The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-26 00:00:00

Clf LATILSE I F
.11-40111NES.

The following description of the Chinese inftrual
machines, by the late Lieut. Robert Thaine, R.E.,
is taken from among the papers of the Royal En-
c"in eers :
" Three descriptions of infernal machines were fund in
Canton. The first consisted of a large cylindrical wooden
tab, lined with tin, so as to be water-tight; its dimensions
were—diameter, at. Sin.; depth, lft. 10in. At about three
inches from the top there was placed a board, divided by
small pieces of lath, in such a manner as to allow a great
length of match to be laid on
,it; one end of this match
passed through a whole in the board into the lower part of
the tub, where the charge was placed, and the other end
communicated with a small lantern-shaped watertight
wooden box, fastened to the side of the tub. The top of
this box consisted of a cone of tolerably stiff painted canvas,
sufficiently flexible, however, to be easily pressed down; a
tbhae len tW t
small iron rod, about three-quarters the length of the box,
fwas fastened to the apex of the cone, and, on its being
tealaY i
lt ildiN
pressed down, dipped into an earthenware jar, placed atthe
bottom of the box. The following seems to be the most pro
b l-
ivehhi eh
communicated this mac h machine e
with w'
a st
the ebdo:x—wrials e a lendlew . eodf
to dip into the jar, which was partly filled with chlorate of
potash, and also contained a glass tube filled with sulphuric
acid. (Any other substances acting on each other in a simi-
lar manner to the two mentioned above would do instead.)
Then, on the iron rod being pressed down, it would break
the tube, the acid would come into contact with the chlo-
rate of potash, and the match would be ignited; or, possi-
bly, the jar might be filled with sulphuric acid, and the
chlorate of potash be contained in a bag fastened to the end
of iron rod, and into this the match would pass. Nothing
was found which exactly indicated the way adopted. From
the great length of match, however, it seems likely that
the machine was intended to be used as a sort of fire-
raft, to be brought to within a certain distance of shipoig.,
then ignited, and allowed to float down with the tide
amongst them; or else to be fastened quietly to the side of
a ship, the match giving enough time for the men who
brought it to escape. The second machine was a strong
wooden box, in the shape of a frustrunt of a cone, and of
the following dimensions—height, 2ft 6in ; upper diameter,
lft sin; lower diameter, 2ft. It was divided horizontally
into three compartments ; in the upper the apparatus for
firing was placed, the second contained the powder, and the
third was filled with iron. The apparatus for firing con-
sisted of the lock of an old musket, communicating with the
charge below by means of a brass tube filled with powder,
and connected with clockwork, which regulated the time at.
which the charge was fired. This was contrived in the
following Nyly :—The lock was slightly altered, so that the
hammer wo\ild descend on a trigger being pressed up ; this
trigger was provided with a spring pressing it up, but was
kept down by a lever catching on a stud; the long end of
the lever, which was on the other side of the lock-plate,
was immediately under a weight working on a pivot, and
supported by a spring ; the end of this spring was connected
by means of a short piece of twisted wire with a small tongue
of metal working on a pivot on the clock case. On the
great wheel of the clock there was a stud which, on its
arrival at a certain point, caught in the tongue of metal,
and as the wheel turned tightened the wire. The spring
supporting the weight was thus pressed in, and the weight
descended on the long end of the lever, disengaging the
trigger ; the hammer then descended and the charge was
fired. The time required for a complete revolution of the
wheel was four hours, and the stud could be adjusted so as
to secure the ignition of the charge after the lapse of any
particular time less than that period. These machines
were furnished with rings and staples, and a great number
of buoys were found with them. Probably they were meant
to be sunk near a place where ships were anchored. The
third machine consisted of a strong wooden water-tight
box, shaped something like a beat. Its dimensions were—
Extreme length, 4ft ; shortest length, 2ft 4in ; greatest
breadth, lft 7in ; depth, lft 10in. It was divided vertically
into three parts ; the apparatus for firing was placed in the

centre, and the powder in the two end compartments. Tho
apparatus for firing consisted of three hammers and three
nipples, fastened to a thick plate, which was firmly screwed
down to the bottom of the box ; each hammer was provided
with a strong spring, pressing it on to the nipple, so that to
keep Mem cocked their ends were caught on the edge of a
thick brass plate, which made an angle of about 40 deg.,

with the bottom of the box, and worked on hinges in such

a manner as to allow of its being raised, but not lowered

beyond that point. A small projecting bar of the same
metal was fixed to the end of this plate. A species of cy-
lindrical bellows was also fastened to the bottom of the
box; its top was supplied with two rings of metal working
on two vertical iron rods, and a brass tube passed from the
bottom of the bellows to the lid of the box. A stout bar of
wood, of nearly the same length as the compartment, was
at one end connected by means of thick twisted wire with
the projecting bar of metal mentioned above, and the
other was screwed on to the top of the bellows. On the
bellows being inflated, the wooden bar was raised, and
lifted up the metal bar and plate ; but when the plate had

been raised to a certain height, the hammers slipped o
its edge, descended on the nipples, and fired the charge.

In some of the machines found flint or matchlocks were
used, but in either case the method of firing did not
differ materially from that just described. It seems a little
doubtful how the bellows were to be inflated. Probably

they were filled to a certain extent with water (so as not Co

raise the plate, however), and then moored in the position

they were meant to occupy; then on a r essel coming into
collision with one of theso machines, it would force it under

water, and the pressure of the water at the time of the
ship's passage over the spot would be sufficient to deter-

mine an explosion before she was out of danger. the
boxes are very strong, bound with iron, and furnished with

four rings."

A BLACKSMITH'S BLIGHTED HEART.

An amusing breach of pronle case was recently tried in
one of the Australian courts, the plaintiff being John Pope,
a blacksmith and widower, with two children, and the
defendants a young woman, named Anne M'Kay and her
husband. The declaration aserred that "the plaintiff,
confiding in the said promise of the said Anne, hath always
remained and continued, and still is, sole and unmarried ;"
also that the plaintiff was always "ready and willing," &c.,
of which Anne "had notice," &c.; also that the plaintiff
had performed all conditions precedent on his part, and
that all things had happened before the suit to entitle him
to bring his action, &c. Then it said, "yet the said Anne,
disregarding her said promise," &c., "wrongfully and in-
juriously married another person, to wit, the defendant,
Duncan M‘Kay." The declaration laid special damage
thus :—" Whereby the plaintiff lost all the benefit of a cer-
tain wedding outfit and jewellery, which he had given to
the said Anne." It claimed for the plaintiff £l,OOO. Tho
jilted Vulcan was examined at great length I said I
would not go in to tea without she would take the ear-rings
and have me. I laid them on her lap. She took them. I
put one in her ear,, then and there—at least, I'm not sure
whether I did or her sister did. She told me why
she
I'd
put it off for four months. Her father said he'di
er had
put
ght
choaunvethryis. daughter than
I
erthawnenant
dyoowttetor m:fenib2ooumisieeanroadounobnodu
the dress. I sent it up to her, andthlre t
dresses till after she
was married, when they She
kept theletter acknow-
ledging the receipt of it.
were
ehasi ent back, and the bill was
wanted to pay for them." witness was examined. to
prove items of special dae. He read from a memoran-
dum
a mantle, so much ; two pair of gloves, 55., &c.—in total
k
mode—May I as how many times you
about £2O. Mr.
dum book—one dress, £.l Is, one other dress, four guineas ;
saw her before you popped the question ? Witness—Yes,
but I'm not able to tell you. I got letters
I was 12 months going to the Post-office you may ask,
every week.
be-
fore she promised me. Mr. Michie—You used to avail your-
self of the opportunity of her handing out the letters to hand.
in a few tender words, eh ? and then go back to the smithy.
New as to the ear-rings—putting them into her ear—don't
you think that was its own reward? Or did you put that
down for fitting in the ear-rings, in your bill, as smith's
work ? Witness—There were many things I sent her
which I never charged. I sent her a dress, but I wasn't
going to be so shabby as to charge her for that. Of course I
was very fond of her. Mr. Michie—Why bring this action,
then? Witness--Because she injured me. I sustained
damage by her breaking the promise she made to me. Mr.
Michie—Damages to your affections, or to your purse?
Witness—Damages to both. Mr. Michie—Which was
the more injured of the two ? Witness—l was put about
so much that I went on a sick bed. I lost my time, and
my health, and my business. She injured me by making
a fool of me, and losing me my time, and business, and
money. Yes ;it took away my appetite. But I don't
know how long I was off my feed ; how long I went with-
out my usual beer, or my usual nobblor. She returned
the things to me after the marriage. Mr. Miehie—Well,
what do you want more? Witness—Why not return
them before the marriage, instead of keeping them to
make a fool of me? Mr. Michie—Oh, they'll do again
just as well for the next time, you know, now
you've got them. Witness—But what damages shall I get
in them for that injury that was done me ? I was that put
about that I was obliged to sell all off; and beforenot
that
as
had to lose my time and neglect my business._ t
"-`
I and
distracted ; no ; but I had ten men at work un:
they were lost to me." The lady was also pu 0
art t
chness with
ness box, and excited roars of
which she described Po e's loving
laughtersecuer byax Ur
the dodges to which she resorted"keep
tun' tt
Jury gave a verdict for the defendaj±......,
? quiet." The of her, and
p

askstrafes ril
andtes
assaultinga t
La uManchesterohtehnri
.8)t.
named John
1
AN UNBELIEVING—W—RII--.--A inan
Cheadle was brought before theo
on Tuesday, charged with betsbead bore
unmistakeable(
wife on the previous evening•
aalsti,atsrhi,re,i''t,he pri-
signs of recent gaol acquaintance ; and on his being brought
hupadMeorm. stealingTmriatifteodrd:ltitilillesdeiassteiolynsrfoocign is e d h him
candlesas a moann t
hhee
time, said
16th inst. " Itahougliptleyaoduewd egrueitlot3.h,,abvuet btheeenjutr:yedwyoulestder:
day," Mr. 'Trafford observed to the prisoner, " for stealinc,
nio'n'tBocrliourluwts
coulcba't believe you when you told the'uppose
ds'o fh©y tried me, and 'quit me."
the il*"
I.:bes!rnftli
,ii.
aude
rgylTeehr
arstei
:apt
frtelio.
)Br,
du_Ar t
lon,no-u u
officer,pleaded
- Iwrwh sucheo 1
wasl.l
truth.
he believed the prisoner pleaded he was insane when he
committed the robbery, and that was the
would not receive his plea of guilty, The reason the jury
ness and assault was clearly proved, ease of drunken-
and
ordered to keep the peace for three the prisoner was
months,
to find bail, and wtaken into as
Custody,