The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-05
AFFAIRS IN CHARLESTON.
From our Charleston exchanges of Tuesday we
make up the following summary of news from that

Mr. James R. Smith, who arrived in this city on
Saturday last from Portsmouth, Virginia, while
endeavoring on Monday afternoon to display from
the window at his room, at the Pavilion Hotel, a
large flag, % feet long, lost his balance and fell
with the flag, from the fourth story of the build
ing to the roof of the verandah the second story,
and from that to the street, distance of about
forty feet. His left arm shattered and broken
by the fall in two places, at the elbow and near
the shoulder. The unfortunate man was picked
up insensible but upon restorativeS being applied
soon after revived. Drs. Robertson and kinloch
were ca led to the aid Of the sufferer, and rendered
all possible medical assistance. He removed
to the Roper Hospital, where be now lies. 1t was
at first thought that amputaton of the broken limb
would become necessary, but upon further exam
ination it is considered possible that the broken
limb may yet be saved That he escaped instant
death is almost observation-disclosures.
BATTERY IMPROBABLE.
Major p. F. Stevens Superintendent of the Cita-
del Military Academy, dclaims through the Nercu-
~ the honor ascribed to him by that journal Of be-
ing the inventor of the "Iron Battery" on Morris
| Island. The design of the battery, he says, and
its construction is entirely due to Mr.. G. H. Ste
vens, Cashier of the Planters and Mechanics Bank
in that city. The Major adds: "From time to time
| Mr.. Stevens has since made some alterations and
additions, until the work stands now (as believe }
impregnable, even by the two ten inch COlumbiadS
| which Major Anderson (thanks to the carelessness
| of somebody who allowed floating raft to afford
him the necessary timber) has mounted and turned
| against it,
Hon. Louis T. Wigfall and his lady reached
| Charleston Monday morning. The Senator was
honored with an invitation to seat on the floor of
| the Convention.
LIVERPOOL AND CHARLESTON STEAMSHIP COMPANY.
The Courier makes the following announcement:
AT a meeting of the stockholders of the Compa-
ny, held Monday afternoon, in the hall of the Bank
OF Charleston, the Chairman, &. NJ. Coffin, Esq,
reported that the subscription list, although not
completed, had so far progressed to warrant the
immediate commencement of the enterprise so
auspiciously inaugurated. The Chairman further
stated that he gratified in being able to report
large and increasing subscriptions from mOneved
corporations, railroad companies, merchants, plan
ters, and others no had come forward in the most
liberal spirit to aid in the successful establishment
of southern commercial independence.
We are gratiiied to state that MeSSrs. JnO Fraser
Co. have been chosen as the agents Of steamships
at this port. As several months may elapse before
the steamships to be built will be ready. it is pro-
posed to open communication at once with Europe
by employing several steamships temporarily,
which will transport the passengers and freight
across the Atlantic during the summer months, re-
turning with cargoes of goods, such as enter large
ly into Southern trade, aud thereby paving the
way as il were to the accomplishment of this deSi-
rable result.
A QUARREL OF OUR OWN.
The military authorities about Charleston har-
Dor have persisently refused facilities to the press
of the city, always urging the Importance Of si-
lence in reference to the state of the military pre-
parations and defences. Although these mat
ters of great desire to readers, and completely
WlJnln cur reacD, yet we nave readily aCquleSced
in the policy, sacrificing interest from a regard to
the public veal. But we had right to expect,
and did expect. that care would be taken to ex-
clude the reporters of other papers, and particu-
lariy of Northern papers. The floating battery
great secret, and yet its accurate description
was heralded all over the country by hundred
different correspondents.
We had occasion to notice, short time ago, the
excellent engravings of sundry Morris Island bat
teres, taken by their artist, and forwarded with
descriptions, to Frank Leslies paper in which they
appeared. To-day we publish full description
OF all the various batteries, with Names number OF
guns, &c, &C., writte8 understand, by DR..
Salter, the selfproclaimed correspondent of that
virulent Abolition sheet, the New York Times.
Another description of the same is published in the
New York Herald. So that our people apparently
have to go to New York papers to learn facts about
own affairs. Is this just; is it right? Have
not the press of Charleston good to COM
plain? We know our readers will think, as we do,
it is a crying shame ano injustice. If this be the
result of our compliance, we'll make Gn end ont
for the Mercury.
BIG GUNs.
The Courier complies for the use of its military
readers the subjoined items from work on heavy
artillery, published by board of army officers of
which Major Anderson was a member:
There are four kinds of heavy artillery in the
land service, viz the Gun. the Howitzer, the Nor
tar and the CoIumbad, and they are distinguished,
according to their use, Siege, Garrison and Sea
Coast Artillery. To serve heavy piece with IA
cility requires five men, though in cases OF emer
gency they can be worked with efficiency by four,
and even by three men. A larger number of shots
be fired in rapid succession with less Injury to
iron guns than to brass ones. 1t is computed that
an iron gun will bear twelve hundred discharges,
at the rate of twelve au hour. This is considered
as the extreme limit of their power, though tEen-
ty discharges an hour have been made for sixteen
consecutive hours. Propelled by one-twenty-fifth
of its weight, fire ball thrown from mortar of
proper calibre, compasses range of from six hun
dred to seven hundred yards. Siege mortars can
be fired without taxing the strength severely, at
the rate of twelve rounds an hour continuously,
but they are capable of sustaining more rapid
firing.
The distance of a piece may be ascertained by
multiplying the number Of seconds which elapSe
between seeing the flash and hearing the report by
LOO; the product will be nearly the distance in
feet.
The cartridge bags for hot shot are made of wool
len fabric, and inserted choke foremost in a cart
ridge of the next highest calibre. Great care should
be taken in folding the ends under The wads are
made of clay or hay. The clay should be of thu
purest kind and free from sand gravel and all Tor
cign bodies. The hay should be soaked in water
ten or fifteen minutes. Though the ball can be al
lowed to remain in the gun till it cools 1t Is better
to discharge it with as little delay as possible.
A ten-inch Coumbiad weighs Is 400 pound4, and
at its greatest angle of elevation throws shot Of
l28 pounds 1854 yards. twelve-inch Coiumbiad
throws a shell weighing l72 pounds 5,506 yards in
thirty-sx seconds and a she'll of $50 pounds weight
5,76l yards in the same space of time. The great
est range of an eight-nch Columbad with shot is
4,S02 yards, with shell 46S yards.
"HoRRoRS OF DIsUNIoN."
Under the above caption the Uercury has an ar
ticle which concludes follows:
Look to Washington. 4 bankrupt treasury and
falling credit the basis of operations, and sole
promise of power and penty-a great comp plication
of men and means, and measures and parties, and
States at home and Nations abroad-boggling and
bungling from December to April, adding folly to
folly and vugarity to blunderiug-each day sink
ing deeper and deeper into the Slough of Despond
-confusion doubt, judicial blindness, dissension,
discredit, dismay. Such is the present attitude OF
that high and mighty, august and most iuvulnera-
BILE mobocratic conglomeration-ft rulers FOR
herd of buffaoes or-Black Republican mobs.
Turn your eyes to New York. Look at their
banks, filled with millions of idle money-nothng
to buy, nothing to sell; stocks dwinding to moth
ing; commerce flying from its accustomed chan
nels; trade paralyzed; manufactures going by the
board; men everywhere anxiously occupied IN
nothing to do, save those who cry for food and
fuel, and wrangle and snarl and threat amongst
each other Oh 'fpeople of the North" Gen
lightened' freemen, shout halleujahs sing p@ns
to your cherished divinity, License-fall down and
worship him, for you have placed him high upon
| his throne-his foot is upon you.
Alas chow have the mighty fallen" when
handful of enfeebled, degenerate, and semi-barba-
| rous people, can humble and battle eighteen
millions of noble, intelligent hardy freemen OF the
| North '' Shrek, "freemen of the NORTH shrek
| aloud, "give me liberty or give me DEATH? BY
all means do it; and when you begin, keep on doing
| it. Shrek aloud, and call on the Plymouth Rock
| sing incantations; strike it with some magic
wand, that it may bring forth food and drink in
plenty-and pray, likewise, it may bring you an
atom of discretion, grain of modesty, spark OF
honesty in the observation of legal obligations.
| To us of the South "the terrors of disunion' -
where are they? Are not former "horrOrs' a
cause of shame to Southern men? Even yet there
is much lacking of that faith, that confidence which
makes and makes nations great and successful.
| Even yet some shrink back from unreasonable
! ods md ima There little
ground for either. Faith, faith in YOURSELVES, and
| forward!
COURTESY IN THE BRIrsH PARLIAMENT.-A few
days ago, in discussion relating to the religious
prosecutions in Spain, Sir Robert Peel made some
remarks which were regarded by member as per
sonally offensive, whereupon the following scene
| occurred:
| Mr. Disraeli-I rise to ORDER The personal obser-
vations which the honorable barOnet has made are
not justified by anything have done, and have no
foundation whatever. (Cheers.) l am not aware
| that denoted any sentiment to justify course
which during the whole time l have been in Par
| Lament never knew adopted before. (Cheers. }
The Speaker-No doubt the honorable baronet,
without any interposition on my part, will see that
his observations require some explanation
Sir R. PEEL must say, sir, that L do not see
| that my observations require any modihcatlon OF
explanation. daughter, and loud cries of "Or,
derP')
The Speaker-Then it will be necessary for me
to express more decided opinion on the subject
(Hear.)
Sir II. PEEL will at once, sir, acknowledge my
error in the ausion which made to the right hon
orable gentleman. (Hear, hear.) Of course
speaker has very difficult task when he is stand
ing opposite gentleman who is continually laugh
ing. (Oh, ob.) | beg to apologize to the righ
honorable gentleman, and to withdraw anything
may have said that is disagreeabe to him. | as
sure him that did not mean anything Offensive