The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-27 00:00:00

THE MORAL.

The Herald thus sums up the result of the review:
" Taken all in all the review was perhaps the pret'
tiest spectacle yet presented in connection vitu"
the volunteer movement ; but in many respects
it was highly indifferent as a military lesson, and if tbe
volunteers are to learn from the regular officers, as they.
ought, at least the lesson should be worth learning. 'There
was some improvement in the bearing of the volunteer°
to be observed, and it was no doubt due to the fact that
while they retained their own battalion officers they ha
practical soldiers as brigadiers. But there would ha.ve been
no less pleasure in the spectacle had there . a little
more probability in the programme. It failed in the
basis upon which it rested—the original landing'
it failed in providing for such a speedy capttire
of Soubfisea Castle ; it failed in taking into
account that, to say nothing of the Castle, the guns of the
Portsmouth lines would have swept the Common clot'
during the advance ; and it failed in supposing that th°
fleet could have done any such work as it was set to (I'3'
But the review did not fail as 1, series of battalion more'
ments; it fully succeeded as a spectacle, and it amPli
proved the expediency of thus smiting volunteer tx001)8
and regulars whenever practicable on a plan which would
be none the worse if it v. ire somewhat elastic, and if a
little discretion were left to Was:red divisions or brigade 6
and even battalions."

THE SECRETS OF THE OCEAN.—A few (130
ago Mr. Colley, of Filey, found on the sea coast, near
Filey Brig, a beautiful gold ring, in which was set a blood'
:tone bearing an engraved boar's head. About a mile fro"
the same place a row of artificial teeth, set in gold, was
lately picked up.

A story is going the round of the Indian alla
China papers that the young Emperor of China, beins
curious to judge for himself of the effect of opium, tried 0'
pipe, and of course suffered severely. The Queen Mother
made inquiries, and having found out that one of the chid
eunuchs had supplied his Majesty with the opium, I'3'i
him beheaded, as an example to the rest of the household'
and a fresh proclamation against the use of the chug ‘ll'4
sent through the empire.

SHOCKING SCENE AT AN EXECUTION IN IC°r4t
SCOTIA.—HALIFAX, N.S., SATURDAY, APRIL 10,—Doria
the execution of Dowey, who was convicted of wurcle
at Charlottetown, Prince Edward's Island. the rope brok.
twice. The third time he was hauled up by the
sheriff and his assistants. lie had previously sP°l4e—
ri
for three•quarters of an hour with great feeling and 0133;
posure. The horrible scene was witnessed by about
2,000 people.

A WONDERFUL RIFLE.--We have received ill"
formation, from sources upon which we can rely, that l 4
new breechloading system is under examination the
French authorities. From all we hear it is likely to prol
a most formidable weapon. The principle, which is °
American origin, can be applied to many of the existing
systems, but, as yet, it has only been adapted to tile
Chassepot. By slight modification, the present C1,355e.
rots can be altered to take a metallic central fire car",..
-idge, which they are to fire in the ordinary manner'
On an emergency, when it may be required to deliver a
large number of shots in a very short period of time,
simply turning a button the converted Chasscrct
becomes a repeater capable of firing eight rounds without
reloading the magazine. The act of drawing back tlio
bolt to open the breach throws out the old case, the fresh
cartridge comes up from below, and the closing of the
j
breech pushes it into the chamber. We understa.n".
that the whole contrivance is a triumph of mechanical
skill, and that the cost of conversion is nevertheless
extremely small. The French authorities are preserving
e. more than ordinary secrecy about the whole affair, for
;hey are obliged to confess that in the matter of railittri
breechloaders, at least, they are behind the agc,
swum Asa -