The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-19 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 19, 1857.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

On the occasion of the recent visit of the Duke o
Cambridge to Chatham garrison for the purpose of
reviewing the troops his Royal Highness had under his
consideration the necessity which existed for appointing
two additional field officers to assist in carrying on the
duties at the provisional battalion, which his Royal
Highness considered were far too onerous to be efficiently
performed by the colonel commandant and one lieutenant
colonel, as is at present 'be case. It is therefore Intended
that two additional field officers, as majors, together with
one captain, as adjutant, shall be forthwith appointed to
the present staff of the provisional battalion, the latter
officer being permanently appointed in the place of an
officer selected from time to time from the depots sta-
tioned at Chatham Barracks, who has been temporarily
employed in performing field duty.
Major-General Sir R. Airey, K.C.8., Quartermaster.
General to the Forces, having decided that all command.
ing officers, whe❑ quartered in barracks, shall be allowed
four rooms, an order bas been issued from the War De-
partment that all commanding officers shall-henceforth
be allowed four rooms, fuel, and lights, and also allow.
ance for a separate room when actually living in
barracks.

The crew of the steam frigate Shannon, 51, Captain
W. Peel, C. 8,, got out her mainmast on Thursday, and
on Friday she was warped to the jetty at Devonport
dockyard.
The paddlewheel steam vessel Trident, 3, Commander
Close, from Portsmouth, arrived on Friday at Plymouth,
her passage to the Wt sr. Coast of Africa.
The crew of the Coastguard training ship Cornwallis,
Captain Powell, C. 8., were paid wages at Plymouth on
Saturday, and she was appointed to sail yesterday for
her station at Hull.

The steam storeship Rhadamanthus, Master Corn-
mander R. Brown, was taken out of dock at Devonport
on Saturday.
The Indus, 78, Captain J. C. D. Hay, having been
rigged and stored, will probably be taken out to-day
(Monday), and the paddlewheel steatnvessel Buzzard, 8,
placed in dock for repair.
The Amphion, 86 guns, screw steam frigate, Captain
Henry Chads, arrived at the Little Nore (from the
North American and West India station), last from
Portsmouth under pilot charge of Mr. John Millen, of
Deal, on Saturday last, at 3 p.m. At 4 p.m. the same
day she was inspected by Captain Edward P. Halsted.
During the time the ship's company were at target prac-
tice one of the midship guns on the upper deck on the
port side being fired. a portion of the expended cartridge
(it is supposed in consequence of the strong wind blow-
into the main deck ports) lodged upon a cartridge in the
hands of No. 8, James Willis, ordinary seaman, and
exploded the cartridge just at the moment it was to have
been put into the muzzle of the gun on the main deck .
The result was tkat No. 4, Henry Yeatman, ordinary
seaman, whose duty it was to sponge the gun after firing,
and No. 6, J. Autridge, a stoker, whose duty it was to
hand the rammer to No. 4, first taking the sponge from
him, received injuries by the explosion ; No. 3 in bands
and face ; No. 4 and 6 in their faces. Their injuries,
fortunately. are not of a dangerous character. The am-
phion left Port Royal on the 11th of Dec., and had 35
days' passage to Portsmouth. She is ordered to be paid
off there ; she will be ready to be paid off in about ten
days' time. The usual port order that no officers or men
leave the ship, except on duty, previous to her being
paid off is being strictly enforced on hoard this ship. At
divisions, yesterday, it was made known on the quar-
ter-deck that pensioners then serving would not (if volun-
teering for any other ships in active service), be allowed
to retain their pensions while in active service.
The Bulldog, 6 guns, paddlewheel steamship, Com-
mander A. G. Gordon, and the Salamander, 6 guns,
paddlewheel steamsloop, Commander G. J. Mecham,
from the North Sea, remain in harbour, waiting Admi-
ralty orders for their departure on particular service.
The Hawke, 60 guns, screw steamship, Capt. James
Wilcox, C. 8., is progressing with her fitment in the
basin at Sheerness. Mr. A. Eaton and Mr. G. G. Duff,
mates of this ship, have left on their promotions to be
lieutenants.

The Melampus, 42, late storeahip, Capt. L. G. Heath,
C. 8., will shortly be ready to leave the fitting basin at
Sheerness.

The Cyclops, 6 guns, paddlewheel steam frigate, is
making good her defects and alterations in No. 3 dry
dock at Sheerness.
The new Seamen's Hospital Ship is ordered to be
removed on Thursday from Woolwich to her intended
moorings off Greenwich Hospital. The internal arrange
ments have so far progressed that the extra labourers and
artisans employed therein were discharged on Saturday.
The screen work and appurtenances connected with the
formation of the church (which has been designed with
considerable taste) are still incomplete, and much yet
remains to be done before the new establishment can be
occupied.
The transport shipping department of Woolwich is
ordered by the Lords of the Admiralty to be closed on
the let Feb. next—Mr. Saunders, the superintendent,
to be placed on the list of naval officers on half-pay and
the establishment to be discharged.
The freight ship Priscilla, in the West India Docks,
having been taken up by Government for the conveyance
of Ordnance stores to Cape Coast Castle, embarked three
tons of ammunition on Saturday from the Ordnance De-
partment of Woolwich Arsenal, and sailed thence for her
destination. The Dorothy likewise sailed from Wool-
wich with stores and ammunition for the Mauritius.

Letters received at Plymouth from Rio Janeiro, io
reference to the collision with the screw steam sloop
Cruiser, 17, Commander Charles Fellowes, state that
the Swedish bark Therese tore away one of the sloop's
guns, and damaged her lower rigging, bulwarks, and
some spars. The officer in charge was a midshipman,
and it is understood that the court of inquiry held on
board have, in their communication to the Lords of the
Admiralty, censured the captain for giving this duty to
a junior officer on such an important occation as when
nearing so frequented a port as Rio Janeiro. Had the
bark struck the sloop in front both would probably have
gone down. The Cruiser and her companions, the gun-
boats, sailed for China on the 13th of Dec.
The following appointments have been made at the
Admiralty :

M. C. Seymour, mate, to the Calcutta, for disposal ;
A. Irwin, surgeon, to the Hecla ; W. G. J. Ayre, as•
sistant-surgeon, to the Portsmouth division of Royal
Marines ; W. Edney, assistant-surgeon, to Malta Hos-
pital ; D. Duncan, assistant-surgeon, to the Recruit ;
G. Goodman, assistant-surgeon (confirmed) to the Siren;
R. L. B. Head and G. W. J. Sutherland, acting-assist
ant-surgeon, to the Victory ; P. Fairbairn, acting-as-
sistant-surgeon to the Indus ; R. W. Parish, clerk,
to the Iris ; D. P. Sambell, assistant-clerk, to the
Meander ; A. H. Piddell and F. F. Fitzmaurice, as-
sistant-clerks to the Monarch.

THE 9REAT BLASTING OPERATION AT
HOLY HEAD HARBOUR.

This great national undertaking, which is being car
ried out under the immediate direction of the Board of
Admiralty by the Messrs. J. and C. Rigby, of Weetmin-
ster, and which was designed by the late Mr. Ronde',
affords periodically to the civil and military engineer an
opportunity of witnessing the effect of large quantities of
gunpowder brought to bear on the dislodgment of im-
mense masses of the hardest description of quartz rock,
amounting, in several instances, to upwards of 100,000
tons. One of these stupendous operations took place on
Friday, the 16th inst., in the presence of the Earl of
Lieut.. Colonel Servante, of the Royal Engineers ;
the Hon. W. 0. Stanley, M.P. ; Sir R. Bulkeley, Bart. ;
Lord C. Paget, Chancellor Trevor, Captain Bulkeley,
Captain Skinner, R.N., Professor Ramsay, Mr. Hayter,
besides several other engineers and scientific gentlemen,
as well as a very large party of ladies, and several hun-
dred spectators.
The engineering arrangements were under the personal
direction of Mr. Charles Rigby, assisted by Mr. Reithei-
mer, the resident engineer of the firm.
The aggregate charge in the four chambers, acting
upon a face of 210 feet in length and 115 in he!ght, with
a line of least resistance of about 25 feet, was 16,00016.
of gunpowder. The voltaic battery was placed a short
distance from the quarries, and the spectators were
within a protected battery or observatory in front of the
mountain, at a distance of only 600 yards, from which
they were enabled to witness the explosion 100 yards
from the face of the quarry. We may here mention that
nearly 6,000,000 tens of stone have been already dis-
lodged by this means for the construotion of the harbour,
without failure and without accident. In the mining
operations which take place for this purpose the quantity
of gunpowder used annually exceed, 500,0001 b., or more
than 250 tons, and the atone deposited in the sea for the
formation of the rubble foundations and embankment
exceeds yearly 1,000,000 tons. In addition to the agency
which gunpowder affords for the rapid construction of
this breakwater, there are employed upwards of 1,201
men, a large number of locomotive engines, stationary
engines, travelling cranes, with steam power, and every
modern appliance which mechanical skill can bring to
bear to accelerate the completion of this important Bar-
bour of refuge.
The northern, or great breakwater, is at present about
7,000 feet in length, or nearly one mile and a half, and
will enclose an area of upwards of 800 acres of Holyhead
Bay, rendering it, as far as it is already projected into
the sea, a perfectly secure roadstead and harbour, avail-
able to the largest vessels of any draught of water, in all
winds, and in all states of the tide. Its necessity and
utility have become so obvious that it doubtless will, for
the benefit of shipping and the public service, be made
complete by considerably extending the arm of the
breakwater which forme the roadstead. So much has the
importance of this harbour been felt by mariners that in
its present state it has afforded protection to more than
300 vessels at one time during the heavy gales in this
channel, and must thereby have saved a vast number of
shipwrecks and human life.
To show its increasing utility it may be mentioned that
in 1854 1,788 vessels, with a tonnage of 137,169 tons,
anchored under the shelter of the northern breakwater,
and this number has been increased to upwards of 3,000
vessels during the last year.
The adoptedo
urta ofa o
with
constructing co tni no
economy
thisy n breakwater eakw
rapidityater so
as to
of
x
combinee
mountain
advantages of obtaining stone from
the audtisonins
tihasn been that of forming timber stages, with
execution

railways over the line of the breAkwater, about 80 feet
above the bottom of the sea, and depositing the masses
of stone of all dimensions by dropping them vertically
from iron railway waggons, in trains Of from 10 to 12
at a time, into the required positions, thus bringing ►►p
the mass simultaneously to above the level of the sea. In
this manner as much as 25,000 to 30,000 tons have been
dep sited in one week, and his vast demand is supplied by
the great blasting operat:out that take place in the quarries
from time to time, and of which the one we have described
as witnessed on Friday last, the 16th inst , producing
upwards of 100,000 tons at one explosion, affords the
supply. Although the severe stor►ns which have
repeated'y occurred on this exposed coast have done
from time to time much injury to portions of the
stages, not a stone has been displaced from the super-
structure now in course of construction upon the rubble
embankment, thus showing the judgment and sk►ll
evirced by Vie late Mr. Rendel in the adoption of this
system of engineering as applied to the rapid and sec-
ces4ful formation of harbours of refuge. The eastern
breakwater (forming the inner area) and packet pier
will be shortly commenced, with which the Chester and
Holyhead Railway will be connected, so that passengers
can without delay embark under cover on board the
packets from the Harbour Railway Station, avoiding
thereby any interruption to the traffic in the transfer
from the packets to the trains, and saving thereby nearly
an h •nr. This pier will also adroit of being need as a
s. ore for at least 2,000 tons of coals for the use of the
pickets or other vessels that may avail themselves of
the harbour.

The works were commenced in 1848, under the autho-
rity of her Majesty's Government, by Messrs. J. and C.
Rigby, of Westminster, London, and have since that
time been unceasingly carried for ward by them. When
clinpleted, this harbour will stand unrivalled as one of
the most stupendous achievements of the present age,
and will form one of the finest and largest artificial har-
bours in the world. It would also, in the event of war,
afford for the trade, commerce, and shipping of Liver-
pool one of the surest means of protection, being capable
of harbouring in safety vessels of war of the largest
class, and in any numbers which might be found neces•
sary for that purpose.

SPORTING NOTES.

THE DERBY HORSES.
Although speculation on the' Derby has, since the
close of the last racing season, been pursued with little
activity, and although its progress has been marked by
no incidents of importance, yet it has been watched with
steady attention and unflagging interest. The " Salique
law" is not abolished on Wei turf, but so far as the
Derby is concerned it is seldom enforced. Much sur-
prise has therefore been excited that the reigning fa-
vourite for the great Epsom event should be a mare ;
and the very rareness of this occurrence clauses the candi-
dates for the vacant blue riband to be watched with
unusual interest. On the "deposition "of Goldfinch,
Blink Bonny was enthroned the Derby favourite, and
down to my present writing she has maintained her posi-
tion with extraordinary firmness. About a week back
she seemed scarcely so steady in the market, but despite
the strong opposition which was directed against her
she was scarcely driven back a point in the betting.
That Blink Bonny proved herself to be a two-years-old
of remarkable power is indisputable, and her
performances fully justify the confidence of her
partisans. From the period of her debut at the
York Spring Meeting when she was beaten by
both Magnifier and Nougat, down to the close
of her two-years-old career, she exhibited a steady im-
provement of form. She was only three times defeated ;
the first I have already referred to, the second time was
at Chester by Lambourn and Sprig of Shillelagh, when
she was shut out at the turn, and the third by Lady
Hawthorne and Augury,— her overthrow on that occa•
sion being caused mainly by an error of judgment on the
part of her jockey. Amongst the animals that have
been compelled to strike their colours before her may be
enumerated Saunterer, Double Glo'ster, Augury, Ceeva-
lier d'lndustrie, Ayacano, M.D., Skirmisher, Gemma
di Vergy, and Loyola—all horses of approved and
acknowledged racing ability. The races which were won
by Blink Bonny were won in no clumsy style, and, so
far as people could judge from her two-years-old
achievements, she seemed to possess those very rarely
combined qualities of pluck and stoutness. The mare
had no easy time of it during the past season, and her
owner certainly did not throw a chance away of losing
any stake for which she was engaged. She, however,
displayed no symptoms of staleness from her severe
work, and she appeared to possess a strong frame, which
Shouldwould enableßlin k h eßr
ntnon bye
wtraieon
i nnt
erd
wel muchana
should advantage.
she
attain that degree of improvement which her two-years-
old form promised, I shall be fully prepared to see her
enrol herself in the catalogue of Derby winners. Expe-
rience, however, teaches us that mares that exhibit won-
derful racing ability at two yrs old suddenly go off and
lose all form. For this reason I am disinclined to give
my unconditional allegiance to Blink Bonny. I prefer
selecting a colt to represent my interest for the Derby,
and I shall have no difficulty in choosing a champion
from the lists as formidable and as worthy as Blink
Bonny.
The slight liking which I was inclined to entertain for
Loyola, when I saw him run at Newmarket, circum-
stances have changed into a decided prejudice against
him. The horse is good looking enough, but there is
too much daylight under him to accord with my notions
of a Derby horse. His loug legs and sweeping stride
were well served over the flat at Newmarket, but they
are little adapted to climb the Surrey bills. His vietory
over Sydney, too, can scarcely be regarded as a true
test of his ability, for Sydney's head was turned the
wrong way when the flags were lowered, and Loyola
got off many lengths in advance. Despite the indica-
tions which Sydney gave of temper, I should be inclined
to stand him against Loyola, if they were to meet on
equal terms. Sydney has grown into a nice-looking
horse ; he has considerably thickened, albeit he has a
certain "flashy " appearance, which is not greatly to be
admired for racing purposes. His owner, trainer, and
jockey were very fond of him last season, and were not
a little annoyed and disappointed by his defeats at New-
market. Their expectations, however, may yet be
answered.

Mr. Howard's lot seems to putale the cognoscenti. If
report be true, it has recently received an important
addition in who, it is stated, was purchased by
Mr. Howard at Newmarket, prior t. the Nursery. The
price is said to have been very heavy, Mr. Parr, aniongbt
other contingencies, having been " put on " 10,0001.
to 0. That M.D. is as compact, good-looking a horse is
undeniable, and his running at the " back end " of the
season showed that his previous exhibitions were not
quite correct. Still lam induced to believe that he will
prove more serviceable in Handicap races than in the
Derby. When I saw Goldfinch last season at Ascot I
immediately conceived a great fondness for him, and this
fondness was not diminished by the horse's inglorious
performance at Doncaster. He is now under Harlock's
care at Newmarket. I have had a recent opportunity
of seeing him, and a more improving, or a more pr(.•
mising-looking colt, in my opinion, never looked through
a bridle. I shall not be surprised if, after all,he be not
the representative of Mr. Howard's interest on the 27th
of May. I trust he may prove more fortunate to his
plucky owner than Yellow Jack. Schiedam also belongs
to Mr. Howard's lot, but I deem him, for cogent rea•
sons, inferior to Goldfinch. Laird Duff is, I fancy, a
"duffer," and Arsenal shall receive none of my arninu
nition.

On Wednesday I will resume the discussion on the
Derby chances, and give a few hints about the Chester
Cup, the weights for which event I hope to receive on
Tuesday.
Jan. 17. A FRESH MAN.

OPPOSITION TO THE INCOME TAX.

HULL.

A speoial meeting of the Town Council of Hull was
held on Thursday last, to consider the propriety of peti-
tioning Parliament for a reduction of the income tax,
when the following resolution was adopted :

" That while this council fully admits the necessity there
existed during the late war with Russia for raising the pro-
perty and income tax from 7d. to is. 4d. in the pound, it
considers that the war being now at an end such part of
the above mentioned tax ai was levied for the purpose of
carrying it on should be forth with abandoned, and resolves
that a petition from the council be presented to the House
of Conaraone, praying for the reduction referred to, and
also for the revision of that portion of the tax which may
be retained, with a view to the more equitable distribution
of the same among the various classes of the community."
A petition to Parliament embodying this resolution
was adopted.