The Sun.
London, England, 1842-10-01 00:00:00

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EXPERIMENTS AT 'WOOLWICH.
WOOLWICH: SEPT. 30.—A1. past one o'clock
to-day , Major-General. Drummond, C. 8., Director-
General of Artillery ; Colonel Cockburn, Colonel
Paterson, Colonel, Lacy, Colonel Turner, C. 8., Lieu-
tenant-Colonel -Dundas, C.13.,' Lieutenant-Colonel
Chalmer, Lieutenant-Colonel Macbean, Major liar-
dinge, Major Sandilauds, Major Hope, Major
Anderson, and a great number of officers of the
Royal Artillery, assembled in the marshes to witness
experiments with percussion shells, the invention of
Mr. Howard, and concussion shells, the invention of
Captain Norton, all fired at alange of 400 yards.
Mr. Howard had six 32-pounder shells, and Cap-
tain Norton ten 32-pounder and ten 8-inch shells.
The first percussion shell fired from the gun appro-
priated to Mr. Howard burst at the mouth of .the
piece, scattering the fragments in a spreading direc-
tion towards the hulk-head or target, but proving tha
it had failed in its object. One of Captain Norton's
32-pounders and one of the 8-inch shells both struck
the bulk-head, and exploded with tremendous effect,
shattering the timber in all directions.
2d round.—Mr. Hoviard's shell burst at the mouth
of the gun ; Captain Norton's 8-inch shell did not
burst, but the 32-pounder burst with excellent effect.
3d round.—Mr. Howard's shell burst at the mouth
of the gun ; Captain Norton's 8-inch and 32 pounder
both struck the bulk head and burst at the moment of
passing through the front part.
4th round.—Mr. Howard's shell burst at the mouth
of.the gun ; Captain Norton's shells both had good
effect.
sth round.—Mr. Howard's shell burst at the mouth
of the gun ; Capt. Norton's shells both very effective.
6th round.—Mr. Howard's sixth and last shell
struck the bulk head and burst at the moment of
'striking; Captain Norton's rhells both excellent.
7th round.—Captain Norton's 8-inch shell and two
32-pounders were fired, and none of them exploded.
Bth round.—Captain Norton's 32-pounder shell, two
of which were fired, both burst with great effect, but
the 8-inch shell did not burst.
9th round.—Captain Norton's 8-inch shell was fired,
but did not burst.
10th round.—Captain Norton's 8-inch shell] fired
and burst, with an awfully grand effect, tearing the
wood of the bulk-head to small fragments.
The firing to-day was decidedly the best ever 'Wit-
nessed on any occasion in the marshes, as
.out of
twenty-six shells fired, twenty-one entered the bulk-
head, within a distance of less than twelve feet of each
other; the other five burst at the mouth of the gun,
and consequently could not reach the bulk-head so as
to show how correct the aim might have been taken.
Lieutenant-Colonel Clialiner superintended the details
of the firing, and Major Hardinge took the aim of the
68-pounder gun from which the 8-inch shells were
fired. Fortunately the river was clearer of shipping
than it has been for a long period, and the experi-
ments were carried on with only a few minutes' occa-
sional interruption.
On examining the bulk-head at the conclusion of
the experiments, it presented an extraordinary spec.
tacle—solid wood of fifteen inches square, and about
fourteen feet in length, crossed by other pieces, all of
the hardest timber, being rent into fragments not
•
larger than a walking cane.

The Meteor steam -vessel, Lieutenant-Commander
George Butler, was paid wages in advance on Mon-
day, Sept. 26, and sailed this morning for Sheerness,
to tow the Duchess of Northumberland convict ship
through the Downs, after which she will return to
Sheerness, where it is expected she will be stationed.
The Salamander steam-vessel, Commander A. S.
Hamond, dropped down the riveron Monday afternoon
to have her compasses adjusted at Greenhithe, and on
the following day (Tuesday) sailed for Plymouth to
embark the Right Hon: Henry Ellis, for a passage to
Rio de Janeiro. After completing her passage she
will proceed round Cape Horn, to act under the orders
of Rear-Admiral Thomas, commanding on that station.
The Trafalgar, 120 guns, recently built at Wool-
wich, has been ordered to be completed, and used as a
demonstration ship at ,i'lleerness.
APPOINTMENTS.—Commander G. W. Smith and
Mr. William Shore, first-class engineer, both late of
the Tartarus steam-vessel, are appointed to the William
and Mary yacht at Woolich.