The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-17

having been conducted yer tho shin by CAPTAIN
Beaumont, and minuteiy inspected her on deok
and below, took up position on the rals,d
hurricane deck, in COMPANY with he Hon. Mr..
Fox to witness the firing OF two shots from tha
enormous 16.inch smoothbore guns which fJrm
her turret armament. The officers and crew Of
the ship took up their respective positions ae
general quarters, all matches were securely
battened down, the supply Of air below was
prov ded for by sc ting the ventilating fans in
motion, and the ship in every respect prepared
for action at sea.
These preparations having been made, visit
to the deck below demonstrated clearly enough
that, although in certain portions OF the tween
deck the atmosphere felt slightly oppressive
after Just leaving the open air of the upper
deck, the air was really cool, as proved by the
thermometer ranges, and the ship might be
fought through a long summer days action
under the same condltlons without distress 70
any one on board from heat below bevoDd
what would necessarily be found in any ordinary
steamship of war; ..L..
The frat gun fred was charged with s.
pound powder cartridge and Sdbf live shell.
at extreme elevation The effect was very
grand as the vast globe of metal, propelled from
the mouth OF the gun with deep hoarse roar,
went hurdllng on its course until 1t fell at an
estimated distance of about 5000 yards from the
ship.
The second gun was charged with IS pounds
OF powder, a solid iron shot of 460 pounds, and
fred point blank. Ii the last shot was Grand, as
exhibiting the flight of l5-inch shell, this was
more interesting, as exhibltng-what we have
as yet made no provision for in rining our
heavy naval artillery-the perfection of rtOooha
firing. The immense ball spun along its course
over the surface OF the water as truly as the
crlcketeT's ball passes over the smooth green
sward towards the wicket. The noise of the
explosion, the conclusion felt, the smoke which
entered the turrets on the firing OF the guns,
were neither more nor less than would be
naturally expected in firing 36-pound powder
| charges.
L may not be out of place here, and espe-
! clally connected with the DO wer OF firing en-
| Tlcochet, as so iorcibly illustrated by the guns
| of the MadnfOn0Tn0h on Friday, to notice how
| far our French neigbbors have gone in the
the Corps Leeislaif, on the goth of June,
| NJ. Dupuy de LONE, Director of Material
| of the Imperial Navy, stated that three
| models had been selected for the armament
of the navy OF France, as follows: s:-Frst-olsss-
| Diameter, "a centimetres; weight, H. 900 kllo-
grammes Throws steel elone ated bolts of
l44 kilogrammes, as also shells and round
| shot. Second class-Dlameter, 10 eentimeires;
| weight, 5000 kilogrammes. Throws steel elon-
| gated bolts of rs kilogrammes, ditto shell of 81
| kilogTammes, ditto round shot of 81 kilogrammes.
| Third class-Dameter 16 centimetres; weight
bolts OF As kllogrammes, ditto shells of 31S
kilogrammes, ditto round shot OF l5 kilogrammes.
M. Dupuy de LONE also said there was another
class OF gun, on the same principle, that was
n centimetres in diameter, but would be toe
large Tor service on board ship, and would there
fore be reserved for the armament of sea-coasi
batteries. All the pieces averaged a range oi
about six kilometres. There is this remarkable
fact connected with these pieces selected for the
armament of the French navy-all fire round
as well as ELONGATED shot and ALL therefore, are
capable OF delivering fire en- rioochet.
The American paddle steamer AUGUSTA, Cap
tain A. Murray, remains at Spithead until about
| the 9th instant.