The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-16 00:00:00

FRAN CE.

PARIS, Jan. 16.

An Imperial decree, dated the 30th ult., ratifies
on the part of France the international declaration
recently signed at St. Petersburg. According to
usedcertainkinds
in n future r
e.

BOURSE, Jan. 15.—Three o'clock.—The market
closed as follows :-
41 per Cent.
End of month... Ital'an Loan
3 per Cent
End of month 69 824 Mexican Loan ... 24 50
Credit Mobilier
End of month... 273 75 Spanish Threes
Credit Foncier _1542 50 Home Debt —
End of month... Deferred 29
Cash
Orleans ................................ 926
Northern .............................
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern.....
Western

RAILWAYS.

Eastern ............ 567k
Sardinian 49
Austrian 642/
Lombard 440
North of Spain
Saragossa
Roman ....................................... 49i

loPngCaoslseosCiaßteNd with the appli-
cationprinciple to ships of war, has
so C.B., whose
names Captain
bas been Cowper
been making experiments at Portsmouth Dockyard
of the turret
with regard to the bottoms of iron ships and the
disposition of their guns and armour. He states
that his success bas exceeded his anticipations. In
the Warrior dock at Portsmouth there has been
placed within the last few days an iron built mortar
vessel, now used as a movable coal depot, on the bot-
tom of which for some years past different kinds of
composition for the preservation of the bottoms of
iron ships and for the prevention of their fouling
have been tested and periodically reported on by the
Shipwright Department of the dockyard for the
information of the Admiralty. On the bottom of
this vessel are two patches of cement composition
applied on the plan proposed by Capt. Coles, one of
which was put on four, and the other three years
since. Speaking of these first as preservative ce-
ments only, their efficiency in that respect has
been satisfactorily proved by having portions of
them cut away from the vessel's bottom with a
chisel, when the iron plates underneath were found
in perfect preservation, and as free from outer
deterioration of any kind as on the day the cement
was first laid over. The anti-fouling experi-
ment has been equally successful. In November,
1867, the last occasion on which the vessel was
in dock, a patch of the cement was laid on the
bottom plating under the bilge, and, before drying,
coated with a copper facing in the form of dust or
filings. This patch now, after the vessel has been
quite 14 months in the water, is found to be quite
clean and free from any deposit whatever, fully
answering, indeed, all the requirements that would
be expected from a sheet of copper fixed in any
similar position. Captain Coles also claims that
the cement applied to the bottom of an iron ship
would strengthen it very materially, as well as pre-
serve it from the action of the sea-water. This
would, no doubt, be the case, but weight given by
any increased thickness of the cement applied would
then have to be taken into consideration, a part of
the subject, however, which has, no doubt, been
considered.

The departure from Bombay, on the 14th irst.,
of her Majesty's Indian troopship Jumna, for Suez,
has been announced.
THE LONDON SCOTTISH VOLUNTEERS.—On Fri-
day, the Bth inst., the annual supper of the A Company of
the London Scottish Volunteers took place at Crosby
Hall. The hall was decorated with bannerets on which
ware the bearing of several Highland clans and Lowland
families. The chair was taken by Capt. Mackenzie, and
about 120 sat down to supper. A number of toasts were
drunk, and the utmost cordiality prevailed. The well-
known 5 piper John Mackenzie was in attendance, and
played at intervals during the evening.

DUNVILLE and Co., Belfast, are the largest
holders of Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is re-
oommended by the medical profession in preference to French
Brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or exports
lion. Quotations on application to Messrs. Dunvilie and Co.,
Belfast; cr 4, Biaufort-Luilinags, Strand,_Lvadyn
Tertisemot.