The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-26 00:00:00

Yesterday Capt. Norton paid a visit to Chatham
Gar'rison for the purpose of executing some experi-
ments with a new description of projectile he has
just invented, for piercing the sides of vessels
coated with iron, and for penetrating the iron plates
of floating batteries. This projectile consists of an
iron bolt, which may be constructed to any size ac-
cording to the calibre of the gun from which it is fired,
the length being exactly three times the diameter.
The missile is then coated with thin tough paper to
about the sixteenth of an inch in thickness, in order
that the impressions of the rifle may not pierce
beyond the coating. The gun used yester-
day for firing this projectile was 'Parry's new
breech-loading cannon, which, in addition to its
firing at nearly double the range of all other guns
of the same size, constructed on the old plan, can be
levelled at an object with the accuracy of the rifle.
On the iron bolt being fired at a stout plank of
timber the missile in every instance penetrated the
plank, which it struck point foremost, the advan-
tage of constructing the bolt, in order to ensure its
striking the object in this way, having been ob-
tained by Captain Norton only after repeated ex-
periments. Captain Norton expresses his belief
that a similar shot, made of tempered steel, will
penetrate a plate of forged iron one-half of an inch
in thickness. Captain "Norton afterwards—pro-
ceeded to test the effects of his liquid fire rifle
shells when fired from a smooth-bore pistol. For
this purpose a leaden shell, containing the liquid
fire, was placed in a 10-bore pistol, and fired at a
piece of canvas suspended at the end of the range
to represent the sails of -a shlp. In loading with
this shell Captain Norton explained that no ram-
rod was required, the shell sliding down on the
cartridge by its own gravity. On the shell striking
the canvas the liquid fire was thrown in all direc-
tions, and in less than five seconds aftewards the
canvas was on fire. After it had burnt for some

rue Captain Norton directed that it should

tinguished, which, with some difficulty, was accom-
plished, and no fire was to be seen. In a few
minutes afterwards, however, the canvas again
burst out into flame, the liquid fire having pene-
trated into every part of the substance, and proving
that the effects of the liquid fire-shell are as ter-
rible as they are extraordinary.
No. 3 dock at Chatham dockyard having been
lengthened 60 feet in order to adm't vessels of war
of a large class for repairs, the sailing frigate
Severn, 50 guns, has been docked for.the purpose
of being lengthened and converted into a screw
steamer.

Vice-Admiral t'Hooft, commanding his Nether-
lands Majesty's squadron in Plymouth Sound, visited
the Devonport dockyard, and the Keyham steam
yard on Tuesday, and took luncheon on board the
flagship Impregnable, 104, Capt. Wm. H. Stewart.
In the evening he dined with Major-General Edon,
and on Thursday with Admiral Superintendent Sir
Thomas Pasley.
The screw steam frigate Liffey, 50, Capt. George
W. Preedy, was coaled in Plymouth on Tuesday.
The screw steamship Doris, 32, Capt. Heathcote,
went from Hamoaze outside Plymouth Sound on
Thursday to try her engines.
The gunboat Skipjack, Lieutenant and Com-
mander John Murray, was towed on Wednesday
from Hamoaze to Barnpool.
Steam was got up on Wednesday on board the
screw steamship Nile, 90, Capt. Arthur P. E. Wil-
mot, in Keyham basin, for the ,purpose of testing
her boilers.