Lord Elphinstone, in replying on Monday night to a question
as to the explosion on board the Thunderer,' gave a most lucid account of the circumstances under which it is believed that the gun burst from a double charge. Those who put in the second shell and second charge were not aware that the first was still in the gun, owing to a defect in the "tell-tale," which alone dis- closes to those who are ramming down a charge, how far the ramrod, which consists of a double tube, like the double tube of a telescope, has passed down the barrel. We observe, however, that Sir W. Palliser, a great authority on these matters, still believes that the committee of investigation are mistaken as to the real cause of the explosion. A course of experimentsjustmade, he says, convinces him that "the effect of firing a charge of powder and an iron projectile with a second charge of powder and a second iron projectile in front of it, is precisely the same as would be caused by firing the same amount of powder in one charge, and placing the two projectiles in front of it." "I have also ascertained," he says, "that a nail lying in the barrel in front of the shot would burst a gun fired with one-third of the amount of powder which a gun would resist, if loaded as the Thunderer's ' gun was reported to have been loaded." Sir W. Palliser is sure that the explosion was caused by" a jamb," and not by double-loading. And we trust that his view of the ease will be carefully considered, when the further investigation which has been ordered, takes place. Few authorities on this subject have so much presumption in their favour as he.
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