The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-13 00:00:00

RUSSIAN PREPARATIONS.

The following letter from the St. Petersburg
correspondent of the National Zeitung puts the
extensive preparations of Russia in a clear light
before us :

" OCT. 31.—Since the first manifesto ordering levies
for the present war, and still more since the declaration
made by this Government of its intention to confine itself
to a defence of Russian territory, the universal conviction
has taken root here that Russia will strain every nerve,
even up to exhaustion, before she descends from her ori-
ginal demands to the level of the Four Points. It is true
that a firm and tenacious occupation of the 'pledge' was
expected with similar confidence, but on e that has not been
justified. It was found impossibhe to retain possession of the
principalities in the presence of Austria's attitude, and
so, not to be compelled next spring to any more retiring
en `strategic grounds,' it has been foisd desirable not
only to form an army of reserve in addition to the active
army that has been put on war footing, by calling in all
absent on furlough, the reserves, and those who had re-
tired, but also to make preparations for a second army of
reserve, by constructing its cadres, which the levies of next
spring are to to fill up. This will be the 13th levy. The ex-
emption of some Governments from thel2th levy,thathas
very recently been ordered, will occasion a considerable
deficiency. For instance, the Taurian Government was
a few days back exempted by the Emperor from this 12th
partial levy. The military authorities will therefore be
obliged to make up the deficiency out of other Govern-
ments of thewest, and institute supplementary levies. Be-
side the active army, the Guards, and the Grenadiers, the
two cavalry corps, and the corps Of Dragoons, there are
to be not only the sth and 6th, but also the 7th and Bth
battalions; that is to say, withthe exception of the reserve,
the entire supplementary force is to be put on war footing.
This indicates that preparations are being made to
hold out against even an European coalition, and is fact
against any possible combination ; and that peace does
not enter into the calculations here. As to the possible
duration of the war, it is felt that it depends solely on
the length of the attack on Russia's defensive position.
There is a strong feeling of hatred here against Austria,
dating as far Lack as from the period of the Hunga-
rian war, and this feeling has become still mere
embittered since the retreat from the Danubian Prin-
cipalities. It is only respect for the Emperor's will
expressed on this head that prevents this feeling from
breaking out into open manifestations. For the pre-
sent the Government organs, by all sorts of extracts from
the Russia-loving press in. Germany, impress on their
readers that Austria is not the champion of German in-
terests in the present conflict. At the best it is hoped to
keep Germany a little longer inactive, but as regards
Austria this expectation has already been given up."

CRYSTAL PALACE, Nov. 11:—(11ivs SHILLING DAY.)
—Admission at the doors, 126 ; admission by season
tickets, 389 ; total, 515.
• [AnvEnTisEmENT.]—A Lieutenant of Dragoons Cured
of Rheumatism by Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—
This officer, who is in the Dutch army, states that Hol-
loway's pills and ointment have cured him of rheuma-
tism which appeared to be incurable, as neither sea
bathing, vapour baths, nor preparations vaunted as sure
remedies, did him any good, and the treatment of the
doctor, after several months' trial, was without success.
At this juncture he commenced taking these pills, and
rubbing the ointment into the complaining parts twice a
day, which effectually cured him in the course of six
weeks. The truth of this statement can be vouched for
by Mr. J. B. Stratman, of Bois-le-Duc.—Sold by all
druggists, and at Professor Holloway's establishments,
I 244, Strand, London, and 80, Maidon-lane, New York.

[PRICE SD.

" LANCASTER'S GUNS" AND "OVAL
SHELLS."

TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN.

Liverpool, Nov. 8, 1851.
SIR,—As you are aware, we have recently heard a great
deal about certain wonderful things, called " Lancaster's
gun ;" also termed an "oval gun" (a sheer impossibility);
and likewise of "Lancaster's ovel shell."

Now, I beg leave to ask—Does anybody know this "Mr.
Lancaster" or his "oral gun," or where they are either of
them to be found? Or what are the peculiarities of the
gun, so celebrated by his name ? Because I have caused
inquiries to be made on the subject, and can gain no in-
formation whatever respecting them ; and where, too, if
they exist, they must of necessity be known. But as re-
gards the "oval shell," I happen to know a great deal, as
will presently be seen.
Yon will doubtless remember that in your publication
of the beginning and latter end of August, and the end of
September last, and also in the daily papers of the same
period, there appeared the reports of trials at Shoebary-
nese and the Isle of Wight, of " Lancaster's oval.guns and
shells," and of an elongated cannon ball, i.e., oval at one
end, and cup-shaped or hollow at the ether--so it was de-
scribed.
Now it happens that these " wonderfal things" have
made " their first appearance on any stage" during the
present year, and, indeed, within the last few months of it ;
and how is this to be accounted for? Why, sir, I think I
can tell you. And, dismissing at once the absurdity of en
"oral gun," which it is not possible to bore, I come to the
oval, or egg-shaped shell, and the elongated cannon ball
(the only actual inventions), and which may be disposed of
together. The following aro the facts :
At the last session of the Society of Arts (1853-4), I ex-
hibited original models of the aforesaid " oval" or ogg-
shaped shell, and cannon and musket balls, of my own ex-
, dassive invention, of which I had neither seen nor heard of
the like before, nor have I since.
At the close of the exhibition in February last, I
had to apply several times before the models were re-
turned, and three weeks elapsed before they reached me,
and then it was minus the musket balls. They were also
entirely omitted from the first catalogue I received ; and
en complaining of the omission they were inserted in the
next.
I mention these circumstances as having some connection
with what follows.
On returning back the models (which I still possess) no-
thing more was heard of them or their merits until " Lan-
caster's oval gun" suddenly cams to light, and, of course,
his "oval shell," at the same time, to fit it.
The experiments above alluded to succeeded, with which
all the world is now acquainted; and upon the strength of
these I addressed the Board of Ordnance on the 30th
August and 13th September (but without effect); and
again by memorial on the 3d October, claiming the inven-
tion as mine, and tho usual consideration in virtue thereof.
To the latter I received letters of invitation to meet the
select committee at Woolwich (to whom the memorial was
referred) on Tuesday, the 17th October, with my models.
I accordingly attended at the appointed time ; and what do
you think, air, was the result ? Why, I was actually sent for
(for I happen to know that I was expected) from Liverpool
to Woolwich, at the sacrifice of so much time, trouble,
and expense, only to'be told that "my models had nothing
whatever to do with it." And after a few unimportant
questions, which indicated that I knew nothing about it,
and had no business with it, the interview ended, and I
was left to return home with as much consolation as I
could under such circumstances. But this is net all.
The select committee had to " report " to the Ordnance-
office the result of their interview with me and my models;
and here it is as I received it :

" The committee have stated that they do not consider
the projectiles, of which you produced models before them,
to be of any value for military purposes; and that in sup-
posing that experiments have been carried on at Shoebury-
ness and the Isle of Wight with your projectiles, you have
been misled by newspaper paragraphs, there being mo foun-
dation for such a supposition." (The italics are my own.)
Now, sir, you will see there is abundance of mystifica-
tion in all this. But, without stopping to discuss it, what
are the facts ? The shell adopted is an " oval or ego,-
shaped shell;" mine is also an "oval or egg-shaped shell."
The eannon-ball tried is " oval at one end and hollow or
cup-shaped at the other ;" mine is precisely the same. Be-
sides which, they were never heard of until after my mo-
dels had appeared; and yet I am told at first sight, and
the only interview, that mine are not "of any value for
military purposes," and that I " have been misled by news-
paper paragtaphs." I confess that lam quite unable to
reconcile these statements. But be this as it may, ouo
thing is certain : that no attempt was made, neither then
nor since, to prove that my models had " nothing whatever
to do with it, nor the slightest reference to any other in-
vention or inventor, and which, had such been the case,
nothing could have been more easily done than at the time
and on the spot, which they ought to have done.
I therefore consider that I may safely challenge a com-
parison of the projectiles in proof that the inventions ori-
ginated with me, and that I am entitled to the credit and
other advantages properly appertaining thereto.

No doubt sCmemoro favoured party (but certainly not
"Mr. Lancaster") has forestalled me, and obtained the
benefit of my inventions. But that is no reason why I
should be put to the cost, trouble, and annoyance of a
journey of nearly 500 miles in order to be told so, and
when a letter would have done as well, and been just as
satisfactory.
However, I could have suggested some important im-
provements in the aforesaid shells, which would have been
of great service in the coming spring, and which I have
now by me ; but I certainly shall not lay myself open to a
"second edition" of such consequences, from honte, at all
events.

Apologising for thu3 trespassing upon you,
I remain, sir, your obedient servant,
R. B. FEATHER.

THE HIGHLAND BRIGADE AT ALMA.