The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-11 00:00:00

Experiments with the Mackay Gun.

Yesterday some interesting trials were made of
these guns against armour-plated targets, the prac-
tice being on the beach between Crosby and
Hightown, to the north of Liverpool. Most readers
are aware that Mr. Mackay claims the invention
of the windage system of shooting elongated pro-
jectiles. Preparatory to experiments with heavy
artillery, he carried out a laborious practice, ex-
tending over two years, with shoulder arms, the
result of which was so satisfactory that he deter-
mined to carry it out on a large scale with heavy,
guns. Mr. Mackay's projectiles are smooth cylin-
drical bolts ; the interior of the guns are furnished
with spiral grooves, and the gases escaping up
these grooves communicate a rotary motion to the
projectile. The advantages secured are that with
less strain upon the gun and less weight of charge
there is a greater initial velocity, and greater pene-
trative power and range. The projectiles are made
of one hard metal incapable of expansion on the
bore of the gun. They may be cast and afterwar,ls
turned or not as may be deemed necessary, and the
absence of studs, buttons, or bars, for the pur-
pose of giving a rotary motion, renders them
cheaper of construction than other elongated pro-
jectiles. Mr. Mackay contends, and cites his ex-
periments in proof, that an elongated projectile
proceeding from the windage gun at the initial
velocity of 1,400 ft. per second is immensely more
destructive than a similar projectile, without rota-
tion, with a flight of 1,600 ft. per second initial
velocity. He believes it is not possible to obtain
the advantage of such a rotation upon the fixed
projectile system, because the strain on the gun
would be so great as • to destroy it with a heavy
charge, and even if the rifled gun stood a few
rounds, the penetrative powers of the projectile,
after it becomes disentangled from the fixed screw-
ing process, would be very slight. He claims that
his experiments have established that the force or
striking power due to rotary projectiles and the
quantity of powder used for the charge can only be
obtained when the mean of rotation is imparted to it
to coincide with the initial velocity. The experi-
ments yesterday commenced at one o'clock,
and the weather being bright and fine the attend-
ance of spectators was very large. There were three
guns—one 8-inch, one 6 inch, and one 3-inch. The
targets were four in all ; No. 1, an 8-inch target,
solid iron plating, resting on two flat balks of
timber, 14 by 14, kept in its position in front and
rear by two pieces of battens nailed, and supported
at the top by a 14-inch balk, which took in the head
of the plate. No. 2 was the Agincourt target, asi
inch plate of rolled iron, backed with 9-inch teak,
iron skin, resting on 14-inch balks, and kept in po-
sition by two other balks being braced to them.
No. 3 was a 5-inch plate, supported on both its
edges by 14-inch balks. No. 4 was a 21-inch plate.
The first shot fired was a solid cast iron ball of
701b5., which was fired at a distance of 75 yards
from the 6-inch gun,with a charge of 221b5., against
the 5-inch plate. The velocity may be estimated
from the fact that it passed clean through the
target, making a circular hole. Portions of the
broken shot and a large piece of the target were
picked up at the distance of a thousand yards in a
direct line from the target. The next shot fired was
from the 8-Inch gun at the same target, with a
spherical steel shot of GBlbs., with 301bs. of powder.
It struck the target low down to the right, but the
penetration was complete, and a large portion of the
back of the plate surrounding the aperture was
carried away. The third shot fired was a cylindrical
steel bolt of 741bs. weight, which was fired from the
6-inch gun against the Agincourt target, with a
charge of 221bs. of powder. This shot struck the
target in its strongest part, and had it remained
whole there is little doubt that it would have made

a clean penetration. As it was, the shot broke into

,wo parts, one of which dropped in front of the

target, and the other, though it went through the
plate itself, lodged in the backing. The fourth shot
was a cast iron cylindrical bolt of 701b5., with a

charge of 221bs. of powder, from the 6-inch gun
against the Agincourt target. The penetration in
this case was not complete, but extended for 2-3ds

of the width, cracked the plate, and seriously
damaged the backing. The experiments will pro-
bably be resumed to-day. Amongst those present

on the ground were General Sir John Jones, Co.

Freeling (Ordnance Select Committee), Lieutenan

Marshall, R.A., Captain Osborne, Captain W.
Lock, the French and Spanish consuls, Captain
White, R.N.,Cominander Horner, R.N., Captain

Clerker (Swedish Embassy), &c.

FEMALE CONVIC7 PRISONS.

There are three prisons in England specially ap-
propriated to female convicts, and situated respec-
tively at Parkhurst, Fulham, and Brixton. During
the year 1856 504 prisoners were received or dis-
posed of, 121 of whom were transferred to Milbank,
Fulham, or Brixton, 101 discharged, and 59 re-
moved to the Eagle House and Carlisle Memorial
Refuges. Seven deaths occurred, and there were
216 inmates at the end of the year. The women
are employed in needlework of various kinds, knit-

ng, laundry work, coir picking, cooking, and
baking, and the sum realised from the performance
of these duties amounted to £1,691. The total
annual cost of this prison is £12,508, and the net
expenditure 111,835. Of the seven deaths all were
from natural causes, and the establishment was,
during the autumn epidemic of last year, perfectly
free from cholera. The superintendent of the Brixton
prison reports that there were 482 convicts in that
establishment at the end of last year, that 140 were
transferred to other prisons, two were removed to
lunatic asylums, 9 died, and 155 were discharged,
making a total of 788 treated in 1866. The in-
mates of the prison manufacture a very large
quantity of clothing, &c., nearly 27,000 shirts,
6,207 War Department socks, 10,000 handkerchiefs,
and 2,400 towels being among the articles enu-
merated. The net expenditure of this establishment
was £14,300. A total of 296 prisoners were treated
at the Fulham Refuge during 1866, and 140 re-
mained at the end of the year. The mark system
and some change of diet was applied to this prison
in June of last year, which placed it, as to diet and
discipline, on a par with the establishments at Park-
hurst and Brixton. These women now spend the
last six months of their sentences at the Carlisle
Memorial or Eagle Refuges. The former of these
institutions was opened in August, 1865, has ac-
commodation for 50 inmates, and has arranged
with the Government to receive 100 women during
the year. Since the opening of this useful esta-
blishment 153 female convicts have been received,
and of 115 already liberated, 49 have obtained
situations, and 66 have returned to their friends
and families. The Eagle !louse Refuge was esta-
blished through the exertions of the Marchioness
Dowager of Lothian and Sir IValter Crofton, was
opened in March of last year, and had received
during the first year 31 prisoners. The Directors
of Prisons, in the course of their last annual report,
say :—"We have much pleasure in bearing testi-
mony to the good results already apparent from
the work undertaken by these two refuges, which
have been admirably conducted, with the best in-
fluence on the convicts."

THE SEARCH:FOR SIR J. FRANKLIN'S REMAINS.--
Advices published by the American papers from
ILTulso Bay, head of Hudson's Bay, dated August 15, give
au account of the whereabouts of the Arctic explorer,
Captain Hall, in search of the remains of Sir J. Franklin.
Captain Hall was living on the rocks iu the same place he
wintered in last winter. During last winter ho had been
on a journey in search of dogs, vcompanied by five men
belonging to the whale ships in the bay and two natives.
The party took a north west course, and were away six
weeks, having accomplished their object, but had suffered
great privations, living only on frozen deer meat and a
spoonful of brandy per day each. Some information Capt.
Hall received last winter from the natives he fell in with
has determined him to winter there this winter. The na-
tives told him that some white men had been with them a
long time, and one of them died, and they had buried him
with great care. Captain Hall thinks it may be Sir Jahn
Franklin, and has determined to try and reach the country-
and see for himself, so ho offered among the whaling fleet
$5OO in gold per man for five men to go with him. The
men having wintered, did not wish to stay, but at last five
good strong men joined, and when they had done hunting
this autumn they would start. Captain Hall is RICO of
obtaining some relics at least. "If I die," says be, " 1 shall
dit &Lug my duty."