The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-28 00:00:00

UR NAVE !POLICE INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.

TO TIIE EDITON OF. THE SUN.

Sin,—ln the Times of the 23d instant is the fol-
lowing passage :—" The evidence before this com-
mittee discloses a state of things in reference to the
manufacture of the Armstrong guns which could
not occur under really efficient control, and we
should be content to see any system adopted which
should provide against the recurrence of the present
damnatory fact, that there are at this moment only
two rifled cannon in the British navy, while there
are six hundred on board the French fleet."

I beg to state, that such is the great improve-
ment in the cohesive nature of cast malleable iron,
that I have had a four-pounder ship gun, four feet
in:length, and rifled one full turn, cast with its bore
and oval twist complete in the act of casting, by
Messrs. Havengton and Bevan, of Gravesend. I
have put it to a severe proof, and, in consequence,
am of opinion that our Navy could be speedily
furnished with rifled guns of any size, and any kind
of rifling, ready cast complete on this principle,
which is patented by me.
I shall fire spinsters from this rifled ship gun,
which shall do the duty of red-hot shot, without
incurring the trouble and danger of using such
shot. I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
Rosherville, July 25. J. NORTON.

THE COAST DEFENCES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Stu,—The subject of coast defences being now
of great interest with the public, I am induced to
trespass upon you in consequence of reading Lord
Palmerston's proposition for erecting fortifications
for the defence of our coasts and dockyards, in
which his lordship refers to the fortifications of
Cronstadt having baffled our officers, " gallant as
they were, and strong as were their fleets." Allow
me to remark that their mode of attack was of the
old school, which consists of blowing away thou-
sands of tons of small pieces of iron and incendiary
materials.at a range more noisy than dangerous.
Had my system of warfare been adopted against
the Russian fortifications our Admirals would have
been enabled to take up the necessary positions for
destroying the works unmolested by the enemy's
fire.

And I may add that the broadside of a three-
decker, or ship of the line (which constitutes the
most powerful battery known), would, under this
system of attack, crush the strongest sea-face forti-
fications in Europe.
Under these circumstances, would it not be de-
sirable to pause before studding our coasts with for•
tifications ? as there are many accessible points
which may be defended by hulks suitably armed,
and moored behind a flexible floating breakwater,
forming a safe harbour, and affording excellent
training schools for Marine Artillery, and a more
profitable application than breaking them up, or
allowing them to lumber our dockyards, where, in
the event of an attack with my incendiary projec-
tiles, they would afford the elements of our own
destruction.

War has now become a race of invention, and the
nation that is most distinguished for fertility of re-
source and use of new materials and expedients
will be the most powerful in attack and defence.—
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
July 26,1860. J. MACINTOSH.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

WATCH ROBBERY AND CLEVER PURSUlT.—Patrick
Burke mid William Bath, two rough-looking fellows, were
charged with being concerned with others not in custody
in stealing a silver watch, the property of John Moutagu
a carver and gilder.

There being others concerned in the case besides the pri-
soners, the publication of the case was deferred till the
committal of the prisoners.

Police-constable 198 C said that on Sunday, at 12.36 a.m.,
he saw the prosecutor lying in a doorway in Queen-street,
and the prisoner Burke, in company with another man and
woman, stooping over him. As soon as they saw him
advancing they all ran off. He went after Burke, and
assisted another constable in taking him into custody.
Castle, F 129, said that hearing a cry of " Stop thief,"
and seeing urke running at the top of his speed, he stopped
him in Dudley-street, at the door of a house, when he (the
constable) was knocked down. Burke then went up to the
first floor landing, and got out of the window and over a
wall. Determined not to lose him he got out after him,
and after a pursuit over some water-closets secured him.
On afterwards going over the ground which the prisoner
had traversed in attempting to escape, he found part of a
watch, which the prosecutor believed to be his.

Sergeant Cole, 23 C, said—On going to the doorwa.y-,
where the prosecutor was lying in a state of intoxication, he
found Bath in the act of drawing the guard off his neck.
All the pockets of the prosecutor were undone. He then.
took Bath into custody. He had known Burke well for

years.
Bath said he was merely shaking the man to "wake
him."

Sergeant Franklin of the E division said he had Burke
at the court for stealing lead, and Sergeant Cole said he be-
lieved they were both known.
The depositions having been read over, the prisoners
were committed for trial.