The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-10 00:00:00

73.

PUBLICATIONS.

WILL be forwarded, free, on application, a
detailed Prospectus, containing a description and
illustrations in miniature of many of the Machines included
in Mr. Nathan Thompson's Patents, purchased by the
EUROPEAN COMPANY FOR BOAT BUILDING BY
MACHINERY (Limited), with Copies of Testimonials and
Forms of Application for bhares.

TNow ready at all the Libraries, in 3 vols.,
UE WHITE ROSE OP CHAYLEIGH.
"A hovel of strong healthy purpose, clear thought,
and great descriptive power.,, —Spectator.
t"This novel is tastefully and powerfully written. The
oner possesses a good deal of originality and an independent
of thought. Post.
Hurst and Blackett, 13. Great Marlborough-street.

IMPORTANT BX.PERIALENTS Al 5110B-
BUIR FATEss.

with a 101 b. charge—an almost exact equivalent in
force to the American Dahlgren 180-potinder fired
with a 121 b. charge. Beyond dinting them these
missiles produced very little effect upon the plates.
Heavy charges of powder and high velocity of shot
are evidently the requisites for the destruction of
iron frigates. We have made the first step towards
demolishing our own work in the experiments of
Tuesday. Before this year is out it will be so ad-
vanced that, though we ourselves may not have in-
vulnerable ships—as, indeed, no nation can—we
shall, at least, be in possession of ordnance which
will destroy iron frigates with almost as much faci-
lity as wooden ones.

While all Europe is just now ringing with sur-
prise and almost consternation at the practical
results of the great naval duel between the Merri-
mac and the Monitor, we have to-day to record
still more important experiences, which are the very
opposite of those elicited by the contest in Hamp-
ton-roads. In brief, some experiments were tried
at Shoeburyness, on Tuesday afternoon, with a new
gun, of large size and great calibre, which showed al
every discharge that our best and hitherto consi-
dered invulnerable forms of ironsides were, so to
speak, almost as easily penetrated by its shot as if
the targets had been of timber ! Sir William Arm-
strong has made a 300-pounder on his own admira-
ble principle of wrought-iron coils. This is about
14 feet in length, its weight is 12 tens, and its dia-
meter at the muzzle 101 inches. It has not been
rifled, and therefore during the experiments of
Tuesday it only threw round solid shot of 1561 b.
weight. If rifled for the Armstrong shot, which is
about two and a half times the length of its dia-
meter, it would be a 300-pounder. The gun unrifled
and with plain solid shot, was tried against that
great champion of heavy weights which has
hitherto come off victorious in all encounters
—the redoubtable Warrior target. His Royal
Highness the Duke of Ciimbridge, the Duke
of Somerset, the Duke of Sutherland, Lord Clar-
ence Paget, Admiral Grey, Ccmmodore Drum-
mond, Captain Hewlett, Capt.
yv e r
t Cop , t
J.FDairbliaairy, n,sen., Mr. Laird, Mr.
eian
Samuda, Sir Wm. Armstrong, and other noblemen
and gentlemen connected with the War-office and
Admiralty, or interestedin the success of artillery
the
e irona attendance
chips,eud a
uo we ewr ea
s present;sm aland the experiments though, on the whole,
were conducted with unusual privacy. The great
interest was concentrated on the effect of the first
shot. With the high speed which our Warriors are
known to possess, and therefore the quickness with
which they can steam past batteries or iron ships,
it was reasoned, with perfect truth, that it was next
to impossible in a running fight that they could be
hit twice in the same place. If the target kept out
a ship keeping
y
poofunder, was fired
oounte
aslhhot,
lt,laheerefiwrsats
seivioetrr
ahio6p6e.
with a charge of 401 b. of powder, at a distance of
200 yards. This solved all doubts. With an in-
describable crash that mingled fearfully with the
report of the gun, the shot struck upon a compara-
tively uninjured plate, shattering the iron mass be-
fore it into little crumbs of metal, splintering the
teak into fibres literally as small as pins, and,
though not passing quite through the side, yet
bulging and rending the inner skin of the ship in
a way that would have rendered it almost impos-
possible to stop the leakage. The second shot
(still with a 401 b. charge) struck close by the side
of the first, making the previous damage tenfold
worse, if possible. To those who did not actually
see the experiments it would be difficult to
describe the manner in which the iron oppo-
site the missile was broken into minute frag-
ments like glass; how the teak was so utterly
disintegrated that it more resembled tangles of fine
twine than even the remains of woodwork; and
how, above all, the inner iron skin was ripped into
gaps like torn paper. These two shots were quite
conclusive as to the power of the gun. Mad they
struck an iron frigate at the water line, no means
could have prevented her from sinking in half an
hour. Still, however, the shot had not gone com-
pletely through the side, which it was the great
object of the experiments to accomplish. The
charge of powder was, therefore, increased from
401 b. to 501 b., and the gun levelled at- the upper-
most plate of the target, which had been left
untouched in previous tests. On this plate a white
spot was painted to guide the artillerymen, and so
true was their aim,—so exactly was the centre of
the mark struck,—that every vestige of the paint
was obliterated. With this increased charge the
shot passed, not only through armour plate, teak,
and inner skin, but buried itself in the massive
timbers that support the target, and even loosened
the blocks of granite by which the whole is backed
up. Had it been the side of the Warrior against
which this missile was directed, it would not
only have gone through the side, but nearly
through the opposite side as well. Another white
mark was then made on the lowest plate of the
target, and again the artillerroen hit it with the
same marvellous precision and with the same result.
The shot went through everything, and even the
fondest believers in the invulnerability of our pre-
sent ironsides were obliged to confess that against
such artillery, at such ranges, their plates and sides
were almost as penetrable as wooden ships are now
to the plain old-fashioned long 32's. Of course,
after such decisive results, no further experiments
were tried ; indeed, they could not be, as the 156-
pounder evidently thought it had done enough
work for the day, and at the last discharge recoiled
so much as to get off its wooden platform and
imbedded the hind wheels of its carriage in the stiff
yet watery clay, for the production of which in the
largest quantities at the shortest notice Shoebury-
ness stands unrivalled. But quite enough had been
accomplished, and Admiralty officials and armour
shipbuilders could only admit to each other in a
kind of confidential dismay that artillery had at last
proved too much for them, and that if invulnerable
ships were to be constructed they must begin de
novo. It was clear to all that the Warrior would
not stand the least chance against the new gun,
even unrifled.

HENRY SEARLE, Secretary,
Officea of the Company,
17, Gracechurch-street,
London, April 8, 1862.
See Mmes of 7th April.

THE CLOISTER AND THE HEARTH.-
Immed(ittely, in 3 vols., price 155., a New and Cheap
Edition of CHARLES READE'S IoAMOUi STORY.
Handsoinely bound in roan cloth, gilt and lettered. Orders
received by all Bookmliers.

MR. AND MRS. CHARLES MATHEWS
"AT 11011 E,"
At Her Majesty's Concert Room, Haymarket.
Last Nights of the present Entertainment, which will ter-
minate at Easter, n hen they will appear with an Entirely
New Programine.
Every Evening (except Saturday), at Eight. Wednesday and
Saturday Mornings at Three.
Private boxes, stalls, and places may be secured at the Box-
office, which is open daily from Ten till Five, and at Mr.
Mitchell's ROM Library, 33, Old Bond-street. No extra
charge Por booking.
Carriages to be ordered at Ten.
Stalls, ss. ,• First Circle, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 3s. ; Unreserved
Seats, 2s. and ls.

The really terrible effect of the Armstrong gun
and shell is best shown on the wooden section of a
line-of-battle ship which has been fired at at Shoe.
buryness. The effects of the shell as shown in the
" tween decks" of this target are really something
awful to look at. Against such shells wooden ves-
sels are, in fact, no more protection than basket
work, though happily the iron frigates can keep
out these most terrible of all missiles. What next
form and strength of Warriors we can devise re.
mains to be seen. But, whatever it is, our readers
may depend upon it a gun will be found to beat it,
and, in fact, no weapon of offence or defence seems
left to us now so efficient as a large armour-clad
and very swift steam ram.

OHRISTY'S MINSTRELS. --- The Original,
kJ Well-known, and only CIIRISTY'S MINSTRELS are performing nightly to crowded houses at the POLYGRA
rilic HALL, King William-street, Strand. Tickets to be
had at Mr. Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street ;
Mr. Austin's Ticket Office. St. James's Hall, Piccadilly.—
Morning Performance every Saturday at three o'clock.—
W.T. COLLINS, Sole Proprietor.

ARGYLL ROOMS.—Series of New Music,
1 Daises, Quadrilles, and Polkas, by the unrivalled Band
of 50 performers, under the sole direction of Mona. BouL-
CORI', Conductor and Composer. This 'gentleman will play
every evening-at II o'clock, until further notice, variations
arranged by himself on the Cornet-a-Piston.—The free-list
will be open for the profession by leaving their card at the
door. By order of the Proprietor.—Manager, Mons. P.
Grenet. Admission is.

A MOST DESIRABLE BREAKFAST BEVERAGE.
EPPS'S COCO A.
(Commonly called Epps's Homceopathio Cocoa).
The delicious aroma, grateful smoothness, and invigo.
rating power of this preparation have procured its general
adoption as a most desirable breakfast beverage.
Vb., Vb., and 11b. packets, at is. 6d. per lb., by Grocers.

The Warrior, Black Prince, Defence, and Resist-
ance—the only four armour frigates which we
have yet afloat are coated with 41 inch plates
of iron, with two layers of 10 - inch teak beams
placed transversely, and with an inner akin of
rought iron nearly an inch thick. It was against
this powerful combination of materials that the
156-pounder gun was tried on Tuesday with such
complete success. The new frigates building, the
Achilles, Hector, Valiant, Agincourt, Northum-
berland, and Minotaur, are all to be coated with
51-inch iron plates, with 10 inches of teak, and the
In these it i
and increasing
ll be rifled to
throw a 300-pounder flat-headed shot, against which
same inner skin of wrought iron.
vessels are
hoped that reducing the teak backing
the armour plate will add to the strength of the
ship ipnhbedutthleeng
presentvery longl6 o beforeuls6-pounder
e rthesewill
not six or even eight inches of armour may be able to
offer resistance at short ranges. What, in fact, is
to be done when we are at the same time exerting
our efforts and spending our money to construct in-
destructible ships and invent irresistible guns ? The
guns must carry the day. We have nearly reached
the limits of the thickness of iron plates which sea-
going vessels can carry with safety. There is prac-
tically no limit to the size of the coiled wrought-iron
gun. To-day a 166.poander wins--a month hence
'and the same gun will be a rifled 300-Pounder, and a
600-pounder may be ready before Midsummer; but
with thicker than six-inch armour plates no sea-
going vessel can be coated. The Americans are now
making two wrought•iron guns, unrifled, each to
throw an eleven-hundred pound shot. When we
get such results with a plain 156-pounder, what rnay
not the Federals expect to accomplish with gigantic
ordnance of this description ? Armour plates a foot
thick would be destroyed by the blow of a wrought-
iron eleven-hundred pound shot fired at short-range.
At the conclusion of these trials some experi-
ments were made against Mv- Fuirbairn's iron
target, which failed so signally On the last occa-
sion: Since then the armour plates have been
bedded on hemp and indiarubber, and the effect
of this soft medium in diminishing the force of
the concussion upon the iron ribs beyond the
plates enabled it to stand much better. But the
general feeling seemed to be that some kind of
timber backing to the plates was indispensable.
The most interesting portion of this experiment
was when the Armstrong 200-pounder was fired

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The following letter
which have not hitherto been published :
" NEW YORK, MARCH 25.
"Rumours have been current since Sunday last
of the capture of New Orleans, but they rest upon
apparently no better authority than did the same
reports current some four months ago. People here,
however, as well as the Government itself, feel per-
fectly sure that the city will be taken within the
nett 2O days, some here go so far as to inti-
matea
thae, and some
late advices thence to the effect
that
that many of the residents of New Orleans were
also under the belief that the city would fall with
scarcely any resist ance whatever. Butler's expedi-
tion from Ship Island is destined for that point,,
and is to act in conjunction with Porter's heavy
mortar fleet in the attack upon the city. TI e
latter has already arrived near the scene ,of op,ra-
tions, and if the ball-is opened at once we may have
news at any inotnent of the result.
" w
belief felt here that Ncw Orleans ill he
readily
taken is not shared by me, while the adviees:
the city, to the J'et that the conquest would be
reported to have been received from residents of
:
..'n: iect. One
grains of suspicion. Sue,
advices are certainly
contrary to all the intelligence an easy one, should, i :hinlc, be received with many
ally received from trustworthy sources, and 1
prefer to believe these rather th
that I have pers(,n-
else that has appeared upon the sue,
of the most important questions in connection
any thing
with the possible
capture of the city is, " Will
the port be opened immediately to cornmercu'
If I may venture an opinion, I should say that it.
would, as the occupation of the most importanteitv
and seaport of the South would almost settle the•
question at once so far as relates to. the other ports,
and their occupation would be apt to soon follow.
The opening of the ports, however, would be nos
guarantee of a steady supply of cotton, or indeed,
any supply worth speaking of. New Orleans, at
last accounts, held 11,000 bales, and, if the torch
was not applied to it, it would probably fall into the•
handsof the enemy; but when this was secured the-
Federals, I fancy would have handled the last cot-
ton that would show itself for some months. Te„
planters would not be the fools to bring it into the
city, and the enemy at present has not the means
or the power to go on the plantations and take
it by force. So will it be with any other
important city that may be taken. The Federals
may say they ' occupy' it, but the fruits of
that occupancy will be as barren as at Alexandria,
as at Newborn, as at Beaufort, as at Nashvilkci
or-any other point they now hold.
"It is said that some of the more enterprising
citizens of New Orleans, in anticipation of the
capture of the city, are loading all the vessels in
the port with cotton on foreign account, at a
freight of sc. per lb. Thss action is to keep it
out of the hands of the Federals, in the event of
their landing, and the parties engaged in the
movement are of the belief that it can be cleared
soon after the Federai occupation shall have taken
place. •
" For a like reason (an expected early opening of
the port) there have been some heavy operations in
sugar and molasses, the former of which was selling
at last accounts at 214 e. to 4c. per lb., and the latter
at 16e. per gallon. How they are worth 90. and
50c. respectively. Whether the purchasers of these
articles anticipate' that they will be permitted to'
ship them unmolested when the city shall be occu-
pied, or whether they expect to sell them to the
Federals, does not appear. Either course, however,
would be against the sanction of the Confederate
Government, while it would also create abroad sus-
picion of disloyalty to that Government, and, unless
the Federals were strong enough to protect these,
pensons in their sales or shipments, they would not
be allowed.
"I am free to confess that the 'Washington Go-
vernment has been most kind and generous thus
far, wherever its forces have taken possession. It
has opened, unsolicited, postal communication with
the North ; and in the case of Nashville it has
allowed goods from the North to pour into that city
by the ton. The result of this is that prices have.
fallen immensely, and the people of Nashville and.
Some other portions of Tennessee have now within
their reach all the creature comforts at the most
reasonable rates of charge. It remains to be seen,
however, how far these generous actions win suc-
ceed in winning the people back to.their allegiance.
" The death of M'Culloch is confirmed. His son
fell on the same battlefield, a true hero and martyr,
like his father, to the Southern cause: We have
also tidings of the death, from amputation of his
leg, of Commodore Buchanan, who commanded the

Merrimac in her recent terrible contest. When het

stepped aboard that vessel he said it should carry
him to glory or to the grave, and it bore him trium—
phantly to both.
" The Southern accounts of the great battle at
Pea Ridge, Arkansas, claim the result as a victory,-
to the Southern arms, and although this is in direct.
conflict with the Federal account, we have as much
right to believe one as the other. To say the least),
so far as the garbled and unsatisfactory reports of
results of battles are given in the Government
despatches, they are open to the strongest suspi-
cion, while instances are notorious of the reports
being the most unblushing falsehoods. The last
two shameful impositions were those of last week,
one announcing the occupation of Strasburg, in
Virginia, and the other Halleck's assertion that the
Federalists had captured Island No. 10, with all its
contents, whereas up to the present hour the Con-
federates still hold both."