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

THE JAPANESE NAVY.

It i., somewhat remarkable that just at this time,
when we arc launching from our dockyards a flotilla
of unarmoured gunboats of good offensive powers
and si,eed, and of light draught of water in propor-
tion to their tonnage, the Japanese Government
should be pursuing a precisely similar course, the
gunboats our Admiralty are sending afloat being
also intended specially for service on the coast of
Japan and China, and those for the Japanese
Government being constructed on the banks of the
Thames.

Three of these latter have already sailed from the
Thames for Japan, and a fourth, the Assunta, made
her trial trip on Saturday, and will follow her
consorts in the course of a few days.
'The Assunta is a vessel of 280 tons, having a
length between perpendiculars of 120 feet, a breadth
of 22 feet, and a depth of 9 feet 10 inches. She is
propelled by a pair of 30-horse power two-cylinder
engines, the cylinders having a diameter of 25i
inches, with a 11-inch length of stroke. They drive
a single screw of two blades, the diameter being 16
feet, and the pitch 10 feet 6 inches. The boilers are
placed with their backs to the engines, and the
stockhole is thus kept distinct from the engine-room,
but with side communication between the two ; and
the boilers being low-built, with a space of between
two and three feet between the tops of the boilers
and the overhead deck beams, which gives perfect
ventilation and keeps down the temperature of
both engine room and stokehole. All the other
arrangements between decks are of the same
favourable character. In the after part there is,
for so small a vessel, unusual spacious accom-
modation for the officers, in a commander's cabin,
six cabins for other officers, and a ward room, or
mess cabin. The magazines for powder and shell,
adjoining the after cabins, have been built about
double the size that is usually given in such vessels.
The accommodation for the crew forward is ample
for the number of men she will carry, and the holds
below have good space for provisions, water, and
stores. The armament of the vessel consists of one
6-inch muzzle-loading rifle, one 40-pounder breech-
loader, and two 24-pounder howitzers. The rig is
that of a three-masted schooner, spreading a large
area of canvas for the size of her spars.
The Assunta was launched a few days previous to
her trial trip, the vessel being sent afloat with steam
up and all sails bent aloft, and a five hours' run
under steam was at once taken down the river with
her—a remarkable testimony to the efficiency of her
machinery.
On Saturday she left Gravesend at 7 a.m. on her
official trial trip, in charge of Captain G. W.
Matthews, the machinery of the ship being in
charge of Mr. Stevenson, acting managing engineer
to the builders of the boat and her engines, the
Messrs. Dudgeon, of Millwall. Tide, high water ;
wind, W.S.W., strong. The engines averaged 132
revolutions per minute between Gravesend and
Shornmeade Point. On opening Sheerness from
the mouth of the river the wind was found freshen-
ing, and the little craft met a lively roll of a sea
as she steamed down for the Admiralty measured
mile off the Maplin sands, and for a run over the
distance between the Nore and the Mouse light ships.
The Nom light was passed at Bb. 26m. 405., and on
reaching the Malpin two runs, with and against the
tide, were made over the mile with the following
results :
No. of Spoecl of ship Steam. Vacuum. I:evolutions
run. in knots. 11). incite:. of engines.
1 ... 12.12)1 30 ... 25 5 ... 136 - 137
2 . 8•C90 ... 30 ... 25.5 ... 136-136

Mean speed of the ship, 10105 knots.
The distance• between the Nore and the Mouse
light was run in 35 minutes, the revolutions of the
engines taken six times during the run being 135,
135, 136, 137, 136, 136.
The vessel, after her time runs over the Maplin
mile and the distance between the North and the
Maplin light vessels, was steered for the Downs,
and her lower fore and aft sails set on her. Under
this additional propelling power she spun along at
great speed, passing the Girdler light vessel at 10.20,
the Prince's Channel light vessel at 10.40, the Tongue
light vessel at 11 o'clock, and rounded the North
Foreland at 11.49 ; her rate of speed over this dis-
tance being 14 knots per hour. After rounding the

North Foreland the wind drew rather more to the
southward, and as the vessel stood on for the South
Foreland it freshened again until it blew half a gale,
the sails of the vessel now doing but little good, the
wind coming short. The Gull light vessel was
abeam half-an-hour after noon, and shortly after-
wards the Assunta was tacked and stood in for file
land under Deal. On weathering the South Bre: tk
buoy and the edge of the sand the vessel was kept
away for the inner channel through Pegwell Bay
on her return towards Gravesend. The mouth of
Ramsgate harbour was passed, and the Dike chan—
nel cleared at 1.18 p.m., and the North Foreland
rounded again at 1.41. From the Foreland the run
back to Gravesend was done under easy steam, and
the Assunta reached her moorings off the Town-
pier at 7 p.m., after 12 hours' steaming.
During all this day's work the engines were never
stopped from the time of starting from Gravesend
until the vessel's return in the evening, nor did a
warm bearing or any other of the many little diffi-
culties so often met with on trial trips with new
machinery occur to give trouble to the engineers or
cause a slackening of speed.

THE REFORM DEMONSTRATION IN
DUBLIN.

(From the Free-man's Journal.)

An aggregate meeting of citizens, called by the
Lord Mayor upon a requisition presented to him,
was held on Tuesday night, in the Mechanics'
Institute Theatre, to receive a deputation of
English Reformers, and to advance the cause of
Irish Reform. The meeting was densely crowded,
and great enthusiasm prevailed. Amongst those
present were :—The O'Donoghue, M.P. ; Mr.
Edmond Beales, M.A., President of the English
Reform League ; Mr. Ernest Jones, Alderman
Carter and Mr. Grant, of the Yorkshire Reform
League, Leeds ; Councillor Burt, Glasgow, Presi-
dent of the Scottish Reform League ; Councillor
Moir, Vice-President of the Scottish Reform
League ; Councillor Murray, Manchester ; Mr.
Frederick Clayton, Manchester, honorary Sec-
retary Northern Department of the English Re-
form League ; Mr.:James M'Adam, Glasgow ; Rev.
Mr. Mullins, P.P., Castle Pollard, &c.
The LORD MAron presided, and, in opening the
proceedings, avowed his belief that if the Irish
people were true to themselves they would obtain
Reform and an amendment of their grievances.
He went on to say : I have ever been for household
suffrage untrammelled by the disastrous con-
dition of either residence or rates—(cheers)—
rates to enable an army of agents to pore over
books, and find out whether a man has paid his
poor-rates or no, and disfranchise him if he won't
vote for the candidate in whose pay they are.
(Hear.) That system has been known and prac-
tised in Ireland, and it had been known and prac-
tised in England. And many of those who at-
tempted to carry this bill by their votes—a great
charter of rights, as I believe it to be—still hope
to disfranchise 50 per cent. of the workmen of
England. (Hear, hear.) lam conscious this meeting
will exhibit that harmony and good temper which
ever characterize Irish assemblies ; that you will
hear our English friends. They have not come
here as enemies and foes, as many of their nation
have done. They have come here as friends.
(Cheers.) And I believe that if you inaugurate
the movement here to-night, it will spread through-
out the country, and that when the Chancellor of
the Exchequer comes to Ireland he will go back
to the Cabinet and say they must have an Irish
Reform Bill. (Cheers.) I believe my friends here
wish, as an act of simple justice, to present an
address to Mr. Beales. (Cheers.)
Mr. P. J. STANLEY, Secretary of the Irish Reform
League, read the following letter :
Wildbad, Aug. 30, 1867.

Dear Sir,—Your letter of the 24th instant having
arrived at my house after I left England, has only
just reached me. I have long been convinced that
complete justice to Ireland was scarcely to be hoped
for, unless preceded by a reform of Parliament
sufficiently thorough to take away the present
predominance of the landed interest, and transfer
a large share of political power to classes who are
not under the influence of landed or Church pre-
judices. There is considerable reason to hope that
the Parliamentary Reform which we have now
obtained may, at least in some degree, accomplish
this. Whatever power has been gained by the
working classes or by the advanced Liberals will,
I am convinced, be used for the complete redress
of the grievances of Ireland on the two most fun-
damental points, the Church and the land. On
the former, they will aim at perfect religious equa-
lity, not in my opinion by the endowment, but by
the disendowment of all religions. On the land
question they will, I believe and hope, be satisfied
with nothing short of complete assurance to the
tenant that all value added to the land by his
labour or expenditure shall belong to himself ;
together with a well-combined system of measures
for the formation of a numerous body of small
proprietors, either cultivating their own land, or
secured by a permanent tenure at a quit rent. I
entertain a sanguine hope that this will also be the
policy of the leaders of the Liberal party. By
firm union of British and Irish Liberals on
these principles, the grievances of Ireland may
soon be redressed, and the embittered feel-
ings which those grievances have engendered
will not long survive them. There is no wish in
any section of the British people to be unjust to
Ireland ; for many years past the source of mischief
has not been in any selfish intentions of the na-
tion, or even of the ruling classes. Ignorance of
what the circumstances of Ireland require and
deeply-rooted prejudices—namely, less hurtful to
England than to Ireland, are the causes of the evil.
The ignorance is now rapidly becoming dispelled,
and the prejudices in the minds of the working
classes, and of the advanced Liberals, do not exist.
An era of hope, therefore, is opening for Ireland,
which, if improved by wise and harmonious action
on the part of your representatives and of ours, may
make the connection between the two countries an
unalloyed benefit to both. In addition to the two
great subjects which I have already touched upon,
there are, no doubt, many other matters which
will demand legislation. On these it will be for the
Irish people, after due deliberation, to make their
opinions and wishes known to the Reformed Par-
liament ; and I have no fear that the course which
shall most approve itself to intelligent Irishmen,
will fail to obtain the support of English Liberals.
The most pressing of these subjects is the reform of
the representation, and I would strongly urge the
Irish Reformers to prepare the heads of a bill,
which, while embodying the essentials of a real
Parliamentary Reform, may be such as can be offered
to the Parliament which passed the English Reform
Bill with a fair chance of being adopted, and to
give to such a bill their united support.—l am, dear
sir, yours very sincerely, " J. S. MILL."
The Honorary Secretary then read the following
address to Mr. Beales

" Dear Sir,—The council and members of the
Irish Reform League desire, on this, your first visit
to Ireland, to tender you their warmest welcome,
and to offer you their heartiest congratulations on
the success which has attended the labours of the
National Reform League of England, of which you
are the esteemed and able president. Much of that
success is due to your wise and prudent counsels,
to your indomitable energy, to your loyalty to prin-
ciples, and to your unswerving course of upright
conduct. Your knowledge of law enabled you to
defeat the Government in the llyde-park proceed-
ings, of world-wide notoriety, when the Govern-
ment and its officers were obliged to admit that
they were wrong and you were right. Their Parks
Bill you were mainly instrumental in defeating,
and the Reform Bill, giving household and lodger
suffrage in English boroughs, is due almost entirely
to you and the bold and manly course taken by
the National Reform League. Mr. Disraeli had
the sense to understand the signs of the times,'
and, dragging the Tory coach up-hill, he carried
a measure which a year before it was only through
the medium of yourself and others, it was said, any
could be found to demand. Even Tory lords state
that the Reform Bill is your work rather than
that of the Government. We rejoice with you in
the success of your efforts. We feel satisfied you
will carry the ballot also; and the Irish Reform

League, determining to follow the noble example
which you have set them, are resolved to pursue
the same course of constitutional agitation, until
every Irishman living on Irish soil shall possess the
franchise. Thanking you and your friends for this
friendly visit, we beg to offer you our warmest
sympathies and support in the struggle in which
you are so manfully engaged.—Signed, on behalf
of the Council, " O'DONOGHLTE, President.
P. J. SIIANLEY, Secretary."
Mr. BEALES having returned thanks,

The O'DoxoGimE, on coming forward, was re-
ceived with cheers which lasted several minutes.
He said—My Lord Mayor and citizens of Dublin,
I gladly find myself taking a part in a meeting
which has been assembled for the purpose of
enabling the citizens of Dublin to express their
determination to co-operate with zeal and persever-
ance in a movement by which it is proposed to
secure for the Irish people those political rights
and privileges which are at present exclusively
possessed by, and exercised for, the benefit of a
small section of the community. (Applause.)
Although I cannot claim the rights of citizenship,
yet I cannot look upon myself as a stranger
amongst you. (Applause.) According to my no-
tion of things every true Irishman must consider
himself a citizen of Dublin. (Hear, hear.) In my
eyes Dublin has ever been the metropolis of our
country, and ought to be the head-quarters of na-
tionality. (Applause.) The very stronghold and
citadel of patriotism, and the permanent leader
in every movement having for its object the deve-
lopment either of our material interests or our
political liberties. (Applause.) The chief city of
almost every nation has associations connected with
it which gives it a special interest in the eyes and
a special place in the heart of the patriot. When
on occasions like this I find myself taking a part
with the citizens of Dublin, I never can forget that
we are in the midst of a great capital, once the
seat of the Legislature—(applause ; and a voice :
" three cheers for Repeal ")—the scene of those me-
morable events in history which stir the blood and
raise the drooping spirits, even at the saddest and
darkest hour, and that fills the heart with hope that
by doing duty fearlessly and faithfully—by acting
in accordance with the dictates of reason and
common sense—(hear, hear)—by not allowing our
overflowing love of country and enthusiasm to get
the better of our prudence—(cries of " hear ")
we may yet be enabled to accomplish for
our own immortal Ireland (enthusiastic
cheering) much, if not all, for which our
fathers struggled. (Continued cheering.) When
we take part in political discussions here our acts
derive from the genius of the place a political
importance, a significance and national solemnity
which no other locality can possess, and there-
fore it is that I rejoice to-day that this over-
flowing meeting of the citizens of Dublin came
prepared to take a prominent part—to take the
lead in the movement for Parliamentary Reform
for the Irish people. (Loud cheers.) I have the
honour of standing before you this evening as Pre-
sident of the Irish Reform League—(hear, and
cheers)—and it is in that capacity I am going to
propose to you this resolution. (Hear, hear.)
The object we are asked to attain through the
agency of our organization is this, that the Irish
nation should govern itself through a body of
representatives fairly and fully chosen by the peo-
ple. (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) How this
can be done is set forth in this resolution, which
demands a franchise based upon the principle
of registered residential manhood suffrage, pro-
tected by the ballot. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)
Here then is the object we have in view, and
here are the means by which we propose the
attainment of this object. I maintain that the
ob-
ject is beyond all dispute good in itself—(hear,
hear)—and it is not merely good in itself, but
that owing to the peculiar circumstances of the
present time that object is eminently practical.
(Hear, hear.) I say it is an object the immediate
realisation of which is urgent, if we would become
as other nations have become through the same
means, the masters of our own destiny, as far as
that is humanly possible, and if we would escape
in the future from the anarchy, turmoil, and revo-
lution which must be the inevitable result of that
oligarchical domination which binds us to the
earth—(cheers)—and which withholds from us
that political justice which is our birthright.
(Ilear, hear, and cheers.) Now, why do I say that
the circumstances of the present time are pecu-
liarly favourable to the success of our undertak-
ing ? Because it is an indisputable fact that in
this movement we have the thorough co-opera-
tion of the Scottish and English people. (Heart
hear, and cheers.) They are with us, because
they know that the cause of Reform is just--
because they know that it is their cause as well
as ours ; but I will say they are with us also,
not merely because they know the cause of
aa
desire sentiment
als
o_o f I brotherlywll
say
Re-
form to be just, and to be a common cause, but
fromfromafftoectaiongteanned-
rous desire—to make reparation to the Irish
people for the great wrongs that have been heaped
by the British Government on them. (Enthusiastic
cheering.) Why do I arrive this a t is conclusion?
I will tell you why. It was because in my inter-
course with the masses of the English people I
met with the warmest sympathy for the Irish poli-
tical prisoners(prolonged and vehement cheering)—
• ng)—
` t n c ieeri because I found that the masses of the English
people knew perfectly well, that which is as true
as God is in heaven, and that which it is the purest
folly to gainsay—that these political prisoners are
enshrined in the hearts of the millions of the Irish
people. (Tremendous cheering and waving of hats.)
A Voice—A cheer for Burke. (Renewed cheer-
ing.)

The O'DONOGIRTE—And because I found that these
generous English did not hesitate to express their
conviction that these political prisoners have sacri-
ficed their all on the altar of patriotism. (Enthu-
siastic and prolonged applause.) In Manchester I
heard John Bright. (Loud cheering.)
A Voice—A cheer for Bright. (Cheers.)
The O'lloNommE—l heard John Bright amidst
the uproarious applause of thousands say that he
would open the prison doors and let the captives
free. (Vehement cheering.)

A slight interruption occurred here, owing to a
disturbance in the gallery. Order was, however,
soon restored, and the proceedings were resumed.

The O'DortocHuE continued—Because I saw the
English Reform League, with our friends and fel-
low-labourers, Mr. Beales in the chair—(cheers)
—pass a resolution deprecatory of harsh measures.
I saw on each side of me signs that if prejudices
did exist--that if national prejudice did exist—the
sense of justice had overcome that prejudice in
the minds of Englishmen, and that in Ireland—
old Ireland—(cheers)—we might without a com-
promise of honour, without .a stain on her nationa-
lity, unite with such generous and sincere friends
in obtaining for them and for ourselves those poli-
tical rit hts which I believe in my inmost soul those
Englisl me who will help us mean that we should
use in v hatever way is pleasing to the Irish people.
(Loud the rs.) I will say for myself, and I will
say for my countrymen, if it be not too presump-
tuous--(no, no)—that that is the sense in which
we accept their co-operation. (Hear, hear, and
cheers.)
A VOICE—We want some advice. (Laughter.)
The OTONOGIIITE—There is no doubt— I am
sorry to have troubled you at such length—(cries
of No, no)—there is no doubt that the Reform
Bill which passed through the British Parliament
last session has put us far up on the road towards
the attainment of our political rights. (Hear, hear,
and cheers.) I think it would be a mere waste
of time to enter into any proofs to satisfy you
that the present representation of this country is
the most complete humbug that ever was known.
(Cheers.) We all know what is thought of Par-
liamentary action in these days, and we know
that the opinion which is entertained of it is the
result of this fact—of the utter impossibility of
passing one single popular measure through the
British Parliament. (Cries of " Hear, hear."
There are in Ireland some 200,000 electors ;
170,000 of these are county electors, almost every
one of whom must vote exactly as his landlord
pleases. (Hear, hear, and groans.) The remain-
ing 30,000 are borough electors, and in most of