The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-04 00:00:00

THE SUB, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 4, 1865,

The Diplomatic Service.

Lord Russell having seen occasion, after an expe-
rience of nearly three years, to revise the regulations
for the examination of the Attach6s in her Majesty's
Diplomatic Service which were issued on Sept. 15,
1862, has deemed it advisable to amend those regu-
lations, and to lay down in lieu thereof the following
regulations, which will take effect from the present
date. Lord Russell considers it proper that the junior
members of the Diplomatic Service should prove
their competency in all cases, in two examinations
by the Civil Service Commissioners.

In the first examination, which candidates for at-
tach6ships must be prepared to undergo within three
months from the date of their nomination, they must
satisfy the examiners in regard to the following

points :
"1. Orthography ; 2, Handwriting ; 3, General intelli-
gence ; 4, Prticis writing ; 5, That they are well grounded
in Latin grammar, and are able to construe and parse a
portion of some good classical Latin author, and to give the
derivation of words ;* 6, That they are acquainted with the
first four rules of arithmetic and decimal fractions, as given
with examples in Colenso's arithmetic, and with the first
book of " Euclid ;" 7, That they have a general knowledge
of geography ; 8, That they have a general knowledge of
French grammar, and can translately correctly from French
into English ; 9, That they have a general knowledge of
German grammar; 10, That they have a general knowledge
of the constitutional history of England, to be acquired
from " Blackstone's Commentaries" (Ker's edition, 1862),
and " Hallam's Constitutional History of England;" 11,
That they have a general knowledge of the political his-
tory of Europe, and of the United States of North America
from the Treaty of Paris, in 1815, to the Treaty of Villa-
franca, in 1860, comprising an acquaintance with the most
important international transactions during that period."
In a second examination, which must be under-
gone in the interval between the grant of a com-
mission as third secretary and that of a commission
as Second Secretary, candidates will be exempted
from re-examination in the Ist, 2d, sth, 6th, 7th,
and 10th subjects in which they have passed in their
previous examination ; but they must satisfy the
examiners in regard to the following points :
" 1. General intelligence, as evinced by the manner in
which they acquit themselves, and specifically by the
quickness they may show in seizing the points in papers
read by them, or read over to them, once or twice ; 2,
Precis writing ; 3, That they have a general knowledge
of French grammar, that they can converse fluently in
that language on ordinary topics, and can translate cor-
rectly from English into French, as well as from French
into English ; 4, That they have a general knowledge of
German Grammar, and can translate correctly from German
into English ; er if the candidates, between their first and
second examinations, have not resided a reasonable time,
12 months, for instance, in Germany, they may, if they
desire to substitute in their second examination, for a ge-
neral knowledge of German grammar, and for correct trans-
lation from German into English, the same qualifications in
some other foreign language besides French ; 5. That they
have a general knowledge of the political history of Europe,
and of the United States of North America, from the Treaty
of Versailles, in 1783, to the Treaty of Villafranca, in 1860,
comprising the most important international transactions
during that period ; 6. That they have a general know-
ledge of political economy, to be acquired from Adam
Smith's " Wealth of Nations" and Mill's " Political Eco-
nomy ;" 7, That they have a general knowledge of mari-
time and international law, to be acquired from " Vattel,*
" Wheaton's Elements of International Law," and the first
volume of " Kent's Commentaries ;" 8, They must satisfy
the examiners, by submitting to them a general report
on the commerce of the several countries in which they
have resided, and on their political relations with other
countries, that they are competent to draw up such a re-
port ; and they must be prepared to answer any questions
put to them by the examiners, within the limits of such
report."
Candidates for attacheships, on presenting them-
selves for examination must have completed the 21st
year of their age, and not exceeded the 26th.
Foreign-office, July 17.

* Candidates who have pissed the firstpublic examination
in classics at one of the Universities in Great Britain or Ire-
land will be exempted from being examined in Latin ; but
candidates claiming this exemption must, on going up for
examination, exhibit to the Civil Service Commissioners a
certificate from the duly constituted authorities, examiners,
or others, as the case may be, in such University that they
have passed the first public examination in classics in what-
ever manner that examination may have been conducted, and
to whatever point directed.

Mr. Gale's Gunpowder•

A correspondent in the Times says—The account
which appeared in your columns on Thursday last
of experiments with Mr. Gale's gunpowder, and
more especially the closing paragraph of that ac-
count, distinctly convey the idea that the making
gunpowder non-explosive on Mr. Gale's plan is
original. It may interest your readers to know
that the system was not merely " vaguely ima-
gined," but actually tried on a large scale, by M.
Piobert, the well-known French writer on gunpow-
der, in 1835, and by M. Fadeieff, Professor of
Chemistry at St. Petersburg, between 1840 and '44.
Some of the results of these researches will be found
in Piobert's Trait(! D'Artillerie, Thjorique et Expe-
rimentale, pages 213 to 220, and in the Comptes
Rendus of the Academie des Sciences, vol. x., p. 320,
and vol. xxiii., p. 1,148. Nor is it a fact that the
substances used for this purpose were, " by their
ready absorption of damp, entirely unsuited for the
end in view." Sand, it is true, was used by Pio-
bert, but sand in a pure- state. The silica of the
laboratory is not an absorbent body ; while it would
probably be found by experience that finely pow-
dered glass would become absorbent, since it is
well known that glass does become alkaline in course
of time. But Piobert used other substances, which
he preferred, partly because the gritty nature of sand
presented an element of danger. He found that any
of the constituents of gunpowder finely ground met
the required end, and of the three he preferred salt-
petre, as being the one which gave experimentally
the best results. M. Fadeieff tried a variety of sub-
stances, and ultimately gave the priority to a mix-
ture of wood charcoal and mineral charcoal
(graphite) ; and among other advantages of this
" earbo-graphite" he claims for it that of being un-
affected by moisture. ("La presence de rhumidite
n'altb-e en rien ses proprietes.") So much for the
substances employed.
Let us now see if the principle of M. Piobert's
plan was the same as that of the plan now advo-
cated by Mr. Gale. It is necessary here to explain
briefly the action of fired gunpowder.
Gunpowder does not, as is often supposed, explode
instantaneously on being ignited ; it burns rapidly,
it is true, but progressively, and its degree of ex-
plosiveness depends mainly upon the rapidity of that
burning. Evidently, then, anything which tends
to diminish its rapidity of burning tends also to
diminish its explosiveness. Now, the rapidity of
burning is enormously influenced by the facility to
expansion of the gases generated by the first ignited
grains. The requisite facility is afforded in ordinary
gunpowder by breaking it into grains, and so creat-
ing a number of interstices, dependent for their size
and extent upon the size and shape of the grains,
through which the gas can readily wind its way.
Now, if these interstices are filled up with a foreign
substance, and the completeness with which, so to
speak, the pores of the powder are closed, so must
the rapidity of burning of the powder, and hence its
explosiveness, be diminished. If enough of the
substance be added, as in Mr. Gale's mixture, each
grain being then actually shut out and separated
from its neighbour, the powder cannot burn at all,
and the result described in your columns follows.
Piobert's experiments showed that the powdered
substances need not even be non-combustible ; on
the contrary, sulphur, charcoal, and saltpetre give
better results than sand ; indeed, finely powdered
gunpowder introduced between the grains will itself
materially retard inflammation, and it is well known
that mealed or dust powder burns less rapidly than
granulated powder, from this cause ; and, similarly,
the explosiveness of powder which has become dusty
is much diminished. Where, then, is the difference
between Mr. Gale's system and that of MM. Piobert
and Fadeieff ? The one used powdered glass, the
others employed various powdered substances more
or less suitable. The Englishman adds rather more
of his glass, and so prevents his powder from
burning at all ; the Frenchman added as much as
he thought necessary to diminish the rapidity of
burning to the point which sufficed to deprive the
action of the powder of its dangerous explosive
character ; and, instead of employing 3 to 1 or 4 to
1, like Mr. Gale, used only 1 to 2.
I must not venture to trespass upon your space
wthiigth
sluebnfteclity. extractsf e reonneae s owhbi Pie's ' s I w
haveor k upon
given

will be sufficient for such of your readers as may
care to inquire further into this matter. I have no
wish to detract from Mr. Gale's merits, but palmam
qui meruit feral.
Nor do I wish to pronounce an unfavourable
opinion as to the practical value of the plan ; indeed,
in the absence of experiments on a much more com-
plete and extended scale than those which have yet
taken place with Mr. Gale's powder, it would be
unfair to do so ; but it should be noticed that the
objection which you refer to on the score of increase
of bulk is by no means the only one which pre-
sents itself. For example, the shooting quality of
the powder will of course depend upon the com-
pleteness with which the sifting process is performed;
and here we have at once a serious element of un-
certainty, the extent of which in these days of ac-
curate shooting will be readily appreciated. Then,
again, it is a question if the glass will not destroy
inivreat measure the glaze and surface of powder,
thus materially altering its character. The mixing
and sifting process will always be attended with
more or less danger ; and it is questionable to what
extent the mixture would remain complete in trans-
port, and in proportion as the powder becomes un-
mixed, so does it become more explosive, and our
fancied security, by inducing us to dispense with
precautions, might actually lead to the serious con-
sequences which Mr. Gale seeks to avert.
Royal Arsenal, Woolwich.

The Cholera in Turkey,

CONSTANTINOPLE, July 26.

The sole engrossing topic in this capital at the
present time is the cholera—in fact, all 0,1:,2 the Le-
vant great excitement exists as this much dreaded
scourge extends its fatal march. As you are aware,
it has been raging some time in Egypt, particularly
in Alexandria, to such an extent that a regular
panic seized the inhabitants of that city, and all
who possessed the means fled from the place, the
Viceroy being the first to set the example. Steamers
were chartered by the affrighted residents at fabu-
lous prices to carry them from the reach of the
dreaded malady ; many fled to Europe, others to
different places in the Levant, thus being the means
in many instances of spreading the disease.
At Smyrna it has made its appearance, principally
among the Jewish population ; there, as in Alexan-
dria, a regular stampedo has taken place, the inha-
bitants fleeing in all directions, in many cases
leaving their dead unburied. Business in conse-
quence is almost entirely suspended. Here, also, it
has undoubtedly broken out, notwithstanding the
quarantine regulations imposed, upon all ships from
suspected ports, which regulations were broken by
a Government steamer arriving from Alexandria
having several cases of cholera on board, the captain
and surgeon making a false declaration that the
crew were healthy. The men afflicted were landed
and put in the hospital at the arsenal, and thence
the fatal disease has spread and is gradually ex-
panding itself over the capital and villages in the
neighbourhood. The official report published yes-
terday states that 180 cases came under the cog-
nisance of the Medical Board. In the face of this,
many independent medical men with whom I have
spoken are still of opinion that it has not yet as-
sumed the type of veritable cholera, but only an ag-
gravated form of cholerine, which more or less exists
at this season, caused by the heat and the too free
use of cucumbers, raw fruits, and other unwhole-
some food. 'Whatever it is, there is no doubt the
destroying angel is among us, and such is the excite-
ment of the public mind that it would take very little
to produce among the nervous and excitable Le-
vantine population as disastrous a panic as that
which has recently taken place in, Alexandria.
Now that the enemy is in the camp the authorities
have commenced to bestir themselves, but it would,
indeed, require an Herculean army to cleanse this
Augean stable. It is surprising that cholera and
plague are not chronic in this place. Were it not
that nature is so bountiful in its gifts of pure air,
and many other blessings, which this capital enjoys
far above any other place in the world, all the
plagues which afflict the world would hold here high
festival. But how sadly is this bounty of Providence
abused by those for whose benefit it is provided, and
no advantage taken of the means at its disposal to
render this the most healthy and loveliest spot in
creation ! Now, however, the cholera has made its
appearance they have been seized with a sudden fit
of spasmodic energy, which vents itself in all sorts
of stupid and ridiculous regulations, many of which
tend fo produce unnecessary alarm, and others to
aggravate the evil. Among others the quarantine
regulations which at first (when caution was neces-
sary) were lax to a degree, suspected vessels being
allowed to anchor in the crowded harbour and hold
communication with the shore by means of back-
sheesh, now that the disease is really here, are car-
ried out with extreme severity. All vessels from
suspected ports are stopped at the Dardanelles,
which is a good arrangement, but the authorities
have made no arrangements to provide for the re-
ception or requirements of the crowds detained there,
and the stories which reach this place of the suffer-
ing and misery of the unfortunate creatures is fear-
ful ; and I have no doubt that through some other
channels you will be made acquainted with some of
the horrors of this cruelly organised quarantine.
Many of the ships detained there are crowded with
passengers who had only provided food sufficient for
the voyage, not reckoning the detention, and are,
consequently, dying of starvation ; others are
crammed into the filthy crowded Lazaretto, and are
dying from suffocation and bad air. Guarded by
an armed force, who prevent all egress, as a matter•
of course the cholera has broken out amongst them,
and there is no telling where it will end, as every
case entails an extension of quarantine. If these
reports are true—and I believe they are to a great
extent—it is disgraceful for a Government calling
itself civilised. In the capital and villages of the Bos-
phorus the sale of nearly all kinds of vegetables,
fruit, fish, and other articles of food has been pro-
hibited, and hundreds of poor people, who depend
upon the sale of these things for a livelihood, are
likely to be ruined. It is a question if such
arbitrary steps are perfectly justifiable; in any
other city in Europe it would be left to the good
sense of the people to refrain from injurious food,
with a proper supervision that nothing in an un-
wholesome state was exposed for sale.; but here

they make no distinction, and it is not rare to see
baskets full of fresh vegetables seized by the cavasses
and tumbled into the Bosphorus or into the streets.
Of course, as soon as their backs are turned a
regular scramble takes place for the booty, and
many a youngster gots hold of a cucumber which
he -would not have been able to buy.

One village on the Bosphorus, called the Yeni-
keni, has suffered so severely that all the principal
inhabitants have quitted it, and the steamboats
calling there have a place kept apart on the deck
for the passengers embarking. The Viceroy, who
left Egypt to escape the disease, is staying in Con-
stantinople. If that was his object he has not
gained much ; only jumped from the frying-pan
into the fire, as by the last statements I see the
cholera has nearly disappeared from Alexandria.
I understand he has established a military cordon
around his palace, and no one is allowed to approach
him.

Business of all kinds is suffering from the quaran-
tine regulations and the excitement of the public
mind. Communications between us and other
Turkish ports is very irregular and uncertain. In
fact, the whole commerce of the place is disorganised,
and there is no telling what would be the conse-
quence if the disease increases.

CARRIER PIGEONS.—A gentleman residing in the
metropolis sent seven carrier pigeons down to Plymouth
last week, with a desire to test their powers, and they wero
started at 18 minutes after seven on Saturday morning.
The first birds reached home at seven minutes past two
on Saturday afternoon.

LADITERTISEMENT.I—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills.—
Useful Knowledge.—The successful treatment of the great
mass of disease is not so great a mystery as many may sup-
pose. Purify the blood, cleanse the liver and stomach, and
the absorbent system will immediately right itself. Hol-
loway's remedies effect this object most satisfactorily and
completely. Both medicaments may bo beneficially used
by the most inexperienced, under whose care the very
worst of cases will progress favourably and terminate hap-
pily by using Holloway's celebrated remedies according to
the instructions wrapped round each pot and box. These
renowned remedies cure all disorders of the kidneys and
bowels, and will be found superior to all other means for
mitigating the sufferings of those unfortunately aftlictci by
incurable maladies.