The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-12 00:00:00

r SOUTH AMERICAN BOND-

11(31.,DER:j.
We have received the following letter from the Committee
of south American Bondholders:—

" Mexico, March 31, 1847.
" The contents of your communications under notice have
been carefully observed by us, and, in reply, we may inform
you that the revolution against Gomez Farias, which we
mentioned in our last, has been put an end to by the arrival
of General Santa Anna, who is again at the head of the Go-
vernment. We may add that the General is favourably dis-
posed towards the conversion of the Mexican Bonds, and we
have every reason to believe that the point will be arranged
satisfact.rily during his presidency.
The war with the United States continues with great
exasperation on both sides, and the town of 'Vera Cruz has
just been taken by the Americans, after a bombardment
which lasted five days. Some people seem to think that the
events now passing will bring matters to a crisis, and per-
haps lead to a speedy termination of hostilities, which is
much to he wished for."

LECTURES ON LIGHT.
At the Royal Polytechnic Institution on Monday last,
Dr. Bachhoffner gave a most admirable and intellectual
lecture on the above named subjtct. The Learned Gen-
tleman introduced for the first time an improved cam-
phine lamp, called by the inventor, Mr. Roberts, " the
gem," the light from which appeared to the eye of
dazzling purity and brilliancy. In its construction the
inventor has adhered closely to the only true principle,
namely, that of argand, with such additional parts for the
supply of atmospheric air necessary for obtaining perfect
combustion of the spirit. These, however, are of so
simple a nature, that instead of the complexity, which has
always been a great drawback to the use of these lamps,
this, on the contrary, is trimmed like any common lamp
for burning oil ; added to which, its construction entirely
prevents that intolerable nuisance of soot and smell so
commonly experienced with very many lumps sold ender
the name of camphine.

NAVAL CONSTRUCTION.
COPY OF INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY THE ADMIRALTY
TO THE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE, ON QUESTIONS
RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS.

My Lords having had under consideration the large
amount which is annually expended in building vessels
of war, and the great importance of adopting such plans
only as, after due examination by persons practically
and theoretically acquainted with the science of naval
architecture, shall appear to insure the greatest possible
degree of efficiency for the several objects for which such
vessels are designed, and seeing that in many instances
the objects which constructors have had in view have
not been fulfilled by the performance of their vessels
when tried at sea, and that in others expensive alte-
rations have been required after they have been built ;
and being therefore of opinion that it is expalient to
have recourse to greater precaution than has heretofore
existed, before finally approving of the draught of ally
vessel submitted to them, are pleased to direct-
-Ist. That in future every draught shall be sent in, in
duplicate, and shall be accompanied by a model on the
scale of half an inch to a foot, in the case of vessels of
150 feet and under in length, between the perpendicu-
lars, or of a quarter of an inch to a foot in the case of
vessels of greater length, and shall in the first instance
be submitted to the Board for inspection at ono of their
regular sittings.
2d. That if the Board shall consider it expedient to
entertain the proposed design, one copy shall be referred,
as has heretofore been the practice, to the Surveyor of
the Navy, to be reported on by him, and the other to a
committee to be composed of two of the most scientific
shipwright officers, to be selected for this duty by the
Board, and such other one or more competent persons,
not officially connected with the Admiralty, as their
Lordships may think proper to select, who are to report
their opinions respecting it in writing, and (in case of
disagreement) separately to the Board ; and in the event
of any nautical difference of opinion between the sur-
veyor ard the committee thus constituted, the report of
the surveyor is to be referred to the committee, and
that of the committee to the surveyor, who are to state,
after having duly weighed the arguments in favour of
their respective view., whether or not they still adhere
to their former opiniow.
3d.—That a printed form, to be hereafter determined
by the Admiralty with the assistance of the surveyor
and the above-mentioned " Committee of Reference."
shall be drawn up, containing questions with respect to
the capacity of the proposed vessel for carrying her
weights, her probable qualities as a man-of-war, and
ether points of importance to her efficiency, to which
answers are to be inserted separately by the Surveyor.
and by each of the members of the " Committee of
Reference ;" but that their remarks are not to be con-
fined to such answers, but are to extend to every point
having relation to the design referred to them to which
they might think it proper to draw the attention of the
Board.

4th. That the Surveyor and the Committee of Re-
ference be desired to confer with the Chief Engineers of
the NVoolwich and Portsmouth steam-factories, and to
submit for the consideration of the Board, a plan for
obtaining greater security than at present exists, that
the Steam Vessels to be hereafter ordered to be built will
float at the proper trim after their engines have been
fixed on board, and that they will stow the requisite
quantities of coals, water, provisions, &c., at the proper
Immersion.

sth. That the reports of the surveyor and of the
committee of reference are to be circulated for a week
at least among the m. mbers of the board, and to be
taken into consideration on a day previously fixed, when
it is to be determined whether the design to which they
refer shall be approved or rejected, or (in the event of
the principle being approved, but objections being en-
tertained in questions of detail) returned to the con-
structor for such alterations and adjustments as may be
required.
6th. That the surveyor and committee of reference
be given clearly to understand that, with respect to all
questions of mere calculation, such, for instance, as suffi-
ciency of displacement, sufficiency of space to stow the
proper quantities of water, provisions (coals in the case
of steamers), &c., in their proper places, the responsi-
bility will rest with them and not with the constructor,
who is not unfrequently ignorant of the weights which a
man-of- war is required to carry, and has, therefore, no
correct data on which to found his calculations in these
respects.

7th. My Lords also direct, that before any vessel shall
be order,:d to be repaired, an estimate of :he expense,
which is to be laid before the Board for consideration,
shall be sent in by the shipwright officers of the yard,
who are to distinguish between the probable cost of
giving her a thorough repair, and of repairing her in
a more superficial manner, with inferior timber, suffi-
cient to fit her for only another station ; and.
Bth. That no vessel shall be broken up or sold out of
the service (unless she -be of an obsolete class of which
it might be desirable to get rid), without a survey having
first been held on her by two master shipwrights, of
whom the master shipwright of the Ordinary to which
she belongs is to be one, and that in the event of a differ-
ence of opinion between these two officers, she is to be
re-surveyed by a third master shipwright, who is to send
in a separate report, which, along with the reports of the
first survey, is to be laid before the Board.

NEW ARMAMENT FOR THE
STEAM NAVY.

The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, after
considerable experience of the power or the various
steam frigates and other steamers in the Royal Navy, as
regards their capabilities of bearing heavy armaments,
have resolved to fix the following as the armament of
each particular steamer. Vessels of similar, or neatly
similar, tonnage and horse-power are to be arranged in
classes.
STEAMERS PROPELLED BY PADDLES.—STEAM SHIPS.
—Terrible, 1,850 tons, 800 horse-power ; main deck:
four 56 pounders of 97 cwt., four 8-inch guns of 65 cwt.;
the 56-pounders on pivot slides, and carriages : the
8-inch guns on common carriages—upper deck: four 56.
pounders of 97 cwt. on pivot slides and carriages ; four
10-inch guns, 85 cwt. on common carriages : total guns,
IG. Penelope, 1,616 tons, 650 horse-power; main deck:
eight 8 inch guns of 65 cwt., on slides and carriages;
two 6S-pounder carronades of 36 cwt., on Hardy's com-
pressor carriages—upper deck : two 68-pounders of 95
cwt., on pivot slides and carriages ; four 8 inch guns of
65 cwt., on slides and carriages: total, 16. Retribution,
1,641 tons. 800 horse power; main deck, none (but it is
arranged that all steam shps which do not carry an
armament on the main deck, shall, if possible, carry four
32-pounders of 56 cwt., for bead and stern firing)—
upper deck : two 68 pounders of 95 cwt., on slides and
carriages to pivot ; four 10-inch guns, 85 cwt., on slide
and carriages: total 6.
STEAM FRIGATES.—CIass I—Avenger, 1,444 tons, 650
hone-power; and Birkenhead, of 1,400 tons,
95_0e0wt horse-
power.on Upper deck : two 68-pounders of 5
guns, 85 cwt.,
slides and carriages to pivot; four 10-inch
the Avenger
on slides and carriages: total 6.
carries by way of experimelitc.tAw%got
Class 2 (A)-
-,3s2:pounders of 65
cwt., instead of the two 10 anyber. uMain deck: six 32-
Odin, 1,326 tons, 500 horse-power.
pcpaerrr deck;
andU
pounders, 56 cwt., on commono-n°p:cvilisal
igdeess.
two 68-pounders, 95 cwt.,
cwt., on slides and carriages: total
four 10-inch guns, 85 o
Classs 2 (B)—Gladiator, 1,210
12. The steamers al belonging to this class are the
Sampson
Sidon and Leopard. s
(450 h. P.); Centaur
tons, 430 horse power;
(540 h. p.); Dragon)
.(560 h. p.); Firebrand (400 h, p.);
and Cyclops (320 h. p,) Upper
VulturetNso476oBh.r.
pounders, ers, 95 cwt., on pivot slide and
deck :
carriages ; four 10-inch guns, of 85 cwt., on slides and
carriages • • total 4.
STEAM SLOOPS.—
Class I—Gorgon, 1,111 tons, 320
horse-power; Bulldog (a 00), Fury (515), Inflexible
(378), Devastation (400), Sphynx (500), Cormorant
(300), Thunderbolt, since wrecked in Algoa Bay (300),
Virago (300), Eclair (287), Driver (280), Geyser (280),
Growler (280), Styx (280), Vixen (280), Spiteful
(280), Stromboli (280), and Vesuvius (280). Upper
dock: one 68-pounder of 90 or 9.5 cwt., and one 10-inch,
85 cwt., on pivot slides and carriages; four 32-pounders
of 42 cwt., on Hardy's slides and carriages. Total for
all vessels of this class, 6. Class 2—Medea, 835 tons,
350-horse power ;
Salamander (220), Hydra (200),
Hecate (240), Hecla (240), Hermes (220), and Trident
(3), Upper decwo 10 inch guns, 85 cwt., on pivot
slides and carriak: t
ges; four 32-pounders, 25 cwt., on
Hardy's compressor carriages. Total, 6. Class 3
Ardent, 810 tons, 200 horse-power; Alecto (200), Poly-
phemus (200), and Prometheus (200). Upper deck: one
32-pounder, 45 cwt., on pivot slides and carriages.
Total, 3. A special exception is made in this class of
the Janus, 763 tons, 220 horse-power, which carries
only two 10-inch guns of 85 cwt., on pivot slides and
carriages.
BOMB STEAMERS.—Scourge, 1,124 tons, 420 horse-
power. Upper deck: one 68-pounder, 95 cwt. on slide,
and carriage to pivot; one 13-inch mortar. Total, 2.
STEAM GUN VESSELS.—Class I—Firefly, 550 tons,
220 horse-power; Blazer (126), Tartarus (136), and
Flamer (120). Upper deck: one 32-pounder, 42 cwt.,
on slide and carriage to pivot; two 32 ounder car-
mid% 17 Owt. on
.....S.T.Ay'ff carriages, lass 1 (A)—