The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 5, 1868.

M'Gregor, is taking on board in Portsmouth har-
bour steam navigation coals and ballast preparatory
The armour-plated iron turret-ship Monarch, 6to making renewed trials of her speed over the mea-
guns, 5,100 tons, 1,100-horse power, building at -aired mile in Stokes Bay, ordered to be made before
Chatham dockyard, the only turret-ship under con- she sails on foreign service. The Danae is just now
struction in either of the Royal shipbuilding yards, the representative vessel of the Amazon class, and
was commenced shortly after the keel of the Her- as she so represents seven sister vessels now in com-
cules was laid down, in the latter part of 1866. A mission, and serving on foreign stations, two others
variety of causes have, however, contributed to pre- just completed on the building slips, and three
vent the turret-ship being pushed forward with that whose frames and timbers are cut out and ready to
rapidity which has characterised the construction of be laid down on the slips, it will be as well, perhaps,
the Hercules, and fully 12 months more are likely to to see what these vessels really are, and under what
elapse before the Monarch will have a gun on board, conditions they are being equipped and sent to sea.
or be ready to proceed on her experimental cruise. The twelve vessels possess a total measurement of
Although nominally intended to represent a power- 15,208 tons, and a nominal engine power of 4,200
ful ship on the turret principle the " improvements" horse, the latter being capable of working up to
and alterations made in her design—for which it is 25,000 horse as the combined and exerted power of
only fair to remark the members of the late Ad- all the engines. All are unarmoured vessels, are
miralty are chiefly responsible—have been so many ship rigged, carry as armament two 7-inch, 61 ton
and frequent that the principal advantages of the muzzle-loading rifles, and four 64-pounder con-
turret principle have been entirely sacrificed to the verted (Palliser) rifles, and average a speed over the
prejudices of naval officials connected with the Ad- measured mile with ordinary steam coal of 12.5
miralty, and for which the constructing department knots with full boiler power, and of 10.3 knots with
of the Boardeis in no way responsible. The chief half boiler power. The Danae class thus form quite
distinguishing feature in the Monarch is the great a little fleet of unarmoured, wood-built ships of
comparative height of her free-board, or, in other themselves on the Navy List of the Admiralty; but
words, the height of her sides out of the water, it may be said at once, and this is the understood
which from her water-line to her upper deck are 14 special complaint of the Constructive Department
feet, or more than double the height of American at Whitehall, they do not fulfill all the conditions
turret ships, as well as those building for European upon which such unarmoured wooden vessels should
Powers. In the turret-ship Captain, building for be equipped and sent to sea. When Lord Clarence
the Admiralty at the yard of Messrs. Laird, at Paget first drew the attention of the House of Corn-
Birkenhead, under the sole superintendence of Capt. mons from his place as Secretary to the Admiralty
Coles, the free board is carried to a height of 9 feet, to this class of vessel, as the then Amazon class, his
the additional height being, it is understood, in- lordship, no doubt, anticipated a still higher rate of
sisted upon by the Admiralty. Another important speed than even the 12.5 and 13.3 knots they have
deviation from the accepted theory of a true turret- since averaged under full and half boiler power.
N
ship has been in the placing of a huge topgallant Now the complaint is that the Board of Admiralty,
forecastle on the Monarch's upper deck—a strikingly or rather the Sea Lords' portion of the Boards, by
novel feature, insisted upon by the Admiralty in their continued interference with the Constructive
opposition to the remonstrances of the officials con- Department, so cripple the latter, that no one de-
nected with the department of the Controller of the sign for a ship submitted is ever built and equipped
Navy, to whom the designs of the Monarch are
for sea according to the ideas of her designers.
credited—the effect of which will be that the turret
Clearly, if this is so, the responsibility of a ship's
guns will only be enabled to sweep a portion of the
success or failure must lie on the shoulders of the
deck, instead of having an all round fire. The Boards of Admiralty rather than upon the Control-
lermination into all the particulars connected with
mechanics are busily engaged in the construction of and Constructor of the Navy. A careful exa-
the design and equip
the turrets, which are now being carried up to the
ment of the first-named class
upper deck. The turrets alone will absorb 177 tons
of 10-inch and 8-inch armour-plating, the maximum of vessels, from the Amazon downwards, only
thickness of 10-inch plating being fixed in that part furnishes one answer. It is entirely owing to
of the turret close to the gun, and plates of Bin. in the interference of the members of Boards of
thickness in the remaining parts. The 10-inch Admiralty with the duties of the Controller's de-
plates will be laid on a backing of teak timber Bin. partment of the navy in technical and vital matters
in thickness, and the 8-inch plates on a similar back- connected with the design or equipment of a ship,
ing of 10in. in thickness. Behind the timber back- and with regard to which a Lord of the Admiralty
ing will come a skin of i-inch iron plating, fastened could know nothing, except by some fancied and
to 7-inch girders, with au inner plating iin. in private theory of his own. When the Amazon class
thickness, the total thickness of iron and wood in were first designed in the Controller's office the
the turrets being 2ft. 2iin. Along the entire broad- intention was to produce exceptionally fast vessels
side of the vessel protecting the turrets INill be laid under steam at full speed, and economically steam-
armour-plating of 7in. in thickness, laid in five tiers, ing vessels at slow speed, and carrying too heavy
with a single tier of plates 6in. in thickness. All
guns as armament. With these primary objects of
the plates are of the best rolled iron, from the este- rapidity of motion and concentrated offensive
blishment of Messrs. John Brown and Co., and power, all weights in the form of rig, boats, crew,
Messrs. Cammell and Co., of Sheffield. The total and stores, were cut down as much as possible. A
quantity of armour-plating protecting the Monarch's very light rig was designed that should only give
sides will be 1,380 tons, of which about two-thirds e; stiffielent tailvai to enntrol the vessel, no bodualoat':
have already been bolted to her sides. Frown the I was alloWecle and 90‘haads named as the number:of
central broadside aft the plates range from. a thick- the crew, all t01d... le
Board Of idiniralty.,
ness of 7in. to 41in., with a minimum thickness of send the Danae class to sea with 001 ship rig for
3in. under the counter. Forward the plates taper times the weight of the one designtd 'for';'of heavy:from 7in. to 4in., with the exception of the third boom boat amidships; an addition - 61-
tier, in which none of the plates are less than sin. pounder guns, and 180 as thenumber "of her crew
in thickness. The armament of the Monarch, as all. told. To
put =it, perhaps, 'the'
at present decided upon by the Admiralty, will con- weights she carries in excess of what she' was de-
sist of a couple of 22-ton guns in each of the turrets, signed to carry are —twice the weight of masts,
ai
the foundations for the platforms being already yards, sails, rigging, and all boatswn's stores a
laid in each turret. In addition to these, however, large boom-boat with its gear and fittings ; two 61-
and as a compensation for the Monarch not being pounder rifled guns, with their carriages and slides,
able to fire her turret guns directly ahead or astern, shot, shell, &e. ; and 90 officers and men, with all
a 61-ton gun will be placed in the bow and stern. their provisions, stores, and clothing. Under these
both guns firing in a line with the vessel's keel, and I altered conditions, the country is having added to
each protected by armour-plating. These guns will 1 its navy two spoilt, unarmoured cruisers for the sum
complete the Monarch's armament, while the height I which ought to give three perfect and very much
of the turrets above the water will enable the guns swifter vessels.
to have a greater range of training than could Her Majesty's 2-gun steam storeship Fox,.Staff-
otherwise be obtained. The Monarch will be a full- Commander William S. Leeke, yesterday coin-
rigged ship, her running gear being worked from I menced shipping in Woolwich steam basin a cargo
the upper deck as an ordinary vessel, the fore and of naval stores for Portsmouth, Ireland, and other
aft bridge, or hurricane deck, usually seen in turret- places. Her spacious hold and storeage room ren-
ships not being required. The machinery is •in der her infinitely superior to any vessel of that de-
course of manufacture by Messrs. Humphrys, Ten- scription in her Majesty's service, and, although
nant, and Co., of Deptford-pier, and will be of carrying double the amount of stores, the objec-
-1,100 horse power (nominal) but capable of working tionable deck cargoes, the subject of so much com-
up to about six times that power, the contract being p!aint, are totally avoided, the huge boilers and
that the vessel shall steam at a mean speed of 14 ; other heavy gear being stowed, with the remainder
knots per hour. of the cargo, below.
Yesterday the shipwrights at Chatham dockyard The Magpie, 3, twin-screw gunvessel, 663 tons,
commenced preparations for the launch of the iron- wood built, to be fitted with engines of a combined
clad frigate Hercules, which takes place on Satur- nominal power of 160 horse power, will be launched
day next, shortly after mid-day. from No. 2 slip in Portsmouth dockyard on the 12th
The paddlewheel steamship Buzzard, 6, Staff
instant.
Commander J. G. H. Thain, from
Queenstown,
arrived in Plymouth Sound on Monday, and is now
in Barnpool waiting orders.
A very large force is expected at Aldershot dur-
ing the ensuing season. Among other reei •
ments
°
to arrive at the Camp are named the Ist battalion
sth Fusiliers, from Dover ; the 2d battalion
Regiment, from Edinburgh, on the arrival of the
42d Highlanders from India ; the 2d battalion 7th
Regiment, from Bury ; the 2d battalion Bth Regi-
ment, from Malta, to arrive about the
22d
inst. •
the 2d battalion 13th, from Portland ; the Ist bat-
talion 20th, from Devonport ; the 2d battalion 22d,
from Newcastle ; the 34th, from Portsmouth ; the
57th, from Manchester; the 97th, from
Portsmouth
the 10th Hussars, from Newbridge, early in March ;
the 3d Hussars, from Hounslow, • t o give over their
horses prior to departure to India ; the 6th Innis-
killings, from York, to go into temporary stables
in the North Camp ; and the sth Dragoon Guards,
from Colchester, to occupy the Fast Cavalry Bar-
racks. Several regiments lately •
arrived, and to ar-
rive, home will also be moved to during
Aldershot
d •
ng
the year, among others the 2d battalion 3d Buffs,
27th, 35th, and 67th Regiments, and 2d battalion
Rifle Brigade. A number of
militia regiments, too,
will be sent to the Camp for the usual 28 days'
training, making altogether a force equalled only in
the early days of the Camp.
A regimental board of officers, composed of Col.
C. W. Adair, Royal Marines Light lnfantry, pre-
sident ; Major J. C. Jervoise, 3d Depot Battalion ;
and Major J. Thompson, 50th Queen's Own Regi-
ment, assembled at Chatham garrison yesterday,
for the examination of the following officers of the
Royal Engineers as to their qualifications for pro-
motion :—Lieut. S. C. Turner, Lieut. G. J. Jack-
son, Lieut. D. C. Courtney, Lieut. W. H. Purcell,
Lieut. V. F. Garwood. and Lieut. H. S. F. Hayns.
One hundred and eighty non - commissioned
officers and gunners of the 2d Division, Depot Bri-
gade, Royal Artillery, arrived at Sheerness yester-
day from Warley, to augment the strength of the
Ist Division, which has been lately considered re-
duced by large draughts having left for India to join
their respective Brigades.
Messrs. Kirk, building contractors to the 'War
Department in the Royal eirsenal, Woolwich, on
Saturday commenced laying the foundations of the
seven magazines ordered to be erected on the river
bank in the Arsenal marsh. They are to be bomb-
proof, and detached from each other by lofty mounds
of earth, to guard against injury in case of acci-
dental explosion. They are intended for filling
and preparing live shells and 40-pounder gun cart-
ridges.
In addition to the metropolitan police on duty at
the dockyard and naval establishments at Chatham
having the charge of the ordnance establishment,
the armoury, and the magazines and stores of am-
munition at Upnor Castle, another duty has been
imposed on them, by direction of the Secretary of
State for War, the charge of the Royal Engineer
fieldworks, which cover a considerable extent of
ground at Chatham. This duty it has been found
necessary for them to discharge in consequence of
the great injury occasioned to the fieldworks by
unauthorised persons trespassing on the Crown
lands, as well as the depredations and thefts which
are constantly occurring. The charge of the Royal
Engineer fieldworks by the police commenced on
Saturday, a force of men being now on the ground
both by day and night. It is needless to add that
this arrangement is in no way connected with

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

111-ISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

From the Anglo-American Times.)
PARIS, Jan. 30.

It must prove interesting to the general reader,
accustomed to regard the Emperor Charlemagne
the real founder of the monarchy of France, simply
in the light of one of the steel-clad and iron-fisted
Paladins of romance, to learn that he was the first
of her monarchs to comprehend the necessity of
public instruction ; that he not only established
schools, but exhibited the greatest personal interest
in
visiting them, iu
0 rewardine. the
h
himself with the greatest attention to the masters,
sc olars
who
and inviting to his Court the most distinguished
distinguished and
savants of every country. Canonized by the Church
after his death, he has been selected as the patron
of scholars and of the Lycees or colleges of France.
His fete has been fixed for the 28th of January in
each year, and on that day all the schools of France
honour the memory of their august founder. By
the Lycees of Paris this fete is celebrated by a
banquet; but as Charlemagne in his day recom-
pensed only the deserving, tradition has been so far
followed as to give only to those pupils who have
been either first or second in their class the right
of attending the festival in question. At this ban-
quet, usually held in one of the most ancient colleges,
the connives represent all nations, all creeds, and
all races, whilst amongst the guests of bygone days
were reckoned Moliere, Voltaire, Crebillon, and
others of the most distinguished literary names of
France. The banquet on Tuesday last, received
additional prestige from the presence of the Prince
Imperial, who has already distinguished himself in
his course of public instruction, whilst the Em-
peror, with his usual kindness of heart and fore-
thought, furnished a liberal supply of game,
together with sundry baskets of champagne. In-
deed, itis more than probable that the two days'
sport in
which his Majesty has indulged at Com-
piegne, in which no less than 2,364 head of game of
different kinds were brought to book, were under-
taken principally for this reason, for the heart of
the father goes out towards the son, even in the
smallest matter, and the affectionate solicitude with
which he guides his steps from day to day in the
glorious path of peace and progress, is proverbial.
Never did scion of royal race commence the ardu-
ous'education befitting royalty under more favour-
able auspices. President of one of the noblest and
most brilliant Expositions the world ever saw, win-
ning his way by merit in the grand old colleges of
the Empire open to all the world, what is there left
to hope, not only to the children of France, but to the
general philanthropist, but that the career corn
menced so brilliantly may have as brilliant a
course and a long career. The period appointed for
the "closing of the chase" is now rapidly approach-
ing, and the vast quantities of game with which Paris
has been inundated will speedily disappear. I find
that scarcely a twentieth part is furnished by
France, the principal supply coming from Germany,
Poland, and Russia by the railways ; the importers
being chiefly Jews. Wild boars, roe bucks, deer,
hares, and rabbits arrive in vast numbers from the
Grand Duchy of Baden and from Wurtemburg,
as do also pheasants and partridges. Heilbronn
and Strasbourg supply heath fowl, Russia and
England grouse and woodcocks. The latter are rare
in France, but are very plentiful in Corsica, Sardinia,
and in various parts of Italy, where they are taken
in nets. Thrushes and small birds come from the
Lago Maggiore and Lago da Gardo, where they

Fenianism.
The Danae, 6, screw sloop, Captain Sir Malcolm

are captured in vast numbers by the Lombard
peasants. Larks from the neighbourhood of the
Lot, Lot et Garonne, Loiret, &c., whilst the various
species of water fowl, swans, ducks, geese, snipe, &c.,
arrive from Holland, Bretagne, Somme, and the

Bay of Arrachon. The financial estimates of
France for the coming year have been made public.

The sum required for the maintenance of the two
services, public works, maintenance of public order,
&c., 843., amounting to the sum of 440 millions of
francs, about a million and three-quarters sterling.

The Democratic party have availed themselves of
this circumstance to make a final coup against the

proposal for the reorganization and amelioration of
the military service ; but the lovers of order will
scarcely imagine the security of the country and
the consequent re-establishment of public confi-
dence too dearly purchased at such an outlay, espe-
.

cially when the enormous sums are considered at
present lying idle in the coffers of the Bank of
France, principally from the timidity of capitalists,
_ _

which the feeling of increased security would pour
forth in a thousand channels to supply the great

arteries of commercial enterprize, and to react in

the prosperity of the country. A grand banquet
has taken place at Nice in honour of Admiral
Farragut, and amongst the distinguished guests
_ _ _ _ .

present were—King Louis the First, the Dukes of
Glucksburg and Parma, Prince Stirbey, and a host

of aristocratic names, assembled to do honour to
the American hero. A new piece has just been

brought out at the Theatre Francais, entitled " Paul

Forestier," which bids fair to create a furore in Paris.
The drama is exceedingly well put on the stage,

and the vivid colouring with which the author, M.
Emile Angier has invested the passions developed
in the course of the piece, does infinite credit to his
imagination as a poet. In its outline the play
bears a strong resemblance to the " Dame aux Ca-
melias" or " LaTraviata" of Dumas; and although in
" Paul Forestier" everything is brought right in the
end, and the curtain falls upon the triumph of con-
jugal happiness, there are certain points which I
fear would bring the drama below the standard of
morality required by an English or American
audience. A very brief outline will serve to give
the reader some idea, not, indeed, of the poetic and
beautiful language in which the plot is clothed, but
of the plot itself. Master Paul has formed a liaison
with a young lady, married and separated from her
husband, who, in respect to said husband, seems
perfectly capable of repeating the line of Byron's
heroine—
" The proof how much I can lova is, I love not thee."
The aforesaid liaison does not meet the approval of
Forestier, senior, who by a little intrigue induces
his son to believe that his mistress (Lea) is weary
of and deceiving him, and presses him to marry a
young and highly accomplished lady, who is quite
prepared to leave her convent for that sacrifice.
Paul appears to resemble Midshipman Easy in his
younger days ; you may lead him with a thread to
pick cherries, however much they may disagree
with him afterwards ; he yields, and is married
accordingly. All goes on merrily for three months,
when a certain Adolphe de Beaubourg, friend of
Paul, appears on the scene. De Beaubourg is a
sort.alop,-.4lways,-seekiog 'hat the French term
les bouncs fortunei; blit:neldom,laving the good
fortune. to succeed ; :lie CO Ades";Tto:'Paul that- he
eneouttered' is Idly •,eertaiii]danie to when)
jaid;, siege ,foeitrme the remotest`
prospect of ::nnecnas :jeer Cain night,
as the; -eitiek:' 'atWdli. ":came to hlin
of her own ae.COrd,,,nnd ttiB'fell.oiiing day hellad
been turned out of doors and neVer" since allowed
another interview ; how he has agaiiidiseovered his
charmer in the shape of a widow living at Paris ;
and lastly, his wish (not being over particular) to
offer her, through the medium of Paul, his hand.
Paul undertakes the office, and of course here an
explanation comes about, and the hero of the piece
finds out, first of all, the little game of his respected
parent ; and, secondly, that in her conduct towards
De Beaubourg, he has acted from feelings of jea-
lousy and revenge towards himself. Of course all
the varied feelings of old love, jealousy, disgust at
being deceived, &c., throw him once more at the
feet of his ancient mistress, who, however, resolves
for a change, to do the virtuous, and dismisses him,
favouring M. De Beaubourg with her hand, in order
to place an eternal barrier between them—a barrier
which, at the commencement, did not seem to pos-
se:is any great weight in the way of opposition,
whilst at the same time Camille, the wife of Paul
to back her up, makes an attempt to kill herself,
taking care at the same time that Forestier, junior
and senior are in the way to prevent her. These
circumstances combined overawe Paul, who appears
a rather weak-minded character; he consents to
live happily with his wife, and the curtain falls ac-
cording to the French press, with the final triumph
of virtue. There can be no doubt with regard to
this most attractive drama that the human passions
are vividly portrayed, that the language is im-
bued with the spirit of poetry in no ordinary degree,
that the interest is kept up frOm the commencement
to the fall of the curtain ; but the Parisian critics
may rest assured that if ever a translation or adap-
tation of " Paul Forestier" comes to England or
America the author will first of all have to answer
the pertinent question—
" Wet knows you on his moral carakter ?"

Our correspondent, writing from Naples Jan.
24, 1868, says :—The Duke and Duchess of Aosta
arrived last week. They had been long expected,
but the notice given of their actual arrival was so
short that their reception was not as brilliant as it
might have been. Besides, there is much distress
amongst all classes, and the view of a live Prince
is not enough to cheapen bread. It is to be hoped
that the Carnival gaieties of which there are plenty
in store will cause a little money to circulate.
Vesuvius continues to throw out lava, several
new streams having appeared, thus affording ample
scope for sight-seeing to the crowd of visitors.
On the evening of thel3thJanuary certified state-
ments of the decision of the Senate pronouncing the
President's charges against Mr. Stanton unsustained,
and the removal from the Secretaryship conse-
quently unjustifiable, were served both on Mr.
Stanton and General Grant. At nine o'clock on
the following morning Mr. Stanton proceeded to
the War-office to take possession, but General
Grant had then gone to the Head-quarters of the
Army, leaving the key with his adjutant, which
was brought by an orderly to the Secretary. From
that office the General addressed to the President
the following note :-
1 "lead-quarters, Army United States, Jan. 14, 1868.

"His Excellency, A. Johnson, President.
" Sir,—l have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of
official notice, received by me last evening, of the action of
the Senate of the United States in the case of the Hon. E.
M. Stanton, Secretary of War, according to the provisions
of an Act regulating the tenure of civil offices. My func-
tions as Secretary of War ad 'interim ceased from the mo-
ment of the receipt of the within notice.—l have the
honour to be, respectfully, your obedient servant,
(Signed) "U. S. GRANT, General."
It is stated that the President will decline to hold
any communication with Mr. Stanton, issuing all
military orders through General Grant, and, it
was said, but it is now denied, that Mr. APCulloch
has ordered his department to hold no official
communication with the Secretary for War until
he states his determination. Indeed all the depart-
ments
recognise the present incumbent, and the
Treasury honours his drafts. It is also announced
that both Generals Grant and Sherman have urged
Mr. Stanton to resign, but numerous members
of the Senate had written urging him to retain his
seat. After Mr. Stanton had become installed in
his office, he had an interview with General Grant.
lle had directed General Louis H. Pelowza to take
charge of the office and resume his old place as
Adjutant-General; and he had given instruc-
tions to his own clerks, who hal returned, while
those of the General had left ; also he had drawn his
pay, amounting to $3,000 for the period he bad been
out of office.
General Butler paid his visit to Richmond on the
13th January, and was received by about 15,003
Virginian freedmen, who escorted him through the
city. In the evening he delivered an excellent ad-
dress, which was listened to with enthusiasm. He
sketched the history of the Government from 1789
to the war which ended with emancipation. He
described the effects of that measure on the status
_of the blacks with force and clearness. The most