The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-29 00:00:00

A Parallel Case.

" The entertainment to be given by Miss Burdett Coutts
to the Belgian Volunteers to-morrow (Friday) will be on
a very elaborate scale. . . All joints as well as poultry
are to be carved before being placed on the tables."..._
Morning Post, July 18th, 1867.
Once there lived in Brussels a lady, whose great
wealth was only equalled by her benevolence. ller
revenues were bestowed largely on all objects
which seemed to her to be good. The religious
and charitable institutions of her country profited
to a great extent by this generosity of heart. The
Baroness Van Biirdhett-Kootz built churches and
endowed them ; subscribed to good works ; and in
her own life set an edifying example. Not content
with home institutions, she devoted whole fortunes
to founding foreign bishoprics. In a word, the
Baroness was held up, deservedly, as the model
of a lady of large independent fortune.
Now it chanced that the Quakers of London, to
the number of some two thousand, went over to
Brussels to enjoy themselves for a week or so. They
were well received, and experienced much hospi-
tality. Public entertainments were arranged for
them, at which speeches were made, all to the glo-
rification of the Society of Friends. Drab and
grey, their distinctive colours, floated everywhere
beside the Belgian flag. The very shadow of a
broad brim elicited cheers in the streets of Brussels.

It may not be generally known that among the
peculiarities of this society is one regarding the
articles of food permitted to its members. On
certain days the Quakers are strictly prohibited the
use of vegetables. Meat and bread they may take
on those days at discretion ; but it would be a
serious violation of the precepts they are bound
to obey to touch anything, then, that grows in
the kitchen-garden.

The Mayor of Brussels, in an entertainment to
which he invited his Quaker guests in the Hotel de
Ville, showed himself unobservant of this fact,
though sufficiently notorious. For, whereas, the
day on which he fixed for his invitation chanced
to be a day on which vegetables are unlawful to the
Quakers, to their astonishment and perplexity they
found little meat and more vegetables served up
to them side by side. So that they whom the
Mayor intended to honour were placed in a hard
dilemma. They must either content themselves
with an insufficient meal of meat, or, by partaking
of the vegetables, show themselves remarkably wet
Quakers, with a certainty of .hearing more about it
on their return to meeting.

This inadvertence on the Mayor's part was the
more extraordinary, because the precepts of the
Society were known far and wide in Belgium, and
were continual topics of animated discussion.
Books of controversy were written, speeches made,
polemical challenges issued on everything that
Quakers did and that Quakers abstained from
doing. Whether in praise or blame, or as a piece
of mere historical information, every well-informed
Belgian ought to have been able to define a Quaker
as a man who, with other observances, abstains
from all vegetables on certain days. In fact, Bel-
gium itself had once been Quaker ; and the whole
country had therefore so abstained. Even when
they broke off from the society, and set up a code
of their own, they retained this old Quaker law
in the Statue-book which the King of Belgium and
his Minister of Public Worship then framed for
them, though it had indeed, fallen into disuse among
the Belgians at large, yet there it stood, in black
and white. A few Belgians of Quakerish propen-
sities even practised it still.

The Mayor of Brussels might have pleaded in
defence of his own vegetable meal that day, that
he was no Quaker, nor his father before him : '
he was a sound and staunch Belgian, who used
his liberty, and could take his potato like a gentle-
man. But he could hardly have pleaded that he
really did not know his guests were bound to ab-
stain. He had probably never examined the
Statue-book aforesaid, in the first page of which
was a table of abstinence days, drawn out for his
own countrymen, copied (though confusedly) from
old Quaker times. Still less could he have read a
volume of sermons put forth by royal authority
when Belgium broke off from Quakerism and set
up for itself : for there he would have found the
sedulous eating of meat on those particular days
enforced on grounds of loyalty, as tending to im-
prove the meat markets belonging to the King.
But if this mistake in the bill of fare set before

his guests by the Mayor of Brussels was so notice—

able, what is to be said of an entertainment given a
few days after, in the beautiful park of the Baroness
Van Biirdhett-Kootz ? When modern Belgian
history shall be written, will posterity credit that
the same mistake was there repeated on a larger
scale ? Every kind of vegetable was there provided
in great abundance ; as if the day had no obliga-
tions for anybody ; as if neither Quaker observance
nor Belgian Statute-book had said a single word
about the matter.

Now, if the Sultan, who was in Brussels at the
moment with a nun .erous suite, or the Cham of
Tartary with his body guard, or a band of volunteer
riflemen from the Mormons had been entertained
by either Mayor or Baroness, it is reasonable to
suppose that inquiry;would have been made before-
hand whether the guests had any conscientious ob-
servances to be consulted in the programme of their
entertainment. Neither Mayor nor Baroness would
have invited two thousand Jews, to regale them
with pork ; nor two thousand Brahmins, to regale
them with beef ; nor two thousand anybodies (ex-
cept only Quakers), to regale them with what
their law forbade, Greased cartridges proyoked

mutiny among the Hindoo native army. The
Quakers in question might have been expected to
enter a more peaceful and dignified protest
against the culpable heedlessness of their enter-
tainers by leaving all these recherche's and vegetables
untouched on their plates. Some of them, pro-
bably, were wet Quakers at the best : all of them
were physically hot and tired ; the vegetables had a
tempting look, even like the apple that was so
pleasant to the eyes in Paradise ; the Quakers
who eyed them were but children of Eve. So the
same thing was then done which has been done be-
fore, and will, unhappily, be done again : a delibe -
rate violation of the known law, with the conse-
quences incurred.
The next time that Mayor or Baroness (and
these are only the two most prominent offenders in
Brussels) invite any members of the Society of
Friends, would it not be well for them to sit down
first and consider whether a Quaker might possibly
have a conscience ? Admitting such a hypothesis,
would not a second question follow, whether it does
not belong to the tact and delicacy of true hospi-
tality to respect the consciences of others, so far as
they do not interfere with one's own ? If you
cannot think Quakers' observances are in themselves
reasonable, yet remember that he is bound by:them.
Don't ask him to dinner on a banyan day, or else
give him what he can eat with a safe conscience.
Do not act fox to the crane, nor Antiochus to the
Machabees. And this is about the least that is to
be said of it.

TRIAL OF =AMERICAN 15-INCH GUN

AT SHOEBURYNESS.

On Wednesday the American 15-inch naval gun
was tried at Shoeburyness for penetration against
the famous No. 29 target, with 8-inch armour
plates and Warrior-backing of 18 inches of teak
timber, and a double number of supporting ribs.
The gun cast-iron smooth bore, 191 tons, was fired
with a charge of 60 lbs. of American mammoth
powder, at a range of 70 yards direct, at the 8-inch
target. The first projectile used was an American
spherical cast-iron shot, 453 lbs. weight, diameter
14.895 inches ; elevation, five minutes ; velocity,
1,174 feet per second. The shot struck the target
near the horizontal junction of the armour plates,
nipping about two inches only of the lower one,
and smashing a deep indent of four inches into the
plate, rebounded nearly entire—the striking face
being flattened and a few largish fragments splin-
tered off—twelve feet back from the front of the
target. The armour plates were separated from
each other vertically at the left edge about two
inches, the space tapering along the whole plate to
the right. The buckling from the indent extended
over 41 inches of area, and at the striking spot
(3 feet from left edge of target) was inwards
to the extent of 5 inches; the edge of the
armour plate shearing the teak backing like a
long chisel cut. The armour plate was also slightly
buckled over its whole extent, and permanently set
away from the backing at the top to the extent to
one inch. At the rear of the target six ribs were
bent inwards some inches and slightly cracked in
several places. A large bolt head immediately be-
hind the indent was loosened ; and six butt-joints
of the skin plates were opened about the 1-16th of
an inch along their entire lengths. The timbers of
the supports were indented by the spring of the
target some two or three inches. The wood back-
ing at the side of the target was considerably split.
The second round was with a spherical shot of
Pontypool iron cast in sand (a process comparable
with the Palliser system of chilling, but not so
effective). Weight of shot, 452.51 b ; actual
diameter, 14.89 inches ; elevation of gun, 10
minutes ; velocity of shot, 1,172 feet per second.
The shot struck about 2 feet 6 inches from the right
end of the armour-plate on the median line. Half
the shot stuck in the indent (7 inches), the other
half splintering off to a ragged nearly flat face.
Buckle on the vertical line, 3 inches at the middle
of the width of the plate, and on the horizontal
line 1.6 inches, extending over a surface of five
feet. Permanent set away from backing at right
edge, 1i inch. No damage at the rear of target.
The third round was with a spherical Firth's steel
shot hardened in oil; weight 4981 b.; actual diameter
14.945 inches; elevation of gun ten minutes ; the
velocity of shot 1,134 feet per second. This shot
was of the finest quality; it struck about 5 feet from
the left end and a foot from the top edge of the
lower armour plate, and stood out from its front
perfectly entire (except six or eight radiating nar-
row fissures) for about 8 inches, the remainder being
buried in the indent it had made in the plate. One
separate crack was made in the armour plate at an
old scoop; buckle 1.6 inches over an area of 40 inches.
In the rear one slight crack ; no ether damage.
There can be no doubt that such hardened steel
shot would be most effective missiles fired from
these large smooth-bore guns, and would make good
penetration upon very stout armour plates (up to 6
or 7 inches) with the like 601 b. charge of American
powder.
On these results the Standard comments as fol-
lows :—" The effects of these shot are alike im-
portant to every country in Europe, for there is
not an ironclad ship afloat that would be likely to
come off scatheless from their penetration. The
Warrior and La Gloire classes would certainly be
cleanly penetrated ; the Bellerophon and Lord
Warden are the only ones that would stand any
chance of resisting ; but it is questionable whether
they, too, would not succumb. I he Hercules ought
to keep these missiles out, but she is not yet afloat.
We do not for one moment intend to indicate any
superiority for the American 15-inch gun over our
own 9-inch, or even in most cases our smaller
7-inch guns, whilst Major Palliser has recently de-
monstrated the way for converting our large stock
of 68-pounders and other cast iron cannon into really
efficient rifled artillery. Nor would we attempt to
contend that the heavier missiles of the American
guns would have the same penetrative power at long
ranges as our lighter elongated rifle Palliser pro-
jectiles thrown at higher velocities. But it is some-
thing most essential to know that American 4.50-
pounder smooth bore guns could certainly hull our
iron-cased vessels at 100 yards, and that hence-
forth no English man-of-war could be laid broadside
against an American ship carrying guns of this
calibre. in future the ships must be kept at an
angle to each other ; and hence one would naturally
deduce the conclusion that an additional reason is
thus given in favour of the fighting utility of
turret-ships capable of properly training the heaviest
guns all but directly fore and aft. Nor must we omit
to consider possible contingencies in the application
by au enemy of such powerful smooth-bore guns,
the shot from which are remarkably accurate in their
flight. The 15-inch gun now at Shoeburyness is
warranted proved, it is true, for only a limited
number of battering charges of 601 b. But there is
no doubt that the gun would fire many rounds of
701 b. of powder with very little risk. What the
effect of 101 b. more powder yesterday might have
been is probably that the 601 b. charge, having
proved sufficient to crush in the thick armour plates,
the extra 101 b. of powder would have carried the
projectile completely through the wood backing.
Now the American gun might certainly be fired at
a risk with 100 lb. of powder, and there can be very
little doubt that if the commander of a ship
armed with such guns felt a reasonable convic-
tion, as he might do, that he could knock a
15-inch hole in the side of a 9-inch or 10-inch
armour-clad enemy that he would run the risk of
bursting a gun for the chance of sinking his antago-
nist. In the case of a bombardment, too, these
450-pounders would do great damage in throwing
incendiary shells of very large capacity filled with
liquid iron, or carcass shells filled with burning com-
position. It is further to be borne in mind that the
Americans have far larger guns of the like construc-
tion, up to 1000-pounders. We are by no means
alarmists, nor do we desire to underrate in any way
the value and decided superiority of our own
wrought-iron rifled cannon. But it is most desir-
able, however, honestly to face the knowledge we
have gained ; and credit is properly due to the Go-
vernment and the Ordnance Select Committee for
these very proper practical trials of the American
naval guns. We now know exactly what we have
to expect, and that in futurefightsiiilligps. w e tlntussthotualkde
every proper care of our costly
also be remembered that the American gnus; if au

accident happened, would undoubtedly burst explo-
sively, and the terrible effects produced would tend
in the highest degree to demoralise the gunners ;
whilst our own coiled guns give due and safe notico
of weakening long before the weapon becomes
absolutely dangerous, and its actual bursting is con-
fined to a tearing open of the material."

711 E LA TV OF JOINT-S 7 OCK COMPANIES•

The law relating to joint-stock companies be-
comes more complicated the more numerous the
cases that come before the judges for decision.
Not only do the different courts differ widely in
their judgments from each other, in cases involviq
the same principles of equity, but the same judge
often contradicts himself. The Money Marke
Review, in an article in last Saturday's number,
comments on the extraordinary remarks of the
Master of the Rolls in Barned's Banking Company
What Lord Romilly said in former cases, and what
Lord Romilly holds now, may be in direct contra.
diction, and the Money Market may have little dif'
ficulty in showing this, but it does not help t(
elucidate the law, and this we presume to be the
real point aimed at. No one cares a straw what
Lord Romilly thinks except the wretched people
whose hard fate brings them into the Rolls Court.
The decisions may make or mar the suitors, but
they can have little effect in establishing points of
law. To do this it is necessary to obtain the clearly
expressed opinions of judges known to be sound
lawyers. The judges appear to be unable to define
what the true position of a joint-stock company is,
and how a company is affected by the law of con-
tract—what -commits the company, and what
remedy shareholders have against fraud. A most
extraordinary judgment was pronounced by Vice-
Chancellor Wood, on Saturday last, in the case of
" Hawkins v. Maltby." Mr. Maltby instructed
broker to purchase shares of the Imperial Mercan.
tile Association, which he did in the usual manner,
buying from a jobber, and these shares on settling
day were duly made over. The shares the jobber
tendered in fulfilment of his contract were those of
Mr. Hawkins, but as extensive dealings occurred at the
time in that company's shares they hadpassed througi
several hands. Mr. Hawkins executed the transfer
to Mr. Maltby, but in the meantime the shares had
become worthless, and Mr. Maltby refused to COW'
plete it. On the grounds of the altered condition a
the property, and because the bargain was not
made between the plaintiff and defendant, but be.
tween the plaintiff and some other person, the
Judge released Mr. Maltby from his obligation
This decision strikes at the whole system of trans
acting business on the Stock Exchange. It is pro
bable that the case of 0 verend, Gurney, and Co
(Limited) will be decided before we go to press—
decision it is to be hoped which will establish soul
principle for the guidance of shareholders and judge
in joint-stock undertakings. As the law now stanch
an almost unlimited amount of dishonesty and fall'
statements is permitted to directors of joint-stool
companies. A case was lately decided in the Roll
Court, in which Lord Homily stated that no ae
of the chairman, directors, secretary, and manage
of a company could commit that company ; that n
false balance-sheets or errors in the accounts cool'
be urged as nullifying a contract on the part of a'
individual against a company ; and, while allowin
the case to be a hard one, he considered the law st
clear against the plaintiff that he thought it untie
cessary even to listen to the defence.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

NORWICH-SATURDAY.

White wheat (weighing 631 b), 76s to 78s ; red aitt(
(weighing. 631 b), 66s to 74s per qr. Flour, 45s Od to 50s 0
per sack.

NOTTINGHAM-SATURDAY.

Old white wheat, —s ; OICI;e71,—; to —5; 11°'
white, 70s to 77s ; new red, 60s to 71s per 36 stone. (-)3`'
line, 38s to 40s; new, 28s to 36s per 24 stone. Beans, 01((
—s to —s ; new, 48s to 52s per 38 stone. Fine flour, 4•
to bls per sack.

LEICESTER —SATURDAY.
New white wheat, 68s to 74. s ; now red, 58s to G9s ; °ll
white, —s to —8 ; old red, --s to —s per 36 stone. .
ley, for malting, —s to —s per qr.; grinding, 30s to 0.:
per 30 stone. Oats, fine, 37s to —s ; new, 26s to 35s per
stone. Beatlf3, old, —sto —s ; new, 48s to 53s per 38 Btort
Fine flour, 33s ; seconds, 47s to 49s per 20 stone.