The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-14 00:00:00

GUNS WITH STEEL BARRELS

We have received a letter from Messrs. George
and John Deane, in answer to the charges brought
against them by the Company of Gunmakers and
others, with reference to the bursting of a gun, ma-
nufactured by them, in the hands of Sir Claude Scott.
Their defence is too long for insertion in our columns,
and we therefore summarize the different points relied
upon by them. They explain the accident by stating
that the cartridge in the defective barrel must have
shifted from the concussion of the shot previously
fired with the right barrel, and they allege, in sup-
port of this view, that the fracture extends four
inches from the joint:where the breech screws into the
barrel, the metal having broken straight across in the
upper :and thickest part. They point out that the
wires of cartridges are made two or three sizes
smaller than the bores for which they are used, and
that there being a considerable space between the car-
tridge and the inner surface of the tube, the charge is
only kept in its place by a thin wad attached to the
upper end of the cartridge. As to the charge of obli-
terating the proof-gauge number, the feet that it is
oblite.rated is admitted, bat that it has been done in-
tentionally and IA ith care is denied. To support this
d vial it is stated that the way in which proof-gauge
numbers are struck is such, that in the mere act of
smoothing the Messrs. D anzt have of. en seen them
obliterated. It is further asserted that on the majo-
rity of London-made guns the initials of the gunmaker
are found in the place where the Froof-gauge number
should be, but is not. On the charge of fitting a pair
of 12-bore barrels into a stock originally intended
for 14, the defence is that Sir Charles Scott fre-
quently required to make use of the stock while the
'Messrs. Deane were preparing the barrels, and that
they fitted a wood model into the stock, break•off,
&c.; after doing which they found the diameter of
the breech-ends large enough to admit of al2 bore.
With reference to the statement that the barrels
were reduced too much where they form a junction
with the breech-ends, the defence is that in that
state they stood proof, the charge of which is five
times more than any gentleman would shoot from the
shoulder. They deny that there has been any re-
duction inside or out, and state that the barrels
themselves show that this charge is not true, as, by
gauging the exterior diameter of the breech-ends,
they were found rather stouter than the standard sub-
stance of a 12-bore barrel. With reference to the
charge that the barrels were manufactured of inferior
metal, the Messrs. Deane rely for a refutation of it on
the fact that they were made by one cf the best gun-
barrel makers in England, of the finest description of
metal, and that not the slightest particle of the metal
has broken off, so that the ruptured part might be
folded bick again and replaced with the utmost ex-
actness. Their adoption of the metal used by them
in gun-making, and which they designate steel, the
M-ssrs. Deane defend as founded on a long series of
experiments which satisfied them of its excellence and
power of resisting compression. They conclude their
exculpation by an invitation to the public to inspect
their factory and stock of guns, and by expressing
their desire to see the safety of sportsmen secured by
some legislative enactment on the subject.

THE BJNAPARTE FAMILY.—We find the follow-
ing in the Siecle :—" If we are well-irforme3, family
affairs occupy a considerable degree of attention at the
Elyse° et this moment. The Minister of Justice is said
to have been charged to examine a question which he
had himself submitted t) the consideration a a commis-
sion composed of emineet lawyers, such as M. Dupin,
sere M. Poittlie, M. Barthe, M. Troplong, &c. It
is—The treaty of Fontainebleau, corroborated by the
will of the Emperor, secured to the Bonaparte family
claims on the public treasury for considerable Bums,
which, with inte-eit, would no .v amount to more than
20 millions. The Restoration, considering the treaty of
Fontainebleau abolished both by right and by the events
of the war, paid no attention to the claim. At the time
of the revolution ef July claims were sent in to the new
Government by the members of the Bonaparte family,
who were then in exile; the Council of State were called
on to examine these demands, and eresentei a favour-
able report. But the Government of Louis Philippe did
not think it its duty to attend to these claims, which aro
now again renewed. The commission to which M.
Rouher has submitted the question is, it is said, inclined
to regard tl:e question in the same light as the Council
of State of 1831, and it is on the opinion of this special
commission that the Government will pie eat a Bill
tending to effect the re-imbursemeat of the sums which
may be due by France to the heirs of the Emperor,
after it has inc -n subjected to the examination of the
Council of State."—Galignani's Messenger.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A CLERGYMAN.—On Saturday
morning an awful instance of sudden death occurred in
North-street, Finsbury. At the period mentioned a
gentleman who but a few minutes previously hal been
seen walking rapidly in the direction of the New-reatwas
observed th stagger and fall to the ground. Several
persons ran to his assistance, and the unfortunate man
was immediately conveyed int ) the house of a respect •
able tradesman near at hand, while medical assistance
was sent for. Mr. Coulton, a surgeon, resident in Clif-
tun-street, promptly attended, but life was extinct be fore
his arrive'. On searching the deceased a gold IN well and
appendages, and other valuable property, w ere found
upon him, as well as a card case, centaitting cards bear-
ing the name of the " Rev. Spencer Thornton, Wen-
(lover Vicarage." From a letter in ono of this deceased's
pocketi it w:asl4osurmised that he wan son-in-law f
James Dupre,E q.. a Portland plane, aeel Steno Dtae-
part., near 13,-itcousfiehl, father of Mr. Caleden George
pep é, ary. for Bueßinghamshire. An oilier having
been dial ached t ) Po, Vend- piece, very soon r. turned
with Mr. I)upt6's coaehman, who instantly identified
the deceased as the reverend gentleman abovenamed.
The unfortunate gentleman has, it uppeard, only just
arrived in town ky the Eastern Counties Railway from a
visit to his uncle, Mr. Abel Smith, M.P., ( f Weodhall-
park, lierts, and it is conjectured that he was proceed-
ing to the residence of his father-in-law, in Portland-
place, when his death occurred. The deceased, who is
not more than 40 years of age, has left a widow and
eight children to deplore his lose. He has been incum-
bent cf Wendover since 1837, and Ras greatly beloved
by his parishioners. The vicarage of Wendover is in the
gif., of the Lord Chancellor.
Tha sale of the valuable furniture and effects of
Marlborough-house, belonging to her Majesty the late
Queen Dowager, is expected to take place in the first
week 9f 49/3 029iith gelmorY).