The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-06 00:00:00

ARMING OF BOATS.

The numerous alterations and very great improve-
ments which have been lately made in arming vessels in
her Majesty's navy, has rendered it advisable to make
similar improvements in arming boats attached to ships
and war steamers, and the following is the proportion of
guns and carriages which have been resolved upon by
the authorities to be used in the boats of each class of
ship and vessel in her Majesty's service. The ammuni-
tion and stores for the same to be prepared at Wool-
wich similar to a plan submitted by Colonel Lacy, In-
spector of the Royal Carriage Department ; Lieut.-
Colonel Dundas, C. 8., Inspector of Artillery ; and the
Storekeeper and Deputy Storekeeper at the Royal
Arsenal ; and approved by Captain Sir Thomas Hast-
ings, Knt.. of the Excellent, gunnery ship, Portsmouth :

BOATS OF FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD RATES.

One 24-pounder brass howitzer, weighing 13 cwt., on
field marine travelling carriage complete, with limber.
Top to be used in boats, fitted also for mounting and
dismounting on an inclined plane, and if it cannot be
fitted for both purposes a second top will be required.
One 6-pounder light brass gun, 6 cwt., on field marine
travelling carriage complete, with limber. Top to be
used in boat, with bottom to receive the top for firing
into ships' tops.
One 24-pounder iron carronade, 13 cwt. Top to be
used in boat for mounting and dismounting on an in-
clined plane.
Two 12-pounder iron carronades, 6 cwt., each. Top
to be used in boat for each, and one bottom in each
boat to receive the top, for firing into ships' tops.
BOATS OF FOURTH AND FIFTH RITES.
One 6-pounder light brass gun, 6 cwt., on field marine
travelling carrage, complete
swith limber. Top to be
used in boat, with bottom to receive the top, for firing
into ships' tops.

Two 18-pounder iron carronades, 10 cwt. each. Top
to be used in boat, fitted for mounting and dismounting
on an inclined plane.

_
Two 12-pounder iron carronades 6 cwt. each. Top to
be used in boat, with bottom to receive the top, for firing
into ships' tops.

BOATS Or SIXTH RATES.
One 6-pounder light brass gun, on field marine travel-
ling carriage, complete with limber. Top to be used in
boat, with bottom to receive the top, for firing into ships'
tops.
The brass 6-pounder field-pieces is not to be supplied
to any sixth-rate of a class below that of the Vestal.
Two 12-pounder carronades, 6 cwt. each. Top to be
used for each in boat, with one bottom to receive top, for
firing into ships' tops.
BOATS OF FIRST AND SECOND CLASS WAR-STEAMERS.
One 6-pounder light brass gun, 6 cwt., on field marine
travelling carriage complete, with limber. Top to be
used in boat, with bottom to receive the top for firing
into ships' tops.
Two 24-pounder iron carronades, 13 cwt. each, with
transporting slides and top for ditto, to be used in paddle-
box boats.
The carronades are to bo mounted on transporting
carriages, and attached to the side of the ship for alarm
and signal guns, and for service in paddle-box boats.
BOATS OF THIRD CLASS WAR-STEAMERS.
One 12-pounder iron carronade, 6 cwt. Top to be
used in boat with bottom, to receive the top, for firing
into ships' tops.
The side guns of the third class steamers being
lighter, may be used for the above purposes, when the
12-pounder carronades is not sufficient. •
BOATS OF SLOOPS AND BUMS OF WAR.
One 12-pounder iron carronade, 6 cwt. Top to be
used in boat with bottom, to receive the top, for firing
into ships' tops.
Any small vessel not carrying a pinnace may be sup-
plied with a 12 or 6-pounder carronade, according to
the capacity of the
-boat.

TRIAL OF SPEED BETWEEN HER MAJESTY'S
STEAMERS PROMETHEUS AND RATTLER.
On Saturday, the 3d instant, a trial of her Majesty's
steamer Rattler took place at the measured distance in
Long Reach, in order to determine, as correctly as
possible, her rate of going, as compared with that of her
sister ship, Prometheus, which had been ascertained by
the Government authorities the day before, by a similar
trial.
The Rattler having been built for the purpose of test-
ing the merits of the screw propeller with those of the
paddle-wheels, is constructed as nearly as possible upon
the lines and model as the Prometheus : they have both
the same amount of engine, power, viz.-200 horses ;
both vessels were laden to the same draught of water,
viz.-11ft. 3M. ; the steam pressure in both cases was
regulated exactly alike—in fact, everything that could
be conveniently done to render the trial a fair one was
duly attended to.
Under these circumstances more than ordinary inte-
rest was excited amongst the naval and engineering
officers connected with the Woolwich Dockyard esta-
blishment, by whom the results of the various trials of
both vessels were most minutely noted, and in the end
slimmed up, contrary to the general expectation, in fa-
vour of the Rattler, to the extent of nearly half a knot
per hour, their relative speed being as follows :—Pro-
metheus, 8,757 knots ; Rattler, 9,240 knots, or within
a fraction of 101 statute miles per hour.
The Prometheus is one of the third class war-steamers,
recently introduced into her Majesty's navy by the
present surveyor, Sir William Symonds, and is, we are
informed, under orders to sail almost immediately for the
Mediterranean.

On Tuesday, the 23d ult., at Beverley, aged 76,
Ann Cass, wife of Richard Cass, hatter, better known as
"Molly Cass," the great election heroine in the good old days
of John Wharton. She was a tall athletic woman, used to
head the mobs, and would fight her way through a host of
opponents of the opposite sex. In the prime of her days she
was an out and-out °ranger, but the defeat of her champion,
Wharton, adverse circumstances, and the infirmities of age
overcame her; she yielded to the temptations of Tory gold,
and compelled her " little Dicky" the last time he could
vote, to support the Crimsonites.—lt is a fact—a melancholy
fact—that " Molly" never looked up again after this.—Hull
Advertiser.

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