The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-22 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

The Megaera screw troopship, Commander Hen-
derson, will embark detachments of troops, &c., at
Portsmouth, at 3 p.m. to-morrow, as follows :—For
Gibraltar—Royal Artillery-10 men, from Wool-

with ; Ist battalion, 25th, 4 officers and 40 men,
from Athlone; 2 battalion, Bth, 1 man ; 100th Foot,
76 men, 3 women, and 4 children, from Parkhurst;
and 31st, 1 man. For Malta—Royal Artillery-32
men and 2 women from Woolwich; Assist-Staff-
Surg. Gaussen, from Walmer ; with several naval
officers and a number of midshipmen recently
passed out of the Britannia cadet training ship, pro-
ceeding to join their ships in the Mediterranen
fleet on appointment.

The 2d battalion of the 19th Regiment, under the
command, of Col. Warden, marched out of Ports-
mouth garrison on Saturday afternoon to Southsea-
common, where they were officially inspected by
Major-Gen. Lord W. Paulet, C. 8., commanding
the garrison and the South-Western district. The
regiment, mustering 10 companies of 31 file, marched
past in slow and quick time in a very teady- man-
ner, notwithstanding the slippery and unfavourable
state of the ground, owing to the late continuous
rains. The regiment was then put through the
manual and platoon exercise by the Brevet-Major,
and the bayonet exercise by the Adjutant. Light
infantry movements followed, which were carried
out until new-ly dusk, and the whole was gone
through in a steady and soldierlike manner. At the
Close of the manoeuvres his lordship addressed the
regiment in eulogistic terms, and said that their
ra ovements showed a marked improvement since he
last saw them at Aldershott; the officers appeared
to have a
good command of their men, and the whole
se2lned to know their duties. His lordship also
spoke in terms of praise of the general conduct of
the men.
since
of the they had been in the garrison, and
inteaal economy of the regiment gene-
rally. Thisinspection concludes the inspections of
the infantry
stationed in the garrison.
The 15th brigade of
tßoyal Artillery, stationed at
Gosport, will be officially
inspected by Major-Gen.
Lord W. Paulet, C. 131 , ItY
The Horsfall reon;tesrliirtao:n.gun, which has been
recently erected near
removed furtherea Castle, is about to
be temporarily
to the eastward of
the castle, for the purpose of further testing the
gun and its powers of range, the necessary
and purchases having been erected i n osiyt tackle
ion for
thepurpose. The gun weighs 22 tons, throwing a
B hot of 3361 b (spherical), with a charge of 761 b of
powder. The position in which the gun has hitherto
been placed, commanded, at short range, the en-
trance to the harbour channel by the Spit buoy,
and the gun is too unwieldy in itself, as at present
mounted, for any other purpose. Half the service
charge of powder would be sufficient at this short
range, but it has been said the gun has a slight de-
fect in the chamber, and hence the resolution for a
further test.
The Royal Engineer Permanent Committee at
Chatham, as well as the Ordnance Select Commit-
tee, having made a highly favourable report of the
newly-invented iron-band gabion, the invention of
Sergeant-Major J. Jones, R.E., Gen. Sir J. Bur-
goyne, the inspector-general of fortifications, has
given directions for the invention to be adopttd
generally in the service, and included in the list of
stores to accompany armies in the field. The new
tsabion is formed by bands of common or galvanised
tra..t-ifon, known as 20-inch gauge, 3-1-, inches in
Wider,` en wooden pickets, the advantages ifs 1

,

possesses over the old kind of wicker gabions
hitherto in use by the Royal Engineers in the con-
struction of their earthwork and defences being of
the most striking character. The old description of
gabion occupies three men three hours in making,
whereas on a recent occasion, in the presence of his
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and staff,
two sappers made one of the iron gabions in four
and a-half minutes. From experiments made it has
been ascertained that 100 men can make 5,400 of
the iron-band gabions in nine hours, while the same
number of men, in the same time, would only
make 100 wicker gabions. The number of wicker
gabions used at the siege of Sebastopol by our
forces was 19,300, and had the iron-band gabions
been then adopted they could have been constructed
by 100 sappers in four days. The chief merits of
Sergeant-Major Jones's invention are that they are
more portable, inasmuch as 100 of his gabions re-
quire less room for stowage than six of the wicker
ones; they are much lighter, each weighing only
291 b., or 311 b less than the old kind ; they are much
cheaper, costing, complete, ss. ld. each, or ls. id.
less than the present description ; more simple in
their construction, and more durable. The latter is
not the least of its many superiorities, the iron-band
gabions in use at the Royal Engineer establishment
having been subject to the most severe treatment
without sustaining any apparent injury, while six
of the wicker gabions were rendered entirely use-
less during the same period. The official report
made to the Inspector-General of Fortifications de-
scribes the invention as possessing the advantages
of all other iron gabions without their disadvan-
tages, and as being the most serviceable yet intro-
duced. Being of iron, they are, of course, incom-
bustible. On the recommendation of Gen. Sir John
Burgoyne, the inventor has succeeded in making
the iron bands of the gabions useful for constructing
flying suspension-bridges for the passage of troops
and guns, one of these bridges, having a span of 59
feet and formed out of the bands of 16 gabions, hav-
ing been formed over St. Mary's-creek, Chatham,
the description of which appeared in The Sun at
the time. The same bands are also capable of being
used for the construction of hospital beds and am-
bulance litter; and for stabling and hutting for
cavalry and infantry troops on active service.
The annexed circular memorandum, addressed to
general officers in command of troops, and officers
commanding Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers,
has been promulgated

" Horse Guards, Oct. 13.
" It having been brought to the notice of his
Royal Highness the General Commanding-in-Chief
that there are no definite instructions as to the
points on which officers commanding Royal Ar-
tillery and commanding Royal Engineers should
confer when projects for additions or alterations to
works of defence are being prepared, his Royal
Highness has, with the concurreilce of the Secre-
tary of State for War, approved the following in-
structions on the same subject, viz.:—
" When an engineer officer receives orders to
draw up plans for a battery, or for alterations to
existing works of defence, he should consult with
the officer commanding Royal Artillery as regards
the position and relative importance of the work,
the number and nature of the guns, and their direc-
tion of fire, the number of traverses and position of
magazines, whether guns should be casemated or
not, or whether they should fire through embrasures,
or be mounted en barbette—all these being subjects
for joint consideration.
The position of artillery stores, shell-filling
rooms, side-arm shed, their internal arrangements,
the distance between the guns, and general form of
embrazures, are points which, perhaps, belong more
exclusively to the province of the Artilleryman than
to that of the Engineer ; but it is to be observed
that the circumstance of the site may sometimes
prevent the latter officer planning the work pre-
cisely as the former would most desire, and a joint
consultation is the best mode of arriving at a satis-
factory conclusion."
The following circular memorandum has been
issued, addressed to infantry :

" Horse Guards, S.W,, Oct. 11.
" With reference t• the circular memorandum
from this department, dated Oct. 6, 1859, General
No. 193, describing a new pattern aide-flag with
socket, which has been prepared and deposited at
the Horse Guards for future guidance, commanding
officers of infantry regiments and depot battalions
are now informed that the Secretary of State for
War has approved of the socket for aide-flags being
in future made at the Small Arms Factory at En-
field, and supplied gratis to the troops, on applica-
tio!, to the -Var-office; the sags and wooden handles
being obtained, as heretofore, by the regiments
themselves. " By command,
" JAMES 'YORKE SCARLETT, Adit.-Gen."

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 22, 1860.

The proceedings closed with a dinner hospitably
given by Mr. Johnston, who commands the Hales- ,
worth Corps, to all the Volunteers assembled, and
a number of friends. Capt. Johnston presided,
and in proposing the health of the Earl of Strad-
broke, in his official capacity of Lord-Lieutenant
of Suffolk, congratulated his Lordship upon the
fact that there were no fewer than 17 Volunteer
corps of riflemen and artillerymen in the county.
The noble lord, in responding, reviewed the cir-
cumstances which had induced the Volunteer
movement, and expressed his conviction that the
spirited manner in which it had been carried out
had immensely increased the security of the
country. The proceedings of the day were grati-
fying to all concerned.
A fifth battalion has been added to the four
already organised in Staffordshire, the new batta-
lion, which contains five companies, being allowed
a staff, consisting of a major and adjutant. All the
other battalions have a lieutenant-colonel and ad-
jutant, and three of them a major. The first bat-
talion consists of the companies in and around the
Pottery towns, and numbers 11 companies, besides
two others in course of organisation. The second
contains seven companies, including three formed
at Bourton, the rest being in the agricultural towns
in the north-east of the county. The third batta-
lion numbers eight companies in the south-east of
the county; the fourth, including the three Wol-
verhampton companies, eight companies in the
south-west; and the new or fifth battalion, five
companies in the central district around Walsall.
There are 40 companies whose services are accepted
in the county, and two in course of organisation,
one of which, Etruria, in the Potteries—a place
which owes its name and existence to the celebrated
Wedgwood—is intended to be an artillery com-
pany. On Tuesday Major Dick, the Government
inspector, reviewed the third battalion in Patshull-
park, the seat of the Earl of Dartmouth, who,
having enlisted as a private and for some time
served as an ensign, is now captain of the Patshull
Company. About 450 mustered on the occasion,
and after the review, which was very satisfactory,
were regaled with pork pies, &c., at the cost of Lord
Dartmouth.

At the suggestion of Lord A. Vane Tempest—
which suggestion meets with the approval of the
Lord-Lieutenant, Lord Durham—it is probable that
at meeting of commanding officers of the Volunteer
Rifle Corps in the county will be held early in No-
vember in the city of Durham, with a view to form
an association to be called the Durham Rifle Asso-
ciation. It is intended that this association shall
take the initiative for a county rifle shooting to be
held in the spring of 1861.

FUNERAL OF A VOLUNTEER.
Saturday, at half-past two, was appointed for
the funeral of Corporal John Donovan, of the 20th
Middlesex, who died in an omnibus on Monday
last. Before one o'clock crowds of people were
seen wending their way to Bayham-street, Camden-
town, in which the family of the deceased resided,
and by the time that his comrades of the 20th, and
his fellow employes in the establishment of Messrs.
Collard, had assembled, the street was packed with
human beings. By dint of strenuous exertions,
however, the 20th managed to clear a space imme-
diately in front of the house, for the hearse and the
mourning coaches, three in number. Facing th'
house were drawn up,under the command ofa sergeant
the firing party, who presented arms as the corpse
was brought out, and reversed arms as soon as it

was placed in the hearse. The mournfal cortege
started about 20 minutes to three in the following
order :—The band ; the hearse, ,with on each side,
three members of the company of the deceased ;
the firing party bearing their arms reversed, and
with white scarfs and hat bands; the mourning
coaches, with the family of the deceased ; the re-
maining members of his company; a detachment
of the London Irish, fifty in number, under the
command of Lieut. Tully, who attended as a mark
of respect to the memory of a fellow countryman ; a
company of the 29th North Middlesex, under Ser.
geant-Major Morton and Colour-Sergeant Spinks,
of the 4th Company . about 500 members of the 20th,
without arms ; and bringing up the rear, all the
officers and covering sergeants. The band, in
starting, played the " Dead March in Saul," the
procession moving in slow time through High-
street, Camden•town, and Park-street, where a
quicker pace was ordered round the Edgware-road
and Harrow-road, to St. Mary's Roman Catholic
Cemetery, Kensal-green, where it arrived soon
after half-past four- At. t 8..4. th. body, which
was here rer^.ved from the hearse and borne by
his comrades, was met by the curate whose turn of
duty it was to officiate, attended by acolytes in
surplices, bearing tapers, and the procession again
moved on headed by the bearer of a large crucifix,
the priest intoning the opening sentences of the fu-
neral office, to the chapel, where the coffin, on which
was laid the cap, plume, and belts of the deceased,
was deposited. The in-door service having been
performed the procession moved to the grave, where,
when the office was concluded, the firing-party de-
livered three parting volleys over the last resting-
place of their comrade. The 20th and the other
corps engaged then re-formed and marched back to
town, the band playing several lively airs, to the
great delight of the large crowd which had accom-
panied the procession. The military arrangements
were most effectively arranged by Sergeant-Major
Box, of the 20th, and Sergeant Backen of the Ist
Battalion of Coldstream Guards, who has from its
formation been the instructor of Collard's company.

THE LATE MINISTERIAL CRISIS IN NAPLES.

A letter from Naples, in the Debats, gives some
details of the circumstances which preceded the
late ministerial crisis in that city :
" Crispi had the impertinence to pronotince the
pro-Dietator's programme useless, and that of the
Ministry, drawn up on the same plan, inoppor-
tune. When Conforti read this prospectus of
the Government in the Council, Crispi rejected
it. Not to accept this programme,' exclaimed
the Marquis de Pallavicino, who presided at the
council, a man must be either a fool, a block-
head, or a rogue.' Crispi protested loudly against
this last word, but the marquis would not with-
draw it. Conforti said nothing, but left the pro-
Dictator alone to defend the policy of immediate
annexation. Crispi, on his side, would not give
way. The marquis then determined to have the
question definitively decided by Garibaldi him-
self. Ah! ah !' cried Garibaldi, who was in
bed at the time, on seeing Pallavicino appear
before him somewhat paler than usual, so we
gave a storm. Come, sit down on my bed,
George, and frankly tell me all about it.' With-
out further entreaty, the Marquis began to de-
scribe in the most sombre colours the situation
of the country, the consequences of the Dictator's
ever-changing policy, the political follies and in-
trigues of his friends. Garibaldi heard him for
about twenty minutes without a word, then he
exclaimed, Constitute Italy, George, and consider
me as the meanest of her sons !' He had already
two days before written to Victor Emmanuel a
letter which has been repeated to me from me-
mory, and it concluded as follows Sire—As
soon as your Majesty arrives within 20 miles of
my camp, I pray your Majesty to inform me, that
I may go and lay at your Majesty's feet the libe-
rated provinces, and place myself at your Majes-
ty's orders.' He consequently gave the Marquis
full powers, and thus divested himself of his civil
dictatorship without even the semblance of regret.
He signed whatever Pallavicino wished without
reading or asking a question ; in fact he consented
to everything. He thus saved the country ;as he
broke the trammels of the intriguers who had
for a moment circumvented him. Pallavicino re-
turned to Naples the same evening, quite ra-
diant, and taking a pen, he wrote the Plebiscite
for immediate annexation, even before he knew
anything of Count Cavour's speech. The Plebis-
cite was discussed yesterday in the Council of
Ministers. Those who voted for immediate annex-
ation were--Pallavicino, Conforti, and Coppola ;
and those against it, Crispi, Auguissola, and Guira.
The document appeared in the official journal last
night. At the same time the office of secretary to
the Dictatorship was abolished, and Crispi may re-
turn to Sicily, for at Naples he is neither loved nor
esteemed. All the committees throughout the king-
dom have been suppressed. The Neapolitan diplo-
matic body, as well as the consulates, have been
abolished, and their powers delegated to the ambas-
sadors and consuls of Sardinia. Several governors of
provinces have been recalled, and their attributions
limited to those of the old intendants. Part of Ber-
tani's decrees will be annulledt The office of Finance
Minister is given to Baron Coppola, who was Prefect
of the Basilicata in 1848, afterwards a refugee—a
very moderate man, but unknown as a financier. De
Sanctis has not accepted the office. of Minister of
Public Instruction, and is gone with the Neapolitan
deputation sent to request Victor Emmanuel to
proceed to Naples. Mazzini has been informed
that he may stay at Naples if he pleases, as his con-
duct is now an affair for the police. General Turr
has been appointed to the military command of
Naples. The health of this gallant Hungarian is
in a very delicate state."
e

AFFAIRS IN THE EAST.