The New York Herald Newspaper, January 7, 1855, Page 6

46 NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. ConsrperaTioNs sun LA CamPaGne ex Crimen, Pas L. VANDEVELDE, Capitaine av REGIMENT DES Gaenaprens, Bacxerces.—So much*twaddle has been epoken and written by non-professional critics, frem Kossuth down to the amateur Jominis and ‘Vaubans of the press, eapecting what ought and ‘what ought not to have been doae by the bellige renta in the Crimea, tht it is a satisfaction to meet fwith a work which sub:titutes for crude and rague the results of scientific ebservation thorough practical acquaiatance with the sub- Seat Captain Vandevelde, the author of this in- teresting brochure, has already distinguished him- self by the publication of several valuable military treatises, and his present pamphlet arrives oppor- tunely to assist ue in piercing the clouds of preju- dice and misrepresentation in which everything connected with the events in the Crimea is sys- tematioally involved by the European press. Being ‘written in @ purely professional spirit, and without apy apparent political leaniogs, its criticisms upon the campaign may be received as the first contri- Dutions to the stock of impartial memprials which ‘will make up the fatare history of these eveats, Before we proceed to notice the strictures of the writeron what he considers the principal errors committed on both sides, up to tne present stage of the campaign, we think it but fair to quote the incf- dental compliment which he pays to the general acouracy of the Russian official military reporte— the more particularly a3 we have had occasion our- Aeiyes to call atiention to the fact more than once. ‘Referring to some opinions expressed by him ina s1evicus publication, in regard to the operations of fhe descent in the Crimea, the hotly c mtessted en- Jagoment of the Alma, and the wheol movement of $he allies towards Balaklava, he says:—‘‘ The offi- ‘pial reports of the Rasstan General relative to these Dperatiors were not then known. These docu- ‘ments, which have only lately been published, and whiok appear to have been written in « more im- partial style than ts usual in army bulletins, have thrown a fresh light upon thove events, and compel me to revert to them.” Without following him erough these explanations, we will confins our- welves to giving a few of his criticisms on the sketch of the military operations which accompanied the official report of the Russian General on the affair of Balaklava:— After reading this sketch, we are forced to ask ourselves, how is it pos-ible that tais chussé croisé Cor could have been effected ia twenty- four hours by one an: the came road, and through @ narrow sad difficult defile, withou: either of the belligerents haviag the least intimation as to the movements of tre other? The two armies, it would appear, reci rocally began their march without taking the precaution of seodiog out scouts and without having the least idea of the where- abouts of the enemy; and it is an operation of this sort that is termed a skiifal'y conducted movement. Itis pretended that Menschikoff had a ciress in. terest in not obtaining intormation on this point, in- asmuch as any attempt to seek it would oaly have ‘iven the alarm to the enemy; but he should at least pbs taken measures to guard against vucprise, in order to ores ager Sorene tesa ue the allies carrying off a portion of the baggage of his army. The ‘Stien catainiy did right te execute this wheel Movement; Menschikoff on bis side should have en- deavored to hold te o,en country, and Bakechiserai was in fact his pivot of manceavre; why then, did not the General atter the battle of Alma bear immediately on that point? In operatiag as we have just deecribed, or in other words in taking a poci'ion lateral to the line of invasion, not only would he have found himse!f placed fn a posi ion to prevent the most serious danger tnat threatened bhim—the march of the allies’ on Balakiava—but he would also have avoided useless taiigne to his sol- diexs, and that flank march during whi:h he was eo near being crushed by the English; for, fact, if Lord Raglao ali on bead of Meatcuikuf’s colima, as he its rear, the Russian army, still impression of tre defeat at the Alma, and doa ite merch through a narrow defile, \d im all probability have been roughly haudisd. ‘so atated in the ske’ca waich acsompanies ff'a report, that tis General having been formed of the movements of the enemy, hastened, , to the B-lbeek—that on the following 4 29%b) he establisned himself between that river and the bay of Sebastopol, with his advanced Syn towards Inkermaon, and that the same day sent back part of his troops ixto the town. Thus, from the 25th to the 29th, Sebastopol had ison than eight battalions of reserve destined for the defence of the forts onthe northern bank, and eight bat:alions of the marines of the Fy which been landed to defend the south of The allies were not altogether ignorant of the undermanned conditim of the fortress, for in the foe siege kept by their own officers, it ‘stated by one that they knew that Prince Mens- chikoff the field at the head of his army; b another, he hed been driven to a distance wit the wreck of this army; and by a third, that a re- of the 27:h, which had approached to within a distance of about four kilometres from the city, only observed a weak wall of enceinte without a dich, and of the strength merely of one of the octroi walls of I’aris, bat taat the Russians were engaged in raising ea th works, 8) ly ra@ans,to cover the soutuern fanbourgs. , With euch fac's before them, could the al- lied generals hesitate for asiogie ins:ant on the resolution to be taken between a sudden assault and aregulersiege? In the first place, the pre tions for a siege demand considerable time, and every day of reepits that the besiegers granted to the Tistegea enabled the latter to increase the ob- stacies that covered the piace, and to summon re, sources from the interior of the empire. And, then, a what were the fcrmer to direct a regular tle Against an octroi wail, as it was described in recopnoisaance of the 27th, or against earth- works, which, accordiog eveo to the ackaowledg- | ments cf the officers of the allied armies, were far trom biing completed or armed when the latter eftived before the piece. And, in fine, one must have bestowed littl: study on great military ques tions, or be very simple, not to com pretend that a | sudden aseault against an entrenched position of large ment, defended by a garrison only, offers many more chances of sucdees than 4 regular siege d ever present ayainst the same position defended by the same garrison, with the advantage of having an army a‘ band for its relief ; tor the allies, being unable to invest the whole position, ought to have seen that, a3 soon a3 they made a show of openirg a regalar siege, the Roasian army would hasten tw the relief of Sebasto- pol, which is precisely what has happened. In our opinion there is but one means of succeed- in an attack on a foitrees of extensive devclope- mt, and which is properly defended, agd that is, Ys we have before observed, to attemn’, under the ascendancy of a victory, 4 goA%iicn assault. If allies ever had a tavorahie chance of sacceeding such an sasanit, it was when they arrived before |. They he, then everyting for them ; army *,1d retired from the town, leav- ing after them "yat a feeble garrison ; the fortifica- tions were inromplete, and, generally speaking, un- | provided With sai non ; aad, in fine, in consequence of thev¥tory of the Alma, the bosieged wore under the ie’, of defeat, whilst the rs wore » fered to the allies no chance of success when they before the piace, it w ald have been wiser on | rt to abandon the enterprise altogether | TO cadertake 8 regular siege, for they | to bave exvected tnat a place | could not invest, and which was on the considereble reinforcements, would Tesistance than at the moment when charged to protect it had jast retired, and entrenchments which preced-d the walls town were incomplete and bu’ half armed, | om the other hand, the allies had no need of | reserves to undertake a sudden assault; secing | Menschikoff was wai:ing for reinforcements to hasten to the relief of the place. | ‘The allies had estionably everything to gain | havarding this bold stroke, inasmuch as to day the situation of things must necessarily the Russians and grow worse for them. | : What result caa be expected from a Sgainst a place wiich canno} be in- two frovta of attack of which have | quarter of extent of the line of de- d--a line behiad whicd a whole 8 portion. ferring the attack, have given the multiply obstacles, both inside and lege has, ae might have bean ged been mingly protracted, Menschikoff has | enabled by toe delay to draw round him con- aiderabie reinforcements, and at present the allies not only to be on the alert to provide against garriso0 that makes doube sorties with | thousand men ata time, but siso against a moveable army, which continually meas es hem, sod which has already «scared the advanced ta of Balaklava, from # eno. it con compromise cir Tine of retreat towards their veasela, Rat what confirms more fully the view we have taker—that the ailics were wromg not to attemp’ i Ee i He i F i ki ‘i if : Z E f i | and | her atiacked le defence, or or could not hold out before an immediate assaalt ; the one as in the other potheris. if toe attack had been attempted on the the 28th, or evcn on the 29th, it had every of success, ‘The defeat of the Russians at the battle of Inker- mann is attributed, by the writer, in a great degree, to the non-employment of their cavalry. Hia argu- ments in support of this view are deeerving of atten! ‘The first reflection that miods on the comoat of the 25th of O tober, and the of the Stn of November. that in the first the cavalry had presented itself to our pass thas in one ex: ne valley of the Fohernage is as regards the em treme to another. as tortuous at Tschourgona as mounds of Kamara, crowded doubts, off-r less chances tor the than the vast plateau which separates from Balaklava. Tnat tse lies snould not have useof their cavalry is essy to be comprehended, anc does not even require an Ge large ee bat that on the day of the battle Menscnikcff should hat we left this pow ina state of inaction, we do not understand, for it is evident that the Rossian Gene- ral wanted to deceive the vigilauce of the allies, and tbe contemplated surprise par- tially succeeded, and if General Soimonoff, who found himself at seven o’clock in the morning com- plateau, had been able to throw at day break twenty-five squadrons into the camp of the enemy, God only knows how the English would "an be tin i an iene a mI i at on fens vhi- koff, intrasting himeelf to the chances of an engage- ment with such considerable masses, had decided to push the attack to its utmost extent, which he in tact did. Now, to deliver a battle, moreover to obtain decisive resulta, which the Russian General should bave endeavored to secure at any price, ca- valry isan auxiliary which is not to be despised more especially for co-operation ip a against trcops encamped on a vast plateau. It = that the limited nature of the ground on which the battle of Inkermann was fought, and also the scarcity it attacked by the Russians, offered obstacles to e employment of masees of cavalry. In fact, from the moment when the Russian General would only give frcm two to three thougand metres of extent to his tront of attack, 1t would have been difficalt to put moze troops in action than those whizh were engaged in the of Inkermann. But nothing prevented him from extending his point of attack 88 far as Kadoukoi, and throwing into line his masses of cavalry, which were quartered in the the valley of the Tchernaya, towards [chorgona, snd | also the Leprandi division which was encamped be- hind the redoubts of Kamara. It is true, that in front of Kamara the works of circumvallation have a little more solidity than those opposite Inkermana; but it must not be forgotten that these works only pre- sent serious obstasles when they are we'!l defeaded, and that, in consequence of their great develope- ment, their defence requires a large amount of troope. Now, if the Liprandi division, sustaimed by @ strong mass of cavalry and horse artillery—troops which are not scarce among the Russians—had been boldly advanced agawst the redoubts of Kadoukoi, it is to be supposed that the Frerch divis'‘ons encamped in front of these redoubts would have hastened to their relief, and then t 1e masses ot Dannenberg would have got the better of the weak La oa foree; or it the French division had advanced to meet Dannenberg, instead of bearing upon Liprandi, the latter might then nave carried Kadovkoi, pierced the line of circumvallation, taken the allies in the rear with his massea of Seyang, and thus have altered the whole face of biegs. We do not understand, either, why, on the day of the battle of Inkermann, at 10 in the morning, Mevechikoff should nave mads a demonstrstioa against the left of the French. Tnese sorts of Mancuvres may lead to important results when they precede real attacks, but when they succeed these attacks, they orlinarily lead to no’ but a uselees sacrifice of men and ammunition, As to the allies, they could not avoid this bloody and sterile day; they were bound boldly to accept battle without regard to numbers; and this they did. ln would have incurred Jess dinger if the extended their line of circumvallation on ir right, and if trey had protected their camp with solid entrenchments, more especially where they were at once most deficient and most seriously menaced, We must content ourselves with these few ex. tracts. It is to be regretted that the fact of the text of this interesting pamphlet being in the French apguage, will limit its perusal to a comparatively small namber of readers. It is the first publication that we have met with which places in a clear and intelligible light the causes of those inexplicable failures which are destroying alike the prestige of military skill and the confidence of superior numbere. Tue Wire's Victory, AND orner NovVgLLETTES, by Exota Sournwortu—Petereon & Co., Philadel- phia.—In the volume before us Mrs. Southworth has presented us with a series of lively social sketches, which, although frequently exaggerated, are al- ways amusing, owing to a certain epigrammatic smartness that pervades her writing, and which is turned to good account in the dialogue of her tales. If she does not possess strength of perception or the power of analysis in any eminent degree, she makes up for any deficiencies that she may have in these respects by a vivid and playful imagination, which invests everything she attempts with a graceful and poetic coloring that imitates the tones, | if it does not realize ail the warmth, of actnal life. If her sphere of observation bad been more extended, | end her mind improved by travel, Mra. Southworth would unquestionably have attained a much higher rank in the literary profession than that which she | now occupies. Notwithstanding the efforts of her admirers to place her on a pedestal to which she can never hope to attain, the most that can be said of her works is, that they are readable and amusing ~-no small measure of praise at atime when, tor one book that 1s entitled to it, one hundred that is- | sue from the press die stillborn from their worth- less ese. The following tableau of conjugal incompatibility would be more amusing if it was less genevally ap- plicable. It places in a strong but correct light one of the evil results to which our imitation of aristo- cratic and fashionable habits is fast driving society in this country :— Kate Dunn entered the world of fashion firat tied woman, and ded was her success. Kates | life with her grandfather, and afterwards Leslies, had been domestic, aud, as | tn expressed it, vo triste; she had gone bat tittle into society. Now was resolved bob ni scat sation, since no geater obstacle than “ nn" ii intervened. Formerly she was prevented from going to balls perties by want of proper chaperonage; now stgte as a marrie] woman rendered her inde- dent of that, Kate was now resolved to com- Pine all the pleasares of the i with the mo matron; consequently, ‘ashionable ae resplendent beauty and spark- admirers, she was always sur- men, who were very well pleased to carry on & firtation with a pretty suit for breach of pro- mise before their eyes. There was one man, how- ever, = was ateny banisbed from her circle, d that man was her . ann ‘There are hundreds 0’ intelligent men and pre' women here to-night; go and amuse yourse'f; shall not be jealous,” was the kind addreas of Kate to her hneband, as he lingered by her side. Ceptain Dunn walked off, and took an extra glass of wine, Heer “Ci not com nd that, as we are mar- ried ape. jour sstendance can be dispensed with; ray, more-—that it is ours, absurd, t» remember that you have a wife in the room!’ was the peta- lant speech with which she received him when he | | returned after an hour’s « Decidedly, Captain l)aun, you are maki ve f and me ar yery ridiculous by this and Joan ex! jon of conjugal affection. Posi- tively we shal: be cited a8.a' pattern coale:’ snd I koow that nothiog could be more soandaions or alarming,” said Mrs. Dunn to the Captain,as they ec tered the carriage to return from a large party one your arb: | evening. ‘ ‘t understand your opinions and feelings wp this subject, Catverine. but I don’t like this fos} iorable manner of waiting upon any other wo- Der boty owe wife, and seeing her aitended by on except ber own husband.’ the fact of our marriage ts {acon- Wid OF of the roads which debonct 02 the _ s a Captain Dunn, you make me qnite | © foolishly about ‘own wives’ and | a there ia no need to emphasize it so en. “* Kate's head is @ lite turned by*ber French ro- mences, but I fre) sure her priaciples are really | sound. J will not make myself ‘ ridicalous,’ as she | wenld call it, by frettiog and fuming, nor will 1 | avnoy her by useless remonstrance now. | fo ly ite fali sway; it will econ wear itself ——Captain Dann paused in his mental soliloquy, | poured out and swallowed a glace of wine. * * * © * * | _ A few weeks from this time, Captain Dann was | ordered to cea, and maie preparations, | luctant heart, to leave his bride. A few days pre- | ious fo jalning Rie.sbip, he seated himselt by the | side of e, earl peseiog bis hands caressing: a — when I am gone, dear wife.” “ Oh! no, I shan’t: I sball fill it with company; don’ttamble my carls, please, Captain.” Capiala Dunn foided his hands, and a sigh escaped him. “T have been thinking, Kate, of inviting my mother to take up her residence here during my absence. “To watch your wife, I presume, sir, and to Isok bi your interests, of which you think me inca- pable, “ Kate! how can you—-; I hed no thought berond giving you pleasure, by providiag you with a desir: able compasion.” “ Then, Captain, I beg you will not trouble your mother to leave her own home, to come to me; it might areatly inconvenience ber.” departure for Europe, my moter i le los, le e for my mother is qui , and very ead; she fvaall be more cheerful herewith ou.” yt I donot think so—old people are seldom con- tented out of their own homes.” “ Yes; but with my mother it is different; she has an excellent heart and most serene temper and is prepared to love you as adaughter. Besides, her pupport has hitherto been ty most agreeable duty; but 1, Sinnee, Rem Aan be ie ‘ee establishments; 80 806 roptiety, nay, boncyea: that obliges me to lofter her a home e. “IT thought it was all on my account,” sneered Kate; “ however, you may be sure she would be much better off in a good boardiog honse.”’ “ Madam!” exclaimed Captain Dann, in ay; astonishment; but, quickly controlling himself, ee seriously int» his wife’s face, he inquired, “ am I to understand, Catherine, that are op: posed to my mother’s ence in this hoase?”’ N ing ail her assarance, Kate's eyes | fell, and her cheeks glowed under the gaze that was | fixed vpon ber. Sze was determined to have her own wey, however, though it would require some hardihocd to tell the frank and noblehearted man ' before her that she was opposed to having hism> ther under their roof. She replied with assumed | firmness, but without raising her eyes— | rece oii respec: for your mother, Cap- | tain, and show her every attention in my | power: but I do dislike the idea of a mother-in-law | aye eK with me; I cannot bonnet my | repugpance to your proposed measure, and you | now, Captain, Sith aaah feelings on my part, jour mother and myself could not get along com- fortably togétber.”” “ T certainly shall not insult her with the pro- poe ition,” said Captain Daon haughtily, as he loft e rom. “ Thave ccnquered again,” thought Kate. “Now, T really did feel like giving up once, but it won’t do--such feeliogs must not be encouraged—the; weuld goon enslave me. Men are naturally incline to be tyrannizal, particularly over their wives. Oh! yer, decidedly, | was right in the affair of the mo- ther in-law. Good heavens! J could not brook a rying, fault ficding mother-\n-law in the house.” Cour Kate have followed with her eye her hus- bend’s steps that evening, through the various scenes of dissipation to which he resorted to drown thought, she might have exciammed, with the conqueror of old— Another such victory would rin me.” ee ORS MiG, Mec, ne ae ho Captain Dunn was absent three years, during which time Kate led a very gay life, despite the aflectionate and repeated remonmranves of Mrs. Leslie snd Madame D’Arblay. She thought several times of writing to or visiting Mrs. Dunn, sea.; but, uphappl'y, she did not know ber address, biog igno- Tent woat arrangement Capt. Donn bad tinaliy msde for her. The subject had never been mentioned between them since the evenivg it was first broach- ed. Kate’s summers were usually spent a} some fashionable watering place, and ber wioters in a round or viriting and amuwemert. The evening of Captain Dann’s expected return | bome, it chanced that a bri:liant ball was given by | Madame la Baronre V. , the lady ot the French am or. “The beautiful Mre. Dunn” was among the most admired of the guests. Tt was after having gone through a waltz with a distinguished foreigner that Kate sat down, when a ncte was placed her hand that read as fol- lows:— “« Dyan Catnxnive—Come home; I am waiting for you; T should hasten to you, but I may not intrude. aH “ Tell Captain Dunn I will be home in an hour or | two,” said Catherine to the footman who brought the note. “Very well, Thomas,” said Captain Dunn, on re- ceiving this cool reply; “bring me the morning pa- pers, and a bottle of port.” tinder provoking coolness of her meseage, when Catherine returned, a few hours after, tte door was opened by Captain Daan, who Fico gd her in his arms, and strained her to his 080m. “ Good heavers! Captain,” exclaimed Kate, re- leasing herself, “you take my breath away; and | just see how you have crushed my aressacd dishe- velled my hair. Pray, don’t be so energetis.” “ You are looking jn high heath and beauty, my peerless Catherine,” said Captain Dunn, as ne Bet upon her with pride, not noticing her peta- lance. “Do reserve your gallant speeches for other wo- mes Capeata, and don’t waste them upon your fe. However deeply pained Captain Dann might | bave been by his wife’s coolness and levity, nothing of mortificaticn or disapproval was apparent in his menrer. Captain Dunn liked to leave all his bad | weather at sea, | _ Some twelve months succeeding this event Mra. | Dunn presented her husband with a son and heir. | | “And now,” thcught the oy fatner, “my wife | will love ber home for her child’s sske.” But Cap- tain Lemuel Dunn “reckoned without his hostess, as & very few days demonstated. |. “ Where is the young sailor?” inquired he, as he | | tock his seat by his wife's easy chair, a few days socceediug the birth of his eon. “Mrs. Tenly has got him.” | ‘Mrs. Ton)y—who is she?” | | “A young woman whom I have engaged as a | | wet puree.” | “Now, is it possible, Kate, that you mean to let | your child be nursed at the bosom of another wo- | | “Yes, it is both poseible and positive—now don’t | jut on that disagreable look—it is not usual for | ladies of my station”. t ‘our station—a rough sailor's wife’——— Weil, don’t tease me—my delicate healta for~ bi “ Your delicate health! Why, Kate, you have | the finest constitution ot any woman] kncw. You | epjo; i ores had almost said rude—healih.” ny Wel , then, if you must have it, I don’t intend to spoil my figure by nursing a child. AniI have | no icea of going about the house in a slovenly wrap: | per or i))-fitting corsage, for the sentimental non: | sense of nursing my own baby.” | “ Ha! ba! ba! that’s the most amusing reason ot all, for you to give, Kate, who go about the | house all the ig in a loose gown. with your hair in papers.” . “Captain Dunn, you're a bore., | “ Weil! this nurse—bas she lost her own child?” | ‘No; she is raising it by hand.” “ Then you peopl cruel, a wall as silly.’ Ly in Dunn, please leave the room; this in- | terview has tatigued me,” said Kate, affecting lan- guor. ‘We have received the first number of the Picto- | vial Messenger, for the new year, from Messrs. Stimson & Co., of Broadway. A gay looking shest it is, with its polychromatic typography and en- gravings. The illustrations of the present number | consist of a portrait of the first horse ever employed | | in Adame & Co.'s express; the Battle of the Alma; the Siege of Sebastopol, ard a chart of the Black sea. Werecommend this curions sheet to the no- | tice of our readers. | | | From Salt Lake. We take the following despatch from the St. Louis | Reyublican:— INDEPENDENCE, Jan. 1, 1855. | The Salt Loke mail, ander charge of Mr. Emerson, | reached here lest night, bringing dates tothe #4. 'Y The party were compelled to pack through the mountsins, there being from twelve to eighteen inches enow. Business is reviving a little at Salt Lake City. The new route from California to Salt | loke, avoiding the dan; on tha Hambcldt, was | ted successfully by Mr. G , Making the trip in twerty-five cays. A few Cheyenne Indians were met by the mail | par y. The weather wos remarkably ploassnt daring | the Tatter part of the journer. It bas been ascer. | tained by the Sioux Indians themselves, that five of ‘hem, with a brother and son of the Big Bear chief, killed Jemison end party, to revenge the death of | Hig Rear, by the eoldiers at \aremie, last August. | of our invention The Insention of the Owal Ball and: Gun, | with the Minnie Rifle, é&c.. \ TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. t Will yeu piease have the kiodess t> give the fol. | lowing additional copies of letters from: the Navy | Department, regarding my invention of the oval or | Lancaster gun. These are all that I shall be able to | submit, as it appears by Mr. Phelps, the copyist’s note belew, that my letters of the 16th and 21st July, 1842, with the pen and ink sketches, have dis- appeared ; and baving kept no copies of my letters to the department, I cannot reprodace them. Oa application to the commandant’s office, at the Navy Yard, Brooklyn, the clerk assured me most posi- tively that no such letters or sketches were to be found in that office. They were, probably, acciden- tally mislaid op lost, by some person or offi-er to whom Commodore Perry may have entrusted them; Wasuineton, D. C., July 11, 1842. To rue Hon. A. P, Ursucr, of the Navy: &i1n—1 would respectiully beg leave to submit your consideration an improvemeat I Propose ia the cons'ruction of cannon balls and shells, especially as regards their form, for tne purpose of securiag greeter range and ac :uracy of aim. From some Spree I have been enabled to make ona smell scale, I am faily convinced on strictly scientific principles, that a perfectly round or circular ball or she)! is by no means the best to oa betea tat ight, when it idl, weight, moving ra tbrough the air, observe the same laws ta hele ma. om ee ulate phen eal in aa, Reroteticns, And ence a 0 e moving body, to aesume the form cf the earth, or pays ‘trom @ sphere to that of a spheroid, and while revolving on its own axis, to at ite eqnator and contract at its poles, when it ia inca) from ite hardoess, or deficiency of force in: to assume this shape, its resistance to tne sir is so great as to impede its paseage, and rex der it Jess steady ia its movement and more uncertain in its aim and range. Se great is the disposition of the particles in a circular moving body to asauime the spheroidal form, tnat if it be en iron shell of only an inch in thick, ness, it bechmes so much flattened on its poles and enlarged at what may be termed ite equator tht it ever tails to crack before reaching tte destication, and loses its effect as a shell. Hexce in the service, shells for ten inch guns in the round t have to be cast two and a half inches thisk, which caases their explosion into such beavy and ad- mits of so small a charge of materials that their de- structiveness is materially lessered. If they ware in the first instance cast into the form of a spheroid they might not only be ueed with a larger cavity, but have greater range, and more certainty of aim. ‘The sawe modification in the form of aolid cannon balls, would be of still greater service. In firing a ball {te great resistance, as is well known, arises from the contact of atmogp.eric air, through wiich it passes, aod to enable it to move through this ele- ment, with least interruption, itis cep | all ite biped should be 20 disposed of as to aff rd the east resistance, which can only be cone by giving the ball that form. most consistent with ths laws of motion. The smallest undue projection of m>tal at the wrong poiat, at all visible, and which in the least varies its form from that of a spheroid, cannot fail to make it erratic in its motion, to impede ita rauge, and render its aim imperfect. From the laws of motion, it may be fairly infer- red, that a cannon ball revolves on its own axis from the time it leaves its muzzle until it is stooped ~and when it is fired in a round shape an effort must go on to assume the spheroidal form, during its entire flight, and in default of which it may fall short of its desired aim and range. I propcse fo the Navy Department to have balls and shell cast and tested on my plan, and under mg superintendence, aud ascertain whether they are not superior to round ebut, by actual experiment- To make the experiment more satisfactory and effectual, I would propose thas the bore of the cannon from * hich they are to be fired be modified 80 as to suit the shape of the shot, aad that instead of & perfectly ciroular bore, it should be enlarged at top and bottom, into something of an oval forum, ex tending from tte m»zzleto the powder cnamber. A cannon already cast aud bored at the foundry, could easily, by additional eccentric borir g, have its cavity ee into the proper size and form. ‘0 tert the advantages of balle and shells of th's shape would not involve much expense, if fired ficm an ordinary gun, and would not probably exceed one hundred dollars. To insure, however, a more complete test of the propes.d improvement, it would best to mouat a gua for ths purpyse. In this event, the expenses of the experiment would be enhanced, but under no cirums’ances would likely exceed four or five hundred dollars, including labor, materia's, balls, powder, superintendence, &c. Sheuld you deem the propcsed imorovement worthy of ‘ trial by the gove:ument, I shall be most bappy at apy time to receive and obey my in- suction from the Department on the sudjact. While I bave the honor to be, your very obedient and very bumble servant, ALEX'R JONES. P.S—Please after tne 12th inst. address me at New York. Wasuinaton, July 19, 1842. f ALFxanveR Jonrs, Esq, New York. S1n—You are informed in reply to your letter of the 16th inst., that I cannot authorize the constrac- tion of the gun required to test your invention; but, if apy gun in the service will answer, I will probably Navy Derarrmext, temo er “casting of few balle. I am, very respectfully, &c., A. P. Ursin. Wasatnaton, Dec, 30, 1854, Sin—Inclosed please find the copies as desired, except your two letters of the 16th and 2lat Jaly, 1842, have never, the chief clerk says, been returned to the Navy Department. Commodore Perry's re- port, it any, is not on the files of the Department. ‘The yen and ink sketches were inclosed ia your letters of the 21st July, 1842, but never have feed returned to the Department. Yours, respectfully, Auvert Pururs, Jr., Copyist. Having the previous year, orin 1841, spent some $400 or $500 in experimenting witn bells, and with the view of firing them from heavy ordnance, I was not disposed to spend any more money in that direction on my own account. I found in firiog one or two of my sbells at a three mile range, at Bos- ton harbor, under the direction of Col. jomford, of the O;dnance Office, thet the @heil in the round form wes rot tae one best suited to render my in: vention effective. Tney were too thick, and too un- certain of arm and renge to suit my purpos:, and hence I found cne invention required another, and soon after | brought my invention of an oval gua before the department. Mr. Upshur's letter above acted as a perfect qvietos on my further progress. With all due res- yect for the memory of thar very excellent and able man, I must yct be permitted to say that firing oval bells from round bored guns would have been per- fectly funle. T claim to be the first inventor of an oval hall and oval bored cannon, Tne Minie rifle, a subse- quent invention, encroaches on my principle ao far 8 this; he merely cut my oval ball, Fig. 2, in belves, at its shortest ciameter, C. D. and using ore of tke halves, with its base reshg against tre charge of powder, ano being slight- ly bellowed out, the powder in ita C explosion causes its sides to ex- vand, it being of 3, and to fill the grooves of the rifle--my oval ball cut in two par's makes two of Minie’s concoidal balls, The ides had, aleo, occurred to me of cutting my cval cennon bells into halves and firing in (he samo Mmapzer; but, as the iron would not spread tike lead one could pot perceive the advantage of it. In all these plazs, the oval form cf the missle, in whole, cr in part must be preserved. And, we contend, that, we were the first to invent a departure trom the o'd round ball to any other form, whatever. Had the government (vow near thirteen years since) determined by proper experiment, the value every principal harbor in che United States could have been by this time guarded by beavy cval connon. We have reached a crisis in our national defenc>s. At the present time we have not an oval cannon in America, nor do we believe enough Minie rifles to arm (a vegiment. The days of tie old smooth or reppd bored inuskets and cannon have passed away. To be cquslly armed wth other nations we muat abandon our old muskets, which project balls with on wy certain aim only one or two hundred yards, end teke to Minte rifles, which throw bails point bienk five-cigbtns of a mile, and can kill men at the foll distance of a mile. We most mount oval cannon on our forte, intro- duce t em, of all necessary sizes, on board our ves tels of war, anil {nto our field eervice on Iacd. It my be enid that the bravery of our men is a suf ficiert gnarantee against invasion. Tne Rassiang sre breve, but they cannot stand against the su- perior arms of the allies, y of war isto make ourselves equal to ies In Arms, and then our bravery gain st a8 small a tows as possible. Thi ty-nine years of peace, except the amall figat with Mexico, bes produced an appalling state of | spathy, regerdiug Cur nations! arms and defen .es. No ccuntry of tre same population bas 80 great a line of fea cost and inlard frontier to defend as the United States. Tam your obed ent servant, ANDER JONRS, 59 William street, New York, Jam. 4, 1855. Scrr ror Dawacns.—It is stated in the Delaware Ripon ter thet Philip Quigley has brongkt an action in the United States Cirenit Con t, Baltimore, against the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Rai!- roao Company, ior the publication of an alleged libel. Demeges laid st $25,000. Hon. Re: Johreon end H. Winter Davis, Keq., are counsel for the planted. Received, » 980,172 47 Payments 185,028 16 Paid for Assay oftice Fi atei9 18 | Balance ; +1,993, 781 66 | chants’ Insurance Company four per cent. The Emets sof the Proposed Natoraliza . Law Upon oar Military Organizations TO THE EDICOK OF THE HERALD. After the very concise relation of the relative birthrights of the members comprisiag the various regiments of the First Division of "New York State Militia, under command of General C. W. Sandford,” will you allow me to ask your correspondent, who may or may not, be a “native and to the manor born,” w! if “the very boue gad sinew of tus division, it is well known are adopted citizens” the spirit of patriotism and republican principles is xot with the truly American portion, deem themselve 8 by presenting front _ the worthy adopted, after sufficient proba~ Ifno inducement is presented to the man of foreign birth to enrol himself as a soldier under the stars and | stripes, he, as a matter of course—being deprived of the rights of citizenship, until long probation has been d—becomes a ‘rous member of our society. ving no interest in the institutions of the country, except such as are derived from the fact of protection, and not being permitted to derive the least be- nefit by Deatfag arms, he cannot be relied upon ia case of invasion, and becomes, in such an event, a useless—if not @ traitorous—member of the community. ‘The writer trary elevates the position of our mili- tia by the above remarks. It has always appeared to me that the honorable soldier was above mercen- ary advantages, or contemptible rewards—but here it 18 apparent that ne must receive » babe, or else, “Judas”’-like, turn traitor, snd sell nimeelf for pelf. “I thank thee: thou hast taught me.” The sooner apy law can be enacted thas shall pring out these traitors, so mach the sooner will one good nave been accomplisved. Is the writer aware that noose but citizens are liable to jary and miliary duty? | If not now organized, we buve abundant native ma- jal for any emergencies that may arise from the “ traiterous members of the community.” We have bo e whole division of voluateers similar to the w Yorkers that did their deeds in Mexis0. To quict his fears, perhepe it would be as qell to re- | mark, that in all probsbility no law will be passed, in these days of advancement, to affect eee contracts—so he may bs secure in his citizenship, big esto 4 Memprr or THe Finst. ‘ew York, TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. Rey ec. 29, 1854. A in this morning’s Heraup- directs attention to the effect on the volunteer military of the proposed alteration in the natarali- zation laws, and arrives at a satisfactory conclasion, in the of tie writer; but it is argued on er- roneous predications, be; ause— No naturalization law hereafter passed can de- prive any naturalized citizen of his vested rights, Nor any foreign born person a'ready in this country of his prospective rights, nor, indeed, those who may bad Picethe io a to a certain period after the pas- sage of sucha law, or to the time it takes effect. jat if such were not the facts, and such persons conld be 20 divested, the corresponding responsi- bilities and duties of citizenship would not accrue, nor the exemptions be required. Beaides, it the statement be correct that 20 large a portion of the citizen soldiery be of foreign birth, it is high time tbat at least the larger portion should be of native birth. Seven years active service in the army, and not ,during the time of volaateer Prades, sbould, as General Scott advocates, be passed to the credit of the foreigner’s probation for citizenehip. December 29, 1854; Our St. Louls Correspondence. Sr. Louis, Dec. 29, 1854, Organization of the Missouri Legislature—Intelli- gence from New Mexico, &c. The General Assembly of Missouri was organized some daysago. Inthe Senate the officers elected: were mostly democrats, In the House twenty of the Benton men united with the whigs, aud elected ® whig Speaker. This fact is significant. If, in joint session, twenty-one of them go over to the whigs, a whig Senator cao be elected. The proba- bility is, tbat they are prepared t» do so if a jotat session is beld. It is not cestain, however, that tie Senste will consert to go into joint session. If it refuses, no Senator will be elected until the next session, in 1856. We have seceived news from New Mexico, but it is pot of mfich interest. The Governor and the Gen- eral were upon a visit to Mesiila Valley. They were expe ted 'o return to Santa Fe about the 15th inst. The Navejo Incians have surrendered the man who murdered a soloier pear Fort Defiauce, and he has been bung. A number of the Apaches have passed over from the Raton Mountains to the gorges of Red liver, where they are upon the watch for prey. The otber tribes are more toan usually quiet. We have ro loval news. Rivers still low, and business excersively dull. xX. AMERICUS. Lines UPON THF OPENING OF ALBANY STREET THROVGH TAK GRAVES OF OUR REVOLUTIOHARY ANCESTORS IN TRINITY CHURCH-YARD, Ah, ghoul like avarice! insatiete greed! Is not thy cruel appetite full fed Is there no table furnished for thy need, That thou must seek to banquet on the dead’ Bock from their graves! back from the holy dust Where our departed sires to rest are laid— We will not violate the sacred trust Pledged by that penceful spire’s guardian shade, No loving hands their wasted limbs composed, Or wrapped their forms in white symbolic shroud; No kindred touch their weary eyelids closed, Dim with the snow-fall from death’s wintry cloud. No parting volley rang the last farewell oF mourning comrades to the soldier's Nor muffled drum was heard, nor holy bell Sounded the knell of the departed brave. Wake! wake, Columbia! Let thy trumpet voice Pour its sad requiem where thy martyrs sleep, Alas! thou can'st not bid those hearts rejoice, Or wake thoxe tranquil eyes from slumber deep, Their toils the *prisoned eagle's wing unbound— Gave freedom’s banner o'er thy inad to wave; Shall we despoil them of the rest they found ¥ The only meed they sought—an honored grave! Ob! bid the monumental marble raise Its white memorial finger to the ky, Telling their deeds to all succeeding da: Invoking blessings where the heroes lie. Their life-blood, freely por baptised thy land, Watered the soil, and bade thine olive bloom, Then raise aloft thy lightaing armed hand, ‘To smite the spoiler, and protect the tomb. . A. 8. —_——————— FINANCIAL ANO C ave; Sarurpay, Jan. 6—6 P. M. Quotations for State and railroad bonds and fancy stock were all up todey. At tue first board Eris Income Bonds advanced 1 per cent; Virginia 6’s 4; Illinois Central Bonds 4; Canton Company 3; Ni- caragua Trausit 1; New York Central Railroai 1; Erie Railroad $; Harlem j; Cleveland and Toledo Railroad 4. New York Central Bonds declined 4 percent. The apward movement this morning was strong and decided, but we cat not see what its ba- sis is. It is coufiaed entirely to the street, and and neither party appears confideat. Both the bulls and bears are in a fog. The probability is that the market will not be long sustained at pre- sent prices. After the adjournment of the board the following sales of bonds and stocks were made at auction:— $5,000 Ohio & Mississippi RK., 24 mort. int. added, 60 $10,000.N. Y. & Harlem RR., Ist mort... | 783g $5,000 Toledo, Nurwalk&Cleve RR. di 847% nia Cliff Copper Co... 3 Reliance Mutual Insurance + 503g At the recond board there was considerable baoy- ancy, and quite ao improvement was realized. Erie Income Bonds advanced 4 per cevt.; Ltinois Central Bon¢s, 4; Cumberlani, 4; New York Central RR, 1}; Erie RR., 3; Galena and Chicago RR., 54 per cent from jast eale ; Michigan Sothern Con struction, 5. Michigaa Central RR. fell off 4 per cent. Nothing has been agreed upon yet about the dividend. It canna be made in cash, for the company has no money; it must bein bonds, or not at all. The transactions at the Assistamt Treasuror's office to-day were as followa:— Of the rece'pts to-day $200,000 was a transfer. The Equitable Iusurance Company have declared a semi-annual dividend of fifteen percent. The Mer The receipts of the Milwaukie ani Missinsippi Railroad Company for December were Passengers... . Ve eevesreverine Freight 912,125 44 + 16,888 91 | meal $d 75, fair mn, ) aearce. 9.0. & --Total receipts in 1854, $464,237 73, against $226,918 48 for 1853. In January, 1853, the road was open to Stoughton, within sixteen miles of Madison, and as that distance is the whole exten- sion of the road during 1854, thé large increase in business must be in 8 great degree assrived to the rapid developement of the resources of the eowntry through which snd into which it passes: The Boston Telegraph of the 5th givee-the follow- ing quotations for stocks in that market:— Western dectined to 874; Fitchburg: doll at 74; Old Colony, 71 bid, 72 asked; Michigan Central, 804 asked; Hastern, 494 bid, 49§ askei;:Coneord, 50 asked; Worcester, 87 asked; Providence, 624 bid; Maine steady at 64; Bouton and Lowell; i Anong the fancies there was more firmnees, and Central advanced to 1j, which was the asking price at the close; Vermont and Massachusetts imoroved to 44 bid, for small lot, and was the lowest asking price; East Boston is firm at 11j bid; Waverley, lj bid, 2 asked; East Boston Ferry Company, 33: bid, no shares for sale. Ogdensburg Bonds improved aad sold at 47 for $500, which was bid at the close; Port. land City 6’s are in demand at 993; and Cheshire 6's, ot 1860, 74 bid; Eastern 6’s, 1860, are wanted at 82, but most other bonds are little inquired for, and sales cannot be effected at roasonable prices for want of purchasers, The total export of specie from Boston, for the year 1854, was $7,413,437 32, against $5,763,525 8K in 1863, and $3,500,000 fa 1852. The Connecticut River Railroad Company have declared semi-annual dividend on the old steck of 23¢ per cent, and four per cent on preferred; the Hamilton Woollen Manufacturing Company five per cent. The Government Stock Bank of Aun Arbor, Michigan, has made a bad failure. According to the Detroit Tribune, its liabilities are $150,000, with leas than a fourth of that eum to meet them. The Mayor of Mobile has given notice that he will redeem the five per cent bonds of: the Mobile city debt, from No.9 to 18, both inclusive, at the Office of the Firemen’s Insurance Company, ix that city. ‘Thgre have been lately great speculations’ coal lands in Illinois, near. the line of the Central Rail- road. Lands recently worth from $1 25.to$3 an acre have been selling from $20 to $50 an acre. The Central Railroad offers great jacilities for the trans- portation of coal to the Ohio river, where it can be used for steamboats, and where for cheapness and excellence it must take the place of wood for fuel. The coal is inexhaustible on the line of the read. The Central Company have offered great advan- tages to those who will engage in the coal business, in fixing # moderate price for the transportation, and egreeing to dedust ten per cent in cases where one hundred thousand tons are sent to Cairo within three years. Stock Exchange. Satcpay, Jan, 6, 1865. $2000 Ill In tm “47.83 83 100shs NY Cen R,. 84 2500 Virgima 68 9334 200 Bhig 2000 do. 3” 605 . 86 7000 do. 200 85 #000 do. 50 84% 4000 Missourt (3 - 86% 2000 a 50 85 G000H'm Ist M bi 50 4 85 2 430 Reading 300 do 20N. Ind Conet’n, . 5 do, . 15000 Pan A 566 Erie RR 1000 N. J C'1RR bs. 300 . 6000 11 C1 RR bda, $500 1000 Saseexee 8000 NY Cen RR ds c 1000 80..000046 1000 NY Cen Sub-bds 5 she B’k St NY ON J Zine 60NJ Ri 10 Cacton 500 - b60 '00 Nic Transit Co cr 0 l0.. 25 Cumb Coal 300 do 96 Clev & Tol RR... SECOND BOARD. $2000 NY CRRbdsc¢ 82%; 1008hs Frie RR... 10000 + 88 120 do., 150 do 100 Har RR, 100 100 do...,. bl 100 Hudson R RR... 10 Gal & Chi’o RR. 2 Little Miami 2 Savsve a> SSHAZESISFE SSSr eR Se p do 87 10 Erie RR. 40 15 do. 39% 60 do, 29% O15 20 Cley,C& CinRR. CITY TRADE REPORT. Satexpay, Jan. 6, 1856. Asars.—Sales of 50 bbls, were made without chaage ir quotations, Buyapstvrys.—Flour—The market was without mate- rialchange. The sales embraced about 6,500 a 7,000Dbla, included in which were, common State brands at $8 87, apd fair to straight brands at $9 a$9 25, and choise do. at $9 26 @ $9.37; common to good Wes' at $9128 nd extra Genesee at $10 87 « $12; aboutl,@oo ‘anada sold in bond at $9, and at $10 duty paid; Southern was steady, with fair sales at old prices. Wheat was quiet. Corn was one to two cents higher, with sales of 40,000 a 50,000 bushels, including Watera mixed, at 108. a 104c., ;and 10,000'do. Southern vhite a Included in the above were also 24,000 ds. sold at 104c. Corsiderable portions of the sales export. Rye was firm, at 135¢. 91400. i Western oats were sold at 60¢. 1 6lc., and River and State at 5c. a b6¢,° No barley ws ro” ported, Corre. —The sales included 400 bags of Rio, at Xe. a 10c., and 60 do. Maracaibo, at 10%¢, X.—The market waa tolerably active; the aales Tenched about 2,000 bales, closing at about ive. advance. Fren.—The market was quiet, and prices anche med, FRIGHTS,—Rates to Fnglish ports wore stiff. To Li- verpool a good deal of produce was offering. Absut 500 bales of cotton were taken at &-16d., part com pressed ; about 22,000 bushele corn in bulk at 4d.; 2,006 bbla. flour at 18. €d.; 800 tlerees beef at is, «Ox Od 5 700 bbls. pork + and 50 do. at 26. Od., 50 bhd. tal low at 18s., and 27 bales of hair at 126. 64. To ladon, 600 bbis. turpentine were taken at 2s. 94., and 100boxem: dead weight at 22s. 6d. To Havre liquors were at2ic. rovisions at 83s¢., cotton at %c., beeswax at Mey and hops at %s¢. There was no change to notice m rates for Cslifornia, which varied ceconling to the tage of vesrels loading, from 2hc. a 40¢. per foot measurenent. FRvrr.—About 1,000 boxes wet dried were sold ya. pri- vate terms, ee sales embraced about 1,000 bales, w $1 per Tron. —About 100 tons Seotch iron were eported te at $30 a $32. bis -kAD.—Galena was nominal at 61, Soft Engish held at 6\<c., while 6!¢. was o x potas h -pmemtcr es of 200 bbls. New Orleans wee made at 27¢. Navat Stones.—The sales included 100 to $0 bbls. spirits, in shipping order, and 700 bbls. No. 1 finerosin at $2 12 per 281 Ibs., and 50 bbls. tar at $2 76, Few tur- pentine was at $3 87. OTs. —Linseed wi ‘teady at Sic. a 82c., whit whale and sperm were unchanged. Provisions. —Sales of about 1,600 bbis. meas prk were made at #12. Prime wax at $12 25, Beef sod to the extent of 200 4 300 bbs. at pag aged jard was firm for prime, and about 0 a bbls. werr sold at 103s¢., and 200 a 300 do. common to good at 10% a 10%e, is were steady; hams were at 1c. al\<c and t Ge. a Gigc.; 200 boxes short middes bacon gl were sold at 9c. Dressed j About 820 cask: good to cand choice at $48 $4 37 a $4 75, Sales of 350 bhds. New Orleans wen made at ¢., and 500 do, Cuba, for export to Holand, sold at fe., cash. TALLOW was firm at 12%e. Wrisxry.—The « embraced 200 a 300 bbls at about 56 }ge. for prison bbls. Foreign Markets, Bansapow, Dec, 4.—The imports of fair, meal and bread for the last two weeks have not kept pace with the consumption, and the stoek on bandis cot suf. ficient to last ten days, and there are bat Sw vessels expected. By last advices prices continued in jhe United Ftatey ae high as ever, which will prevent aurthing like large shipments in this direction. Rice ant tah con- tinue in fair supply. Lutober will sel at fair emunerat ing prices. Tonnage continues plentiful. Sugar and molasses for exportation in abundance. Run maintains its price. The rainy searou bas set ip. The is healthy and quiet. Sales—Flour $11 50, supply iy and dull, trackers 8 18, email er bag of two bushels; yogs 63 75, 46 previously reported. supply; corn $2 Provisicas