New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-03

placed at 300 yards; through which It's shot passed
with ease.
Meanwhile, the guns already on hand will DO &C
commvdated as far az possible to the new stacs Of
things and it Is satisfactory to know that severe
test proves the 9uch aud ll-nch able 10 bear con.
/ timed firing with SOLID sbo, ana charges much
greater than those fer which they werc intended;
thu 9-nch ono half greater the ll-inch double the
original quantity OF power.
In the connection it may be observed that erro.
ueons impressions have obtained currency in regard
TO The mode of action which was proposed for this
styIe Of gun an instance Of which has already been
noticed az emansting from an official peronsge.
A recent repetition of this error by high popular
authority would Induce the unproessional reader 10
suppose that the sole object Of these guns was to
fire large masses of metal with low velocity, regard
less Of all proper effect
| Whereas, it was merely designed TO drive the
heaviest projectes that could be conveniently mani
planted with no more velocity than would Just pass
entirely through ships side.
The complete penetration OF the object was TO be
effected bit with no more velocity than aDsointoy
Indispensable for that object, and thus the greatest
amount Of concnss'on powder was combined with
sufficient penetration.
These views were fully given ut length in pub.
LEGATION made some SIX yesrs sincet, aud illustrated
I by instances OF practical results.
! 1t was not 70 be expected that ordnance designed
so particularly for given effect upon wooden struc-
tures sbouLI 10 equally fitted to operate upon ar
I
therefore temporary; aud yet, even uoder such DIS
advantages the ll.inch shot fired with 80 pounds IS
known TO act severely on targets plated with IS Inch
iron aud to have endurance with these excessive
charges that could not have been expected.
! The cannon used in England TO fire at the War
rior target" in April, tSt2, was mede OF wrought
irou, after the design OF Sir william Armstrong. IL
is said to have weighed nearly 1900 pounds, and
on the above occasion WAS fred four times with %
pounds Of POWDER and round snot oil Lpo pounds
ltll1 AZ and
In proportion to It's weigh. would be doing toe same
work 40 this Armstrong gon II il was fired WITH 81
pounds OF powder aud "A o3-poand shot,
One Of this class, now here, hes been fired l5j
tines Gs iollows
io i oaa9, ~ IS pSuHd sho, of lss TO iGe pounds.
% gousd. with 30 pound.)
charge Of 20 pounds IL very nearly proportional
10 tia, usod IN the Armstrong l5C-pounder and tie
shot Is al per cent heavier than It should be rea-
lively and Is pounds absolutely than tue sho! OF the
British gun.
The qua is no, burst, nor does it exhibit any indi
cation of giving way.
The Armstrong gun has burst, and 1t gave way
with charge OF % pounds II 10 said to have been
fired leo or 40 times several Of which were With
much heavier charges---60 to % pounds-bu. Of lLis
We have no information here beyond what may have
appeared at different lines in the public priats
On snothor occasion, Ia il-Inch gun waa fired 800
times Of which 170 tires per day were made IN two
successvs days, which so heated the gun that II was
found TO be warm Is hours afterward. NO sign OF
weakness was detected.
The 9-inch class, IN the ratio Of the British gun,
should throw shot Of 81 pounds with Is pounds OF
powder.
Mention has already been made Of one recently
proved with $50 service charges 10 pounds, and
shells of ~ pounds; and 800 extra obarges-l3i
pounds of powder, and shot OF 80 pounds which last
may be assumed 10 produce strain equal to the
proportional chsrgo. The gun stiIl looks sound.
Another of the same class, after l,oJO service
charges-l0 pounds, and shells of ~ poands-was
fired with gradually increasing charges until at the
last round (twensysecoud it burst with charge of
~ pounds OF powder aud 10 shot, weighing IN the
aggregate $40 pounds.
Inc endurance, therefore, Of these east-ron guns
bears conpari.on with the beet forged British guns
OF the lateet desgu and the model must therefore 10
good.
Tho cslber Of the piece, and the velocity with
which tue ball sDal move, Is entirely adaptable 10
what may be required.
IL may DO tbat the ratio OF velocity 10 weight
should be greater when iron, and not wood, is to be
struck, which will be detorulued quite IN season.
COAST DEFENsEs.
The ease and impuniy with which even one iron
clad can enter port not specially prepared for such
a visitor, and commit mischief 1T pleasure, suggest
the policy of providing by timely measures against
the possibility Of damage 10 the immense resources
thus exposed.
Some ten years sinco took occasion, upon call
from tho War DepGrtmen.,ito point TO the defense
-
that OF New-YoTk, which, b. It's facility Of aecess,
and great accommodation Of meGns, invited attack
from the enterprise or eupitity Of IA enemy.
These arc nos limited 10 tho abundant
wealth that commerce has collected from every
quarter But in the city and lis vicinity the vast
orashOps, from which issus the ships and their
engines That have within twelvemonth given now
fleet 10 the country; beng IN fac, 30 many Navy
Yards called iuto existence almost at Tue instant
which would lie under the very cannon Of hostile /
aitI Ia.
try of resources not " be replaced Tor years
The present state Of our public at!airs seems TO I
o'er gpd reason for considering this subject eerI-
onsy aud promptly. We Lave rad not long since, (
bitter experiences Of the facility with which the usual
mode oi setting dcbaioaDl. question might be Set
aside, ana u.uEinm al tho onise, dictated ~ us
w,d such preparation as left 10 doubt that oar non
Compliance would DC visited with the sane pacific /
cofrcotiyes which history records NJ having been /
sdu,sns.ered Al COpenhagan (loc'l at Constsnti- /
nope 1917, and to Spain 1904, which Oceasions
tao neuts Vf Denmark aud the treasure s1ips OF |
Spols were seized, and Ike attempts made ON tie /
Navy OF Turkey, although there Powers were ac-
lGs,y at peace, aud were only suspected Of hostile
intent.
No injury can result to tho public interest," frcm
speaking openly On tie condition OF our ports aud
coasts, Tor II Is quite US we'll understood by Others
"a by ourselves these harDors beng habltualy ire
quenIed by foreign traders, ana the npts, niorma
tion In regard 10 them uinuteiy shown in our own
~ examine them.
IL bohoOvesus therefore in good season 10 estimate
the danger rightly, aud the remedy.
la regard ~ the latter there viii naturally 10
some difference OF opinion, which will DO bee, inyes-
ueated aud Judged Of BY those who shall be in
s.'s',d with the duty.
Stll, taking our own great seaport as an example, /
N, views are that II trustworthy and thorough |
defense can ouly be made oy harmonious and Just
combination Of forts, irouclsds and rams, with sueh
other auxiliarios may he c0ntf buted 10 tho
general purpose; sngly, neitner would o. eectua.
Nm. al d. by laul in La AnnuY