The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-15 00:00:00

THE ELEUTHIC GUN.

A series of interesting experiments with this powerful
apparatus were performed on Wednesday, in King-
street, Westminster, by Mr. Benningfield, its inventor.
The machine has on former occasions b en described in
the public journals, so far as its external appearance is
concerned, but as the principle remains a secret with its
inventor, nothing beyond conjecture can be known of its
construction. Its efficiency as a military e-igine was
amply demonstrated in what we witnessed of its powers,
whilst its susceptibility of being adapted to the purpose
of modern warfare, has been expressed in strong lan-
guage by Sir Frederick Trench, Sir Edward Codrington,
Sir Howard Douglas, Sir Charles Napier, and many
other distinguished officers of both services. The
electric gun, as it was exhibited to us, is mounted on three
wheels, the third being placed =cross the direction of its
length, so as to swing it round in the manner of a tra-
verse or swivel. A target of a quarter-inch iron plate is
placed at a distance of about 30 yards from the gun,
which was directed against it, and charged with small
leaden bullets. Single shots repeatedly followed one
another at imperceptibly small intervals of time, and
apparently without the smallest effort on the part of
those who " manned " the machine. The discharge of a
volley from this gun is a matter of the greatest sim-
plicity ; nor does it appear to be more difficult to fire a
hundred volleys successively than one. A continued
volley was frequently poured upon the same spot of the
target, with an accuracy and effect truly surprising.
Of the initial velocity of the shot it would be difficult to
speak correctly, as it has not yet been tested by the bal-
listic pendulum, or other instruments emplo) ad to de-
termine the momenta of projectiles. That a consider-
able velocity is easily communicated to a shot by
the machine, there can be no doubt. The bullets flat-
ten up immediately on touching the target, and frag-
ments broken off bury themselves deep in the wooden
frame. A piece of dry Scotch fir has been penetratei
by one of the small bullets to a depth of two inches • and
two of them were shown us, which, from the one having
been fired directly up->n the other, were completely
welded into one mass. The correctness of the aim is a
peculiar feature of the apparatus ; for the barrel can
easily be adjusted to any practical angle of depression or
of elevation. In the short space of four seconds it can
be brought to bear upon any two different points, and a
tremendous quantity of lead showered upon the spit.
For ricochet firing it seems to be admirably adapted, and
there appears little reason to doubt t ,at as an ab-
solute concentration of intintry, whi h it in fact
is, it would be found invaluable in either branch
of the service. The fatal havoc that a machine of
the kind could create in an ambuscade or in an
intrenchment, can be easily conceived. It; rapieity
of execution in clearing any curtain of a fortified place,
a drawbridge or bridge of pontoons, in orting down a
marching column, or in defending a breach or mountain
pass, is also a matter on which no doubt ca t be reason-
ably entertained. In attacking a fortress the macho e
appears capable of doing great service, by a simple son
elegant manceuvre. Guns of this kind being drawn in
tho rear of the advancing party, the files immediwely
before it have only to separate sligltly, in order to allow
f• ew volleys to be discharged, which would certainly
unman the guns of a bastion, curtain, or breast-work.
Its great lightness, the certainty of its aim, the tre-
mendous quantities of metal it,is capable of discharging
within the shortest time, and the extreme risk and diffi,
culty of taking it, must render it alike the treasure of
the service which employs it, and the terror of the enemy.

THE WEATHER AND CROPS 9 IN COTI.AND.—The
heavy fall of rain which accompanied the thunder storm of
last -Friday was followed, as already stated, on Saturday
forenoon by" 'a
feu:
deluge to ivh' ther outpouring of the clouds, renewing the
a the crops had so recently been exposed, and
again laying).
Mach damage has
portion of the country nnder water.
:were torn up; bridal been sustained in consequence ; roads
swept away; the soil washed off many
lie2da, and others covered with mire and gravel brought down
front the higher The crop was quickly laid down,
but w brisk wind having sprung up on Sunday, much of it
was again raised. Monday morning reapers were at
farm in this neighbourhood and in
work ot.' almost every
East I.ooi AR. Yesterdaybreezy, dry, and mild, and nn
day.
];very hand was at work,
the whole a good harvest
and evening showed, in the numerousav well stocked fields,
and wages
opportunity.
that the most had been made osfutahl,e
fifteen,as high, with a
sixteen
Hands are more scarce than u
and sixteen
tendency to go still higher. Fourteen,
shillings a week, with victuals, have been re
and eve.t at this high rate hands are not abundainyt. Or the
quality and Nield of the crop it would be premature to
any decided-opinion; but the small quantities which he
have
yet been brought to the barn floor, are a fair average, both
ea respects yield, weight, and quality.— Caledonian Mercury.
FEARFUL SITUATION.--A Mr. Gray, of Providence,
painter of the congregational meeting-house, in Kingston,
-.Rhode Island, last week ascended the steeple to take off the
vane for gilding, and having left the ladders, climbed the
iron spire to the distance of twelve or thirteen feet above, re-
lying upon the ball, half-way up the spire, to rest his feet on,
.and from which position lie could take the vane off with his
right hand. While he was in the very act, the ball on which
his feet rested gave way and ran down the spire. At this
moment be was raising the vane over the end of it ; es he
did so, the spire growing smaller, made a convenient place
1 'or his thumb to keep the balancer in the gudgeon bore,
t 'hen the ball gave way under him and sank. The vane
fa (ling back with his thumb in the gudgeon bore, held him
fits t, with his feet dangling in the air. He 'remained
in , .a its perilous situation until a man ascended the spire,
and placing his shoulder under his feet, at once relieved
13:116. The Keno ree terrible tb beb9ll.4inerican raper, ,

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
NEw YORK, JULY 31.—Everything in relation to the
Mexican war remains in the same state that it was when I
last wrote. If any confidence is to be placed in the rumours
from the city of Mexico, President Paredes is making pre-
paration to join the army as its Commander-in-Chief. It is
also said that he is reinforcing it, with a determination to
give General Taylor battle. Ido not believe that Paredes,
or any other Mexican officer, will, if it can be avoided, meet
General Taylor in an open field fight. It would be the ex-
treme of rashness. The season and the weather have pre-
vented, and will continue to prevent, until some time in
September, the American troops from making any important
advances into the country.
By the latest accounts from the army, General Taylor
must now have about 15,000 men under his command, and
there are in addition thereto between 5,000 and 10,000 more
on their route to join him. He is, as I believe, in much
greater danger from starvation and disease than from the
enemy.
So far as it is possible to form an opinion of the views and
determination of the President and his Cabinet, they are re-
solved to chastise the Mexicans in the severest manner.
Unless General Taylor should meet with some extraordinary,
and as improbable as extraordinary, disaster, nothing short
of the most abject and unconditional submission of the
Mexicans will sati,fy this Government. California must be
given up. The United States, in fixing the boundary which
is to separate them from Mexico, will hold no argument, nor
will they suffer any interference. They will promptly settle
all difficulties that have or may arise—" peaceably if they
can ; flircibly if they must."
The regiment destined for California is under the command
of Colonel Stevenson. It has been recruited with great care,
and is composed of men rather above the class of men
who ordinarily enlist as soldiers. They are gene-
rally farmers or mechanics, and they have en-
listed not only as soldiers, but as settlers also. They are to
receive at the close of the war about 350 acres of land for
each man, and as settlers they agree to remain in the coun-
try. In short, the sole object the Government have in view
in sending out Colonel Stevenson's Regiment is to take and
hold possession of California. This regiment sails on the 15th
of August, transport by sea having been provided.
This war is very unpopular, because, in the opinion of the
great majority, if not unjust, it was unnecessary: but the
country being at war, its whole phy4tcal force and influence
will rally to its support. The sentiment so often quoted—
" Our country, right or wrong"— is practically sustained by
every American, even by those who freely condemn the war.
During the last fortnight, but more especially during the
last week, great excitement has prevailed throughout the
United States on the subject of the new tariff, and certain
other measures connected therewith, such as the Sub-Trea-
sury Bill, the Warehouse Bill, &c. It might be amusing,
but could not be very interesting, to your readers to enter
into all the details which attended the passage of the Tariff
Bill through the Senate. Hope and fear alternately, for
several days, pervaded the ranks of the conflicting parties.
At length, however, on the 28th the Bill passed the Senate
by the casting vote of the Vice-President, Mr. Dallas. The
Senate stood—Ayes 27, Noes 27. One absentee, Mr. Jams-
gin, and one vacancy, Mr. Heywood.
Either the friends of this Bill or the Whig party are most
egregiously mistaken as to the amount of revenue it will
produce. If the Administration should be in error, they
will feel the blow, because, according to their own estimates,
they will want all the money they have calculated to receive
from various quarters.
Briefly, in the opinion of some intelligent Whigs, the Ad-
ministration have under- estimated their expenditure during
the first ;year of the war at least ... $6,000,000
They have over-rated the amount to be realised ,
from the new tariff not less than .. ... 2,500,000
They have not taken into their estimate the
amount of the debentures to be issued for goods
to be exported having paid the high duty, and
immediately re-imported ... 1,500,000

to pay the low duty. Total amount, say .. $10,000,000
No provision has been or can be made to meet this defi-
ciency of :10,000,000 until Congress again convenes. Mr.
Polk and his Cabinet deny that there is any probability of a
deficiency, assertirg that ample provision is made to meet all
contingencies.
In the new, and to some unexpected position in which the
public affairs of the United States are now placed, it is very
difficult to form any opinion as to what will be the effect of
this free-trade movement. If we are to judge of the future
by the past, we should not hesitate to say that the Ameri-
cans are a peculiar people, and that they have a happy faci-
lity in conforming their business and their habits to sur-
rounding and controlling circumstances. But to effect this
they require something like permanency. In the present
instance there is no prospect of that. The war against

the new tariff has already commenced, and will be co2finued
with great bitterness and violence.

The money market is quite easy. Few new engagements
are making, and consequently but little money is wanting.
The new tariff does not come into operation until December.
The probability is, therefore, that not many entries will be
made of goods paying the high duties, when the new tariff
is so soon to take effect. It is not improbable that arrange-
ments will be made in Eng Lind, France, and Germany, to
have cargoes of goods in our market to meet the new tariff;
and it is probable that these shipments, in many instances,
will prove most disastrous. Brother Jonathan, be assured,
has" cut his eye teeth."
If the Sub-Treasury Bill should be made to go into imme-
diate operation, it may, and probably will, change the face of
the unmey-inarket It is, in effect, a declaration of war upon
the banks, and if struck they will probably return the blow.
When war was declined against Mexico, the Government
had in New York banks something more than 6,000,(,00 dolls. ;
they have now about 2,500,000 dolls; consequently they have
withdrawn more than half their deposit, and all the revenue
accruing and collected since the commencement of the war.
General Kearney is moving forward to the conquest of
New Mexico. He will halt at Bent's fort to recruit his men,
and will wait there to be joined by Colonel Price's regiment.
His whole force will be anout 3,200 strong, deemed amply
sufficient for the object. The last advises from him were of
the 10th inst.
' The Sub Treasury Bill was taken up in the Senate yes-
terday.
Mr. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury, through Mr.
Lewis, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, proposed
so to amend the Bill as to permit him, without restriction or
limitation, to draw upon the Sub-Treasury, which amend-
ment was rejected by the Senate—Yeas, 12; Nays, 30.
—Times. A GENE VESE TRAVELLER.

EXPERIMENTAL TRIP WITH
THE AMPHION STEAM-FRIGATE.
WOOLWICH, THURSDAY.—The Amphion steam-frigate,
built at Woolwich Dockyard, and fitted with Mr. Smith's
screw-propeller, and engines designed by Count Rosen, and
constructed and fitted by Miller and Ravenhill, engineers,
Blackwell, proceeded down the river at ten minutes before
six o'clock A.M., to try her engines and speed. Some time
previous to that early hour Captain Supe, intendent Houston
Stewart, C. 8., of her Majesty's Dockyard, Vs oolwich ; Cap-
tain Price, Captain Halstead, R N. ; Captain Thornton, R.N.,
and of the Oriental Company ; Captain Schwabe, of the Rus-
sian navy ; Commander Smith, R.N. • Mr. Lloyd, Chief En-
gineer of her Majesty's Dockyard, Woolwich ; Count Rosen,
the inventor; and Messrs. Miller and Ravenhill, manufac
turers of the engines, embarked in this fine vessel to witness
her capabilities. On leaving her moorings it was considered
advisable to proceed at a moderate rate, and she performed
the first four miles in thirty-five minutes, the engines making
forty-six revolutions per minute. The Lightning steam-
vessel, Master-Commander Petley, left Woolwich at the same
time for the purpose of showing the respective speed of both
vessels. When opposite Purfleet, Massey's log was thrown
overboard, one on the starboard and one on the larboard side of
the Amphion, and after remaining an hour in the water, gave a
speed of 6.2 knots per hour. The Lightning steam-vessel was
then signalled to come up and proceed at full speed, which she
did, and a grea'er quantity of steam being obtained in the
Amphion, she accomplished 6.7 knots during the next hour,
making 2,652 revolutions in that period, or nearly forty-eight
revolutions- per minute, working remarkably smoothly and
easily, although the engines were, in a manner, tried for the
first time, the trial in the basin at Woolvyich having merely
been made to ascertain if they fitted correctly.
At seven minutes pist nine o'clock the Lightning hoisted
her signals, to denote her number when opposite Sheerness,
and at that time the Amphion was about the eighth of a
mile astern, making excellent progress, and exceeding the
most sanguine expectations of the designer of her engines
and the constructors, who would not guarantee a greater
speed than five knots per hour, owing to the small compara-
tive power of the engines, 300-horse power to a frigate of
36 guns, built for a sailing vessel, although subsequently
adapted for a screw-propeller. This speed was maintained
nearly throughout the entire distance of her outward trip to
the south-west reach, beyond the lighthouse on the Maplin
Sands. At 35 minutes past twelve o'clock the Amphion
turned round in the short space of five minutes on her pro-
gress back to Woolwich, answering her helm with the
greatest nicety, and in the face of a very strong breeze
which had set in, made admirable progress. The engines
having become smoother, the number of revolutions reached
49, and, in sotne instances, 50 per minute, without heating
in the least degree, and in scarcely any instance have we
witnessed more perfectly adjusted or better working engines.
The great advantage of Count Itosen's engines are, that
they will be upwards of two feet under water, calculating the
upper part of the boilers as the highest elevation. The
engines are apparently on the locomotive principle, and the
action of the pistons horizontal instead of perpendicular. as
is almost invariably the case in steam-vessels with paddle.
wheels. The diameter of the screw-propeller of the Amphion
is fourteen feet. She is the largest vessel yet tried on this
principle, and the result has been so satisfactory as to place
it beyond doubt that the screw-propeller will ultimately be-
come universal for war-steamers. The speed to-day cannot
be consieered a fair criterion of the velocity that may be ob-
tained, as the Ampluon was only immersed about sixteen
feet ten inches, but will, when ready for sea, be nearer twenty-
one feet, and, consequently, give the screw-propeller a far
better purchase and greater velocity. The engines are more
compact, and occupy much less room than the engines where
paddle-boxes are used ; and the weight of the screw-propeller
being only about three tone, is far le=s than the ponderous
wheels requisite for vessels of great magnitude. The Am-
phioa passed Gravesend, on her return, at ten minutes before
six o'clock, and shortly after having loosened one of the
joints of her feed pipe, the steam was allowed to escape, as it
would have taken about an hour to mend it, and she was
towed by the Lightninr, to Greenhithe, where she anchored
for the night, her depth of draught of water preventing her
further progress up the river during the ebb tide. This simple
occurrence does not in any way detract from the principle of
the machinery and general performance during the day,
which gave entire satisfaction. Captain-Superintendent
Houston Stewart, and the party who went down the river
in the Amphion, returned at twenty minutes past six o'clock
from Greenhithe to Woolwich.