The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-20 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—In looking over the leading article of the Times
of yesterday, I find our gunboats are again in a dilemma.
Such being the ease, a few words respening them and
their antecedents may not be out of place. It appears
that when the allied forces arrived at the mouth of
the River Peiho (or, as it is called) in the Gulf ( f
Pecheli, two of the French gun-boats crossed the bar,
whilst the two English despatch gun-boats stuck fast.
This appears quite incomprehensible, as we were given
to understand that, the e despatch gun-boats (as they are
called) were supposed to be able to ascend any river,
but when we learn that they draw from 12 to 15 feet
water we are not surprised at their sticking, and thus
giving to the French a temporary victory, of which they
will be sure to avail themselves. It is a well-
known fact that the gun-boats attached to the
navies of Russia, Denmark, and Holland, draw
only five feet water, whereas the first batch of gun-
boats sent out t.) the Baltic by us drew t welve feet
water, the second lot from seven to eight feet, and the
third lot six feet ; and I believe not or e of the 200 gun-
boats in our service draw less than six feet. Tells is the
main cause why the expedition under Admirals Lyons,
Napier, and Dundas failed so lamentably, because they
could not get over the shoals which surround Cronstadt ;
and had the last powerful txpeditien gone which was
fitting out [Afore the peace, it would have failed also,
from similiar causes, where, in al probability, they
would have struck upon the shoals and become an easy
prey to a powerful enemy, fully prepared with an equal,
or, in fact, a greater number of gunboats drawing less
than five feet water, and fitted with two screw pro-
pellers—a plan introduced, I believe, by Messrs. G.
Rennie and Sons, previous to tha war ; whereas cur
gunboats have only one propell r.
To this important airangeteent of the screw I am
desirous e f drawing the attention of those in the right
place, as gunboats so arrranged draw less water
and travel at a greater speed, and had see a few of such
beats non in the Chinese waters they would speedily
set le tine war. Arh 'it time ago I had the pleasure of
inTecting a number of &Yenta-4as built by Meesrs. G.
Rennie ard Sans for the East Lnlia Company, which
are intende.ifer the ehallow rivers of India. They are
fitted with two propellers placed pear each side of the
rudder, and so arrarged that they are not liab'e to get
damaged in caseof lying aground. Their draught of water
(ia foil trim) is 2 feet 6 inches astern arid 2 feet at the bow
—this is wi;h sailors, marines, am intmition, and coals for
a four days' cruise. On the f ire-deck they carry a long
13-pounder, which can be worked iu any position. The
tore part of the boat is see censtructed teat the gun can
be brought to bear on any object close under the bow.
Each propeller is worked by a separate engine, which
entail ,s the boat to be turned in its own length ; and in
case of coining into close quarters this arrangement
would be found of immense advantage. Should the
rudder get un hipped, the boat would still be
cavigahle, as in case of accident to one screw the other
ie still available. I am informed that Mr. Rennie re-
cently tried hew coon the provilere c ,uid be taken off
and repi,ced with others, the boat at the time being
AC -at and under steam Th s was done in 20 minutes.

I am convinced of the advantages that would be de-
rived from the introducion of this class of gunboat into
her Majesty's navy, mtre especially if fitted with at
least four of Colonel Sir Charl-s Shaw's patei.t revolving
rifl,s, each of which fires 20 shots pir minute a distance
of 750 yards, and as tht r 2 are four batteries they would
discharge 80 shots per minute. This is in addition
to the gun on the fore deck. If such gunboats were
on the river Peiho, at the present time, we should
have been spared the annoyance of knowing the French
had 'alc,:n the lead of us. In fact the war would have
been at an end, as the speed they travel at, 9:1 knots
jyr hour, and the guns, with the men they carry, would,
before now, have broNght John Chinaman to his senses ;
besides wl ich a great number of . them could be got
ready in a sh, rt ti rue.
What is the Government about that they do not avail
themselves of such valuable engines of war ? lam sure
that S r C. Napier would not have to complain of our
gunboats b,ing locked up in a creek at Hadar, as is the
Case with the greater part of our present war machines.
INVESTIGATOR.
3, Cavendisb-;rove, Wandsworth-road,
July 14, 1858.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALL'S-MONDAY.

The business transacted was too limited to require
comment. The prices given below aro merely nominal.

GOODWOOD STAKES.
3to 1 agst The Roman Candle
8 to 1 agst Lifeboat
10 to 1 agst Rosati
20 to 1 agst Harry Bluff
20 to 1 agst Fulbeek (25 to 1 also laid)
25 to 1 ag=t Eaperance
30 to 1 agst El Hakim
ST. LEGER.
4 to 1 agst Toxopholite (take 5 to 1)
20 to 1 agst Eat Langton (taken)
25 to 1 agst Kelpie

SALE OF BLOOD STOCK.

Tee following horses were sold by auction by Messrs.
Tatter••.all, at Hyde-park-corner, yesterday:—Amster-
dam, 3 yrs old, by the Flying Dutchman, out of Urania,
110 guineas ; Excelsior, 3 yrs old, by Flatcatcher, out of
La Femme Sage, 40 guineas ; Chesnut cult, 3 yrs old, by
Viratherbit, out of Dagobert's dam, 23 guineas ; Met's,
by Leviathan, out of Thetis (winner of a steeplechase at
Reading), 40 guineas ; Erringhatn, 3 yrs obi, by Gre-
cian, darn by Faugh-a-Ballagh, 23 guineas ; Tae Orphan,
3 yrs old, by Robert do Gorham, out of Yawn, 22 guinear.

Racing Fixtures for 1858,

JULY.

Nottingham 2O Marlborough .........••.23
Stamford

AUGUST.
Ripon
... ....................
18
Belford
North Staff.)rdshire 3 E ham ....................24
26
Brighton
Brighton Ciub
Lewes
Wolverhampton ..... .... 9 Great Yarmouth 31
Reading ll
NOV EMBER.
Worcester Autumn 2 I Shrewsbury Autumn —l6
Liverpool Autumn 9

AQUATICS.

Sr. MARGARET'S AND ST. JOHN'S (WEST

MINSTER) REGATTA:

A very excellent contest, in three heats, took place
yesterday, between numbers of the Lighterrnen's Phi-
lanthropicpurse cf save., given by the
's and S. John's, Westmins•
inhabitants Society,
of
St.
Margaret for a
ter. The weather being fine, the concourse of spectators
was very large.

T. Woodford and FIRST
T.
J. Clark (Red) 1
J. Goatley and H. Berry (Dark Blue) 2
J. Stewart and F. Braithwaite (White) ()
The course was from Westminster to Vauxhall-bridge,
down round a boat off the Duke of Baccleuch's, and up
to the tiorsefcrry. They made a capital start, but
after a dozen strokes Red took the lead, closely
pressed by Dark Blue. White, who had fillen astern,
then put on a spurt and came up to Dark Blue, and so
they continued, the haat being won by three lengths.