The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-15 00:00:00

e

AIR. LAING, ALP, ON THE REDIS-

TRIBU7'IOIV.

Mr. Laing has addressed a long letter to his
comitituents, through the columns of the Northern
Ensign. Referring to the English Reform Bill he

"1 have no doubt that the time will come when
redistribution will be carried much further, but, I
think the scheme sanctioned la6t session, if sup-
plemented by a proper scheme for the rc.,preacuta
tion of Scotland, may fairly afford a resting-place
for a considerable time, And until we have acquired
practical experience of the working of the import-
ant principle, now for the first time introduced, of
the representation of minorities in large con-
stituencies. The principle had my warmest sup-
port."

Discussing the Reform Bill for Scotland he

remarks :

"As regards the increased representation of
Scotland, I do not think it practical to ask all that
my friend, Mr. D. M'Laren, asks for, viz.—the
25 additional members to which Scotland is entitled
in proportion to its population and share of taxa-
tion. This is perfectly true, but it is equally true
that on the same principle London might claim
more members than all Scotland ; and I do not
think we can carry our claims further than this—
that boroughs and counties which, if on the south
of the Tweed, would undoubtedly have obtained
a certain number of members under the English
Reform Bill, shall not be deprived of that number
because they are situated on the north of that river.
This would give, beyond all question, three members
each to Edinburgh and Glasgow, two each to
Dundee and Aberdeen, two each to the counties of
Aberdeen, Ayr, Lanark, and Perth, making, with
the two members proposed for the Scotch univer-
sities, 10 additional members in all. I believe this
demand is so reasonable, and rests on a principle so
unassailable, that, if the Scottish members unite in
supporting the Government plan of increasing the
total number of members, it will be carried."
Naval and Military Intelligence.

Yesterday, detachments of non-commissioned
officers and gunners of the Royal Artillery joined
the headquarters of the Ist division of the depot
brigade, previously to embarking for India—viz.,
28 men of the 12th brigade, from Gosport ; 21 men
of the 12th brigade, from the Isle of Wight; 14 mon
of the 7th brigade, from Plymouth ; and 26 men of
the 17th brigade, from Shoeburyness. Detachments
of Royal Artillery are also ordered to join the Ist
division of the depot brigade from Woolwich, Alder-
shot, Clonmel, Kilkeany, Dublin, and Athlone, in
readiness for emharkation, as soon as the vessels
chartered by the Government are in readiness to
receive them on board at Gravesend.
The additional party of non-commissioned officers
and Sappers of the Royal Engineers, who proceeded
from head-quarters, Chatham, on the 12th inst., for
Abyssinia, included detachments of photographers,
telegraphists, signallers, well-sinkers, and artisans,
the whole of whom had gone through a special course
of instruction in the particular service they will be
called ou to discharge during the time they have been
attached to the Royal Engineer establishment. The
equipment and stores for use 1 y the telegraph,
photograph, and other parties, have been despatched
from Chatham by the steamer which conveys tbe
10th company and the scientific portion of the
Royal Engineer detachments alt eady en route to
Abyssinia, where they are expected to arrive in the
ensuing month.
Her Majesty's troopship Urgent, Capt. S. 11.
Henderson, sailed from Portsmouth yesterday
morning for Plymouth Sound and the West Indies,
taking out supernumerary officers, seamen, and
marines, for her Majesty's ships on that and the
Pacific stations.
The contemplated new arrangements affecting.the
screw troop transports of the Royal Navy, referred
to in He Sun Military and Naval Intelligence a few
drys since, have reference only at present to the
port at which the refit and repairs of the several
ships will be effected in future, Portsmouth remain-
ing as heretofore the headquarters for the embarka-
tion and debarcation of troops in the home district.
For repairs and refit the vessels have been sepa-
rated into three divisions, and allotted their ports as
follows :—No. 1 Division.—Portsmouth.—The
Serapis, the Crocodile, and the Orontes. No. 2
Division.—Devonport.—The Himalaya and the
Tamar. No. 3 Division.—Sheerness. —The Urgent
and the Simoom.
The screw troopship Simoom, Capt. Thomas B.
Lethbridge, was docked yesterday atPortsmouth, in
the Warrior dock, to clean her hull below the
water-line, in process of refit for further service.

The Plover, 3, double screw gun vessel, 663 tons;

160 horse power, Commander Poland, refitting, for
a term of service on the West Coast of Africa,
alongside Portsmouth dockyard, is receiving a new
foretopmast in lieu of the one she sprung during
her recent experimental Channel cruise. This short
cruise of the ship has a certain interest from her
being the first of her class under steam in the
Channel belonging to her Majesty's Navy, and,
generally speaking, the results may be considered
as very satisfactory. Under full steam and without
pressing the engines at all 104 knots was maintained
with ease, and with the engines working on the
third grade of expansion, and with some wind and
sea on eight knots was made. Under sail and on a
wind the ship carries a strong weather helm. Run-
ning before the wind she steers so easily the smallest
boy on board could manage the wheel. In her roll-
ing and pitching motions the ship is rather liberal
when contending with a heavy head sea, such as she
fell in with on one of the days of her cruise in the
Channel. Neither form of motion is, however vio-
lent. Iler roll averaged in the roughest weather 11
degrees each way, although one or two lurches were,
of course, taken at a much greater angle. Under
all circumstances she appears to roll slowly and
easily. There can be no doubt that a re-arrange-
ment of the weights of the Plover class of vessel will
most effectually deal with any rolling or pitching
proclivities they may possess in common with her,
if carrying their weights in the same manner. The
Plover appears to be carrying her machinery at
present too low dawn on a perfectly flat floor, and
about four or five feet too much forward. The ar-
mament of the Plover consists of one 64-ton 7-inch
rifled muzzle-loading gun amidships, with one 40-
pounder breech-loading gun at the bow and stern.
For a mere gun vessel, therefore, the Plover is a
formidable craft for &frican service, and her speed
under steam is very good.
A telegram received at Chatham announces that
her Majesty's iron screw steamer Buffalo, 2, 80-
horse power, will leave Rouen to-morrow, having
on board the models and other articles despatched
from Chatham Dockyard for the French Exhibition.
The two large launches exhibited at Paris hare been
returned to Chatham Dockyard.

The Bavarian journals state that Count Louis
Arco Steppelberg, Director of the People's Theatre
at Munich, has just married Mlle. Oswald, a chorist.
The bride is aged 15 and the bridegroom 65.
M. Berlioz, the musical composer, has left Paris
for St. Petersburg, to direct the concerts of the Conserva-
toire do Music, at the request of the Grand Duchess Helen.
THE ALLEGED FENIANISM IN HEADING.—The
Irish hawker, James Queen, remanded on Monday, on the
charge of being connected with the Fenian movement, was
yesterday finally examined before Mr. J. T. Morris, M iyor
an

d other magistrates of the borough. In reply to a questio❑
[rum tie Bench, Superintendent Purchase said he had no
flore evidence to offer. Thu Mayor, having csmsulted the
nagistrateP, told Queen that through a drunken frolic he
had caused great excitement in the town. liis incarcera-
tion for four days had been the result of his own folly, and
ho advised him to be extremely cautious iu the future, as
he would now be watched. lie was then discharged from
custody. It appeared, on examination of Queen's lodgings,
that ho carries on an extensive trade iu woollen drapery,
and that he has for years been known as a very steady and
peaceable man. There have been two detective officers in
the town since Monday last by order from the Home-office,
and they have been engaged in making inquiries into the
case. Nothing, however, has been elicited to show that
Queen is a Fenian or in any way identified with the
movement.

TILE (MANUFACTURE OF CHASSEPOTS.—The
Courrier de Lyon believes it can state that M. Chassepot,
the inventor of the musket which bears his name, is at pre-
sent in that city. Ho has arrived there, it assorts, fur the
purpose of superintending the manufacture of 100,000 of
those weapons, ordered by the French Government from
the factory of La Buire.