The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-14 00:00:00

THE ENGLISH AT BIARRITZ.

Among the sojourners at Biarritz may be seen
many English as well as Russians and Germans.
Some of these gentlemen seem to have visited the
place for the purpose of displaying queer coats and
impossible pantaloons, making their appearance
each day in a garment more and more " stunning "
and outre. A young Englishman especially dis-
tinguishes himself in this respect, and one wonders
where he ever contrived to find the stuffs out of
which he has had the extraordinary Clothes made
that he daily produces. All day long he effectually
succeeds in attracting more than a usual share.clpilb-
lie attention, and seems but the more-happy from the
fact. I haver sayp a correspondent, the honour of
stopping at the same house as this distinguished ,
personage, and find daily amusement at mealtime '
in noticing his manner. He is evidently *roughly
the cockney' and looks with suspicion upon French
politics and French food. He utterly condemns,
when first arrived at the table, all that he sees, and
audibly refers to a London tavern and beefsteaks.
Still he has bathed, inhaled the healthy sea-
breeze, and has consequently got an enormous ap-
petite. Little by little his scruples seem to
vanish, and at last he goes in with a relish that is
quite refreshing to see. But the appetite satisfied,
he again has recourse to his eye-glass, and again
his comments are, to say the least, not flattering.
And so on each day he finds fault, and then eats
and drinks to find fault again. As for the young
ladies that claim Old England as their home, I can
say better things for them. They run about the
cliffs gay and healthy, and looking most captivat-
ing in their light summer dresses, and hat and
feathers. These same hats are, by-the-bye, much
worn here ; in fact, they are the fashion now, as the
Empress always has one on. The gentlemen call
them " Come and kiss me if you dare."

CRYSTAL PALACE.—The comet has been particu-
larly noticeable from the grounds and terraces of the Crystal
Palace for the last two evenings. Last evening the pecu-
liar clearness of the atmosphere tempted a party of astrono-
mical enthusiasts to spend some hours in observations on
the top of one of the Water Towers. Nothing could ex-
ceed the favouring circumstances under which their obser-
vations were made, and, should the present favourable
weather continue, they anticipate repeating and confirming
their calculations. _

CHANGE IN A BANKING FIRM.—A circular has
just been issued by Messrs. Pease, of Hull, bankers, of the
firm of Pease and Liddell, announcing that Mr. G. W. M.
Liddell, and Mr. William Liddell have ceased to be part-
ners in the banking establishment carried on at Hull, under
the firm of Pease and Liddells; and at Beverley, under the
firm of Marshall, Pease, and Liddells, and that they 'have
taken into partnership Mr. Francis Hoare (brother of. Mr.
John Gurney Hoare and Mr. Joseph Hoare, of the firm of
Barnett, Hoares, and Co., of London, bankers), and Mr.
Arthur Burton Pease ; and the banks %yin be carried on at
Hull under the firm of " Peases, Hoare, and Pease," and
at P9Y9deY under that oo "Mai', roans) WiC11494r0,"

INVULNERABLE SHIPS.

The following letter has been addressed to the
editor of the Times :

Sir,—l have seen an article in your paper of the
25th on the subject of the vaisseau belier (ram ship),
about to be built at Cherbourg, and said to be the
invention of the Emperor Louis Napoleon. As the
description of this vessel is thus made public, and
exactly corresponds, even in name, with that pro-
posed by me during the late Russian war, I can
have now no hesitation in giving you the following
details upon the question. On seeing the steam
shot-proof batteries built for that war it struck me,
as I have no doubt it must have struck many others,
that if the Russians were to construct secretly at
Cronstadt or Sebastopol three or four vessels upon
the same principle, but adding to their invulnera-
bilityand weight strength and speed, these vaisseaux
beliers would be able to sink by a blow several of
the allied line-of-battle ships, if unprepared for this
mode of attack, and so give the Russians a fatal
numerical superiority over us. Having received
permission from Sir Charles Wood to communicate
to the French Minister any suggestions on the
naval campaign then going on, I wrote both to M.
de Persigny and to Sir Charles Wood, warning
them of the poSsibility of such a danger occurring
as that which I have just described, and calling
the vessel the " shot-proof steam ram." I refer you
for further details to the accompanying document,
the substance of my communications with Sir C.
Wood on the subject. As the Emperor Napoleon
gave the first hint of the vaisseau belier by sug-
gesting the shot-proof steam battery, his Majesty is
therefore the cause of depriving Cherbourg of much
of its menacing character as a military harbour,
and of making, probably, the noble, ships we have
seen assembled there under both flags worse than
useless for future wars. The two classes of vessels
cannot be used together.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
G. R. SARTORIUS, Vice-Admiral.
London, Aug. 30.

." London, May 14.
" Allow me to bring to your notice an engine of
war, which would not only set our large steamers
at liberty to carry out the so-much-required troops
to India, but which must prove far more efficient
for home defences than any vessel of the' present
construction.
" The project I shall now lay before you was first
communicated to the Admiralty diming the RUS-
sian war, and again more in detai,l in March, 1857.
Its practicability is borne out by, the opinions of the
majority of our .most eminent civil and military
engineers, machinists, and shipbuilders. The fre-
quent instances of vessels being - run into by
steamers, the destructive effects of the collision
upon the vessel receiving the blow, the compara-
tive immunity of that which gives it even when the
latter has been the smaller and the lighter, and the
practicability of rendering vessels shot-proof (as
tested durigg the war in the case of the floating
batteries), suggested to me the possibility and
desirableness of constructing a vessel combining
the qualities of the shot-proof battery with those of
the rapid steamer, whose invulnerability, handiness,
and strength should enable her to expose herself
with impunity to the guns of the most heavily
armed man-of-war, and who by her weight and
speed might run into and sink any ship.
" This war engine, which I shall call the' steam
ram,' would require but a very small complement
of men,—not more, perhaps, than one-sixth that of
a ship of war of the same tonnage, and might be
built in any form adapted to the service, and upon
any lines best calculated for speed and quickness of
turning, with ample engine power to overtake any
ship however perfectly built upon the present con-
struction. My notion is that the steam ram should
have stem or stern (for each is either) of the same
form, and at each end a massive projecting prow or
rostrum by means of which the blow is to be given,
the projectionbeing sufficient to protect the rudder
from injury, and the prow having shoulders to pre-
vent the possibility of its too deep insertion. The
extremes being of the same shape, there would be
a screw 'propeller at each end, thus doubling the
means of propulsion, whether for backing, going
ahead, or turning ; moreover, the vessel would be
less likely to be disabled.
" The object for which she is most expressly
designed is, that of crushing in the side or bow of
an enemy by her beak ; but she would also be
formidable in disabling a retreating enemy by
destroying the rudder. The deck may have three
towers for the purpose of navigation and observa-
tion when in the presence of an enemy, and also to
eject boiling water on an enemy's boarders. I
believe that not only can the requisite speed and
handiness be obtained, but so much more as to
leave the vessels I contemplate at liberty to carry
a few guns of heavy calibre, so enabling them to
act against towns and batteries, as well as by their
proper action to destroy ships afloat.
" There need be no limit to size or tonnage, but
in my opinion 2,500 tons would be the most effec-
tive and convenient. A steam ram of that size
could have at least 20 guns of the heaviest calibre,
from which might be fired not only solid shot, but
percussion shells and (to timber vessels the still
more dangerous missiles) shells laden with molten
iron, Which explode on striking the vessel. The
shell becoming red-hot in the transit, and the
molten iron running about the deck or between
the timbers, sets fire to the ship, or whatever com-
bustible matter it meets with, while upon the steam
ram no shell makes any impression. The spaces
required for all the appliances and appurtenances
of these shells is about 10 feet square, and can be so
secured as to preclude all possibility of danger to
the ship using them ; at the same time that a steam
ram is sinking a ship by a blow she may be also
firing at any vessel within her range. Mr. Perkins
informs me he can fit the principle of his steam
gun to shot of any size. French and English ex-
periments have repeatedly proved that the 68-
pounder shot fired against the 4-inch iron plate at
400* yards, although making a deep. dent, never
goes through, though the plate cracks and pieces
fall off after repeated shots. It must be remem-
bered that in these experiments the shot is fired in
a manner most favourable for the action of the shot ;
but in actual service, the shot striking the steam
ram would be more or less oblique, and glance off. j•
Steel plate is found to have a power of resistance
over the best iron plate as six to four, consequently
without having more weight, a third more protec-
tion is given by the use of steel plate.
" Every one accustomed to the use of artillery at
sea knows how few shots can take effect when both
parties are in rapid and eccentric movement. If
the ship should haul up to get her broadside guns
to bear on the attacking steam-ram, the latter re-
ceives the fire on her safest point—her bows, the
shot glances off, and she rapidly closes. If the
ship runs and fires her stern guns, the shot still
glance harmlessly off, while those from the steam-
ram (shot or shell) are doing their work with full
effect ; therefore either by her fire or her blow the
enemy must be destroyed. The defects of the
cracking and ultimately falling off of the bits of
broken plate, the result of repeated blows on the same
place, can be guarded against by various means ;
among others by the very simple one of casing the
iron or steel side with strong planking.
" Let us suppose a fleet of our ships of the size of
our Wellingtons and Alberts conveying large
bodies of troops met by only two of these steam-
rams, the latter, to make the work shorter, and
surer, reserving their attack until the darkness of
night. The steam-ram, comparatively low in the
water, and mast& lower down, effects a rapid and
almost unperceiVed approach, the first intimation
the larger ship would receive of the proximity of
her enemy, and before a gun could be tired, or that
ship obey her helm, and simultaneous with the cry
of the look out man, The steam-ram is upon us !'
her side, bow, or stern would be crushed, no lives
could besaved under such circumstances, and the
entire dispersion or destruction of the whole convoy
becomes inevitable.
"Imagine one or more steam-rams provided with
heavy guns or projectiles entering Portsmouth,
Plymouth, the Thames, or any other port of the
British islands, what precaution could be taken or
what mode of defence extemporised against such a
force ? Having suggested the feasibility of an
attack upon our ports and harbours by such vessels
it may be well to remark that all the parts may be
secretly prepared and rapidly put together. Simul-
taneously with a declaration of war these vessels
might be devastating our coasts, destroying our
military and commercial navies, and burning our
maritime cities, unless we are prepared with similar
engiTnoesatlo,omidepetroaliiixd repelity them.,lhaN.e
not entered into any
obviously required details, but I believe none exist
which any intelligent sailor or ,constructor could
not Nor do I presume to think
that devisedrl eadilysurply.
the best.lform and disposition
fsohrowthetbla'etssteble,
citonlaceeinp
tgi o neenr
fanu
ticable. ammoarcehovineer, for my pUrpose to
and execution of so for-
midableisthep changeecy
is
siminpelvie
inevitable
p; rtabce-
employment of shot-proof batteries and the result
of collisions between steamers and other vessels
must lead to a combination, which is too simple and

* " In the Portsmouth experiment the steel used was too
brittle and only three inches thick, and did not stand as
well asthe iron. Sheets of iron and sheets of steel may
be rolled together, one iiigive strength, the other tenacity."
t "The experiments just made at Portamelitb, We been
within 199 vas, yawl wit/a the moo roult,".

self-evident to be long confined to one mind or to
one nation.

" I have not thought it necessary to show by es-
timate or argument that such a vessel as above de-
scribed may be built and maintained in active ser-
vice at less expense than a ship of war of the same
tonnage and ordinary construction, not only because
it is obvious, but because, were it otherwise, the
steam-ram must be preferred as an engine of war
to vessels of the present form, as they would be
perfectly useless when opposed to it. They ought
to have fore and aft sails for cruising or steadying
the vessel, and the masts must be made to lower
down on tabernacles when required.
" The adaptation of the description of war en-
gines above described will necessarily produce the
following inevitable results :

" 1. If renders all timber-built vessels utterly
useless for war, except as transports, or packet, or
messenger vessels, which could trust to extraordi-
nary velocity for safety.
" 2. An invasion of the British Islands is next to
an impossibility if protected by such vessels.
" 3. In combination with the Electric Submarine
Telegraph, these vessels render all the expensive
coastworks, military and naval, now in progress,
almost, if not altogether useless, and demand a
totally new system for coast defences.
" 4. To avoid the wholesale destruction of life
otherwise inevitable (for these vessels, which by
their construction, mode of fighting, and limited
space, cannot make prisoners) an international law
would require to be acknowledged that would regli-
late the mode of treating and considering their cap-
tures.

" All the causes which have heretofore led to the
supremacy of the British on the ocean are equally
effective in the new system as in the old.
" G. R. SARTORIUS, Vice-Admiral.
" You can easily conceive how comparatively
unimportant Cherbourg become as a mihtaryport
if attacked by vessels of the class here described.
The breakwater having deep water close to it the
fortifications built on it could be thrown down by
laying ships loaded with powder close under the
ports and exploding them. But these observations
are for ourselves.
" September 10.

iri a R. S."

DOCK EXTENSION ON THE LANCA-
SHIRE SIDE OF THE MERSEY.

After a discussion of unpa-ralleled duration, the dock
board resolved last March, on the motion of Mr.
Rankin, the chairman of the works committee, that,
as soon as convenient after the session of Parlia-
ment just now ended, it would resolve itself into a
committee for the purpose of considering plans of
dock improvement and extension on the entire pro-
perty of the trust, on the Lancashire -side of the
Mersey, and the time and order in which it is de-
sirable those improvements should commence, due
regard being had therein to the financial condition of
the trust. The latter words of caution were inserted
to meet the objections of Mr. Bushell, who feared
the ;prudence, and questioned the necessity, of
going to Parliament for powers to make more docks
on the Liverpool side, when Birkenhead would
eventually add 100 acres to the dock space of the
port, nearly doubling the existing area ; and whilst
the surplus revenue of the trust would be so small
as not to warrant a large expenditure on the Lan-
cashire shores. Mr. Bushell, at that time, indicated
that the best mode of relieving the pressure on the
Liverpool docks was to secure an extension of the
Customs working hours ; to limit more narrowly
the lay days of ships in dock, and to facilitate the
loading and discharging of vessels. _ Already Mr.
Bushell has secured a committee to investigate the
question of an extension of the Customs hours ; and
it is generally thought that, so far as duty paid.
goods are concerned, an extension of the working
hours will be conceded by the Board of Customs.
This will necessitate the employment of more
officers at Liverpool ; and we learn that that will
not entail further expense on the country, for it is
contemplated dispensing with the services of one
landing surveyor, two landing waiters, and some
clerks, in the establishment at Hull, where the
quantity of free goods is enormous, whilst that of
duty-paid goods is comparatively small. But though
an extension of the Customs hours might do a great
deal towards alleviating the pressure on the Liver-
pool docks, and though Birkenhead may, and pro-
bably will to a great extent participate in the ship-
ping of the port, yet it should not be forgotten that
hitherto the trade of the Mersey has increased
at the rate of five per cent. annually, doubling
itself every fourteen years. Mr. Rankin estimates
that it will go on increasing at the rate of 3 per
cent. annually, and that it will double itself in 20
years. With the opening up of China, and the dis-
covery.of gold in British Columbia, there must be
an immense increase in trade, and probably Mr.
Rankin was not too sanguine in his estimate of the
future. Within the last fortnight several applica-
tions for dock accommodation for the railway
and canal companies have been made to the dock
board ; and thus, taking all circumstances into
account, it is not ,unreasonable to suppose that thb
commercial public will approve the resolution of
the board to give this very important subject their
serious consideration. Mr. Hubback, admitting
that the crying evil at present was the want of
water on the Liverpool side, whilst at Birkenhead
there is to be six feet more water than we have
here, rejoiced at the prospect of the completion of
the Birkenhead works, so that large vessels arriv-
ing in the Mersey at neap tides will be able to
dock and discharge their cargoes immediately.
But he pointed out the great fact that the cost of
land belonging to the trust, and paid for, on this
side of the river, and not yet approriated, amounted
to half a million sterling, and then asked whether
this was to lie dormant, bringing scarcely any
revenue, until the Birkenhead docks were com-
pleted. Mr. Eyre Evans, who has been a bene-
factor to the port in his unflinching efforts to con-
nect the warehouse and dock systems, is an earnest
advocate for a dock on the Harrington estate, and
will doubtless, on Thursday week, when Mr.
Rankin's motion shall come forward for dis-
cussion, enforce the prudence of acting up to an act
of Parliament already in existence for the construc-
tion of a dock on the Harrington property. Mr.
Mackay, until recently a member of the board, drew
attention to the fact that what was wanted at this
port was deep water accommodation, and said no
doubt his firm would send their large Australian
fleet there, which would save an enormous expense
at present incurred by them in loading the ships in
the stream. Mr. Arnold confessed himself no great
advocate for Birkenhead ; but when he found that
there was to be more water there than at Liver-
pool, by six feet, he was constrained to admit that
it would be a reflection on the community upon
this side if they did not avail themselves of that
accommodation. On the other hand, Mr. Smith
contended that the question was a merchant's ques-
tion, for that, where the best market was, there
would the ships go. At the same time he professed
himself no enemy to Birkenhead, and desired to see
the Birkenhead docks constructed as speedily as
possible. Mr. Laird, however, took a different view
of the matter, and contended that no new docks
should be constructed in Liverpool, but that the
system of working the existing docks should be
improved. To show that Birkenhead was increas-
ing in value as a shipping place, and in answer
to the assertion that trade could not go there, he
said :—" In 1851, the coal trade done there WAS
70,000 tons; in 1857 it was 214,000. The mahogany
_trade for the last seven years was 100,000 tons, of
which Liverpool had 60,000, and Birkenhead
40,000 tons. The railway traffic in 1849 was
73,000 tons per annum, and last year it was
695,000. I merely name these facts to show that
with all the disadvantages of Liverpool, as a com-
peting port, the trade of Birkenhead has steadily
gone on increasing, according to the average of the
docks now open, nearly as much as upon the Liver-
pool side." The decision on Mr. Rankin's notion,
we learn, may be very much guided by a knowledge
of the extent to which firms now using the Liver-
pool docks may transfer their ships to the deep-
water docks at Birkenhead. Mr. Inman, agent of
the very splendid line of screw steamships to the
United States, told the dock board, last March, that
he could not go to Birkenhead with his ships ; and
he had it from the lips of Mr. M'lver, of the Bri-
tish and North American Royal Mail Steam-packet
Company, that the ships of that line would not go to
the Cheshire docks. In this Mr. Inman was con-
firmed by Mr. Rounthwaite, but we have heard, on
what would be considered unquestionable au-
thority, that the Cunard steamers will go
to Birkenhead, when the deep-water en-
trances are completed, in preference to using
the Sloyne, where, of course, they are much
more liable to receive injuries than they would be in
dock. It is hinted, too, that the Australian trado
will go to Birkenhead for the same reason, and that
the heavier grain-laden ships from the United
States will follow ; for it is a notorious fact that
the New York liners, when unable to dock for
want of water, lie in the river, and the cargoes re-
ceive considerable damage. Lack of railway
accommodation has been urged against the Birken-
head people ; but we hear that in the next session
they are going for the construction of a line round
the docks and a branch line at Helsby, which will
reduce the distance between Birkenhead and Man-
chester by ten miles. There is a very large number
of considerations entering into the settlement of
this question, and as these are not yet fully de-
veloped,, it would be unfair to prejudge the ques-
tion. And all that we can do is to bespeak, for a
question of such magnitude, the calm, careful, and
deliberate consideration of the dock board, than
which, probably, there is no body in the town more
competent to treat the matter on broad comprehen-
sive, principles, and to give a just, wise, and en-
lightemcl accig94o-Paiiii 2)94

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