The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-28 00:00:00

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE. 1 Naval and

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ITALY.

ROME, Sept. 27.

To-day the French Charge d'Affaires in Rome
exchanged with Cardinal Antonelli the ratification
of the Treaty of Commerce concluded between the
Papal Government and the French Cabinet.
TURIN, Sept. 27, Evening.

A demonstration took place this afternoon to
present a petition to the Prefect demanding the
release of Garibaldi and Rome as the capital of
Italy. The Prefect received the petition, and replied
that he would forward it to the Ministry, whereupon
the people dispersed.

FLORENCE, Sept. 27 (Evening).

The Official Gazette of to-day says that Garibaldi
having expressed a desire to return to Caprera, and
that intention conforming with the wishes of the
Government, the Ministry at once agreed to it, and
the General left this morning for that island in a
State vessel.

The same paper also explains the circumstances of
the delivery of 21 Roman citizens to the Papal
authorities by the Italian Government.

BOMBAY MAIL.

ALEXANDRIA, Sept. 26.

The Nyanza left at 4 p.m. yesterday, and the
Ceylon at 5 p.m. to-day. The former may be ex-
pected at Marseilles on the 10th, and the latter at
Southampton about the 9th October.

CHINA AND JAPAN.

TRIESTE, Sept. 27.

Intelligence received here from Hong Kong an-
nounces that the chief of the Mahometan rebels had
declared himself emperor.
The llankow Chamber of Commerce had publicly
entered a protest against the restrictions recently
imposed upon foreign trade by the Chinese.
The Chinese Government are raising a loan of
1,000,000 taels, a portion of the amount to be
employed in the purchase of rice in anticipation of
a famine.

The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank had declared
a dividend of 13 per cent.
The advices from Japan stated that some twenty
Christians and natives had been arrested and impri-
soned at Nagasaki on religious grounds.

THE .ABISSINIAN CAPTIVES.

TRIESTE, Sept. 27.

Intelligence received here from Aden, dated 12th
inst., states that the latest dates from the captives
at Magdala were of July 27th, received at Mas-
sowah on the Ist inst. At that time they were all
well. Rains had commenced. The latest dates
from the King's camp at Debra Tabor were of the
11th of July. At that place there was heavy rain.
All the captives were pretty well, and were being
well treated. The King's conduct to them was cold
and indifferent. The country round about was in
a disturbed state. Direct communication between
the King's camp and the coast was entirely cut off,
and communications were sent via Magdala.
There were no letters from the King.

Attempt to Upset the Limited Mail near
Wigan.

Yesterday morning at the County Police-court,
Nloor-halls, Wigan, Michael Flatly, a navvy, a
stranger in the town, was charged with placing an
obstruction on the London and North 'Western

Railway, in the township of Ince, with intent to
upset the limited mail. The charge was not gone
into, as Inspector Peters, who had only taken the
prisoner into custody at midnight, applied for a
remand, which was granted.
The offence, which was committed last Sunday
evening, was of a most diabolical character, and it
is satisfactory to know that the information in the
possession of the police goes far to bring home the
crime to the man in custody. Between 10 and 11
on the evening named Flatly and another man were
rambling with a workman named Herne in the
neighbourhood of the spot where the recent attempts
were made to throw the down mail off the line, just
outside the boundary of the borough of Wigan,
when Flatly and his companion resolved to have a
" - good jump," and with that intention they
placed one of the heavy sleepers, which was lying
in the road, across the up line, and then two others
on the top of it at right angles to hold it in its
place. Herne remonstrated with the men for com-
mitting so dastardly an act, and he removed the
obstruction, but the fellows threatened him with
personal violence if he interfered, and he left them,
moving off in the direction of Wigan, as they were
replacing the sleepers. lie had not gone far before
he was overtaken by the prisoner, who informed
him with glee that he had not only refixed the
three, but added a fourth. All the men came on to
Wigan, and Ilerno seized the first opportunity
of writing a note to the station-master, in-
forming him that an obstruction had been placed
on the line somewhere between Wigan and St.
Helen's, information too vague to be acted upon,
and received too late to prevent the passage of the
limited mail over the dangerous spot, even had the
precise locality been pointed out. Ever since the

despatch of this duty.

late outrages two men have been kept on the look
out nightly at this part of the line, and it was not
thought possible that any fresh attempt would be
made. The up mail which passes through Wigan
without stopping is due soon after half-past 11, and
on Sunday night it appears to have passed about the
usual time at full speed, and, happily, in safety,
though how it escaped must have been next to mira-
culous. The following morning the person whose
duty it is to inspect the line between Wigan and
Spring's branch was unable to explain several indi-
cations which he met with, and it was not until they
were led by the light of the letter received the previous
evening that it was discovered how narrowly a ter-
rible accident had been escaped. About 150 yards
on the south of the place where the engine was
thrown off the rails a few months ago by miscreants
not yet detected two sleepers were found lying in
the up line parallel with the rails, while a short dis-
tance away was a third sleeper, one end of which had
been chopped off, while at the other end was a mark
which had evidently been made by the life guard

placed in front of the wheels of the engine. The posi-
tion of the sleepers showed pretty plainly that the one

which had been first placed on the rails bad fortunately
been the first caught by the engine, which had driven
it from its position before the firebox reached
the couple placed on the top, and these dropped
quietly to the ground harmless. Had they projected

a little further it is believed nothing could have
saved the train from destruction, as the collision
with the fire-box would have thrown the engine off
the rails at once. But Flatly mentioned to Herne
that he had added a fourth sleeper to the others,
and there were indications along the road that this
had been carried for three-quarters of a mile in
front of the engine until at Spring's Branch it had
been caught by a wing rail, which splintered a
piece from one end and threw it over so as to
project into the six-foot, which was ploughed
up a little for some 30 or 40 yards, and then
luckily the engine threw aside the last of the ob-
struction. It is most remarkable that, so far as is
known, neither engine-driver nor passengers appear
to have been aware of any impediment to their
progress. _

The police were promptly communicated with,
and, having heard Herne's statement, they kept a
sharp look out for Flatly, whom they succeeded in
apprehending at midnight on Thursday. His as-
sistant in this diabolical " fun" has, it is believed,
left the neighbourhood. Bath men have been em-
ployed for a short time in the construction of a dam
at the works of the Wigan Coal and Iron Company.

MR. POPE HENNESSY.—Mr. Pope Hennessy has
left town for Labuan, via Marseilles, and will commence
the duties of governor immediately on his arrival.

Military In

telligence.

Her Majesty's screw sloop Danae (unarmoured),
1,287 tons, 350 horse power, recently launched from
Portsmouth yard, left Portsmouth yesterday morning

for a run under steam outside the Isle of Wight, on
a preliminary trial of her machinery, which is from
the manufactory of Messrs. R. Napier and Sons, of

Glasgow. The Danae left the harbour at 9.30 a.m.,

drawing 10ft. 11in. of water forward, and 14ft. 2in.
aft, the emersion of the upper edge of the upper screw
blade being about 2ft. above the water. With the

exception of being fully rigged with all spars aloft,
the ship had nothing on board besides her engines

and boilers, with the necessary quantity of coal to
burn during the trial, and was consequently at her
lightest immersion. The Spit buoy was passed at
9.45, with the engines making 80 revolutions, and
14 minutes later the \Varner lightEhip was left astern
with the engines running over 84 revolutions, and
the log line giving a speed to the ship of 11 knots.

From the 'Warner light the ship was kept for the
Bembridge ledge buoy and the back of the island.

The buoy was passed at 10.15, with the engines
working very smoothly at 86 revolutions, and thence
her course was held across the edge of Sandown Bay,
and past the bold headland of Dunnose, until the
white tower of St. Catherine's lighthouse began
looming up over Rocken End reefs, and closing with
the ship as she steamed into Ventnor Roads, under
92 revolutions of her engines. The run thus far, if
it had been short, bad been so thoroughly satisfac-
tory that the vessel's course was reversed to return
to Spithead, where arrangements had been made
for testing her anchors, cables, and capstans pre-
vious to her return into Portsmouth harbour. The
engines ranged between 92 and 95 in their re-
volutions between Ventnor Roads and Spithead,
where the Danac let go her anchor at 15 minutes
past noon on the conclusion of her run, the engines
having been working two and three-quarter hours
without stopping, or any necessity arising for easing
their speed for a moment. After having the work-

ing of her capstans and ground tackle tested at Spit-
head, the Danae was yesterday afternoon again
taken into Portsmouth harbour to proceed with her
outfit. It is intended to give her the usual speed
trial at light draught over the measured mile in
Stokes Bay about Tuesday next. There was a very
large amount of lateral vibration felt on board dur-
ing the time the vessel was under steam, and espe.
cially in the after part of the ship. The light im-
mersion of the hull, the emersion of the upper edges
of the screw blades, and the great amount of power
undoubtedly exerted by the engines should satisfac-
torily account for any excess in this respect.
The paddlewheel Admiralty steam yacht En-
chantress, 2, 250-horse power, Staff-Commander J.
E. Petley, arrived at Chatham yesterday from
Portsmouth, to be in attendance on the members of
the Board of Admiralty, on the occasion of their
approaching annual visit of inspection to the dock-
yard and other naval establishments at Chatham.
The Miranda, one of the vessels attached to the
sailing reserve at Chatham, originally ordered to be
sold, is now directed to be retained in the service
for the purpose of being fitted up for police quarters
for the accommodation of the Metropolitan police
doing duty at the works for the enlargement of
Chatham Dockyard. With the exception of a few
vessels retained for harbour service, most of the
ships formerly composing the sailing reserve in
Chatham and Sheerness harbours have been sold out
of the service or broken up.

A narty of Japanese now in this country paid a
visit to Chatham Dockyard yesterday, by special
permission of the Admiralty, and were conducted
through the various establishments by the officials
connected with the several departments.
The new screw gunvessel Myrmidon, 4, 695 tons,
200 horse power (nominal), fitting in Chatbam har-
bour for commission, is ordered to receive a supply
of Welsh coal in her bunkers, in readiness for making
an official trial of her engines, fitted by Messrs.
Humphries and Co., at the measured mile.
A telegram has been received from Calcutta an-
nouncing the arrival of her Majesty's Indian troop-
ship J unina at that port.
The three auxiliary screw hospital ships fitted out
in the Victoria Docks—namely, the Mauritius, Queen
of the South, and Golden Fleece—passed down the
river for Greenhithe, where they shipped their am-
munition from Woolwich Arsenal, and thence pro-
ceeded to Gravesend, en route for their destination.
They were laden with Maltese carts, shot, and shell,
drugs, medical comforts, blankets, warm clothing,
spirits in bountiful supply, mineral waters, biscuits,
&c. ; a detachment of officers, non-commissioned
officers, and men of the hospital corps were likewise
carried by these ships. Every available barge and

vessel procurable at Woolwich was yesterday engaged
in the transport of packing cases up the river to the
Indian Stores at Lambeth, for packing the new

pack-saddles. The masts of the War Department

store vessel the Thames and others in that service
were lowered and taken up to assist in the prompt

The detachments of non-commissioned officers and
sappers of the Royal Engineers under orders for
service in Abyssinia, consisting of telegraphists,
photographers, surveyors, and a party of the Royal
Engineer Train, have been inspected at headquar-
ters. Chatham, previously to their departure, the
order for which is daily expected at the Royal
Engineer establishment.

Lieut. J. I'. Nolan, sth Brigade, Royal Artillery,
and Lieut. E. T. Chapman, E Brigade, Royal Horse
Artillery, instructors in gunnery, have been engaged
for some days past at Shoeburyness in testing the
efficiency and capabilities of the mountain guns
destined for the Abyssinian service. They were
assisted by 10 non-commissioned officers of the Royal
Artillery, who, together with the above-named offi-
cers, will accompany the two batteries to take charge,
and instruct the Indian brigade, which are under
orders to join, as to their use. The tests resembled
as nearly as practicable actual warfare. The enemy
was represented by a number of wooden men or
targets, placed as skirmishers at various distances.
The charges were the Boxer, Shrapnel, and common
shot, with which the targets were completely riddled.
Lieut. Nolan and the detachment of non-commis-
sioned officers yesterday assembled in the gun mount-

ing park, in Woolwich Arsenal, and went through
a series of drills with a couple of pack animals for

the purpose of making themselves thoroughly ac-
quainted with the loading and unloading mountain
batteries, mounting and firing the guns, and the
details connected therewith. Lieut. Nolan, who is
a most experienced gunnery officer, was indefatigable
in perfecting his detachment in the necessary drillA,
which occupied the entire day. They also inspected
the various equipments with which each battery is to
be fitted, including the forges, &c. The forge, anvil,
and block, the pair of smiths' bellows folded com-
pactly together, and the tools weigh 1931 b., and
will constitute a mule load, about equal to the gun
and ammunition, or the carriage, wheels, &c., con-
stituting the several loads ; they are to be attached
Ito the saddles made in the royal carriage department
of Woolwich Arsenal on the Otago system used in
New Zealand. The guns are placed crossways, and
well secured to the woodwork of the saddle, in a
groove made for that purpose, while the limber of
the gun carriage is mounted lengthways, with one
wheel each side fitted to a couple of axletree arms.
The operation of dismounting, placing in position,
sponging out, and firing yesterday was carried out
in less than two minutes. There were many officers,
cadets, and civilians present, who were struck with
admiration of the valuable points which the little
batteries appeared to possess even for general pur-
poses. They are now ready forshipment. On joining
the Indian artillery the two batteries will be divided
into two sub-divisions, each of 55 gunners, the
strength necessary for each battery being 96 men,
thus leaving an overplus of 14 men to each battery
in case of casualties. Lieut. Nolan and five non-
commissioned officers, with one of the batteries, are
to leave Woolwich on the sth of next mouth, in the
Indian screw transport Serapis, Capt. Soady, on the
embarkation of 7,8, and 9 Batteries of the sth
Brigade, Royal Artillery, as already stated in The
Sun. _ _

Warrant-officer Perkins, master gunner, Royal
Artillery, of Ilubberstone Fortress, has been awarded
a gratuity and a silver medal for long and faithful
service, by the Commander-in-Chief.
The depot of the second battalion of the 23(1