The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 27, 1865.

that show the advisability of adopting this course.
The Canadians will then be so much more fitted to
take their share in the defence of the country.
It is not at all the desire of those who urge the
adoption of this plan to weaken the ties that at pre-
sent exist between Great Britain and the American
colonies ; on the contrary, there is reasonable ground
to hope that this plan will increase the strength of
England, and also confirm the mercantile power
in British North America. It is very true what
the right hon. gentleman said in the course of his
speech, that, in the event of the calamity of a war
occurring between this country and the United States,
Canada will be in the position to render much
more effectual assistance to England when the Con-
federation scheme has been carried out. Great
satisfaction must have been experienced by the de-
claration of the hon. member, that in no case would
an increase be made in the duty on the goods im-
ported from England into Canada. Reports have
been rife as to the probability of this taking place.
Mr. CARTIER spoke out very forcibly on the point
of Canada being " vulnerable ; " and on the re-
marks of some wise individuals as to the advisability
of leaving Canada to be independent, or else of
annexing it to the United States, " We, in Canada,
understand," said Mr. CARTIER, " that a cause of war
can scarcely arise from ourselves. War in Canada
must arise from an Imperial cause. We under-
stand that we are vulnerable, but we are willing that
our country should be the battlefield, in order that
the honour of England may be vindicated." These
are bold sentiments, and doubtless ably represent
the feelings and certify the opinions of those in
Canada. It is most likely that the Canadians view
with horror the idea of being annexed to the Ameri-
can republic, and those who propose such a thing
are destitute of the true elements of patriotic feeling
themselves, while they expect others to be the same,
or to give up their wishes. However, such sinister
notions are quite in the minority; and, as here men-
tioned, sufficient was said in the Speech from the
Throne, at the commencement of the session, to
show that the Government looked favourably upon
the scheme of Confederation. This assur-
ance must have been very gratifying to
the Canadians, and all who had the sense
and discernment to perceive that vital interests
were concerned in this matter, and that the well-
being of an important colony, and the consolidation
of the Imperial power depended upon the settlement
of the question there at issue. Truly did Mr.
CARTIER say that it was a most fallacious policy
which some advocated, to the effect that the ex-
pense of defending a particular colony was so great
that the mother country had better let the colony
alone when any particular juncture occurred. Ac-
cording to this theory all the colonial possessions
of England would be devoured at one time or
another. It is the surest way to test the merits of
any particular views to carry them out to
the full extent and then judge of the
effect produced. This is a very accurate mode of
,coming to a definite conclusion, and the most pre-
judiced must admit that a system which deprives
us of our chief sources of strength and power can-
not be a very good one. Shorn •of her colonies,
England sinks down in the scale of nations, and the
fruits of the exertions and enterprise of her race
through glorious years of struggle are thrown
away. M. GALT also made a suitable speech, and
alluded to the sad event which had that day been
told to them. Whatever opinions any entertained
as to the rights or wrongs of the gigantic struggle
going on in America, there could be but one feeling
predominant concerning this fearful deed of assas-
sination. Coming from one in a responsible position,
this assurance is important, and it doubtless illustrates
the opinions of all connected with the Deputation,
and also represents the sentiments of the colony from
whence they came. In the interests of the world at
large, Mr. GALT observed that they ardently desired
to see the termination of the strife between the
North and South, and the disastrous results of the
war made them feel particularly anxious on the
point, besides personal considerations and the inte-
rests of England being imperilled. The tone that
pervaded the speeches of these gentlemen was a
patriotic one, to the fullest extent. They were true
to the cause they advocated, and faithful in their
loyalty to England. So far it may be considered
that this meeting has been a good augury, and
held out hopes of a better understanding even than
that which already exists between the mother coun-
try and one of her 'important colonies, which, at
'this crisis, connects the interests of the two worlds
the Old and the New.

Close of the Armstrong and Whitworth
Competition.

SHOEBURYNESS, Wednesday Evening.
To-day two armour-plates, 4/ inches thick, the
manufacture of Messrs. Petin, Gaudet, and Co.,
near Lyons, were laid on separate timber frame-
works, without backing, at an angle, not of 38 deg.,
but of 45 degrees, and secured to the frameworks
by detached edge-bolts. The one armour-plate
thus secured formed the Whitworth target, and the
other the Armstrong target. Against their respec-
tive targets the Whitworth muzzle-loader and I. I.le
Armstrong shunt muzzle-loader were laid at 200
yards, the Whitworth firing 121 b. charges, and the
Armstrong 141 b. charges, at the option of the com-
petitors. The results were :
FIRST ROUND.

Whitworth steel shot, penetration 3 inches ; plate
slightly bulged behind.
Armstrong steel shot, penetration entire ; hole in
rear of the plate 3 inches square, with extensive area
of destruction.