The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-16 00:00:00

Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day,

The market opens quiet at easier prices. Sales
►robablp 7,000 or 8,000 bales.

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BIRMINGHAM GUN
TRADE.—it is already known that some time ago orders I
were given to convert 20,000 Enfield rifles into breech •
loaders, on the Snider principle, and before Lord Harting-
ton quitted office this number was increased to 40,000, the
Government factory at Enfield undertaking to do the whole
of the work. General Peel's first act on becoming Secre-
tary for War was to order 60,000 additional rifles to be
"converted," thus bringing up the total number to
100,000. General Peel, however, has gone a step beyond
hif predecessor, and has resolved to employ the private
trade as well as the Government factory. In accordance
with this resolution, General Peel sent for Mr. J. D.
Goodman, the chairman of the Birmingham Small Arms
Company, and the result of the interview was that the full
resources of the Small Arms Factory at Small Heath, were
I placed at the disposal of the Government—the company
undertaking to confine itself to the work of converting
Enfields into breech-loaders. There is little doubt that,
by the united efforts of the Government factory and the
Birmingham Small Arms Company at least 150,000 breech
loaders of a superior character may be put into the
hands of the army by next spring The reason for
selecting the Small Arms Company for this important
undertaking is, that Enfield and the Birmingham fac-
tory are the only places which possess machinery capable
of making interchangeable arms on a large scale ;
and, by the arrangement just concluded, the English
Government will reap the exclusive benefit of all the ma-
chinoy in the country. It should be added that the
order already given is by no means the limit of the work
which will fall to the share of the Birmingham makers, as
'it is in contemplation to carry on the improvement of our
armaments until the muzzle loader has entirely disappeared
from the British service. While provision is thus being
made fur the immediate necessities of the service, General
Peel is not losing sight of the necessity of obtaining the
best possible arm for ultimate uso. It is not, we believe,
intended to make new guns on the Snider principle ; but
merely to convert the Enfolds already in store. Before
deciding upon the pattern of anew breech-loader, care will
bo taken to examine all reasonable inventions which may
be submitted to the Government ; and we hear that in a
short time a circular will be issued, inviting the offer of
new breech-loaders for examination, in order that the
Government may have the widest available field for se-
lection.—Birmiaghain Daily Post.
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.—We
understand that at the scientific meeting of the fellows of
the Royal Horticultural Society to be held on Tuesday
next at three o'clock, M. du Chaillu, the celebrated traveller,
t will deliver a lecture on " The Orchids of Africa." Some
remarks on the Grammatophyllum Ellisii will also bo made
by Mr. James Bateman, F.R.S.

A YOUNG SHOPLIFTER.—Sarah Smith, 13, was brough.
before Mr. Paget, charged with stealing a pair of trousers
from the shop of Mr. Freeman, of High-street, Poplar, and
also with stealing -various articles, the property of other
persons unknown.
The prisoner entered the shop of Mr. Freeman on Satur-
day afternoon and purchased a necktie for ls. Directly
after the prisoner had left, a pair of new trousers, valued at
14s. 6d., were missed. John Redford, the prosecutor's
shopman, immediately went after the prisoner, and over-
took her walking very rapidly along the street, and with a
basket in her hand. The trousers were squeezed very
tightly into the basket. Tho other things were under-
neath, and the basket was quite full and closely packed.
Robert Smith, 76 K, was of opinion that the prisoner was
a regular shop lifter, and that the property was stolen from
various drapers. He asked for a remand, that he might
make inquiries about the prisoner.
Mr. Paget remanded the prisoner for a week.
A TOLL DISPUTE IN THE MILE Exn-ROAD.---Joseph Per-
ceval, a shopkeeper in the Hackney-load, was brought
before Mr. Paget, charged with refusing to pay toll to a
collector named George Sage, and with assaulting him.
The collector was stationed at the Globe-road turnpike
gate in the Mile End road, on Saturday night, at a few
minutes past eight o'clock. The prisoner came up to the
gate in a gig to which a pony NV:IS attached before, and a
pony loose behind. The prisoner was accompanied by a
friend, and he would not produce a ticket when demanded.
Ho went to a publichouso whore he remained some time,
and then produced a ticket for one pony. The toll col-
lector demanded three halfpence more foe the loose
pony behind. The prisoner would not pay it, and the
complainant distrained his whip. The prisoner attempted
to regain possession of the whip, a violent struggle took
place, and it was alleged that the toll-collector
was violently assaulted. Ho received a black
eye and other bruises. The police interfered, and the
turnpike man charged the prisoner with refusing
to pay the legal toll, and assaulting him. tho
prisoner charged the collector with stealing his whip. Tho
defendant's head and face were bruised, and it was alleged
that he received those injuries in a previous squabble in a
public-house in Bow.
Mr. Charles Young, solicitor, asked for a remand to bring

forward several witnesses who would prove Sage was the
aggressor, and that all the prisoner did was to endeavour
to regain possession of his whip, which he thought the toll
collector had no right to distrain. He called Henry Hart,
who said the turnpike man struck the prisoner.
Mr. Paget said on the unshaken testimony of the com-
plainant, and the evidence of others, it appeared that the
prisoner had refused to produce his ticket, and went to a
public-house where he remained 10 minutes, and on his
return attempted to defraud the complainant. The priso-
ner was asked for his address, and he gave a false one,
Hackney road only, which contained 500 houses. _ _

_ .
Mr. Charles Young pressed for a remand, and said the
witnesses for the prisoner could attend for him without

summonses.
Mr. Paget granted the summonses and remanded the
prisoner until to-morrow. Ho refused to take bail. The
magistrate also directed that a police-constable, who knew
of the affair at Bow when the prisoner was injured, should
also attend.
The prisoner, who is a noted betting man, was then re-
manded to prison.

Considerable excitement was created at Portland
on Wednesday in consequence of the capture by
Her Majesty's ship Caledonia of the Chilian steamer
Greatham Hall, having on board nearly 300 men
who had been secretly enlisted for the purpose of
manning a war vessel for the Chilian Government.
From the statement of 12 men who escaped from
the Greatham Hall on discovering the nature of the
engagement into which they had been trapanned by
false representations, it appears that they were
offered tempting wages to proceed on a voyage toi
Callao, and that on accepting the terms they were
despatched to Thames Haven by rail and then put
on board a tug, in which they were conveyed to a
steamer lying near the Tongue lightship. Upon
going on board the Greatham Hall they discovered
that three other tugs were engaged in bringing men
from various points, that the steamer was fitted uP
as a troopship, and that a mixed crew of more than
200 was on board, the greatest disorder prevailing-
About 50 of the men belonged to our naval coast
volunteers, and on their suspicions being aroused
they refused to proceed, the 12 men above alluded
to escaping in a boat after a desperate resistance, and
reaching Margate about 9 p.m. In the meantime
the Greatham Hall had steamed off, and telegrams
were despatched to all the various stations on this
coast to be on the look out. Admiral Yelverton,
who was on board the flagship Caledonia, then
lying in Portland Roads, received the message late
in the evening, and the officers and crew were illy"
mediately called on board, and preparations were
made for the chase of the suspicious steamer. Be"
tween 12 and 1 o'clock on Wednesday morning the
stranger was sighted, and a rocket was fired after
her, but this was answered only by a man-of-WO
rocket as an evasion of the maritime regulations'
The Caledonia then signalled by lights, and the fo-
reigner attempted to escape by extinguishing bet
own, but as daylight was approaching the superior
speed of the English vessel soon brought her within
range, and at the sixth shot across her bows the
~
Greatham Hall surrendered. When boarded it W3'
found that the funnels were over-heated, plainlit
showing that it, was the master's intention to get (;)ti
of the Channel if possible, and that the mixed ere",
had been induced under false representations to ell;
list under the Chilian Government. Later ill the
day the Caledonia steamed into Portland Ite3
with her prize, and a strong guard was placed ,0
board, while messengers were sent for instructiel;
On Thursday the owner of the vessel arrived freof
London, and statements were taken on the par the
the Government to ascertain whether, ill t
opinion of the Crown advisers, there is suflieleol';
to warrant further detention. On Friday al3rel.,
quantity of coals was shipped on board the stenul4
and rumours were afloat that she would put to S'
to-day,