The Sun. — 1865-04-26 (London, England)

FRANCIS. The conduct of all was subjected to strict scrutiny, and no effort on the part of the police could arrive at any explanation of the matter. No one was spared censure who was at all mixed up in the affair, and the conduct of Mr. KENT, the father, was animadverted upon in driving over to Trowbridge for the police instead of stopping at home to search himself. Still, whether innocent or guilty, persons appear to such disadvantage under such trying circumstances that no positive proof can be afforded by any circumstance, however peculiar in itself or extraordinary in its significance. It must not be concluded that CONSTANCE KENT has really committed the act until further particulars are disclosed and fresh evidence put forward. Her simple statement 4 however positively made, is substantiated by proofs of the most irrefragable character. The public must not be misled by any appearance, however specious, and arrive at a hasty conclusion. Great interest will be felt by all to hear more, and the report of the proceedings of the trial will he eagerly perused by all who have been shocked and terrified at the affair. Dreadful as it will be to find out that the murder was committed by this young-girl, it will be better to be assured of it if it really is so, in order that innocent persons may not be suspected ; but great care must be taken not to make mistakes, and the affair is so painful in all its bearings that it will be a positive relief to have it determined in one manner or another.  It is not wonderful that Mr. LAIRD should be inclined to criticise the system of Admiralty shipbuilding. The Admiralty is never very fond of improvements, and, although we hear a great deal about the various experiments made, we find they are always very reluctant to adopt any new method which may interfere with their own prejudices. They refused to apply steam to the Navy; they would not adopt the screw. Sir CHARLES NAPIER himself said it was folly to have the screw ; but, after sending the Rattler right round the kingdom by way of experiment, they were reluctantly forced to admit the superiority of the screw. The twin screws were also tabooed for a long time, but now they are compelled to adopt them. Improvements must grow old in other countries before our Admiralty will condescend to recognise them. The mercantile marine is generally far in advance of the Royal Navy, while all inventors are treated with such coldness and discouragement that they are often driven to carry their inventions elsewhere. In the same way they insist upon keeping to the old-fashioned broadside guns in the centre of the ship. The most inexperienced observer can at once see the difference between carrying a heavy weight in the centre instead of at the edge, and must at once recognise the far greater power con'erred by the turn-table system on vessels of inferior Why then are our Admiralty officials so reuctant to try this mode of reconciling the problem of the increased weight of guns with the desire for speed ? Is it part of the proverbial obstinacy of seamen who, through always handy in adapting themselves to new schemes when once tried, are always most averse to try them ? When convinced by facts they believe the last ship to be the best, but the prejudice in favour of old plans is proverbial, and they, generally speaking.  size.  hate innovation of all kinds. Sir CHARLES NAPIER, who was strongly in favour of the old paddlewheel, was obliged. to admit the possibility of a shot striking the pivot, when the wheel would be lost. He built a ship on his own 'design, the Sidon, which had the singular quality of being lop-sided and would never sit upright on the water, notwithstanding all efforts to right her by adjusting the ballast. Eventually he went to the Baltic with a fleet of screws, and we hope the present authorities at the Admiralty will be equally convinced of the merits of the turn-table guns. Mr. LAIRD, than whom there is no one more qualified to build ships combining strength and speed, has declared that ships can be built of light draft and sufficient tonnage to go to every quarter of the globe, and protect our commercial interests. We hope the Admiralty will ponder on these things, and allow scientific innovations to displace exploded routine theories.