The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-11 00:00:00

7BE NATIONAL DEFENCES.

Most readers will probably be aware that the
general scheme for fortifying the Dockyards and
Arsenals of the kingdom includ d the construction
of certain marine forts in the roadstead of Spithead
for the protection of Portsmouth and its treasures.
These forts were so dusigued as to conaluand the
entrance to the harbour; and, as they were to be
impregnably built and formidably armed, it was
conceived that no vessel could resist their fire.
Portsmouth, in short, was to become another Cron
stadt, girdled with batteries, and inaccessible to
foes. Before these works, however, could be so
much as commenced the probable efficacy of the pro-
posed defences was called in question, and on grounds
which will be readily conjectured. The fact is that
within a few months after the resolution of erecting
these fortifications had been adopted the Gloire"took
possession of the seas," and it presently appeared
that the whole system of naval warfare was likely to
be revolutionised. Whatever might be the objections
to these ironcased vessels as regarded general service,
it was quite clear that they would engage shore bat-
teries or forts with extraordinary advantage, and
as soon as the principles of the new system admitted
of calculation Captain Cowper Coles, a seaman of
great experience, made a direct application of the
deductions obtained to the works newly proposed for
the defence of Spithead. Nothing could be simpler
than the reckoning or more decisive than the conclu-
sion. Rifled cannon of modern construction can un-
doubtedly be relied upon for throwing incendiary
projectiles over a range of 8,000 yards. As the area
of Portsmouth Dockyard is about half a million
sqaure yards, such a mark could hardly be missed,
and it followed, therefore, that our chief Arsenal
might be destroyed by bombardment from the
distance above mentioned, if such a position
could be held with impunity by an enemy's
ships carrying rifled cannon. It further ap-
peared from actual measurement that a hostile
fleet might steam into Spithead without ap-
proaching within 1,000 yards of the proposed
forts, and might anchor in the harbour at
distances varying from 1,700 to 3,000 yards from
the guns of our works. The ultimate form of the
question, therefore, was extremely simple. Could
an ironcased frigate like the Gloire or the Warrior
be destroyed or materially eamaged by the fire of
artillery at 2,000 or 3,000 yards' range ? The an-
swer, of course, was in the negative, for it is as much
as we can do to perforate these armour plates at a
tenth part of that distance ; and it followed accord-
ingly that a squadron of ironsides would quietly
steam by our costly fortifications, take up a conve-
nient position, and set Portsmouth in flames with-
out giving the least heed to its forts or batteries.
There was quite enough in such an argument as this
to command sutention, and so the question was re-
ferred to the Commissioners on National Defences
for their reconsideration, and by them discussed
once more with the new light upon it. In despite,
however, of the case against them, they have ad.
hered to their propositions, and on Tuesday last
Mr. Baring informed Sir Morton Pete that the Go-
vernment, after anxious deliberation, had decided
on proceeding with the Spithead forts.
We have carefully perused the arguments advanced
by the Commissioners on behalf of their determina-
tion, but we cannot think that they have succeeded
directly in establishing their case, though they lave
certainly said much to discredit the counter pro-
ject of their opponents. That project consisted in
accepting the theory of ironcased vessels as com-
pletely established, and encountering these for-
midable fabrics with fabrics of the like character.
Nothing but ironsides could meet ironsides. Pro-
vide a squadron of these ships at each port to
grapple with an attacking squadron, and the ports
would be secure; but otherwise they would be
at the mercy of an invader, for all that fortifica-
tions could do to protect them. To this scheme it is
sensibly answered, that as each ironcased frigate
would cost more than the most expensive fort, the
cost would be prodigious, and the wear and tear of
engines, Sze., perfectly ruinous; that the defensive
squadrons must be either moveable, in which
case they might 'probably be not at hand
when wanted, or stationary, in which case we
should have to maintain as many navies as we pos-
sess forts ; that, as the drain on our resources for
these squadrons would be exactly analogous to the
demands on behalf of our navy, we could not have
the two things at once ; and, finally, that floating
structures, however strong, might be sunk or
wrecked, whereas forts were exempt from any such
danger. It appears to us that as regards the ques-
tion of expense the marine forts would carry the
day against port squadrons of ironsides; but then
it should be remembered that the general fortifica-
tion scheme includes many works besides these,
and mounts up to millions in its demands.
On the point originally raised we think the rea-
soning of the Commissioners is inconclusive. They
argue ingeniously in depreciation of ironcased ves-
sels, and Sir W. Armstrong comes to their Aid
_
with a very natural confidence in the expaplivie,
powers of artillery under his skilful hands.
they cannot shake the leading propositionths
t iron-
antagonist. They do not attempt to denyaof their
cased ships may stem into kortgraou-
al barbtnr,

and
thantchearpetacieo"hiesorheitiberuanning- any
regard these risks more Seriou—slyl..tthaisutorm.huinthneemodttohoesiett,rtoahis'aduekyrs
are of opinion that -when- an wee..kink squadron
had taken_ a position to bombard the dockyards
ere
waytilit *t
it
must
this les! ecnoxeila)es°4esqe co in
nsequence. rallot yoTodsdct position
tell what Sir
W. Armstrong may hereafter invent in the Way of
artillery. It is hard to look even at one of his 10016.
bolts and think that a ship's side could resist it,
while, if the weight of the projectile should be
trebled with a velocity undiminished, -it may be
fancied that no iron plate could sustain the shock.
,It is obvious also to remark that, whereas the
capacities of a floating structure arc naturally
limited, there is• no such restriction on the weight
either of arniouv4or of 'ordnance which a fort
might support. On the other hand, an argument
of peculiar moment is advancd against the forts.
Among the -best protections of Spithead are its
shoals. Pilots affirm that with the buoys removed
from the channels and snioke covering the shore
no ships could enter the harbour, whereas the forts
would be standing beacons to mark the way.. The
Commissioners, fail, in our opinion, to upset this
argument; in fact, although they urge that with-
out such marks an enemy would find his way_in by
other means of guidance, they admit that the
absence of such conspicuous objects would compel
him to advance slowly. But this slowness might
be fatal to him. It might make alithi-difference
between success and failure 'whether. he was a
quarter of an hour or An hour under :fire before
taking up his position. - -
We do not deny that the question. has two sides,
but so has the rival question ; and perlkaps, if the
alternative was constituted -by these
...tskekhemes„
Government committed itself to the "easT(Wproject
by adhering to the plan of the forts. If these
forts would really and effectually command the
whole anchorage, they would certainly be best. In
the abstract, the balance of arguments is undoubt-
edly in their favour, but in the practical application
to this particular case there is one consideration
telling awkwardly against him. They will not
command the anchorage, nor will they keep out an
ironcased vessel. They may do something,—more,
perhaps, than Captain Coles imagines ; but, from
what we know at present of guns and armour, we
may be pretty sure that a ship like the Warrior
would be able to do an infinite amount of mischie

before. she could be crippled by a battery 2,000
yards oft —Times:

THE NAP Y.

The Mersey, 40, screw, Capt. H. Caldwell, C. 8.,

steamed out of Portsmouth harbour yesterday
morning for Spithead, and awaits orders ; she is
expected to sail for Halifax and the North Ameri-
can station.

The Duncan, 101, screw, was yesterday placed in
dock at Portsmouth to detach the shifting blade
from her propeller, to receive the necessary altera-

ions.

The Marlborough, 131, screw, Captain W. H.
Stewart, C. 8., will, weather permitting, be placed
in No. 10 dock at Portsmouth to-day, being the
first ship placed in the dock since its construction.
The Rinaldo, 17, screw, Commander Hewett, V.C.,
is ordered to be placed in No. 1 dock, the same
tide, to examine valves, &c.
The Icarus, 11, screw, Commander N. Salmon,
V.C., left Spithead at 11 a.m. yesterday under
steam for the Shingles Shoal, to lend her assistance
in endeavouring to get the Avon paddle steamer
afloat from her position on the shoal. The Echo
steamtug arrived at Portsmouth yesterday 'morn-
ing from the Shingles for additional help and a
new warp, the one in use the day previous having
been carried away in endeavouring to tug the
Avon off. Hands from the Steam Factory
and Shipwrights' Department were sent
down by the Echo to take out some portions of the
Avon's machinery, if she can be got off by no other
means. A lighter from the Royal Clarence-yard
was also towed down, with empty casks, &0., to lift
her, if possible, by the flowing tide from her bed
on the shingle.
The Diadem, 32, screw, Capt. Cockburn, sailed
from Portsmouth at a late hour on Thursday even-
ing, with the remainder of the 55th Regiment, for
Aldershot. Steam was up at 7.30 p.m., the pilot
on board, and all in readiness for turning ahead,
when it was found that the " rack" of the starting
gear was useless. The chief engineer of the ship
at once suggested that as the Diadem and Marl-
borough were of the same power, and by the same
maker, the latter ship could supply the want of the
former, which was done and the ship enabled to
proceed on her voyage the same tide as originally
intended. Mr. Jones, the Queen's pilot, who piloted
the ship out to Spithead, deserves praise for taking
a ship of the Diadem's size through an intricate
passage like the harbour channel at Portsmouth at
10 o'clock on a dark night.
The War Department transport Petrel, Mr.
Chambers, master, arrived at Upnor Castle, Chat-
ham, yesterday, having on board the powder and
shells taken out of the Cyclops, 6, Captain W. J. S.
Pullen, at Sheerness, which were deposited in the
Government magazines. The Petrel also brought
the two 68-pounder 10 inch pivot guns from the
Cyclops, which were landed at the O rdnance-wharf.
The remaining portion of the armament will not be
taken out of the Cyclops.
The Admiralty storeship Aid, having completed
which to be made for the
to
her extensive repairs at Chatham, and had the
defects made good which she sustained in being
driven on shore on the Sussex coast, in the neigh-
bourhood of Beachy Head, was floated out of No.
2 dock yesterday afternoon.
The massive caisson at the entrance to t‘hesecon d
dock at Chatham was yesterday removed. from its
position and floated to the sheer-hulk
several
be
taken
ad
k a
yet tins theifno
or h
e rhdtar
the
new
allow
-
toentranceb o u har-
bour,
caisson
oa whererssthetoon t
ahni
ntee
dcdedos willcsa akmrremainyimoulds
for
aren
lieu of the present caisson,
in order to provide additional space for building
the war steamer Achilles. The present caisson be-
fore it is refixed in its place will undergo some
alterations.

The Adventure, screw troopship, Commander E.
Lacy, recently returned from service in China, was
paid off, all standing, alongside Portsmouth dock-
yard yesterday.

The Marines belonging to the ships of war lying
at Portland landed at Weymouth on Wednesday
evening, and, headed by the bands of the respective
ships, marched to the parade ground, where they
went through the usual manoeuvres of a field-day
in a highly creditable manner. Yesterday the sea-
men were under orders to land with their field-
pieces and form a naval brigade, going through a
day's evolutions. The bands of the ships have been
sent on shore alternately, and have been delighting
the people with their performances.
A private soldier belonging to the 2d (Queen's
Royals) Regiment fell from a portion of the Ports-
mouth fortifications into the roadway below, on
Thursday evening, and was so severely injured that
he died about an hour afterwards on his removal to
the military hospital.

.... __John
THE FOREIGN BILL FORGING SYSTEAu
Solomon, who was broughtbefore the Liverpxocolliaranga.::sat;atie:
last week on the charge of forging
accusationbillsTohfce
was
appeared yesterday under remand.
°rang t° be _ _
that the prisoner had uttered two forgedrp bills of drawnexchange,
one for £137, the other for £2OO, P
of yondon. Mr,
upon Richardson Brothers al:41 t Co.,t'tbere was no other firni
Richardsonwas called to state tha ;,,,,d that they had not
and by means of which
than his of that name in Lo.nzitioodn,
signed the bills above menr_
rrussian merchant of goods.
the prisoner had defraudedhins had been uttered in Prussia,
It was elicited that
TT r. (the prisoner's solicitor) started
and thereupon 1%.-.tr'as the offence took place without the
the objeeti°z%4l;here could be no pros^oution in this coun-
try. reA
The IrUrt could not get over the objection, and the
try' --Ili court
others of a similar character, was dis-
missed.with
Mental shock or great anxiety changes the blackest hair
white. This Colour, however, is to be restored with certainty
by Herring's magnetic brushes, &c. Dr. Hassall says, " I
regard them as the most perfect brushes hitherto made, as
respects their niechanical construction, and their magnetical
action." They are the remedy for grey hair, neuralgia,
rheumatism, &C. N.B.—Counterfeits are Dein made'
(Ago, 321 Dmintall-otrect, London.

(34ITTHAMPTON, MAY 10.
The Peninsular -aid—Oriental- Company's steam
ship Elboxa, Captain Joy, withthe heavy portion of
the above mails, has arrived. She brings 103 pas-
sengers, including Lord F. Hay`, Captain and the
Hon. Mrs. - Stewart, Hon. G. Boyle, and Colonel
usuali: ,
let.
pta bales6r,
tC
Ihel
a.
11
I nrtoeenll: Thep, .
arc 8 0
y4kijitEhhseosbso3s44oEgt;
the harbour
E:ysE26praiti.
raw
.tlaeeihi
osthttiaa.
aowiej.
packages r
aNxra,
rls ,
Egyptian
i i ,
~
cases
flihasavkseeel
msvtou
oane
fl
ou7generalfse freightxsohi.oa4 w.rooul nosp,eo scgs
sitrxe;ornilcipeanwsg merchandise,llospecie,efarynv ,
dav
ia9lul
40:08.e
,sailed from Alexandria on the
sth.
Ist inst. ; and Gibraltar, the sth. On.
33 30 N, long.-16 27 E, spoke the com-
er Indus ; the 6th, lat. 36 57 N, long.
leti:rtewfrasotmeal_ mGeirbrAalrtaarres ; and on the 7th,
long. 9 50 W, the screw steamer
ITlehle. Delta with
Majesty'swith theh .ship
osushtti.pw
jaivieradengaa,rAilsa
ifoerof
amtrhrieve 27th
d7atht
Malta on
Gibraltar for the East on the 2d.
uhzai
rnbecmi
rn ballast,Alexandrial e f tGibraltar, ' on
were the
t4hl
eh
for Southampton.
a jetidtyllsr7hFrench men-of-war.
At Malta were her
Mars, Hibernia,
ty, Liffey, and
Doris, Assurance, Lapwing, Zs
and gun
Neptune. At Gibraltar, the
boats Cockatrice and Proctrus.
Her Majesty's troop
Wool-
wich, with the 6th, 7th, and Bth batteries, being
the third and last division of the Ist Brigade Royal
Artillery, under the command of Liettl:-COloner
Strange, arrived at Gibraltar on the 28th ult.
The oyal Artillery batteries, No. 6,7, and B,_
being the last division of the sth brigade, left Gib-
raltar on the morning of the 4th, in her Majesty's
steam troaj? ship Megaera, for Plymouth. ,
Her Majesty's screw troop ship Supply, from
Woolwich, which put into Gibraltar on the 23d
ult., with shaft broken, screw propeller lost, and
stern-tube broken, was having her repairs rapidly
completed, when she will leave for Malta to dis-
charge her cargo of stores destined for thafisland.
The Cfiaiz eils_sstittifipm/ ,of the 21 announces
that her Imperial Majesty; ' Isabella Amelia
Eugeine, Empress of Austria, arrived at that port
on the Ist, in her Britannic Majesty's pleasure
steam-yacht Victoria and Albert. The Royal yacht
was escorted by the other pleasure steam-yachts
belonging to her Majesty ; the Osborne, the Por-
tuguese steam-corvette, BartholomeoDias,l6, under
the command of his Royal Highness the Infante
Dom Luiz, Duke of Oporto, and. by another Por-
tuguese steamer. Her Majesty landed, and left
immediately for Seville, for the purpose of yieitz
ing all the public monuments of the city and the
works of art for which Seville is so famous: Her
Majesty was to return to Cadiz on- the sth, visit
Gibraltar on the 6th, and on the 7th continue her
voyage to Trieste, in the course of which it was
expected she would visit Barcelona and Palma
(Majorca).- Her Majesty will not proceed to Gre-
nada, as was asserted, in consequence of the deli-
cate state of her health.

Since the 26th ult. the following British ships
had arrived out at Gibraltar :—The Hannah Booth,
schooner, from Cardiff; Sanspareil, schooner, from
Liverpool ; Mary Jane, schooner, from Swansea ;
Gambia, schooner, from Cardiff; Antelope, schooner,
from Cardiff; Henry and Dora, schooner, from
Cardiff; Indus, steamer, from Southampton ; Ef-
fort, brigantine, from Liverpool ; Caroline, steamer,
from London ; Massilia, steamer, from Southamp-
ton ; Malacca, steamer, London ; Agia Sofia,
steamer, from Liverpool ; Grecian, steamer from
Liverpool.
Spoken by the Hamburgh galliot Urania, on the
7th April, lat. 36 N., long. 19 W., the British
barque Juanita, of Scarborough, from London to
the Cape, 12 days out—all well.

FRACAS BETWEEN 711 E 88T11 AND
ESSEX RIFLES MILITIA.

We regret to learn that disturbances have this
week taken place between soldiers of the 88th
(Connaught Rangers), stationed at Colchester
Camp, and men of the Essex Rifles Militia, bil-
letted in the town. On Sunday night, it appears,
the disturbance commenced by some men of the
88th catching a solitary and unoffending Essex
rifleman rambling is Darling's-field (now the
Government drill ground), and maltreating him by
striking him on the head with a stick. On Mon-
day night, by way of retaliatiOn, a party of Essex
riflemen, walking upon the Military-road, pounced
upon a solitary 88th man, named Edward M‘Hugh,
who had been to post a letter, when the riflemen
struck him on the head with a stick, thereby in-
flicting a severe wound, which bled so profusely,
that the injured man was taken to the camp hos-
pital. The 88th men hereupon vowed vengeance
against the Essex Rifles for ill-treating their com-
rade, and on Tuesday night the town was com-
pletely in a state of consternation, numerous
gangs of the 88th, armed with large bludgeons,
being seen hurrying to and fro, seeking about in
the lanes and alleys for the riflemen. They en-
tered every public-house supposed to be the billets
of the riflemen, who were for the most part wisely
got out of the way by the landlords, several
of whom locked up their men in stables and upper
rooms to keep them out of the way of
their assailants. In one instance we heard
of a party of the 88th rushing upstairs
to the bedroom of the riflemen, when one of
the latter, seizing his rifle with fixed bayonet, stood
firmly with it at the charge to guard the door, and
threatened the men of the 88th with the' cold
steel" if they dared to enter; the latter, thinking
" discretion the better part of valour," beat a hasty
retreat. One of the 88th threw a stone at a rifle-
man quietly sitting upon the door step of his billet,
the Anchor, Magdalen-street, and cut his head
open. During the fracas the pickets from the
camp were scouring the town in all directions,
while others were posted in different streets, so that
they succeeded either in driving the 88th into
camp, or taking them prisoners. The tradesmen of
St. Botolph-street, the chief thoroughfare to the
camp, were obliged to close their shops earlier than
usual on Tuesday night, to prevent the mischief
which appeared imminent. On Wednesday night
the 88th were confined to barracks, and thus no
disturbance ensued. We understand the ring-
leaders in the fracas have been brought before a
court-martial and punished. Various exaggerated
ve inflictionBr
naeBtsptiuhooern.at reports
dhfl atoEtvfhise
sses:buxepne
enndarect
ine usag however,n weecirculation
rocgenuotsk osikilled,
el that
aeorudreadd,
order
bruises,
ftoufi
tsseveralhethse beyond
vquo
ttfeomwttaohhrnseeet,
happy to say no serious consequences are likely to
importance,e
. for their own safety, and the preser-
rthematovtehde
abeeplleiegseirbelnetfrfoomrceesaeshhoeuthlderte
company.—
Chelmsford aasny.f_ar
Chelmsford Chronicle.

The public works for which the French Govern-
ment has demanded a sum of 104,000,000 f. are the lines
from Rennes to Brest, from Toulouse to Bayonne, from
Perpignan to Port-Vendres, from Grenoble to Montmelian,
from I honors to Colonges, and from Aix to Annecy.
RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT MANCHESTER. —An
alarming accident took place yesterday morning at the Vic-
toria railway station, Manchester. The train from Yorkshire
which leaves Normanton at 6 a.m. ran down the steep in-
cline from Miles Platting into the Manchester terminus at
a greater speed than is usual or safe, and could not be
checked before it had come in violent contact with the ell;
tionary buffers, and then rebounded. One of the buffers 'cora m
broken, and the other damaged ; and several passengers
have suffered by the concussion. The trains Jerre°
ak"
has
incline without steam power being used; the, (his ju-
te be freely app'.ied to hold them in check, :fa Only.
one
Mr. Thomas
stance evidently did not answer its yu,vrt:
person was very seriously hurt; 's who has concus-
Howarth, of Oldham-road, Manchester'

ißnacir.rV. 8
eccotnesdtipbaytiDonti,
sion of the brain. ote a few more of the extra-
intevalenta Arabica Food •
great
[ADvERTIsr MENT]
—2slelrs,liieh I have suffered' misery,iges"
d el:_-
delicious ordinaryoug curesheai
thw.irtehsot
Olt]
tCiounreanNdo.dletlitYdrig„ could remove or
and which no zn
—,l by Du Barry's Food in elvers' have been
—l7oiusuciiineesesff,
y short time
effect cu e 181, Fleet-street, Lead -,
. l'eve-ayspepsia, nervousness, en. No. 4208,
Ars VOLISTICSS
eight Y,pa,sms, and nausea for 1 debility, with
er'x'Ps' d consulted thadvice 2 which my
wantser-
ha e of
taally cured b many, have been
ace, I shall , y DU Barry's health-restoring
Fooa- ue happy to answer any inquiries.
Rev. John W. Flavell R.
Avoid Pills and 1 idlinston Rectory, Norfolk.
perpetuate disease Medicines : they invariably aggravate and
and expeme
ma s•; their annoyance, disappointment,
which, at a ybe avoided by using Du Barry's Food
other few pence per day, saves 50 times its cost is
remedies, removing effectually, u.thout purging.,
constipation, indigestiond bilious and
liver ( yspepsia) nervous,
complaints and all their consequences. Certificate
No• 36,418. We find it the safest remedy. Andrew Ure,
MD., F.R.S., Dr Harvey, Dr. Wurzer, Dr. Shoriand, Dr.
Campell. Let invalids avoid the fearful dangers of spu-
rious and injurious imitations offered under a variety of
false pretences. Nevill's imitations are prohibited by the
high Court of Chancery under a penalty of £5,000 against
Alfred Hooper Nevill and his agents ; and the pretences
that Nevill has a patent for Arabica Food and that Du
Barry's are connected with such patent are utterly false.
No Banister is genuine without the name Barry Du Barry
and Co., 77, Regent-street, in full, ontheseal and wrapper.
Shopkeepers who attempt imposition in one article must
expect to be distrusted in all others. Packed in tins 11b.
2s. 9d.; 21b. 4s. 6d. ; 51b. lls. ; 121 b. 225. ; 241 b. 40s. The
121 b. and 241 b, canisters are sent carriage free on receipt
of Post-office order by Barry Du Barry and Co., 77, Re-
gent-street, London; Fortnum Mason, and Co.; Abbief
60, Graceehurch-street ; 4, Cheapside ; 63 and 150, ox-
bard-street ; 330 and 451, Strand; 49 and 60, Bishopagate-
street ; Batty, 16, Finsbury Pavement ; Phillips and Ce.
tea-dealers; Petty, Wood, and Co., King IVilliankistreet
i City; At 127 Iligla liolbsun; and all grocery.

niGn WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tins DAY.—Morning, 2h. 34m.—Afternoon, 2h. 58m.
To-stounow.-Morning," 3h. 16m.—Afternoon, 3h. 34m.