The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-19 00:00:00

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report and that it be referred back to them to carry it lats.
execution. • %
Carried unanimously. '••
THE LATE LORD,MATOIL t:
Mr. H. LLOYD-I wish to ask Mr. Deputy Lott (deputy
of Mr. Alderman Salomons) whether there is any truth in
the rumour which within the last few days has been in
circulation --namely, that the late Lord Mayor has received
a very high honour or decoration from the Emperor of the
French. (Hear, hear.) A paragraph appeared in the Times
a few days since to the effect that the Emperor had de-
signed to honour him with a very high distinction for his
humanity in affording assistance to the sufferers by the
inundations in Franoe. Will the deputy be good °Rough to
say whether there is any foundation for the statement ?
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Deputy LOTT— 1 believe it is a fact that this dis-
tinction has been proffered, but that it has been intimated
by the Government that the worthy alderman would not
be permitted to wear it in this country, in consequence of
its not being an honour conferred for any military service.
I exceedingly regret it, and so do our friends, because if
anything could have tended more than another to cement
the union between the two countries it was stretching the
hand of charity to our brethren across the water when
they were in a difficulty.

ESTABLISHMENT OF A LIBRARY.
Mr. J. ANDRRTON, chairman of the Library Committee,
brought up a report, and, in moving that it be agreed to,
dilated upon the advantages likely to result from the esta-
blishment of a library in conformity with the recommen-
dation of the committee, and quoted in support of his
views the instance of a library at Salford, from the esta-
blishment of which on a similar principle to that set forth
in the report most beneficial results had followed.
After a discussion, in which several members took part,
the report was agreed to, and it was referred back to the
committee to carry the same into execution.

CONSERVANCY OF THE THAMES.
Mr. WOOD, chairman of the Consolidated Committee,
brought up a report, which was agreed to without discus-
sion.

Naval and Military intelligence.

The troops stationed at Chatham garrison, consisting
of depots of the line forming the provisional battalicn,
the Royal Engineers, the East India Company's Sappers
and Miners, and the Royal Marine Light Infantry, pro-
ceeded to Chatham lines on Wednesday afternoon for the
purpose of going through the manoeuvres of a field-day.
The depots of the provisional battalion took up their po-
sition in the centre with the Engineers and Marines on
their right and left, with their respective bands. The
whole brigade were then put through a variety of evolu-
tions by Col. W. 11:--Eden;commandant of the garrison,
which they performed in a highly efficient manner. The
troops were marched off the ground at 4 o'clock.

Lieut. P. Chute, 84th Regiment, has been appointed
Actiag Adjutant to the Provisional Battalion, Chatham,
in the place of Lieut. J. Armstrong, 40th Regiment,
who has proceeded to Ireland with that corps.
In consequence of an order received from the Horse
Guards by Col. H. Anderson, in command of the troops
at St. Mary's Barracks, Chatham, 130 men were yester-
day discharged from that establishment, selected from
the Ist Dragoon Guards, 4th Royal Irish Dragoon
Guards, sth Dragoon Guards, 31 Light Dragoons, 10th
Hussars, 2d Royals, 3d Buffs, 4th King's Own, 7th
Royal Fusiliers, 15th, 19th, 21st Fusiliers, 27th Ennis-
killens, 28th, 33d Duke of Wellington's, 34th, 37th,
40th, 41st Welsh, 42d Highlanders, 48th, 49th, LOth
Queen's Own, 51st Light Infantry, 55th, 56th, 57th,
60th Rifles, 71st Highland Light Infantry, 7711), 79th
Highlanders, 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers, 58th Connaught
Rangers, 92d Highlanders, 93d Highlanders, 97th and
98th Regiments, with troops from the Ist and 2d Batta-
lions of the Rifle Brigade.
Troops to the number of 100 men of all ranks, belong-
ing to the 3d Buffs, 21st Fusiliers, 46th, 57th, and 71st
(Highlanders) Regiments, were yesterday inspected at
Fort Pitt, Chatham, by Dr. J. R. Taylor, C. 8., and all
of them being unfit for further service will be discharged
from the stony.
Her Majesty's screw steam storeship Hesper arrived
at Spithead yesterday from Cape Verd aid Madeira, for
which ports she sailed some time since with medical corn.
forte, &c., on the occasion of those islands being visited
with cholera. Her dates are St. Vincent's, November
22 ; Madeira, December 7. From the 19th to the 17th
inst. she experienced heavy westerly gales. She brought
no news or passengers.
Her Majesty's screw blockahip Pembroke, 60, Capt.
Fraser, got up topgallantmasts at Portsmouth yesterday.
Her Majesty's steam frigate Shannon, 51, Captain W.
Peel, C. 8., is completing coal at Spithead for service.
She made several trials of her speed again at the mea-
sured mile on Wednesday, which were deemed so far
satisfactory.
H.M. steam-tender Fire Queen, Master Commander
W. F. Paul, was undocked yesterday, after having re-
paired a little damage which she incurred in Cowes
harbour on Tuesday.
H.M. steamvessel Lizard, 3, Lieut. Christopher, ar-
rived at Portsmouth in the night of Wednesday with
supernumeraries from the eastward, and left on her re-
turn with others yesterday.
The Alban, 3, steamvessel, Lieut. De Blaquiere, left
Portsmouth yesterday morning for the westward.
With a view of obtaining more positive confirmation
of the resistance afforded by the plates of iron which
form the outer casting of our newly-constructed floating
batteries, a bulkhead, 14 feet by 12, has been erected
in Woolwich Arsenal marshes, for the purpose of
carrying out some experiments connected therewith.
The bulkhead was composed of solid timber, similar
to those of a ship's hull, firmly bolted together, so
as to consolidate a depth of 1 foot 8 inches, and faced
with tour sheets of rolled aud hammered iron, full
four inches thick. The butt thus constructed was
well secured by a number of strong spurs, and fixed at
an angle of 8 degrees in the most appropriate locality,
selected for the purpose, in the practising range in the
-vicinity of the Arsenal. Lord Panmure had expressed
his intention of being present, as well as Sir B. Hawes
and Mr. Peel. They were not, however, in attendance.
Independently of the members of the select committee of
the Arsenal who were present were Rear-Admiral Sir
George Sartorius, Capt. Crawford Caffin, C. 8., Director-
General of Naval Artillery, and newly-appointed Direc-
tor-General of Stores ; Mr. Watts, R.N., Assistant Sur-
veyor of the Navy; Col. Lefroy, R. A. ; Gen. Cator,
; Capt. Younghusband, R.A. ; Capt. Campbells,
R.A.; Col. Anderson, R.H.A.; Professor Wheatstone,
F.R.S., &c. From the importance attached to the ex-
periment a thorough test was ordered to be applied.
Twenty-four rounds were successively fired from one of
the heaviest guns, a 68-pounder, weighing 95 cwt., and
charged with 161 b. of powder and an 8-inch shot. The
experiment at the commencement was tested over a
range of 600 yards, which was subsequently reduced
to 400 yards. Fifteen shot were of cast and nine of
wrought iron. The effect produced by the former on.
the iron coating was scarcely perceptible, except when it
struck the rolled sheets, and then no further than
slightly skinning the surface in the immediate spot
struck. The nine wrought iron shots were each flattened
by the force of the contact, and fell to the ground with-
out making any visible impression on the surface of the
target. The cast iron shots, being broken isito frag-
ments, also fell harmlessly to the ground ; the last, how-
ever, penetrated the iron coating, and remained partially
embedded in the woodwork. The result consequently
rests thus :—Out of the 24 experimental discharges 21
effected no damage, two fell wide of the mark, and one
pierced the target.
The freight-ship Lieutenant Ballot is chartered by
Government for the transport of light Ordnance stores,
such as bedding, pails, brooms, &c., and to fill in her
magazine with powder and ammunition for Gambia.
The iron paddle-wheel steamer Triton was taken into
No. 1 dock at Woolwich yesterday morning.
Her Majesty's steam-vessel Trident, commissioned by
Commander F. A. Close for service on the South Coast
was yesterday morning undocked at Woolwich,
aoindAremoved into basin in order to be stored and equip:
ped for sea.
The following appointments were made at the Ad
miralty this afternoon :
Commander J. M. Cooke (1552) to the Simoom,
troopship.
Commander G. T. M. Purvis (b) (1852) to the Me-
gars, troop-ship.
Second-Master Philip Syvret to the Dasher.
Assistant-Clerk Henry G. Brokenshir to the Indus.
ADMIRALTY CIRCULAR.
EXPENSE IN MESSES 0' HER MAJESTY'S SHIM
ADMIRALTY, DEC. 12.
My Lords Commissioners of the Admiraltyhave lately
had reason to believe that much greater expense has been
incurred by the messes of officers in some of her Majesty's.
ships than is sanctioned by the rules and customs of the.
service ; and, from complaints which have been made to
their lordships, that mess debts have not been liquidated
at the proper time for payment by the officers contracting
them, and claims havecosuently been made upon
offi-
cers who were subsequently appointed to subscribe for
fleet
ty
tLoo rtdhse
the discharge of debts, to which they had given no sanc-
tion.
hseavier rteogcuailalvitthieesa,titnenotriodneroftthhaetottv ersmolfythbee
avoided in future ; and their lordships desire that the of-
cers of the ward-room will adopt such
credit
as wilt
enable their messes to be maintained with _ and
com-
fort, and free from extravagance, and thus sot a becoming.
example to the junior officers.
In regard to the gun-room messes, my Lords have on
had brought to their notice circumstances
several occasions
high subscriptions, and the
caused by the unnecessari y
of extravagance and misrleanagement, which have been
and spri totall at variance with
the custom of the service and thets, pecuniary means of the
use of exnsive wines i
officers.
direct that the subscriptions to the gun - room.
With a view of putting a stop to such irregularities my
Lords
and that the monthly eubseriptions, including
messes shall never exceed the sum of eight pounds for:
entrance,aextra shall not be more than thirty shillings.
Their lordships further desire that no wine, except port
and sherry or wine of the same class and price, and no
spirits, except the ship's allowance, be used in the tt us-
room messes.
No wine, spirits, or beer are to be received on board 'of
her Majesty's ships without the written approval of tits
officer in command.
Their lordships have also been led to believe that in soi no
of her Majesty's ships mesamen, -under the designation of
stewards, are still permitted to carry on the sale of pro vi-
sions, wine, spirits, &a., to the messes of the officers owe:4 i"
to the men, in direct contravention of the Admiralty Oi der
of the 30th May, 1851. The attention of the officor"
her Majesty's ships is called to this subject, as not hing
can tend so much to irregularity in a mess, as well as
to injury to the discipline of a ship,
sale
as to
rovi permit
say person to make a traffic by the
spirits, kc., instead of the messes being ' Pro porly conduisted
by their caterers.
The Commanders-in-Chief and Senior Officers in Gonl•
mend of Stations are hereb
of psn one,
steps for carrying directed
—By command of their
these orders:
To all Flag-officers Comm nders-in
orders.
R. OSBORNE.
Lordships. to take the necessary
out
and
C"alciaels. llthla Q aof her Aisjesty
g leers 's Uips and
Ve n -Chief, Captains,