On this page

• Departments (1)
  • 
• Text (6)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    198 THE LEADEB y [No. 464, February 12, ...

  • 

    NAVAL AND MILITARY. The Nankin, 50, Comm...

  • 

    A DIFFICULTY AT WASHINGTON. We'vk had a ...

  • 

    1'unbio IIi3ALTn.r—Tiio Rcgistrar-Gonora...

  • 

    lCrv**rtJ v+t- fX 4- \\* JrUVtiilH \3iITtliIrtBtlC? * ¦ 'O- . O *

  • 

    CONTINENTAL NOTES. FRANCE. The general i...

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Accidents And Sudden Deaths. A Collision...

    part is a . chain of natural lochs , which serve as reservoirs for supplying the canal . After an unprecedented ¦ wet season , on the evening of the 2 nd , about eight o ' clock , one of those reservoirs , becoming overcharged , suddenly burst and precipitated itself into the one beneath , which , also giving way , the contents of both bounded into a third , and , with a roar which shook the country for males round , an avalanche of water , rocks , and earth , rolled down the mountain side , furrowing a deep watercourse in its way , and instantly obliterating the canal under « mountain of thousands of tons of rocks and stones . The vast body of water , separating into two great tide waves , rolled away to the east and west , breaking up lock-gates like tinder ; and ,

    tunnelling vast chasms through the banks , the waters found vent over the open country , the one by the town of Loehgilphead into Loch Fyne , the other over the Crinan mosses into the sea . Though the loss of property is at present incalculable , yet , most miraculously , there has not been a single life lost , though the alarm of the peoj > le of Lochgilphead may be conceived when they heard the distant bellowing of the torrent and rolling and grating of rocks , and then saw through the darkness of the night the moving flood all around them . For two miles the canal is destroyed , the banks being cut up by chasms like railway cuttings ; but the remaining portions , about four miles at either end , are intact , though probably injured by the quantity of mud injected into them .

    198 The Leadeb Y [No. 464, February 12, ...

    198 THE LEADEB y [ No . 464 , February 12 , 1859 ^

    Naval And Military. The Nankin, 50, Comm...

    NAVAL AND MILITARY . The Nankin , 50 , Commodore the Hon . Keith Stewart , has arrived in the river Thames , after four years' service in China . Being in a perfect state of efficiency and discipline , she is of course to be dismantled and .: paid off immediately . Vice ^ Admiral Harvey , the Commanderin-Chief at Sheerness , expressed his approbation of the general order of the ship , especially her practice and efficiency in gunnery , stating that it was " the best firing : he had seen for many years . " This admirable body of artillerists , according to the'present rules of the navy , are to be at once dispersed to take fresh service where they may .

    Lectures are being given at " Woolwich on subjects tending to develop a most useful branch of study in the subordinate ranks of the Artillery . In addition to the lectures already given on gunnery by Colonels Wilford and Wilmot , a course of lectures has been commenced by officers of the chemical . department of the Royal Laboratory . A court-martial has been held on board the Victory flag-ship to try Lieutenant Henry Moore , commanding her Majesty ' s gunboat Sandfly , for having behaved in Charles Ford

    ¦ Six floating batter ies are about to be constructed in the French ports on the model of the Jemmappes . The batteries about to be constructed are different from those employed in the Crimean war , inasmuch as they are . flat-bottomed , and may be navigated like ships . It is said that the report about to be presented by the Royal Commission fpr Manning the Navy-will propose a system which , in the opinion of the Commissioners , will ensure the maintenance of that service in a state of perfect efficiency at all times , at an addition to the present outlay not exceeding 400 , 000 ? . per annum .

    The Rev . James Inman , D . D ., many years Professor of Mathematics at the Royal Naval College , Portsmouth Dockyard , died on the 7 th ult . j aged eighty-three . He was the oldest of Cambridge Senior Wranglers , and has long possessed a just celebrity in naval circles for his application of science to navigation and ship-building . He laboured very many years unobtrusively but zealously in his country ' s service . While Professor of Mathematics at the " Royal Naval College he published several valuable works nOw in general use in the naval service ; but he was best known by his having been the first person in this country who built ship s on scientific principles , and by his having educated a class of men in whose hands the " reconstruction" of the British Navy must be placed ;

    Some further experiments to test the inventions made by Captain J . Norton , have been made at Chatham before the officers of the Royal Engineers . The first was a new description of shell , called by Captain Norton a "liquid-fire shell , " the phosphorus and other chemical properties contained in which are of so highly inflammable a character that immediately on its striking either the sails or rigging of a ship they become ignited . A number of sacks were suspended to represent sails , and these were soon wetted through by the i-aih , which fell heavily . Captain Norton having loaded a large rifle

    with his shell , which is somewhat larger than a rifle bullet , fired at the sacking , and although , the materials were so wet , the whole mass was . shortly in flames . ' Captain Norton then proceeded to experiment with his newly-invented rifle fire-shot , whichjhe has named the " spinster" shot . This messenger is intended , when it is fired from a rifle , to set fire to the powder in ammunition waggons , bags of gunpowder , and also firing dry grass iii jungles . This shot has been fired with effect by Captain Norton at a distance of 1800 yards . Both experiments were considered perfectly satisfactory by the officers who witnessed them .

    an unofficerlike manner by striking Mr , , boatswain of H . M . S . Cornwallis , and doing duty on board the Sandfly . The second charge imputed drunkenness to the prisoner . The prisoner was acquitted on the second charge , but the court was , of opinion that the first charge was proved . Doubts , however , being entertained as to whether great provocation might not have been given , and considering his high previous character , the court only adjudged him to be severely reprimanded .

    Satisfactory experiments have been made during . the past week with a view to test the efficacy of the alterations recently made in the gunboat shipway at Haslar , so as to expedite the landing of the gunboats when occasion may require it . A remarkable sloop-of-war has been launched by the American Government , at the Philadelphia Navy-yard . She is 208 feet in length , 83 feet beam , and depth of hold 14 = feet , and carries 1200 tons ; sho will mount four guns of 11 inches diameter . Tho greatest activity continues in every department of the dockyards . Several additional fh'st-rates are nearly ready tor sea ; tho Royal Sovereign , 131 , is in a very forward state at Portsmouth ; tho Galatea , screw steam-frigate , at Woolwich , has had an additional

    number of hands put on her ; tho Hood , 91 , is being hastened towards completion , and is expected to bo launched next month . On Monday , ot Chatham , corporal punishment was inflicted on a private of tho Roy e \ Marino Light Infantry , named Tbiers , who was tried by court-martial , on a charge of striking Sergeant Grady , in a public-house in tho town , on tho occasion of that officer being called in to quell a disturbance . Tho court adjudged tho prisoner to rocelvo fifty lashes , and afterwards to bo imprisoned in Tort Clarence for fifty-six days . Tho Trafalgar , 120 , in clook at Chatham , being converted into a OOi-gun screw steamer , is nearly ooinplotod , and will bo ready to bo uncloaked next month , when it In understood eho will bo attached to the Channol fleet .

    A favourable report has boon mnUe to tho authorities of the roBulfc pf tlio experiments with tho how description of riflo bullets invented by Captain J . Norton . Ut was stated lu Woolwioh Arsenal that Mr . Armpjtrong , tho inventor of tho wrottghtrjron vide cannon , has entered into a contract with her Majesty ' s Government , iwd that a considerable nunibov of tho guns aro to bo forthwith supplied , for the use of tho Artillery . We aro Informed , that Govoramont hayo given out orders for tho construction of sixteen engines , destined fur war steawow .

    A Difficulty At Washington. We'vk Had A ...

    A DIFFICULTY AT WASHINGTON . We ' vk had a fight at Washington ; - A reglar tooth-and-nailer , Taylor has Walden whipped like fun , And Walden wplloped Taylor . Yankee , Doodle , & c . The Honourable George . Tay-lpr As he passed Walden , walking , Heard some remark that man made ; for To a third man he was talking . Yankee Doodle , & c . " Was that air you said meant for me ? " Was Taylor ' s 'terrigation , " Wai , " Walden answers , " that may be , " Which Taylor ryled tarnation . Yankee Doodle , & c . He clinched his fist , and let it go Right slick at t ' other feller ; And Walden het back , noways slow , By means of his umbreller . Yankee Doodle , & c . But Taylor from his fist quick wrung That there auxiliary , Fust licked ' him with it , and then flung It at his adversary . Yankee Doodle , & c . Then other parties interposed , And further strife prevented , The difficulty thus was closed , And both tho . men contented . Yankee Doodle , & c . Fact is , tho How York man was ihad ' To lose his situation , Which ho had lost , or thought ho had , By Taylor ' s accusation . Yankee Doodlo , & c . To seo an Ex-oOlaial fight'Long with a Legislator , I reckon is a prottior sight Thau bear and alligator , Yankoo Doodlo , & o . —Punoh .

    1'Unbio Iii3altn.R—Tiio Rcgistrar-Gonora...

    1 ' unbio IIi 3 ALTn . r—Tiio Rcgistrar-Gonoral ' s return furnishes indications of improvement in tho . health of tlio metropolis . Tlio three last weoks havo shown ft decrease in tho number of deaths . Tho total last wook was 12 > 1 B , being 71 undor tlio average . Scarlatina and diphtheria aro decreasing . Tho births for tho wook wore 1022 . Dr . Lethoby gives ft favourable report of tho health of the City , tho deaths having fi » Uon , from 82 to 02 .

    Lcrv**Rtj V+T- Fx 4- \\* Jruvtiilh \3iittliirtbtlc? * ¦ 'O- . O *

    jFnreigtr Stitelligrace .

    Continental Notes. France. The General I...

    CONTINENTAL NOTES . FRANCE . The general impression produced by the Emperor ' s speech on Monday , at the opening of the Chambers , is excessively unfavourable . The Paris correspondent of the Nord , writing in anticipation bf the Emperor ' s speech , has the following significant paragraph : —" -It is possible , however , that the Emperor ' s speech may be very vague—that , like that of the Queen of England , it may tell very little which was not known before . But it must be remarked that if , under present circumstances , the Emperor should say little , he must be understood to mean a great deal . If he sJipttld be reserved , the inference will be that he means war , and only desires to gain time "

    The speech made by the Count de Morny , "when it became his duty to address the Legislative Body , referred to and reflected the " noble words" uttered by the Emperor the day before , and commended the Emperor ' s rule a . s distinguished for moderation , devotedness , and religious care . The speech is intended to have a pacific effect . Count de Morny alludes to credit and labour making peace the bond of modern society , and says : — " Publicity and the rapidity of international communication have created a new European Power , of which all Governments are compelled to take account . This Power is Opinion . Let us hope that the generous ideas of the Emperor will make their way in the -world , and that in accordance as they are with the sympathies of nationSj and sustained by the influence of sovereigns , they will succeed in solving peaceably all the questions of difficulty that present themselves . "

    A Paris correspondent of the Continental Iitii-kxo writes : —" Since the 1 st of January the public m . iiul has not ceased to pronounce itself more and more every clay against the war , and to-day the Emperor may be said to be completely isolated in bis policy . He has against him all his Ministers ; he has against hinxall his friends , even the most devoted , from M . dePersigny to M . de Morny ; he has against him the Bank , finance , conir merce , and industry ; he has not-even with him tile Democratic party , who might have hoped in a-war of Italian independence to awaken the spirit of revolution , bat who see so far but an extension of despotism . "

    We read in a Berlin letter : —> " The falsification in the French papers of a certain passage in the Queen i speech has been ludicrously commented on here . . ' The most earnest representations' of the British Cabinet are , in the Paris journals , converted into ' the most lively hopes . ' Napoleon III . does not . seem to have thought fit to confess to his loj r al subjects that the British already begin'to assume a tone of command towards him . " A circular has been addressed by the Minister of Commerce to the Chambers of Commerce throughout Prance , informing them that orders have been giveu to commanders of ships of war to prevent , in future , the transportation of negroes from the coast of Africa to French colonies . .

    In the-mean time the military preparations continue with the greatest activity . Thirty thousand men , with all the viatch-iel , are ready to bo embarked on the const of Algiers . Transports are being put in commission with all possible haste ; and on board some of tho corvettes they are constructing stables for the cavalry . At Marseilles the military stores , have so accumulated Unit they oneumberlhc depots of the Mediterranean Steam Packet Company , whose directors have been obliged to complain to the Minister of War . The Gazette de JLyon announces that General l . ' onnult'a division , recalled from Africa , is expected « t Lyons in about a week . Tha recal of an entire division nil at onco is an ovont without precedent , and oiie which certainly cannot bo explained by any of the rules which govern tho rotation of homo ami foreign service in tho army . It is a palpable war symptom .

    Upwards of sixty war transports aro ordered to ho ready at Toulon by March 1 , and wo hour that tlvo divisions of infantry itro under marching ordord to bo at that port by tho BAmo day . 1 It is stated tlmt tho railway from Toulon to Marsoillos will bo opened to tho public on tho 1 st of March . It was not to havo been ooinplotod , according to tlio original eontraot , until two months Inter . This change in tho timo of opening can spring from but one motivo— tho desire of tlio Ffonoh Government to havo at i ( s disposal at onco additional facilities for tlio transport of troops and ammunition through tho South . ,,

    Tlio Paris correspondent of tho Express write * : — > hoar nit ominous whisper which , under presiMil circumstances , must not bo lightly disregarded , that u « 'M loan of 700 millions is on tlio t « j > ia , and that extraordinary efforts wiU bo rando to koop up the funds until tho' loan is brought out . ¦ Tbo Monitour , of yesterday publislius tlio following » --" Tho project of law for ilxiiig tlio general roooipis ami expenditure of ' tho Budgot for 18 ( 30 , nnd the project o law tonding to approve tlio eon volitions patosod ketw <}< m tlio Ministor of Agriculture , Commoroo , and of 1 uono Works , and dlfloront railwny oompanlos , woro yostoruay taken to tUo Legislative Body Just as tho sluing was

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 12, 1859, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_12021859/page/6/