The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-12 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BUN.

SIR,—As the question of gun-boats and their con-
struction has now become a matter of interest and im-
portance, I think every one who can suggest anything
bearing upon the end in view is bound to do so for his
country's cause and the common good ; and it may be
remarked as something singular, that no professional
shipbuilder has yet pruduced or proposed anything of
the kind suited to the exigencies of the service or the
immediate wants of the day.

As regards the kind of vessel alluded to, it may be
observed, and must be patent to all who think upon the
subject, that sharp or wedge-shaped vessels are quite
unfit for shallow waters ; not only from their drawing
too much, but that if they once take the ground or the
ground takes them, they must inevitably capsize, and
with scarcely a possibility of their getting off again.
While, on the other hand, broad or fi it bottomed boats,
or vessels of large size, propelled by steam of any great
power, will not draw sufficient water to enable the scrowor
paddles, by adequate immersion, to act effectively, inde-
pendently of the risk of their beingirreparahly damaged or
carried away ; and besides this, vessels of 400 tons or
upwards, with a heavy gun fore and aft, and six broad-
side guns, drawing eleven feet or more as now building
for gun-boats, must be totally unfit for the intended pur-
pose or for such a service.
To be effective as gun-boats, they certainly should not
be more than one-half of the above tonnage; with ample
breadth of beam and floor; not too lofty ; to sit as firmly
as possible, awl take the ground easily, and as easily leave
it again ; to be built "double-headed," or to steer at
either end ; and to be armed with a heavy pivot
gun or mortar fore and aft (and a third one or rocket
tubes amidships, to be the more powerful), would seem
to be the boat best adapted to the purpose required.
The mode of propulsion being the only remaining ques-
tion, and as nothing can be substituted for steam to
insure rapidity of motion and manceuvring, there is
nothing for it but a small engine and screw, just large
enough and no snore, and which could be applied with
advantage.

Thus may be provided serviceable and efficient gun-
G gas at a comparatively small cost, and which may be
used in any sea or channel with safety.
And I would add, that I have a patent for the con-
struction of ships and vessels upon a ❑ew principle of
wood and iron combined ; and for rendering them, as
well as iron vessels and boats, more secure and imper-
vious to shot and its effects ; which, I am satisfisd,
might be applied with great advantage to this object, as
well as in the preservation of human life—a point of
the first consideration. And although it may (like most
new inventions) appear chimerical, I should have no fear
of the result, if properly applied and carried out (even
to a greater extent), being content, under these circum-
stances, to stake everything upon the issue, and would
grant a free license for a trial of the plan. —I am, Sir,
your obedient servant,

R. B. FEATHER,
Inventor and Patentee.

Liverpool, 11th July, 1854.

THE DRAFT OF WATER AT AND ABOVE

GRO...\ ST ALT.

The following has been addressed to the Editor of
the Morning herald :
SIR,—It is stated in your paper of this day that 13
feet water may be found above Cronstadt, or " Crown
Port," leading to St. Petersburgh ; but it will be found
that there is a bar formed of sand about five miles above
Cronstadt, on which is not more than seven or eight feet,
and with a continuance of dry weather and easterly winds
not as much. I have been at Cronstadt under these
circumstances, when small vessels, only drawing eleven
feet water, have been aground in the merchant ships
is '
mole, and the mole full of ships all detained, as it well
known it is a tideless sea, and the currents are under the
influence of the wind, the depth of water increasing or
decreasing as the case may be ; south-west gales causing
inundations, and easterly much less depth of water.
When the present Lightning steamer accompanied the
Gloucester, 74, to Cronstadt, this ship conveying the
Duke of Devonshire to be present at the coronation of
the Emperor, there was not water over this bar by two
or three feet for the Lightning to cross it, and the duke
and his suite, &c., had to get into a small Russian pas-
senger steam-boat on the west side of the bar, and pro-
ceed to St. Petersburgh. The consistency of the water
is 7-1- per cent. less than those of the British Channel, so
that if our large ships composing the fleet would drop in
buoyant waters 27 feet, they will sink here to a depth of
upwards of 28 feet. Off Cronstadt the depth in the
mid-channel leading to it is five fathoms, or 30 feet. The
channel is bounded by sands on either side, and bend-
ing as you approach the port and come within range of
the forts, so that ships would be exposed to a raking
fire, &c. "I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
"The Officer that Superintended the Pilotage of
the Gloucester, the first British line-of-bnttle
ship that anchored in Cronstadt Roads, and
drew when she left Sheerness 22 ft. 6 in."

THE SMIGEONS Fort THE NAVY.—A correspondent
of the Dail !I News says:—"Should Sir James Graham
still persist in the statement—put into his mouth doubt-
less by his colleague the antiquated admiral, and re-
peated by him so often that he probably now believes it
--that' no room can be found on board for a cabin for
the assistant surgeon, let him accept Mr. Hume's sport-
lug offer to go on hoard the ships of war, " and he
would undertake to find plenty of room for everybody."
If the right hon. baronet, however, will not listen to
reason, but is willing to sacrifice our gallant sailors to
prejudices, there remains the alternative
of turnip
o A uar
him out, and making Mr. Hume First Lord
g
his colleague's
TQVCigii!
of th

STATE OF TRADE.

( From the Manchester Guardian of this day.)

MANCHESTER, July 11.—By the New York steamer
of the 28th ult. we learn that the American markets for
cotton were firm in prices, and that at New Orleans
there was an advance of per lb—middling being
quoted 811. c. with freight to Liverpool d. per lb. The
receipts for the week were 29,000 bales, against 12,000
last year, and the exports to Great Britain 54,000
against 24,000. The weather was good and the growing
plant healthy. In Liverpool there seems to be an attempt
to-day to turn to some little account the stiffness on the
other side ; speculative purchases to the extent of 2,000
bales being reported; butthe dullness prevailing there of
lace will meet with no relief in the state of this day's
Manchester market. The languour which has latterly
characterised the Liverpool market, although at-
tended with hardly any noticeable concession in the
price of good cottons of the different denomina-
tions, has certainly tended to increase the general
caution and limit the amount of business in this market:
Other causes have, at the same time, contributed to the
same result: viz., an uneasy feeling about the mutual po-
sition of the German and the western powers in relation
to the war with Russia ; and an anxiety about the future
supply of food, occasioned by the state of the weather in
this country, and by accounts of its being still more un-
favourable in Germany and the northern parts of France.
In all departments we have consequently experienced a
greater degree of dullness than we did last week; both the
continental and the India houses, who were men oper-
ating to a very great extent, are now doing as little as
others ; and the business of the day has therefore been
comparatively inconsiderable.
ROCHDALE, July 10.—The flannel market has been
flatter to-day than it was on the previous Monday. It
has been usual in former years for the merchants to
begin to lay in their winter stocks as early as July,
but there is no indication of this at present. The wool
market has been firm, and former prices well main-
tained.

HUDDERSFIELD, July 11.—Business to-day, both in the
piece hall and the warehouses, has been better than last
week, though far from what is understood by the
term " brisk." There has, however, been a fair at-
tendance of buyers ; and though their transactions
have not been either numerous or heavy, there is a de-
cided improvement in tone throughout the market. De-
mand has mainly been for fancy's of good quality, and
low plain blacks. In the wool warehouses compara.
tively little has been done.

SPORTING INTEL hIGENCE.

BETTING AT MANCHESTER.-TUESDAY.

There was a full attendance at the rooms this morning,
but nothing like the speculation one has been on the. eve
of a popular race like the Liverpool Cup. There have
been some changes since our last. Typee, not much in
force previously, jumped at once to the front rank, con-
tending with Dr. O'Toole forthe first favouritism. King-
ston was introduced yesterday at 12 to 1, taken to some
money, closing to-day at 7 to 1.
The only change in the Goodwood Stakes is an im-
provement in the two leading favourites.

LIVERPOOL CUP.
5i to 1 agst Typee (taken)
5i to 1 agst Dr. O'Toole (taken)
6 to 1 agst Hungerford (taken)
7 to 1 agst Early Bird (taken)
7 to 1 agst Kingston (taken)
12 to 1 agst Talfourd (taken)
14 to 1 agst Ulster (taken)
16 to 1 agst Lady Bird (taken)
33 to 1 agst Mentmore Lass (taken).
GOODWOOS STAKES.
6 to 1 agst Diana (taken)
6 to 1 agst Heapy (taken)
12 to 1 agst Tros (taken).
20 to 1 agst Exact (taken)
25 to 1 agst Torment (taken).
25 to 1 agst Jouvence (taken)
ST. LEGER.
75 to 25 agst Dervish (taken)

DERBY LOTS, 1855.

W. BUTLER'S.—Parop, Pugnator, Spinner.

JOHN DAY'S.—Arnaut, Cruiser, Dazzle, Jackdaw,
Kingstown, Lawyer Endless, The Nailor, Namur, Prince
of Wales, Saucebox, Supplicant, Swagger, colt by Veni-
son out f Defiance's dam, William the Third.
J. B. DAY'S.— Cavalier, Oulston, colt by Surplice out
of Ferina.

W. DAY'S.—Brinklow, colt by Epirus ont of Fraudu-
lent, colt by lago, dam by Gladiator out of Marchesina,
colt by Joe Lovell out of Buzz, Lord of the Isles, New-
ington, Triumvir, Westminster by Touchstone.
DILLY'S.—CoIt by Bay Middleton out of Industry,
Joshua, Valentinian, colt by the Libel out of Splitvote.
Mr. DRINKALD'S.—Donum, Katerfelto, Le Fripon,
Monge, Professor Airy.
DOCKERAT'S.—CoIt by Cotherstone out of Polydora,
colt by Epirus out of Glacis, Gerard.
LORD EXETER'S.—A.zim, Hazel, Nutjobber, Strood.
FOBERT'S.—Coro3bus, Courtenay, Deerstealer, Dirk
Hatteraick, Freddy, Neoptolemus, Van Winkle.
Mr. KNowLEs's.—Cecrops, The Rajah, The Sand-
boy. _ _ _

Mr. MARE'S. Broker, Cinnamon, Conveyancer,
Tynemouth.
JOHN SCOTT'S.—The American, Aurifer, the Bonnie
Morn, the Corfiote, De Clare, Dr. Cooke, Elvaston,
Grmculus Esuriens, Hickleton, The Huntsman, Lorenzo,
Louvat, Marco Spada, The Mosquito, Noddy, Paletot,
Phoebus, Priestcraft, The Professor, Sir Roger Hill.
STEVENS'S.—Dartmouth, Ethelbald, Flatterer, Frede-
rick, Norwegian, Roderigo.