The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-07 00:00:00

Prince Augustus,!of Wurtemberg, being at the head of the
special commission appointed for the purpose, and my cele-
brated opponent, Braun, likewise included in it. I had
brought with me a hundred cartridges to be ' of off from
the same gun. It was a long time before Vie gentlemen of
the commission relaxed a muscle of their coin' tenances, but
when one shot followed the other in qu ck succession, the
ammunition gradually decreased, and the gun would not
oblige them by exploding in their faces by degrees became
longer and longer. I did not utter a word, but rejoiced at

the unmixed pleasure evinced by General Witzleben.
Prince Augustus became very red. He rode up and down
gazing with astonishment at the heap of cartridges, which
was diminishing one by one. For the space of ten minutes
the firing was kept up, till at last the riflemen declar4he

could shoot no more, for the barrel was too hot to hold.
Fifty cartridges had been fired from it. You may imagine
the expression on these gentlemen's visages when upon
opening the barrel they found the breech instead of being
stuffed full as they anticipated, as clean as that of a common
double-barrelled gun. Prince Augustus was visibly moved.
`Shoot again,' he cried, as soon as the barrel had cooled a
little, and in ten minutes more not a cartridge was left. In
less than half an hour 100 shots had been fired from the
same gun, and not one of all the mischances prophesied by
the gentlemen of the commission had taken place."
" Your triumph was complete," I cried, "after enormous
difficulties, it is true, but still perfect and entire."
" You are mistaken," said the old gentleman with a sigh.
" I had now another difficulty to combat. It was asserted
that a common soldier could not possibly learn to use the
weapon properly, and when years of experience had silenced
this objection it was only to give place to another, and this
again to a third. When at last I received orders to furnish
no inconsiderable number of the weapons they were all
safely stowed in the arsenal ! Thanks be to God, for hav-
ing blessed our country with a long interval of peace, for
if war had broken out before the manufacture of the needle
gun had been finished, I think I should have gone out of
my mind."

" And was not opposition silenced at last ?"
" Oh, yes. Let us say no more about it. The desire of
my life has been fulfilled, and to God be the praise. All
else is easily forgiven and forgotten, if I can only bring
myself to believe that my invention has helped to secure
our victories. But the number of wounded drives me to
despair, for it is a convincing proof that our weapons are
not yet what they ought to be, and must be made to be."
"But how do you suppose that the greater perfection
of our weapons is to protect our soldiers from being
wounded in the fight ?" _ _ _

"Of course, I do not mean entirely, but the proportion
must not be so large. In many cases we must, by better
weapons, be able to prevent the enemy from occupying
those impregnable positions which have occasioned our
losses."

" I have not an idea how you will bring this about."
" You see," said he, " it is the most likely thing in the
world, that after this war, almost all other nations will in-
troduce the needle gun into their armies. They do not
know the secret of our Zundspeigel, but they will make
some sort of a substitute more or less like it, and have this
advantage in constructing their new guns that they can
avoid all the faults they observe in ours, while we must
put up with what we have, and thus other nations will
excel Prussia in this particular. I fear France especially,
having a very high opinion of the French manufactories
of arms, and am convinced that though they have not the
Zundspeigel the French will succeed in producing a very
capital needle gun, with all those improvements which it
may, perhaps, be too late to make in ours. In a word, they
will try to surpass us once more in weapons of warfare ;
but this ought not to be—it must not be."
You, sir, will take good care, I am sure, that such a
thing does not come to pass," I said, full of admiration at
the youthful zeal of the old man.
"But what if it be too late to prevent the mischief," he
replied. "I am now 78 years of age, and it was my duty
to have provided against such a chance. Here I possess
the answer to whether foreigners can improve on our
needle gun or not."

As he said this he rose, fetched a gun from the
corner close to his writing-table, and showed it me.
I was quite struck with the singular appearance of
th() weapon. He began to explain its construction
to me.

Stop," said I, interrupting him, " I ought to apprise you

that it is my intention when I take my leave to write down
as faithfully as my memory will allow all I can recollect
of this conversation, which in a few days will be perused
by thousands of readers. Will you, then, be kind enough
to determine how far I may venture to describe this new
weapon, the very existence of which is a profound secret
to the public at large ?"
" Pray do not describe it at all," was his reply ; " say
merely that it is three pounds and a half lighter than our
present gun, entirely made of iron, having just as long a
range and sure an aim as those now employed; much better
adapted for the soldier's use, whother for drill-practice,
marching or shooting ; that neither fire nor water has the
least effect upon it ; that it is superior to any similar one
of the kind, for bayonet action—which in a battle is by no
means to be despised that each gun costs three thalers, or
95., less than the price given for the weapon now in use.
And now I will explain its management, for an instrument,
which is to be handled by hundreds of thousands ought to
be so simple that every one can be taught how to use it."
1t was the work of a few minutes for Herr von
Dreyse to do this. I went through the evolutions,
held the weapon in every possible direction, and
loaded and fired—of course without cartridges—as
quickly as possible. I have before alluded to my
being no novice in the art, for I have shot with
guns from the best manufactories in the world, of
all sorts and sizes, and I must confess, without in
the least wishing to set up my judgment as a
standard, that I have never yet seen or handled an
implement which so completely and perfectly came
up to all its requirements. An officer in the Go-
vernment Commission permanently stationed at the
foundry in Sommerda, who had repeatedly shot with
this gun, told me that he certainly shot as far, if not
further, and with as true an aim as did the present
gun.
- -

Several other firearms newly invented by him
were shown me by Herr von Dreyse ; also his fal-
conets and explosive balls, which can be projected
from ordinary firearms.
" And what may this be ?" asked I, taking upsomething
that looked like a bomb-shell.
" That," he replied smiling, "is a surprise intended for
the army—do not let us speak of it. I will only just pre-
mise that, being fully persuaded that light artillery must
be light, in all my inventions I have made this the basis of
my operations—viz , light weight."
"Does the Government know anything of these new
ideas of yours ?"
"His Royal Highness Prince Frederick Charles visited
me a few months ago, inspected the whole of my under-
takings, encouraged me to persevere, and presented me his
portrait with his name written underneath."
" You compared yourself just now with other disco-
verers," I said, as I rose to take leave, " but you cannot,
as they, reproach your generation with ingratitude and
unmindfulness of your extraordinary services."
" That indeed I most willingly admit I cannot," ho re-
plied, with all the fervour of youth. "I am more honoured
than I deserve, especially by the Royal family, who have
most signally distinguished me. I have had several orders
and titles conferred upon me. My whole family has been
ennobled, and my foundry has made me rich. I can but
thank my Royal master with my whole heart, and regret
that only a few more years remain to me in which to de-
vote my knowledge and experience to the improvement of
the Prussian war implements."
We still passed a short time longer in comment-
ing upon the teeming events of the day; and, after
ylef t m
having
uttered acknowledgmentshi, for his ex-
treme kindness, with the feeling, but
rarely experienced, of having been with a man of
whom I had great expectations, and had found
those expectations fully realised. The more minute
details of his life, which could not be asked of the
worthy inventor of the needle gun himself, I was
obliged to glean from the inhabitants of the small
town where he resides.
He is now 78 years old, and, notwithstand-
ing his advanced age, his mind is so fresh and
his whole appearance so vigorous, energetic, and
active, that he
may well be taken for 20 years
younger. He rises
at four every morning, and
dif-
ferent inventions. The Government foundry is
spends the whole day in working out his
von
completely under the direction of
Dreyse, while his
his highly-
esteemed son, Herr Rath
father's attention is chiefly engrossed with the recti-
fication and perfecting of the weapons he has in-
vested. He has several workshops for this purpose,
to which but very few persons have access, where he
is busy several hours a day. When the weather is
fine, he practises shooting in the neighbouring fields,
and he is so scrupulously exact and conscientious in
testing the powers of his new improvements that
often whole months elapse before he pronounces
himself satisfied with this or that weapon. Perpe-
tual changes and readjustments have to be made,
and he is so painfully anxious upon all matters of
the kind that he does not speak to his most intimate
friends, not even to his own son, about a new dis-
covery until he himself can say he approves it.
A physician with whom I spoke told me that Herr
whn-liimitghhwtthieetnhnvoyeuetdhlieitm, g uahnni
sd t
uhtnahl‘ta,
etl
ai frnei
von Dreyse had so thoroughly identified himself
awdnosyut
rl
av bnyounger
irn gmp
per-
fection.
"Pray and work" does not seem to be merely a

motto adopted by him, but the very pith and mar-
row of his existence. Through him, the place of
his birth has not only become renowned, but opulent
too, from the great influx of workmen and officials,
both civil and military. Nothing can be more touch-
ing than the universal respect and love manifested
towards him by all the inhabitants of Sommerda.
In conclusion, I will just add a rumour which is
circulating in the place—viz., that Herr von Dreyse
is about shortly to submit to the King of Prussia a
newly-invented cannon calculated to work as im-
portant a revolution in the Prussian artillery as the
needle gun has in the infantry.

Kr. Roebuck on the Late Administration.

SHEFFIELD, Thursday Night.
The " Forfeit Feast" of the Sheffield Cutlers'
Company was held to-night. The principal guest
was Mr. Roebuck, M.P., who has been the guest of
Mr. Brown (the Master Cutler) for a month past,
and has greatly improved in health.
In replying to the toast of the "Borough Mem-

bers,"

Mr. ROEBUCK, who was received with loud cheers,
after returning thanks for the personal compliment,
said,--Here, sir, if I were wise, I should end ; if I
considered merely my own safety and your comfort

I should at once sit down ; but you must know that
since the last time that I have addressed a meeting
of gentlemen in this assembly great events have
taken place. Upon these events, by a dire calamity,
I have been unable to express an opinion ; but the
old feeling remains, the old horse has been running
the course, and I wish on the present occasion, to
use a clerical phrase, to improve the occasion—
(laughter)---and, if you will permit me, I will do

so. (Hear, hear.) Before Ido that I would say
one word about myself, a subject upon which Byron
said all men were fluent, none agreeable. But, sir,
I have a very long experience, I am sorry to say,
and I believe I may say at the same time that I had
only one interest in speaking, namely, the interest

of my country. (Hear, hear.) Therefore, if I com-
mit error say it is error, and not crime ; and if I say
anything not consonant, not agreeable to any gen-

tleman present, let him say that I am wrong, but
let him not say that I am criminal. (Hear, hear.)
I say this because men have been accused, and very
shortly since, who have maintained opinions which
they thought right of almost everything under
heaven. Those gentlemen, whether they be right
or wrong in their opinions, were justified in ex-

pressing them ; and lest the same misfortune should
fall on myself which fell upon them, I make this
appeal to you. Since I last addressed an assembly
in this town events have happened which have been
of the greatest importance to this country and

to the world. The first of these to which I
allude is the advent and life and death of the
Russell - Gladstone Administration. The next

is the Fenian conspiracy. The third is the great
war in Europe. The two last I don't mean to touch

upon, for if I did I should exhaust my own strength

and your patience ; but if you will allow me, I will

say a few words on the first. I have no doubt that
every gentleman in this room has seen a ship start

from her port with all her sails full, with her rig.

ging all complete, her hull shining with paint, and
her streamers flying ; and they have seen, I have
no doubt, that same ship seeking a harbour of re-

fuge, with her tackle torn, her sails split, her hull

shattered, her cargo thrown overboard. That is a
type of the Russell-Gladstone Administration.
(" Hear, hear," and laughter.) I want to inquire
why this has been ? and, if you will permit me, I
will explain what I believe to have been the cause
of that failure. Lord Russell, I have no doubt,
looked back upon the career he has run, and saw
one event there in which he was distinguished in
the annals of Europe and of England—namely, the
passing of the Reform Bill of 1832, but be was like
the fly upon the wheel. The wheel made a terrible
dust, and the fly said, " What a terrible dust we
make !" (Loud laughter and applause.) lle be-
lieved that the Reform Bill was carried by himself.
No such thing ; it was not carried by him nor by
his Administration—it was carried by the people of

England.

(Cheers.) But he looked back, and

with his flatterers at his back, he thought he was
the man who carried that Reform Bill. He believed
that in his old age, although he had been called
" finality John," at the present:time he could carry
a new Reform Bill. (Hear, hear.) Now, when he
inquired about that there were two questions that
ought to have presented themselves, and I have no
doubt did present themselves to his mind. Was
there any need or necessity for a Reform Bill?
And if there were, was it practicable to carry one?
Now, Sir, I would answer first, that there was a
need for a Reform Bill, and I will say, in answer
to the second, that with good j algmentit could have
been carried. (Cheers.) If you will permit me I
will ask why there was a need of a Reform Bill, and
I will ask what' were the circumstances that enabled
it to be practicable to carry it. And I will ask
first, was there anything in the House of Commons
that rendered a Reform Bill necessary ? I answer
boldly to that question, No. (Cheers.) I say that
the House of Commons represented the people of
England. (Cheers.) (Mr. Dunn—" 'Totnes.")
Stop a moment, Mr. Dunn, I will answer you about
Totnes. (Loud cheers, and cries of " Order," and
" Hear Mr. Roebuck," and " Fair play.") Don't,
for Heaven's sake, let any difference of opinion enter
into this assembly. (Applause.) I think lam not
verging upon anything that ought to be kept back.
(" Hear, hear," and applause.) lam merely calmly
stating what I believe to be the circumstances that
led to the failure of Russell's Reform Bill. If Mr.
Dunn will only confine himself—(cheers, and a voice
"he interrupted you.") No, don't say a word.
If he could only confine the ebullient spirit that be-
longs to him, I have no doubt we'll get on quietly,
(Laughter and cheers.) I was asking why it was
that the House of Commons needed Reform, and I
said that the house represented the people of Eng-
land. Now, this House of Commons, the produce
of the Reform Bill of 1833, has run a race of legis-
lation unexampled in the annals of the world. (Hear.)
They found the people of England at the time of
1832 in a situation which required Reform. Reform
was given ; and what did they do ? Why, almost
the first thing they did was to wipe out from the
annals of England the stain of slavery. (Cheers.)
They then relieved the municipal government of this
country from narrow, I might almost say corrupt,
administration, and they threw it into the hands of
the people. (Hear.) They then went forward and
made a code of laws that was the most sanguinary
in the world the least sanguinary and the most
merciful that the world knows ; and, last of all (for
I won't mention many other good deeds), they freed
commerce, and they made the people of England
communicants of their power and their wealth to all
parts of the world. And this was done under the
Reform Bill of 1832 ; but I will state in one short
phrase the result of their action—that every man in
England might say what he thought, and might do
awtrheyer. ofeh
iwtiohhuewiscei
what he liked, so long as he did not injure his neigh-
uponoounnindthes
bour, and that he was the freest man that walked
fetanauen surfacelecteeosssf ene
0.
sdme
rendered
odhyne
ssnßt
t,aehtlf
aeo
tsr alm what
h, therea t
renderedthe
eileslirencf hgllolofprbCer
neces-
sary ; but I am now stating what was not. The next
thing is—Was there anything like a natural right in
in
nfn
gocontemptuous
h pelt
ctt
ryiesua
tpt
huo
ernemaoemfa
InaainNnv
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Right
sht
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onsae
Right,
opposed-
to be represented ? Now, I look with a sort
to wrong. Well, if they want that, let us inquire if it
be the interest of the people of England to alter the
Bill of 1832 ; and it will not be helped or aided by
stating that there was any natural right on the part of
anybody to have the power of voting. But, sir, I pass
by that. What, then, if there be no ladies in the
House of Commons, and there be no natural right on
the pait of anybody to have the power of voting—
what is it that makes me say that there should beare-
form of the Constitutional Government of England?
It is this. It is not enough that we should have justice.
Justice is not justice unless the people think it be just
tice. Well, then, I say that in the distribution of
now the power of voting, but who have the faculties
power in England there are certain men who have not
and the capacity. Capacity in every sense to en-
title them to a vote, but they have it not; and there-
fore, for the purpose of putting aside discontent, I