The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-23 00:00:00

EXPERIMENTS AT THE ROYAL

ARSENAL.

WOOLWICH, JUNE 22 —One of the large guns made for
Mehemet Alt by Messrs. Walker and Co. having been mounted
on a strong ship carriage, constructed at the Royal Arsenal,
it was resolved to make some experiments with this gun pre-
vious to its being sent to Deal, as in the event of any deficiency
being likely to take place, it would be discovered and remedied
with greater facilities here than it possibly could be on the sea
coast betwixt Deal and Sandwich. At precisely two o'clock
r. ar., to. day, Lieutenant-General Lord Bloomfield, G.C.8.,
and G. C. H. , Major-General Drummond, C. 8., Diredtor-
General of the Royal Artillery, Colonel Paterson, Colonel
Lacy, Lieut.-Colonel Dansey, C. 8., Lieut. Col. Dundas, C. 8.,
and Lieut.-Col. Chalmer, members of the select committee, at-
tended at the butt in the grounds of the Royal Arsenal, to wit-
ness the experiments. The carriage on which this magnifi-
cent gun, of the most perfect symmetry to the eye, has been
placed, is mounted on a sliding platform twenty feet in length,
to afford ample room for recoil to the carriage when the gun
is fired, and the whole has been placed on a base similar
to the deck of a ship or war steam-vessel, with pieces of
iron forming part of a circle, on which the apparently pon-
derous gun and carriages can be moved from one side to an-
other, according to the direction in which the gun may be
required to be pointed, w ith the greatest ease. This was
clearly shown by the facility with which seven men moved the
whole from one side to another. The angle on which the
sliding platform was placed is so inclined forwards as to require
the united power of sixteen men to draw back, in the direction
of the recoil, the carriage and gun six feet; but it only required
sic men attached to the pulleys, and two of the levers, to bring
up the gun and carriage to their original position after being
fired. After the various exercises of the gun in moving it from
one direction to another, and retiring and advancing it, as
might be required, when loading was gone through, in a man-
ner to the entire satisfaction of the officers present, the gun
was loaded with a charge of `Albs. of powder, and a solid ball
of 1301bs. weight. Lieutenant-Colonel Dansey then applied
I a percussion tube on a new construction, being an improve-
ment on a percussion tube, submitted by a Hanoverian officer,
and noticed at the time. The improvement consists in
simplifying the mode of discharging the percussion corn-
position, and the result was the most satisfactory of any
that has Set taken place. Lieut.-Colonel Dansey fired the
three first rounds himself, and three others were fired
by a gunner and driver of the Royal Artillery, with the
greatest certainty, precision, and ease at the word of com-
mand, which shows that the experiment has been completely
successful. This important discovery in the mode of dis-
charging large guns is the most simple that can be ima4ined,
being merely a small piece of iron or steel, not larger and
almost of a similar shape to the support attached to ladies' gold
watches when carried about with them, and the pieces of cord
about two yards long, with which the discharge is effected,-
not thicker than the usual silk guards attached to the watches
of gentlemen. The whole occupying so little space that they
might be carried in the waistcoat pocket without presenting
any very prominent appearance. Lieutenant-Colonel Dansey
tried a number of the tubes in /uns which were not loaded,
and in every instance, with only one solitary exception, they
proved effective. The first shot fired caused the gun and
carriage to recoil about five feet and a half, and the second
shot only one-half inch more with the same charge of
powder. The third shot had a charge of 291bs. of powder,
and the recoil exceeded the former by six inches. 'the
fourth shot, with a similar charge, recoiled only five inches
and three quarters more than the two first shots. The fifth
and sixth shots, with a still greater charge of powder, re-
coiled, the one 15 inches, and the other 174 inches more than
the first, but leaving ample space on the sliding platform to in-
sure that it was sufficient for the heaviest charge that might
ever be applied.

EAST INDIA HOUSE.
QUARTERLY GENERAL COURT.
HILL COOLIES.

(Continued from our Third Edition of last .Ntght.)
The CHAIRMAN said that all the contracts were not
for five years ; but, if the emigrant remained five years,
the colony was bound to pay his expenses home—(Hear,
hear)—and he (the Chairman) had no doubt that many
of them would amass considerable sums of money.
Sir J. LAP FAN still thought that the emigrants should
not be bound for any term. He thought it would be
desirable also that a proportionable number of females
should be imported to give the men a liking for the
country.
The CHAIRMAN said that the law had yet to be made
in India. The correspondence before the Court con-
tained suggestions for that law. It recommended that
every care should be taken of the health and comfort of
the emigrants, and that they should have an opportunity
of returning whenever they pleased. Regulations he
believed would also be adopted to maintain a due pro-
portion of the sexes.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. CLARKE said the question was, whether the Hill
Coolies were in a state of destitution or not at present,
and whether they would not, by inducing them to emi-
grate, be relieving their destitution. He thought they
would. In the resolution it was stated that industry and
population constituted the strength of the nation. He
(Mr. Clarke) demurred to that. So long as the popu-
lation had plenty to do, it might be true ; but, if there
were not enough to occupy the population, those who
were unemployed became as so many drones in the hive.
Mr. THOMPSON said that, though aware of the interest
and importance of the question which was to succeed the
one before the Court, he felt it his duty to enter his most
solemn protest against the proposition of the Chair. He
did not desire to dispute the sincerity of the Directors
when they professed a desire to help the natives of India,
to better their condition by going to the Mauritius; but
he could assure, them that they would deeply regret their
decision three years hence, if they assisted to revive the
system of Coolie emigration. The Honourable Director
had spoken of the new regulations, but he could assure
him, from a pretty long experience of the value of pro-
itectors in the British colonies, that the protector ap-
pointed at Mauritius would find himself quite unable,
even if he were well-disposed, to guard the interests of
the Coolies. He wished to ask why Mauritius had been
taken into the special favour o the Governtnent ?
(Hear, hear.) Was it the most exemplary co'ony in our
possession ? So far front it, it had been the most con-
tumacious community in our empire. 'Could they forget
that in the inquiry instituted by Mr. Buxton the horrors
brought to light were almost incredible, and that when
a man was sent there (the late Sir John Jeremie), who
was known to be a friend to the coloured population,
that he was met by .a mob and repelled, though the re-
presentative of British law and justice?—(Hear, hear.)
This was the colony now to be befriended. But to come
later down. Had not many thousands of Coolies been
already spit there ? And had not the information sent
from the spot shown that the condition of these Coolies
was even worse than that of the slaves ? It had, He
had a statement before him, too, of a most important
kind. It was one showing the awful disparity in the
numbers of the sexes. Out of nearly 19,000 Coolies,
205 were females. Was there any provigion
in tho new regulations to prevent this 7 (Hear,
hear.) As it was, there had been thousands of women
and children left in India utterly destitute. Such would
be the case again. A distinguished gentleman from
India, who had graced the Court that morning with his
presence, and who had sat upon the Magistrate's bench
in Calcutta, had said to him (Mr. Thompson), a short
time before he rose, that he did not believe any regula-
tions that could be framed would prevent the abuses that
had already been practised.—(Hear, hear.) He ex-
horted the Proprietors to let this subject alone. Let them
afford, as they well might, employment for those natives
in India. India was their home ; their loved home ;
they dreaded the sea ; they were ignorant of the place
to which they were going, and they were entitled to the
sympathy and protection of those who knew their pri-
vations, and had the power to defend them from the
machinations of those who desired to entrap them. For
these, among other reasons, lie (Mr. Thompson) should
support the resolution of Mr. Weeding, and he felt sure
that, if the Directors felt half the regard for the natives
which they professed, they would make their home
happy, and save them from the horrors that awaited
them at the Mauritius.—(Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN read a letter from Mr. Hugh Mac-
farlane, Police Magistrate of Calcutta, in proof of the
happy condition of the Bill Coolies who had emigrated.
He stated that the lion. Proprietor, who had just sat
down, had drawn a horrible picture of—what ? Why,
of the former state of trade ; but, if the Hon. Proprietor
meant to say that Hill Coolies were slaves, he should beg
to contradict that statement.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. MARRIOTT said he -should support the motion, of
Mr. Weeding.
Mr. JONES would also support the motion.
Mr. WEEDING replied. He had heard no argument
whatever to support the negative which had been pro-
posed to his motion ; and he did hope that .gentlemen
behind the bar would give their votes in support of his
motion.

The question was then put, when strawc(rs were
ordered to withdraw, and the Court divided. The
numbers were—

For Mr. Weeding's motion 2
Against it 54
Majority against the motion
AFFGHANISTAN.

The CHAIRMAN then acquainted the Court that the
meeting had been made special, in consequence of a
requisition to the Directors, signed by nine of the Pro-
prietors.
• The requisition was then read by the Clerk. It re-
quested that a Court should be convened for the purpose
of considering whether the expenses of the Affghan war
should be borne by the Indian people, or by the whole of
the United Empire.
Mr. SALOMANS said that he felt, in the strongest
manner, the responsibility which he had taken upon
himself, in bringing this motion before the Court, and
he wished the Court would grant him every possible in-
dulgence, whilst he, to the best of his ability, proceeded
to lay before them those facts which had induced him to
come to the decision, that the expense of the interven-
tion now carrying on across the Indus, should be borne
by. the Exchequer of the British Empire, and not by .the
natives of India.—(Hear.) In bringing forward this
matter, he had no connexion with any party ; but he
had resolved to do it, upon the idea that the Affghan war
was an European war, and that the resources of the
country should pay for it. (The Hon. Member then
proceeded to quote largely from a Parliamentary paper
(No, 2, India Papers), commencing with the treaty en-
tered into by this country with Persia in 1809, and pro-
ceeding over the whole of the circumstances attendant
upon the placing of the present King Mohammed Shah
upon the throne of Persia in 1834 ; the desire of the
King, when firmly established on that throne, to pos-
sess himself of Herat, urged on to that measure
by the Russian Minister, Count Simonick, con-
trary to the desire of the English Government;
the neglecting to fulfil the treaty with Persia on the
part of England in a variety of ways, and the ultimate
withdrawal of our Foreign Minister from the Persian
Court ; the taking of Herat by the Persians ; the
going to the succour of Herat by the English ; the un-
just nature of the treaty between the Atighans and the
Sikhs, brought about by the intervention of Lord
Auckland ; and the final investment of the Affghan
territory by the British ; the taking of Ghuzcee ; the
appointment to power and subsequent conduct of Shah
Soojah • and the disastrous loss to the British on the
march from Singapore to Canth,har; with the affairs in
Affgbanistan up to the latest pf,riod of which iiecouilt3
have been published.) He wanted to know now who
was responsible for tr.es3 disasters, and the difficulties
and expense§ which had been incurred ? He main-

tained that Russia was the assailant upon India, and
that Persia was only the puppet in the hands of Russia,
The Court of Directors, he was happy to say, were cer-
tainly not responsible for these acts. He did not know
whether gentlemen sitting in Downing-street, or gentle-
men in Cannon-row, or a select few of the Directors in
Leadenhall-street, were responsible, • but, as a body,
the Court of Directors were certainly not to be answer-
able.—(Hear, hear.) Precedents were not wanting
wherein, under similar circumstances, the British empire
had borne the expenses. Those now before him were the
sovereigns of India, and he would say that dastard would
they be if they allowed one farthing of the expenses to
be borne by the people of India. It was their bounden
duty to come forward and show that they had no hand
in this matter ; that they were bound to place at the
. command of her Majesty's Government. powers and
forces, but at the same time that they did so, that they
did expect that her Majesty's Government would be just.
—(Hear, hear.) If India had been attacked she would
willingly pay the expense, but when they came to ques-
tions of policy, he must say that it was unfair, unjust,
iniquitous, to call upon India to pay the expenses, which
ought to be borne by the whole empire.—(Hear, hear.)
Let it be shown that the East India Company had come
fol•ward manfully to do that which was right—to do that
which was just, to protect the people of India, and if a
corrupt Ministry should endeavour to interfere with the
East India Company, let them point to their deeds, and
show what they had done and what they would do.—
(Hear, hear.) Ho thought he had shown that they had
incurred these expenses to maintain the honour and
character of the British empire, and that they had a right
to expect that the British empire would bear the expenses.
One word uow as to the finances of India, and he had
done. He believed that they had, after a great deal of
caution, of economy, and retrenchment, reduced the debt
of India to 30,000,000/. sterling; they would, however,
find that during the last two years, up to May 1841, a
deficiency in the revenue to the amount of 5,000,0001.
was occasioned. What the deficiency would be, up to
May 1842, he could not exactly say, but lie had no doubt
that it would be as much as during either of the two pre-
cedirg years, viz., 2,500,0001. So the sum of seven and
a half millions would have to be added to the previous
debt of thirty millions. If the debt of India, then, was
incapable of being reduced, when that country was in its
most flourishing condition, to what he would ask, were
they to look now, for a reduction of the debt ? To
whom were they to look to bear the expenses of this
war, but to the whole British empire ?—(Hear, hear.)
He hoped his motion would receive the countenance and
support of the Board cf Directors. It was one, he was
sure, which ought to be supported—it was founded on
justice—and lie felt no doubt but it would carry the public
sympathy along with it.—(Loud cheers.) He begged to
move—" That upon consideration of all the circumstances
connected with British intervention in the affairs of
Affghanistan, as they appear from the papers already
laid before Parliament, it is the opinion of this Court
that the expense of that war ought not to be thrown on
the people of India, but that it should be borne by the
Exchequer of the United Kingdom."—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. LEwis then moved that the Court do adjourn,
which having been seconded,
The CHAIRMAN said, he thought it right, before the
Court adjourned, that he should. state, in order that it
might go forth to the public, that the Board of Directors
were not at all hostile to the motion of the Hon. Pro-
prietor who had just addressed them.—(Loud cheers.)
The Court adjourned till Monday next.