The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-28 00:00:00

IRON-CASED SHIPS.

Admiral Sartorius says :—" I believe I was the
first who, during the Russian war, suggested to the
Admiralty, then headed by Sir C. Wood, and to the
Count de Persigny, the French Minister, the feasi-
bility of uniting the qualities of invulnerability,
comparative incombustility and weight, of the
ship steam batteries, just then invented by the Ern-
rer
Napoleon, with those of the agile and rapid
steamers strengthened for the purpose, and so form
an engine of
war, invincible and irresistible when
used a • gaunt timber-built vessels of every size,
which could be
the destroyed by incendiary projectiles
and shells fromnew craft or sunk by concus-
sion, by the forceof the blow from its beak, and all
this with perfect
them of the probability of impunity
to that craft. I warned
so simple an idea sug-
gesting itself to the Russian Government, and the
fatal consequences to thucntte.d fleets if we should
not be prepared for the contingency. The peace
occurring immediately after,
szntinued privately
and officially to urge before cessive Admiralty
Boards the vital importance of
e question of
these vessels; upon the practicability
els
then
prin-
ciple involved in the use of n
upon
which depended a radical change in the wholee sys-
tem of naval warfare, the construction of all the
navies of the world ; many millions of the
most
useless expenditure and, what was of the deepest
interest to ourselves, the rendering our shoresim.
Possible to a successful invasion if the principle
could be easily and practically carried out.
pressed
earnestly for a commission to be composed'
of the most intelligent men in their respective
classes, .
in
___ asaengineers civil and military, shipbuilders
abiew:.°7thiannd iron, experienced naval officers and
suits of all es; before whom should be laid the re-
the subject, tairaiments already made bearing upon
with
any further trials,the privilege of ordering
they might think and examining any persons
the results to the Government,
; then to report upon
that commission.
and I begged
to be heard before
warded also plans and e.ommission. I for-
under the sanction and approval4rawings drawn up
and intelligent shipbuilders of most able
tive of my views. lam sorry andengineers sugges-
yet to obtain any favour orgym not been able
attention from
miralty Board. Nevertheless, four any Ad-
vessels have
been commenced within the two last
Years mainly
upon my suggestions, without any coinnioniai
t
with or acknowledgment to me of the intentionsc
euf
the Admiralty. I must leave to the observations"
which accompany this letter to illustrate ray
opinion as to the manner and efficiency with
which which those suggestions have been attempted to be
arried out.
The question of vital importance to decide is
"lie—can
, a vessel be constructed comparatively
incombustible
and
invulnerable, against which
neither shot nor shell can avail ? Can such vessels
be to
constructedpossess greater swiftness and
quicknessof
line-of-battle movementh. than all the timber-built
ships of the day
large frigates, and iron-cased
Y Can such ship or vessel be
built, not only to
calibre to fire solid shot
artillery of the heaviest
tire incendiary proi t and all the most destruc-
• 9 such as shells loaded I

with molten iron, liquid lire, &c., but, above all, to
possess weight sufficient to sink any line-of-battle
ship or iron-cased vessel by concussion or blow P
This last quality is incomparably the most formid-
able and the most important. If, then, such a
vessel, possessing all the qualities above enume-
rated, can be constructed, it is evident that no
number of timber-built vessels could be safely op-
posed even to a single steam-ram, because by its
superior swiftness and quickness it can force on or
avoid an action at its convenience, it can burn and
destroy timber ships by shot or incendiary projec
tiles when at 'a distance, or by her beak, when near
enough. Against her apparently more formidable
opponent, the iron-cased ship, the latter is equally
helpless. Shot and shell against each others hulls
must be harmless, but the shot and shell from the
comparative mastless steam ram could soon knock
away the masts or bowsprit of the ship, or disable
the rudder, so that the screw, fouled by the wrecks
of masts and rigging, or the ship, helpless from her
damaged rudder, a blow from the steam-rain sends
her to the bottom.
The limits of a letter prevent me from entering
into those details which are necessary to prove to
non-professional men, but what must be sufficiently
evident to a sailor, the fact that a steam-ram, with-
out the protection of iron casing, but merely by the
power of being able to sink by concussion, and
pursuing more cautious tactics,—attacking, for
instance, at night—can be equally destructive with
the shot-proof steam-ram against all opponents.
The " observations" I have alluded to I must leave
to another opportunity.

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

-41,

REVIEW OF THE NORTHAMTONSHIRE
VOLUNTEERS.
The Northamptonshire Rifle Association held
their first meeting yesterday in Althorp Park, the
seat of Earl Spencer, on which occasion the first
competition for the prizes for rifle shooting and a
grand review of the whole of the corps in the county
by the Earl of Euston took place. The association
is the result of the extensive support which the
Volunteer movement has received in the county, and
is founded on the plan of the National Rifle Asso-
ciation, most of the regulations of which they have
copied. Earl Spencer was the first to recommend
the adoption of the movement by the county, and
to establish a corps, of which he is the:captain. His
example was followed by Earl Pomfret, who raised
a corps at Towcester; and by Lieut.-Colonel Loyd
Lindsay, son-in-law of Lord Overstone.
The wet weather on Tuesday and Wednesday
considerably lowered the great expectations which
had been formed with regard tothe number of visi-
tors ; but the rain ceased about 5 yesterday morn-
ing, and the sun coming out soon drove away the
fog which hung over the country, and the ride to
Althorp Park, which is between 5 and 6 miles from
Northampton, was a pleasant one. The number
of competitors had been originally fixed at five
men, distinguished for: proficiency in the use of
the rifle, from each of six corps ; but as one of the
corps declined to compete, their number was equally
distributed throughout the other five corps. These,
and the 36 who had been chosen as competitors for
an " all-comers" prize, assembled at half-past eight
o'clock in front ofAlthorp .house, and were arranged
in firing parties. They were then addressed by,
Col. Kennedy, the Government Inspector, in expla-
nation of the regulations by which they were to
fire. They were then marched off to their respec-
tive butts at various parts of the park.
The shooting was continued throughout the
morning until one o'clock, when the whole of the
volunteers assembled to dine in a large tent, the
Marquis of Exeter, Earl Spencer, and several other
noblemen and officers dining with the men. In the
afternoon the shooting was resumed, and was con-
cluded about three o'clock. The challenge cup,
value £25, and several other prizes, were won by
Sergeant Presland, of the Towcester corps. This
cup, however, will not be retained by the winner
permanently, but is open to annual competition.
A cup, value £lO, was also offered as a prize to all
corners, and was won by Mr. J. Biggs, of Elking-
ton. The shooting of the successful competitors
was remarkable for steadiness, but many others,
who are accounted good shots at ordinary practice,
appeared to have lost some of their self-possession.
As the time that could be given to shooting was
necessarily short, the number of competitors was
limited, and to furnish amusement for all, the com-
mittee of management had organised athletic
games, such as running, leaping, &c. Earl Spencer
entered the lists for some of these, and won a second
prize for a running jump. There was also some
archery, the prizes for which were well contested.
The review was held in a very suitable portion
of the park, the Volunteers being in a valley formed
by extensive and gently descending slopes on either
side, and was witnessed by about 15,000 people. A.
platform was erected for the ladies who were visit-
ing at Althorp-house. Among those present at the
review were Lord Overstone, Lord Lyvedeu, Mr.
Ward Hunt, M.P., Mr. Knightley, M.P., General
Seymour, the Countess Spencer, Lady Sarah Spen-
cer, Lady Overstone, Mrs. Loyd Lindsay, Miss
Agnes Strickland, &c.
When the review commenced the battalion was
formed in the open column, right in front, facing
the Brighton road. They then wheeled into line,
and received the reviewing officer with a general
salute, after which they- formed in open column,
right in front, marched past in quick time, and re-
formed on the original ground. They again wheeled
into line, and advancedby the centre. After halt-
ing they performed the manual and platoon exer-
cise. The field-day then commenced by firing one
round by companies from right to left, the bugle
sounding for firing. The line then retired, halted,
fronted, and commenced file-firing from the right
of company. They then re-formed quarter distance,
column right in front on No. 3. The battalion
afterwards skirmished, throwing out companies
Nos. 1 and 2 as skirmishers, companies Nos. 3 and
4as supports, companies Nos. 5 and 6 forming the
reserve. After advancing some distance and fir-
ing, the bugle sounded for cavalry, when they
formed rallying squares and commenced to fire. Ou
the word being given to cease firing, the kneeling
rank fired a volley. They dispersed and reformed
on the covering sergeants on their original ground
and wheeled into line. The line then advanced in
review order and gave a general salute. The men
were then formed into three sides of a square, and,
the officers having advanced,
The Marquis of EXETER addressed them and
said :—My Lord Euston, my lords and gentlemen,—l
beg in the first place to congratulate you on the
happy manner in which the proceedings of this day
have gone off, and in doing so I must express my
thanks to my noble friend, Earl Spencer (who has
taken a great interest in the promotion of the Vn-
lunteer corps of this county from the commencement)
for his kindness and liberality in lending us his
park on the present occasion. I beg to thank him
in my own name and in the name of the county of
Northampton for his kindness. With regard to
those gentlemen who have been so fortunate as to
during
prizes
in mgt to-day, da y I
which
, expectations,
they
hm e may say
yh
a have
e hadthat
consideringa the
np
opportunityr
theac t i c e
short h as
exceededtwiitime
ne
d
of acquiring the different ranges. My remarks
' apply especially to the long-range shooting for the
challenge cup. The competition for that and the
good shooting was far beyond my expectations.
Still, I deem it right to say that there is greatrootu
for improvement, and I trust you will not relax
your efforts to become thoroughly proficient by
another season. But, my lords and gentlemen, the
country is greatly indebted to the Volunteers for their
services. They came forward in a liberal, patriotic
manner on the first alarm of a possible attack upon
our shores, and they have rendered the country as
great a service as if they had attacked the enemy
themselves, and driven them from our shores.
They have taught foreign nations that however
large their armies and their naval equipments may
be, if ever they should attempt an invasion of our
shores, the whole population of England would in-
stantly rise to defend their homes and their liber-
ties.
It is for this reason that I say, g
so great gentlemen,
that the Volunteer forces have rendered the country
a service, for they have secured for us a
continuance of the blessings of peace. I beg to ex•
diniffger theen different
vnonluerti
press the gratification which I have felt in witness-
' •with
which day. ch you
Te precision haveh performed the
which you marched and performed the various
movementsexcueeodn the
exceeded my expectations, and I con-
gratulate you upon
have attained. I proficiency to which you
hope, as I have before remarked,
that you will not relax your efforts to make your-
selves as perfect as any regiment in her Majesty's
service." The Lord-Lieutenant then proceeded
to distribute the prizes, each gentleman as he
stepped forward to receive his reward being
greeted with much applause. Cheers were
given for the Queen and for several noble lords
who had taken part in the proceedings, and the
corps with the multitude dispersed. The weather
had been fine throughout, with the exception of one
slight shower about noon.

---
An inspection of the first battalion of Stafford-
shire Rifle Volunteers by Lord Hatherton and the
Inspector-General of the district, took place at
Trentham on Wednesday last. The ground was
kept by the Newcastle and Pottery troop of the
Queen's Own Yeomanry. The companies of Rifle
Volunteers present
Lon were the following—namely gton, Hanley lat, Burslem, Tunstall, Stoke-
grove, Newcastle, and Hanley 2d.
Lord-Lieutenant,ids accompanied by his staff,
Theupon- 'lrent K
arrived on the ground about 4 o'clock, when the
inspection commenced. When the inspection had
been about half gone through the Bun suddenly die-'

appeared, and the rain came down in torrents;greatly
interfering with the latter half of the inspec-
tion; both cavalry and infantry, however, stood
the pelting of the storm bravely, and, if as steady
under fire as they were under water, they will
make first rate soldiers. The inspection was very

satisfactory.
The contest of rifle shooting which took its rise
from the late review of Volunteers at Newton com-
menced on Wednesday at Southport, and will be
continued from day to day throughout the week.
There is a numerous entry of competitors. The
ranges, placed along the shore, are 16 in number,
and each range can be extended to 1,000 yards,
great precautions having been taken to insure the
safety of the markers. The competition on Wed-
nesday was confined to shooting for the Grand
Cup, value £5O, given by the officers of the Man-
chester, Salford, and Ardwick Regiments, open to
the Volunteers of Great Britain. There was also
a second prize of £2O, and a third of £5. There
were 240 competitors in this competition, and it
necessarily occupied a long time. On the whole
the shooting was far from first-rate, but this might
be accounted for to some extent by the high wind
which prevailed. The conditions of the contest
were that the shooting should be with Govern-
ment Enfields, at ranges of 300, 500, and 600
yards, each of the competitors to have five shots at
each of the distances ; the Hythe position to be
used in firing. The winner of the cup was Ser-
geant Basil Hale of the 13th (I) ukinfield) Cheshire
Rifles. His shooting was very steady, and he
scored 16 points, his nearest competitor being Mr.
Adshead, of the Bth (Macclesfield) Cheshire, who
carried off the second prize, scoring 13 points.
For the third prize four gentlemen made ties, each
scoring 11 points, and in shooting off the palm
was won by Captain Shepherd, of the 2d (Black.
burn) Lancashire. An objection was raised that
the captain, as a paid Government adjutant, was
not a Volunteer.
A grand review of the Rifle Volunteer forces of
Wilts and some of the adjacent counties, under the
authority of the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, Secre-
tary of War, took place in Clarendon-park, near
Salisbury, the seat of Sir F. H. H. Bathurst, on the
afternoon of Wednesday last. A variety of evo
lotions were gone through, according to an official
programme, in the presence of the reviewing officer,
General Lord William Paulet, C. 8., at the conclu-
sion of which there was a general salute, the bands
playing the National Anthem. The General after-
wards addressed the Volunteers in complimentary
terms, as did also the officers in command. A cold
collation was subsequently partaken of on the
ground, and the yeomanry who kept the ground
were also entertained, the latter by Sir F. H.
Bathurst. Various games followed the luncheon,
and as the corps left the park hearty cheers were
given for Sir Frederick for his kindness in giving
them the use of it. The following is a list of the
corps present :-Ist Battalion—Salisbury, Trow-
bridge, Bradford, Southampton, Market Lavington,
Mere, Warminster, Melksham, Romsey, Andover.
2d Battalion Malmesbury, Devizes, Maiden
Bradley Westbury, Milton, Portsmouth.
The first great meeting of the 2d battalion Glo-
cestershire Rifle Volunteers took place at Chelten-
ham on Wednesday morning. The competition
was restricted to three members of each of the 14
companies of the 2d battalion, and the prizes com-
peted for were the county prize of £25, £l5, £lO,
and £5, at 300, 500, and 600 yards range. These
prizes were won by Glocester and Cheltenham in
the following order :—First prize, Private T. A.
Washbourne, 3d company (Glocester); second prize,
Ensign Gregory, 13th Cheltenham; third prize,
Private Jack, 7th company (Cheltenham) ; and
fourth prize, Private Riddeford, 3d company
(Glocester).

REV. DR. GUTHRZE ON THE VOLUN-
TEER MOVEMENT.

Towards the close of a grand volunteer fete at
Lochnaw Castle, last week, the Galloway Adver-
tiser says :
At the earnest request of all the guests as-
sembled, Sir A. Agnew prevailed upon Dr, Guthrie
to address the volunteers, who were drawn up in
front of the main entrance. The rev. doctor, who
was received with loud acclamations, said—Ladies
and gentlemen, and particularly gentlemen volun-
teers—l have great pleasure, and consider it a
great compliment to be allowed to address you on
this interesting occasion. My friend Sir A.
Agnew, with whom I am staying, was pleased to
apologise for not being able, as he said, to pay me
attention ; but I said to him that I considered it
far more flattering to be allowed to pay you atten-
tion. (Cheers.) I never addressed a corps of
volunteers before, but there is no person in the
country who sympathises more with the. great
Tolunteer movement. A friend of mine, a minister
whom I need not name, to whom I expressed this
feeling, said to me, are you not a man of peace ? I
said I am a man of peace, but if the French fleet
were In Lueliry all you would booeuno ce man or war
yourself. (Great laughter and cheers.) I am, as
I ought to be, a lover of peace, but to ensure peace
we must be prepared for war—we have on divine
authority the prayer " Load us not into tempta-
tion," and I hold that the men who have the
charge of the destinies of this country would
merit tne severest reprobation were they, by
allowing us to remain defenceless, to tempt
our neighbours into war. The rev, doctor
then referred to the great Indian mutiny, to
the paucity of our troops, to our arsenals entrusted
only to treacherous Sepoys, and asked if that was
not enough to tempt rebellion, and what other
cause need be assigned for the dreadful convulsion ?
He then referred to the Emperor Napoleon, who,
he said, was a man of too much sense to think of
' attacking us, as he knew the first cannon shot he
fired would be the signal for his own doom ; but
that of course was contingent upon our keeping up
a strong defensive position. He referred to two
timid ladies who could neither eat nor sleep for
fear of invasion, but he contrived to quiet their
fears by solemnly promising that whenever Napo-
leon actually landed he would come and breakfast
with them. (Great laughter.) He believed that
any visit that potentate would make would be a
pacific one, and he thought we ought to have
invited him to come and see our Queen review
21,000 brave and armed men in the park at Hely-
rood, and then give him his dinner, and that would
put all thoughts of invasion out of his head fast
enough. (Laughter and cheers.) I value, he con-
tinued, the voluntary—(laughter)—no, I mean the
volunteers ; but, after all, it was one and the same
word, for are not volunteers voluntaries ? I value
the volunteer movement because it is not, nor can
it be, one of offence or aggression, but is and must
be one of defence alone—like our national em-
blem the thistle, with its motto, " Nemo me
impune lacessit," which means, hands off if
you're wise. (Great laughter and cheers.) The
thistle is a quiet enough plant —it is only
when you meddle with it that you feel its
prickles. (Loud cheers.) Such being its object, I
hold that every man who has health and strength
ought to be a volunteer—and there is no woman
deserving of the name who should not say to her
lover, " Join the volunteers, or I'll have nothing to
say to you." (Great laughter and cheers.) The
doetor then jocularly referred to the notion among
the fisher women, that the wife had to keep the
husband, and said that certainly a man was un-
worthy to obtain a wife unless he was prepared, as
a volunteer to defend his fireside. Ile continued—l
have six sons—two aro already volunteers, and I
hope that all will become so except one, who is a
minister like myself—and should, which God forbid
the enemy land upon our coast, I should go with
my sons to the battle-field, not to fight, but to
cheer them on and share in their peril, in defence
of all we hold dear. I again repeat, lam a man of
peace, but I inherit the blood of those who died
upon
ui theaut
se
Is
freedom scaffoldr
n ydo
aee
nlwt
fdh
entitled
n tb at lt
etdl
nationale
t- fioi enc
dod
en
pgi
enr
nadefence
you
ando ou
upon the display you have made this day. I con-
gratulate gr thereforeerai
an assemblage to shar h
igs nheows p
tpaol
int
sb—r i ge
oi nngg
rsautcuh-
late my Lord Dalrymple for the noble corps he has
raised and commands so well--and I confess I
felt prpuder of my name when I heard the speech
of your gallant captain—Provost Guthrie. (En-
thusiastic cheers.) It is the duty of all men to de-
fend their liberty with the last drop of their blood,
but they must be qualified to use their weapons with
skill and efficiency, they must mind their drill. Our
ancestors at Pentland and Bothwell Bridge were
the bravest of the brave, but they wanted drill, and
so they lost the day. I am sure I have said nothin g
to create dissension or to spoil unanimity ; we differ
among ourselves—we would be fools or slaves if we
did not—but we love ene another, and will stand
by one another. (Cheers.) He then alluded to the
huge iron-sheathed ships which Napoleon was pre-
paring—which, he said, reminded him of the clumsy
armour worn in the olden time, in which when a
man was down he was as helpless as a " partin,"
and could not get up again—(laughter)—but he
said that neither these nor the fortifications we are
rearing at such expense would, under God's bless-
ing, be as available as the banded united will, the
rsetoliugtiohues feelingart, thestwrohnigeharwmo,ualnddptrhoevheigouhrmsuorrael and
and
derence. The rev. doctor concluded
amidst loud and long-continued cheering.
Dtro. G
addressuT it i E
themo n
wasan dv vociferously f
they oii s
literally c al le d
on
would take no denial, he came forward and spoke
to them at some length on their moral and religious
duties. He showed how the fear of God raised a
nm
aan abovenamin
i tayl I
whichoth er fears,
piety
and,gave, p
in
ad a
illustrationi hgho of
an
g
well-deserved compliment to the memory of the late