The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-26 00:00:00

THE_SKIPTONGRAMMAR SCHOOL.

Earl DE GREY moved that this billscouldbe post-
poned.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he had told their lord-
ships he should have the opinion of the Attorney-General
before they did anything with the bill. The noble lord then
read the opinion of the Attorney-General which induced him
to propose a now scheme, which he understood was that his
noble friend objected that formerly the trustees were
both Roman Catholics and Dissenters, and that now the
trustees would be Protestants only. But when they re-
flected that the trustees formerly had nothing to
do with the management of the school, and that
now they would, he thought that there was
a strong necessity that they should be Protestant,. He
could not say how soon the public schools commission
report would be laid before the house, and therefore
he did not see why this bill should be postponed until
it was finished. He trusted that they would not think it
necessary to postpone the bill.
Lord TAUNTON was understood to advocate the ad-
journment of the bill.
Lord ROMILLY said that this being only a Church of
England school, it was not competent for himself or the
Attorney-General to change it into anything else. It was
necessary that tho schoolmaster should be a Protestant,
and at his suggestion .it was agreed that he should be in
orders. The debate was adjourned at the suggestion of
Lord Cianworth, in order that a clause might be prepared
to prevent the creation of any fresh vested interest to be
exempted from the operation of a general measure.

Th 3 Banns of Matrimony Bill was read a second time,
after a short conversation.

Lord KIMBERLEY then moved the second reading of
the Tests Abolition (Oxfc,rd and Cambridge) Bill, which he
said was recommended by- the sanction of a largo majority
in the Rouse of Commons. He urged the impropriety of
requiring from young men—laymen—a subscription to the
Thirty-nine Articles, but, mainly rested his advocacy of
the measure upon the ground that the Universities were
national institutions, which should be open to all her Ma-
jesty's subjects.
The Duke of MARLBOROThaII objected that the bill
reopened a question that was settled but a few years ago
in the cases of both Oxford :►ntl Cambridge. There was no
reason for renewed legislation, and the real motive for the
bill was a desire to enable persons not members of the
Church of England to become members of the governing
bodies of the Universities. Ere opposed that innovation
because it would lead to the in- troduction of religious con-
flicts and to the neglect of n.ligious teaching, reducing
the Universities to the conditi on of more secular insti-
tutions, and therefore he 'moved that the bill be read a
third time that day six months.
The Duke of DEVONSIIIIi E regretted that, being Chan-
cellor of the University of Ca tebridge, his opinion should
be different to that of a maj( wity of those who were con-

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
THE SNIDER RIFLE.

In reply to an Hos MEMBER,
Sir J. PABINGTON sail 216,223 out of 300,000 rifles
ordered to be converted hal been completed. The con-
version was going on at the rate of 1,100 per day.
THE CATTLE PLAGUE.

Lord E. CECIL asked the Vice-President of the Council
whether ho could give any information relative to the out-
break of tho cattle plague in Essex.

Lord R. MONTAGU said the outbreak of the disease
in Essex had not been so extensive as had been stated.
Only seven boasts had been attacked during the last
month. The examination of the cattle landed at Harwich
from Antwerp took place within the 12 hours the beasts
were in quarantine, so that the orders fur removal could
be given immediately on the expiration-of that time.
Mr. BRIGIIT asked whether other diseases than cattle
plague were reported to the authorities, because the price
of meat was kept up at an excessively high price.

Lord R. MONTAGU said that other diseases were re-
ported, but he did not think the high price of moat was
attributable to the cattle plague.
BIRCHING CADETS.

In reply to Mr. Bass,
Mr. CORRY said inquiry had been made relative to the
alleged cruel punishment to cadets on board the Britannia.
The cadets were not punished with the greatest cruelty.
The practice hitherto had been to birch cadets, but they
were not fastened to ring bolts, and the birch used was
somewhat smaller than that used at Westminster. An
order, however, dated the Bth of last month, had been
issued abulishing the system of birching cadets altogether
on board the Britannia. (Hear, hear.)
PRIVATE EXECUTIONS BILL.

Mr. Sergeant GASELEE asked whether it was intended
to proceed with this bill during the present, session. lle
had attended night after night to oppose it, and he was
afraid it might be taken some night after 12 o'clock. As his
state of health would not allow him to attend at that hour
any longer, he wanted to know if it was intended to go on
with the bill.

Mr. HARDY said out of consideration for the state of
the learned gentleman's health the bill would not be pro-
ceeded with. (Hear, hear, and laughter).

SUPPLY.

On the motion that the house go iuto committee of
supply for the purpose of considering the Army Supple-
mentary Estimates,
Lord ELCHO moved the following resolution :." That,
inasmuch as it is the ancient and undoubted prerogative of
the Crown to require the military service of its liege sub-
jects, and inasmuch as liability to personal service, within
the limits of the United Kingdom, has always been and
still is the principle on which the Militia force is founded,
it is desirable, in framing any scheme or the establish-
ment of an army of reserve, and for the more com-
plete and economical organisation of the mili-
tary capabilities and defensive power of the
nation, to consider how far this ancient principle should
be practically enforced, and how it can bo best applied
with least inconvenience to the people. That it is further
desirable, with a view to the more full and deliberate con-
sideration of this important subject, that the Army Reserve
and Militia Reserve Bills should be withdrawn for the pre-
sent session of Parliament. The noble lord then pro-
ceeded to refer to the nature and scope of the two bills,
when

Sir J. PAKINGTON rose to order. He thought he was
altogether transgressing the rules of the house in anticipa-
ting the discussion that must arise on a bill standing for a
second reading, and also in making comments upon that
which it was presumed he was about to say.

The SPEAKER told the noble lord that ho must confine
himself to the first portion of his motion.

Lord ELCHO said he would at once act upon the
direction from the chair. The noble lord then pro-
ceeded to state his view upon the best means for creating
an army of reserve, and said that he thought the most ex-
cellent results would follow the adoption of the ballot for the
militia. No doubt some inconvenience would result from
the adoption of the ballot, but then ho considered it was
the first duty of the subject to give his services to
the state in times of war. It was absolutely neces-
sary to have an efficient army reserve, and as it was
most certainly true that the best and most effective
means of recruiting the regular army was from the militia,
he thought it wise to keep that branch of the service
up to its full strength, and for that purpose ho thought it
absolutely necessary that the ballot should be put in oper-
ation, that no substitutes should be allowed, and the only
exception from the ballot should be those who belonged
to the Volunteer force. If that system was adopted he
thought no fears might be entertained that the military
strength of the country would be kept in the most efficient
state. (Hear, hoar.)
Sir J. PAKINGTON said he could not agree with the
noble lord that the volunteering principle of recruiting the
army had failed, neither could he agree with him that the
ballot in the Militia was at all necessary. (Hear, hear.)
The militia, after having fallen very much into neglect,
had been revived about fiften years ago, and a remarkable
characteristic of that revival was that from the year 1852
we had been able to rely upon the voluntary principle for
recruiting their ranks ; and, at this moment the establish-
ment required, which was three-fourths of the whole
quota sanctioned by act of Parliament, was not at all short
of numbers.
The Volunteer movement, too, supplied a
satisfactory answer ; for here were 180,000 men raised on
the voluntary principle,
and in the face of such a fact as
thatsurely ' be, alleged that the militia could
not out having recourse to the ballot.
h o
it
maintained
would p r i n
Looking at all the circumstances, then—the extent of the
Volunteer knee, the success attendant on embodying the
militia on the voluntary principle, and that if the ballot
were wanted it could be put in operation in a few weeks—
he hoped the House would be of opinion that no case had
been made out for departing from that principle.
A short discussion followed, and eventually the motion
was withdrawn.

Major JERVIS subsequently raised a debate on the
riotous proceedings which took place at the late elections
for the counties of Waterford and Tippeniry, and moved
a resolution on the subject, which, however, was nega-
tived without a division, and tho House wont into com-
mittee of supply.
Sir J. PAKINGTON then moved the remainder of the
vote for the increase of pay to tho militia, and in doing so
sketched out the scheme of the Government for establish-
ing an army of reserve. He observed that the extraordi-
nary revolution which had taken place of late years in our
naval power was one cause which pointed t) the necessity
of taking steps to increase our military power. For the
general purposes of war we had no reserve whatever,
though for home defence we had the militia force, the full
quota of which was 120,000 men, a volunteer force of
180,000 men, and enrolled pensioners and the force raised
under Mr. Sidney Herbert's Act of 1859, amounting to
`20,000 mon. By the plan of the Government, then, it was
provosed to form an army of reserve, to be employed iu

General DUNNE bad no doubt that the scheme was
adequate to meet the emergency of war, but he could not
look upon the reserve as a permanent force.
Criticisms were also passed upon the scheme by Mr.
O'Reilly, Major Dickson, Major Walker, Sir M. Beach,
Lord"Elcho, and Sir H. "Verney, and the vote was agreed
to.
A vote for increase of pay to marines was also agreed to
on the motion of Mr. Corry.
The Army Reserve Bill and the Militia Reserve Bill
were read a second time.
In committee of the whole house, on the motion of Sir
J. Pakington, a resolution was agreed to authorising the
raising of £BOO,OOO to defray the expense of the construc-
tion of works for the defence of the royal dockyards and
arsenals, and the ports of Dover and Portland.
The Poor-law Board Bill was recommitted, and a pro-
posal of Mr. Ayrton's to limit the duration of tho board to
five years was defeated on a division by 88 to 14.
The remaining orders on the paper were also disposed
of, and the house rose at a quarter past 3 o'clock.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

SOUTHAMPTON RACES.- THURSDAY.

Following in the wake of Winchester, and being rein-
forced by the company from Huntingdon, the attendance
at Southampton to-day was very large. In addition to the
usual followers of racing there was an immense concourse
of pleasure-seekers, the large number of carriages, filled
principally with fashionably-dressed ladies, rendering the
meeting worthy to be ranked with any reunion in the
kingdom. The course is most charmingly situated, about
two miles from the centre of the town, the scenery being
truly delightful, interspersed as it is with the noble trees
and the brillant foliage of underwood. The weather was
very fine, and the management in every department being
of the highest order, nothing was wanting
.to render the
meeting eminently successful and enjoyable. The racing
admits of but little description. Challenge added to his
winning score by carrying off the Hampshire Stakes,
albeit not without a severe struggle with Moose; and
Bouqueti6re redeemed a hitherto unfortunate career by
placing the South-Western Plate to the credit of her
owner. Details of the day's sport are appended :

Tno Trial Stakes of 5 SOW each, with 40 added ; for throe-
yr-olds and upwards; selling and other allowances. Ono

mile.
Mr Wright's Reindeer, by Mountain Dow—Sultana,
aged, Bst 111 b (£100) (Clement) 1
Mr Ten Broeck's La Sorrentina, 3 yrs, fist 111 b (X 100)
(Barlow) 2
Mr R. Porter's Evergreen, 3 yrs, 7.t (£100) ...(Mordan) 3
The following also ran :—Miss Alice, Gentian, Knight
Templar.
Betting —t to 4 on Reindeer, 5 to 1 agst La Sorrentino,
100 to 15 each agst Evergreen and Gentian, and 20 to 1
each agst Miss Alice and Knight Templar. The latter
made play, closely attended by Evergreen until reaching
the foot of the hill, where La Sorrentina and the favourite
drew away and finished on exciting race home, resulting
in favour of old Reindeer, who stayed the longest, by a
short head. Evergreen was a bad third, Gentian fourth,
and Knight Templar last. The winner was claimed by
Mr. Ten Broeck.

The Southampton Nursery Plate, a handicap of 50 sous ;

•
for two-year-olds ; winners extra. T.Y.C.
Mr. Samuel's Chivalry, by Tournament—Spot, 7st 1 llb
(inc 71b extra) (Clement) 1.
Mr J. Woolcott s Apron Strings, Est 71b (Eades) 2
Mr A. Day's Our Mary Ann, Est 91b (Webb) 3
The following also ran :—Lady Ward, Toy, Snowdrift,
The Demon, Cecil, Miss Camerine, and Spiteful.
Betting-5 to 2 agst Chivalry, 9to 2 agst Miss Came-
rine, 5 to 1 agst Apron Strings, and 7 to 1 agst our Mary
Ann. miss Camerine jumped off with the lead, followed
by Apron Strings, Toy, Snowdrift, and Cecil, Chivalry
laying well up of the others at the foot of the hill, whore
Miss Camerine gave way, and Apron Strings was left with
the lead. Opposite the stand Clement brought up Chivalry,
who challenged Apron Strings, and won cleverly by a
neck. Our Mary Ann was a bad third, Miss Camerine
fourth, Snowdrift fifth, Toy sixth, Spiteful seventh, Cecil
eighth, and The Demon last.
The South-Western Selling Stakes of 3 soya each, with 50
added by the South-Western Railway company; for all
ages; selling allowances. T.Y.C.
Lord Vivian's Bouquetiere, by Voltigeur—Pauline, 2
yrs, Est 41b (£4O) (Quince) 1
Mr Brayley's Wild Dove, 4 yrs, Bst 11b (.£3O) (Cannon) 2
Mr E• Rickard's Rally (late Opposition), 4 yrs, Bst llb I
(car Bst 21b)(£30) (Fordham) 3
The following also ran:—Alarmist, Crossfire, Sunny-
side, and Rinaldo.

Betting-3 to 4on Bouquetiere, 4to 1 agst Rally, 7to 1
agst Wild Dove, and 10 to 1 agst Alarmist. The start was
delayed by the fractiousness of Sunnyside, hut when the
flag fell they got away on equal terms. After going 100
yards the favourite took up the running, and won in the
commonest of canters by three lengths. Half a length
separated second and third, Alarmist was fourth, Rinaldo
fifth, and Crossfire sixth. Sunnyside did not pass the
post. The. winner was bought by Mr. Hope for 310
guineas.

The Cranbury Park Stakes of 10 sovs each, 5 ft, with 50
added; for two year olds; colts Bst 101 b, fillies Bst 71b,

winners extra. T.Y.C. About five furlongs.
Marquis of Hasting's
.See Saw, by Bucanoer—Margery
Daw, Bst 31b (inc. 71b extra) (Fordham) 1
Marquis of Hasting's Cuckoo, 9st (inc. 71b ex) (Cannon) 2
Mr. C. Brewer's The Demon, Bst 101 b (W. .tfopkins).3

No betting. See Saw made all the running, and won in
a canter by 20 lengths:
The South Hampshire Stakes, a handicap of 15 sots each,
10 ft, and 5. only if declared, with 80 added; winners

extra. Once round. About a mile and a half.
Mr, R. Porter's Challenge, by Trumpeter—Princess
'Alice, 3 yrs, 7st 11h (inc..7lb extra) (Mordan) 1
Mr. I'. Parr's Moose, aged, 7.st 81b (Gray) 2
Mr. G. Payne's Maid of Masham filly, 4 yrs, 7st (Vine)) 3
The following also ran :—Black Prince, Chevalier
d'Esprit, and Little Wideawake.
Betting-7 to 4 on Challenge, 4 to 1 agst Moose, 8 to 1
ngst Blaek.Prince, 10 to 1 agst Chevalier d'Esprit, and 12
to 1 agst the Maid of Mash= filly. The moment the
word was given Little Wideawake rushed to the front, and
soon held a clear lead of Challenge and Chevalier d'Esprit,
clear of whom came Moose and Black Prince, the Maid of
Masham filly bringing up the rear. They ran with little
variation for a mile, when Little Wideawake, to avoid a
track, was compelled to pull out of the way as they rounded
the turn, and this left Challenge with a slight lead of
Moose as they came into the straight. For the last half-
mile the race was a match between the pair, and at the
distance Moose appeared to have the best of it. The
moment, however, Mordan called upon the favourite ho
answered with extraordinary gameness, and, getting his
head in front opposite the stand, won au exciting race by
a neck. The Maid of Masham filly Was a bad third, Black
Prince fourth, Chevalier d'Esprit fifth, and Little Wide-
awake last. Immediately after the race there werebut offers()
to take 100 to 1 about Challenge for the St. Leger, 5
to 1 was the highest price tendered.
The Maiden Two-year-old Selling Plato o 0
f 4 soya
T.Y. ; colts
Bst 10Ib, fillies Bst 41b ; selling allowances ;
Mr. J. Woolcott's Apron Strings, hy King Tom— 1
Petticoat, 7st 41b (50) .......... , ................ (*.tiro y 2
Mr. Rigg's Dinah, 7st 4.11, (.£5O) .. .. .................. (11.1 NV .
Mr. B. Land's Zeolite, Tat 71b WO ............... (Vmey 3
The following also ran :—Woodinan and Triana,.
Betting-100 to 30 on Apron Strings, and 3 to 1 agst
Dinah. Zeolite made play to the distance, whore the
favourite took up the running, and won in a canter by four
lengths. A similar distance separated second and third-
Woodman was fourth, but Triana did not pass the pos'.
The winner was sold to Mr. If. Wright for 160 guineas.
The Corporation Plate, a handicap of 30 sovs, added to a
sweepstakes of 3 sovs each, 1 ft ; for all ages. T.Y.C.
Mr. Edgar's The Duchess, by SL Albans—Bay Celia,
3 yrs, Bst 31b (Britten) 1
Mr..T.Woolcott's Distaff, 3 yrs, 6at 71b (Quince) 2
Mr. Richard's Tina., 4 yrs, 7st 91b .. ......... (Lavis) 3
Pevensey, Vampire, and Tinkle also ran.
Rotting-6 to 4 agst Distaff, 4 to 1 agst Duchess, 5 to 1
agst Tina, and 6 to 1 agst Pevensey. The latter made

As our experimental knowledge of gunnery ad-
vances, the great windbags inflated by the breath
of opponents are pierced one by one, and collapse
accordingly. Four or five years ago we were told
that rifled guns were mere shams, andc that the 68-
pounder would be, " with a few insignificant excep-
tions," the gun of the future. The " insignificant
exceptions" have, however, developed into an array
of ordnance so formidable that a ship armed with
68-pounders is now considered as hardly armed at
all. When iron targets had attained a point from
which they defiled all but the strongest guns there
was a great cry that the Americans should be fol-
lowed in their pursuit of heavy smooth-bores, and
the air was full of dismal forebodings, prophesying
1" Woe to the nation that bows not down before the
great American intellect ! There is but one system
of ordnance, and Rodman and Dahlgren are its
Prophets." It was in vain that scientific officers de-
clared their power of calculating accurately enough
for practical purposes the results which must follow
the action of known charges of powder upon known
shot in known guns. Their opinions were treated
as theoretical ideas, which would be dispersed on
the first actual trial. So at last a real American
big gun has been brought over to this country, with
powder and shot of American manufacture, being
precisely the ammunition used by the United States'
Government. After a few rounds to ascertain
velocity, &c., the gun was fired on Wednesday last
at a target commonly known as "the 8-inch with
Warrior backing." Now, this target was erected
for various experimental purposes, its stiength being
designed to just resist a 9-inch rifled gun with steel
projectile, and it was found to answer the purpose
exactly. The only 9-inch projectiles which have
penetrated it have been Palliser's shell at 200 yards,
and they not always. The 10-inch gun, however,
can conquer its resistance without the least diffi-
culty.
The 9-inch gun weighs 12 tons, and throws a
shell of about 2501 b., with a battering charge of
431 b. of powder.
The 15-inch American gun weighs 191 tons, and
its shot range from 4531 b., the weight of the cast-
iron projectile, to 4981 b., that of the steel shot. Its
battering charge is 601 h. of American powder,
equal to 501 b. of English powder. A rough compa-
rison of these two descriptions of powder may be
interesting :
American. British L. G. Rifle.
Number of grains to an ounce, about 25 ... about 500
Percentage of ingredients—
Nitre ... ... 761 ... 75.3
Sulphur 10.2 10.3
Charcoal 134 144
Moisture 1.2 ... 1.07
Density 1.71
But the trial was not only that of a gun against
a target, but of material for shot also, and it must
at once be acknowledged that the American cast-
iron shot proved itself to be excellent—not as good
as steel, but better than any ordinary English cast
iron that we are accustomed to see in projectiles.
To give the gun every chance it was placed only 70
yards from the target. It will be remembered that
a round shot loses its velocity more quickly than an
elongated one, because with the same weight it ex-
poses more surface to the resistance of the air.
The gnu having been carefullyloaded and directed
against a sound part of the target as well as its rough
tangent scale and sights would permit the spectators
ran to earth ; for the life of an American firing
battering charges can only be insured at a very high
premium, the rule laid down being that 20 rounds
with such charges are as many as should bo fired
Unless in cases of great emergency. There were
men upon the ground who expected to see the gun
victorious, so when the roar of the discharge and
the blow upon the target were heard, and the last
splinters—of what? shot or target ?—had fallen,
the faces that emerged from the bomb-proof shelter
wore an eager expression, and speed rather than
dignity was the rule as the visitors and members of
the Select Committee ran towards the target.
There it stood, unpierced, and at its foot a broken
and misshapen black lump—the shot that had struck
it. The blow had taken effect just at the lower
edge of the upper plate, so that the force fell upon
part of both plates, and, therefore, upon a rather
weak portion of the construction. Nevertheless,
the depth of the indent was only 4 inches, the hole
measuring across 14 by 13 inches. The plate was
buckled five inches at the deepest part, the total
diameter of the portion thus bent being 40 inches.
In rear two ribs were slightly cracked, and five a
little bulged. The .plate was not pierced, the back-
ing was not reached, the skin was intact. No en-
trance bad been found for a single drop of water,
no man would have been hurt unless he were
leaning against the side of the ship when the shot
struck. The projectile had done all that it could,
and showed by the large mass which remained up-
splintered that its failure to penetrate was due to no
weakness in itself. A better cast-iron shot could
hardly be seen.
For the next round a spherical shot of No. 6
Pontypool iron, cast in sand, and weighing 452.51 b,
was painfully lifted to the muzzle of the gun and
rolled down upon a charge of American powder,
similar to the first. This time more work was done
upon the shot, less upon the target. The indent
could not be measured, because part of the projec-
tile remained in the hole, the rest being dashed to
pieces, leaving the broken surface almost flush with
the face of the plate. There was a horizontal buckle
of I.6in. over sft. No harm was done to the back
of the target. The third round was fired shortly
afterwards, an excellent shot of Firth's steel being
employed. Everything had been done to obtain a
good projectile, even to hardening it iu oil, and it
well sustained the character of the firm. But it could
not get nearly through the target.
leave its work unaccomplished, it hune,
from the face of the plate, and when shaken
do.sut
Asp rifo tlrouldhi tiding
afterwards by the blow of another shot near , -
There was a
closed an indent of 8.2 iu. deep.
lly over a dis-
buckle of 1.4 in., diminishing
tance of 40in. Again no serious damage ,
as done
of the ship would have
gradua
to backing or skin ; the side
eusadratye quarters.
It was no part of the progranh
n
been firm still, and the men safeun:
oant
reel
dr
tarffet as this had
fire a 2-inch shell directly at t e ,
e round was fired, and is worth
rately taken ; but on
been done frequently before, ad the results accu-
noting, chiefly from the curious circumstance which
has been previously observed, that the effect of some
of these projectiks has been greater at 200 yards
than at 70 yards. Whether the metal was not
quite so good, or whether, as is possible, the shot is
steadier at the longer range than at the shorter,
certain it is that the penetration was only 191 in.,
and the hole made was greater in diameter than was
due to the size of the shell. A 9-inch shell made a
hole ilin. in diameter, bq did not disturb the
skin. This is a problem wort •y investigation. We
give below the details of the four rounds fired :
AMERICAN 15-INCII GUN; WEIGHT or GUN, 981