The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-06 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 6, 1854.

racy, has no greater range than the old musket. We
are about to range them side by side with the
French troops, all of whom are armed with the Mini 6
rifle, where the inequality will be more glaring,
and we are about to oppose them to troops,
who, it has just been ascertained, are armed with the
deadly needle-gun, and who can, if well drilled in its
use, pick off our officers and men with the greatest
safety to themselves, at twice the distance to which
their own weapons will carry. We fear we can dis-
cover the source of this egregious and most culpable
blunder in a passage in Capt. Jervis's little treatise.
He says when the merits of the rifle in use among the
Chasseurs de•Vincennes and of the Prussian needle-gun
had been ascertained, the public cried out loudly that our
troops should be equally well-arrned,i n different as to which
of these two weapons should be selected ; but this was,
what no man entAsted with the charge of a public de-
partment could listen to. When the percussion cap had
been substituted 'or the flint, it was merely an alteration
of the lock, at a trifling expense. Alere, however, was a
change which involved an outlay of nearly half a million
sterling, without reckoning the dead loss arising from the
consequent uselessness of either the muskets in use or the
enormous quantity in store. The Government, it appears,
did not like to cast aside the old muskets, and, if
our information be true, those in store, amounting to a
great many thousands, are now being converted into
rifles, and the weight of the piece thereby lessened,
while the heavy ounce ball, and the large charge
of powder, is still retained, and the range, with
if course more accuracy, retained at 300 yards!
We believe this is a. case in which, from mo-
tives of false economy, or from respect to the
old Duke's predilection for the large bore and
heavy ball of the old " Brown Bess," or perhaps from
some • little stickling for old habits and conventiona-
lities, or still more unworthy motives of jobbery, a
great mistake has been committed. The great bulk of
the GOrman, French, Belgian, and, as it now appears,
the Russian and Turkish, troops are armed with the
modern improved weapons, and we are sending out
troops to cope with tjrpi armed with an inefficient
adaptation of the old mu • d, after voting millions of
money to raise, recruit, an d -the finest soldiers in the
world, we are able to say th . e have economised our
old fire arms and saved a few hundred thcusand pounds,
while with a refinement of cruelty we place them under
disadvantages which no couiie or determination can
successfully compete with. We hope the committee
upon small arms, which has just been appointed by the
House of Commons, will inquire fully into this matter.
Let the officials of the Enfield factory and the officers of
the Board of Ordnance be called upon to explain what
are the real advantages we have gained by this Enfield.
Prtichett rifle, of which the public have now heard for
the first time.— Observer.

Elec- Popula- Ele c- Popula-
tors. tion. _ tors. tion.
- --
Chippenham. 300 6,283 Kiddermnstr 495 18,462
Malmesbury. 309 6,998 Poole
Abingdon ..- 312 5,954 Shaftesbury 509 9,404
Christchurch 313 7,475 Peterboro' 5lB 8,672
Westbury.... 314 7,029 Bridport 524 7,566
Helston
Lymington 338 5,282 Melton .... .... 539 7,661
Liskeard 343 6,204 Leominster._ 551 5,214
Wycombe
Woodstock... 347 7,983 Stamford
Buckingham. 349 8,069 St. Ives
Tavistock .... 349 8,086 Guildford
Horsham 350 5,947 Weymouth .. 679 9,458
Ripoa 353 6,080 Hertford 685 6,605
Petersfield.... 353 5,550 Warrington 7Ol 23,363
Marlow 354 6,523 Newport, Isle
Cockernaouth 355 7,275 of Wight.. 707 8,047
Eye 356 7,531 Gateshead ... 711 25,568
Thirsk :457 5,319 Windsor 712 9,596
Launceston .. 361 6,005 Lewes 713 9,533
Bodmin
Droitwich
Tewkesbury 370 5,878 Lichfield 836 6,573
Devizes . 373 6,554 Maldon
Kendal 382 11,829 Wakefield.... 850 22,057
Tamworth 3,52 8,655 Hythe 856 13,164
Frome.., 383 10,148 Gt. Grimsby 861 12,263
Huntington 390 6,291 Tynemouth.. 883 29,170
Bewdley 390 7,318 Dudley 912 37,962
Morpeth 415 10,012 S. Shields.... 925 28,974
Wareham
Wallingford. 428 8,064 Bury
Dorchester... 432 6,394 Walsall
Cirencester... 434 6,096 Rochdale .._• 1,160 29,195
Clitheroe ..... 448 11,479 Huddersfield 1,364 30,880
Ludlow
Whitby 454 10,989 Monmouth
Tiverton 461 11,144 district .... 1,676 26,512
Banbury..2: 4 491 8,715 Cheltenham.. 2,400
,35,051.,
L.,-.--------2,: - -•-,.. . ' ______
TWO MEMBERS EACH.
Elec.,- Popula- Elec- Popula,-
tors. tion. tors. tion.
---
Truro 607 10,733 Beverley...... 1,405 10,058
Salisbury .
Pontefract 684 11,515 Gloucester ... 1,621 17,572
Bridgewater 6BB 10,317 Cricklade .... 1,647 35,503
Wigan . - ...
Warwick
Bury St. Ed- Nfaidstone
mund's .... 749 31,900 Stoke-on-
Barnstaple... 771 11,371 Trent
Grantham.... 774 10,873 Ipswich ...„ 1,838 32,914.
Berwick 7Bl 15,091 Shoreham ... 1,865 30,553
Winchester .788 14,701 Canterbury.. 1,874 18,398
Taunton 790 14,176 Oldham
Newark 867 11,330 Sunderland.. 1,973 67,394
Scarborough 895 12,915 Cambridge... 1,984 27,815
Wenlock 905 20,588 Dover 2,064 22,244
Penryn and Northamp-
Falmouth.. 907 13,292 ton
Bedford
Sandwich
Boston .. .
Hereford
Macclesfield 1,058 39,048 Plymouth..... 2,482 52,221
Hastings 1,090 17,011 Exeter......... 2,501 40,688
Newcastle- Chester... ... 2,524 27,766
under-Lyne 1,090 10,569 E. Retford... 2,710 46,054
Carlisle
Durham
Lynn
Halifax
Stafford
Yarmouth
Blackburn
Colchester
Rochester .... 1,269 14,938 Coventry..
Stroud
Stockport .... 1,341 53,835 Nottingham
Lincoln
Lancaster
Reading 1,399 21,456 Norwich 5,390 68,195

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

The transport of some 2,000 horses to the Mediter-
ranean is the greatest difficulty that is likely to arise in
connexion with the undertaking of sending our army to
co-operate in the defence of Turkey. Our military autho-
rities have comparatively little experience to guide them
in a matter of the kind, and we would suggest that
persons conversant with the horse trade between Aus-
tralia and India, might do good service by coming for-
ward and showing how the shies engaged in this service
should be fitted up.

A good deal of misapprehengien exists with reference
to the regiments that are to form the second division of
the expeditionary force: These have not yet been posi-
tively named, but it is quite certain that they will be
taken regularly as they stand ,upon the roster. The
order to be in readiness for foreign service has been
addressed to more regiments than will be included in
the second division, and that.order must not be con-
sidered as involving any certa:nty that the corps re-
ceiving it will form part of the British contingent.

•
PORTSMOUTH, MAnca 5.
The victualling of the ship at Spithead for six
months' foreign service - was completed yesterday.
There are now at this rendezvols to-day the following
ships, the complements of which we give, as nearly as
we can arrive at them without consulting the ships'
books

Horse-
Princess Royal, Captain Lord Gills. Tons. Crew. Power.
Clarence Paget, flag of Vim.
Admiral Sir Charles Napier,
K.C. 8., Sze
Prince Regent, Captain Int
ton, flag of Rear-A:difinal
Corry lO
Edinburgh, Captain Hewlett, 2,613 821
flag of Rear-Admiral Chads,
C.B 53 1,772 660 450
Royal George, Captain Cod-
rington, C.B l2l 2,616 1,100 400
St. Jean D'Acre. Captain the
Hon. Henry Keppel lOl 3,600 900 650
Bescawen, Captain Glanville 70 2,212 620
Hogue, Captain W. Ramsay 60 1,750 660 450
Imperieuse, Captain Watson,
C B 5l 2,347 530 360
Arrogant, Captain Yelverton 47 1,872 450 360
Amphion, Captain A. C. Key 34 1,474 320 300
Tribune, Captain the Hon. S.
T. Carnegie 3O 1,570 300 300
Dauntless, Captain Ryder 33 1,490 300 580
Leopard, Captain Giffard .. 18 1,412 280 560
Valorous, Captain C. H. M
Buckle l6 1,255 220 400
Dragon, Captain Willcox
Bulldog, Captain W. C. Hall 6 1,123 160 500
Frolic, Commander Nolloth. 16 511 120
They have each been ordered (this day) to draw charts
for the Baltic.

Every day will add to this force, which will eventually
include the three deckers, Duke of Wellington. 131 ; St.
George, 121 ; Waterloo, 120; Neptune, 120 ; Caesar,9l ; Nile, 91 ; James att, 91 ; Algiers, 91 ; Monarch,
84 ; Ganges, 84 ; Cressy, 81; Majestic, 81 ; Blenheim,
60 ; Ajax, 60 ; Euryalus, 51 ; Fox, 42 ; Pique, 40 ; and
numerous others. Sir Charles Napier will, we believe,
•command personally 20 sail of the line, and /0 sail of
French. There will be about 50 sail of smaller ships,
the
wrEanrgtilni h a
nan French
and it
is
Rwheaicrh-Awdimllibraelsapapnodrtcioonmemdotdoore
re-
ported a squadron of sailing-sloops or brigs is to be com-
missioned to cruise off the Scotch coast to prevent pri-
vateering. Rear-Admiral Corry will shift his flag to-
morrow from the Prince Regent, 90, to the Neptune,
120, an order having been received yesterday, appoint-
ing Captain Hutton to the Neptune, and Captain Smith,
C. 8., from the Neptune, to he Prince Regent. Capt.
Hutton takes with him Commander Bunce, Lieutenant
Brandretb, hnd 50 of the Prince Regent's crew. When
the change of officers and slips was made known on
board the Prince Regent yesterday, the whole ship's
company, who really love their admiral and captain, and
are devotedly attached to their matchless ship, wanted to
follow the admiral, as one man, into the Neptune, and
when told that only 50 would be allowed to be draughted
by the Admiralty, their countenances betokened the. sin-
cerest dejection. Subsequently all the petty officers went
aft on the quarter-deck and respectfully requested that the
Admiralty might be memorialisedfor their removal with
their admiral and captain. The Neptune will be some
time getting ready. She has lower yards and topmasts
up and topgallant masts pointed, but has only 150 men
on her books besides her draught of Royal Marines.
We expect, therefore, that Rear-Admiral Chads will be
the first despatched with a "flying squadron " of frigates
towards the Baltic, that Sir Charles Napier will glow,
and that Rear-Admiral Corry 'coin bring up the rear.
Captain Hay, of the Victory, has declined the flag-
captaincy to Sir Charles Napier. The Prince Regent,
the St. Jean d'Acre, the Amphion, and the Odin were
paid wages down to the 31st of January yesterday. The
Imperieuse, Tribune, and Valorous will be paid to-
, morrow; leiving 40/Iy-the Arrogant (whose pay-books
have not yet been landed) of Admiral_Carly's division to
be paid. The Blenheim, 60, Captain the Hon. F. J.
Pelham, has re-adjusted her compasses and will be ready
to join the fleet to-morrow. The Caesar, 91, Captain
Robb, is rattling down her rigging. The Odin, 16,
Captain F. Scott, is repairing boilers in the steam-
basin. The fleet are daily exercised in gunnery, reefing,
furling, &c. Mr. Parratt, of the Treasury brought down
last night from London a small tubular collapsing boat,
upon the principle of his admiral life-raft, which he has
this .day taken off to the St. Jean d'Acre for the Hon.
H. Keppell. The 23d, 42d, and 791 Regiments are pre-
paring for active service. The two latter corps will be
augmented by volunteers from the 72d and 79th depots,
31 volunteers from the 11th Foot, 32 from the 65th, and'62
from the 35th embarked from this dockyard at 6 o'chick
this morning, in the Foyle, British and Irish Steam-
packet Company's vessel, to join the let battalion of the
Royals at Plymouth. The Foyle embarks the 93d
depot at Plymouth to-morrow, for the Isle of Wight.
The depot of the 2d battalion of the Rifle Brigade will
be'conveyed to the Isle of Wight to-morrow in her
Majesty's steam-tender Sprightly,
The Cruiser, 14, Commander G. H. Douglas, will
join the Baltic fleet.

SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 4.
The Government have chartered the following ships,
belonging to the General Screw Steam Shipping Com-
pany for the transport service :—The Golden Fleece,
2,500 tons, 400-horse power ; the Jason, 2,500 tons,
400-horse power ; Prince, 2,7.50 tons, 400-horse power ;
the Harbinger, 916 tons, 180-horse power ; and the
Cape of Good Hope, 800 tons, 120-horse power. The
last steamer will leave the London Docks on Wednes-
day for Constantinople, taking out a large cargo and a
number of passengers, and will also convey 120 officers
and men to Malta. The Golden Fleece, under the com-
mand of Captain Stewart, sailed from Greenhithe this
(Saturday) morning, in excellent order, for Leith,
whence, having embarked the 4th Regiment, she will
proceed to Devonport for further orders. The Har-
binger, now on her voyage from Australia, is expected
to reach Southampton towards the close of this month
or the beginning of April. The Jason and Prince, two
of the finest screw-steamers in the world, are being
rapidly got ready for sea at 131ackwall.

PLYMOUTH, MARCH 4.
Commodore Seymour hoisted his burgee, red at the
main, as Captain of the Fleet, on board the screw steam-
ship Duke of Wellington, 131, to-day. This magnificent
vesssel was placed in the Queen's-dock at Keyham this
morning, in the presence of thousands of spectators,
numbers of whom kept thronging into the yard and on
board throughout the day, highly gratified at having so
convenient an opportunity of surveying her huge bulk
and examining her entire economy. The artisans of the
yard commenced their duties immediately, and, in order
to expedite her fitment, they will continue working, both
outside and inside, all day on Sunday. Admiral Berkeley
and Captain Sir Baldwin Walker inspected her yester-
day. They ordered her to be in the Sound again on
Thursday, if possible. The Admiral and Sir Baldwin
left by express train this morning for London.
Commodore H. B. Martin hoisted his broad pendant
this morning on board the hulk Bellona, on his appoint-
ment to the command of the screw steamship Nile, 91.
,
The screw steam-ship Royal George, 121 Captain H.
F. Codrington, left the Sound at noon to-day, steaming,
with Royal yards across, against a strong easterly breeze,
for Spithead.
Major Montgomery arrived here, by South Devon
Railway, at 3 o'clock this afternoon, in command of the
first detachment of the Ist battalion of First Royals.
It comprised above 330 men, who left N ewport, Mon-
mouthshire en Friday, slept at Bristol, and came on
by the Bristol and Exeter Railway. A.t the station
they were received by Captain Wetherall, Major of Bri-
gade, and, being preceded by their own I .iand, marched
at once to the Citadel, where they occupy the quarters
just vacated by the 93d Highlanders. At, 7 o'clock this
evening the second detachment arrived at th e station ; it
numbers about 250, and came from Carmarl,hen, having
slept on Thursday and Friday at Newport. The remain-
der of the battalion, quartered at Pembroke , is expected
here early next week. The 20th of M arch is now
spoken of as the probable date for their embi .rkation from
Plymouth.

MARCH 5.
Two steam men-of-war passed up Chai mel near the
Bolt Head about 8 o'clock this morning. The first was
a paddle-wheel barque-rigged ship showing a white ensign;
the second was a screw with painted port';. Her three
topgallant-masts were struck, and she an is vered a signal
from the barque. Both were under sti 3am only, the
wind blowing strong from the eastward.

LIVERPOOL, MARCH 4.
The new screw steam-ship Kangaroo arr rved from the
Clyde last night, and this raorning went i nto the Wel-
lington-dock, where she will be fitted and made ready
for the speedy embarkation of the 77th R,‘ invent, which
remains at Preston until her fittings are c onipleted.

DEPTFOR) D, MARCH 4.
Captain A. Milne, oue of the Lords of the Admiralty,
paid an official visit to Deptford Dock : nad victualling
yards on Tuesday last, and was accompan 'Led by Capt.-
Superintendent G. B. Martin, C. 8., duri ,ng his inspec-
tion of the sailjug transport vessels woorei 4 the 'Anna/
.