The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-08-28 00:00:00

PORTLAND.

nit HIICTOR, iron-dad ship, Capt. W. G. Luard,
and tha Pallas, armonr•plated screw corvette, Capt.
M. Connolly, arrived at Spithead on Sunday sennight
from Partisan!.

TRI CHANXILL SQUADRON. —The Times says: In
hellan-hour after the snivel of the Lords Commis-
sioners of the Admiralty, at Portland, in the Osborne,
' on Friday, followed by the Enchantress, they wont
on board Lb. Caledonia, walking all round her decks,
' sasompapied by the Admiral (Yelverton), Captain
the Hon. F. Foley, and the principal officers of the
ship, aud expressed themselves mach pleased with
all they saw. From the Caledonia their Lordships
proceeded to the Achilles (Captain Veenttart),
welled round her, mounted uyin her top-gallant
forecastle, and beard wonderful accounts of her
sailing qualities. They then went to the Pallas,
mid wandered how she oontrived to fl st at all.
From the Pallas they were proceeding towards the
Lord Clyde, when some sudden thought flashed
through the brains of some of them, producing the
I effect of altering the course of the barge, which
I was steered to the Liverpool. After the exchange
of • few amiabilitiet with Captain Secoombe, their
Lordships went on board the Lord Clyde, and from
the Lord Clyde to the Hector. It was now seven
o'clock. They "did" the six ships in something
leas than two hours, and they returned on board the
Osborne, where they entertained the captains at
dinner. Next morning (Saturday, the 18th) they
were astir betimes. They went to inspect the
works crowning the height of Portland Bill—the
Verne Forts, huge mamma of fortification like those
on Port:down Hill. To save their Lordships the
fatigue of olimbing up the steeps an ordinary railway
truck had been converted into a rude kind of chur-
n-barn, covered with an ensign, and so strong that
it would have borne the whole Board and the two
Secretaries if they had all been six.ton guns. They
returned to breakfast, and at 10 &elm& all the ships
had steam up and were ready to start. It was
rumoured that they were to disperse in the evening,
the ships proceeding to their respective ports.
Exactly at 1110 the squadron passed out by the end
of the breakwater • the Osborne and Enchantress,
just outside waited for them The entire Board of
Admiralty stood upon the bridge and paddle-boxer,
of the Osborne. It was • proud moment for Sir
John Pakingtoo. The port line (*insisting of the
Aehillee, Palls', end Liverpool) led tit* wa oak
The fiend was made, "Keep close order," then
form line of battle ; "soon slier," Form line aMwi..
The signak indicating the number of °Ads
lengths which each ship should keep between her
next neighbour and herself. The water was an
smooth as a pond. The ironclads steered handily.
All the steam tanks were adely if not admirably
performed. At 1.35 the Admiral made the signal
to "Exercise at general quarters," whereupon every
ship maimed a fighting attitude. The next ideal
was, "Prepare to engage an enemy on the port
side;" whereupon the Liverpool immediately fired
one of her starboard guns, which the Lord Clyde
felt bound to return by tiring a port gun. It was
fortunate neither was shotted. Tbe signal to engage
was made, and then all the ships fired blank cart-
ridge as fast as they could, steaming rapidly round
and round, pouring in broadside after broadside,
shrouded in thick wreaths of smoke. The spectacle
must have been a fine one, as seen from the Admi-
ralty yachts and &small steam yacht which was with
them. At 2.15 they formed line abreast on leading
ship of columns, like noon ready to mart At 140
the order to "Chase enemy to westward" was givev.
All the six ships started at full speed, stoking
lup as fast as they could. The Achilles Mot
' ahead of all, going 12 knots. The Lord Clyde at
filet seemed to gain on the Caledonia, but it was a
close ram between these Mips and the Hector, all
three going 11 knots. The Pallas said she wts
going tea. She was observed to throw up three
distinct heavy waves as she was forced through the
water. The Liverpool said she WM going nine. The
yachts slightly led the whole; the race lasted an
hour, and was well worth seeing. At 3.40 they
formed order of sailing in two columns; at 4 they
made all plain sail, bracing sharp up on port tack.
They then kept away and pet studding sails; then
shortened and furled all sail. Miming course for Start
Point. The Hector and Pallm parted company.
The signal vas made from the Osborne, "Admiralty
are mudh gratified." Their Lordships steamed
towards Dartmouth. Admiral made the signal "I
intend to po into port to-morrow morning at 7 a.m..
and the Calodonia, Lord Clyde, and Liverpool moored
In Plymouth Sound at 8 o'clock on Sunday morning.
The steamers Osborne and Enchantress arrived at

.--
Dartmouth on Saturday evening with Sir John
Pakington, Admiral Milne, Sir John Hay, end
Admiral Dacron on howl. Their lordship. made an
official inspection of the cadet and training ships
Britannia and Hindostaa, stationed at this port, in-
specting both ships, is well as the gymnasium and
Svercourt in course of combination on shore. They
also inspected the cadets' sick-quarters, and were
highly pleased with the efficiency of the establish-
ment. Their lordships left on Monday morning by
train for London. The Osborne and Enchantress I
sailed for Porta:booth. The Standard says: After I
• short refit, coaling, provisioning, &c., they will
rendezvous at Portland, and go for a three weeks'
cruise, probably touching at Madeira or Lisbon.
Had the Beet being going into action it must be
borne in mind that the speed would only have been
that of the slowest—about nine knots. The French
are far ahead of us in that respect, their fleet of iron-
clad. being able to steam in line of battle at the
uniform rate of 12 knots. It is to be hoped that
the present Board of Admiralty, of whom great
things are expected, will not forget when they re-
construct the navy, to supply the country with a
Best composed of ships which can steam fast and at
a undoing rate of speed, so as to be able to "keep
station," without going at snails pans.