
grape-sugar; in plain words, it partially digests the flour.
When after this the malt is added, a very little heat is re-
quired in the preparation of the food, and thus the neces-
sity of boiling is dispensed with. Whatever may be the
objections to, or the advantages of, Liebig's food, it is cer-
tain that the simple improvement made by Messrs. Savory
and Moore is mcst scientific and important. We have heard
on good authority that the infant Prince has taken this food
for some months past, and that ho thrives upon it as a
prince should.—Social Science Review, of July 1.