The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-09-16 00:00:00

Stnip anD NOLL

EXTRAORDINARY STATI OF A SHIP.—The Resist-
ance, 18, screw iron frigate, Captain Chamberlain, was
placed in dock on Wednesday at Portsmouth, and her
bottom found to be In a extraordinary state for a ship
on the home station, bearing more the appearance of
having gone through a long commission on the coast of
Africa. The 'entire bottom of the ship was covered
with weeds and long grass of every known kind and
colour, with huge patches of mussels here and there on
the port side, together with • good sprinkling of
barnacles. On the starboard side, however, the
barnacles extended from stem to stern, with an im-
mense quantity of weeds and long grass, the latter in
some places, as under the quarter, fully three feet in
length. The mussels, too, extended fore and aft, with
benches hanging in places as large as a child's bead.
From the stem to abreast the fore chains on this side,
&bent three feet below the wafer line, a belt of mussels
adhered to the ship's bow of from two to live inches in
thickness, and from one to two feet broad.
LAUNCH OF AN IRON•CARED FRIGATE AT CHATHAM.
—On Wednesday afternoon great interest was excited
at Chatham by the launch of another iron-eased
frigate, the Royal Oak, which has been recently con-
structed ender the special directions of the Admiralty.
The Royal Oak is a splendid specimen of that class of
vessel whisk has gained so mush of late in popular
favour. She is symmetrical in form, light, but
thoroughly substantial in construction and the follow-
ing arc her principal dimensions: Length over all,
2771 E. ; length between perpendiculars, 273 ft. : breadth
extreme, 581 t. sin. ; depth in hold, 19ft. 10in. ; burthen
in tons, No. 4,045, 26-94. She carries 34 guns. She
was ornamented at both ends by gigantic boughs of
oak, and at her stern waved the national flag. A
quarter before two o'clock p.m. was the time appointed
for enabling the proud ship to make her first
acquaintance with the broad waters of the
Medway. At this time the seats which
had been erected.at the bow of the vessel were filled
with gaily attired visitors. The dockyard bands and
the bands of the several regiments stationed at
Chatham were on deck, and played many popular and
enlivening airs. Punctually to the time appointed,
Miss Fanshawe, the daughter of the Captain &nperin-
tendent of the dockyard, al peered on the platform for
the purpose of performing the ceremony of
" christening" the vessel, an office which
she 'dia.:barged by dashing a bottle of wine,
suspended by a string, against the side of the ship.
Within • few moments the launch was successfully
accomplished, and the Royal Oak ran down her cradle,
and was speedily afloat on the Medway, amidst general
cheering. The river was crowded with steamers and
small boats loaded with spectators, who gave the new
frigate a most cordial reception.
_ . . .

tais Brae PRISM—Tie Black Prince took another
trial trip on Wednesday in Stoke's Bay near Porte-
mouth,under the supervision of Captain H. Broadhead.
She had a mean immersion of hull of abont 8,1 inohes
over that of the Warrior, when on trial. In the six
runs the Black Prince averaged 13-684 knots per hour,
while the Warrior on her trial averaged 14-354 knots
per hour. There is no doubt that the former, being
heavily laden, had considerable effect in lessening the
rate of speed in the first-named vessel.
The county magistrates have been engaged daring
last few days at Hythe, in Kent, in investigating a
charge of forgery brought against Ensign Aldridge, of
the 84th Regiment, stationed at Shoeneliffe camp, and
on Tuesday the prisoner was committed for trial at the
next county assizes. Ensign Aldridge belongs to a
family resident at Horsham, in Sussex, and his arrest
on the present charge has occasioned much astonish-
ment in the camp, from the good character be had
hitherto borne, and the knowledge that his relatives
have abundant means for maintaining their station. Mr.
Aldridge's father and a great number of officers have
been present daring the investigation, and Mr. Metcalfe
(barrister) and Mr. Walters (attorney) were bronght
from London for the detente. The cheque forged was
for Rl5, alleged to have been drawn by an officer in the
78th Highlaniers on Cox and "Co., payable to Mr.
Thorp. no handwriting with which the cheque was
filled up was similar to that of the prisoner's, but the
cab driver who took the party to the bank swore posi-
tively that it was not the pnsoner. Mr. Metcalfe de-
clined to address the magistrates' RS the identification
of the cashier was so positive that his client must be
committed, but at the trial, he said, he should show the
prisoner was the victim of a mistake. The prisoner's
father and Mr. Dickens,' magistrate of flussex,were bail
for the prisoner's appearance at the next assizes.

The following is the Bat of new ships ordered to be
built at Chatham dockyard as soon as the vacancies
arise at the several building slips :—The Pitt, 91 guns,
800-horse power; the Boadioea, 51 runs, 600-horse
power; the Pomona, 51 guns, 60-horse power,
the Gannyinede, 28 guns, 400-horse power;
the Falmouth, 22 guns, 250-horse power; the Tees 19
guns, 250-horse power ; the Diligent*, 17 guns, Tees,
horse power; and the Albatross, 4 guns, 250-horse
power. The drawings and plans of most of the above
vessels have been already prepared, under the direction
of the Surveyor of the Navy, and the vessels will be
commenced as vacancies arise. There will shortly be
two other slips vacant at Chatham by the launch of
the Salamis, 4, and the Myrmidon, 4, each of 250-horse
power, both of whi.ll wilt' be ready for launching in
about two mouths' tone.