The Sun.
London, England, 1842-10-22 00:00:00

DA_Y EVENING, OCTOBER 22. 1842.

; BOILERS OF WAR STEAMERS.
( PORTSMOUTH, FRIDAY.—A highly interesting ex-
periment was tried on board the Excellent gunnery
ship, Captain Sir 'Thomas Hastings, a few .days ago,
to test the efficacy of the boilers in steam ships of war.
One of the greatest difficulties to surmount, in order
to render the steam navy of greater efficiency in ac-
tion, is to afford adequate protection to the boilers
against the shot of the enemy, as a ball perforating
them would at once place the vessel hors de combat.
With the view of affinsiing this protection to their
boilers, several war steamers have been fitted up
with extra defences, at the parts where the boilers are
fixed. These defences consist of fifteen plates or
layers of:metal, each three-eighths of an inch thick.
The object of the experiment on board the Excel.
lent was to ascertain what resistance these defences 0
boilers would offer to a cannonade at point blank dis-
. tance, which is 400 yards. An iron target was pre
pared, mare exactly of the material which constitutes
the protection of a boiler of a steamer, and placed at
the distance of 400 yards from the ship, from whit/
.guns of different calibre were fired at it. Admiral
Sir Edward Codrington and Parker, and
great number of naval officers, including those
from the Austrian frigate, were present to wit-
ness the experiment. The first shot that was fired
was an eight-inch hollow shot, and was projected
from a sixty-eight pounder medium gun. It struck
the bull's eye, or centre of the target, and indenting
it to the depth of about five inches, rebounded there
from, and was split into several pieces by the concus.
sion. The second shot was a solid 32-pounder, and
was fired from a gun of nine feet six inches ; it struck
the edge of the target, glanced off; and was split into
two pieces. The third shot hit the cen:rc of the tar-
get, where it lodged, having penetrated several plates.
The fourth shot struck the third, and sent it clear
through all parts of the iron, 'splitting it into num
berless pieces, which v ere found on the off side of the
wooden stage on which the target,was fixed. .The
fifth and sixth shots went through the perforation
made by the third and fourth. About ten other shots
were fired, all striking the target in various parts, and
completely destroying it. The result of this experi-
ment has shown how totally inadeqnate are the pre •
sent defences of the boilers of war steamers to protect
them from the aisaults of the enemy, where a precision
of fire has been attained. It has also shown, what is
much more satisfactory, the high state of perfection
which the gunnery practice has been brought to by
those studying it on board the Excellent, thus prac-
tically proving the utility of this admirable institu-
tion, from xhich gunnery officers and seamen are
supplied to the fleet. All officers now are obliged to
undergo a strict examination in gunnery before the,
can pass for Lieutenants.

DE

ATH of the LORD ADVOCATE
(From the Caledonian Ofereury.)
We sincerely regret to announce, that the nigh!
Hon. Sir William Rae, Bart., expired yesterday after-
noon at St. Catharine's, his country seat, in the vici-
nity of this city. Fcr a considerable time past hi
health had been rapidly declining, and we need
scarcely add; that the numerous cares and anxieties
incidental to his high and important office visibly
preyed on his debilitated constitution and aged frame.
Sir William, who was called to the bar as far back as
the year 1791, wasaschoolfPllow and contemporary of
Sir Walter Scott, who ever entertained a high regard
for him, as frequently. appears from his recorded sen-
timents. In 1819, and when Sheriff of Midlothian,
Sir W. Rae was promoted to the office of Lord Advo-
cate, on the elevation of the present Lord Meadowbanli
to the bench. He held this office until the accession 6
the Grey Ministry in 1830, and was afterwards re-ap-
pointed in 1834, and continued during the brief officia;
tenure of Sir R. Peel. During the intervals in hi:
official career the -Right Hon. Baronet remained in
Parliament, and was the acknowledged adviser 6
the Opposition on all matters relating to Scotland.
Perhaps no individual ever held this office so long,
seeing it is the key to the official patronage of Scot-
land, .and the occupant of which is, of course, entitled
in due time to secure an honourable promotion for
himself. Sir William might have on various occasion;•
claimed a seat on the bench, but he very honourabl3
declined the judicial office, on the ground that he did
not consider himself sufficiently qualified as a prac-
tising lawyer. Ile was, however, allowed by all, in-
cluding his political opponents, to be most assiduous
in his official duties, and many remain to bear testi-
mony to the efficient services he rendered in local
matters. It may be considered almost certain that
Mr. D. M'Neill, the present Solicitor-General, wil;
be immediately appointed Lord-Advocate, and it is
highly probable that he will also become candidate for
the representation of Buteshire. Mr. Adam Ander-
son, late Sheriff of Perthshire, it is expected, will
succeed Mr. M'Neill as Solicitor-General.

SPORTING.

The Houghton (hay and corn, as it is termed by
the trainers), or last meeting this season, commences
on Monday, and will not terminate until Saturday ;
in fact, we may look forward to some five-and-thirty
races during the week. The Pony Handicap, on
Monday, always fills. The field will be small for the
Criterion. Cotherstone will be the favourite, and, ap-
parent's-, has only to contend with Canton (winner of
the Chesterfield), Testy, the Macremma filly, the
Yaxley colt (in the same stable), and'Bother'em.
Fifty-four accepted for the Cambridgeshire Stakes,
twelve of which have already declared forfeit. I
think about one and twenty may he expected to run.
'The betting on this race only commenced on Monday.
Last year many thousarlda were wagered ere the
Cesarewitch had been run four and twenty hours.
The book-makers, however, need not be alarmed.
Whenever Scott has one great favourite, and the Day
party another, the money comes freely int 9 the mar-
ket ; end, if I mistake not, on this occasion two or
three more will be backed for money. I presume no-
body will deny that two or three others will be backed
pretty handsomely, out.
To judge by the betting, generally a desperate
correct criterion, we should infer that (as in 1841)
the leading horses in the Cesarewitch have no very
great chance of winning the Cambridgeshire, and it
is wonderful what a difference distance does make.
The Busk filly, with four stone on her back, would
have had no cliance in the' long race, or about as much
as Magog. Mona, last year, turned loose, was nearly
distanced in the short race. When this handicap
first appeared I spoke of its excellence ; the more I
look at if, the more confirmed am I in that opinion.
Was the Audley-end Course the distance, I should
have an eye on I-am-not-aware ; when this horse
happens to be the favourite the noise in the ring is
something terrible from a happy
method of pronounc-
ing those words attained by one of its leading mem-
bers, whose lungs are equally the admiration and
envy of the crowd. Ralph should run well, and is
safe to heat Garry Owen this distance; but I fancy
Bellissima will beat every horse that carries as
much or more weight than herself. Proceeding
down the list then, I' see Cabrera the tep weight
among the three-year olds ; the public back him ; I
cannot see why Florence is not to beat him; it
must take a pretty good.three-year-old to give her the
year and filbs. Lady Adela showed amazing speed
at Goodwood ; she beat Garry Owen, receiving 241b5.,
and Misdeal giving 51bs. : Misdeal on the following
day won the Racing Stakes in a canter. There arc
several quite unknowns among the light weights.
Lucy Banks has, in her best day, done sufficient to
have no contemptible chance. Topsail must be very
fresh. Hawk and Recompense ! what are these, and
where do they come from ? The conqueror has twice
this 'year been backed in earnest—at Bath he was beat
a long way—at Warwick he tumbled head over heels
over the ropes. It is a good plan not to be against
horses that have ever in their lives been expected to
do a great thing. Broadwath, however, was an ex-
pensive horse to follow : said to have been purchased
by Mr. Meiklam for three thousand guineas (more
likely fiddlesticks !) He was first favourite for the
Liverpool Cup at 6 to 4, taken freely : I have no re-
collection of his ever winning a .50/. plate. 'Whistle
Binkie has been beating the winner of the Great York-
shire Handicap very easy, in Scotland. It looks well for
Cabrera that they back him in preference. Vulcan, the
winner last year, is overweighted : Roscius, the winner
the year before, carries but Bst. 'slb. Dawson has
four entered, but if I was to want One of these to win,
that particular one would be doubtless locked up safe,
and another started in the same beautiful condition
that Blue Bonnet looked in for the Cesarewitch. At-
tentively reading the above remarks, if any one can,
name the winner he is a sharper fellow than' your
correspondent,' who could be happy
With each of a-
-1 half-dozen were five of them miles away. It is un-
doubtedly a splendid handicap.
Murat and Testy will probably compromise the race
on Thursday. 'This would not happen had Lord
Exeter only a hack entered. Some gentleinen was
bold enough last week
to bet 2 to 1 against all the
two-year-olds that ran in the plate for the Nursery
Stakes.. This would have succeeded last year, but I
should be decidedly a taker of those odds. for the race.
on Friday. By the bye, if
this stake be divided into
I two classes, this will be rather an awkward wager. I
The "Scott's let" question seems likely to be set-
tled in the fair and equitable manner I proposed on
Monday. So long as the great men
.agree to those
conditions, the little men have not nor do they re-
quire, a voice in the matter. ,
it'laaceveinryWgreaethaetrliiy9sPrZe7ngelCltalies'n'anifir-
ul
nocbe observe
to
e t a tkhea
no
next season. JUDEX.
October 22.

Mr. Mainzer has received a requisition from Edin-
burgh, inviting him thither to expound his system for
teaching music to ere poor. The requisition, which
is headed by the signature of Sir Henry Bishop, was
forwarded to Mr. Mainzer by Sir James Forrest, the
Lord Provost of the city.
WARSAW, OCT. 11.—The Emperor of Russia ar-
rived here the day before yesterday.—Przusian State
Gazette.

OST, on the Evening of Saturday, the' 15th inst.,
'between St. Mary-le-Strand, and Charing-cross, a Plain
SILVER SNUFF. BOX, with the owner's name, ;lace of resi-
dence at full length,'and 1810 engraved inside of the lid. Who-
ever will restore it to Mr. Emans, Edinburgh Castle Tavern,
Strand, will receive ONE POUND REWARD. Pawnbro-
kers, &e., are requested to stop it, if offered for pawn or sale.

EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.
COMPANY.
Notice is hereby given, that the ADJOURNED GE.
NERAL MEETING of this COMPANY will take place et
the Shorerlitch Station, London, on FaIDAY, tho 28th of
October instant, at One o'Clock precisely, for the general disr
patch of business.

HENRY BOSANQUET, Chairman.
THEODORE W. RATHBONE, Deputy Chairman.
Offices, Shoreditch Station, Oct. 21, 1842.
N.B. The proposed visit of inspection by the Proprietors on
the 27th inst. is unavoidably postponed.

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