The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 21, 1862.

IHE NAVY.

ThE NASHVILLE.

The brigantine yacht Alfred, the property of Mr.
Cunningham, the patentee of the system of reefing
topsails from the deck, was berthed alongside Ports-
mouth dockyard on Wednesday, for the purpose of
exhibiting that gentleman's new plan for the rig of
steamships of war. The improvements claimed by
Mr. Cunningham for his system consist, of a reten-
tion of a full amount of square sail power ; a greatly
increased amount of fore and aft sail power ; sim-
plicity in the arrangement of spars and rigging,
with a considerable reduction in the quantity of
standing and running rigging ; a better arrange-
ment of the standing rigging for the supp3rt of the
masts than is obtained under the old system ; a bet-
ter division of the sails and spars; the ability to
brace the yards nearly fore and aft when steaming
head to wind, and a great reduction in the weight
aloft. This plan gives an amount of fore and aft
and square sail sufficient to meet all the require-
ments of ocean-going steamships. In the Defence
and the Resistance the Cunningham plan has not
been carried out fully in the fitment of the topsails,
as the lawer yard is fixed to the cap, on the Ame.
rican plan of Howes double topsail yard, and the
upper yard only rolls the sail up. By this arrange-
ment, when both topsails are furled and yards
stowed, both yards lie together at the cap, the lower
yard some 10 or 12 feet higher from the deck than
it would be if it also were fitted on the Cunning-
ham plan. It offers great obstruction to the wind,
and must of necessity increase the strain aloft when
contending against head winds and seas. The
display of the Alfred's topsails fully proved
the great advantages which would be ob-
tained by the Defence and Resistance were they
fitted with both their topsail yards on the patent
reefing plan, in lieu of the lower one being made
a fixture, as at present. This alteration, in addi-
tion to the advantages referred to, would also ren-
der their rig more agreeable to the eye. The yacht
was visited by Rear-Admiral H. Eden, Rear-Ad-
miral Superintendent Hon. George Grey, Major-
General John Stevens, and many other officers, all
of whom took great interest in the proceedings.
The paddlewheel steam sloop Styx, 6, Comman-
der the Hon. W. J. Waid, was appointed to leave
Plymouth Sound yesterday (Thursday) for the
North American and West Indian stations,

The Confederate steamer Nashville reached Beau-
fort, South Carolina, on the 28th, at 7 a.m,, from
Southampton, having successfully eluded the block-
ading steamers at the entrance of the harbour, one
of which—the Albatross, it is supposed—fired some
twenty or thirty shots at her without effect. She
had on freight 3,000,000 dole. worth of stores, in-
cluding powder.

An officer of the Nashvill3 gives an interesting
account of her adventures

"Leaving Southampton at 4 p.m. on *the 3d of
February, within full sight of the Tuscarora, which
had but just returned from a six days' cruise outside
the harbour, and was then engaged in coaling up, the
Nashville steered for Bermuda, and, after success-
fully weathering a terrific gale of six days' duration,
which disabled one of her engines, reached her des-
tination at 2 p.m. on the 20th, without having
muchwhicalis a glimpse even of the eight
had been expressly detailed by
Government to effect her capture, and
tvc
hae caught
sgehl
Lincolnst ofso w er
whose vigilance had been stimulated by the offer of
200,000 dole. as prize money for the ' rebel' steamer.
Supplying herself with coal, the Nashville departed
from Bermuda at 11 a.m. on the 24th ult., under the
pilotage of the master of a Southern schooner which
had run the blockade a few days before with a cargo
of turpentine and resin, and who expressed the
fullest confidence in his ability to conduct the ship
safely into port. On the 211th ult. she encountered,
on the' margin of the Gulf ttream, the- Yanitea
schooner Robert Gilfillan, Captain Smith, bound
from Philadelphia to St. Domingo, with an assorted
cargo of flour, pork, butter, cheese, and other pro-
visionte Removing from the schooner such of her
cargo as was deemed valuable, and transferring her
crew to the steamer as prisoners, the prize was
fired, and in a few minutes completely destroyed.
About dawn on Friday morning the steamer
reached the vicinity of her destined harbour, off
which was espied a Yankee war steamer,
isd of two rifled 6-
appa-
rentlypounders,
in watch for the approaching vessel. It was
the crisis of the trip; and its perilous nature may
be understoodof
the when
that oit s
knownconste
that the entire ar-
mamentf
her antagonist consisted of
ofimmense calibre and
while
Nashvilleen
severalrange.formidable
Nothing
daunted, however,
energy wrought up to the highest pitch of deter-
mination, the gallant commander of the Nashville,
andd
isplwayitihngitthaesisgtnaarsi anflag,gd,
which, in the uncertain stripes at his masthead,
light of the morning, was well calculated to blind
vessel to
The manoeuvre to be steered boldly
the Yankee commander as to the real character of
towardsth e s t stranger, g
thee r ,
blockadingordered hist
steamer.
er
was promptly performed, and the Nashville was
almost within musket range of the Yankee, but be-
tween her and the harbour, when Captain Pegram
ordered the stars and stripes to be lowered, and in
their stead the stars and bars of the Confederacy
displayed at fore, main, and peak, This defiant
movement of tho Nashville was almost immediately
after responded to by the Yankee, who, as if now
recognising the rebel' steamer, fired a volley after
her, and started in rapid pursuit, firing as rapidly
as the guns could be loaded and discharged ; but the
eager agitation of the Yankee gunners marred their
aim, and the shots fell far wide of our noble steamer,
which was then dashing onward under a full head
of steam, and iu a comparatively few minutes was
safely within range of the protecting guns of Fort
Macon, and beyond the range of her chagrined pur-
suer."

The artisans and labourers employed on the Py-
lades, 21, 400 horse power, under repair in No. 4
dock at Chatham, have been transferred to the Ra-
coon, 22, 400 horse power, which was taken into
dock on Wednesday, to be thoroughly repaired and
made ready for commission. The repairs required
to be effected in the Racoon will not occupy any
great length of time, and, as soon as these have
been completed, the shipwrights will again be placed
on the Pylades, in order that the latter may be
completed for sea. The following armament is or-
dered to be furnished the Pylades :--One 110
pounder Armstrong, four 40 pounder Armatrongs,
and 16 8 inch 60 cwt. guns. Her boat armament
will consist of one 12 pounder, and one 9 pounder
Armstrong, together with a 12 pounder Armstrong
and a 6 pounder brass gun, for short practice, with
carriage.elevating
The contractors' trial of the Resistance, at light
draught of water, took place at Sheerness, onWed-
nesday last, and was attended with very satisfac-
tory results, both as regards the working of the
machinery and the speed attained. The Resistance
is sister ship to the Defence, and is of 600 horse
power, and 3,668 tons. and will carry 18 guns. She
was built by Messrs. Westwood and Bailes, of Mill-
wall ; was launched in April, 1861 ; was fitted
in the Victoria Docks, and completed in her
Majesty's dockyard at Chatham. The vessel
weighed anchor and left the harbour under
half steam at 10.30 a.m., in charge of Captain
Thompson, of her Majesty's ship Cumberland, and
chief of the steam reserve at Sheerness; Mr. W.
Price, inspector of machinery afloat, and Mr. Baker,
chief engineer of Chatham Dockyard, attending the
trial on behalf of the Admiralty. The machinery
was under the charge of Mr. Thomas Holliday, who
represented the contractors, Messrs. John Penn and
Son. The following are the results of the trial :
Average speed, with full boiler power, 12.331 knots;
pressure of steam, 20 ; revolutions, 70 ; vacuum, 25
to 26; average speed, with half boiler power, 11,394
knots; pressure of steam, 20; revolutions, 64; va-
cuum, 26. The circle was accomplished in 7 minutes
25 seconds, the diameter of the circle being about
300 yards. The engines were stopped dead in four
seconds, started ahead in five seconds, and turned
from that position astern in four seconds. Draught
of water forward, 19ft 9in ; aft, 23ft 6in ; Griffiths
screw, pitch 21ft. The average temperatures dur-
ing the trial were—engine-room, 97 ; after stoke-
hole, 100 ; fore stokehole, 80 ; on deck, 47. These
results have been accomplished with a velocity of
piston-rod upwards of 500 ft per minute, and this too
with a smoothness of motion and entire absence of
vibration specially noticed by all on board. The
Resistance answered her helm in a very satisfactory
manner.

Respecting the feeling in England during the
presence of the Nashville at Southampton a cor-
respondent of the Eichmond Examiner says :
" My informant speaks in glowing terms of the
kindness of the English people, who showered
on the crew and officers of the Nashville all manner
of sympathetic attentions, As an instance of the
good feeling of the English towards us, and of their
confidence in our cause, it is related to me by an
officer of the Nashville that £400,000 sterling—.
2,000,000 dols.—was at one period advanced to the
Nashville by a single meocantile house. All classes
are loud and earnest in their expressions of sym-
pathy for the Confederacy and of detestation of the
' Yankee nation.' "

THE CAPTURE OF THE STEAMER LURAY BY
THE FEDERAL CRUISER.

The following is the copy of a letter from the
mate of the Labuan steamer :—" Ship Island, Feb.
14, 1862.—1 t is with regret that I have to announce
the seizure of the steamer Labuan, by the United
States' sloop of war Portsmouth, while lying off the
Rio Grande, loading cotton for Havana. This hap-
pened on the lat of February, at four o'clock in the
afternoon. We saw the Portsmouth in the offing
during the forenoon, flying French colours, and
taking a prize schooner, but I thought we were safe,
as Captain Hamshaw told me that, in case we were
boarded by any man-of•war, to show them the
papers which he left. Captain Hamshaw went on
shore on the 27th January, and was detained on
shore by strong gales, which prevented him from
getting on board. About 4.30 the first lieutenant
came on board, and asked to see the ship's papers,
which I showed him. He afterwards looked down
the hold, and remarked they were loaded with cotton,
asking at the same time where it was shipped. I
told him it was shipped from Matamoras. He re-
turned to his ship, and shortly after sent another
boat of officers and men, who ordered me to get up
steam and shift our berth nearer the Portsmouth.
I did as required, on being given to understand that
they only wanted to have the ship clear of their
guns. After shifting our berth, I was ordered on
board. On my arrival on board the captain told
me that he considered that we were a lawful
prize—that we were taking in American cotton
in American waters. This I denied, and told
him that it was shipped in Matamoras, and that
we were in Mexican water sour longitude, by a
number of observations, being 97.5 45 W., and our
latitude 25 55 N. He told me that it did not
matter ; he would send us to Ship Island to await
the commodore's decision. On my return on board
I found that there were on board at least forty
marines and sailors belonging to the Portsmouth.
Oil
dischargedonthe cargo of a prize
schooner Monday
the 3rd Febru-
ary, took all the seamen and Mr. Gillies, engineer,
Suud
inytoa they
us, and
oat of the ship, and ordered the officer in charge
to prepare to proceed to Ship Island. They took
all !the sprits, wine, ale, and porter on board the
Portsmouth. The captain of the Portsmouth then
cautioned me not to attempt to retake the ship,
as it would certainly end in our destruction. On
Tuesday, the 4th, at 3 a.m., we started on our voy-
age to Ship Island, where we arrived on the Bth,
and find that the commodore is off on a cruise, and
here we must remain until he comes, but we are
sure to be sent to New York, to be tried by an
admiralty court. We have on board 439 bales
cotton. On our arrival at New York I shall apply
to the consul, and act under his directions."—
Eastern Counties Herald.

The Conqueror, 86, screw steamship, 2,845 tons,
500 horse power, late Waterloo, has been removed
from No. 3 dock at Sheerness, where she has been
fitted with new 12-inch pumps, adapted for fire
engines, and is placed under the sheers in the basin
to have her masts put in and fitted for commission.

The undernamed have been nominated to naval
cadetships :—George Richard Bethel', Charles C.
Macpherson, Albert Clinton Allen, and Colin H.
Paget Jones.

The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Commander C. H. Simpson,
to the Mullet, commissioned ; Sub• Lieut. Alfred
Anderson, confirmed to the Shannon ; Sub-Lieut.
Edward B. P.!Kelso, confirmed to the Warrior ;
G. E. Steel, second class assistant-engineer, in-
valided, from the Termagant •to the Asia, as
supernumerary, for hospital treatment; J. Brough,
acting second class assist. engineer, to the Odin ; T.
H. Hayman, second master, to the Mullet; W. C.
E. Parker, master's assist., to the Magicienne ; H.
H. Wyatt, assist. paymaster, to the Warrior; and
R. M. Colwell, assist. paymaster in charge, to the
Mullet.

THE ARMY.

-

By the appointment of Major-General T. Wright,
C. 8., to the colonelcy of the 30th Regiment a pen-
sion for distinguished and meritorious service is
placed at the disposal of the Duke of Cambridge.

A number of the most able non-commissioned
officers of Royal Engineers have been sent up to
head-quarters, Chatham, from Woolwich, Alder-
shott, Shorncliffe, and the other stations, to go
through a complete course of instruction in the
various departments connected with military engi-
neering, in order to qualify themselves for appoint-
ments as instructors to the Volunteer Engineer
Corps, in accordance with the regulations recently
issued on the subject. During the time they are
attached to head-quarters they are relieved from all
regimental duties, and are employed on the field-
works in the construction of the various kinds of
batteries, in accordance with Vauban's theory ;
the formation of double, single, and flying
saps, and generally in the various duties con-
nected with the practical portion of the
science of fortification. In the evening the non-
commissioned officers selected for the special
course of training are instructed in the schoolrooms
in military drawing under the instructors of the
establishment, the object being to render them tho-
roughly competent to carry forward the instruction
of the volunteers of the several Engineer Corps to
which they may be appointed.

The fishermen marry younajtelpmate to take charge of the gear,
g, for they recoire
to dry and mend the
nets, to sew on the head-seams, to Collect
" flithers" (a flit
shell-fish), and other kinds of bait, and prepare the tin.
The men put the corks upon the nets, . The cotton-nets,
years in use, are found to
owuhtileahsthtahvoeseboefenheamb opu:dt sre; moree n
easily, and are less liable
to injury gfi:,;ft, All the Filey yawls carry the
letters " S. H." (the abbreviation of Scarborough) on
BENSON'S WATCHES AND CLocKs..—" Perfection Of their bows. J:it the year 1716 b
a ounty of 4s, was given
mechanism. Morning Post. Gold watches, sto 100 guineas; on each 1' lof fish caught in order to encourage the
,Arre
silver watches, 2 to 50 guineas. Benson's new Illustrated apprentices ; but in 1836 the sum was
pamphict, free for two stamps, descriptive of every construe- emple-,fraont of _ .
by the do
tion of watch, enables persons in any part of the world to -..adually reduced by ls. a ,
select with the greatest certainty the watch best adapted . 1839. The average value of fish taken in the year
their use. Watches sent free and safe by post on reed -to from £20,000 to £27,000 ; in some years as much as
_Apt et ranges,o
a remittance. --.T. W. Benson, 33 and 34, Ludgate-J" , ry, have been paid to the North-Eastern Railway for
until it finally ceased in
47, cyraiii, LonclQA F..C.—Eatabliohe4.l 170. -411' " 41/4 i''''' Q
0 a Week. 1
ita transport.— 2;

NEW AMERICAN IAX BILL.

The new American Tax Bill, prepared by the
Committee appointed for the purpose by the House
of Representatives at Washington, will probably,
owing to the extent to which it is destined to
operate on dearly every branch of domestic and
trading expenditure, cotttitlite a subject of lengthy
debate, and receive many altetations to conciliate
local and political influences before it heecrrece; law.
After that date great interest will attach to the
practical reports that may be received every quar-
ter from the army of collectors and excisemen to be
called into existence. Among the items is one that
seems to impose a duty of 3 per cent. ad valorem on
all manufactures not otherwise specified; but this
possibly requires explanation, since it would place
every branch of occupation in the Republic under
excise supervision, or afford a temptation for false
swearing, if the returns are to be accepted on oath,
which it may be feared would soon become serious.
The duty on gas will, perhaps, be inveighed against
in the terms formerly employed to denounce our
extinct window-tax ; but, if oils of all kinds ate
likewise to be subject to duty, the imposition is re-
qUisite for a fair adjustment. The excise to be
levied on paper generally will amount to about ls.
3d. sterling per cwt., but on the description used
for bank-notes it will be £1 per cwt. A large con-
sumption of the latter must be calculated upon to
make it worth while to establish a distinction. The
duty of sd. per barrel on flour, unless the trouble-
some system of drawbacks is to be constantly in
operation, will, of course, act as an advantage to
the foreign flour= fade of-Franceand other com-
peting countries. In the same manner the duty
on slaughtered animals will affect the provision
trade. Under the system of licenses every dealer
and shopkeeper will be included. The income-tax,
which was formerly proposed to extend only to in-
comes above £l6O, will now be enforced down to
£l2O, leaving still a good margin of democratic ex-
emption. The stamp duties are apparently to be
multitudinous, especially if, as is stated, they are to
be employed not merely on legal, but on " all kinds
of commercial papers," besides telegraphic messages
and express parcels. The figures subjoined are all
reduced from dollars and cents. to sterling :
Spirituous liquors, per gallon, 7-3--d ; ale and beer
per barrel, 4s ; tobacco, stem or leaf, per lb., 11d;
ditto, manufactured, 22d per lb additional ; ditto,
cigars, 22d, sd, or 10d per lb additional, according
to value; lard and linseed oil, burning fluid, and
coal oil, per gallon, 22d; refined coal oil, sd; gas,
per 1,000 feet, ls ; bank-note paper, per lb, nd
printing ditto, per lb, 3 mills; soap, per lb, 5 mills;
salt, per ewt, 2d ; leather, sole, per lb, „Id ; ditto,
upper, per lb, id ; flour, per barrel, 5d ; all other
manufactures, 3 per cent. ad valorem.; railroad
passengers, 2 mills per mile of travel; commutation
tickets, 3 per cent. ; steamboat travel, 1 mill per
mile; omnibuses, ferry-boats, and horse railroads, 3
per cent. on gross receipts from passengers ; adver-
tisements, 5 per cent. on amount of receipts an-
nually; carriages, annually, 4s to £2, according to
value; gold watches, 4s; silver ditto, 2s ; gold
plate, per ounce, 2s ; silver plate, per ounce, 4d ;
billiard tables, £4 ; slaughtered cattle, per head, 2s ;
hogs, ditto, 5d ; sheep, ditto, 22d.
Licenses—Bankers, £2O; auctioneers, £4 ; whole-
sale dealers, £l6 ; retail ditto in liquors, £4 ; retail
ditto in goods, £2; pawnbrokers, £lO ; rectifiers,
£2O ; brewers, £lO ; hotels, inns, and taverns, ac-
cording torental, rising gradually from £1 to £4O;
eating-houses, £2; commercial brokers, £4; thea-
tres, £2O; circuses, £10; bowling alleys, each
alley, £1; wholesale pedlars, £10; other ditto,
from £1 to £4; coal oil distillers, £4.

Income Tax—Three per cent. on all incomes over
£l2O.

Legacy Duties—Legacies and distributive shares
of personal property from one to five per cent., ac-
cording to the degrees of relationship.
Stamp Duties on all kinds of legal and commer-
cial papers, all patent medicines, telegraphic mes-
sages, and all goods by express.