The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-10-16 00:00:00

PORTLAND.

Twit BOACAMIN, training ship for boys, Com-
mander Cockcroft, left Spithead on Saturday in tow
of the Gladiator, Capt. DO. D'A. Aplio, for Port-
land, where abe is in future to be stationed, instead
of in Southampton Water.

Tits CHAIINIL Futirr.—The Herald's corres-
pondent says the return of her Nlajeety's dispatch
vessel Helicon to Bantry Bay enables us to continue
our report of the proceedings of the Channel fleet
down to Saturday, the 6th inst. The weather
throughout the week had been fine, with a moderate
Atlautio swell. On Monday, the lit, the vessels
were ordered to ohms with the wind two points
abaft the beam. All possible rail was set, including
atudding sails, except in the case of the Hector,
which is not supplied with them. The wind was so
strong that royals could only be carried with diffi-
culty. The trial lasted four hours, and was only
discontinued when the weather came on thick.
Mr. Reed's Pallas greatly distinguished herself on
this occasion, beating all the r. st by at least AU
mile.; but this is easily aclounted for, as she is
rigged in proportion to her tonnage, arid spreads as
much canvass as ships twice her size. The ltrwearch
was second, Relleniphon third—bravo Mr. Reed
then the Achilles, Hector, Lord Clyde, and last the
Caledonia. Measuring distances from the flagship,
Lord Clyde gained thres quarters of smile; Hector,
; Achilles, 2); Bellerophon, 3; ft.search nearly
4; and Pallas 6or 7. It was observed that during
the meal hours there was a greater difference in the
sailing than at other times—those ships where the
men messed on the lower deck gaining as much as a
. mile per hour over those whose, men messed on the
main deck—thus showing the advantage of trimming
ship and keeping weights low, contrary to a theory
greatly advocated some time ago. In the thick
weather, after the trial was over, the Palle" parted
company, and was picked up at the rendezvous on
the 4th. On the sth the ships—rolling from
10 to 12 degrees—ezertised their guns, firing at
targets; practice good, very different from the last
Mme, when some of tbe ships took in so much water
that midshipmen's chests were obeered trying rste
sailing in the steerage, and tables and chairs cm-
menoed ramming each other most vigorougly. The
admiral made a signal which mused great delight as
well as consternation amongst the officer. of the fleet,
to the effect that stewards and • certain number of
petty officers frhm each ship might proceed to Bantry
Bay in the Helicon on Saturday, to procure fresh '
provisions, returning on the following Wednesday.
This affords the prospect of a change of diet from
salt horse to Bantry Bay geese, but at the same time,
also, the chance of boxing about the Atlantic for yet
snottier fortnight. On the afternoon of the sth a
short trial of speed, wind a-beam, in which Mr.
Reed's ships again showed themselves well to the
front, proving conclusively (to give the contractor
his duel either that his ebipo can sail under favour-
able circumstances or that the others cannot—a good
authority remarking that the latter is the more cor-
rect supposition. About 954) p.m. the fleet went to
night quarters and fired away blank cartridges for
half-an-hour. The night was dark, and the flashes
a• seen from each distant ship wine like very vivid
sheet lightning. On Saturday morning • thick fog
obscured the fleet, and on its lifting most of the
ships were found to be out of station. The Beller°.
phon (without studding-sails) and Hector were ob-
served racing up to rejoin the Admiral, the latter
ship sparing Mr. Reed her royals easily, thus show-
ing that it is only by her extra speed of canvas that
the Bellerophon can creep past an old dummy. The
Ocean rejoined in the evening. The Helicon left the
fleet on Saturday night, all well, and arrived at
Bantry Bay on Sunday.