The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-10-09 00:00:00

PORTLAND.

THEIti is no foundation for the statement that
Vioe-Admiral Sir Sidney C. Deem, 1C.C.11,1. •
candidate for the Wait lodia command. Sir Sidney
has only just taken poseeelion of the house in New.
street, Spring gardens, lately vacated by Admiral
Hnts. Sir F. Grey.—Army and Navy Oaziale.
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ACCUANT. —On Thursday an accident occurred
to Christopher Brown, of H.M.S. Asia. He works
at tunes on the coal bulk in the Roads, but was then
employed at Southwell, in the engine-room, where
the water is pumped up for supplying the Verne.
By some means or other he ellpped between one of
the stanctuo... and the shaft of the engine, and stia•
tamed a broken leg. He won received medical
attendance.

R. M.S. C•LED011111 AT FA LMOUTH. —lt is always
with great pleasure that we chronicle such acts as
the following :—While the fleet were lying at anchor
off Falmouth, Lieut. Digby, of the Caledonia, jumped
overboard, and saved the life of Mr. Moorabed, who
wai in the water with a broken collarbone, though
how he came there our informant does not tell us.
Lieut. Digby jumped from the poop, not waiting even
to divest himself of a closely buttonedmp frock ooat.
We are happy to say that Mr. idoorshed is nearly
well, having been sent to Haalar, and we trust Lieut.
Digby will receive the honour of the Albert medal.
Usual Service Gasqie.

Tug Cusenzt Futirr.—The Morning Herald
contains • detailed account of the cruise of the pre.
sent Channel Fleet up to this time. The Channel
Fleet, it is rid, consisting of the following ships :
Caledonia, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Yeleer-
ton ; Lord Clyde, with the flag of Rear-Admiral
Warden; Achilles, Hector, Palley, Bellerophon,
Research, and the turret-ship Wyvern, left Portland
Roads at 10 a. of the 20th of September for an
experimental cruise in the Atlantic, the rendezvous
being lat. 48 deg. N. and twig. 12 deg. W., about
200 miles to the westward of Ushant, and the lame
distanoe due south from Bantry Bay. The fleet pro.
oeeded under steam down Channel, and vihen off the
Start, about 9 p.m.' fell in with • hard gale from
the westward, in which the Research, Mr. Reed's
first attempt, disappeared altogether, being last seen
from the fleet about half-past six. When the morn-
ing of the 21st dawned, Mr. Reed's next experiment
—the Pallsa—was observed to have come to grief,
having bad her jibbooin washed away. None of the
rest appeared to have suffered in the slightest degree,
the turret-ship, although of small tonnage, behaving
remarkably well. On the 22nd, steaming head to
wind, with • heavy swell from the N.W., the
ships rolling about 25 degrees, the admiral made •
signal to the Bellerophon and Wyvern, asking if
they could work their guns. Both answered in the
affirmative. The Hector at the same time asked per-
mission to fire • gun on each side, and, on obtaining
tha required leave, did so, and appeared to take in
no water through her ports. None of the others
ventured to repeat the experiment. The heavy swell
continued, with • low barometer, indicating a gale
somewhere near, which, however, did not reach the
fleet. On the afternoon of the 23rd, being well clear
of the Channel and not far from the rendezvous,
fires were banked up, and the fleet proceeded under
sail, tacking as necessary, in which ruanceuvre Mr.
Heed's latest improvement, the magnificent and
costly Bellerophon, invariably failed. This, of
course, would be a serious disadvantage in the case
of her machinery failing her on a lee shore or in
action. In either case her destruction would be in-
evitable. She does not seem to sail well either, for
the Hector, whose station was close astern of her,
would spare her any amount of canvas., The Wyvern,
being short of feel, left for Bantry Bay on the
evening of the 22nd, with orders to ell up with coal
and rejoin the squadron. On the 25th the monotony
of cruising backwards and forward, round and round
the rendezvous was relieved by an order from the
admiral to try rate of sailing on • wind, with pro-
pellers disconnected. The breeze was fresh, the
ships unable to carry royals. The Achilles wu an
easy first in the race, the Pallas for some time • good
second, the Bellerophon (of which so much was ex•
pected) nowhere. Towards the latter end of the
trial royals were set, and then the Pallas, in her en-
deavours to keep a good portion. was observed to
carry away her maintop gallantmset, and in the
morning reported her maintopmast sprung. On the
26th, in • heavy swell from the north-west, the
ships rolling frightfully—wnne of them as much
as 30 degrees—the admiral asked the different
ships if they could tire their guns, to which
some replied in the negative. However, in the
afternoon steam was ordered to be got up, the sails
furled, targeta thrown overboard, and the ships to
fire fifteen shots each. They were still rolling from
25 to 30 degrees each way, but moat of them con-
trived to obey the order, except the Pallas, which
did not fire at all, and the Bellerophon, which only
fired two shots. Tbe firing was rather wild, and
little damage would have been done to an enemy in
action except by the Achilles, which is incomparably
the best sad most efficient seagoing ship afloat of any
navy. The experiment was a very hazardous one,
as there was the risk of guns taking charge and
killing or maiming their CrOWII, and the certainty of
tons of water being taken in. Some of the ships
could be seen rolling their ports completely under
water, the guns occasionally Oiling with water and
saturating the powder. The Achilles, however,
pounded away in every direction, broadside on to
the swell, or head on, and seemed to be as stea as
• charch the whole time. No damage or accident
was reported, but the swell continuing with
occasional heavy squalls after dark, the Ocean sprung
her main-yard, the Achilles carried away her main
and mizen-top.gallant masts and sails, sad the Lord
Clyde her jibboom. On the 27th, the Ocean was
ordered to Bantry Bay to coal, repair damages, and
rejoin the squadron. Late at night, on the 20th,
the missing Research hove in sight, and in the
morning telegraphed the welcome intelligence that
she had letters for the fleet, showing that since
she had parted company she had been into some
. port, moat probably Bantry Bay, where letters for
the fleet may be addreneed for the next fortnight.
It has been decided to give the ships a thorough
trial, and they are expected to keep the sea till nearly
the end of October.