The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-11 00:00:00

IRON-CLAD .SHIPS.

Ten years ago it, was proposed to exclude a model
gun from the Great Exhibition, on the ground that
instruments of war were unbecoming, if not obsolete,
illustrations of industry and science. How strangely
opinions have since been revolutionised•may be seen
from our daily reports of the discussions at Man-
phester. In that central 4e4 of pacific and econo-
mical doctrines an Association assembled for the
encOuragenient of scientific researches, and the regis-
tration of scientific discoveries finds itself compelled
by the very force of circumstances to concentrate its
attention on the machines of modern warfare.
Artillery, armour, irohcased ships, rifled cannon,
elongated projectiles, and irresistible shot—these
are the topics of the- British Association in 1861.
There was, indeed, no help for it. The develop-
ment of mechanical science is in that direction.
Armstrong and Whitworth have succeeded to Ark-
wright and Watt. The problem before us is so
momentous and the tasks of such infinite importance
that the efforts of our best intellects must needs be
engaged in working out the question at issue. The
opening address of the President put the case in a
few pregnant words. The days, said he, of Eng-
land's wooden walls were apparently numbered.
Walls, however, we must have, if not of wood, of
some other material, and the character of our new
bulwarks is what has now to be determined. The
eminent authorities who have spoken on this sub-
ject at :Manchester have placed the public under
great obligations to them, bat at present it is easier
to delineate the ramifications of the question than
to approach to anything like a solution.
The first blow was dealt against the old-fashioned
navies of the world when shells filled with com-
bustibles were added to the projectiles formerly
in use. As soon as it became certain that a few
minutes would suffice to set any ship in flames, it
was evident that a revolution in naval warfare was
at hand. The disaster to the Turkish fleet at Sinope
gave the earliest example of the new powers of
attack, and the floating batteries at Kinburn
followed with the first essay of the new resources
of defence. After the lapse of a year or two the
Gloire suddenly appeared, and, in the pardonable
boast of our neighbours, "took possession of the
seas." It was indeed clear that, however distant
that vessel might be from perfection, she was incom-
parably superior to any wooden ship afloat, and we
had no option but to follow in the wake of our
rivals. We have now beaten the Gloire with the
Warrior, but we have learnt by our own experiments
that the Warrior can be surpassed; and the question
is, what must be the nature of the model with which
at any rate for a time we may afford to content our-
selves. The papers successively read at Manchester
will have shown the uncertainty in which, at every
point, this question is still involved.
That ships of warmust for the future be protected
by iron armour is admitted, but that axiom will
carry us only a short distanceon our way. It is not
yet decided what thickness can or should be given
to this iron, nor how the armour-plates should be
attached to the vessel's sides, nor at what angle the
sides should be inclined, nor of what material the
body of the ship should consist. Hitherto a specially-
constructed frame of teak has been cased with so
many inches of iron, and this wooden backing has
been held to constitute an important element in the
strength of the structure. Teak, however, is ponde-
rous, and if it could be dispensed with its weight
could be added to that of the iron, so that a ship
would be all armour. For instance, the sides of the
Warrior are 2ft. 3in. in thickness—about as thick,
in fact, as the walls of an old Norman castle ; but
22 inches of this depth are timber ; and the question
is whether if this enormous muss of woodwork were
replaced by a corresponding weight in the thickness
of the iron the vessel would not be the better for the
change. Then, it has been proved that the manner
in which the armour-plates are attached to the ship
and to each other is of the greatest importance in de-
termining their power of resistance to shot, while we
have very recently said enough to show how much
may depend upon the angle of inclination.
That the quality of the iron employed is
also of great consequence we need not say,
though Mr. Fairbairn will rather surprise the
public by his remark that British specimens
have been found rather inferior to those of foreign
countries. After all these considerations, however,
comes another which may, perhaps, be found to
govern the rest. Speed, in the case before us, is
equivalent to power. The quicker ship of two may
expect to win; for, if unable to engage her adver-
sary, she can escape from her; while if she carries
a heavy gun or two she may, by selecting her
position, batter her more powerful antagonist with
probable impunity. It is asked, therefore, whether
small vessels constructed to carry a few guns of
large calibre would not be better than enormous
ships like the Warrior; but an answer is ready.
Small vessels are not necessarily faster than large
ones, but rather the contrary. Still, the question
is, whether a vessel larger than a gunboat, but
smaller than the Warrior, might not be propelled
at greater speed, though able to carry one or two
of the heaviest cannon known.

From these- interesting but rather indefinite
speculations we may turn with a certain satisfac-
tion to the statement made by 'Mr. E. J. Reed of
what our Admiralty has actually done, and what
it is:now proposing to do. We cannot say the re-
sults are very gratifying, but at any rate the infor-
mation is precise, and we escape from the regi •
ons
of theory to the solid ground of fact. Of our four
complete ironsides, two, the Defence and the
Resistance, are already spoken of, notwithstanding
the respectable performance just achieved by the
former, as " not fit for the line of battle nor suit-
able for any other service than coast defence."
They are already, in fact, shelved as " bloekships"
—a curious proof of the rapidity with which we
are advancing in our new career. The Warrior
and her consort, the Black Prince, are far finer
vessels—indeed, they are the finest afloat, and the
Achilles, just laid down at Chatham, will
apparently be exactly of the same class. Yet these
ships will be only partially covered with armour,
their extremities being left with mit protection,
whereas Mr. Scott Russell, the originator of that
plan, himself spoke of it only as an imperfec-
tion which could not at the time be avoided.
The plating, he said, could not be continued
from end to end without a large addition to the
tonnage of the ship, and the Admiralty, Mr.
Reed tells us, have accepted this condition in the
six new ships now projected, which are to be com-
pletely cased with iron. Three of them have now
been contracted for on those terms, though with an
option on the part of the Admiralty o.f ordering
either partly wooden or wholly iron sitles,u
may ag
results of pending experiments
Although, however; they will thus be of gest.
greater

.~~_~

tonnage than the Warrior, their engines are to be of
no higher power, so that their speed must be. less,
which is-an important- condition sacrificed. Again,
if partial planting is to be thus discarded, end the
.design of the Warrior so far condemned, wby is
that design retained for the Achilles? Passing now
from these genuine ironsides, we come to an inter-
niediate etas of Vessels suggested by the expediency
of turning` to some account resources actually at
our comthand, and augmenting our new fleet with
the least possible delay. Five wooden ships, or
rather frames of ships, are to be lengthened by a
few feet beyond the original dimensions, and then
plated with armour from end to end. They will
not be so strong as the Warrior, but they will be far
stnnger than a wooden line-of-battle ship, and we
have got the timbers ready in our yards. We can
measure their utility, however, by a better standard.
These five rough-and-ready specimens will, Mr,
Reed assures us, be superior to the Gloire, a vessel
of much the same original character, and, no remark
could impress us more forcibly with the exigencies
of this period of transition: The Model ship of
1860 is surpassed by the very makeshifts of 1861.
Under circumstances so extraordinary a good deal
may be excused, and Mr. Reed fairly apprises ns
that such consideration.will be called for. He says
that the very vessels which the Admiralty isibuild-
ing at this moment represent "a series of compro-
mises." Nobody can yet tell what principles to
maintain, or what to reject. We are all in the dark,
and yet we must needs go on, and at a heavy cost.
We might congratulate ourselves, perhaps, on
having got so good a thodel as the Warrior, were
it not that she has never yet been to sea, and that
a fac-simile of her sides is only now going to be
tested. Let us hope, however, at any rate, that
the elaborate discussion which the subject has re-
ceived at Manchester may do something towards
establishing sound conclusions.— Times.

CHARGE OF SETTING FIRE 2'o A
ROUSE.

At the Lambeth Police-court yesterday Mr. Fre-
derick Clift, a quill merchant, late in the occupation
of the house and premises No. 2, Lansdowne-villas,
Harders-road, Peckham, and Mr. George Clift, his
brother, were placed at the bar on a charge of set-
ting fire to the premises above referred to, with in-
tent to defraud the Globe Insurance Company.
' Mr. Kemp, the barrister, instructed by Messrs.
Freshfield and Newman, appeared for the prosecu-
tion ; and Mr. Gordon Allen, instructed by Mr.
Bartley, for the prisoners.
Mr. Kemp said that all he proposed doing on
that day, as the priSoners had only just been ap-
prehended on his worship's warrant, Was to place
before the bench sufficient evidence to justify him
in asking for a remand. On a future day he should-
be prepared with the necessary witnesses to com-
plete the charge.
Mr. John Pullin, the owner of several houses at
Peckham, said that on the 14th of July last the pri-
soner Frederick Clift called on him in reference
to a house, No. 2, Lensdowne-villas, Herders-road,
Peckham, end proposed to takeit, giving as a reason
for leaving his residence that he had not sufficient
convenience in it for his horse and trap, and the
witness agreed to let him the house at £3O per an-
num, and showed him the form of an agreement
which he should request him to sign before taking
possession of it. The prisoner consented to the course
proposed, and paid half a:quarter's rent. On the fol-
lowing day the, key was delivered up to his brother,
the other prisoner. The house was a semi-detached
cottage three stories high, with two parlours sepa-
tated by folding-doors, two kitchens, a pantry, Bed.
stable. At the time of his letting the house there
was no communication between the pantry on ore:.
side and the stable, which was close to it. He should
not have sanctioned any communication, as it would
have affected his insurance on the premises.
The stable, when he let the premises, could
only be entered from a yard in front, and_
had no communication with the house,
The witness here went into a description of the pre-
mises and the property adjoining. He said that
on the Ist of August he saw the house safe. On
the following night it was burnt down. The ree,rn-
ing after the fire he went to the house, and not
then notice anything particular; but on the follow-
ing day, the 3d, he saw that a doorway had been
cut from the stable to the pantry, making a com-
munication from one to the other, and that it had
been made in such a rough manner that it could
not have been the work of a tradesmen who knew
anything about his business. On the morning after
the fire he saw both of the prisoners, and he re-
marked to them that he was quite surprised that
the house should have been burnt, and that
he should like to know something about
it. Frederick said (both being present) that
they were cut on business at Waltham Abbey
at the time. The servant had left about a
week before, and Mrs. Clift had been washing
in the kitchen, when the child tumbled into a
pan or tub. She had taken it to the house of Dr.
Dennie, in Southampton-street, Camberwell, and
the fire occurred during her absence. Witness re-
marked at the time that it was somewhat strarge
she should go such a distance when she could have
got a number of doctors on Peckham-rye.
Mr. Elliott—Do you recollect what reply he
made to that remark ?
Witness—l really cannot recollect. I said the
matter was much talked of, and that it was not
believed in the neighbourhood the fire was acci-
dental. Frederick said that they should get into
a great deal of trouble about their contract with
Government for quills, and that they should have
to go to Russia in search of quills, and perhaps not
be able to get enough before Christmas. On the
13th of August I again saw the prisoners, and
spoke about the door cut between the stable and
pantry. Frederick Clift acknowledged that he
had opened it two or three days after taking
possession, being afraid of thieves; and I told him
that by making the door he gave greater facility for
their entering. The prisoner Frederick also said
there were 60 sovereigns in the house, which he
had intended to meet a bill; and I remarked that
that was strange, as the ashes had been carefully
sifted, and no gold—not even half a sovereign--
had been found among them.
Mr. Frederick Mather Goodwin, a grocer, resid-
ing with his father at Nunhead, Peckham, said that
on the night of the fire, about 20 minutes to 10, he
was standing'at his father's door, and saw the pri-
soner George Clift come past. In a few minutes
after he heard the cry of " Fire," but thought it a.
false alarm. He heard the cry repeated, and on
going round the corner saw that the shed or stable
belonging to the prisoners was on fire. He knocked
repeatedly at the door, but no one answered. He
then forced the back door, and made his way to the
back parlour, which appeared to be on fire in one
place, a sort of heap, and he pulled from it a piece of
stuff which appeared to be matting or carpeting.
The room seemed plainly furnished. In conclusion
the witness said that on the 29th of July he was
returning to town and met both the prisoners with
a van laden with sacks filled, and feathers sticking
out at the top.
Police-constable Edward Cox, 213 P, said that a
few minutes before the fire on the night in question.
he saw a person, who he had very little doubt was
the prisoner George Clift, come through a gap in
the hedge close to the house consumed. A witness
named Gallia also swore that at about the time in
question he saw the same priseeter at the Nunhead
publichouse, but that on seeing him he left imme-
diately.
Mr. Fabon, a clerk in the Globe Insurance-office,
said that on the 20th of July the prisoners called
at the office and said they wished to effect an insur-
ance on a stock of quills of the value of £2,500,
placed in a shed adjoining their dwelling. Frede-
rick Clift also said it was his wish to effect a second
insurance on furniture of his, of the value of £3OO,
placed at the house of his brother. The premises
were surveyed and the policies of insurance granted
on the 24th of JulyMvhen the premium was paid.
John Baxter, - a fireman belonging to the
Waterloo-road station, deposed that on the 3d of
August he was sent to take charge of the premises:
Soon after the prisoners came there, and he (witness)
asked them if they had been the occupiers of the
premises ? Frederick replied that they had, and,
turning to George, said, " This is my brother."
They walked into the stable, where the quills were
kept. Both said it would be their ruin, and that
they had gone to Waltham Abbey on business and
came away from there by the ten o'clock train.
They said they were under heavy engagements to
the Government, and would lose at least £3OO.
They said nothing about 60 sovereigns being in the
house when the fire took place.
Mr. Kemp thought that evidence sufficient for his
purpose bad been adduced, and,
Mr. Elliott concurring, the prisoners were re-
manded to a future day.
Mr. Allen made an application for the
prisoners'
release on bail, but it was refused.

THE CROps.—The weather during the past fort-
night has been all that could be desire?! for harvest-
ing operations, and most of the wheat is now carried
in first-rate condition. There is still a large breadth
of oats and barley uncut, but should the same
favourable weather continuo there will be scarcely.
a field in the county left unharvested, The root
pasture lands in some places are much 1)17 ;
crops are suffering from Want of razai
reovfaltehneoesuont,
hot
td h 1 i andt
by theth
e
woi uyia: d , there be a
eop crop—during
scorching
e h l o
ngrearyps
weather, there will
he a shortness opfotkaet
and all
allolss butof the potato
-p.a thertisa 1
in others—will be severe 3st°ellCl
;mpfoelnlattehbe months.
the labouring,' classes-..,Banbury -El :rad
ir