The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-09 00:00:00

PICTURES IN PROGRESS.

It is as yet too early to form anything like a definite
opinion of the character of the next Exhibition of the
Royal Academy, but we hear of much excellent material
for the same being already commenced. The exceptionally
gloomy character of the present winter, however, is very
much against anything like rapid progress. Mr. Frith,
R.A., is engaged, we understand, on a large
work representing the " tapis vert " at Homburg,
and which, when completed, promises to be—like the
" Derby Day" and "Railway Station "—one of the
popular attractions of the season.—Mr. Millais, R.A., is,
we believe, finishing his " Moses," begun some time back;
and amoung his other contributions for the year will be a
landscape, of which report speaks as being au
exceptionally fine work.—Mr. Calderon, RA., is
engaged on a tableau depicting some royal lady of
the period of Louis Quinze preparing to enter upon a re-
ception of the Court. A maid-servant arranges her train,
a hair-dresser adds the finishing touch to her " chevelure,"
and her ladies-in-waiting are smoothing their dresses and
composing themselves to make a stately sweep into the
presence of the courtiers. Mr. Calderon will also exhibit
a large portrait-picture of a lady and gentleman
well known for their splendid collection of

modern works of art. Mr. Elmore. RA., is
working, we believe on a subject from "Lorelei,"
and which contains a number of figures.—Mr. Leighton,
R.A., will be represented by the " Andromache," " Her-
cules Struggling with the Angel of Death," and other
works, which he was prevented by illness from finishing
in time for last year's Exhibition.—We regret to hear
that Sir Edwin Landseer is still far from well, and
that another member of the Royal Academy—Mr.
Foley. R.A. —is also suffering from indisposition.—The
Architect.

The Mr. Anderson whom Miss Garrett is about to
marry is a wealthy shipowner. He acted as treasurer of
her committee in Marylebone.

There is every probability of the proceedings
against Mr. Mackonochie being followed up by a raid
against other clergymen addicted to Ritualistic practices.
SCIENCE AND ART GOMM—The weather has not
been altogether favourable to health lately, and we reget
to say that Sir Edwin Landseer is not so well as his
friends could wish. Mr. J. H. Foley, another distin-
guished Academician, is also indisposed, and unable to
attend personally in the studio.—M. Alma Tadema has
left for good his house in Brussels, and is now perma-
nently settled in London. His beautiful picture of " The
Vintage " he is having reduced for the engraver, and
the work is going on under his own eye. It will be pub-
lished by Messrs. E. Gambart and Co.—Mr. Charles
Deschamps has forwarded us an extract from the Journal
des _Wats, by which we are happy to see that Gustave
Dora, about whose fate there has been much solicitude
lately, is all safe in Paris—where he ought to be. He
was seen among a number of government dignitaries,
and men belonging to the world of politics, literature, and'
art, who had assembled after the last sortie to watch the
bringing in of the wounded. —M. Bonvin, well known for
his works in genre, has to be added to the list of French
artists now in London.

THE RANGE OF GUNS.—Apropos of the siege of
Paris, it may be interesting to note here some of the
longest ranges on record. At Shoeburyness, in 1856, the
old smooth-bore 68-pounder, with a charge of 161 b., and
at an elevation of 27 deg., threw a common
spherical shell of 671 b. 5,600 yards. In 1858 a
rifled Armstrong 32-pounder, at 33 deg. elevation,
with 61b. charge, threw a shot 9,153 yards. About
the same time a 7-incli gun, rifled by Mr. Lynall
Thomas, charge 251 b. elevation 371 deg., shot 1761 b.,
ranged 10,075 yards. 'ln 1864 a 13in. gun, charge 701 b.,
elevation 23 deg., shot 5111 b., ranged 7,402 yards. The
Woolwich Oin. muzzle-loading rifled gun, at 33 deg. eleva-
tion, and with 431 b. charge, has thrown its common shell,
with 181 b. of powder, burstinc, charge, to a distance of
9,900 yards. The Bin. Woolwich gun, with a charge
of 30th., and at an elevation of 16fr deg.,
has thrown its shell 6,600 yards. During the
Armstrong and Whitworth competitive trial, in
1864, very long ranges were occasionally attained.
The 70-pounder breechloading Armstrong gun, firing a
charge,zle-1 o d i
ranged
n
701 b. shot with 91b. charge, ranged at 15 deg. 4,728 yards,
sYhaotrdwgith aThleOlbz m.O A
satnrdonagt, 2filridnegg.a
750,121 .
at
15 deg. 5,291 yards, and at 21 deg. 6,330 yards. The
Whitworth 70-pounder attained the longest ranges, owing
small -
to its projectile being of comparatively• diametere
with a shot of 701 b. and charge of 101 b., it ranged at 15
deg, 6,252 yards ;at 12 deg. 7,965 yards, and at 33 eg •.
9,480 yards.—Engineer. d