The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-25 00:00:00

THE ARMSTRONG GUN.

Viewed as a combination of various well-known
parts, and as an instrument for projecting shot and
shell over great ranges with precision, under
favourable circumstances, the Armstrong gun is
both a beautiful and a wonderful production.
Nothing like the firing made with this gun at
Shoeburyness has ever before been seen. To the
artillerist it is a most pleasant sight to witness Sir
William peering through his glass at a target 1,000
yards distant, and, as the shot strikes, exclaiming
with perfect coolness, " Two low by three inches,"
or words equally indicative of nicety. But this, be
it remembered, is on the practising ground, with
carefully constructed sights, and other delicate ap-
pliances--not on board a ship in a seaway, nor in
the field of battle. How will it work there? is
the question. Now, we must say, although not
without regret, that we have but little ground for
expecting much of this gun as an instrument of
actual warfare, either on board ship or in the field,
notwithstanding all that we have heard respecting
it. Nor, in saying this, are we in the least un-
mindful of what has been done, and is still doing,
by the Government to introduce its manufacture.
The Government have done something, and mean
to do much more in this respect, but we doubt
if the laws of nature will permit them to carry
out their designs. It is easy for the Govern-
ment—and especially for the Government acting
under a " certain influence "—to knight an en-
gineer, to build new factories, to construct breech-
loading guns of the kind they are pleased to
prefer, and to promise great results to the nation.
But can Government prevent moisture rusting
metal, or rust choking up screw-threads, or lead
clinging to rifle grooves, or any other of the evils
to which guns of this kind are liable ? It is only by
a bountiful supply of water during the firing that
the new gun is kept in good condition ; but has
field artillery never to be used where water is
scarce ? It is only by the most careful attention,
as every engineer knows, that screw-threads and
other close fitting surfaces can be kept in good order
when exposed to the weather-; but are ships at sea
never so beset by gales and storms for days together
as to render it impracticable for men to unscrew
and grease all the guns on board of them ? It has
been the habit of men in office to consider these
matters important ; it is fashionable now, for the
moment, to ignore them ; but warm lead will cling
to grooved iron, whateVer our whim may be, and
oxygen will not lose its appetite for any fashion of
ours. We mention these things as warnings only,
and not with a desire to detract from the real merits
of Sir William Armstrong's invention. Under some
circumstances the light long range. cannon will
doubtless prove very useful to us, and it is possible
that the principles of its construction may prove
applicable to guns of far greater power than the
small experimental • cannons which alone have
hitherto been tested. But let us not indulge in
extravagant expectations, or suppose for a single
moment that Mr. Whitworth and other improvers
of our artillery have any cause whatever to halt in
their patriotic labours.—Mechanics' Magazine.

AA, R. ALBERT. SMITH'S CHINA,
-111- TO-NIGHT, at 8 o'clock, and TO-MORROW at 3
and B.—Stalls can be taken.from the plan at the new Chinese
box-office daily, from 11 to 5, 38 ; area, 2s ; gallery is.

•
Just published, price 6d.,
"TO CHINA AND BACK." By ALBERT SMITH. For•
Warded from the Egyptian Hall for Seven Stamps.

TO-NIGHT, MR. CHARLES DICKENS, and
TO-MORROW NIGHT, at S o'clock, till READ at
ST. MARTIN'S HALL. TO-NIGHT, "The Poor Tra-
veller," " Boots at the Holly Tree Inn," and "Mrs. Gamp."
TO-MORROW NIGHT, "The Poor Traveller," " Mrs.
Gamp," and "The Trial from Pickwick." Stalls, numbered
and reserved, Pour Shillings ; centre Area and Balconies, Two
Shillings ; Back Seats, One Shilling, at Messrs. Chapman
and Hall's, 193, Piccadilly, and at St. Martin's Hall, Long-
acre.

CIHRISTY'S MINSTRELS.—Every Night at 8,
and a Grand Day Performance on Saturday Afternoon
at 3, St. James's Hall, Piccadilly. Change of Programme for
the Easter Holidays. Stalls, 3s.'; unreserved seats, 2s. ;
gallery, ls. Tickets and places may be secured at Mr.
Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street.

.ONDON CRYSTAL PALACE, REGENT.
A-4 CIRCUS, OXFORD-STREET and GREAT PORT.
LAND-STREET.

• This magnificent building is NOW OPEN to the public, for
the S&LE.of all kinds of USEFUL and FANCY ARTICLES.
The Photographic Establishment, Aviary, Conservatory,
General Refreshment Room, and Ladies' Private Refresh-
ment-Room, with Retiring Room attached, are replete in their
several departments.

PEOPLE'S EDITION, AND ONLYCOMPLETE EDITION
OF MOORE'S IRISH MELODIES, WITH THE MUSIC.

In One Volume, small 4to, price 12s. cloth, gilt edges ;
Also in Ten Numbers, to be Ivid separately, price ls. each,
MOORE'S IRISH MELODIES, with
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The only complete and co right Edition for the People, con-
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Irish Melodies.
*** Longman and Co,'s "People's Edition," price 125.,
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London : Longman, Brown, and Co. and Addison and Co.
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