The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-12 00:00:00

Hope Grant, K.C.8., Quartermaster-General; Sir
E. ISTetherall, K.C.8., Deputy Quarto rmaster-
General ; and Sir W. Power, Commissariat- General-
in-Chief. The waggons and carts were designed
by Assistant Commissariat-General B C. 8.,
and built by Mr. Thomas A.yshford, of the Britannia
Works, Walham-green. The first vehicle examined
was a commissariat bread waggon, co 7 istructed to
carry two and a half tons. The interior of it is
fitted with six tiers of shelves, for bre'sd or other
stores, and these may, in case of necessity, be
adapted fur sleeping, or may be emplwed as ambu-
lances for the wounded. The length of the waggon
is 10ft. 4in., the breadth 4ft., and the height 4ft.
Bin. It turns in its own length without strain, the
body being built with a crank on the bottom sides,
affording room for the high front wheels. The
waggon may be used for the carriage of bread, meal,
corn, or powder, and for several other purposes, as
already indicated, when the covers are taken off.
The second was a spring cart of a similar construc-
tion, capable of carrying a ton and a half. No. 3
was a tip cart adapted for any purpose, and so built
that it may be taken to pieces in 20 minutes. It is
so constructed that the least possible stress is put on
the backs of the horses drawing it, and it is fitted
with a set of tilt hoops and a canvas cover to pro-
tect men and merchandise from rain. All the
vehicles examined yesterday are so arranged that
the sides and ends of them can be easily taken off,
so that there is very little difficulty in packing theta
closely on board ship for transport. The waggons
and carts have painted on them instructions to the
drivers regarding the weight they are capable of
carrying, when fairly laden, over good and bad
roads respectively. The Duke of Cambridge spent
upwards of half an hour in examining the machines,
and at the conclusion of his inspection expressed
his approval of their design and construction, which
are both finished and substantial.

Staff Assist.-Surg. Wilson has been attached to
the 4th Depot Battalion for duty. The Field-
Marshal Commanding-in-Chief has been pleased to
approve the appointment of Brevet-Colonel H. W.
Montagu, commanding Royal Engineers, Eastern
district, vice Brevet-Col. M'Causland, Royal Engi-
neers, retired on full pay with the rank of Major-
General. Staff-Surgeon Ramsey, M.D., is under
orders to proceed to Colchester for duty with the
4th Depot Battalion, vice Dr. Poulton, appointed
Surgeon of the 35th Regiment. Staff Assistant-
Surgeon O'Brien has been removed from Colchester
to Dublin ; and Staff Assistant-Surgeon Wilson,
from Dublin, is appointed to Colchester in his stead.
Lieut. Lambe, 96th Regiment, is held in readiness
to embark with the draught now under orders, in
the room of Ensign Wix, who retires by the sale of
his commission.

The Minotaur, 34, screw (armoured iron) frigate,
6,621 tons, 1,350 horse-power, Captain James G.
Goodenough, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral F.
Warden, C. 8., Commanding-in-Chief the Channel
squadron, steered out of Portsmouth harbour yes-
terday morning, and anchored at Spithead, the first
rendezvous of the Channel squadron for the present
year. There has been a great deal made public of
late concerning the steaming capabilities of the
ships forming the Channel squadron in its experi-
mental cruises made last year, and more particu-
larly in the closing cruise of November last. These
statements have been more or less distorted, but it
is at the same time remarkable that those ships
which appear to have been thegreatest failures under
trials of continuous steaming include vessels that
have given the greatest proportion of indicated over
nominal power on the measured mile. The apolo-
gists of these vessels will say that their screws have
been set at an exceptionally flue pitch by the maker
of their engines expressly to gain an increased num-
ber of revolutions on the mile, and an increase
thereby of indicated power ; but that such means
seriously militate against the ship's speed in a six
or eight hours' trial at sea. On the other hand it
is asserted that the new system inaugurated by
the present Controller of the Navy, of imposing
upon contractors with the Admiralty for the con-
struction of engines for her Majesty's ships the
condition that the set of engines contracted for
shall indicate on their trial six times their nomi-
nal power in lieu of the ordinary four times, is
a most unwise regulation. It compels a maker
of engines to have recourse to surface condensors,
superheating apparatus, and other complex addi-
tions, which is only a stupid attempt to cram one-
third more engine power into a vessel than the old
nominal rate. The new rule has undoubtedly de-
stroyed whatever value was possessed by the previ-
ously accepted rule. If we look at the results of
the competitive speed trial made with the fleet under
full steam on Nov. 26 last, and take the Warrior as
the comparative vessel, as being the oldest built in
the fleet, it appears to furnish positive proof that
the first built of all our ironclads is still the swiftest
vessel at sea that we possess. It must be observed,
also, that the Warrior's boilers are her original set,
and have 4- sths of their life worn out of them. They
were consequently, on the day of their trial at sea,
only loaded with 201 b. on the safety-valves. Those
of some of the other ships were loaded to 281 b. and
301 b. At the conclusion of the trial the respective
positions were :-1, Achilles ; 2, Lord Warden ;
3, Warrior ; 4, Prince Consort ; 5, Pallas ;
6, Bellerophon ; 7, Minotaur ; 8, Lord Clyde.
The total number of the revolutions made by
each ship's engines during the eight hours
of the trial was :—Achilles, 25,155 ; Lord War-
den, 27,176 ; Warrior, 23,400 ; Prince Consort,
25,488 ; Pallas, 25,682 ; Bellerophon, 31,875 ;
Minotaur, 25,748 ; Lord Clyde, 27,015. The di-
rection of the wind from 10 to 12 o'clock was E. by
S. ; from 2to 4 o'clock, E. to N.E. Its force was
from 10 to 12 o'clock from 3 to 2 ; from 2 to 4
o'clock it sank to 1. The sea was quite smooth, the
weather barometer standing at 30.29.
The troopship Lady Octavia, which has been
chartered by the Government for the conveyance of
reinforcements of various corps to St. Helena, the
Cape of Good Hope, and the Mauritius, having been
inspected by Major-General F. Murray, embarked
the following detachments at Government-quay,
Gravesend, yesterday, under the superintendence
of the officers of the divisional staff from Chatham
—viz., 15 non-commissioned officers and gunners
of the 12th Brigade, 16 men of the 13th Brigade,
10 men of the 17th Brigade, four soldiers' wives,
and four children, and 35 non-commissioned officers
and gunners, five soldiers' wives, and six children
of the Depot Brigade, Royal Artillery, for St.
Helena; 15 men of the 12th Brigade, 24 gunners,
two soldiers' wives and five children of the 13th
Brigade, 18 non-commissioned officers and gunners,
five soldiers' wives, and seven children of the 17th
Brigade, 45 men of all ranks, three soldiers' wives,
and ten children of the Depot Brigade, Royal
Artillery, and six men of the 99th (Lanarkshire)
Regiment, for the Cape of Good Hope ; one
armourer-sergeant, wife, and two children of the
Coast Brigade, one sergeant, wife, and child, and
three tailors of the Depot Brigade, Royal Artillery,
and one man of the 32d Regiment, and one staff
sergeant of the 99th Regiment for the Mauritius
The following officers embarked with the troops :
viz., Captain Horatio Priestley, 32d Regiment, in
command : Captain Charles Burton, 99th Regi-
ment ; Ensign Henry P. Williams, 86th Regiment ;
Deputy Assistant Superintendent of Stores, Richard
Jago, and Staff Assistant Surgeon Dwyer, in me-
dical charge.
The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty :—Lieutenant
itrhtehruhrertWeilolidarimnsg,
the Euphrates ; Lieutenant F tot:
to the Research ; Sub-Lieutenants George T. Bol-
ton
and Robert R. Jaffray, to the Warrior , Cyril
Corbet, midshipman, to the Pallas; Ed
Peach, assistant paymaster, additional, to the Edward
Royal
o yS.
assistant
in t e
the-
Alfred ; and George Park, first classer se an n
gineer, additional, to the Indus, for
Prince Consort.

PRICE.. 4d.
STAMPED sd.

I7IPEACIIMEII7

While Congress Was peaceably discussing the
business before it about two o'clock on the after-
noon of the 21st February, messengers appeared in
both Chambers from the PRESIDENT, and from the
Secretary of War, to announce that the former had
removed the latter, appointing LORENZO THOMAS
Adjutant-General of the Army, to the vacant office,
ad interim ; at the same time the Senate was in-
formed that Major-General G. li. THOMAS had
been promoted Lieutenant-General and General by
Brevet. The Senate immediately ceased its de-
bates, and went into secret session, in which it re-
mained for seven hours, when the following resolu-
tion was adopted by a strict party vote :
" Whereas the Senate has received and considered the
ccmmunication of the President, stating that ho had re-
moved Edwin M. Stanton as Secretary of War, and has
designated the Adjutant-General of the Army to act as
Secretary of War, ad interim: therefore, resolved, by the
Senate of the United States, that, under the Constitution
and laws of the United States, the President has no power
to remove the Secretary of War and designate another offi-
cer to pet form the duties of that office."

The House also postponed its regular business to
the consideration of the subject, and referred the
following resolution to the Reconstruction Com-
mittee:—

"Resolved, that Andrew Johnson, President of the
United States, be impeached for high crimes and misde-
meanours."

Washington was thrown into a state of excitement
unknown since the night of LINCOLN'S assassination.
The PRESIDENT had exploded the magazine, and
all desired to learn what breach had been effected,
and who was to rush in to occupy the citadel. The
following letter was the cause of the commotion :
"Executive Mansion, Washington, D.C., Feb. 21.

" Sir,—By virtue of the power and authority vested in
me as President by the Constitution and laws of the
United States, you are hereby removed from office as
Secretary of War, and your functions as such will termi-
nate upon receipt of this communication.
"You will transfer to Brevet Major-General Lorenza
Thomas, Adjutant-General of the Army, who has this day
been authorised to act as Secretary of War, ad interim, all
records, books, papers, and other public property now in
your custody and charge.—Respectfully yours,
"ANDREW JOHNSON, President.

" To the lion. Edwin M. Stanton, Washington, D.C."
Shortly after its receipt by the Secretary, Adjutant-
General THOMAS proceeded to the War Office,
where he met Mr. STANTON, whom he informed
that, by direction of the PRESIDENT, he had come
to relieve him. Mr. STANTON asked when he in-
tended to take possession ; adding, ironically, that
he supposed time would be allowed to remove
papers. General TllomAs replied that he was noA
in possession. On the General's withdrawal, several
leading Senators called at the office to advise Mr.
STANTON to resist the order. Notes of encourage-
ment poured in on the Secretary, and promises of
help. His friends procured from the Circuit Court
a warrant to arrest Adjutant-General THOMAS for
infringing the Tenure-of-Office Act. The Adju-
tan is personally an enemy to STANTON,
through whose means he had been removed from
the post. He was restored by a special order of
the PRESIDENT after an absence of two years, and
but a few days prior to the enzbroglio, having re-
sumed his post from General TOWNSEND on the 14th
February. In Mr. JOHNSON'S eyes his enmity to
STANTON was, perhaps, a better qualification than
his known administrative ability.

Major-General GEORGE H. THOMAS, to whom in
his difficulties the PRESIDENT, failing SHERMAN,
has turned, is an officer second only to SHERMAN in
distinction. During all the operations by which
SHERMAN eventually doubled up the Confederacy,
THOMAS, who was one of his generals of division,
was his right-hand man. It may not be without
interest to our readers to recall the connection of
these two distinguished officers, who, under the
present complications at Washington, have been
thrust by the PRESIDENT so prominently forward.
When HOOD superseded JOHNSTON in the last
year of the war by order of JEFFERSON DAVIS
another system of tactics was inaugurated to
stop SIIERMAN'S advance. Following the example
of NAPOLEON on the march of the Allies to
Paris, HOOD swung round to the invaders' rear,
hoping to draw him back by placing himself on
the line of communication. SHERMAN detached
THOMAS to deal with HooD, and proceeded on his
devastating track. TimmAs, outnumbered, re-
treated on Nashville, drawing his enemy on, while
he kept him at bay by skilful manceuvreing and a
determined front. On the 30th November he re-
pulsed a fierce attack on his entrenchments at
Franklin, in which 6,000 Confederate soldiers fell,
and no less than thirteen general officers. THOMAS
retired, and ou the 2d December HOOD established
his lines in front of Nashville, where he awaited re-
inforcements under PRICE. The moment was
critical, for if Nashville had fallen HOOD would
have been greatly strengthened in this effort
the last aggressive move made by the South.
On the lbth December, THOMAS, having gathered
up all his available strengh, attacked Hoop's
position, and, after a battle which extended over
two days, routed him, capturing most of his artil-
lery and many thousand prisoners. General
THOMAS'S headquarters are now in the city the scene
of his decisive victory, and failing with GRANT, the
director of these operations, failing with SHERMAN,
THOMAS'S immediate chief and associate in them, the
PRESIDENT has now turned to him for aid. ANDREW
JOHNSON offers him a great bait ; he proposes to
make him in rank the equal of GRANT, preparatory
to conferring on him the Command-in-Chief ; but
the example of his renowned colleague, General
SHERMAN, is before him. That officer, in a note to
the PRESIDENT, courteously declined the new com-
mand, and the proposed promotion, and Mr. JOHN-
SON has withdrawn the nomination. The note was
forwarded unsealed, through General GRANT, much
to the PRESIDENT'S annoyance. It is generally
thought that THOMAS, though a Southerner, by
birth being a native of Virginia, is too staunch a
Northern soldier to aid the PRESIDENT'S plan of
plunging the Union into another Civil War, and
will also decline the promotion. If so, the PRESI.
DENT'S attempts to draw into his party any of the
most celebrated of the Union soldiers will fail, and
with it will fail his power of resisting Congress by
force. The difficulty people on this side expe-
rience in calculating the position is in esti-
mating how far ANDREW JOHNSON may him-
self be in error. Here is a man persisting
in a course which leads to open war or to
his own political annihilation, for, if convicted,
he is rendered incapable by the Constitution of
again holding public office. We suppose that this
man must understand the circumstances surround-
ing him, and we imagine a force at his back not
the less real because we cannot see it. All try to
penetrate the mystery, to perceive the power on
which ANDREW JOHNSON must rely in his battle
with Congress. It is, however, not even impro-
bable that the person most completely deluded may
be ANDREW JOHNSON himself. We know that in
his celebrated tour he acted asif in the interest of
his enemies, doing exactly what they wanted him
to do, destroying his influence and injuring the
cause he had at heart. From the day he assumed
office he has been ceaselessly employed in thwart-
ing the accomplishment of his own desires. If
ANDREW JOHNSON'S administration has been a
series of mistakes, an apt illustration of the couplet
applied to the King, one word being changed—
t4 Who never wrote a foolish thing,
And never did a wise one,"

is it unlikely that he may have deliberately raised
the whirlwind, without any means of directing it,
that blows his own destruction ? Frequent cases of
such infatuation occur in history, and notwith-
standing the PRESIDENT'S threat to maintain the
Executive authority by force, and the issue to which
he has compelled Congress, we may see him bowled
out with scarcely a struggle. The continued decline
in gold is a strong indication that ANDREW JOHN-
SON'S powers of resistance do not equal either his
expectation or his inclination, and he may speedily
find himself lost in even a greater obscurity than
usually falls to the lot of ex-rresidents.—/Inglo-
American Times.