The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-05 00:00:00

THE NEW FRENCH BREECH-LOADER,.

This gun is the invention of M. Antoine Alphonse
Chassepot, Head Viewer of Military Arms in Paris.
It is a modification of the Prussian needle-gun ; the
action is the same throughout in principle, greatly
improved in detail. The result is an arm in every
respect superior. The opening of the breech is
effected, as in the needle-gun, by a plunger, drawn
backward and forwards within the cavity of the
breech by means of a lever projecting from it, which
engages in a notch prepared to receive it when
ready for use. In the Prussian gun no special pro-
vision is made to prevent the escape of gas past the
plunger—this
ias accomplishedbci erwhich
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the axis of the plunger, behind a steel plate which
f
motion backwards. The plate is driven back by the
force of the explosion upon the indiarubber pressing
it out so as so fill up the barrel, thus rendering it
gastight. Of the three wads forming the cushion, the
centre one is more elastic than the upper and lower,
but allare harder than ordinary vulcanised indiarub-
ber. The three wads together are about 7-16ths
of an inch thick. The gun is fired by a
sharp-pointed steel needle, driven by a coiled
spring of wire passing through the
centre
of the plunger. The cocking is effected
as in the Prussian gun, by drawing back the tube
containing the needle, but the arrangement is much
simplified, and by mean of notches ingeniously con-
trived it can be placed at half-cock. The cartridge
exhibits an important modification of that of the
Prussian gun. In the latter the fulminate is placed
at the base of a papier mache wad on which the bul-
let rests; the needle consequently has to penetrate
through the powder before exploding the charge ;
this exposure to the flash soon injures the needle.
In the Chassepot gun the fulminate is at the base of
the cartridge, as in the English Boxer cartridge, but
in other respects the arrangement is materially dif-
ferent from the Boxer. The fulminate is placed in a
flanged copper cap of small size, having two holes at
the bottom to permit the passage of the flame to the
powder. The cap is placed with its mouth towards
the needle, in a paper wad, in the centre of which is
a hole of a suitable size for its reception. The flange
of the cap resting on the wad gives the necessary
resistance to the blow of the needle. This wad forms
the bottom of the cartridge. A thin piece of paper
covers the end of the cartridge and the mouth of the
cap; the needle has only to penetrate the paper be-
fore entering the cap. The weight of the bullet is
386 grains, charge of powder 55 grains, the total
length of cartridge 21in. The diameter of the cart-
ridge is 3-16ths of au inch larger than the bore of
the barrel, the latter being .432 inch, or less than
7-IGths of an inch. The breech end of the barrel for

the length of about 3; in. is opened wider than the
bore, tapering by steps from of an inch at the
face of the plunger to the size of the bore, -432 inch.
Projecting from the face of the plunger is a tube
5-16ths of an inch outside diameter and about I of
an inch long, through which the needle passes. The
base of the cartridge when in the chamber rests
against the end of this tube; between the cartridge
and the face of the plunger there is therefore an empty
space round the projecting tube. The object of this
space is to effect the combustion and removal of
any portion of the cartridge case that may remain
after firing. The wad containing the cap must
necessarily remain, and requires removal before the
next cartridge can be inserted. The weight of the
gun without the bayonet is 81b. 15 oz. ; the total
length, 51in. The bore of the barrel is -432 in. It is
rifled with four grooves, having one turn in 21fin.
We have here a close approximation to the system
of Mr. Whitworth, whose bore, as is well known,
is .451 in., the grooves having a turn in 20in. The
system is not applicable to the conversion of exist-
ing guns, and as it is a difficult and costly gun to
make, it must be a work of time to obtain the neces-
sary supply for arming the French forces. We have
expressed the opinion that this arm is throughout its
details in every way superior to the light model
from which it is imitated, the Prussian needle-gun.
When compared with the Sneider gun, adopted for
the English service, it is behind it in simplicity,
rapidity, and freedom from liability to derange-
ment. Its light bullet and small charage cannot
equal in range and execution the 530 grain bullet,
propelled by 70 grains of powder, of the Boxer car-
tridge; nor is the cartridge impervious to wet, like
the Boxer, which is found to be effective even after_n
being steeped in water for a length of tiree•
the other hand, this lighter charge
French soldier to carry 90 cartridges, weighing no
more than the Englishman's GO.
is aoint that
Point
well deserve the consideration of our
authori-
ties of the War-office. enab!es the

THE COAL QUESTION—THE PARIS CITY DUES.
—The question of these dues (lee droits d'octroi) is again
attracting considerable attention so far as they affect coal;
and in an elaborate article in the 3loniteur Indus?lel Mr.
Alexander Durant carefully discusses the whole subject.
The Paris city clues aro fixed at 7f. 20c. (65.) per ton of
1,000
upon the entry of coal into France is but
if. On the canals the charge upon coal is only a
fnof a -
in the aggregate,
of
ve
city
heavy
iinduced
u echarge.ed
manufac-
turers The
fraction
ctli,oe customskt oi l
n o
duty upon
English ton is 1,015 kilos.), whilst thee
ty
facturer'very justly complains even against this, which,
this
enormous
becomes
a y
y tax
requiring large quantities of fuel to establish them-
selves in the suburbs of the city, in order to escape existence
it, and
hence Batignolles, Clichy, Montrouge, ,f,
important districts. Those suburbs c., have become
have
an-
nexed, and at the time of the annexation since been
it was conceded
that for seven years business established in them should
pay only the minimum dues then
before being annexed. The seven years has now nearly existing in the communes
ex-
pired, and it is rumoured thatth 7 after Dec. 31. next the City of
Paris intends to levy the frs. 20c. per ton indiscriminately;
which, in the case :f
er
some works, will bo equivalent to a
surcharge of .£l,OOO annum; but
u
the hope is expressed
tbat this intention willi not be carried
that there are two means of
chargingt I
the
ti s remarked
that
transitory
state of affairs now existing—by including all according to
the rumour, and by, as suggested by the Journal des De-
bats, abolishing the impost altogether. Mr. Durant favours
the latter course, and argues that Paris is a manufacturing
city, and that therefore the argument that it should be con-
tinued, because "to exempt coal would be to favour the
developemont of great industrial establishments in Paris
which should be a city of luxury, the metropolis of arts
and civilisation," is not tenable. The suppression of the
octroi upon coal at Paris would not, he contends, relieve
Parisian industry alone, since smaller towns, which have
imitated Paris in levying it, would probably follow the ex-
ample set in its abolition.—Mining Journal.
Major-General Sir J. W. Gordon, K.C.8., Royal
Engineers, will take the place of Major-General Sir Robert
Walpole, K.C.8., as Commandant at Ch atham. —Army and
Navy Gazette.
The Ceylon papers state that arlmost as soon as
the Atlantic cable was laid a captain of a ship who arrived
at Point de Galle telegraphed to his owners at New York.
lie telegraphed to his agents in London, and they tele-
graphed to America, but the answer was sent direct from
New York to Galle. The distance which the telegram and
the reply travelled was 20,000 miles, and the cost was £5O.