The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-17 00:00:00

MILITARY PREPARATIONS OF PIEDMONT.

The Military Gazette of Turin gives the follow-
ing details of the military preparations of Pied-
mont : " France has ceded at a reduced price 50,000
rifled muskets, and has consented to give a further
quantity on like conditions, as also a number of
cannon of large size, a quantity of gunpowder,
and ammunition. The foundries of Sweden, Bel-

gium, and England, and the most renowned ma-
nufactories of arms in Europe, are working for
the Government. The best foundries of Pied-
mont, among which are those of M.M. Ansaldo
and Robertson, of San Pedro-d'Arena, have enor-
mous orders. Other similar establishments, espe-
cially in Lombardy, are preparing gun carriages
and waggons; and all this is in addition to the
activity displayed in the arsenals, in which the
number of workmen is, so to speak, tripled. By this
activity the artillery in the space of a very few
months has been almost entirely supplied with ma-
terial on the new model. Three new sets of the
apparatus for making bridges have been constructed ;
the store-houses are full of ammunition; the infantry
and cavalry are well organised. The artillery has
48 active batteries, divided into eight regiments.
Bologna has become a fortified place; Piacenza is
defended by new works ; and the fortresses of
the second order have been put in a state of
sufficient defence. At the same time, important
reforms have been made in the administra-

tion ; new military circumscriptions have been
formed, and the tribunals of the army have been
reorganised. All this has been done in five
months. The Ministry has besides given ener-
getic orders that all the military forges of the
State shall be prepared to execute as quickly as
possible the orders given to them, and even to
make preparations for fulfilling others. In con-
sequence the laboratory for making ball cartridges
has been enlarged, but for the present only
80,000 a-day can be made. The workshops of
Parma, Modena, and Florence are executing im-
portant
works, principally in making gun car-
riages for fortresses, which must be completed by
November at the latest. The firm of Montu and
Co. has undertaken to supply 10,000,000 percus-
sion caps. MM. Grondona, Miani, and Zambelli,
of Milan, have already delivered 100 large gun
carriages, and 100 others are to be supplied in three
months. The workshops of the railways are also
actively employed for the Government. Orders
have been given to send immediately to Turin all
muskets on the old model in the arsenals, in order
that they may be rifled as quickly as possible.

Plans for new manufactories of arms- at Lucca and
Florence have been drawn up. The ironworks in
the valley of Brescia are also employed in making
military articles. The Minister of Marine, on his
side, is about to send to Sweden, before the closing
of the navigation of the Baltic, vessels to bring to
Piedmont the guns cast there for the Government."

SICILIAN LAWYERS.—A recent traveller tells us
there are in the single city of Palermo 4,000 gentlemen of
the long robe, all of whom contrive to make out a living I
advocates and attorneys being included in the same cate-
gory.—Dublin University Magazine.

Capt. T. P. Wright, 83d Regiment, has joined
that corps at Chatham garrison, and taken over the
command of the depot companies of the regiment.
Eight 40-pounder Armstrong guns, manufactured
at Woolwich, were on Wednesday proved at the
Royal Arsenal butt, and were fired with double the
ordinal service charge of powder and shot, Colonel
Tulloh, the inspecting officer of the proof depart-
ment, having received instructions to put the guns
to the severest degree of proof before sanctioning
their being passed for the public service of the
Artillery. One of the guns loaded with the above-
named heavy charge burst at the first round, the
breech piece being literally torn out of its socket,
which on examination by Col. Tulloch, Capt. Noble,
and other officers connected with the practical
branch of the manufacturing department, was
found to have been materially weakened by the
entrance of the large screw belonging to the ele-
vating eye, and was in consequence carried away
by the effect of the shock to which it was thus sub-
jected under proof. Every other portion of the gun
remained intact, and the breech piece being again
restored, the gun, it is stated, will be capable of
service, and will be equal to any yet manufactured.