The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-22 00:00:00

Ross and Sons being ;fully determined not to be
" punched " down, even by that inimitable merry an-
drew, or " merry angry," Mr. Punch, beg to inform the
public that they intend killing an enormous bear on
Monday, the 21st inst., and exhibiting it on that and the
three following days, at their establishment, when any
one preferring it can have the fat cut direct from the
animal, thus ensuring its genuineness. For preserving
and strengthening the hair there is nothing equal to the
genuine bear's grease— Vide " Mr. Catlin's account of
the quantity used, and the length and thickness of hair
obtained by the North American Indians." Address,
Ross and Sons, 119 and 120, Bishopsgate-street, London.
STATE OF TRADE.—The continual advance in the
price of cotton is beginning to be felt by the handlooin
weavers of Wigan ; several of the manufacturers having,
(luring the past week, stopped their gingham weavers, from
inability to obtain an advance on cloth in the market
commensurate with the advance of cotton yarns for the
manufacture of those fabrics. Diaper weavers are in a
similar situation, and there are loud complaints of wait-
ing of work. Some consultations, we are informed, have
been held atnongst the nlillowners respecting working
time, but as some of them have a supply of cotton on
hand to last them for a, few months to come, they don't
seem inclined to agree to the propcsal at present. The cry
against the cotton and corn speculators for causing an
artificial scarcity for the sake of exorbitant gain, is be-
eoming more
vehement, and some üblic m
p ovement to
induce Parliament
do h
to
o
fere.— Preston Chronicle.
TAE suppose Parliament would inter-
fere.—Preston their practices is talked of.
We of nourse
THE AMERICAN
RIFLE.—.From
,'
IFLE.—From the sounding name
of " American Riflee,
ties attached to them the reader will expect to partake
of a rich treat in th
,description of the various peculiari-
ties
be realised. The but we regret that the treat cen-
time. There is no science American rifle is only great in
lion, which it not to be met withsiplayed in the construe
of
groove,
has ever been re-
ncevery part of Europe;
they have every degree of spiral
eon-mended, every variety
, the
variety
bore—from 16 to the lb. to 140 to tivi(e;lia,nd every size of
eiebrity they
of length and every weight. In truth
no the commonest
have obtained is rot for any perfection ine their arms, for
teinletioanreeto
a vast majority of those they have are
y, than a
their
" Brummagem rubbish," made with
science, but only for profit. No, the truth iast,t
nndAorarretrhieomao,
ricans use the rifle more, probably, nation. in
the world. They are more expert generally
shooting practice, and this has done everything yfin
and not the merit of their rifles. We have speea
rifle barrels which were far from straight
being correctly rifled, yet they shoot well. Why! fromße
Be-
cause the bore is very small, the barrel burning powder
sufficient to give a high velocity up to 100 yards, and,
as we have already remarked, accuracy at short distances
is the American rule of perfection. Occasionally the
back woodsman may venture a long range, but in a vast
majority of cases the balls used are so small as to be per-
fectly useless at greater distances than 150 yards. To
write a long article on the American rifles would be but a
repetition of previous matter, as they have no established
rule or principle, save in their military arms, and here
uniformity is necessary, and the display of scientific princi-
ples in these is not very apparent. The military rifle is
2 feet 9 inches long, carries a ball 30 to the lb. The
rifling is different from any used in Europe. Tho
grooves are 14 in number, with 7 projections more pro-
minent than the others, an arrangement very objection-
able, as it is clear these " projectio6" must either grip
the ball so as to indent it, or to allow the extra cuts to
be of no use : or if not gripping it, why have so many
" furrows and lands ?"—two sizes remind us of cutting
a file with hal the teeth higher than the other half.
The rifle, as a whole, is a handy weapon, but with the
" old plan" of a " hook main spring" and " tumbler," it
is what we may designate as a very nice " tool" for a
gentleman's amusement, certainly not a military weapon
as it ought to be. It is very near akin to the Prussian
rifle, will shoot well at 200 yards, but no further.—
Greener's Science of Gunnery, _ .

DR. AP-WILMAM.-We- are happy to state that
Lord John Russell has given to this eminent officer the
valuable appointment of medical attendant to the Board
of Customs, recently become vacant. This appointment
was conferred in the most handsome manner, without
any application on the part of Dr. M'Williarn, Lord
John's secretary stating, in the letter which announced
it, that the appointment was conferred on account of
Dr. M'William's distinguished services in the River
Niger, in the year 1841.