The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-14 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

In consequence of the heavy outstanding orders
for the supply of laboratory stores required for early
despatch to the home and foreign star ions where
battery and siege guns have been distributed in
large numbers, the laboratory department of Wool-
wich have considerably augmented their establish-
ment, the number of hands at present employed
amounting to about 3,000 men and boys in that
department alone. The following regulations were
yesterday issued with reference to the forming of
small-arm cartridges :
" 1. The most attentive and well-conducted boys
are to be placed at tables apart from the rest. 2. A.
card, with the number and name of the boy, is to be
fixed in a conspicuous position on the table oppo-
site to his seat, and upon this card is to be marked,
in pencil, the number of cartridges formed by him
in the previous week. 3. Each boy must form at
least 50 cartridges per hour, and no boy will 139
allowed to leave the department until he has per-
formed this task. 4. If the whole number of cart-
ridges according to this rate be not completed in
the week the boy will be discharged, unless a satis-
factory reason is given for the deficiency. 5. As a
reward for diligent boys 3d. per 100 will be paid
for all cartridges made by any boy over 4,000 per
week. 6. The above only refers to those boys who
arereporteded.
instcruonclpetent by the foreman, after being
properly

"E. M. BOXER,
Superintendent Royal Laboratories."
Nearly the whole of the officers of the Royal En-
gineers now at head-quarters, Chatham, assembled
on the practising ground of the Royal Engineers
yesterday afternoon for the purpose of witnessing a
trial of Captain Norton's liquid fire shells and the
other destructive missiles invented by him, in order
that a report of the inventions may be made to the
authorities at the Horse Guards by Col. Sandham,
Director of the Royal Engineer establishment.
Captain Norton, who conducted the experiments,
assisted by a sergeant of the Royal Engineers, exhi-
bited the effects of his liquid fire shells when fired
from the ordinary Lancaster rifled muskets, and
also from the breech loading rifle, the charge
of powder in each case being exceedingly small.
Capt. Norton discharged several of his shells at the
various objects to be set on fire, igniting by means
of his liquid fire shells a quantity of matting, and
also a plank of wood. He also exhibited his fric-
tional igniting bolt, or hand grenade, which, by

The most extensive alterations and improvements
have recently been carried out, and are also in pro-
gress at Shoeburyness, to afford increased facilities
for the gunnery exercise of the Royal Artillery,
and for experiments. A larger area has been ob-
tained for the practice range, which is now unpre-
cedented in extent, and will be invaluable to the
service, when the Armstrong gun is fully intro-
duced, as the Butts at Woolwich Arsenal have not
sufficient range for the practice of this weapon.
The new barracks at the station named are now fast
progressing.
A series Of .expertnients haie recently been car-
ried out by Mr, F. A. Abel, of the Ordnance Select
Committee, and Chemist to the Laboratory De-
partment of Woolwich Arsenal, for the purpose of
ascertaining the practicability of superseding the
voltaic battery by an improved magnetic agency
for firing,gunpowder. It is stated that the experi-
ments have been highly successful.
ARTILLERY FOR INDIA.—Vhe order issued about
two months since for the despatch of ten field battery
companies to India has been superseded.