The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-09-03 00:00:00

ADMIRALTY VISIT TO PORTLAND AND
THE CHANNEL FLEET.

At daybreak on Wednesday morning the Admiralty
yacht', Enchantress, nteff Commander John It Pi 11.,;
and Bleak Eagle, Bra Commander Thomas J. Whilher,
had stria up reedy to tais the Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty and suite to Portland, where the Channel
fleet lay moored. The yacht. left their moorings at five
o'clock, and the Footman...a, followed by the Black
Eagle, 'reused out of Portsmouth Harbour on her
worms westward, The Admiralty Tarte brought up
loff Cower to await the arrival of On Right Hon. Lord
Henry Gordon Lennox. ate, First Seerstery. On board
the Enehrtress ware the Right Hoe. Henry Thome'
Lowry Corry, i r., Fires Lord of the Admiralty ; Vice
Admiral Sir Alsaander Milne, I.OK, Vice Admiral Sir
Sydney Colpoys Dearer; K.O Rear Admire' George
Henry Seymour, c.e., ice., Vie* Admiral Robert
Spencer Robinson, Comptroller of the Navy ; Lira
Colonel Andrew Clarke,us, director of engineering
and architectural (Adcoirelty) work.; Oneida Thomas
Brendreth, LIU, private secretary to the Pint Lord' •
and Messrs. Charles N. Hem" H. Yorke, and E.
Macgregor, private secretaries. 41 seven o'clock the
Firs Qamon, Staff , Commander Frederick W. Paul,
aft
_tweaked Ur yachts from Southampton Water, soil
Lord H. Lennox went from thence on board the En-
.banner Both vessels then steered westward, the
Black Eagle following. Between eight and nine the
Needles were passed but it wae not until half-past ten
that 131. Albr's Read was left astern. The Enchantress
by this time was some three or four miles to the west-
ward. The Wiveni, barrel ship, armour-plated, Captain
Hugh T. Ilergoyee, V.D.. was seen stemming at shout
eight knots an hour, for Portland, as the yschts made
for the roads, The Lords of the Admiralty, drier, of
having • good view of this ship In • sea way, brought
to for the purpose of criticising her movements. Having
satisfied themselves with the passing giros, the hoard
proceeded on their voyage, and. &door • salute of 19
'gar from the fleet at Portland, rounded the point and
entered the breakwater at about eleven o'clock. The
ships at anchor re the Minotaur, 34, iron ship, armour.
plated Rear Admiral Frederick Warden, c.a. ; Lord
Clod., armour-plated, Captain B.oderick Dew, cR. ;
Bellerophon, 14, iron ship, Captain Reginald 3.3. G.
Macdonald • Achilles, 26. armour-plated, Captain
E !ward W. Vansittart ; Pallas, 6, annour.plated
corvette. Captain Matthew Connally; also Barren,
20, training ship for her Captain Macleod B. Cookeraft;
and Helicon. dispatch veriest. Commander Edward Field.
In the meantime the Black Eagle overhauled the Wirer
and left her • considerable distress astern, as the former
entered the breakwater at • quarter to Melee the
Wivom folloring her courser, and anchoring with the
iron squadron. Rent Admiral Frederick Warden and
the uprise of the men of war paid the customary visit
of courtesy to their lordehips ;after whir the Secretary
to tbeAdmiralty (Lord Henry Lennos), who was some-
what indisposed, went on board the Black Koala The
mode of inspection this year differs from the system,
acknowledged to be detective, adopted on former
omissions in past years. The board, ea roar, have
promenaded the public eerblishmenta and works, and
ladividual members unacquainted with the working of
wtirmlar departments have 'aricompsoled these of the
board who were acknowledged authorities on aubjeets
not understood by othi ra. This year the board has
divided itarlf, and members having special knowledge
cf sparific subjects, whether ministerial or judicial, have
been 'told off" for the performance of those dollars they
are best able to perform. Admirals Milne and Inane
lespeeted the nautical experiments, and Mr. Duero and
the Fier Secretary (Lord H. Lennox) inspected the
Naval Hospital %t Hasler.
The first business at Portlrd wag an inspection of
the iron-clad eqnsdron. at ram within the unfinished
r.askerster. In the afternoon the board, accompanist
by Rear-Admiral Warden, mord in command of the
Channel squadron, proceeded in the Admiralty barge
to inspect the iron-clad Sag ship Minotaur. The Sea-
-01•0 and marines of this ship were mastered on the
upper deck, and the Lords of the Admiralty on board-
ing the veerl were received stitik the uhal boomers.
Porotorder N. Bowden Smith. Dr. Hart Gimbett, and
Staff Commander George Marsh, rested them on deck,
Captain Goodenough being on etelc leave. During the
bispection Rau Admiral Arley Cooper Key, c
acting director mernl of naval ordinance, joined their
lordships, and returned with them during their visit
to the Sect. The ship was in fine order, and is
excellent sea-going trim. The Vast guns were ready
for action, the starboard battery being assured outboard
and the port battery inbreed. Cu the main der are
22 gnat guns, four of 124 tons, and the remainder 64
tons. OCI the upper deck the four 64 ton guns were
secured inboard, and on the smear irk • rioting
battery of eight 941 b.. bream loowiteen were reared
oatboard. The 12i ton guns on board this ship are
trained by Cunningham's gear, which works moot
astisfactorily. The bottom of the Minot•or fools
npidlr, and Philip's rotary "hogging" marine, 111
"ban brushing by machinery" apparatus, applied to
the bottom of the ship hes been tried, bat the result
bas not beau an satisfactory IJ could be desired On
amount of the its, of the ship. The men s MON traps
and gear were inspected and all were pronounced to be
In good order. The riling qualities of qui iron &g-
-✓ip are not satisfactory; the bustral effort of re
canvass is too far .ft and Co remedy this it is pr-paced
to take out oir of the five matte and to make othe
alterations. The engines have, since her resent trial',
worked remarkably well, and the orderers have
shows no signs of rain barring. Alterations in the
reatertight doors have been sam, and an Improve-
ment, it Is eau be wally effected. 'Pb. Minotaur
Is eery ready, even in • biairy sea way, and her guns
can be real in any weather. Moe is *lain/ to nears
✓ad before going* sea, It is stated that she will go
out id as to-day for gnu practice.
The Achilles, 26, armour-plated ship, Captain
Edward W. Vansittart, was seat ermined. The ma-
men and marines wen mastered on the main and upper
decks, and appeared neat and orderly. The elimina-
tion on board this vessel wart similiar to that of the flag
ship. When their lordships last visited the Achilles
she had four mars—bowmast, foremast, mainmast, and
ushisamast ; but it was found that with all these mans
In ber re tarried too mush weather helm, and the
foreuseat area shifted forward 41 fon, the malemast
being removed altogether. She is pierced for 26
nmasheirding rifled guns ;22 are on the Main deck,
18 being 7-inch bore, and four one inch larger. On the
upper deck are two 7.inch guns forward, and two of the
same calibre aft. The pus were ready for action when
'marred by the board; all baring been secured out-
board, and 41t4d with terming taekoll. Tbese taskels
are preferred to *lnaba' for working the lighter Inns
el board this ship. Their lordships examined every
pert of the ears).

The Pallas, 6 irodplabed coorvettet. Captain Matthew
Cottony, was nest inspected. She earths four 2t ton
guns in the mane batteries, one at her bow and another
Is mounted on the captain's cabin. Her indented sides
present a singular and formidable appearance, Her
pessUarities have bsfors been fully entered Into. She
b a favourite ship of Mr. E. J. Reed, the thief con-
structor, and hes had the advantage of • complete AL
Is answer to an inquiry, how long a time *odd elapse
la Shifting from the port side or starboard side to the
beg orator. ports of Mos indented sides, the answer of
the Punter wee, it hie been dons in 58 mond; but it
inoerslly micuphis • minute." The Pallas has proved a
good roller, although she rolls more than was expected,
and in this particular the large ironclad', Kieollll4l. and
Addling, hers • great advantage over her. The eon&
Wu of this ship was remorksbls. Thom was no iron-
sled in the lest more sirupuloetsly clean and neat,
although all of thou' were oupsollog • visit from their
The Lord UII., St, armour-plased, Captain
Illiodsrlek Dew, 0.3., was then boarded, their lordships
being reeMeed by the mstain and his officers. Her
arutammit eonsiskt of ten 7-Inett gums on either broadside
of the mein dock, two risen and two bow-obuere on the
upper deck. Those guns were ready for action, and in
totoellent working condition. It was ended that 42 of
her 0111.• were in hosoitial, a very large per.e.sem
On the lower deck there was a grand display of polished
mess gear, lights being lit at the end of eaoh table.
The board pared to the main deck, and the wardroom
was prosoneeed to he one of the best in say iron-slad.
Their lordships also visited Captain Dete's eabi., end
viewed his ictsresting collation of foreign cerkeetke
beton onstinning their inspection.
The Bellerophon, 11, armour-plated Ain. Captain
R. J. G. Maedooeld, was the lest trots-016d Inspected.
Her armament casuists of ten 9-Inch 124 ton guns, two
74nob at ton pots, • stern and chow ob.setr, all standing
on the main deck. Captain Roo* the isientor of the
well known gun larri.i... WY on hosed, and met their
bodeblps. The Karl and Countess of Cardigan, having
.tseaed from Cowes in their yasitt, were newest during
the visit of the Aslienbalty to this uslerbrststi trivet?.