The New York herald., 1870-09-14

for Offensive Purposes.
LONDON, Sept. I, 1870.
The United States steam frigate Franklin, which
arrived 1t Splhead on Monday, with the flag Of Rear
Admiral o. s. GlissOn, has come into Portsmouth
harbor, and Is to be docked to make good defects
In her propeller. On running into spithead she sa
uted the garrison batteries the Duke of wellington
nagship OF the port, Admiral sir James Hope, and
the Unted States nag hoisted at the Consular AGENTS
residence. The salutes were returned from the bat
teres and the flagship, after which Admiral Glisson,
with one Of his star Oficers, came into Portsmouth
haybor and landed at the d0cKyard at the Kings
Stairs, where he was received ny the naval and
military authorities with the usual hOnors
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 Glisson on board - Franklin at Splthead
and, on his leaving the irigate, he was sauted,
which was returned by the nagship in the harbor.
In the afternoon Admiral Gibson returned the
English admlral's visit anu went on board the Duke
Of wellington, when the usual honors were paid
him. He afterwards visited the boys stationary
usual salute the United States ensign being run up
to the fore royal masthead
ball has been given by Sir James Hope to Admi.
sal Gibson and the oacers OF the Franklin, and the
arrival Of the ship has had tendency to make the
sown and harOtf quite gay.
AN ARTILLERY MONSTER.
Yesterday morning I was present at the Royal
Gun Factory at WOOlwich, ana witnessed the weld
ing together Of the two largest sections-viz., the
fourth and ffththe preech piece coil and the trun-
MON hoop Of the thirty-fve 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 l need
scarcely say that 1t VIII be the most powerful gun
ever made, as 1t il anticipated that it Will be capable
Of throwing 700 pound shot through fourteen and
three-quarter inch plate, OF wrought iron. armor
plate, and as fifteen inch IL the maximum
OF plating tnat IL is considered can be afilxed
TO a ships side to allow OF her being at all
eflcient you will readily apprehend the interest
manifested among the armOrp plated shipbulders,
royal naval artillery and engineer officers as well as
many other scientific men.
The gun ID to be q muzzle-lOader 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 rife twist increasing
from zero at the breech to turn In forty cabres
ut the muzzle. The charges which will be used are
to be 120 pounds and the length Of the solid shot
to be two feet SIX inches, and common shell three
feet four inches.
The gun IS formed of five concentric bands In
which the best 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 secondanother chase Of coiled iron placed
IN hroa MOI rf of
gun; tnen another coil and the breech piece, and on
the outside Of all these layers the trunnion
nOOp These layers are suCcess1vey massed upon the
breech. where the greatest elasticity 1s required
Some MY or sixty men, under one Of the chief
yesterday in the operation Of welding the most i'm
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 Tones, AND MUSCLE AND SKILL
furnace with the aid Of huge pair Of tongs, some
thirty feet long and about fifteen tons in weight the
ande Se tne aa o.
ing OF the TWO sections were completed with won
derful facility, only taking one hotr, and as they
were only Shrunk together before being placed the
furnace I think you will agree with me that the
blending operation was very smart. After the bars
had been Incorporated IN one the red hot mass Of
cheat" was left to COOL which Will not be complete
nnu Tomorrow, when 1t will then be trimmed to its
nve feet When the gun is fnisned the complete
calbre will be about eleven ana One-half inches, and
the length about sixteen 1eet.
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
non-commissloned officer in the Royal Engineers,
and the other from the idea OF civilian.
FARRAGUrS MEMORY.
BY the way, forgot to mention that all the British
ships OF war In Portsmouth harbOr. as well as the
United States frig0te Franklin, hOlsted their cOors
half-mast high Ol the official announcement of the
death OF Admiral Farragut, being promulgated as
mark Of respect to the deceased commander. This
Is only another instance OF the cordial and friendly
feeling which exists between the nav1es OF the United
States OF America and England and i have fire.
quently remarked the good feeling which always Is
manifest whenever q United States ship OF war
visits any OF the ports in Brtan 1t 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-
ctpie OF the largest London clubs and which has for
Its members nearly all the officers in the navy and
Of the Franklin TO make or the CLUB during their
stay IN port and thus making them honorary mem
bers pro tenn.
FOR OFFENCE.
In conclusion. might add that the only weapons
England Is possessed OF for offensive purposes the
nrlng u 600 FOUNDER Palliser shell with bursting
charge OF powder OF fourteen pounds. The ten.lnch
eighteen ton gun, capable OF throwing ''Palliser
Of 400 pounds, with bursting charge Of six pounds
ton gun, throwing "Pallser'' OF $50 pounds, with
bursting charge Of five pounds eight ounces OF
powder and the eigitlnch nine ton and seven inch
seven ton and six and a half ton guns, capable Of
throwing and bursting q propOrt0nate weight with
proportiOnate bursting charge OF powder all OF
SYSTEM the number OF grooves varying from nine
lnches IN the guns OF the largest caDre to three
inch ia the minimum.