1 AUGUST 1863, Page 3

The Select Committee appointed to report nominally on improved ordnance,

but really on Sir William Armstrong's guns, has reported, on the whole, in his favour. His field gun is declared "the best yet known," only 13 out of 570 twelve- pounders having been returned for repair, and only three out -of those proving unserviceable. As to the Navy, the Com- mittee do not condemn their adoption, but they say that the old 68-pounder is the best gun yet invbnted for smashing in iron-plates—a decision fatal to the extended employment of any other heavy ordnance. On the whole, it would seem that Government, in its contract with Sir W. Armstrong, obtained a capital field gun, but paid rather dear for a naval gun about as good as the old one. That is a very fair result for a Government to obtain.