The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-28 00:00:00

number were ready to volunteer, the defence of
Canada would probably be put beyond doubt. Ac-
cording to the history of the world, small commu-
nities are rarely, if ever, overrun and subdued by
large ones, if they are of stout heart and of one
mind in resisting the invader, and if they have pre-
pared themselves betimes for the contingency of in-
vasion. The civil war in the United States is the
opportunity of Canada. It exhibits to her the mi-
litary strength of her neighbour, and at the same
time affords her time to emulate his military re-
sources while these resources are being expended
elsewhere. But, above all, we rejoice in the reso-
lution of the Canadian Government, which we
make no doubt the Parliament will readily sanction,
as one that will probably have for its result to put
an end to undignified apprehensions, and to exhibit
the spectacle of one of the oldest and most extensive
colonies of the British Crown going hand-in-hand
with the mother country in securing the maintenance
of its own independent liberties.

Launch of Her Majesty's Ship Agincourt.

Yesterday morning her Majesty's ship Agincourt,
armour-plated ram, 6,680 tons, 1,350-horse power,
and 26 guns, built for Government by Messrs. Laird
Brothers,' of Birkenhead, which we described so
fully yesterday, was successfully launched without
the slightest accident beyond the breaking of a.few
ropes. The yard was crowded with spectators, and
every accessible point on both sides of the river com-
manding a view of the scene was thronged. The Ad-
miralty was represented by Mr. Luke, and among
those present were Lord Richard Grosvenor,
Mr. John Laird, M.P., Mr. William Laird, Mr.
John Laird, jun., Mr. M'Gregor Laird,
Captain Leycester, Mr. Littledale, Mr. Bold,
Mr. Lyster, dock engineer, and other local
gentlemen. The graving dock in which she was
built had been closed in from the river with masonry
at the commencement of the work, but this was re-
moved some time ago, and the only process neces-
sary to admit the water was to remove the iron
caisson at the mouth of the dock. The tide, accord-
ing to the tide-table, was 21ft. lin., and it was at
its full height at 11.17 a.m. It was expected that
24ft. of water would float her over the dock-sill, and
as the tide would rise 27ft. over the sill it was not
expected that there would be any difficulty in tow-
ing her out. At 10 o'clock exactly it was perceived
that she floated forward, and by half-past 10 sh e
was also afloat astern, drawing 22ft. forward and
24ft. abaft. The word was then given to " Go,"
and the six tugs in waiting drew her slowly out.
As she left her position Mrs. Laird gracefully per-
formed the ceremony of christening, and the Agin-
court glided easily out into the Mersey. The band
of the sth Cheshire Artillery Volunteers (a corps
composed of men belonging to the works) played
" God save the Queen," and the immense concourse
of spectators joined in one prolonged cheer as a
welcome to the noble vessel on her entrance into
that element whereon she is destined to achieve no
mean reputation. Having obtained headway against
the tide, she was towed slowly up to the entrance
of the new Morpeth Dock, Birkenhead. As she
again passed Messrs. Laird's works she received a
salute from the battery attached to the works for the
use of the artillery corps. After some careful
manoeuvring, under the direction of Capt. Hookey,
R.N., Birkenhead harbour master, she was towed
safely through the rather complicated entrance, and
by 12 o'clock was safely moored on its south side.
She then drew 21ft. 3in. forward and 24ft. 6in. aft.

Her remaining works will there be completed, and
she will now soon be ready for sea, as all her ma-
chinery was placed on board in the graving dock.
She is the first vessel of large size that has entered
this new dock, and she certainly does it credit. Im-
mense numbers of people visited her during the day,
and, indeed, the event produced quite a holyday in
Birkenhead. The people on both sides the river are
very proud of this, the finest specimen of naval
architecture yet built on the Mersey, and they are
confident that she will not only prove a credit to her
builders as a sea boat, but that she will bear wor-
thily her part in the sternest work that may arise for
her to do.