The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-21 00:00:00

ON BOARD

THE EXCELLENT, AT TEIE SWIFTSURE.

_
The trial was to decide the value and practical results of the
different fuses invented by Colonel Dansey, Royal Artillery,
Captain Norton, Mr. Marsh, and the long-used fuse called
" Wilton's fuse." Captain Sir T. Hastings, Colonel Dansey
and Captain Stevens, Royal Marine Artillery, were ordered
to report thereon.

A ;lumber of persons assembled on board the Excellent
to witness the firing on the different days—amongst whom
were the Lieut. Governor Sir Hercules Pakenham Lord D.
Halliburton, M.P., Sir James Cockburn, Admiral. Dacras,
Captain Richards, C 8., Captain G. B. Martin, R.N., Capt.
Wilson, R.A., &c. Colonel Dansey, Captain Norton, and
Mr. Marsh, the inventors of the fuses to be tried, were also
on board.

The shells thrown were 5 and 8-inch from guns, the dis-
tance being 1,480 yards, the same as at the shell practice in
November last, but the Sw•iftsure is now a better target, hav-
ing heeled over considerably more, and exposing more of her
weather deck to the broadside of the Excellent.

MoNDAv.—The practice commenced in the morning at
half-past ten o'clock. Thirty shells went_ fired fitted with
the fuses of Colonel Dansey, Mr. 4arsii, and Wilton's fuse.
The tiring was tolerable, and a number of shells struck the
target, we believe as many as 13 or 14, but not more than
three or four burst on board ; some few exploded in the mud,
but the majority did not burst. After the tiring ceased the
!Line shells were picked up on board and five from the mud,
which had not burst.

Tuosnxy.—The firing was continued tit half-past ten, and
the direction was better than those fired on Monday. The
shells were of the game diameter, and were fitted with fuses
by Colonel Dansey, iqr. Marsh, and a few of the old fuse
(Wilton's), an_d fired from the same guns. The explosion
or bursting of these shells was very uncertain. We believe
about 20 struck the Swiftsure, but not more than three or
four burst on board. One burst in flight short cf the target,
most of the others passed over the ship, and very few were
heard to burst on striking the mud. After the tiring ceased.
11 shells were picked up that had not burst.
In the afternoon ten shells, prepared by Captain Norton,
were fired with a much more satisfactory result. Of these
ten shells, six hit the Swiftsure, and exploded at the instant
on board ; two passed over and bbrst in the mud ; one was
doubtful as to bursting, and only one failed to burst, which
fell short of the Swiftsure into the water.

WEDNESDAY.—TIIIRD DAY'S PRACTICE ; SEVIINO FIRE TO
THE SwzFTsunE.—There was some very splendid firing this
day. About 60 shells. were fired. The practice commenced
with some shells prepared with Norton's fuses. Of the first
fifteen fired few missed the ship, and nearly all exploded.
though three burst in flight short of the Swittsure ; live con-
secutively-fired shells all went into the ship between the
break ofl the poop and the fore-hatchway, and burst on the
moment of striking. The 20th shell (one of Wilton's) en-
tered the poop and exploded on the main-deck, and in five
minutes after smoke was seen to issue, and flames soon broke
out ou the starboard quarter and stern. Sir Thomas Hastings
immediately proceeded with the boats of the Excellent, with
their fire buckets and one engine, to the ship. The ordinary
engines were soon on the spot, and after some time the fire
was extinguished. The firing then re-commenced, and con-
tinued till three o'clock. The shells performed altogether
better than they did on Tuesday, but many this day did not.
burst. The setting on fire of the Swiftsure is a convincing
proof of the destructive qualities of the shells. A ship, with
her stores and fittings, would have been destroyed ten times
over by the firing; but she has no fitting, her decks and top
sides are half rotten and saturated with moisture, therefore
it is astonishing that she took fire.
The respective shells were all marked with the initials of
the inventor's name, therefore those picked up whole showed
at once by whom the failing shells had been fitted. We be-
' lieve the practice will be continued to-day.

ll= WINDOW DUTIES.—On Wednesday an ad.
journed meeting of the delegates from the various metro-
politan parishes took place at the Court-house, Alaryleboue,
for the purpose of considering what further steps were
necessary to be taken for securing a repeal of the window
duties. Mr. George Daniell, of Marylebone, was called to
the chair. The meeting was very numerously attended, and.
on Lord Duncan, the Member for Bath, entering the room,
he was loudly cheered. Lord Duncan expressed himself
satisfied with the result of the debate in the House of Com-
mons, considering the great disadvantages under which the
question had been brought forward. He recommended the
formation of an Anti-Window-tax League. Mr. Michie
moved a resolution to the effect " That the meeting, so far
from being discouraged with the result of the division last
night, on the motion of Lord Viscount Duncan, rejoiced to
find that there was no attempt on the part of her Majesty's
Government to answer the lucid and convincing statements
of the Noble Lord and the several Hon. Members who sup-
ported him, and the meeting was increasingly convinced that
a steady, systematic, and persevering opposition to the op.
pressive and unequal window-tax would insure its ultimate
repeal." Mr. Ewen, of St. James's-street, seconded the reso-
lution, which was carried amidst loud cheers. Several other
delegates addressed the meeting, and it was further resolved
to establish a permanent Association and Committee, com-
posed of delegates from the various parishes, to collect statis-
tics, with a view to their publication throughout the country,
and to form Associations in every city and town in the king-
dom. A vote of thanks having been awarded to the Chair-
man, the meeting separated at a late hour.
REPEAL OF THE GLASS DUTIES.—In consequence
of the repeal of the duty on glass, the bottle manufacturers
have determined to reduce the price from 425. the gross of
12 dozen bottles, to 265. the gross. This will make bottle&
cheap enough, and it will, no doubt, have some effect on the
price of the cheaper kinds of liquor sold in bottles, such aa
ale, porter, cider, soda water, and so forth ; and it will no
doubt lead to a great increase in the manufacture. Warring-
ton is the principal place in Lancashire in which this
branch of the glass trade is carried on, and there
the repeal will be very beneficially felt in the increase of
work and wages. Another Lancashire town which will also
benefit greatly by the repeal of these same duties, is St.
Helen's, the principal seat of the plate, the German sheet, and
the crown glass manufacture. The plate glass of that neigh.
bourhood, which is, we believe, the finest in the world,,
will become cheaper than at present, though perhaps less
so than is generally expected, owing to the expensive ma-
chinery and great amount of skilled labour required in po-
lishing it and preparing it for the market, but the German
plate and the crown glass will both of them be manufactured
with much less cost when the duty is removed. The former
kind of glass has for some time been rising in favour, and as
it will be made generally accessible by the repeal of the duty
to persons in moderate circumstances, it will be employed in
most respectable houses, instead of the crown glass now used.
It will certainly add much to the beauty of their appearance,
as well as to the pleasure of their inhabitants, as it transmute
perfectly correct images of all external objects, instead of the
twisted and distorted images transmitted through the coin-
warreaiather at this
mon kinds of glass.—Lirerpool Times.
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.--It had been tin-
ges, which
year, were to have been used, in
InroolumldeehdaNt.ehaptrothteeetedimptrhoevepduhsleicconfrdo-mclatsshec
aceful vehicles, for the first time,
liecul inclement etnhte s eparseosne n ot f
dti
re
throughout the line of this Company, on Monday, the 10th
instant. It is now, however, stated that they will not be
introduced by the Directors until the let of June next; by
which time the warm weather will probably have set in, and
thus render this change of comparatively little consequence
to the public.
TUB SUSPECTED 11URDER ON TIIE PAISLEY BAIL.,
WAY.—This case, an account of 'which we lately gave, has
undergone a judicial investigation ; and from the report of
the medical gentlemen who examined the body, it appeals"
that the deceased died of congestive apoplexy, and that
though symptoms of violence were observable on the body,
there was nothing discovered to warrant the conclusion that
the man was murdered. His hat and coat were found in the
neighbourhood, which removes the impression that robber,
had been perpetrated ; 30 that, in all probability, the whole
affair will resolve itself into a fight,while apoplexy may hare
been induced by the excitement thereby produced.—Edin-
burgh Advertiser.
VAUXHALL GARDENS.—This far-famed place of
amusement, despite the numerous threats of its demolition,
is again, for its 115th season, to be re-opened at Whitsuntide
in its original splendour, together .with all the adventitious
aid of modern improvements. For a length of time past, a
variety of reports have obtained circulation that this "Royal
Property" was to be extinct, and only to be remembered in
the recollections of by-gone days. Sometimes it was asserted
that its extensive grounds had been parcelled out for building
on ; at others, that the line of a projected railway was to rux
through its centre, all of which reports were unfounded.
ETON COLLEGE.—An extra week's holiday has
been given to the school this Easter, which will have the
effect of prolonging the vacation until the 12th of next
month. It will be recollected that upon the visit of tke
King of the French to the College last year, his Majesty re-
quested and obtained an additional week's holiday at Christ-
mas ' • the extra holiday was not then given, but postponed
uu Laittu.

THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, MARCH 20.:
THEMOMETER, Lowest, 25 ; Highest, 40 ; Noon, 34.

BAROMETER, 30.15.-WIND, N.N.E.

NOT=.—The figures which follow the words "Lowest" and
" Highest" denote the lowest and highest state of the
Thermometer during the preceding twenty-four hours. All
the other observations are made at noon.

man WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE THIS DAY.
Morning •• 12 minutes after 0 Evening minutes after 0.

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