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 wr as 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
pro.petile. The advantages secured are that with
less strain upon the gun and lvss 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 afterwards
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, as}
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 2i-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-hich gun at the same target, with a
spherical steel shot of 681b5., 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 bad it remained
whole there is little doubt that it would have made
a clean penetration. As it was, the shot broke into
two 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 tarp; ;t. 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, Col.
Freeling (Ordnance Select Committee), Lieutenant
Marshall, R.A., Captain Osborne, Captain W.
Lock, 'the French and Spanish consuls, Captain
White, R.N., Commander 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-
ting, 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 £11,835. 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 eau-
merated. The net expenditure of this establishment
was £14,300. A total of 296 prisoners were treated
at the Fulham Refuge during 186 G, 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 Walter Crofton, was
opened in March of last year, and had received
during the first year 34 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 SEARCIU.FOR SIR J. FRANKLIN'S REMAINS.—
Advices published by the American papers from
Repulse Bay, head of Hudson's Bay, dated August 15, give
an 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 in the same place he
wintered in last winter. During last winter ho had been
on a journey in search of dogs, accompanied by five men
belonging to the whale ships in the bay and two natives.
Tho 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 ho 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 cne of them died, and they had buried him
with great care. Captain Hall thinks it may bo Sir John
Franklin, and has determined to try and reach the country•
and see for himself, so he offered among the whaling fleet
$5OO in gold per man for five men. to go with hint. The
men having wintered, did not wish to stay, but at last live
good strong men joined, and when they had done hunting
this autumn they would start. Captain Hall is sure of
obtaining some relics at least. "If I die," says he, " 1 shall
dio doing my duty."

THfiiii-E-friffo-W.

SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CLock.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

NEWMARKET RACES—(Tins DAY).
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
MATCH.

Ninny
Dr. Syntax

FREE HANDICAP.

A Free Handicap of 50 sous ench, h ft; winners of a inn-
dienp of 590 sovs after Oct. ,1 (at ton non.) 914, of n minor
hanlieth 71b extra; 1-tot mile anti a distance of B.C.
La ll:~uhliiue
Pirate Chief
2
Chignon

Fivo ran.
NF„ j',l ARK ET DERBY.

The Newmarket Derby, a Sweepstakes of 25 sows each, 10
ft, with 100 added, for three year 011 s; colts Bst 111 b,
fillies Bst 715; the winner of the One Thousand Gui-cas,
or Two Thousan 1 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket, the
Oaks or Derby at }_:)sern, the Prince of Wales's Stakes
at Ascot, or the Sr. Lsg'r at Doncaster 71b el.; maidens
if they have never saved their stakes in the abovemen-
tioned races allowed 71b; the second to receive 100 sova
out of the stakes; the last mile and a half of the 8.0.
Longchamps
• . 1
Hermit 2
Mandrake
Five ran.
MATCH.

Match, 1,000, h ft; Bretby Stakes Course—Duke of New-
castle's Julius, 3 yrs, Bst 111 b, agst Marquis of Hastings's
Lady Elizabeth, 2 yrs, Bst 21b.
Lady Elizabeth 1
Julius
Won by a short head.
SELLING HANDICAP.

A Selling Handicap of 10 SOTS each, h ft, for three-year-

olds and upwards ; R.M.

My Love
Rupert's darn colt
Five ran.
PRENDERGAST STAKES.

The Prendergast Stakes of 50 sovs each, h forfeit, for two
year olds ; colts Bst 101 b, fillies, Bst 81b ; the winner of a.
500 sovs sweepstakes with ton subscribers 61b, of two
such stakes 91b extra, the winner of any other sweep-
stakes value 200 sovs including the winner's own stake,
and not having less than ten subscribers 31b extra; if
the winner of the Clearwell should have won that race
carrying 91b extra he is to carry 121 b extra for this race ;
T.Y.C.
Green Sleeve 1
Virtue
St. Ronan
Six ran.
£5O PLATE.
A. Plate of 50 soya; throe-year-olds 7st 121 b, four, Bst
121 b, five and upwards 9st 31b; A.F.

Sweet Anne
Porter's Nnot
Greenhorn

1
02
02

'••
Five ran.
HANDICAP OF 15 SOVS.
A handicap of 15 sous each, 10 ft, for two and three-year-
olds; T.Y.C.

Amour Propro
War Queen..
Choral .

3
Thirteen ran.
SWEEPSTAKES OF 10 SOVS.

A Sweepstakes of
..10 sous each, for two-year-olds ; colts

Bst 101 b, fillips, Bst 71b. T.Y.C.

Traviata 1
Billet

Four ran.
MATCH.

Match, 100, h ft , Bst 71b each ; last half of AU. M.; Lord
Westmorland's Indian Star, 4 yrs, agstMarquis of Hast-
ings's Athena, 2 yrs.

Indian Star 1
Athena 2
MATCH.

Bandmaster
Risk 2

LATEST BETTING ON THE COURSE.

CAMI3RIDGESHIRE.
11 to 1 agst Julius (taken)
100 to 8 agst Blinkhoolie (offered)
100 to 6 agst Honesty (taken)
100 to 6 agst Valorous (taken)
20 to 1 agst Lozenge (taken)
20 to 1 agst Fripounier (offered)
25 to 1 agst Priest (taken)
lOU to 3 agst La Dauphine (taken freely)
40 to 1 agst Wroughton (taken)
THE DERBY.

11 to 2 on tho field (offered)
10 to 1 agst Itosierucian (taken)
12 to 1 ngst Green Sleeve (taken)

JOHN STIRK,
25, WELLINGTON-STREET, STRAND,
Executes Commissions on all the races to any amount.
The full market odds laid.
Price list daily.

RACLNG FIXT
OCTI

ICES FOR 1867.

PBER.

Caledonian Hunt and
Perth l6
Hereford
Ellestnere l7
Newmarket Houghton

Leok 2l
Liverpool Hunt Cup
Worcester 29
Chelmsford
Lincoln Autumn
Al BE It.

NOVE.

Old Windsor
Liverpool Autumn
Bromley

Shrewsbury Autumn 11
Leamington Hunt

STEEPLECHASES.
OCTOBER.

Ealing
NOVEUBER.

Lincoln 1 Shrewsbury l5
Old Windsor
Liverpool 5 Datohet 2B
Bromley

COURSE OF EXCHANGE.—This Eve Ding.

Amsterdam Short. 11 18

22 19

Ditto 3 Months. 12 Of 12 01.
Rotterdam
Autvrerp — 25 35 25 40
Brussels
Ifamburg
Paris Short 25 12} 25 20
Ditto 3 Months. 25 30 25 32}
Marsleiles
25 30 25 35

Frankfort on the Maine
Tien'

120} 120 i
12 70
12 80

A riesto
lfetersburgh
Berlin

12 70 12 80
31i 82}
6_261 6 27

Madrid
Leghorn
Milan
Genoa
Naples
I'alenno
Messina
Lisbon
Oporto

48&
49 49f
27 75 27 90
27 75 27 90
27 75 27 90
27 75 27 90
27 75 27 90
27 75 27 90
511 511
51} 51fr

LONDON GAZETTE.-THIS EVENING

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, OCT. 9.
Notice is hereby given, that the State Apartments of
Windsor Castle will be closed on and after Monday next,
the 14th inst., until further orders.
MASTER OF THE HORSE'S OFFICE, OCT. B._

The Queen has been pleased to appoint George Walter
Grey, Esq., to be Page of Honour to her Majesty, vice
Paget, resigned.

EAST INDIA POLICE FORCE.—A general statement
as to this force was published as a Parliamentary
paper last session, on the motion of Lord William Hay.
From this it appears that the towns and rivers of Cal-
cutta, with a population of 377,921 parsons, and an area of
more than seven miles, have for their proteztion a total
strength of 1,643 police, or one policeman to 230 persons.
The suburbs of Calcutta, which contain an approximate
population of 238,325 individuals, and an area of 29 1-5
square miles, are supplied with 1,026 police, or one to
every 234 of the population. The town of Madras has a
population of 460,000 persons, an area of 27 square miles,
and a total of 831 police, including foot, mounted, and
marine divisions. The town of Bombay has 1,500 police,
which allows ono to 544 inhabitants, inasmuch as there
is a population of 816,562 persons, and an area of 21
square miles. Each force has among its members many
varieties as to sect and creed, including Europeans,
Eurasians, Ilindoes, Mahommedans, native Christians,
and others.
BULL FIGIITS.—The press of Madi id has fur Eome
time past been pub:ishing articles against bull-fighting,
and in their attacks on the sport have given some curious
statistics. The number of bull-tights have of late consi-
derably increased, and it is calculated that ins. single year,
1861, as many as 1,990 of those animals were thus sacrificed.
The value of each being estimated at 2,500 reals, the loss
may be set down at 4,975,000 reals. In the same year,
3,000 horses, worth 600,000 roals, are supposed to have
peris • hed The losses in 1866 were still greater, and con-
sisted of 2,375 bulls and 3,561 horses, representing a total
value of about 7,800,000 reals. The money paid for ad-
mission to the 475 bull-lights which took place last year
amounted to 13 millions of reals, so that the total cost of
that amusement to the country fur the year Was not less
than a million of piastres, or five millions of francs.
Lord Lyons, it is expected, will leave for Pari
in the course of the ensuing week, to enter upon his dutio
as Ambassador to the Court of tlae Tuileries.