The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-28 00:00:00

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

The return of the Minotaur to Portsmouth from
her lengthened cruise offers a favourable opportunity
for noticing the experimental trials that have been
made on board with gun-training gear. That other
than the ordinary mechanical appliances for working
guns were reluired to control the movements of
modern heavy broadside guns was soon discovered
when fik and 12-ton guns were mounted on the broad-
side, and the question arose as to the best method of
applying improved mechanical power for this pur-
pose. Two gentlemen, Mr. Cuninghain (of patent
topsail fame) and Captain R. Scott, R.N., with the
sanction of the Admiralty, entered the lists in
friendly rivalry to attain this object, and the plans
of both have since been fully and fairly tested.
Mr. Cunningham appears to have been the first
who went thoroughly into the matter, as in
1862 he carried out a series of experiments
on board the gunnery ship Excellent with a com-
pressor, in which be introduced the principle of
large friction surfaces to check the gun's recoil, in
lieu of the old-fashioned claw and riband arrange-
ment, and this compressor was worked for some
time very successfully with the breech-loading
110-pounder Armstrorg. In the same year he took
out a patent for sundry methods for working heavy
guns, including an endless chain for running
guns iu and out, the chain revolving on the slide,
and connected with four compressors or nippers
on the carriage. Capt. Scott, too, soon afterwards
brought out a somewhat similar plan. The four
12-ton guns mounted on the main deck of
the Minotaur may be looked upon as com-
petitive guns during the last cruise of the ship they
having been fitted experimentally with different
descriptions of training gear, &c. The after 12-ton
gun on the port side of the deck is fitted with
Mr. Cunningham's combined running in and out
and traversing gear. The plan is very simple
and works the gun most efficiently. Upon the
rear end of the slide is fixed a winch furnished
with chain and clutch wheels. Upon the tra-
versing bolt on the slide are blocks, with
single traversing chains leading through them.
When the gun has to be run in the chains
are put on the clutch wheels, which being turned
round by the winch handle and back and pinion
wheels, draws the gun and its carriage up the
slide. To change again to traversing gear, the
running-in chains are thrown off and the tra-
versing chains put in to the clutch wheels. No-
thing can apparently exceed the extreme sim-
plicity of this plan, and together with that is
the important advantage that it can be fitted
on board a ship, thus avoiding the expense and
delay of sending the carriage atml slide ashore to
a factory. This gun was fitted by Mr. Cunning-
ham when the Minotaur was lying at Spithead,
previous to sailing on her cruise last spring, in
less than an hour's time. When Admiral Farragut
visited the Minotaur at Lisbon he greatly admired
this plan for traversing and running in and
out heavy ordnance when mounted on a ship's
broadside. The other 12-ton gun on the port side
of the Minotaur's deck is also fitted with gear de-
signed by Mr. Cunningham—a detached traversing
gear; that is, with the motive power detached and
separate from the carriage, a form of traverse held by
many experienced gunners to be the best of all, as
it leaves the gun quite clear. The men in using
this gear are kept quite away from the gun, and
are, in a great measure, out of harm's way when a
shot chances to enter the port. The crew of this
gun speak very highly of its traversing gear, and
profess to have beaten all the other guns
with it in point of time in traversing. Mr.
Cunningham fitted this gear to the gun nearly three
years since, and it remains now in_p-erfect working
order. The running in and out provision of the gun
are on the endless chain principle, as applied by
Capt. Scott, and are of a very efficient character.
The traversing arrangements of the two 12-ton
guns on the starboard side of the ship's decks is
on Capt. Scott's plan, and is markedly different
from the plan followed by Mr. Cunningham.
Capt. Scott traverses his two guns by means of mas-
sive toothed and curved metal castings fixed to the
deck, on which a bevil wheel upon a spindle on the
slide works. On the foremost of the two guns
the crank handle which turns the spindle is at
the rear of the slide. With the aftermost gun
the crank handle is fixed at the side, the motion
being conveyed by an endless screw. Both these
guns are run in and out by endless chains fitted on
Capt. Scott's plan. It will be at once seen that Capt.
Scott's arrangements for traversing his guns are
much more perfect as pieces of machinery than those
of Mr. Cunningham. There is perhaps a trifle too
much of engineering skill bestowed upon them. Alr
Cunningham appears to have based all his arrange-
ments upon simplicity and the use of the smallest
possible number of working parts. In this he has
been eminently successful. There is nothing in
any part of the fitting, but what can be applied,
changed, or repaired by an ordinary ship's smith
or armourer and at once understood by the sea-
man. In addition to the evident superiority of the
Cunningham over the Scott metnod of traversing,
and running in and out the guns in point of sim-
plicity, it has also the advantage in point of cost ;
the Cunningham gear, it being understood, can be
fitt-d to a gun for £3O, whereas the Scott gear
would cost between £2OO and £3OO. The tests to
which the gear of all four guns have been submitted
on board the Minotaur have been of a very severe
character, a large number of rounds having been
fired from each with heavy service charges, and
under all conditions of sea and weather.

THE IRISH IN ENGLAND.-At the last census in
1861, among the 20,066,224 persons found in England and
Wales, 601,634 were natives of Ireland, being nearly three
in every 100. At the preceding census in 1851 the number
was not quite so large, being only a little over 2.9 per
100. One thing, however, must not be overlooked-that
the children born in England of Irish parents are counted
among the English people, and that, partly at least as the
result of this, an unusually large proportion of the Irish
in England-in 1861 nearly five-sixths-are adults of
20 years] and upwards. Reckoning only males the
census of 1861 shows 9,776,259 male I. ersons of all ages in
England, and among them were 298,729 natives of Ireland,
being 3 per cent. of the whole number ; but the Irishmen
in England 20 years old or upwards were more than 4.5 per
cent. of the whole male population of that age. It was
estimated by the Registrar-General that the Irish in Eng-
land were sustained at their number by an immigration
of nearly 18,000 a year. Of the Irish male persons of all
ages in England at the last census rather more than 100,000;
above a third of the whole number, were in Lancashire. In
Liverpool, with a total male population of 215,716, 40,059
males were natives of Ireland. In Manchester and Salford
22,096 of the 217,596 males were persons born in Ireland.
Other Lancashire towns show considerable numbers of
natives of Ireland. In Bolton they were 2,421 of the
33,759 males, and in Preston 2,810 in 38,068. Many other
towns in the north show the tendency of the Irish part of
the population to the towns. The census gives 4,933
natives of Ireland in the 100,133 male persons of all ages
in Leeds; 2,458 in 49,268 in Bradford; 3,265 in 92,140
in Sheffield ; 2,524 in 25,274 in Stockport ; 1,270 in
16,826 in Gateshead ; 1,426 in 46,528 in Hull ; 2,297 in
37,818 in Sunderland; 3,322 in 54,092 in Newcastle. The
town of Warrington is not separately given, but in the dis-
trict the numbers are 1,983 in 22,035 males of all agar.
Coming south, we find 1,854 in the 30,010 males in Wolver-
hampton ; 5,812 in 143,996 in Birmingham; 1,966 in 69,043
in Bristol; 2,472 in 43,868 in Merthyr Tydfil; 1,048 in
11,458 in Newport. lu London there were at the last cen-
sus 1,307,781 male persons, and 47,5871°f them, 3.6 per cent.,
were born in Ireland. In Scotland the Irish are chiefly
clustered in places where there is a good demand for un-
skilled labour. In Glasgow, and also in Dundee, the census
showed nearly 16 per cent. of the inhabitants natives of
Ireland ; in Edinburgh 5 per cent.
[ADVERTISEMENT.]-Consumption, and all nervous, bilious
stomach and liver complaints in every stage are only aggravated
and accelerated by drugs of every description, but perfectly
Curable by Du Barry's health-restoring Revalenta Arabica Food,
as proved by thousands of cases which had been considered
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biliousness, fevers, sore throats, diphtheria, catarrhs, colds, in-
fluenza, noises in the head and ears, rheumatism, gout, impu-
rities, eruptions, hysteria, neuralgia, irritability, sleeplessness,
acidity, palpitation, heartburn, headache, debility, dropsy,
cramps, spasms, nausea and sickness, even in pregnancy or at
sea, sinking fits, bronchitis, scrofula, tightness of the chest,
pains at the pit of the stomach, and between the shoulders, &c
We quote a few.-The Pope's health restored by Du Barry's
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the Holy Father is excellent, especially since, abandoning all
other remedies, he has confined himself entirely to Du Barry's
Revalenta Arabica, Food, of which he consumes a plateful
at every meal. It has produced a surprisingly beneficial
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July 25. Cure No. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, timber mer-
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authority, Baron Liebig's name is most audaciously attached.
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1
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Oxford-street; 8.0 trttud i and all grocers and chemists.

(AN
hte.
etrtillat

TIER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Dec. 27.

The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, accom-
panied by Princess Christian and Princess Hen-
riette of Schleswig-Holstein, and attended by the
Equerries in Waiting on horseback ; and her Ma-
jesty, accompanied by Prince-s Christian and Prin-
cess Henriette, and attended by the Dowager
Countess of Gainsborough, drove out this morning.

The Equerries in Waiting were in attendance.
Princess Louise and Princes Beatrice went out
in the grounds, attended by the Hon. Emily
Cathcart.
Prince Leopold also Went out, atteaded by Mr.
Duckworth.

The Duchess of Somerset has left Brown's hotel
for Stover Park.
The Duchess (Emily) of Beaufort is staying at
Badminton with the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort.
The Earl and Countess of Dudley are entertain-
ing company at Witley Court, Worcestershire.
The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres and Lord
and Lady Lindsay intend to entertain a large party at
'Haigh Hall, Wigan, next week. On Wednesday next the
noble earl gives a grand ball to the county nobility and
gentry.

nORRESFONDENCE FROM PARIS•

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, FRIDAY, Dec. 27.
There is a widespread feeling against the Emperor'g
Army Organisation Bill in France, and in several districts
petitions are being signed praying for its rejection. But
the Army Bill is known to be the pet idea at present
of
the Emperor, who is determined at all risks to carry
The fate of the Army Organisation Bill is expected to
be decided to-morrow. The majority of the Corps 1440.
latif were shocked by the speech of M. Louvet yesterdaY
upon this subject. If it be proposed to amend the bill, it
will be withdrawn altogether, and in that case the dissolve
tion of the Chamber will be almost inevitable.
News from official sources informs us that General
Menabrea has not yet constituted his new Cabinet, which
will consist for the most part of the statesmen who were
associated with himself under the last Government. One
change, however, will be the substitution of some one ill
the place of M. Gualterio as Minister of the Interior.
The Etendard says, M. Gualterio, " a man of energy, IS
profoundly unpopular in his country on account of the
energy ;" and it further asserts that the vote which over'
turned Menabrea's Government was directed speciall/
against him.
Religious ceremonies of an imposing description Ivele
been celebrated in Paris at several churches during the

last week. The principal churches at which these cere•
monials were held were Notre-Dame, Saint Sulpiee, and
Saint-Itoch. At the Madeline the Baroness de Caters'
daughter of Lablache, sing the solos with incomparable
taste. The Archbishop of Paris officiated at Notre-Dame'
Mass at the Tuileries was conducted by the Archbisll°l3
d'Adras. The Court musicians sang, under the direction
of M. Auber. The Empefor, with the Imperial Family'
the Prince and Princess of Metternich, and a number of
the household dignitaries, were present.
Experiments with a " perfected " Chassepot rifle are 3t
present being conducted at the Camp at Chalons. The
perfected" Chassepot is to be put into the hands of the
chasseurs d pied. At Vincennes a trial of a new cannon,
invented by a military surgeon—M. Noell, of Nancy--Was
recently made. A report of the result of the experiment
was made and sent to Marshal Bazaine, who will dray°
the attention of the Emperor to this new weapon. Tile
speciality of the cannon is that it can be fired as rapidly
the Chassepot.
Among the names of the ladies of the palace considered
likely to fill the place of the sate Duchess de Bassano as
lady of honour, is that of the Countess de Montebello.
The giving of presents at this season is one which Pre•
vails in France as well as in England ; but here the custom
is to present the gift, not at Christmas, but on the first
day of the year. The British custom, however, is begin‘
ning to find favour in the eyes of the Parisians, and n°
doubt after a time Christmas will be the fashionable gift.
day on both sides of the Channel.

M. Panger-Guertier, one of the principal manufacturers
of Rouen, is about to address the Corps Legislatif on the
subject of the prevailing stag,nati(,n of trade. In common
with many French manufacturers, M. Panger-Guertier fe•
gards the treaty of commerce with Eng'and as ruinous to
French trade. Fortunately, there is too much political
economy and experience abroad to prevent any bad results
from his one-sided views.
The Invalide Busse sees the greatest danger in the
Franco-Austrian alliance. While endeavouring to pre:
vent the extension of the German Confederation, says th
journal, it will only prepare the way for a sanguin3l.4
struggle, and while trying to binder the union of Italy, 1:
will raise up the revolution without saving the terrer34
power of the Pope. It will support the Turkish Govern.
meat in their policy of persecution, and drive the Easter°
Christians to despair ; encourage the pretensions of the
Poles, and make them once more pay dearly for their ere'
dulity. The Invalide concludes by saying that Russia 1
by no means responsible for the embarrassments which
are apprehended, but if they are not avoided the Pre-
sent armed peace in Europe must lead to a terrific

struggle.
The British Legation at Rio, in Brazil, will immediately
become vacant should Mr. Lowther stand for Westraere'
land. The salary attached to the position is £l,OOO a Yea'r'
with an additional £7OO for house-rent. Including secrue:
taries, clerks, and translators, the Rio Legation costs t""
country £6,250 yearly, exclusive of contingent expenses'
outfit, and travelling charges, which last item must re
enormous. In a period of less than seventeen years "
have sent no fewer than eight different Ministers to Ili();
and as each Minister receives a third of his annual salary
for outfit, twenty-one thousand pounds' worth of tazoti°ll
must, as the Post thinks, have been worse than wasted ~,
wanton caprices, besides the length of time thrown awl.
by each new Minister in travelling backwards and forwards
—a very serious deduction from the actual working °e x:
vices of diplomatists, who appear to have been only ser`-
out to be recalled with a promptitude scarcely decorous
An envoy should be appointed to the Brazils who kil.--
something of the work which he has to do there, and who
is ready and able to do it.
FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—A rorter at
31anningtree Railway Station of the Great Eastern Itit,a,
way Company, named Edward Howe, was accidenteyin-,
killed on Christmas- eve. On the arrival of the last train
Harwich, ha was engaged in shunting some trucks and
t 0
ing the red light of the approaching train he endeavour the
avoid the latter, but was unfortunately caught between
buffers and so fearfully crushed teat he expired ininle;
diately. The deceased, who was about 50 years of it:
and had been in the service of the company for ten
has left a wife and family. It is said that the un'clof
tnnate man had omitted to take the usual precaution
providing himself with a hand lamp:
FATAL ACCIDENT AT RYDE PIER.—A
accident, resulting in the death by drowning of a
Ryde Pier, occurred on Christmas evening. A 'self °,lOO
a child in her arms, went down the pier with the inters en
of embarking on board the steamer Prince of Viralee,
alongside the pier, and nearly ready to start for r°
sto
mouth. It was dark at the time, and the unforttll'oe,
woman mistook the steps, and fell with her child int°_,t,..
sea. After considerable exertion on the part of the.
.:•:dj
tain and crew of the steamer, the lady was got On uu:dp
but the child was drowned. The accident will be Le,
the subject of a special inquiry before the board of iunot
tors of the Packet Company at a meeting to be held
week. fog
THE FOG.—In consequence of the dens®
which prevailed at Chatham on Thursday, the Sere/fe d
vette Blanche, 6, 350 horse power, was unable to pr`r:j,(l
to Sheerness, as ordered, and she was accordingly detsi'd..
until yesterday, when she lett Chatham in tow a the r.of
dlewheel steamers Otter and Locust, under the obtleo.
Captain R. Stokes, Queen's harbourmaster at Chit"
fr
.fils
The Blanche will be docked at Sheerness, and afterf"
return to Chatham to complete her outfit for sea. joy
DEATH OF THE WALRUS IN THE Z 001,06 tof
GARDENS.—Poor "Jemmy," the walrus, the lostP:r
is
London sight-seers, has died, and joined the sea of
the happy hunting grounds, if any such there Paielia
departed sea mammalia. He had been uneasy end
for some days, and on Thursday, the 19th, died sildidl3
5c.,'
ACROSS THE CONTINENT IN FIFTEEN .'
..Ast
The Union Pacific Railroad has already reduced i
of time the overland journey to California one wee o hi
notable instance of the value of this saving in tueloore
reason of the railroad facilities which this oorePaq.„l fa
made available is just announced. Despatches recel;p6o,
New York state that the mails from China and,„.o D 9
which have heretofore been sent from San Frann''''..oti-
sea, and which have occupied from twenty-two to t.vrfl 030
four days in transit from that city to New York, left the
former city by the overland route on the 20th n'""pys
will ho due iu that city this morning, only fifteen
on i 0
from the Pacific coast. Such rapidity of transuliP:, do
unprecedented, and the fact that it is now possiblee
to the energy which has been manifested by th. :great
Pacific Railroad Company in the construction of tlad.
national line which that corporation has had in DeZleed
total time from Japan to New York is now reu te
ceaboutive theirfor
addavyis,ceswbhyilethtihseroLuitveerinpouoiluemoerretheanneit,e;