The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-06
Foreign Miscellany.

Plates. By Arthur VIM. birmingham. Com
mander r. N. Parker.
This ia a work SO purely professional. and so
Astounding with plates. diagrams. and tables, with
out which ii would be unintelgible even to the
professional reader, that cannot attempt to en-
ter into it, details An attempt, indeed, would be
utterly ineffective and useless Amongst its con-
tents we find Commander Moorsomss entire trea.
tise, entitled Remarks on the Concentration OF
Ships' Guns"
serves Captain Jernin CHAM, in the third paragraph
of his Introduction, twill doubtless ensure the at
tention Of earnest men to any remarks however
imperfectly put forth. We may justly anticipate;
that in future naval actions the first successful
broadside will give the critical turn, and VIII gen.
orally decide the result. So thought our gallant
predecessors. Such, throughout the last war, was
assuredly be ours. Increased weight Of metal, ac-
curacy OF sights, of shells, CELEBRITY OF hring,
and other improvements made during a long peace,
will all combine to give effect to the first dis
charge far more destructive than was formerly
possible or could have been imagined, and an i'm
portance which cannot be overrated. How essen
tial. therefore i mus be 50 to point sn,P guns
they will all be found to bear. How important to
have come rule and method by which we may, more
over, point our guns in the midst OF smoke, dark
ness, and confusion, Independently OF stghfs, and,
az far az may be, with precision and rapidity.
All that we can do is to transcribe the objects of
Captain Jerninghams plan, with the requisites OF
those objects, set forth at the commencement OF
his treatise:
"The objects of the plan are
/. To direct the fire of ships broadside, or
the ports will admit to distance Of eight hundred
yards; and
"2 In as little time and with as much precision
with ,,ns.s guns in the ordinary way ana 10 be
directed cannot be seen from the guns themselves.
" Requisites Of these objects:
"For these purposes. it 10 obviously requisite to
show methods of pointing the guns.
.slst. In the horizontal plane, or training; and
'2d. In the vertical plane. or elevation and de-
preston.
sure capable of simultaneous and quick execution;
and, if required, independent of the sights OF the
| guns.
az will take the two methods in order, and after
showing how they may be carried out in practice,
will explain the principles on which they are
| based"
Honorable George Elliot, G. B., Vice Admiral Of
the White, commander in-chief at the More, &C.,
| SC.
| No BRxvET.-It is with sincere regret we have to
inform our readers, from authority 30 good that we
cannot hesitate for moment to doubt it, that"fhere
Is not to be breuet this year."
We make this early announcement that many
| may be thereby CONFERENCE.-The know the worst
is to induce patience, if not exerton; for VIC are
well aware how much brevct affects not only
those who are promoted, but those who are not.
Many by a brcvet lose their SUPPLEMENTARY
many by brcvet are taken from the idiencss OF
| half pay to the business of official life. How
many, too, cling on, with failing health, to their
profession, with the hope of an early brevcts CIV
ing them that rank they have long toiled to reach
How many, too, look to brevet for obtaining that
| important step which lifts them clear OF rcgimental
rank only, and sets them fairly ON the road however
long, that leads to the rank of general We, there
fore, very deeply regret that the Cabinet does not
| see the expcdiency Of issuing brevet this year
We have with others, thought that the condition oil
many officers in high commands, and the lamenta-
bic difficulty which the senior lists present in way
| IF Nd for thOae con nda
| forced on government the early consideration OF
brevet We do not deny That it is very desirable
to have the list Of general officers much lower than
at present. We would very gladly see the lists re-
| duccd, but not in the mode now practised. We
would gladly see the lists divided into effective and
Ineffective and no more general officers made than
ments and commands; but as long the present
brevct system prevails, we think 1t exceedingly
| unjust to the junior ranks Of the army TO delay
their promotion another year. We already want
younger major generals for commands. and we
want old captains to be made majors. tSed Dis
alter visum. "-Naual and Military Gazette.
AN IsvnrsaATz JoxsR.--Mathews's attendant
in his last illness intended to give the patient some
cred that the medicine was nothing but ink, which
had been taken from the phial by mistake, and his
friend exclaimed, GOOD heavens, Mathews, have
given you ink!"
"Nover-never mind, my boy-never mind"
said Mathews family, "I'll swallow bit of blot
ting paper" This was the last joke Mathews ever
| made.
NApoLEon's OPirroN OF THE PaEss.-"A jour
nalist," said the great Napoleon sis grunbler,
censurer, gver of advice, regent OF sovereigns,
a tutor Of nations. Four hostile newspapers are
more TO be feared than a hundred thousand bayo-
nets"
/ SALE OF AuTosRAPHs.-Messrs. Sotheby and
wilkinson have effected sale of some valuable
autographs. Among them was letter OF Charles /.
to Prince Rupert. and Nell Gwyn's receipt for her
quarters pension "for and towards the support Of
1 st. Albans," signed "E. G." She could but sign
her name. Coming to a later date, there was let
ter from Edmund Kean to Henry Hnlpin, appa-
rently written immediately after this tragedian g
failure in the character OF Henry v. The letter
commences; 81 address you, sir, under the most
/ painful feelings that human nature can endure.''
AMY only consolation, in this extreme Of misery,
is, that it neither from want of attention to my
duties" ~ conceived myself invulnerabe; mind
cannot be directed, as have proved in this last,
most destructive issue; but ,oant Of memory IS not
ties. dated March 9. 1880, written the same sad
occasion, commences: eight for me. have no
resources in myself. Mind is gone and body is
hopeless" Memory, the first of goddesses, has
forsaken me-" "The soul leaps, the body falls"
day or two after this letter was written, Kean
played Richard ILL., with all his wonted vigor. Two
letters from Mrs. Kean TO Miss Harriet Thornton,
forwarding the amount of debts Of every long
standing fetched double the price of the epistes
of her husband.
The UNITED SERVICE CLUE AND FonEIeN
vIsIToRs-We are glad to find statement in the
United Service Gazette to the effect that the mem
bcrs of the Senior United Service Club have de.
cidcd that oil field officers, captains, and com
mandcrs, in the service of America, or other for
cign States, who may come to England on duty
or properly accredited to their own minister OF
ambassador, shall be admitted honorary members
of the club, and entitled to all its privileges during
: their stay in England. There docs not appear td
> have been any previous Misunderstanding on thi,
:, hcad, as erroneously alleged in daily paper
I'll Law REFoRm.-At the last meeting Of the socie
ty for the amendment of the law, Mr. Stewart read
: the answers which had been received from Amcri
can lawyers to the questions proposed as to the
, working of the American law. The result appear
, cd to be highly satisfactory Mr. Justice Daily, ono
, of the justices of New York, having been particu
arly requested by Lord Brougham to favor the so
eiety with his opinions upon the manner in which
! the recent changes in the American law had ope
rated, gave a synopsis of the particular rcformi
which had been effected within the last three year.