The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-01 00:00:00

STEAM VERSUS SAILING SHIPS.

The Engineer has an article on the United States navy
founded on the report of Mr. Robeson, and lays especial
stress on the Secretary's remarks on the sea-going qualities
of the monitors. "They require," says Mr. Robeson, "several
vessels to accompany them, and being entirely without sail-
power must be towed as soon as their coal is exhausted.
They would be always dangerous to health in tropical seas,
and with broken or disordered machinery they would be
helpless in mid-ocean. They are valuable for auxiliary
defence of otu• own shores, but should not he relied
upon beyond them." The Engineer italicises
this passage, and observes that we are constructing iron-
clad ships, depending solely on steam propulsion, just at
the moment that America, having tried the system, con-
demns it. During the last two years the Americans have
tried two great experiments on a very costly scale,
and have fully tested the merits of the smooth-bore
cast iron ordnance, and the monitor system. The
first has been completely condemned, the last is now rele-
gated to its former position. The Monitor is considered
suitable for the defence of harbours and dockyards, but is
condemned as unfit to represent a great nation on the
ocean. Should we fail to profit by this lesson,
we shall go over all the ground turned by Bro-
ther Jonathan, and come back to the good old-fashioned
broadside ship for general purposes, while our costly
monitors will be used as guard-ships on duty which could
be performed quite as well by the ships of our old wooden
navy cut down, plated and turreted, for one-fifth of the
cost of new monitors.

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Dec. 31.
Her Majesty, accompanied by her Royal High-
ness Princess Louise, drove out in the grounds
this morning.

His Royal Highness Prince Leopold walked
in the grounds.

LATEST INTELLIGENOS

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

IMPORTANT THEATRICAL DECISION
IN AMEHICA.
(I'er French Atlantic Cable.)
NEW YORK, Jan. 1.
Some time since Miss Bateman obtained an in-
junction against an American manager restraining
him from continuing the performance of " Mary
Warner," which was written by Tom Taylor for
Miss Bateman, and afterwards purchased by her.
The New York Court has now sustained the injunc-
tion, thereby securing Miss Bateman's sole right to
the play.

NEW YORK, Dec. 31.
The North German Lloyd's steamer Main ar-
rived out to-day at 9 a.m.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
CLOSING PRICES.

Gold closed at 1201 ; the highest quotation dur-
ing the day was 120 i; the lowest, 119 g.
Sterling Exchange on London lOBl.
5-20 U. S. Bonds, 1882 1134.
!4 " 1885 ll3.
ic " 1867 llsg.
10-40 it
Illinois 1314.
Erie
Cotton—Mid. upland 2slc.
Petroleum—Standard White 3olc.
Flour, extra state, $5.30c. to $5.90c. Corn, old
mixed, sl.loc.

LISBON, Dec. 30.

The Liverpool, Brazil, and River Plate Com-
pany's steamer Halley has arrived here. Her dates
are Rio, Dec. 3, and Bahia, Dec. 9. Exchange at
Rio, 191. Coffee and cotton firm.

The outward-bound steamer Donati, from Havre,
arrived at Bahia on the 7th, and left the same day
for the south.

FRANCE.

PARIS, Jan. 1.

The Consiitutionnel of this morning says :
" Unless unforeseen changes should occur the
following will be the members of the new
Ministry. The publication of their names in
the official journal, however, will not take place
before Sunday :
M. 011ivier .. Justice.
M. Gaudin Foreign Affairs.
M. Chevandier lnterior.
M. Richard
M. Louvet Commerce.
The other portfolios will remain in the hands of
their present holders.

Yesterday Traupptuann took the necessary steps
for appealing to the Court of Cassation. He has
resumed in some degree his former cheerful de-
meanour, but is unable altogether to conceal his
sense of his present serious position.
tiOURSE, Dec 31.—Three o'clock—The mark t
closed as follows :

per Cont.
End of month —
3per Cent -) 57

Bank Shares 9840
Italian wives 56 60
Austrian Fives —
Ottoman Loan 333
Do. Dobt 43 35
Spanish Threes
Dome Debt —
Deferred — --
s, Cash.
Orleans
Western
Northern
Strasburg
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern..." 592
Sardinian - 521
Austrian B2O
Lombard 525
North of Spain 46
Saragossa
Roman 4l

End of mont.b 72 45
uredit Alobiner 207 50
Transatlantic 220
Orodit Foucier 1722 50
Paris Gas 1640
RAILWAY