The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 13, 1869.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

A VENERABLE PLURALIST.

The death of Archdeacon Croft leas already been.
announced. The Times says that the deceased dig•
nitary was one of those who have found Godliness to
be great gain, and who have always been devotedly
attached to the Established Church. Besides his
canonry, which is reputed to be of the annual value
of £l,OOO a year, and which he had held • since 1825,
the Archdeacon was incumbent of two of the best
livings in the gift of the Archbishop of_ -Canterbury,
viz., Saltwood, near Ilythe, which is valued in the
Cleivy List at £784, and Cliffe-at-1100, near Roches-
ter, valued at £1,297. Ile had enjoyed the former
of these since the year 1812, and the latter since 1818.
It is calculated that the Archdeacon had received
during the sixty years he had been in orders
£lOO,OOO from the revenues of the Church, besides
occasional windfalls. Ile was not a distinguished
divine ; he never, in fact, published even a sermon ;
but he was the son-in-law of Archbishop Manners-
Sutton. Compared with such splendid dowries as
this all modern nepotism seems mean and despicable.
Is it not sad to think that in these days no arch-
bishop would dare to promote his son-in-law or
grandson to more than two preferments at the out-
side ? If democracy continues to make such stridea
as it has made of late years, pluralism will actually
be impossible.

ENGLISH AND FRENCH RIFLES.
An interesting account of a trial between the
Henry-Martini and the Chassepot rifles has just been
published by the Royal Artillery Institution. From
the trial, which took place at Woolwich, it appears
that, as regards accuracy, the Chassepot was
greatly inferior to the English arm. The worst
target made with the Henry-Martini at 4500
yards was 1.62 feet ; the best with the Chassepot
was 2.38 feet. The best target with the Henry-
Martini shewed a still higher degree of accuracy,
viz., 0.96 feet. In simplicity of manipulation the
English rifle is superior, and it is far less fatiguing
to use. In firing for rapidity, the Chassepot gave
20 rounds in lmin. 42sec. ; the Henry-Martini, 20
rounds in 48sec., or more than twice the rapidity.
The Chassepot ammunition is lighter than that of
the English rifle, in consequence mainly of the
bullet of the former weighing 380 grains only, against
480 grains. The lightness of the French ammunition
appears to be the only point in its favour, and
against this many set the following advantages on
the side of the English rifle :—lncreased strength
anti safety of ammunition, greater accuracy, longer
range, flatter trajectory, higher penetrative power,
greater safety, strength, and simplicity of construc-
tion, and increased rapidity of fire. It would have
rendered the trial more interesting if the Prussian
needle-gun and the Snider rifle had also been tested
on the occasion.

British Minister would venture to entertain, even
though he had a majority twice as large as Mr.
--Gladstone's. It is all very melancholy and very
absurd.

The Hon. William Barrington is appointed,to the
Legation at COpenhagen as second secretary. Mr.
Barrington is, we believe, a brother of Viscount
Barrington, who was Lord Derby's private secretary
for some time. It may be presumed that merit,
rather than political influence, has led to this pro-
motion.

for the operations of the Free Trade League were supplied
by foreign manufacturers. In other words, that native
Americans received money from foreign countries to get
up an agitation -to the prejudice of their countrymen's
industry. It is hardly necessary to remark that there is
not the slightest foundation fur such a statement.