The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-23
The superiority OF American over
British Ordnance.

British Ordnance.
From the London Army and Navy Gazette Septic.
1t may be concluded as certain, that the
guns used by Gilmore were Parrotts ritltd
ordnance. Their work has been effectually
done.
No,o the guns that did this Dork cost,
zoe believe, just 0netourth Of oar ord
nance, c,ct. for c,ct !; they are light, and
gerry easily handled
In this Journal the attention of govern
ernment authorities has been called again
and again to the Parrott and Dahlgren
guns. The Americans have constructed
cannon of calibres which are known to US
only as of theoretical and probable attain
ment, and they have armed batteries hum
dreds Of miles from their arsenals with the
most powerful guns ever used in war,
which have been carried by sea and in
stormy waters to the enemy's shores. Be-
fore suoh projectiles as these guns carry,
the preaching of masonry, whether of
brick or stone, is but a question of short
time. And in face of these facts we are
obliged to record that our scientific officers
are of opinion that our "best gun for
preaching purposes is the old 6s-pounder. 4"
Why, we know not what that can do. We
know that at $500 yards its fire would be
about as etfectual as that of Mons Meg.
These trials at 200 yards are perfectly
fatuous, it no other results than these, or
such as these, be gained by them. 1t is
of no use saying Sumter was of brick; it
was at least as good work as most of our
existing Notifications, and less easy "to
splinter up than work of granite or rnbble
masonry. In substance it resembled very
much our martello towers on the beach at
Hythe. Have we any gun which could
breach one Of these at $500 yards? Do,
pray, gentlemen of the Ordnance Commit
tee, bestir yourselves, and get us gun
with results. Let Mr.. Whitworth or Sir
William, Captain Palliser, Captain Blake
ley, Mr.. Bashiey Britten, Mr.. Themas, any
one, give us a gun as good and as cheap as
the Parrott to begin with, and tGen we can
rest content while you are going on with
your experiments. One thing is certain.
that any forts which may he assailed by
such artillery as the Americans have em-
ployed at Sumter must be taced with iron
plates. We are yet in doubt as to the
mode in which stone works can be coated
with iron; but it is obvious that mere ma
sonry will not stand unprotected against
the heaviest of ritied projectiles Do not
let US pooh upon the Americans. If we
are wise, it is the last thing we ought to do.
Our artillersts think they are wrO- g in the
matter of the Dahlgren guns; for breach
ing purposes they may be, but unquestion-
ably the Admiralty would be rather nerv-
ous about the result of firing 45O- pound
shot against the side of the Warrior. at q
distance OF 200 yards, notwithstanding the
experiments which seemed to Indicate that
large shot with comparatively low charges
Of powder were inefficient The authorities
have had no experience Of the effect of
such shot as the Dahlgrens propel. They
have not got the guns to discharge them.
When next the ordnance officers and gen.
tlemen meet, let them apply their minds
to the little experiments the Americans
have been making for their benefit at
Sumter.
QUESTIONS ALL AROUND One of the
best things we have heard for some time.
fell under our observation day or two
since. Our friend Sam Jones wanted a
servant in his family, and pushed for an
intelligence Office, and made known his
wants to the proprietor.
Says Sam, "Have you any first-rate,
tip-tOp servant girls for the kitchen?
want one that can mind her own business.
and tend to her work" "Oh, yes.n saws
the proprietor, "let me show you one"
Sam is at once introduced to daughter
of the Emerald Isle, and greeted with.
"And does ye want a sarvantp" ssYes.,,
says Sam. "How many have yer in the
family?" Sam answered. "And have
yer hot and cold watherp" Answered
again. "How many children have ver3
and do you make your girls wash Sun.
days9 Is the church far away?" An
these questions, and about fifty more. were
heroically answered by Sam. and he
though he would take the laborino oar
himself. "You look, "says Sam, like ca a
pretty nice girl, but 1 want to ask YOU one
question: 9 ;, = Do you play the pionaa"
No" "Then," says Sam, very blandly,
lyon won't answer my turn" And away
went the astonished Celt, feeling that she
ior once had caught Tartar. Hartford
Times. a.
The Wooh;pc<or