The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-07 00:00:00

Tifß ARMY.

The Duke of Cambridge, having been appointed
to the colonelcy of the Royal Artillery and Royal
Engineers, will dine with General Sir R. Dacres
and the officers of the Royal Artillery at their mess,
on Monday next, at Woolwich.

Major-General Sir R. Dacres, commanding at
Woolwich, accompanied by the garrison staff and
the officers of the Royal Arsenal, yesterday at-
tended a preliminary experiment at the entrance of
Plumstead-marsh for the purpose of testing the effi-
cacy of a wooden model of a fortress and embrasure
proposed to be erected in iron for the defence of the
guns at Spithead. The method is stated to be the
invention of Colonel Colquhoun, and was suggested
by Captain Inglis, R.E., Inspector of Works at
Woolwich, as being appropriate for the abovenamed
purpose. The trials will be repeated. The plat-
form for the gun is supplied with hollow-soled
trucks atd raised racers of a new description, and,
as stated, may probably answer the purpose well.
In accordance with orders to that effect, received
at Chatham, 15 of the 100-pounder Armstrong
guns, each of 81 cwt., are forthwith to be mounted
on the sea defences commanding the entrance to the
Medway, in lieu of the existing 10-inch and 68-
pounder
esgenunt guns
armed. Tichhe whole armament of the
that portion of the works
is
Half-Moonßattery, consisting of 20 8-inch guns, has
with which
"
been dismounted. The guns have been removed to the
Ordnance-wharf, in charge of the assistant military
storekeeper, prior to removal to Woolwich. The
snot,also
shell, and other stores belonging to the battery
have been removed and deposited in the ex-
pense magazines situate in another part of the for-
tifications. Contrary to previous orders, the guns
planted on the Cavalier Battery will not be dis-
mounted for the present, as it is considered probable
that the construction of the casemated battery, to
be erected on the site of the existing Half-Moon
Battery, will not necessitate their removal, at least
for the present. The weight of charge required in.
firing the 100 pounder Armstrong gun is 141 b. fez
the elongated shot, and 121 b. for the common and
segment shells.
A course of experiments in 121 b. rocket firing
is being tried at Lumps Fort, near Portsmouth,
the fuze used being longer in communicating the
fire to the rocket than the one commonly employed.
The experiments are not yet concluded. The slides
for the gun carriages supplied to this fort require
considerable alteration before the guns can be
mounted in position. It is said to be the intention
of the authorities to increase the depth of the
ditch by two feet, as the quantity of water which
can now be obtained in it is but insignificant.
Should this scheme be carried out, the escarp should
be rivetted with either masonry or brickwork to
render the work redly defensible.

A rrictung of the African Steam, Company was
held yesterday, Mr. P. D. Harlow in, the chair, when the
report, recommending a dividend of 78. per share, or at the
rate of 7 per cent. per annum, free of income-tax, was
adopted.

TFIE DEANERY OF EXETER.--The Rev. Professor
Ellicott, to whom Lord Palmerston has offered the deanery
of Exeter, has not yet ac,2epted the appoint3.ent, and it is
said to be dor,t)tful whether he will succeed to the vacant
dignity, which will involve the resignation of other appoint-

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