The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-14 00:00:00

two longitudinal bulkheads between the sides and
the inner portion of the vessel, which are termed
wings, and serve as a means of communication.
Inside these wings are placed the coals, while the
chief magazines are further secured again by hav-
ing the water tanks inside these bunkers. Since
the vessel was commenced, also, the Admiralty have
ordered the hull to be still more strengthened by
the addition of three broad girders passing beneath
the armour plates on both sides from stem to stern.
The whole of the framework of the armour-coated
portion of the ship is now erected, and the stem and
stern are in rapid course of construction. The
number of guns to, e carried on the main deck is
to be 36, of which 30 are under the armour coating,
and the rest fore and. aft. It is not yet positively
decided, though v, e believe there is little doubt that
there will be either 30 or 36 broadside guns on the
upper or spar. deck as well, making her a 60 or a
70-gun frigate. All these pieces of ordnance are
to be Armstrong's longest range guns, and throwing
shot of 1001 b. weight.
In the course of two or three weeks more the
framework of both stem. and stern will be up and
bolted together, and by that time the sibs of the
midship section will be covered with their iron
skin, and the double planking of teak commenced.
As a matter of course, the armour plates will got
be bolted into their places until after the Warrior
is launched, when this part of her equipment will
most likely be completed in the Victoria Docks.
All the plates are dovetailed at the edges into one
another, and fastened through the teak and iron
into the inner ribs of the ship with bolts, which are
countersunk outside so as to have their heads level
with the surface of the plate. The total weight of
the plates required for the vessel is 1,000 toms
These monstrous slabs of armour are formed of
scrap-iron with a certain proportion of paddled bar
iron, which makes a mixture of almost unyielding
toughness. Soir.o of them taken to Portsmouth
have been subjected to the most severe tests in order
to ascertain their capacity for resisting shot and
shell, and the remnants of these plates are now at
the works at Illaok wall. They were fired at by
68-pounders at a point-blank range of 200 yards.
The massive shot even at this short distance have
tailed topenetrate the iron, though they have din ted
it to the depth of U- or in some cases 2 inches. Six
of the shots struck within a circle of almost less than
2 feet diameter. Each after the second shot (which,
of course, more or less broke the fibre of the iron) tore
a narrow circular fissure or crack outside the mark
of the diameter of the shot dint, until at the sixth
shot in almost the same place the plate was broken
and torn apart. What the effect of such a bat-
tery would be if the plates were backed up with
the double beams of teak it is difficult to say, but
it shows that the mere slabs of iron alone would
be quite insufficient to resist a concentrated broad-
side of 68-pounders at close range. At the same
time it must be borne in mind—first, that six such
heavy shots are never likely to strike all in the same
spot ; and, secondly, that the 'Warrior will herself
be armed with the heaviest guns in the world, which
have sufficient range to enable her to commence her
action with an enemy at least four miles distant.
At two miles she herself will be to the enemy out
of range for all practical purposes, even for the
heaviest smooth-bore guns used in any nav3,and at
1,000 yards distance a6B-pounder shot scarcely dints
her iron sides to the depth of half an inch. In fact,
every possible contingency seems to have been pro-
vided against tbr her security, except the probabi-
lity of her rolling in such a manner as to be inca-
pable of using her guns in anything of a seaway.
Everything seems to presage that she will unques-
tionably be a tremendous roller, unless the Admi-
ralty adopt some such precaution in the way of
double bilge boards outside as are used by the north
country pilot-boats. With these she may be ren-
dered stiff enough ; «ithout them, especially now
that the Admiralty have determined in placing her
engines rather high in her, the weight of her top
hamper may be so great as almost to endanger her
safety iu a heavy sea.

CIVIL ,S.ERVICE VOLUNTEER CORPS.

CUSTOMS' DEPARTMENT.

It has been already recorded that the Lords of
the Treasury had permitted the gentlemen serving
in the several departments under the Crown to form
themselves, like the rest of the country, into rifle
corps. Since which time two of our most remark-
able buildings (Westminster Hall and the Long
Room of the Custom House) have been filled every
evening with numerous bodies undergoing the pro-
cess of drilling. • Last evening the effective mem-
bers of the Customs' corps held a meeting for the
purpose of electing their officers.
Mr. HAMEL, solicitor, who presided, took occa-
sion to refer, in an eloquent speech, to the move-
ment., which had now become so general through-
out the length and breadth of the land, congratu-
lating the members on the zeal with which they
entered into the discipline necessary to attain a
knowledge of the duties appertaining to military
training, also on the unanimity and loyalty which
led to the formation of the corps. He added, that

heir meeting that evening vas convened for_ the

purpose of electing officer; for the corps; and the
number they were at present entitled to were three
captains, three lieutenants, and three ensigns, the
election of whom the Lord-Lieutenant delegated to
the members themselves. Gentlemen who were
willing to servo in these capacities would be
nominated, and it would be for each member to vote
for them according to his own pleasure and opinion.
He concluded by calling on
Mr. OGILVIE, who proposed for election, as cap-
tains, Mr. Commissioner Gray, Mr. Hamel, and
Mr. Wybrow (collector), all of whom being duly
seconded, were carried with acclamation.

Mr. HAMEL returned his grateful thanks, as much
for the flattering reception they had given to his
name, as for the honour they had conferred on him.
He stated that, running throughout his veins was
some of the best blood of France, being the son of
a native of that country who, for his constancy and
loyalty,was expatriated during the Reign of Terror.
He assured the meeting, notwithstanding that he
had so much Gallic blood in him, the invaders of
these shores would find him a determined opponent,
be their country or clime what it may.
Mr. WY BROW also expressed his deep sense of the
high and honourable position their votes had placed
him in, the duties of which he would endeavour to
his utmost to discharge to their satisfaction.
Mr. HENRY CAULIER, principal searcher, pro-
posed, for their lieutenants, Mr. Ogilvie, Mr.
Dobell, and Mr. Charles Bernard, which found nu-
merous seconders, who were also unanimously
elected amid much applause.
Mr. OGILVIE rose to thank his comrades for the
enthusiastic greeting with which they were pleased
to receive his name, and assured them that he
valued that compliment as the highest that could be
accorded him. He would not detain them in re-
capitulating sentiments that had already been de.
livered with so much eloquence by their friend Mr.
Hamel, but he could not help recurring to the re-
marks passed by the natives of other countries who
had visited Britain on the occasion of the Great

Exhibition, which was to the effect " that the
British people were so orderly that they appeared
to be their own police," and he thought he could
now with equal truth add to that trite expression,
that they would be found likewise their own
army.
Mr. PHILLIPS, landing surveyor, came forward
to submit for their acceptance as ensigns, Mr.
Charles Tindal Pickford, Mr. John Lilley, and Mr.

!ones.
Mr. HALE would wish to add the name of Mr.
Henry Mac Lean, and said, although he was aware
that three could only, according to their prevent
strength, be elected, yet as a considerable section
wished for that gentleman's appointment, he hoped
they would allow each party to have the advantage
of selection.
Another gentleman proposed the addition of Mr.
Cobham. All of which propositions having been
duly seconded, a poll was demanded by the friends
of each of the candidates, the result being the elec-
'lion of Mestrs. Pick ford, Mae!. ean, and Cobham, to
the rejection of Mr. Lilley, to whom, it was said,
the labour of bringing the corps to its present
state was chiefly owing.
Mr. HARRISON begged to he allowed to explain
an inadvertence which several friends of MrLPillaleiny
committed, which was, that being igno'rant. of the
number he had polled
polled, anadesirous also to vote for
l acL efaairi '
beforetile
the result w placing the latter
gMern'tlei
man
trusted therefore that the former on the poll. He
Lilley would be re- lowest number and Mr.
polled a suggestion which was
eagerly pressed, but the
Chairman was inexorable,
and announced the names with the highest num-
bers to be
elected as stated above.
Mr. PICKFORD and his brother officers soverally
thanked their friends for their
election.
Mr. A •
—LGUSTITS COPE moved, and Mr. COBJIAM
seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr. Hamel for hie
urbanity and ability in the chair, which was
accordingly carried.
Mr. NORTH could not permit them to 'separate
without acknowledging their obligations tie the un-
wearied exertions of their honorary secretary, Mr.
Lilley, in bringing them together, and In 3 thought
he could assure his being returned with. acclama-
tion to fill the first vacant commission.

Mr• OGILVIE E uondt d the vote with. -unqualified
sincerity, adding his testimony to the gye at interest
Mr. Lilley took in the formation of t; he; corps, and
his assiduity in labouring as much a s possible for
its perfection. The motion was re ceived 'with
tremendous cheering, after which, and the three
cheers being given for the Queei 2, the meeting
broke up.

A