The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-07 00:00:00

WARLIKE EXPERIMENTS.

We Understand there is some idea of forming mitrail-
lense camel batteries in India. The gun is to be mounted
on and fired from the camel's back, the latter kneeling
down at the word " action." At present, this idea is not
even in an experimental stage, but in all probability such
trials will take place. This reminds us of an amusing
story connected with the Ordnance Select Committee. It
was at one time proposed to fire mountain guns off the
backs of mules that carried them. It was urged that this
would obviate the necessity of dismounting the gun from
the mule's back and mounting it on its carriage ; a
mountain battery could thus come into action in far less
time. This proposal was warmly taken up by the com-
mittee, who forthwith proceeded to test its feasibility.
A mule or donkey was procured, and a small
gun strapped firmly to a cradle resting on the packsaddle,
so that the muzzle of the weapon pointed over the don-
key's tail. The animal, so the story goes, was then led
into the marshes at Woolwich, accompanied by the com-
mittee and several " big wigs " who were attracted by such
a novel experiment. On arrival at the butt the gun was
loaded, the donkey turned with his tail towards the
earthen mound, and the usual preparations made for
firing by means of a lanyard and friction tube. Here-
upon, however, one of the committee remarked that this
mode of firing might possibly derange the aim by the
jerk on pulling the lanyard. A discussion followed,
and it was finally arranged to fire the gun by a piece
of slow-match tied to the vent. This was accordingly
done, and the match duly ignited. Hitherto the
donkey had taken rather a sleepy interest in the
proceedings, but somehow the fizzing of the match on his
back caused him first to prick up his ears, then to lay
them back, and finally to begin to turn round. The
committee were thunderstruck, and skedaddled" in all
directions ; the secretary threw himself flat on' his face ;
there was a moment of agonising suspense, then—bang—
the shot went ricochetting away in One direction, while
the wretched donkey turned a complete summerset in the
other.—Globe.

THE ALEXANDRA PARK AND PALACE.—The Wood-
green committee for promoting the opening of this estab-
lishment on the plan proposed by Mr. Francis Fuller have
awarded the prizes for the essays on this subject. The
first prize has been given to Mr. R. Glover, jun., Surinam
House, Stratford, Essex; and the second to Miss M. A.
Morel, daughter of the Rev. M. Morel. the Vicarage,
Wallingford, Berks. The successful competitors were
invited to receive the premiums at a dinner given by the
committee at the Great Northern Hotel, London, on
Thursday evening, when the leading supporters of the
undertaking were present, including the judges who
assisted the committee in making the awards.
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.—Mr. Henry Ludolf,
of Leeds, has addressed a letter on some commercial topics
"to the Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom,"
from which the following is an extract :—" I look upon
the establishment of tribunals of commerce as one of the
greatest necessities for the mercantile community.
The simplification and codification of all commercial
laws is of the highest importance. If Napoleon the
First had done nothing else for France, the blessing
conferred upon that country by his " Code
Napol6on" ought to secure for him that nation's everla.st-
ing gratitude. A proper set of laws for bills of exchange
is much required; my impression is that the laws in force
on this subject in Hamburg are the best of any country.
It is almost impossible of belief that the greatest commer-
cial nation in the world has scarcely any well-regulated
laws to act upon, and that nearly aU is left to custom
and precedents. Nothing is more lax and uncertain than
our commercial transactions. Amongst the less important
topics, I may mention an alteration and determination
when goods bought and sold really change ownership.
At present there is no fixity for all bargains, and the
principle mostly acted upon, that the moment goods
are bought the change of ownership is complete, is very
unsatisfactory. In many instances when you buy
goods you do not know where the goods are stored,
nor are they under your control ; nevertheless, should
they be injured by fire or water, you have to
bear the loss. In all countries with which I am
acquainted, the law is that the weighing or measuring
constitutes the time of change of ownership. When goods
are bought, they must be delivered and received any time
within, and not later than, fourteen days. As long as
they are on one side of the scale, they are the property .of
the seller ; the moment they are weighed, and have passed
over the scale, they are the property of the buyer ; the
same in measuring. Here you have something definite ;
you have control over the goods ; you know where they
are, and what to do with them. In transactions, there
ought to be nothing uncertain ; once the price agreed
upon, all ought to be settled z- there ought to be no dis-
putes about weights or measures possible. To secure this
there ought to be an arrangement that every Chamber of
Commerce should have certified weights and measures,
attended to by sworn persons, and if any differences in
weights or measures occur, the goods are taken to the
Chamber, are there weighed or measured, and whichever
party is in the wrong, pays the expenses. The-knowledge
. of such a test existing would avoid many disputes."