The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-31 00:00:00

TRIAL OF THE MX PRUSSIAN WAR STEADIER.

A trial took place on Saturday with anew iron steamer
intended as a gun vessel for the Prussian service. This
vessel, built by Messrs. Robinson and Russell, left
Blackwell shortly after twelve o'clock, not only to try
her rate of speed, but to test her power of firing guns
in a manner quite novel, and for which a patent
has been secured. The paddlewheel war steamers
of the Royal Navy %an fire only one gun ahead or
astern; but, in the case of the Nix, the sponsons or
platform in front and astern of the paddle-boxes are so
formed and strengthened that two guns, one for each
sponson, can be fired either forward or aft to cross each
other at a distance of 130 yards from the bow or stern.
The Nix is a vessel of only 550 tons, builder's measure-
ment, with a mean draught of water of six feet six
inches. The engines are of 150-horse power, and her
armament consists of four 8-inch guns, 65 cwt. each, and
9 feet long; also, two 32-pounder guns, 25 cwt. each, and
6 feet long, mounted upon carriages made by Messrs.
Fergusson, Millwall, with all modern improvements in
that department of gunnery. She tried her speed at th•
measured distance in Sea roach, and performed the
mile, with the wind and tide in her favour, in 4 min.
and 5 sec. When the Nix arrived off Southend she fired
two B•inch sponson guns' shotted, firing three rounds
from each, the shot crossing each other within a dis-
tance of about 130 yards ahead of the vessel, making an
angle towards the line of keel of 21 deg. The vessel
then returned, and although encountered by a strong
wind and tide performed the measured mile in 6 min.
and 55 sec., making an average speed of 11,684 knots
or 13,463 miles per hour. The Nix being intended as
a vessel of war has been fortified on the inside with two
thicknesses of 4-inch teak plank, and is considered to be
very strong. She carries about 124 tons of coals, equal
to ten days' consumption. The engines performed 32
strokes per minute. They, as well as the vessel, were
constructed by Messrs. Robinson and Russell.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
EPSOM SPRING MEETING.

The programme for Thursday and Friday next is by
far the strongest that has been issued since the establish-
ment of the Spring meetings. So strong is it—thanks
to the liberality of the licensed victuallers and their
friends, and the zeal of the clerk of the course—that the
stewards of the flat races are at length enabled to dia.
pense with " heats ;" and we have no doubt will exclude
them altogether from all future lists, whether in sprihr,
summer, or autumn, On the first day the venue will be
laid in the same locality as last year—the sport to con-
sist of three steeplechases and a hurdle race, with patine
money amounting to 220/. The " legitimate" racing
on the following day will be in every respect first-rate.
Six events will come off—viz., the Trial staked, the City
and Suburban Handicap, with an acceptance of 27 oat of
an entry of 51 (one having become void by the death of
that straight-forward sportsman Sir Gilbert Heathoote);
the Two years old Stakes, with 20 entries (one void), and
the prospect of a large field; the Great Metropolitan
tions (one void); the Railway
Handicap, for which 44 were left in out of 101 nomina-
which, as well as the Trial Stakes,
Plate and Selling Stakes,
afternoon at tour o'clock—tbe close on Wednesday
extraordinary money added amounting
to 6501. So ext an improvement in the cha-
racter of the meeting is creditable to Mr. Dorling ; and
as the Brighton Railway Company will provide ample
accommodation in the shape of special trains on both
days, them is no doubt that he will be liberally sup-
ported by
the
NoRTH OF ENGLAND STEEPLECHASE. The dis-
puted race has been decided iu favour of Isaac.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
should feel extremely obliged if you could find
corner for the following acrostic on the name of Phelps;
it was written by a deceased friend of mine just before
his death.—Yours obediently, W. J. L.
P ouring thy sounding likes on eager ears,
urling thy flashing sentences afar,
E 'en as in Feudal Times thy form appears
L it up to greatness as the truthful " Mar."
P oint onward still and long beneath thy reign
ball " Sadler's Wells" its proud career maintain.
CHARLES WILTON.

THE LONDON SEAMEN.—A monster procession of
the seamen of the port of London is appointed for Wednes-
day, o convey the petitions for the repeal of the Mercantile
Liam Act.