The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-07 00:00:00

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pang, Dec. 6.

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STAMPED ....sd.

THE CHANNEL RAILWAY.

Staff-Surgeon Morgan, M.D., and 220 non-commis-
sioned officers and rank and file, embarked at Wool-
wich yesterday morning on board the steam trans-
port Melbourne for America. The strength of the
battery on its arrival at Woolwich from Bristol
was 204 of all ranks. The vessel has been unavoid_
ably detained at the pier beyond her fixed time, in
consequence of the necessity of an entire refit for
the troops, the mess tables and other accommoda-
tion having been removed for the shipment of corn
from St. Petersburg, whence she returned only a
few days prior to her being chartered by our Go
vernment for the present voyage. The whole of the
war stores were on board on Wednesday evening,
with the exception of 30 ice sledges, manufactured
in the carriage department, for transporting the
guns, &c., inland, and saws, poles, and other instru-
ments to be used in cutting a passage up the St.
Lawrence, which were put on board yesterday be-
forethe embarkation of the troops. The battery was
accompanied to the pier by the General commanding
the garrison, Sir R. Dacres and Staff, and the full
band of the regiment. Notwithstanding the inces-
sant rain, the men as they marched through the
town were followed by a large crowd, who cheered
them heartily as the gates were closed upon them.
The men marched on board with the most perfect
order and regularity. Col. Gordon and a Si aff of En-
gineer officers also embarked, together with Mr.
Fayrer, a clerk, and four sergeant-inspectors of stores
and an Admiralty agent. On account of the thick
miserable state of the weather, the Melbourne did
not leave Waolwich yesterday.. She will do so this
morning, with the early tide, about 6 o'clock.

e
litoae‘c Paciriunn grawz the
n't dahre I itewgNivoaanci ztdl gis'
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communities inte-
rested,
up, England
an d t h and ndi i
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eisnotContinentaloynbwroi
brought
sepa-
ratesgtthhhthe
th
Europe be c(Fionaonhctied
FrancesintiPublnet
beneficial to warrant the
ueney with which such
and the undecided non-
committal they evoke, forcibly
anxious gropings that
such
ensirin
inttntndahaindido:oetecieisrtlfl t
boas,
uanlewownrnaoredidaesnrtpeillexrhets:riocodnaluueenf
traffic,
n,pswfehdocigne:ebe
cetnspstiairi
hsytajufPinrirrnlfeatduwleea3Ccgr.
heralded the dawn of railway enterprise itself,
or the vague disquisitions that preceded the
introduction of ocean and steam navigation.
In such Protean style a leading contemporary,
while reviewing a recent project for a Channel
railway, directs certain inquiries, to " the compe-
tent authorities." We may possibly occupy a place
within the bounds of that indefinite circle. When

we noticed this subject some weeks ago, we expressed
the opinion, " that such a scheme, if carried out,
would be remunerative to shareholders, and highly
advantageous to the countries on both sides of the
Channel." Since then the subject has been dis-
cussed by many of our literary, commercial, and
scientific contemporaries ; and whatever diversity of
opinion there may have been on the political and
engineering questions, its great commercial import-
ance, and the advantages it would confer on Eng-
land
and France, are very generally admitted ;
these, therefore, need not now engage our attention-
besides the consmercial, monetary, and railway join.- -
nals, are quite competent to take care of this pbase
of the subject. The nautical phases we will leave
to the Admiralty, and as the writer in the nnes un-
dertakes with "a little solder or a big bung" to
guarantee our national safety, we may rest con-
tented on that score, and proceed to notice what
comes more within our province, viz , the engineer-
ing features of the question.
Accepting then the invitation " to examine the
project," we will endeavour to answer the question,
"Is it really a feasible scheme ?" On this point also
there appears a wonderful unanimity amongst our
contemporaries ; but, though the practicability of
the project is generally admitted, there is a wide
diversity of opinion respecting the fitness of the pre-
sent time for carrying it out. "It will doubtless be
accomplished some day," is the language of many ;
some even fix a period, such as 10 ar 20 years hence.
It was not thus that great subjects were dealt with
20 years ago, and the writer in the Times doubtless
has such timid counsellors in view when he reminds
us that "Chat Moss was no obstacle; the Britannia
Bridge spans the sea; the great tubular bridge of
Canada bestrides a waste of seething waters," and
asks, " Why, when the Anglo-French valley is only
wider by some miles, and deeper by some fathoms,
should this arrest our progress ?" As in a former
notice of this subject we expressed the opinion that
the plan of submerged tubes "is undoubtedly the
cheapest, and presents the fewest engineering diffi-
culties," we will confine ourselves to the conside-
ration of the following points connected with the
tubular principle, believing that they embrace the
whole question of practicability, viz. :—" The guid-
ing the tubes correctly to their position under
water; the joining them when there; and effectual
arrangements for keeping them down."
First, then, we think the means proposed by Mr.
Chalmers for guiding his tubes correctly to their
position under water insufficient; a wire cable
passed through a hole in one of the flanges of a
tube 400 feet in length, with no guide for the other
end except the submerging tackle, would not, in
our opinion, suffice to bring the ends of the tubes
fair enough together to admit of their being cor-
rectly joined. Amongst what he designates "minor
details," lie places " arrangements for submerging
tubes ;" and simply says, "he has considered the
matter ;" but we think he would have acted more
wisely if lie had given greater attention to this im-
portant adjunct to the vital part of his scheme,
namely, the joining of the tubes under water by
hydrostatic pressure. We readily grant that, as
the tube descends it recedes from the agitated sur-
face of the water, the guiding wire-cable merges
into a rigid bolt or bar of iron, and the submerging
tackles near their supports at the bottom of the
Channel ; but stte would, notwithstanding, prefer
something more substantial before expressing our-
selves satisfied with his guiding arrangements.
However, the Dutch Government, it is said, have
lately submerged, and placed with great nicety,
huge iron caissons in the Island of Nava, thus
proving the practicability of such operations in deep
water; and though doubting the efficiency of Mr.
Chalmers' guiding apparatus, we by no means
doubt the practicability of pla.c'aig the sections of a
large tube correctly on the bottom of the Straits of
Dover.
As regards the second question, namely, the
joining of the sections of the tube under water, we
see no insurmountable difficulty in that operation.
If the ends which are to be joined only approach
each other nearly true, the immense hydrostatic
pressure forcing the flanges together would in
cur opinion, tend to right the tube even if it
were somewhat out of line ; because an almost per-
fect equipoise having been established previous to
submersion, it would offer little resistance, but
would accommodate itself to the bearings of the
flanges.
The third point, the arrangements for keeping the
tubes down, are substantial and reliable as far as
they go ; but his five boxes are not sufficient to load
down a tube four hundred feet in length, and
thirty feet in diameter. Trae, he proposes to
cover tube and boxes by an embankment, but we
would prefer to have sufficient loading unmistake-
ably attached to the tube ; however, this at least is
only a matter of detail ; and furthermore, there is
no use for a tube so large as 30 feet in diameter,
five or six feet less would be large enough for a
double roadway, thus saving about 20 per cent. in
cost, which might be judiciously applied to
strengthen a tube, that, in our opinion, is too nicely
calculated for the great pressure it would have to
bear.
On the whole, however, we are convinced of the
feasibility of connecting the railway systems of
England and the Continent by means of a roadway
within submerged tubes, and we think the matter
deserving of earnest attention, irrespective of the
schemes of any projector. When this subject is
fairly taken up (and why its consideration should
be deferred, would be a difficult question to answer),
it will not be to forward the project of any one ;
those interested will doubtless employ competent
parties, who can avail themselves of the most useful
features of any published project, and any projector
would only be too glad to have his ideas embodied
in, and his name connected with, such an under-
taking. There is, however, one peculiar feature of
Mr. Chalmers's scheme which should not be lost
sight of, namely, the use he makes of the hydrosta-
tic pressure in enabling him to join his tubes from
the inside ; this principle cannot be thrown away,
for the depth is far too great to admit of the use of
the diving bell for connecting the sections on the
outside ; it was doubtless the novelty or originality
of this feature which induced a scientific contempo-
ngdhpt
nunpnodnethist
uhcohusall
rary to suggest experiments ; he thinks " experi-
ments which would tharofwewmt
point may be made for
may be many years before we have a better oppor-
tunity or a more fitting time for such experiments
than the ensuing summer ; they could not fail to
attract the attention of distinguished and influential
strangers, and the immense concourse of people
that will flock to the International Exhibition
of 1862,

WOOLWICH, Dec. 6.—E,OYAL ARTILLERY FOR
CANADA.—This afternoon, at half-past two o'clock,
the officers, non• commissioned officers, gunners, and
drivers comprising Captain Vesey's E battery of the
4th Brigade Royal Field Artillery assembled on
parade, and, after inspection, proceeded in march-
ing order from the garrison to the Royal Arsenal
for embarkation on board the screw steam vessel
Melbourne for Canada. The streets in the line of
march were crowded with spectators, and the force,
which was preceded by the full band of the regi-
ment and numerous field officers, was repeatedly
cheered by the public, and especially on entering
the main gate of the Royal Arsenal, where a mul-
titude had assembled, notwithstanding the rain
which prevailed. The force immediately embarked
from the Royal Arsenal jetty on board the Mel-
bourne, which has shipped during the week the
following large amount of war stores—viz., two
complete batteries of Armstrong guns, several
howitzers, 30,000 stand of arms and accoutrements
for the Canadian militia, 2,500,000 rounds of Minie
rifle balls, and small arms ammunition, 1,500 rounds
of Armstrong gun ammunition, cartridges, &c. She
also takes out military clothing and a quantity of
stores peculiarly adapted for Canada, including a
number of snow sleighs, which the wheelers and
carpenters of the royal carriage department have
been working night and day to manufacture during
this week. The Melbourne was under orders to sail
this evening, but an order was received to increase
by a large number the supply of sleighs . for the
transport of guns, &c. ; and an additional number
of workmen will consequently be employed during
the present night. It is expected that the vessel
will leave the river to-morrow or on Sunday.
Several transport vessels are now lying off the
Royal Arsenal to embark troops and stores at the
shortest notice. Large quantities of munitions of
war were this day forwarded to Liverpool for ship-
ment to Canada,

The Ist battalion 16th Regiment is under orders
to embark for Canada on board the Persia, at Liver-
pool, in three or four days. Notices have been sent
to all the men on furlough, calling on them to re-
join at once at Sheffield.

NAVAL RESERVE.

TURNER'S THREE PERIODS.—in his first period,
the pictures are notable for a grey or brown colour, and for
a sometimes heavytouch. Turner is more anxious fur form
than colour; the colours are simple and few, and laid on
unskilfully. His colour was sober because he was studying
sober •coloured landscapes, and as the touch of them was
heavy, so was his touch ; but he imitated without copying.
He did not copy Vandervelde, but he went to the sea and
learntpainted to it
paint i n
truerthe VanderveldeVanden w
card
0; s osteheao tn
(Li ypdegrees
lhe
1823 came his " Bay of Bafie," which shows a change to
the second period. The chief characteristics of this period
are colour instead of grey, refinement instead of force, quan-
tity instead of mass. His light is now as near the bright-
ness of real light as possible ; his shadow, not of one colour,
but of various colours. He tries now for delicacy and ten-
derness of contrast instead of violence. lie also finds that
no one had yet given the quantity of nature. The draw-
ingsand magnificent." The splendour and gladness of the
world, not its humiliation and pain, are now his chief ob-
eaa lof this period, when not painted for display, aro " fault-
object. Third Period—There is less mechanical effort, less
pride in new discoveries and less ambitious accumulation,
more deep imaginative delight and quiet love of nature,
Sometimes in defiance of critics, conscious of power, he
painted only to astonish. The figures are chalky in.
the face, and scarlet in the reflected lights. After 1840
no more foliage is well painted, and it rarely occurs in
any prominent mass,—Fron PorninoTs Life of Turner.