arrangement of target which to the time of the experiment had proved invincible. The 15-inch smooth-bore spherical shot rebounded from the target six feet, leaving a 3-inch indentation on the plate, while the 9-inch rifle projectile, weighing two hundred and fifty pounds, made complete penetration of the plate, passing two or three inches into the backing, and the 10-inch rifle projectile, weighing four hundred pounds, penetrated to the rear of the backing itself. It should be mentioned in this connection that the United States government adopted during the war of the rebellion a rifled cannon proposed by Captain Parrott of the West Point Foundery, New York, of which many were introduced into both the navy and army, and did good service as long as the charges of powder were limited in weight; but when these guns were called upon for work requiring great endurance, they proved untrustworthy and dangerous to those who served them. At the naval bombardment of Fort Fisher several of them burst, causing loss of life on board the vessels of which they formed the armament. They were constructed of cast-iron, having a coiled hoop of wrought-iron shrunk around the breech. They have ceased to form a part of our naval armament. During the years of inaction in the United States that have intervened since these experiments, the smooth-bore partisans have had time to reflect and to learn lessons of practical usefulness from observing what has been transpiring abroad. Opportunities have been afforded to note the progress made in armor and artillery, and though the smooth-bore shell is still operative against unarmored vessels, the advantages of the rifled gun under all the circumstances of navy experiences have been admitted, and in the transition through which our naval artillery is now passing we are not embarrassed by the presentation of views antagonistic to the principles on which it has been determined our new artillery is to be constructed. The system at the basis of our present acts is founded on a comprehensive view of the whole subject, and is intended to provide our ships with a surplus of offensive power over what their capacity for defence might seem to call for. Our navy will possess a certain number of armored vessels for coast defence, and armored sea-cruisers are certain to be included in the list, but the more numerous class will be unarmored, and the first problem to be solved is that of providing for these a suitable armament. [Illustration: A KRUPP GUN ON A NAVAL CARRIAGE.]