The New York herald., 1870-09-14
LONDON, Sept. /, 1870.


LONDON. Sept. !, 1870.
The United States steam frigate Franklin, which
arrived at spithead Monday with the flag Of Rear
Admiral O. 8. Glisson, has come into Portsmouth
harbor, and Is to be docked to make good defects
In her propeller On running into Spithead she ga
uted the garrison batteries, the Duke OF wellington,
nagship OF the port Admiral Sir James Hope, and
the United States nag h0sted a the Consular AGENTS
residence. The salutes were returned from the bat
teries and the nagship after which Admiral Gisson,
with one Of his star 0ficers, came into Portsmouth
harbor, and landed at the d0cKyard at the Kings
Stairs where he received by the naval and
military authorities with the usual h0nors.
The gallant Admiral afterwards visited the resi-
dence OF the general commanding the district In the
High street. Portsmouth, where he was received by
Lieutenant General Lord TempletOwn.
Tuesday morning Sir James Hope paid visit to
Admiral Gliss0n on board - Franklin at Splthead,
and, on his leaving the irgate he was saluted,
which was returned by the flagship In the harb0r.
In the afternoon Admiral Gibson returned the
English admIraps visit and went on board the Duke
Of wellington, when the usual hOnOrs were paid
him. He afterwards visited the boys stationary
training ship st. Vincent, and received with the
usual salute, the United States ensign being run up
to the fore royal masthead.
BAH has been given by Sir James Hope to Admt
raj Gibson ana the oicers OF the Franklin and the
arrival Of the ship has had tendency to make the
sown and harbif quite gay.
AN ARTILLERY MONSTER.
Yesterday morning was present at the Royal
Gun Factory at WOolwlch, ana witnessed the weld
ing together Of the two largest sections-vz., the
fourth and flfth-the Dreech piece coil and the trun
MON hoop Of the thirty-hve ton gun-an operation
which was pleased to see successfully performed.
Among those present recognized many faces well
known to both officers and civilians In scientific
circles The welding OF these two sections Of this
monster gun was something marvellous, and need
scarcely say that It VIII be the most powerful gun
made, il anticipated that it Will be capable
Of throwing 700 pound shot through fourteen and
threequarter inch plate, OF wrought iron or armor
plate and as fifteen inch IL the maximum
OF plating tnat 1t is considered can be affixed
10 a ships side to allow OF her being at all
eficient you will readily apprehend the interest
royal naval artillery and engineer officers well as
many other scientific men.
The gun is to be muzzle-oader, constructed upon
the Fraser principle. The iron bars forming the
breech piece, am informed, were six inches In di-
ameter and 400 feet long. 1t Will be rfed with nine
grooves, each one and half inches wide and two
tenths Of an inch deep, with rifle twist increasing
from aero at the breech to one turn in forty cabres
at the muzzle. The charges which will be used are
to be 120 pounds and the length Of the solid shot is
to be two feet six inches and common shell three
feet four inches.
The gun Is formed Of five concentric bands, in
which the pest skill and work has been placed to
secure efficiency. The first band, or ring, is the
inner tubing Of the gun, made Of toughened steel;
then the sec0ndanother chase of coled iron placed
over Lne nrst to strengthen the breech part OF the
gun; tnen another coil and the breech piece, and on
hoop. These layers are successfully massed upon the
breech. where the greatest elasticity is required.
onncers Of the factory department were employed
yesterday in the operation Of welding the most nm
portant Of the two sections l have named, and
must confess that the work was carried on by these
men to the admiration OF all present.
FIRE AND TONGS AND MUSCLE AND SKILL,
The men, shortly before noon, dragged out OF the
furnace with the aid Of huge pair Of tongs, some
tn,rty feet long and about fifteen tons in weight the
gigantic iron bar, which was carried with the aid of
machinery under the ten ton 'Nasmyth." The forg
ing Of the T Two sections We're completed with won
only shrunk together before being placed In the
furnace think You Will agree with me that the
had been Incorporated IN one the red hot mass Of
'heat' was left to COOL which Will not be complete
shape by the lathe It's extreme diameter was barely
i've feet When the gun is nnisned the complete
caibre will be about eleven and One-haf inches, and
the length about sixteen feet.
TOrpedes are the order OF the day. Two more
have cropped up and are being experimental upon
up the Medway river-one from the designs OF q
nOncommlssiOned O1icer In the Royal Engineers,
and the other from che idea OF civilian.
FARRAGUT's MEMORY.
BY the way forgot to mention that all the British
ships Of war in Portsmouth harbOr. as well as the
United States fg0te Franklin, hOsted their cOlors
halfmast high On the Official announcement of the
death Of Admiral Farragut being promulgated as o
mark Of respect to the deceased commander. This
IL only another instance OF the cordial and friendly
1eeng which exists between the nav1es OF the United
States OF America and England, and l have fire.
quently remarked the good feeling which always Is
manifest whenever United States ship OF war
visits any of The ports in Britain; Is only notice.
able between the officers Of the TWO nations but also
among the crews. ! am just told that the Royal
Naval Club at Portsmouth biased upon the prin.
Its members nearly all the officers in the navy and
marines) has sent an invitation for all the Offcers
Of the Franklin to make or The Club during their
stay In port, and thus making them honorary men,
bers pro tent
FOR OFFENCE.
In conclusion. might add that the only weapons
England Is possessed OF for offensive purposes Is the
twenty-five ton gum with Calibre OF twelve Inches,
nrDg 6OGpounder Palliser shell with bursting
charge Of powder Of fourteen pounds. The ten.nch
of 400 pounds with bursting charge Of six pounds
fourteen ounces OF powder The nine-inch twelve
ton gun, throwing "Palliser'' Of $50 pounds with
a bursting charge OF five pounds eight ounces OF
powder, and the egit-lnch nine ton and even-nch
seven ton and six and half ton guns, capable of
throwing and bursting propOrtlonate weight with
a pr0portonate bursting charge OF powder all OF
which are muzZe-loaders, rined the WOOlWlch
system, the number OF grooves varying from nine
inches IN the guns Of the largest caiDre to three
mcn IN the ollnnlum.