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

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUIT.

Sin,—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 produced 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 fl ►t bottomed boats,
or vessels of large size, propelled by steam of any great
Power, will not draw sufficient water to enable the screw or
Paddles, by adequate immersion, to act effectively, inde-
pendently of the risk of their being irreparably dam tged or
carried away ; and besides this, vessels of 400 tons or
upwards, with a heavy gun fore and aft, and six br,-)a.l-
- 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 firm iy
as possible, and 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
gtin 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 manoeuvring, there is
nothing for it but a small engine and screw, just large
enough, and no more, and which could be applied with
advantage.

Thus may be provided serviceable and efficient gun-
boats at a comparatively small cost, and which may be
used in any sea or channel with safety.
And I would add, that I Lave a patent for the con•
etruction of ships and vessels upon a new 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 satisfied,
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.

zaR DRAFT Off' TVAT F R AT AND ABOVE

CROI STADT.

The following has been addressed to the Elitor of
the Morning herald :
SlR,—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'
Tnale, and the mole full of ships all detained, as it is 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 le,s depth of water.
When the present Lightning steamer accompanied the
Gloucester, 74, to Cronstadt, this ship conveyin4 the
.Duke of Devonshire to be present at the cortmation 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
i 8 74 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-battle
ship that anchored in Cronstadt Roads, and
drew when she left Sheerness 22 ft. 6 in."

°DRssit.—The dates from Odessa are to the 30th of
nO, and describe a condition of total stagnation.
The weather, however, was all that could be desired
for the growing crops. "The fields," it is said, "never
Presented a inure luxuriant appearance, and we
shall have abundance of wheat, seed, &c. ; but, un-
fortunately, this will avail little, if peace and trade
are not restored." From the tone of these communica-
tions it would appear that the mercantile clasies are be-
ginning to appreciate the penalties of the war, to the
fuaintenance of which, according to the Russian official
bulletins' they are so eager to contribute.
TUE SURGEONS FOR THE NAVY.—A co.re pondert
of the Daily News says :—" Should Sir James Graham
persist in the statement—put into his mouth doubt-
less by his colleague the antiquated admiral, and rc-
Peafed by him so often that he probably now believes it
-----that; no room can be found on board fcr a cabin for
the assistant surgeon, let him accept Mr. Hume's sport•
Ing offer to go on board the ships of war, "and he
...Would undertake to find plenty of room for everybody."
If the right lion. baronet, however, will not listen to
rascl, but is willing to sacrifice our gallant sailors to
colleague's prejudices, there remains the alternative
of turning him out, and making Mr. Hume First Lord
cd. the Admiralty,—l am, Co., TWA Touw."