The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-19 00:00:00

A NEW HARBOUR DEFENCE.

Nothing like the mitrailleuse, the terrible new French
artillery arm of which we now hear so much, wa,s used in
our civil war, and it is generally supposed that no attempt
to construct such a weapon has ever been made on this
side of the Atlantic. IN evertheless, there is now in course
of erection on the east side of New York Bay a gun that
will throw eight hundred five-ounce balls a distance of two
miles in one minute. This gun is circular in shape, and looks
like two discs of iron plate some four feet in diameter.
On one side is a funnel which conveys the balls
through to the proper chamber without cessation of firing
or diminution of speed. The muzzle projects
upon the periphery of the circular machine, and can be
elevated or depressed at pleasure by the trunnion
on which it rotates. The machine is so constructed
that it may be worked either by manual labour or steam
power, and when worked by the latter it
will throw shot or shell up to the weight of
eight pounds,. while only slightly diminishing the
number thrown. In either case the shot may be red-hot
or cold. Those who have devised and constructed this
gun believe it will compare favourably for destructiveness
with the mitrailleuse or any other similar artillery. it
is often remarked that nothing seems to be invented in
science or art the advent of which has not been heralded or
foreshadowed by great poets or other imaginative writers,
and the observation seems quite applicable to the machinery
of war. The engines of modern strife appear to be constantly
becoming more and more like those described by Milton
as used by the fallen spirits and their conquerors in
" Paradise Lost ; " and if the progress—if such it can be
called—of the next decade equals in this respect that of
the last, it would almost seem that the actual instruments
of man's bloody encounters must equal, if not surpass, the
frightful weapons placed by the poet in the hands of the
archangels--New York Times.

THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.—The
important appointment of Chairman to this Board,
vacant by the lamented death of Sir John Thwaites,
seems likely to raise up a host of candidates. At
present, however, we believe that those actually
announced are only Colonel Fraser, and Mr.
Westerton. The latter is a member of the
Board and chairman of some of its committees ;
the former has not had that advantage. Other names
mentioned are Mr. W. Hawes, Mr. Ayrton, and Lord
Robert Montagu. We are, however, cridihly informed
that Mr. Bruce has given the Board notice that the whole
matter of municipal government will be considered in the
next session, and that it is possible the office of Chairman,
and of course its salary of £2,000 per annum, may be
dispensed with altogether.—Timcs.

THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON'S FETE DAY AT
LIVERPOOL—Monday last, which was St. Napoleon's Day,
was also a high festival in the Roman Catholic Church,
the "Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary"
being held. It was celebrated at St. Nicholas Roman
Catholic Church (pro-cathedral), Copperas-hill. The French
Consul, as is his wont invited the French residents in
Liverpool to attend High Mass in the morning at the
church. The Bishop of Pittsburg, United States—who,
we believe, is a Frbnchman—preached an eloquent
sermon to the large congregation ; but during his dis-
course an embarrassing incident occurred. At one of
the most powerful passages of the right rev, prelates
discourse, and while he was holding his hearers in
wrapt attention, he was interrupted by the
brazen notes of a German band, playing most =-
musically a patriotic Prussian tune close to the chapel.
The preacher essayed to proceed with his sermon ; but the
shrill tones of the clarionet and the ring of the cornet:a-
pistons drowned even his sonorous voice, and for a while
his eloquence was lost upon the audience. An attendant
priest whispered something to an acolyte, who imme-
diately left the church, and, proceeding to the band, told
them to go away from the immediate neighbourhood of
the church. This they did ; but they did not go suffi-
ciently far to prevent the tones of the warlike march they
were playing mingling at times with the preacher's peace-
ful discourse. The incident caused a painful feeling among
the French residents who were worshipping in the church.
—Liverpool Mercury, -