The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-15 00:00:00

IRO N- SED SHIPS.

The Moniteur de la Flotte has taken up the sub-
ject of Iron-cased Ships, to which we adverted on
Monday last, and has presented us with what we
presume are the prevailing opinions on the other
side of the Channel. Unfortunately, the French
journal is totally silent on the points to which
most interest attaches. We are told that the
Gloire is a magnificent specimen of naval
architecture, imposing to behold, and terrible to
contemplate ; that she performs well both in
smooth water and a heavy sea ; that her speed
exceeds 13 knots an hour ; and that, in short,
she is a complete success. It seems that the
confidence of her architect in laying down several
specimens of This class before assuring himself of
the results by an experimental launch provoked
some censure, but it is now affirmed that his auda-
city has received an entire justification in the per-
formance of the Gloire. We are then favoured
with some reflections on this achievement. The
Moniteur de la Flotte reminds us that twice within
these ten years has England been surpassed by
France in machines of maritime war. In 1850 the
Napoleon gave us the first example of those screw
ships of the line which eclipsed all other men-of-
war, and now, before we have well succeeded in fol-
lowing our leaders, a new element of infinitely
greater power is introduced into the question, which
must set us at work once more.

The article before us, however, simply begs the
whole question at issue: We want to know not
what an invulnerable ship may be expected to do
in naval warfare, but whether an invulnerable ship
has been actually produced. We can perfectly un-
derstand that the Gloire is a fine specimen of her
class, and vastly superior to any of the old floating
batteries. We cm also imagine that the French
have sacceeded very cleverly in combining great
solidity of structure and heavy tonnage with un-
usual speed and real beauty of form. That is just
the kind of problem which French naval architects
would be likely to solve, for there are no more in-
genious shipwrights in the world than those across
the Channel. But this is not a question of mere
ingenuity, or even of shipbuilding. It is a question
of iron manufacture combined with the manufacture
of artillery. Tho point to be ascertained is whether
a ship's side can be covered with armour impene-
trable to cannon shot, and of this we have no proof
except in the evident satisfaction of the French
th&moolvoo. As the Emperor Napoleon is building
iron-cased frigates instead of ships of the line, we
must, of course, presume that the French engineers
have formed their conclusions, and that they have
definitely reported in favour of the new system to
the prejudice of the old. This, however, does not
decide the question. We are not told, nor do we
know, how the Gloire was tried ; nor to what
tests she was subjected, nor with what kind of
artillery the experiments were made. All we
know is that our own experiments have sot, as
far as their results have been published, warranted
any similar decision. One description of armour
alone has been hitherto found successful in pro-
tecting a ship from the effects of rifled cannon,
and that is not the kind of armour in which the
Gloire is sheathed. Even in this case the test is
still imperfect, for it remains to be seen whether a
concentrated broadside might not accomplish what
single shots had failed to effect.
Nevertheless, we are ready to admit that this
very experiment shows how practicable the attempt
may really be. When we read, as in our Naval
Intelligence of yesterday, that a target has actually
been manufactured with so protected a piece of
woodwork representing a ship's side as to leave it
" perfectly undisturbed by the severe firing to
which it was subjected," we can no longer deny
that an invulnerable ship may be a possi-
bility. Such a machine may perhaps be produced ;
the question is whether the French have pro-
duced it. They themselves have no doubts about
their success, but we cannot profess equal cer-
tainty in the matter. If our neighbours are right,
and if their artillery is as powerful as ours, we
can only conclude that they have excelled us in
the manufacture of iron plates—a supposition
which our engineers would not be very willing to
accept. Indeed, on a balance of probabilities,
we must needs think it more likely that the French
cannon were inferior to the Armstrong gun than
that British iron has been surpassed in strength by
that of French manufacture. To be sure, there is
one more .alternative open to us, and that is to sup-
pose that in the application or adjustment of these
plates there is a trick essential to the success of the
experiment which we have not discovered, but the
hypothesis is not:very probable.
On one point, however, the remarks of our
French contemporary are certainly justifiable. The
administration of our navy has been always
.unhappily compounded of obstructiveness and
precipitation. Our Boards of Admiralty either
resist inventions to the utmost, as in the case of
carronades and screw propellers, or plungeo
head-
long into a new theory, as in the case ofthat
steamers. We are not prepared to say
they
have been unduly cautious on the present
occa-
sion, for we do not yet profess to
seas so very
e our way
r
clearly, but the precedent of 1850 appears
-ge when the
apropos that wo can.
feel no surprise
If the rpFrench journalist applies to 18
Admi-
ralty should at last decide that all ships-of-war
must be s t e el -p late d, and promulgateit
wouldf ohutarhv
hbee
iemuch i
st conclusiongotor a
y .fi vnet
exactly at the time that the
French
of these vessels ready for sea,
accordance with former passages
should then have the alarm so in earnest and
after a couple of years' panic and tremendous exer-
tions, should find ourselves a match for our neigh-
bours just when they were striking out a new line
once more. That is our system—perhaps our des-
tin We are less inventive, it is said, than other
y.
people, but m. o.re capable of improving upon inven-
tions. If this is the case things will come right in
the and, provided only we are not left too far in the
rear, and all we have to do is to keep ourselves
open to reason, eschew prejudice, and waste no
time.
It may seem like a piece of ironical pleasantry
on the part of the French journal to speak of all
this rivalry as a " pacific contest," increasing rather
than exhausting the wealth of nations. That is not
exactly the reflection suggested by the study of our
Navy Estimates, or likely to arise from a fresh
" reconstruction" of our Fleet. There is really,
however, a foendation of truth in the remark, and
this last invention of iron-cased frigates goes far to
bring it out. We have been for some time perfect-
ing the manufacture of artillery before which, as
we flattered ourselves, no ship could stand. We
shall now, if this new theory approves itself, begin
elaborating the manufacture of ships against which
all artillery will be useless. As a final result, there-
fore, presuming both nations to be equally success-
ful, France and England will have contrived at an
enormous cost to construct two navies between
which a combat will be impossible. If no ship of
either nation can ever be taken, sunk, or damaged,
it is rather difficult to see what form maritime war
can take, and, as the same armour which renders
ships invulnerable can be applied to fortifications on
shore, the attack of land forts will clearly become a
hopeless undertaking. If, in *short, the theory of
iron-eaped, frigate* can be egtAbiliShed, it IT111PrQ"

' nothing less than that the invention of artillery
has been at length superseded exactly when it ap-
peared. to be approaching perfection. The science
of defence will have become superior to the science
of attack, and when that is brought to pass war
will have been shorn, not only of many of its hor-
rors, but of many of the prospects for the sake of
which it is unc:ertaken.—'limes.

ANOTHER TATAL DISASTER IX THE ALPS.

We regret to have again to record a fatal disaster
which happened in the Tyrol on the morning of the
31st of August last, and by which the Rev. W. a
Watson, chaplain of Gray's-inn, and grandson of
the celebrated Bishop of Llandaff, met with a simi-
lar fate to that which o tecently befell our three
unfortunate countrymen in crossing the Col duGeant.
At 2 o'clock on the morning of the above•men-
tioned day the unfortunate gentleman, with his
friend, Mr. Frederick K. H. Cock, barrister, started
from the chalets of the Mutterberg Alp, at the head
of the Stubbayer Thal, where they had passed the
previous night, for the purpose of crossing the
wa
had
glacier pass, which leads them to Solden in the
Otzthal. They were accompanied by Jakob Muller,
a hgui de
beenfrom
bliigrbeslysbraecehmimnenthdeedSttaubtbbeaLer by Thal,
cure of
leustift, the last village in the valley.
They proceeded in perfect safety
the pass, having to the summitd
of
in the'
further difficulty than wasir way up
eedncbounttiere no
of the snow, which in parts presented stebnet
steep ysl
slopes
stateb
which they ascended was knee deep. TheP routey
down from the Col into the Windacher Thal, a
small lateral valley which runs into the Otzthal
within a short distance of Solden, lay over the
steep snow slopes of the Windacher Ferner
or glacier (in the Tyrol " ferner " is the name
by which glaciers are known), which in parts
were intersected by ridges of rock, Alen_
g which
it was impossible to pass. Upon reaching the
second of these ridges Mr. Watson, who had Com-
plained of the excessive roughness and difficulty of
the first, suggested to the guide to cross over the
snow in preference. The guide yielding a ready
assent, the party proceeded to " glissade" down two
of the snow slopes in succession. Upon reaching the
end of the second a third presented itself, hemmed
in on one side by a wall of rock, and on the other
descending gradually to a lower elevation, where,
as it was afterwards discovered, it terminatedin a.
glacier stream, Here, as before, the guide, in an-
swer to an inquiry from Mr. Watson, whether they
might cross by the snow, replied, " $y ail means.'
Accordingly the three proceeded abreast, Mr. Cock
being on the extreme right, Mr. Watson to his left
at a distance of about two feet, and the guide to the
left of Mr. Watson at about the same distance.
They had gone about half way down when Mr.
Cock suddenly felt his left leg sinking under him,
and in an instant it went through the snow up to
the hip. He threw himself forward on to the knee
of his other leg, and drew the left leg after him,
and so upon the firm snow beyond. He was in the
act of rising and of remarking to his friend, " That
was a nasty place," when, on looking towards Mr.
Watson, he Leard the poor gentleman exclaim,
" Hallo !" and saw him disappear downwards per-
pendicularly as if through a trap-door. A loud
rumbling noise occasioned by his fall succeeded, at
the end of which there was a momentary silence,
broken by a faint moan which lasted for a few
seconds, when all was still. It was now 25 minutes
past 6 a.m. Mr. Cock and the guide lay down
upon the snow, and looked down the cavity which
Mr. Watson had made, but they could discern
nothing but an apparently fathomless abyss of ice.
After waiting 10 minutes in vain for a response to
their urgent entreaties to poor Mr. Watson to
speak to them and let them know his position and
the injuries which he had sustained, and after let-
ting down a rope, which the guide then for the
first time in the day produced, Mr. Cock despatched
the guide for assistance, he meanwhile remaining
by the side of the fatal hole. After an absence of
three hours and a quarter three men arrived from
some chalets in the \Yandacher Thal with a rope,
by which they let down one of their number. Mr.
Cock had employed the intervening time in throw-
ing down the small stock of provisions that was
left, and in letting down the guide's rope, length-
ened by Mr. Watson's plaid, which he cut in half
and attached to it, and imploring his friend to
speak to him, and fasten himself ; but all in vain.
The man who descended reported that all was dark
below him and he could see nothing. It was then
reluctantly determined to leave the spot and pro-
ceed with all speed to Solden for a longer rope and
more hands. Mr. Cock and the guide accordingly
descended to Solden, where, with the aid of the
kindhearted cure, ropes and men were procured,
with whom Mr. Cock returned at once. It was
past two o'clock when they left Solden, and it was
not till about half-past five o'clock in the afternoon
that they reached the scene of the disaster. Here
a young man named Joseph Carlinger, of Kayser,
near Solden, whose heroism we cannot too highly
commend, was lowered into the abyss, and after
he had descended, at the imminent danger of
his life, to a depth of about 90 feet English, he
discovered the body of the unfortunate gentleman
in a recumbent position, so far as he could judge
by touching it with his hands, for the darkness was
so great that he could see nothing. A cord was let
down through the hole made by Mr. Cock's leg in
the morning, and attached to the body. It required
the united strength of the eight persons present to
draw it up to the surface. With .the exception of
the head, on which were visible severe wounds and
contusions in rude contrast with the peaceful ex-
pression of the face, it was uninjured, but perfectly
cold, and it was evident that life had long been
extinct. A post mortem examination showed that
most extensive extravasation of blood upon the
brain had taken place in consequence of the violence
of the shock, and there is no doubt that death must
have been instantaneous. Exactly 12 hours elapsed
between the time of the accident and the moment
when the body emerged from the abyss. The unfor-
tunate gentleman was borne down to Solden, where
the circumstance of the disaster underwent the most
searching investigation at the hands of an official
Commission, despatched for the purpose from Silz,
the chief town of the district. It resulted from this
inquiry that the guide was solely and grievously
responsible for the fatal occurrence. In answer to
explicit inquiries made before starting he had re-
peatedly assured both the travellers that there was
not the slightest danger in the pass, but that it was
merely a fatiguing walk owing to the depth the
snow, knees.
snow, which in places would be up to their
it
He never once produced the rope,
which, hereas
ap-
peared when too late, he had with
Choilra'and more
the glaciers on both sides of the_
cult,
on
no ac-
especially on the Stubbayer side, la
11 should
attempting
count be crossed without tying It
of danger at any
it together; he threw out no loaf ,
upon his reap-
part of the route, and, worst
ra
the chalets, he ab-
stained with the men from
snow to join Mr. Cock,
stained from recrossing
the rocks at •
some dis-
but remained in safety up _
tance. We learn that he b
to e put upon his trial
for his conduct. .
A brother of the deceased, who
had been sum-
monad by telegraph from England, arrived at Sol-
den on Saturday the Bth, and on the following
morning read the funeral service over the grave.
The body had been interred the previous Tuesday in
the churchyard of Solden by the excellent cure, the
Rev. Bernhard Schopf, who could
with greater kindness or more affectionate sym-
pathy if the unfortunate
gentleman had been at
once of his own faith and his own kin. The whole
population, indeed, vied with each other in render-
ing to Mr. Cock the greatest assistance throughout
the very trying circumstances in which he was
placed. The friends of the deceased have the con-
, solation of knowing that, through the de'rotion and
energy of that gentleman, everything that human
means could effect was tried, though, alas !
vain.

It only remains to add that the two gentlemen
were no inexperienced novices in Alpine travelling.
Last year they had together achieved some of the
most difficult heights and passes in Switzerland, of
which it may suffice to mention Monte Rosa, the Col
du Geant, and the Col d'Adler.

LOST. LITERATURE.—In these days of cheap
printing and toleration, book- burninF is looked upon as a
puerile folly, upon a par with the Irish method of spiteing
a banker by burning his notes. Still literature has suffered
losses. As Wat Tyler's victorious rabble made firebrands
of the ancient records of the City of London, so mad mobs
destroyed invaluable treasures when they set fire to Lord
Mansfield's and Dr Priestley's houses. The Vandal Mao'
sena, in retreating from the lines of Torres Vedras, wantol
destroyed the church and convent of Alcobaca, rich of
the national literature of Portugal. Valuable work haof
fallen victims to ignorance and avarice. The nirro,,,
Peiresc, "the attorney-ireneral of the republic oftZ wog
refused to allow the letters addressed to him bY,.nuo, she
eminent scholars of the age to be published, ,
found them useful for fuel. Mr. Warburton 0 were°r unique
which of
up a collection of old plays, many of . tbe bottoms
specimens of Elizabethan dramati?tor .torobio rurpos? tho
tarts and lighting the fire, for which igned4by its igno-
records of the hospital of St. Cross vrere_tr wife,
disgusted
berant used
rant housekeeper ; and Bishop Con:a few moments the
wiga. his studious habits, destroy
de,
.... ti es authors have been
results of eight years' lab9ur. Duj?;tlicf de. Collardeau, when
stoics enough to commit literary:
to
, and sacrificed his trans-
dying, dragged himself
ilistory of the World ;" James
hisi:a°i d to have destroyed the con-
lation of Tasso ; Ralelg ,l,
eluding volumes of ling
novel, the composition of which has
Montgomery borned of imprisonment; Moore put Byron'a
lightened the hour Lorsay
"'been worth reading ; and Col. Stewart',
did the
.same office for his own,
diary
only destroyed his own.
Stewart,fihrseeila ted had cost him. 13 years of his life,
wdihaircyhinintiliset
son of Dug.aid cai
scripts, as of considerably more consequence, menu-
sonviloch he
but what w
into l? his o
" and
.a Conti nu a t ion
ropleto "Philosophy f burned his
a Man as a Member 9f
father's
Political AssEdinburghof
hislectures
neeny
e• ;
oPposliidtiia-
cal BcououlYt
Britannia, Dissertation ;" unmindful of Milton's aphorism,
4 tthat ho who destroys 4 gQ9cl WA kaki iteAkQII itself. "—•
1 Offtliki.eo Alfrilqrs

THE NAVY.

THE THIRD WAR IN CHINA.

The Lords of the Admiralty resumed their in-
spection of the naval establishments at Portmouth
yesterday. Their lordships left the Osborne in
their barge early in the forenoon, and, crossing the
harbour, landed at Haslar, inspecting first the gun-
boat yard and shipway there. The stay there was
but short ; some of the skeletons of the decayed
gunboats, however, attracting a passing notice from
their lordships. With the general state and con-
dition of the yard they appeared well pleased, and
gave the necessary orders for laying down the six
new boats in No. 6 shed. On leaving this yard
their lordships next visited the Royal Naval Hos-
pital at Haslar, together with the new cemetery
attached. In the afternoon, their lordships landed
at the Royal Clarence-yard, and, entering some
carriages that were in waiting, proceeded to For-
don-barracks, the head-quarters of the Royal
Marine Light Infantry. On alighting at the gate
of the barrack parade, they were received by Se-
cond-Commandant Liaut.-Col. Mitchell, who accom-
panied their lordships on the parade ground, where
the division was drawn up in line, ander the com-
mand of Col. Commandant Anderson, with the band
and colours in the centre. After a general salute
along the line, the men marched past in slow and
quick time, and then wheeled into line. After pas-
sing along the line, and inspecting the artillery
attached to the division, the n.en were dismissed.
A detachment was immediately afterwards formed,
and went through a course of drill at the ship gun-
battery, in the rear of the barracks. The result of
the inspection reflected the highest credit on the
officers and men of the division. The Royal
Clarence yard, together with the Duke of Welling-
ton, 131, screw, and the Shannon, 51, screw, was
shortly inspected by their lordships on Thursday
evening. In the visit to the Sirius target ship the
same evening the examination of the various targets
appeared to excite much interest among their lord-
ships. Last evening the Admiralty gave their cus-
tomary official dinner at Dent's George Hotel,
Portsmouth, to which 40 guests were invited. Their
lordships afterwards patronised the ball at Hol-
lingsworth's rooms, in aid of the funds for the Sea-
man's and Marines' Orphans' Schools.
The Emerald, 51, screw, Capt. A. Cumming, and
the Eagle, 50, Commander Strode, have been re-
moved from the steam basin at Portsmouth, and
berthed alongside their hulks in the harbour.
The Victoria and Royal Albert paddle yacht was
yesterday docked at Portsmouth to clean copper, kc.,
In readiness to attend upon her Majesty.
The launch of her Majesty's 91 gun ship Anson
from Woolwich Dockyard will take place this
morning. The flagship Fisgard and other vessels
usually moored in the offing in the vicinity of the
launch have been removed, and arrangements for the
accommodation of visitors have been completed on a
most liberal and commodious scale. The tide will
be at its extreme height at half-past 12, and the
Anson is expected to take the water a few minutes
before one o'clock. Her Royal Highness the Prin-
cess Mary of Cambridge had expressed her inten-
tion of acting as sponsor to the noble vessel, but on
account of the recent death of the Grand Duke of
Mecklenburg Strelitz the ceremony will be per-
formed by proxy.
From the fact that numbers of apprentice boys
have broken the articles of their apprenticeship,
and have absconded from their masters and enlisted
themselves in the service of the Royal Navy, the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have issued
the following notice, viz. :—" No apprentice duly
bound by indentures can be received on board any
of her Majesty's ships, and any apprentice who
shall obtain admission into the Royal Navy by
means of false statements will be summarily pun-
ished under the 16th section of the act 16th and
17th of Victoria, cap. 69."
In virtue of the above, Wm. Naul, a second-class
boy, having entered H.M.S. Fisgard at Woolwich,
being an apprentice at the time, was yesterday
sentenced by the local magistrate to two months'
hard labouf.
Commander T. H. M. Martin has been appointed
to the Landrail, fitting at Woolwich.

(From tie Times.)
The letter we yesterday published rrom our
Special Correspondent who accompanies the British
expedition to China has given precise information
as to the position of the allied forces, and as to the
state of affairs in that country, up to the 12th of
July last. At that date the two expeditionary
forces were in perfect order, safety, health and im-
mobility. The Chinese retained their old attitude
of dogged expectation, and every one was waiting
to see what would next occur. Even Lord Elgin
himself did not seem to hope much from mere ne-
gotiation ; for those wise Celestials, who are the per.
fection of old-fashioned common sense, never go for-
ward to meet troubles, andthose patriotic Mandarins
who issue their commands from Pekin are far too
sound Confucians to be moved by any misfortunes
that may chance to happen to distant popula-
tions. A GoTernor made a suggestion that by
cultivating friendly relations with the Europeans
the Imperial Government might, perhaps, stop the
career of that armed rabble which sweeps over
their rich cities ' . but the stoical Mandarins of
Pekin superseded him, and have called him up in
chains to answer before them for his traitorous ad-
vice. The Emperor, it seems, lives in a drunken
delirium, and his counsellors, with the shallow
gravity of Chinamen, publish in the Pekin gazette
protests against his too potent potations. With
such a ruling Power as this accommodation without
blows is evidently hopeless. The only course that
can have any effect is to show these drunkards and
dotards that we can reach them even in Pekin
itself.
For this all preparation, so far as the English
are concerned, has long since been made. The two
allied nations have wisely held rendezous in sepa-
rate localities, sufficiently near to each other and
to the scene of operations to be able to act in
unison, and sufficiently apart to be able to enjoy
national tastes and habits undisturbed. The little
bay in which the English fleet was anchored
on the 12th of July, and around which
the English army was encamped, is described
by our correspondent in terms not often used
to characterise a Chinese climate. Weather like a
breezy autumn day, with a thermometer never
rising above 84, is not the common experience of
those of our countrymen who seek their fortunes in
China. It must be remembered, however, that this
great empire has climates of every kind, and the
expeditionary forces are now placed far up north,
and many degrees distant from the pestilential
Canton river and the close atmosphere of Hong-
kong. Here, ix a landlocked bay without a rock or
shoal, and spacious enough and deep enough to con-
tain all the navies of the world, situated upon that
point of land which is directly opposite to the
mouth of the Peiho, but distantly opposite—for the
whole width of the Gulf of Pecheli interposes be-
tween them—lay the British fleet. It had been
there, flying its 60 pennants, and numbering nearly
200 vessels of war or transport, since June 25th.
This splendid armament is perfect in all its ap-
pointments both for sea and for land. It carries an
army of 12,000 men. It is furnished with batteries
of Armstrong guns ; and in every article of stores
which can give it full efficiency it is described to us
as being in a most perfect state. When it entered
this bay on that 25th of June the intention was to
use the place merely as a rendezvous and to stand
across the bay, and at once attack the Taku forts.
The anniversary of the disaster of 1859 passed by.
Instead of upon that day directing his new force
against his old enemy, Admiral Hope was compel-
led to remain where he was. The General, Sir H.
Grant, instead of landing his troops at the point of
action on the opposite side of the bay, found it ne-
cessary to disembark his men and horses on the
healthy shore off which he lay, and to place
his men under canvass. When our correspondent
first saw this force it had been lying listless and
inactive for nearly three weeks. It was not,
however, the fault of either Admiral Hope or
General Grant that valuable time, the heart
of the working year, had been lost, or that our
Armstrong guns had not long ago undergone their
first trial in actual warfare. That army of 12,000
men could march through China from end to end,
and find no obstacle to delay its march. But there
was an obstacle to the commencement of its opera-
tions. Our good friends who lay at Che-fow had
not made their arrangements in a business-like
manner. If it be lawful to blurt out the plain
truth of such matters, it must, we fear, be told as
the result of all our experience in combined opera-
tions with the French that they are rather liable to
fail in their preparations, and to trust to chance, or
to their allies, to make up their shortcomings.
Upon the last occasion in China they borrowed
1 from us with the freedom of the frankest friendship.
They borrowed our gunboats, and our stores, and
our ammunition, and even our spars and rigging ;
and when we trained that effective Coolie corps,
which was so essential to our transport service, the
1 French came and divided them with us in a most
brotherly manner. On this occasion the distance
between our positions has not altogether deprived
us of the pleasure of rendering them frequent
friendly offices, but it may possibly have rendered
them less immediately efficacious. However this
may be, the English fleet and army had been,when
our correspondent arrived, waiting three weeks in
the Bay of Ta-lien-whan for the French. Our ships,
drying their sails, and our men, spending their
ammunition upon the too nimble hare, which re-
fuses to succumb to balica.rtridge, were all idling
until it should please the French to come up and
encumber us with their assistance, and assert their
customary claim to all the glory. But the French
were not ready; they had no artillery horses, and
they had to break in the ponies which were com-
ing from Japan and Manilla. Their gunboats had
been sent out in pieces on board the transports, and
it was necessary to put them together, in the
few cases in which the pieces were complete ;
and we suppose it was also necessary to spend
a decent time in lamentations over those more
frequent sets of pieces which were, unfor-
tunately, incomplete. Moreover, they had had
misfortunes. Some of their transports had gone
down, and much of their ammunition had been
spoilt ; and although we could help them to some
extent in these minor matters, we could not find
fitting pieces for their portable gunboats or spare
them our artillery horses. Things were not going
comfortably with our friends, and, what was much
worse, it was by no means clear whether their defi-
ciencies would he remedied in any reasonable time.
The information afforded by them in answer to an
inquiry on this subject, was not very satisfactory.
We all recollect the story of that thirsty Irish guest
who, when asked by his host whether he would take
any more wine, replied, " Sir, I shall reserve my
unavailing protest until after the next bottle." The
French answer suggests a still less definite post-
ponement, for they would undertake no more than
that within a week they would name some future
time by which their preparations would be com-
pleted.
This waiting foraid which we do not want is very
vexatious, and, what is more, is very expensive.
Happily, our men are in excellent health, and even
our horses seem to thrive upon this Shing-kin
Promontory. The loss of a month, however,
means nothing less than the loss of a million
of money. We do not blame our allies ; such
breakdowns and such miscalculations will occur
in every expedition, and we have been much
more accustomed to pass them over in silence when
they have occurred to our allies than when they
have been found in our own service. Perhaps these
evils are inseparable from any attempt to conduct
combined operations with two independent armies.
The pity, however, seems to be that we ever made
this attempt. These combined expeditions have
never been popular in England, and are especially
unpopularyan i n the English army and navy. Eng-
land and France are surely strong enough singly to
settle
quarrel they may have with the Emperor
of China.
But, if they must go together upon this
errand, it would have been a great deal better had
they divided the work between them. They might
have moved upon Pekin by different routes, or
one Power might have cleared the Yang-tso while
the other gave the requisite lesson to the Manda-
rins of the capital. As it is, we have lost our money
and our time, and seem likely to lose more, and
the consciousness of this fact cannot possibly con-
duce to cordiality in the relations of the two
allied forces. However, we will hope for the
best. By this time, no doubt the French either
must have made up their minds to come on in their
deshabille, or to allow the English to go without
them. If the plan be, as stated, that the English
shall advance along the northern bank of the Peiho
and that the French shall take the southern bank, ,
our allies have already secured that part of the
drama in which the best theatrical positions must
occur. But they have kept the curtain down for a
weary time.

THE ORIGIN OF THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.—
Several persons are vehemently contending for the honour
of haying taken the initiative in a movement which has had
so 84110.1 a success as to produce a costless disciplined army
of 160,000
names we
marksmen. We have been appealed to, and
have never heard of have been placed before us
as deserving
of public gratitude on this account. Of course
no individual can have any claim to the merit of having
originated this
great work. It arose out of the circum-
stances and exigencies of the day, and it sprang from an
unanimous feeling of the necessity
of preparing for defence.
The earliest and most strenuous advocate, however, of the
Volunteer system when in its infancy was, so far as we
know, Mr. Hans Busk, who has continued lecturing and
writing and counselling upon this subject up to the present
hour. He was, as we know, for some time alone in press-
ing the subject upon the public notice, and to him, if to
anybody, credit is due for having laboriously aided at the
birth of this institution. The Volunteer army, however, isl
not an invention, and no one has a right to patent it,

A REPORTER IN TROUBLE.

that he should clearly show that the complainant
had sworn falsely in one particular ; and he called
upon his lordship, taking into consideration all the
extraordinary and improbable circumstances that
had been deposed to, to dismiss the charge and re-
lieve the defendant from the misery and suffering
to which he had been subjected by having such an
accusation brought against him.
James Fowles, the young man whom the com-
plainant had accused of taking liberties with her
upon one occasion, was then called, and he swore
in the most positive manner that her statement was
untrue, and that nothing of the sort ever took place.
The Lord Mayor, after some deliberation, said
that at first he was inclined to believe the story
that had been told by the complainant, and that
she had been most obscenely and disgracefully
treated by her master ; but after the evidence
of the last witness, and also taking into con-
sideration the monstrosity of the suggestion that
such acts could have been perpetrated in the pre-
sence of the prisoner's wife, he had arrived at a
different conclusion. He felt that the charge had
not been made out, and he should therefore dis-
miss it.

At the Guildhall Police Court yesterday Mr.
Joseph Hearn, described as a reporter, was charged
before Alderman Abbiss with being drunk and
annoying Mr. Gammon, one of the under-sheriffs of
London and Middlesex.
Mr. Charles Gammon said—Yesterday, about one
o'clock in the day, I was walking down Basinghall-
street, when the defendant called after me by
name, adding, " There he goes—there he goes,"
which had the effect of calling general attention to
me. I told him if he annoyed me so again I would
give him into custody, for he had annoyed me in
the same way for the last four years. He is always
tipsy. He was drunk yesterday, and is drunk now.
He is in the habit of taking me by the arm, but
he did not do so yesterday, because 1 got away from
him. I was walking through Guildhall about a
couple of hours afterwards, when the defendant
again called out my name loudly, and said, " There
he goes" in a most insulting manner. I know no-
thing more of the man. I did not even know his
name. He was quite drunk—just able to walk, and
that was all. He called out so loudly that the
Lord Mayor's servants heard him at the entrance to
the Court of Common Council. I have been more
annoyed by him in Basinghall-street, because that
is where he is generally hanging about. The beadle
also heard him, and took him into custody at my
request.
Scott, the beadle, said—l heard the defendant,
who was decidedly the worse for liquor, say, " Here
comes Gammon." I never saw him in the hall be•
fore. Mr. Gammon gave him into custody, and he
was bailed out at 10 o'clock last night.
Alderman Abbiss—What have you to say to this
charge r
Defendant—l ask for an adjournment; I called
him Gammon, and if his name is unfortunately
Gammon, it's all gammon for him to be offended,
and this business will all end in gammon. (Great
laughter.)
Alderman Abbiss—Had you any business with
Mr. Gammon ?
Defeadant—He is constantly at the Bankruptcy
Court, where my son reports for one of the news-
papers, and he often gives him his card, for he is
very fond of having his name printed Gammon,
although he does not like being called Gammon.
(Laughter.)
Alderman Abbiss—Do you wish to ask Mr. Gam-
mon any questions ?
Defendant—Did I not say, " How do you de, Mr.
Gammon ?"
Mr. Gammon—No; but you did say that if I
would shake hands with you, you would not be
offended.
Defendant—All I have to say is that Mr. Gam-
mon is a most respectable practitioner in our court,
the Court of Bankruptcy, and knowing him, and
wishing him no evil, I went to his office this morn-
ing, at 10 o'clock, but he was not there. I went
there for the purpose of saying, " Gammon, let us
shake hands and make an end of this gammon." I
beg to express my very great regret, and am willing
to shake hands with him now if he likes.
(Laughter.)
Alderman Abbiss—lt is very deplorable to see a
man of education, for I understand you are a re-
porter, so far forget himself as to get the worse for
liquor. It appears you were so yesterday, and any
one can see you are now in the same condition,
which is a great insult to the bench.
Defendant—l am not, indeed, sir.
Alderman Abbiss—l should be very sorry to do
you such an injustice, but I do not think my eyes
have deceived me in this instance. However, Mr.
Gammon is not desirous of pressing this case if you
will promise faithfully that you will never annoy
him again.
Defendant—That promise shall be kept, sir, but
I should like to shake him by the hand. (Laugh-
ter.) I will for the future say, " Mr. Bacon ap-
peared for the assignees," and never call him Gam-
mon again. (Great laughter, amidst which defen-
dant left the court.)

THE CATASTROPHE AT .HELMSRO_RE.

TRAF_ELLING IN JAPAN.

When our report left on Wednesday the coroner's
jury had retired to consider their verdict, but could
not agree. Some further evidence was afterwards
taken, and the inquest was adjourned.
The jury re-assembled yesterday, when Mr.
Robinson, attorney for the friends of the deceased
passengers, called witnesses.
George Ellis, mechanic, sworn—l was in the
part of the train which ran away—in a second-
class carriage. After three carriages had been
thrown off the line, I should be in the third or
fourth carriage from the collision. It was a break
carriage. A passenger named Crowsdale got out
—the train having gone back 150 yards—and
spoke to the guard or some one outside. The car-
riage was a little broken. Our heads were all
knocked together with the collision.
By Mr. Grundy—The train, I think, had gone
back 150 to 200 yards before they applied the
break. I heard the person who put it on go over
the top of the carriage. The train was running
very fast.
Samuel Laycock, Colne, mechanic, corroborated
the evidence of Ellis.
William Duerden travelled with the two last
witnesses, and corroborated their evidence.
Thomas Moran, gatekeeper at the crossing gate
lon the line at Helmshore, sworn—l heard the
couplings break when the train separated. I went
to put my signal on, and saw Tomlinson, the guard,
run after the train to put on his break.
By Mr. Robinson—There were three porters at
the station to assist passengers.
Robert Blakey, of Colne, sworn—l was in the
part of the train that broke away, and in the car-
riage following the three that were.thrown off by
the collision.
Nathaniel Ramsbottom, sworn—l was the first
driver of the third train. On approaching Helm-
shore I saw, when on the Ogden Viaduct, some car-
riages approaching. I saw them by the tail lights.
I could not see them before on account of the curve.
I turned the steam off and reversed the engine im-
mediately. We were going at 13 or 14 miles an
hour. It was a moonlight night, and there was not
much fog. The train I was driving I think had
not fairly stopped when the collision occurred. The
top of a carriage was forced over my engine by the
collision. I believe it came from one of the carriages
of my own train behind me. I think that would have
happened if there had been no engine pushing be-
hind.
Job Simpson, sworn—l was the driver of the last
engine of the third train. We were pushing behind,
but were not coupled to the train. I should third/
the train went up the bank at the rate of 12 to 14
miles per hour.
John Chippendale, guard of second train, said—
After the accident I went up the line to signal
and keep the line clear in front of us. I have been
in the company's service from 1849. I had had one
glass of ale at Manchester. After our train started
from Ramsbottem a man asked me to have a drink
of rum. That was in the carriage in which my
break was. I opened the door and went in, and
drank from the bottle. I also smoked a pipe. I got
out between the first and second bridges at Helm-
shore, and got upon my break outside. I then ap-
plied the break. I did not think I was doing wrong
in taking the rum. I did it to oblige those who ha-
vited me. Smoking is against the rule, and I ought
not to have done it, and I ought to have prevented
others doing it.
James Newell, superintendent of the East Lanca-
shire carriage department,produced a memorandum
lie had znado on the morning of the accident, con-
taining a list of the carriages in the broken part of
the train.
The Coroner having summed up, the jury re-
turned the following verdict :
" The jury is of opinion that the amount of break
power and the number of guards were insufficient
for so large a train, and recommend the directors
to adopt Col. Yolland's suggestions. Their verdict
is Accidental death.'"
They were in consultation two hours.
COLONEL YOLLAND'S EXPERIMENTS.

On Thursday Col. Yolland went up to Helmshore,
the scene of the late lamentable catastrophe, to
make a series of experiments for the purpose of
completing his report to the Board of trade. He
took with him from Bury a train of 17 carriages,
being the estimated number of the portion of the
train that broke away at Helmshore. These car-
riages formed a train of upwards of 100 yards in
length. Breaks were attached to it of the same
kind as those used on the occasion of the accident,
and placed in the same position, but behind the
train was placed a break van (for use and safety in
case of need) on the powerful principle invented by
Mr. Newall, and called "Newall's Continuous
Break." Each carriage was loaded to its estimated
weight when full of passengers of 5 tons 10 cwt.
each. The weight of the train was 93 tons 15 cwt.
On reaching Helmshore the engine was detached
after the break was put on, and the train brought
to a stand. This was the first experiment, with a
view to seeing whether a single ordinary break
would hold the train at the station, supposing it
had been kept on. The break did hold the train
stationary, and this experiment was so far satisfac-
tory. The second experiment was to loose the train
at the Helmshore station and allow it to roll back
without any break on to the point of the recent
collision, in order to see what time this would oc-
cupy. The third experiment was the second re-
peated with more caution, and the result was that
the train, which of its own gravity began to move
very slowly at first, increased to an estimated speed
of something like 10 or 12 miles an hour by the
time it reached the point of collision—which is 654
yards from the starting point, or about 554 yards
from the rear end of the train when it started. The
distance was run in 2 min. 8 sec., and with one of
Newall's powerful continuous breaks was then
brought up at its highest velocity in 29 sec. The
fourth experiment was to try whether Tomlinson,
the guard left on the platform when the train be-
gan to recede, could run after the train, mount his
van, and apply the break before reaching the point
of collision. This was done. The guard left the
platform 10 sec. after the train started, reached the
break in half a minute more, and stopped the train
in a minute from the time he left the platform. It
should be remembered, however, that the rails were
not wet and greasy as on the night of the accident,
neither had the carriages the impulse at starting
which might arise on that occasion from a redound
of the other carriages when stopping. In the fifth
experiment the train was allowed to start of its
own gravity, and the break was not put on till the
second bridge was reached, or 217 yards had been
run. With the velocity thus acquired the train
was stopped with one ordinary break exactly at
the point of the late collision. The last experiment
was one by which the train was liberated at the
station with a slip shackle, so as in some measure
to make up for buffing. The break was applied
when the train had run 217 yards, and was not
brought to a stand till it was some yards past the
point of collision.
Col. Yolland was assisted in these experiments by
Mr. Shaw, the company's passenger traffic superin-
tendent ; Mr. Newall, superintendent of the car-
riage department; Mr. Fenton, assistant-traffic
superintendent ; Mr. Silvester Lees, locomotive
superintendent of the passenger and waggon de-
partments on the Stockton and Darlington line ;
and Mr. G. Wilson, deputy chairman of the Lan-
cashire and Yorkshire board also attended, and
took an interest in them.

THREATENED STRIKE OF AGRICULTURAL LA-
BOVRERS.—Many of the farm labourers in this neighbour-
hood are demanding an advance of wages, and in one case
which has come to our knowledge, the increase asked for
was from 18s. to 245. a week, and a threat was held out that
if it was not acceded to the men would strike work.—Not-
tingham Journal.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE THAMES,—The great
race between Chambers, the present Champion of the
Thames, and White, who aspires to that proud distinction,
which is to take place en Tuesday nest, from Putney to
Mortlake, is the all• engrossing topic in acquatic circles.
Chambers, who belongs to Newcastle-upon .Tyne, has been
in London nearly a fortn'ght in sharp practice,. accompa-
nied by the renowned Henry Clasper, and is rowing admir-
ably. White, who was formerly defeated by Chamber., is
certainly in much better condition than on that occasion, but
the odds are 6t04 on Chambers. The men may be seen at
their training regularly daily at Putney; and although
Chambers is so decidedly the favourite, the friends of White
think his opponent will have his work to do to beat him.
The Messrs. Searle, the Thames Subscription Club, the
London Rowing Club, and White, have chartered steamers
for the conveyance of spectators. The stake for which the
men row is £4OO.

IRE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 15, 1860,

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

The Gazette of St. Petersburg publishes a letter
from Madame Albrecht, wife of a physician, dated
from Hakodate, in the island of Japan, the 15th
April, giving an account of an excursion into the
interior of that singular country :—" It required
many efforts and more time to cause the Japanese
to consent to our project. According to treaties,
consuls-general alone have the right of travelling
by land in the interior; and the Russians have here
only a simple consul ; but, as ht,s enjoys the same
privileges as a consul-general, the authorities could
not maintain any objection on that score. We pur-
chased Japanese litters, or, as they are called here,
cages (kahos). They contained no sort of seats,
and are not long enough to enable the legs to be
extended ; so that we were obliged to sit cross
legged in Japanese fashion ; we had, however, the
back supported by a cushion. We were five in
number—the consul, his wife, their son, myself, and
a lady's maid, and each of us had a litter or cage.
Seven Japanese functionaries were ordered to be in
attendance on us, and each of them had a litter and
two domestics ;we had also two guides. The litter
is suspended from a long pole placed on the shoulders
of men—two before and two behind, and each
one is attended by bearers to relieve each
other in turns, some of them having as many as
ten. We were also accompanied by a vast number
of police officers who walked before, and on each
side of the litters, and who cried in melancholy tone
to all the common people we met on the road
Sere,' which means sit down.' This order was
obeyed. In the towns, where the inhabitants col-
lected in crowds to see us pass, the same order was
given, and the people immediately sat down, in
spite of mud andram. In certain towns, however,
which are occupied by princes, the people were
exempt from this formality. So great in some
places was the curiosity of the people to see us
that they pressed clime to the litters and endea-
voured to open the doors (there is one on each aide),
but the police, who were armed with long sticks,
• and with small iron rods, the latter carried in the
sleeve, kept them off, This rod is a mark of autho-
rity, and it is said that the Japanese greatly fear
being touched by one, as they are then placed
under arrest. At every station at which we
stopped we found prepared for us a chamber,
which was very clean, and decorated with mag-
nificent paper hangings i and for us to sit down,
benches with a sort of cushion were provided.
These stations are destined for functionaries
who travel on the public service. They are
all constructed on the same plan ; the cham-
ber we occupied in each was only separated
from the street by one for the domestics, and was
divided into different compartments by sliding par-
titions. Every room we were in was very cold at
night, notwithstanding braziers were lighted on
our retiring to rest. The roads were very good.
Those in the first part of our journey were wide,
and planted with high trees, the branches of which
extended across. On each side of the road were
rice fields. The second part of our journey was
through a mountainous country ; we there saw a
large quantity of snow, and were greatly inconve-
nienced with rain. We frequently found the roads
cut by large rivers, and we crossed them in ferry
boats. The reception we obtained in every town
was very ceremonious. First of all, an elder in
uniform came forth to meet us, and saluted each
litter with profound respect ; on each side of the
street were police officers with polished sticks ; and
at some distance from them were public function-
aries in groups, seated on stools. The uniform of
these officials is singular—it consists of a sort of
gown in gauze, with at the shoulders a projection
resembling wings. In consequence of this we
called them functionaries with wings.' Be-
hind them were attendants bearing wands, lances,
something resembling horses' tails, and other
articles—indicating, no doubt, their differences
in rank. In certain towns we found drawn up large
bodies of men with bows and arrows; in others,
lines of soldiers, with a musket in one hand and a
match in the other. We completed the journey in 22
days, having travelled at the rate of from 15 to 20
miles a day."

DONCASTER RACES—FRIDAY.
THE CUP DAY.
The business of the meeting was brought to a most satis-
factory conclusion. The racing during the four days was
abundant and of the most interesting description. The
officials worked with a cordial co-operation to carry out the
arrangements in an efficient manner, and their efforts were
attended with complete success.
No greater proof of the increased popularity of the meet-
ing could be adduced than the fact that the receipts at the
Grand Stand exceeded by over £l,OOO those of any former
year. The authorities at the Doncaster Railway station
deserve especial commendation for the regularity and order
with which they conducted the immense traffic during the
week. To Mr. Leith, the traffic manager, and Mr. Wood,
the clerk in charge at Doncaster, the public are mainly in-
debted for the admirable arrangements which were so effi-
ciently carried out. The station was divided into two
divisions; at the locomotive sidings were Messrs. Mullens
and Pigott, and from their division alone were despatched
on the evening of the St. Leger between 6 and 20 minutes
past 7 10 special trains to various parts of the adjacent
country. Mr. Lamb had the superintendence of the
" Shakespeare Sidings," from which the London cheap ex-
cursion train departed. This train, by the way, was so
long that it had to be divided ; it consisted of 30 third-class
and 20 first and second-class carriages. The " South"
trains were under the superintendence of Mr. Brown and
Mr. Berwick, of the Midland ; the "North" trains of Mr.
Gleadall ; and the " South Yorkshire" trains under the
management of Mr. English, the traffic manager, and when
we state that Sheffield alone contributed 14,000 passengers
it will be readily believed that gentleman found his office
no sinecure. The defeat of the first for the St. Leger in
each event for which they started created considerable as-
tonishment, and the successes of Lords Derby, Zetland,
and Portsmouth were hailed with great demonstrations of
enthusiasm. Altogether, the concluding day's sport was
of great interest, bringing one of the most successful Don-
caster meetings on record to a satisfactory issue.
A. Sweepstakes of 200 sovs, h ft, for three-yr-olds ; colts,
Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 21b. St. Leger Course. 5 subs.
Mr. Merry's Northern Light, Bst 71b (Custance) w. o.
Match of 300 sous, h ft. Red-house in. 5 furlongs 132
yards.
Lord Glasgow's c by Stockwell, dam by Pyrrhus the
First, 2 yrs, Bst 71b (Aldcroft) 1
Sir J. Hawley's Caliban, 2 yrs, Bst 41b (Challoner) 2
Betting-3 to lon Lord Glasgow's colt, who was in front
throughout, closely waited upon by Caliban, the Stockwell
colt winning a fine race by a short head.
The Doncaster Stakes of 10 sovs each, with 100 added, for
three-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 31b ; extra weight
for winners. The second to receive 50 sovs out of the
stakes. Last mile and a half. 59 subs.
Lord Derby's Cape Flyaway, Bst 71b (Aldcroft) 1
Mr. Parker's Sutherland, Bst 71b (J. Adams) 2
Mr. A. Nicholl's Tho Wizard (incl. 51b extra), Bst 121 b
(G. Fordham) 3

St. Albans also ran.
Betting-5 to 4on St. Albans, 6to 4 agst the Wizard, 9
to 2 agst Cape Flyaway.
Sutherland made play, waited upon by St. Albans, Cape
Flyaway next, and the Wizard last, the latter being many
lengths behind passing the T.Y.C. post ; Cape Flyaway
going up to Sutherland and running side by side with him.
Entering the straight the lot took close order, and within
the distance St. Albans was beaten off, Cape Flyaway
going to the front, and winning easily by a length and a
half; half a length between the second and third ; two
lengths between the third and fourth.

The Scurry (Selling) Stakes of 5 sovs each, with 50 added.
Optional selling weights, &c. Red-house in, 5 furlongs
152 yards. 6 subs.
Mr. S, Smith's Bayonet, 2 yrs (L5O), 65t.... (J. Adams) 1
Mr. Whittaker's White Rose, 3 yrs (X5O), 7st 71b
(J. Snowden) 2
Mr. H. O'Hara's Hetty, 3 yrs (L5O), 7st 71b..(Hibberd) 3