The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-25 00:00:00

mAN SION-110 US E FUND for the RELIEF
of the SUFFERERS by the recent COLLIERY
EXPLOSIONS.

COMMITTEE.
The Right Hon the LORD MAYOR.
R. C. L. Bevan, Esq.
Samuel Morley, Esq.
Geo. Moore, Esq.
Mr. Alderman Finnis.
J. P. Gassiot, Esq.
Christopher T. Gabriel, Esq.
Frederick Thompson, E:
R. A. Gray, Esq.
Colonel Stuart Wortley.

Mr. Alderman and Sheriff
Waterlow.
Mr. Sheriff Lyeett.
Mr. Alderman Bexley..
Mr. Alderman Dakin.
James Hill, Esq.
R. N. Fowler, Esq. '
W. J. Maxwell, Esq.
Mr. Alderman Cotton.

The attention of the public is earnestly drawn to the
suffering consequent on the terrible calamity produced by
the recent colliery explosions.
SUBSCRIPTIONS are greatly, needed to relieve the
numerous families made destitute thereby.
The amount required to meet the memorable Hartley
Colliery Accident in 1862 was £50,000 ; in that case 204
men and boys lost their lives ; in the present instance
double that number are believed to have perished, there-
fore to make a suitable provision for the families depen-
dent upon them, about £lOO,OOO will bo needed. At the
final distribution of the surplus of the Hartley Fund,
£3,140 was allotted to the districts in which the present
accidents occurred, and this sum is now available towards
the fund now being raised.
H.R.H. the Prince of Wales
H.R.H. the Princess of Wales
The Corporation of London
Amount already advertised £7,432 13 7

Subscriptions will be received by the Right Hon. the
Lord Mayor; Messrs. Barclay, Bevan, and Co., 54, Lom-
bard-street ; Messrs. Coutts and Co., Strand ; Messrs.
Glyn, Mills, and Co., 67, Lombard-street; Messrs. Smith,
Payne, and Co., 1, Lombard-street ; Messrs. Roberts, Lub-
bock, and ombard-street ; Messrs. Dimsdale, Fowler,
and Co., 50, Co.,dornhill ; the London and Westminster Bank,
Lothbury; the London Joint-Stock Bank, 5, Princes-
street; Union Bank of London, and all Its Branches;
Messrs. Willis, Percival, and Co., Lombard-street; and by
the seyeral members of the Committee. -_
JOSEPH GIBBS, Secretary.
Mansion House, Dec. 20, 1866.

EAU-DE-VIE.—This Pure PALE BRANDY,
188. per gallon, is vi ry superior to recent importations
of Cognac, recommended by the medical profession, and ex-
tensively used in hospitals. In bottles, 38s. per dozen, or in
a case 395., railway carriage pal I.—HEN KY BRETT and
CO., Old Furnivars Distillery, Holborn, E.O , and 30, Regent-
street, S.W. Established 1829.

CONTRACT FOR BEECH WEDGES.
Contract Department, Admiralty, Somerset
House, 14th Dec., 1866.
THE COMMISSIONERS for EXECUTING
the OFFICE of LORD HIGH ADMIRAL of the
UNITED KINGDOM of GREAT BRITAIN and IRE-
LAND, Do hereby give NOTICE, that on TUESDAY,
the Bth January next, at Two o'Clock, they will be ready
to treat with such Persons as may be willing to Contract
for supplying Her Majesty's Dockyard at Portsmouth with
Hewed Wedges of Beech, under a Contract for twelve
calendar months certain, and further until the expiration
of three calendar months' warning.
The average annual consumption, together with a Form
of the Tender and Conditions of Contract; may be seen in
the Lobby of the Storekeeper-General's Department,
Admiralty, Somerset House. No Tender will be received
after Two o'Clock on the day of Treaty, nor will any be
noticed unless the Party attends, or an Agent for him duly
authorised in writing.
Every Tender must be addressed to the Secretary of the
Admiralty, and bear in the left-hand corner the words
" Tender for Beech Wedges ;" and must also be delivered
at the Department of the Storekeeper-General, Admiralty,
Somerset House, accompanied by a Letter signed by two
responsible persons, engaging to become bound with the
Person tendering in the sum of £2OO for the duo perfor-
mance of the Contract.

By Order,
ANTONIO BRAY,
Registrar of Contracts and Public
Securities.

TO GUNMAKERS and Others,

The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR is desirous of
receiving PROPOSALS from Gunmakers and Others for
BREECH-LOADING RIFLES, either repeating or not
repeating, which may replace the present Service Rifles in
future manufacture.

The following are the conditions considered essential in
military non-repeating Rifles

-A. WEIGHT.
Not to exceed 91b. soz. without bayonet.
R. LENGTH.

To be 51 inches, with short stock, measured from the
hollow of the butt-plate to muzzle.
c. WEIGHT OF AMMUNITION MADE UP.
Must not exceed 61b. 4oz. for sixty rounds as packed for
service.

D. CARTRIDGES.

Must carry their own ignition.

E. SIGHTS.
The foresight must be such as to admit of a bayonet
fixed according to the present system.

Y. STOOK.
Must be such as to carry a light metal cleaning-rod, and
allow a sling to be used.

....
G. RECOIL.
Must not exceed that of the Enfield Rifle by more than
10 per cent.

x. THE ARM AS A WHOLE.
Must bo as little liable to injury by long-continued firing,
rough usage, and exposure, as the naval rifles converted to
breech-loaders on the Snider system. To be as capable,
also, of being used without accident by imperfectly trained
men, and of being manufactured in quantities and of uni-
form quality.
I. THE AMMUNITION AS A WHOLE.
Must be as little liable to injury by rough usage, damp,
and exposure in all climates, as the Boxer cartridge for
Snider's converted Enfield rifle—also as little liable to acci-
dental explosion as the same cartridge, and as capable of
being manufactured in largo quantities, and of uniform
quality. K. CALIBRE.
Optional.
L. THE TWIST AND FORM OF GROOVE.
Optional.