The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-26 00:00:00

EXPERIMENTS IN WOOLWICH MARSHES, NOV.
.24.

—Vice-Admiral Sir William Hall Gage, G.C.H., one of the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty ; Lord Wm. Lennox,
Sir Wm. Gossett, Capt. Sir Thos. llastings, Knt., clerk of the
Ordnance; Major-General James Webber Smith, C. 8.; Col.
Cockburn, Col. Lacy, Col. Turner, C. 8., Lieut.-Col. Grant,
Lieut.-Col. Dansey, C. 8., &c., assembled in the marshes at
two o'clock P.M. to-day, to witness experiments with shells,
fitted with Sergeant-Major Freeburn's fusees, and also an inven-
tion by Capt. Addison, for heating shot to a red heat in a limited
time, and at less expense than by any plan hitherto adopted.
The experiments commenced with the fusees, and out of
twenty shells fired, twelve from two thirty-two pounder
guns, and eight from an eight-inch gun, seventeen exploded
on striking the bulk-head, with tremendous effect, throwing
the massive timbers, after they had been torn to pieces to a
considerable distance. Two of the shells did not explode,
and one being doubtful, was reported as not having exploded.
The result of the experiments with Sergeant-Major Freeburn's
shells was very satisfactory. No premature explosions will
take place with them, and the shells will explode by con-
cussion, on striking the object. The officers then proceeded
to witness the experiment with Captain Addison's furnace
for red-hot shot. This invention has the appearance of a
miniature caravan placed upon four wheels, and contains a
furnace capable of heating thirty 32-pounder solid shot at
one time, and of being drawn by a horse from one part to
another. At an hour and a quarter after the fire had been
lighted, the shot were taken out, and readily set fire to
shavings of wood. A fresh supply of cold shot was after-
wards added, and in twenty minutes they were taken out,
equally red hot ; and the same quantity could be furnished
every twenty minutes for any length of time after the first.
This invention gave great satisfaction. Its weight has been
reduced to 1 ton 8 cwt. A tube capable of holding four red-
hot shot, and moving them close to the mouth of the guns
for which they may be required was tried, and appeared to
answer the purpose remarkably well.
A SHOCKING BAD SIXPENCE.—A short time ago
a chemist of this town happened to take a bad sixpence, and
putting it with other silver in his pocket, only discovered his
mistake when he tendered it for payment. It was refused of
course. A second time did he thoughtlessly and unconsciously
tender it, and a second time did he receive it back again with
sundry apologies. Curiosity led him, on his return home, to
look at the deceitful coin, and applying his scientific know-
ledge, he dipped it—the coin we mean—in vitriolic acid.
Guess his surprise when he found that the brassy Brummagem-
looking little "varmint" proved to be a real, genuine, un-
alloyed, golden half guinea of George the First's coinage !
This is a literal fact, but we hope it will not encourage our
pensive public to take bad money on the speculation that it
may all turn out to be gold disguised as in some fairy tale
under some vile and counterfeit presentment.—Berks Chronicle.
PARISH REPORTS OF THE POTATO CROP.—We
have received several corroborations of the statements in
our last regarding the careless and delusive character
the
the reports sent in by many of the clergy in reply to
Lord Advocate's circular. If the returns throughout the
country have been made out as they have been in many
cases in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, they will
only
deceive the Government as to the actual state of the case.
In one case, where the return by the minister is said to have
been favourable, one farmer (to take one instance among se-
veral) has lost 300 bolls by rot in his pits within three
weeks. The crop in the parish was generally pitted in ap-
parently good condition, and perhaps the minister, who is
said to have made a return of " no disease," might think that
it was certain to remain so—at all events, he never inquired.
It is discreditable that, in so important a matter, such culpa-
ble carelessness should be displayed.— Scotsman.
PUNSTER CASTLE, a Tale of the Great Rebellion,
by J. T. Hewlett, author of " Peter Priggins," " The
Parish Clerk," bc.—This romance (observes the Court Journal)
will be generally read. It is true to life and to nature; it is
full of character, and abounding in action and incident ' • it is
rich in knowledge of the time to which its story belongs, and
finally every portion of it is put together with a skilful and
practised hand. The chief skill of Mr. Hewlett lies in paint •
ing truly the scenes of the life of the middle and lower classes,
and though the scenes of "Dunster Castle" are laid two hun-
dred years ago, those among them which appertain to the
classes in question by no means belie his well-merited reputa-
tion in this respect.
CHARGE OF MATRlClDE.—Yesterday, Mr. Payne,
the coroner, held an inquest at; the Sir John Falstaff
public-house, Kent-street, I3orough, on the body of Mary
Horrabin, aged sixty-seven, who died on Saturday night, of
an injury which, it appeared, had been inflicted upon her per-
son by her son, John Horrabin, a labourer, aged twenty-two.
The jury returned a verdict of Manslaughter, and Horrabin
WO committed to Newgate for trial