Litchfield enquirer., 1855-02-15

ST8k1 JUN " rsn0LkND.-A AOu0Ou cur respondent of the N. Y. Spirit of the Times says that among tho many interesting cx- psnments that arc daily performed in Eng land, is Perkins Steam Gun, which just now is attracting great attention. The gun is fixed, and the experiments are made, dri- wing out balls at the rate of 300 to 400 a minute. Mir. Perkins has offered to the English Government to erect single steam gun that shall take Ssbastopol or any other Russian stronghold, at distance of five miles. He proposes to send ball of one ton weight that distance, and with much greater effect than with powder at one-ffth that distance. It is sincontemplation, l be- lieve, by government, to give orders for the manufacture of this gun, in order that the experiments may be tried and, if success fal, MT. Psrkins will, no doubt, become i'm. mortaliaed. It is gratifying to know that Mr. Perkins is true blooded Yankee. and that ste English Government appreciate his invention.
 Tie following forcible extract from the New York Herald will give our readers some idea of the condition of things in the British army before SebastopoI, and the ut-
 
 Out Of 54 ,000 English soldiers who have been sent out in the highest state of dissi- pline and equipments, only i4,ooo remain. Of these, about l3,O00 are barely fit for field duty, and only 2.000 are said to be in con- dition to fight One hundred men die daily. In spite of the outcry that has been raised, actually nothing has been done towards en- abling the troops to withstand the rigor of the climate-nothing towards the making of roads; nothing towards the procuring of com forts. ShipIoads of clothing, food, and stores lie rotting on the wharves of Bala- klava. and canno: by any process be carried to the heights above. Starvation and pro- fusion are separated by distance of about TWO miles. Both are in such an extreme that the whole history of war contains noth- ing 50 horrible as the sufierings of the army i; and ships arriving from England with car goes of the very things that are most want cd, are obliged to return hack for want of some authority at Balaklava to receive them. It is estimated by men apparently we'll able to judge, that by the 18th of March, the whole of the British army will be destroy cd and many parties are already c!amorous for the recall ofthe expedition.
 FRENon SroLIArioN BILL.-This measure as t was received a short time since from 'the House of Representatives by the Sem ate. and as 1t passed the latter body on Tues day, only awaits the approval of the Presi- dent to become a law. I, proposes to ere ate board of three Commissioners, with a secretary, clcrk, and messenger, to com mence their session in October next. This board will have power to examine and de- eide upon all claims to indemnity upon the French government, arising out of illegal captures, confscations and condemnations committed by the French republic prior to the 3lst-o Of July, 1901. Five millions of dollars are appropriated to be distributed pro raia among the claimants, and it is es- pecially provided that all claims are to be excluded if not presented and established within the two years that the powers of the Commission are to continue. Wherever a transfer has taken place, or an assignment from the original loser, his heirs or assigns. the claimant is not to be entitled to receive sn amount beyond tho consideration paid.
 THR BLiGnH or PoPERr.-Spain, form eriy one of the most prosperous and power ful countries in Europe, is now one of the most degraded and powerless. It has an admirable geographical position, possesses excellent harbors, has fertile soil, and abounds in valuable mines but through che intolerance and superstition of Popery, the people arc degraded, and the country has sunk to the lowest rank among nations. Olive-oil is imported from France, though the country is covered with olive trees. The gas company at Madrid buys it's coal in Eng land. though there are coal mines unwo orked within GO miles. Iron ore abounds, but costs three times as much as in Belgium. The finances Of the country are in the worst com di'ion, and it has been bankrupt two or three timcs.
 PAvixu FINES sv THE YEAR.-An Irisls- man ia Worcester, Mass, says the Spy, who had been fined number Of weeks In sue. cession for getting drunk on Saturday nigh, upon the occasion of paying his last fine, coolly proposed to the Judge, in business like way, that he should take him by the year, and let him off cheaper ia consequen nee of the frequency ofhis attendance a, the po- lice Court.
 POWERFUL LEoisLArIoN.-Hon Jacob NJ. Howard, the Attorney General of Michigan, lays it down n an incontrovertible propos- ton, that tho present legislature ofthat State c7n exetcise o~y pssrer not prohibited by the federal or state constitution. Whcrcupon the papers of tho State are calling upon the legislature to exercise the powers in many highly beneficial cases. Among others we nstice that they are expected to exercise the power ofputsing specie into the empty vaults of the broken banks of prohibiting storms