The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-02 00:00:00

'THIS ;DAY.

AUSTRIA.

MANNING TILE NAVY.

SUN OFFICE, Six o'Clock.

A letter dated Vienna, March 30, says Yes-
terday evening it was related that Sardinia had
consented to disarm, but no official confirmation of
the report has been received. Austria, who a few
days ago was extremely warlike and intractable, is
now pacific and conciliatory, and the sudden change
which has come over her is perhaps to be attributed
to the attitude recently assumed by Russia. A sus-
pension of the armaments is even spoken of, and it
is probable that this Government would disarm if
France and Sardinia would also do so. Austria would
hardly object to a change in those parts of the spe-
cial conventions which give her a right to send
troops into the Italian duchies for the maintenance
of peace and order, if any other means of keeping
the revolutionary party within due bounds could be
found. The Austrian and German papers are still
arguing whether Sardinia ought or ought not to be
admitted to the Congress, but there is reason to be-
lieve that the Powers have already agreed to invite
all the Italian Powers to send representatives, but
merely as consultative members of the august as.
sembly.

THE

TRIXLS.

DUBLIN, FRIDAY.
The trial of O'Sullivan was resumed yesterday
at Tralee. Prior to the statement of the Solicitor-
General for the prosecution,
Mr. Coffey intimated that he had received a
letter from the prisoner, which left him no alterna-
tive but to withdraw from further acting as
counsel for the defence.
A discussion ensued as to whether the leiler
should be read in open court.
The Solicitor• General objected to its being; mad
in
the ttr alh ie presence of• the jury, or published pending
Baron Greene said he had read the letter, and it
ought not to be published. It should be regarded
as a confidential communication between the pri-
soner and his counsel.
The Solicitor-General—I understand that to be
an order of the Court.
Baron Greene assented.
The Solicitor-General said he gave notice that if
anything were done to the contrary he would take
such steps, under his lordship's direction, as he
might be advised.
Baron Greene—ln my opinion the publication
of that letter would be a contempt of court and a
violation of the law, and an offence which would
subject the party guilty of it to a severe penalty.
The Solicitor-General will avail himself of the law in
case it be violated ; and as far as depends on any
power of mine I shall be very happy to assist the
law.

Messrs. Coffey, Nelligan, and John O'Hagan,
and the prisoner's attorney then retired from the
court.
The jury were then recalled, and
The Solicitor-General proceeded to state the case
for the prosecution, and in the course of his obser-
vations said.that amongst the persons arrested in
Kerry and Cork on charges such as that for which.
the prisoner was now on trial, were seven national,
schoolmasters, three attorney's .clerks, a well paid
grocers assistant, the parties not being of the loweSt
class, and none, of them having any connection
whatever with land. He vindicated the proclama-
tion issued by the Lord Lieutenant, which, he said,
had had the effect of deterring persons from partici-
pation in the conspiracy, and converting what had
been previously a compact, well knit confederacy
into a rope of sand, which fell into the atoms of
which it was composed, such a result being what
always followed where guilt was the sole bond of
union between parties. The more timid abandoned
the confe,cleracy altogether—the more unscrupulous
determ:ned to sacrifice their companions—and the
result had been that about 30 arrests in all had been
made.' The details of the learned gentleman's ad-
dress were so much the same as those given on the
last trial that repetition is unnecessary. In con-
clusion he said that in the discharge of the painful
duty which devolved upon him he trusted he had
satisfied them that the course taken by the govern-
ment was a wise and proper one, and that they
could not have overlooked the evidences Of con-
spiracy which had been laid before them. He had
endeavoured carefully to abstain from stating to the
jury anything that he was not prepared to prove.
Baron Greene said that before the evidence?)i4o-
ceeded he wished to ask the prisoner if he de
tied
to have an opportunity of reconsidering his deter-
mination: if so he Would give him a reasonable
time to get counsel.
The Prisoner said=--No, under the circumstances.
(Goulah), the approver,-was-then
sworn and examined by Mr. Hickson, Q.C.-
•-•
The prisoner was found guilty,.and sentenced to
ten years' penal servitude.

THIS DAY'S SHIP,PING.

LONDON, April 2.—Wind this day at noon, S. ; mode-
breeze and cloudy.
PORTSMOUTH, April I.—Wind E. to S.W.—Arrived—
Merlin, from Antwerp for Havannah.
CLYDE, April I.—Wind W.N.W.—Arrived—Robert
Leonard, for St. John, N. 8.; Ann Aligusta, ditto; 311 c
Mac, for Charleston.
CARDIFF, April I.—Wind W.S.W.—Sailed—Ocean Tra-
veller, for New York.
DOVER, April I.—Wind W.S.W.—Put back—King of
tho Forest, with loss of mainmast and boat, and much
damage to bulwarks, stauncheons, &c., having driven
D
athwart hawse of the ement, screw steamer, from London
for Cardiff.

(Br ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
SOUTHAMPTON, Saturday Morning.
A. telegram. states that the screw steamer Peninsulas. passed Hurst at 10.10 a.m.
Wind W.; blowing strong.
.Arrived.—Kingston, from Hull, bound to Montreal, put
in leaky; Wonder, steamer,,from Jersey, Havre, steamer,
front Havre; Georges, from Cherbourg; L'Etoile, from
Carentan.
Sailed.—Courier, steamer, for Jersey; Alliance, steamer,
for Havre. ‘.

LIVEUPOOL, Saturday Morning.
Wind N.W.; moderate.
Arrived, April I.—Cairo, screw steamer, from Alex-
andria,
Arrived, April 2-.--Cassiterites, from Islay; Arequipa,
from Bahia; Lindisfarne, from Cerea ; 31igPah, lrixn
Leghorn ; Reim des Plots, from Nantes.

(113: SUBDIARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.)
GRAVESEND, Saturday Motlainm,
Wind S.W. ; tide, first hour's flood ; cloudy. . '
Arrived, April I—Nile, from Calcutta; Sarpsborg, from •
Sarpsborg; Adolph, from lingleh,ohn; Kristine from
from
from Horsens ;
Aarhuus ; Ellen, from St. Michael a; Mona, from Kill-
4
Frowke, from :.'•
lundorg.
Worcum; Swirumi, from Odessa; Alfred, from D;obak ;
Elfieda, and David Martha, both from Guernsey ; Hanover,
Arrived, April ltenit,
from Antwery.
Sailed, April I.—Warrior, steamer, for Mogador. . .
DEAL, Saturday Morning.
Wind, W.S.W.; very strong.
Passed—City of Quebec 14
, from London for Montreal Ci
,1.
New Express, brig, from westward for north.
ki

t A prohibition to export horses beyond the limits
~ ..:
of the Zollverein has just been published in the Grand
• Duchy of Luxembourg.
Mr. W akle
FIRE AND LOSS OF LlFE.—Yesterday morning
y received information of the death of Mrs.
Bridget Summers, aged 40 years, who resided at J. Ragan's
lodging-house-keeper, No. 37, Georg,e-street, St. Giles's. ....
It appeared that smoke was seen issuing from the front
Windows by some Of the neighbours. Deceased, who had ,
been intoxicated, was found nearly burnt to a eindor.
Another woman was lying on the ground nearly suffocated, ' and also intoxicated. Throe others were in an adjoining
~
room in a similar condition; they were extricated as soon as possible. Had the flames spread the whole must have
c:been burnt.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT WORCESTER.--A ticket-of- ;
leave man was killed a few days ago at the Worcester Rail- ,
way Station, byfalling down a long, flight of stone steps. Ho
was to have proceeded to Birmingham by an early train,
but was so drunk when he presented himself at the Book-
ing-office, that he was not allowed to go. He caw, to the
station again at a late hour, and while waiting ka-laati:tg ! :.
leaned against a gate at the top of a stone staircase,e :band
i
to some of the company's offices. The gate flew open.
When
he ivas Precipitated bread, foremost to the bet
picked up he was Found to be dying, having
lloeacavtee, dbeLisnngetcikle.
nalnnihoifs
jpooehknerfemweiLufon49::d:tj:fifiosifcalkeitt(-I:,itst%;
I,:
death was
and abe ut Ss. i
was return, ed at the
inquest, which was held on Monday.
m*hoLyti.aeAt If-roermdictß(riifsatocleidtoent.lllit

UNITED SERVICE INSTITUTION.

ast evening a lecture was delivered at this-in-
stitution by Captain Tyler of the Royal Engineers,
on " The Rifle and the Spade, or the Future of
Field Operations," The lecturer commenced., by
referring to the three divisions under which .the
art of war might be considered ; of—first, siege
operations ; secondly, field operations ; and thirdly,
the defence of fortresses, and the modes orion-
struction to he adopted in defenive works. The
influence of the modern rifle might ,be
expected to produce important effects :u
each of these respectively. The subject as con riectedpon
with siege-operations: had been considered by-Capt.
Tyler in a previous lecture ; it was treated with
reference to field operations on the present occasion ;
and its appliCation to the third of these headings
was reserved for a future opportunity. A good deal
of discussion had taken place at home and abroad'
as to the probable effect of these new rifles -upon
future warfare ; and a warm controVersy had more
particularly been carried on, in. this country as to
the- relative capabilities of riflemen and field
artillery. The results of the practice of the riflemen
showed the proportion of hits that they could make
at particular distances, and the lecturer contended
that field artillery could no longer stand against
them. The relative merits and capabilities of
modern rifles and field artillery were considered at
sonic length, , the lecturer remarking that the
Armstrong gun, whose satirlactory performances
had been brought to light subsequently to the pre-
vious discussion, did not make so much difference
in this particular. question as might be
expeeted.
Its powers to produce accurate eflccts at long ranges
were very great ; but it would not be able to do
much more than other, guns in keeping off any
wholly or partially concealed skirmishers who nright
be, scattered along its front or around its flanks, and
its great poivers would not, under ordinar3eircu,m-
stances,-be profitably employed in a contest with
skirmishers at small arm -ranges. The improve-
meats. which- h- -

.ad 'been attempted 'hither-to- .in
spherical ease shot did not appear to have been
attended with all the success that could be desired,
though great ingenuity had been displayed in them.
It remained to be seen whether missiles of an analo-
gous nature, some 'of which had already been con-
structed, could be more 2uceessfully employed with
the Armstrong or any other improved gun. This
was probable, and-most important results might be
derived from them, under many circumstances,
whenthe range was accurately known or the effeets
could be satisfactorily observed. Impio
generally. were travelling in the directnrovement of in-
s
greased power and precision both in artillery and
small arms, and any means in which large quanti-
ties of expensive ammunition were employed with
comparatively small or uncertain results would neces-
sarily give way to soine extent before these -quali-
ties. The lust.artillery we could procure, also, was
urgently required for the defence of important
points on 'Mir coasts, and it *mild be more than
ever wanted for general use, in—consequence of the
increased; use of •entrenchments that would result
from the common employment of the rifle. The
necessity fOr such entrenchments had become
obvious. No body of troops contending against an
enemy armed with the improved weapons of modern
times would be safe when rifled guns and muskets
came into.full use so long as they were uncovered,
and so long as hostile sharpshooters eculd approach
within half a mile, or. hostile field guns within
three times the distance of them. It would not he
possible efficiently to protect the masses by means
of skirmishek -sent out for the purpose; soldiers
.could carry no armour that would have them from
the effects of suck-Weapons ' • and earthen parapets,
combined with natural obstacles, were the only
means by which future armies could hope to place
themselves beyond the retch. of .continual annoy-
ance, and even of gradual annihilation. Defensive
works, so constructed as not to impede subsequent
offeiasiVe operations, would be required for the pro-
tebtion of defensive positions, and similar works
would even be required in aid of offensive opera
tious. When a post was occupied, it must be en-
trenched in order to be maintained ; when a piece
of ground was acquired from the enemy which it
was important to hold, it would he useful, if not
indispensable, to entrench it, in order that it might
serve as a base froth which further advances might
be made; and any works that were seized would
require to have their defences' reversed in the
shortest possible time. In fact, field engineering
must, in consequence of these rifle improvements,
enter more and more into combination With military
tactics ; facilities for the eniployment of the spade
becoming Of greater importance in proportion
as the range and accuracy of the soldier's
musket and of heavy guns, were practically
increased. At present our sappers, 3,000 rank
and file, besides 500 in India, were few in number
for the multifarious occupations demanded of
them • our infantry but insufficiently instructed
in such duties. We could not expect to make the
most of our rifles, or to find ourselves in the posi-
tion which we ought to assume in future warfare,
without a better instructed digging infantry, and a
vastly increased force of sappers. Without putting
the rifle into the hands of the people, as it was
called, there would be no difficulty in organising,
and in keeping. up, a body of 100,000 rifle volun-
teers, from a class who would be alike ready to
protect us from internal disturbance or from foreign
invasion. With these men to harass the flanks and
rear of an invading army,:and to oppose their ad-
vance, in conjunction with the regular troops and
militia, from a series of entrenchments, provided
by a sufficient number of sappers, the country might
be disputed mile by mile by an invading army, in
a manner that would prevent the possibility of its
advance. If the Thames Were protected, and our
arsenals and dockyards secured by suitable fortifi-
cations, adapted to modern weapons, and if the
above means were provided, we should' be not only
exempted from all fear of the results of a hostile
invasion, but we should go very far to prevent such
a measure being even contemplated. Under pre-
sent circumstances we could not be without appre-
hension as to the first results of any invasion which
might be suddenly attempted ; and we were iii a
great measure dependent on our fleets for the do-
fence of our coasts; and which were expected to.
maintain our naval supremacy in every part of the
world.