The southern press., 1851-10-04
From The ~. Y Herald;
The SWISS Carabine Presented to the United
States.

From Tho NJ Y. Herald!
The SWISS earabine Presented to the United
States.
The Swiss confederation has presented,
through me, to the federal government speci-
men carabine--the national arm of Switzerland.
Ii was consigned, with the accoutrements, to
Messrs. Meyer g. Metzler, of 80 Maiden lane,
without instructions, and it came through the
custom-honse on the payment of ordinary duties
and charges. A neat plate on the right face of
the breach bears the following inscription -
" Aur Etais UniS de PAmsriqus du Nord, par
Mr.. W. NJ. Cory la confederation Suisse y
As soon as got the weapon into my posses
sion, made a trial of it at various distances in
its range of thousand yards, from one-third
OF that distance down to one hundred and fifty
yards, and found it splendid shooter There
was no suitable place known to ma where
could obtain longer shot. 1t may be seen
for several days at the New York Herald
Office, where it will be placed for public exami.
nation before going to Washington.
The description ofthe carabine, and its history
are worth preserving and will not soon be for
gotten by the American people. The discrip-
ton of the gun and its accoutrements is as
ltappears to have been made by ]. Hermann,
of Berne. for il has his name on the lock and
barrel. 1t has walnut stock, closely fitted and
well polished, but plain shod at the breech with
steel work. peculiarly fashioned and contains a
metal case to receive the ramrod, with fastenings
for the leather strap by which it is carried. The
color Of the barrel and the lock and bayonet is
blush brown, so as not to contract rust, nor daz-
zle in the sun. The barrel is rifed, and has a
chamber to receive the charge. 1t ia thirty. two
inches long and about third-inch calibre. The
carabine and bayonet are FIVE feet eight inches
long, and weigh eleven pounds. The lock is
percussion, and it is mounted with hair triggers.
The sights are double, and the back sight plays
in a scale which is graduated with the proper
elevations for given distances plainly marked at
the side. The ramrod is beautiful straight
steel bar, so made at the top with a shoulder,
that when it is put up it holds its place, and when
used in charging it marks the right point and
cannot be forced beyond it. 1t has brass fe-
male screw at the foot, which fits down upon
the bullet when it is to be forced home, so as
not to fatten it, and which is made to receive
the male screw and wipers, when necessary in
cleaning. THERE'S three-pronged screw driver,
to take the gun to pieces; a curious wooden
machine, for making cartridge papers and an
excellent pair of bullet moulds.
The cartouch box is very large, and slung by
and the box has divers Compartments. Speci-
mems of powder, in proper sized cartridges, and
of balls and caps, accompany the gun. The
powder is coarse, but the grain is round, and
the color good. Its strength is equal to any of
the sporting power, and the charge is small /;
each one is done up in very tough white paper.
The balls are odd enough. They are an inch in
length, cylindrical in the middle; the base
square, but the point tapered quite sharp. They
have a piece of cotton cloth tied round the base
with string which comes off on entering the
barrel, which binds good deal at The mnzzle,
but not afterwards, and they weigh sixty to the
pound. The gun is like that of the Chasseurs
| fAfrique, and shoots as far. 1t ia deadly at
1000 yards, and at 400 the ball went through
an old oak fence-rail Of two inches and half.
The bayonet is twenty inches long, very fine
temper, and is held to the barrel by spring
which it contains on the shank, and which plays
in tube. II can easily be detached with the
hand, but not with the sword.
The history of the CUR, &C., is as follows:-
At Paris, in the summer of 1850, Col. Samuel
Colt the Inventor, gave me one of his largest
cavalry revolving pistols. 1t was not so much
a present as a thing to be made useful to the
democracy Of Europe. He foresaw all the royal
pertidies that have since been successfully en-.
| aSbcu. We aSIttu IUHL tle VeOplt luusl uCUlcNt
.''sir hbsSsi,o ti.o nsli or Dastir agafdst tie
tyrants; and that Switzerland could only pre-
serve hers by fnrce of arms. lie had brought
out from the United States all his inventions
and secured his patents in France, Austria
Prussia, and England, but not in Switzerland
In the fall Of the year, went TO Berne, and
| spent six weeks under the roof Of Col Dudley
Manu. while he was negotiating the treaty
since before the Senate. lie intr oduced me 70
President Druey. II was at the time when
Switzerland was menaced on every side, on ac.
count Of her stern republicanism.
The King Of Prussia claimed one Of the States
OF the confederation, Neufchatel. The Emper.
or Of Austria had taken offence, because some
Of his Italian victims bad found refuge in Others
of the States These sanguinary rufiiins were
seeking the VOLTS quarrel with acts Of the Swiss
republic ostensibly, but really with it, glorious
principle OF self government, then and now de
nounced by them as crime. a million Of bay.
onets threatened Switzerland on every side but
that next TO France; and while insolent convo
cations Of monarchs were held near the frontier
at Brigertz, the Veralsburg swarmed with the
soldiers Of Prussia and Austria, those Of Russis
occupying Eastern Germany 10 keep order, and
thus co. operate. The French President also
had just been making his royal progress, NJ
l. 'Nh W A'epVicOns hioaC'i
and his minister at Berne was menacing the con
federation If il did not apologize for It's decision
not to associate with the neighborng kings ir
offering his master monarchial courtesies Al
Strasburg. President Dreuey and his council
peremptorily refused any apology, ard il wa,
said that Louis Napoleon meant 10 have salts
faction. On that side Of Switzerland, likewise
hostile array Of 10000, called an army Of OBJ
servation, was moved up TO the Jura Alps, OF
the pretence Of watching over the peace of Ly
ons and the frontier. II was asserted that the
President had been insulted by the Swiss resi-
dents OF Besancon as well as the Swiss govern
ment, and the court circle at the Elysee was il
active concert with Berlin. Vienna and St Pc
tersburg, meditaiing How at the republic o
Switzerland. TIE true objects Of the French
army Of observation was 10 prevent therush O
French sympatlisers into that country, if !
should be attacked. The danger Of Switzer
land was imminent; but the courage and cain
Of the people and government were supreme
They knew they were a han1ful-only 3OOO0t
soldiers, and population Of little more than 3,
900 600; but they stood on Independence anc