The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-30 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

The following circular letter, signed by Earl Do
Grey and Ripon, Under-Secretary of State for War,
addressed to general officers of Artillery Volunteer
Corps, has been received at Chatham garrison from
the VVar•office:—

" I am directed by Secretary Sir G. C. Lewis to inform
you that he has approved the following regulations re-
specting the guns, gun ammunition, and artillery stores
supplied by Government for the instruction of Volun-
teers :-1. All guns, gun ammunition, and artillery stores
issued for the use of the artillery Volunteers, will, as hereto-
fore, be included in the store accounts rendered to the Field
Marshal Commander-in- Chief and the Secretary of Stato
for War by the officers commanding the Royal Artillery
in the several districts of Greit Britain; but these articles
will henceforward be committed to the charge of the
officers commanding corps of Artillery Volunteers, under
whose orders the non-commissioned officers of the Royal
Artillery attached to corps as instructors will act in the
capacity of custodians. 2. Officers commanding corps of
Artillery Volunteers are to communicate on all subjects con-
nected with the supply and disposal of guns, gun ammu-
nition, and artillery stores with the officer commanding the
Royal Artillery in the district in which their respective head-
quarters are situated, and must be prepared to afford him
every information which he may require from time to time
to enable him to account properly fcr the stores included in
his return. 3, In the case of corps belonging to an ad-
ministrative brigade the correspondence is to pass through
the officer commanding the brigade."

The large block of buildings being erected in
Chatham dockyard for the residence of the married-
members of the metropolitan police force doing duty
at that establishment are so far advanced towards
completion that they will shortly be ready to bo
handed over to the Admiralty by Messrs. Foord and
Sons, the builders. The building is three stories in
height, exclusive of the basement, and is divided
into three separate blocks. Each family is provided
with a commodious sitting-room, 16 feet by 15 feet,
and three large bedrooms, together with a wash-
house and watercloset on a level with the floors but
detached from the main building. Water is laid on
to every part of the building, which will also; bo
lighted with gas. The interior of the building has
been arranged according to the plan introduced by
the late Prince Consort in the model cottages
erected according to his designs in 1851. The build-
ing, which is built of white Aylesford bricks, has an
imposing and very substantial appearance, the effect
of the exterior being improved by the line of the
centre block of building receding some slight dis-

tance, which gives character to the whole. The
entire structure has been erected from the designs
of Mr. W. Rivers, the principal director of works
at Chatham dockyard, under the immediate direc-
tion of Col. G. T. Greene, the Admiralty superin-
tendent of public works. It is intended to charge
the police who occupy the building a nominal rent,
sufficient to pay a moderate percentage on the,
outlay.

GUNS VERSUS IRON SHIPS-I\lr, W. Fairbairn, in
the course of an address delivered to the Liverpool
Social Science Association on Friday evening said :—I may
venture to say a revolution is now pending over the desti-
nies of this and all other countries pending for security
on maritime constructions. It is obvious to every reflect-
ing person that the days of the wooden walls—on which
for so many years we rested for security—are numbered;
and we may see from the experiments now in progress at
Shoeburyness, that an entirely new era is bursting upon.
us in the forms and conditions of the future navy of Eng-
land. It is interesting to observe the fluctuations which
almost monthly take place between the vessels of attack
and defence. It is a contest in which I am perscnally
engaged, and, in connection with clearer heads than my
own have to draw conclusions and deductions which
may seriously affect the security and prosperity of the
kingdom. In this contest the Iron-plate Committee
are sometimes the winners and sometimes the losers;
but it must be admitted that our opponents, the Arm-
strongs and Whitworths, have recently had the advan-
tage; and the Iron-plate Committee being limited to the
weight that a ship can carry without destroying its effici-
ency, are rather at a discount in regard to the powers of
resistance. We are, however, in no way discouraged, as the
experiments disclose from time to time means by which
we may reasonably hope to best our antagonists. It may
be true that the construction of ordnance has not yet at-
tained its maximum force; neither has the construction.
of ships, nor the powers by which they may be propor-
tioned to set the largest guns at defiance. That they will
receive damage is evident, but I am persuaded that the loss
of life and the security of the ship will not be increa,ed
(under certain conditions) to what it was in termer tin es
under the command of such men as Rodney, DUIICUiI, :.11d.
Nelson. It is not for me, in this place, to state how this
should be done; suffice it to observe that our naval archi-
tects have to contend against shot of 3001 b. weight, that
may strike a ship with a velocity of 15,000 feet pie.
second; and as this weight multiplied into the square of the
velocity gives the work done, or the damage done to the
ship, it therefore follows, according to the formula deduced
from the experiments, that we have a force equivalent to
raising a weight of 467,192 tons one foot high in the air.
Viewing the subject in this light, it will be seen that a N.
great deal has yet to be done before we can declare the iron
clad ship invulnerable, and before this now system renders
the British navy, as of yore, the terror of its enemies, and
the precursor of liberty and civilisation in every part of the
globe.

Importing tea without colour on the leaf prevents
the Chinese passing off inferior brown leaves as in the usual
kinds. ilornicaan's tea is uncoloured, therefore always
good alike, Sold in packets by 2,280 agents,

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-
GARDEN.
Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W.
Harrison, Sole Lessees.
THIS EVENING, to commence with the Second and
Third Acts of THE BOHEMIAN GIRL.
After which, the Grand Comic Christmas pantomime, en-
titled HARLEQUIN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
Doors open at half-past B—Commence at 7.

THE ATR E-R YA L, DRURY-LANE.-
Lessee and Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer.
THIS EVEN ENG, the Comic Drama of THE NEXT OF
KIN.
After which, the Grand Pantomime of LITTLE GO DDY
TWO SHOES.

Commence At 7.

TREAT RE-BO YAI HAY MARKET.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Bnckstone.
THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, will be performed
OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Asa Trenchard, Mr. Buck-
stone ; Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothern.
After which, a new and original Extravaganza, entitled
ItASSELAS, PRINCE OF ABYSSINIA. ; or, The Happy
Valley. Rasselas, Miss Louise Kegley.
Followed by A DAY AFTER THE WEDDING. Mr.
W, Tanen, Mr. Rogers, and Miss Harfienr.

THEATRE ROYAL, LYCEUM, Will OPEN,
under the Sole Management of Mr. PECHTER, on
SATURDAY, 10th January, 1803, with a New Romantic
Drama, entitled THE DUKE'S MOTTO, in which the prin-
cipal character will be sustained by Mr. Pechter, supported
by Messrs. G. Vining, J. Brougham, H. kV iddicombe,
tyre, F. Charles, Garden, Raymond, H. Butler, Dawson ;
Misses Carlotta Leclercq, Kate Terry, E. Lavenue, and Els-
Wor thy. Box-office open on Thursday, Ist January, from 1
till 6.

VEIN THEATRE-R0 YAL,
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster.

-- •
THIS EVENING, A TICKET OF LEAVE : Messrs. J.
L. Toole, P. Bedford, and Mrs. Billington.

After which, MARGERY DAW.

To conclude with (4th time)" GEORGE DE BARNWELL ;
or, Harlequin Folly in the Realms of Fancy." Miss Woolgar,
Miss K. Kelly, Miss Seaman ; Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bed-
ford, Stephenson, C. J. Smith. Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri ;
I,olumbine, Miss Caroline Adams ; Clown, Mr. W. Hildyard ;
ntaloon, Mr. J. Paulo. The celebrated Arthur and
I,ertrand.