The Express.
London, England, 1846-11-09 00:00:00

lway,

pro oinsxotrrif, Nov. B. The Scourge, a., Com. Caffin,
Minot amil at Friday, having had her orders countermanded.
illia to Spitlimul, whente she now waits her des-
piromeeted
for Lisbott.—The SpApts, e. a., which arrived on
y, is quite ready for sea. On hr arrival order were
Jmt to the dock-yard officers to undertake no alterations with
ht.- that would be necessary to detain her if required kerne-
diatetj. The same orders were given re petting the Scourge
on her arzival.
Wookent.S. Nov. 7.—The Medea, steam-sloop was com-
missioned yesterday by Commander Graham Hammond,
with a complement of 140 mn. She proceeded down the
river the same day to test her engines, steaming as far as the
mile in Long Reach. Her speed on the first trial was 8,889
knots against the tide, and 13,094 with it, giving an average
of 10,991. but oil subsequent trials she made more than eleven
knots. This, considering that her paddles were only im-
mersed to a depth of 2 feet 7 inches, which hardly affords
sufficient hold of the water, is an excellent speed. She had
on board about 190 tone of coal, as on the first attempt to
try her engines the paddles were not sufficiently immersed.
Her draught of water was 13 feet forward, andl3 feet 6 inches
aft. Her engines, which were supplied by Messrs. Maudalay
and Field, were in excellent working order, and made 24 .
revolutions a minute. The Grappler and Amp/ion, 36 guns,
are preparing for their final experimental trials. The
Rosamond (formerly the Eclair) was ordered to be
commissioned yesterday, by Commander Foote, with a com-
plement of 160 men. The Tartarus, steamer, was paid off
yesterday. The Sidon, steamer, Captain Henderson, is to
have some alterations made in her top-masts, in order to
remedy her inclination to list. Nothing defiuitive is yet
known as to her destination.
A series of interesting experiments on the powers of the
various screw-propellers, and the best mode of fixiug them in
steamers, have been carried on and are still in progress with
the Dwarf, steamer, which has been set apart for these
ri expements. The first trial was made with the common
Arehimedian screw (Smith's patent), and the results were
as favourable as those exhibited by any subsequent
invention. The next trial was made with Rennie's
screw, but the results, in this instance, were not so
satisfactory. A third trial was made with llodgson's para-
bolic propeller, and, up to the present time (for this inven-
tion is to be again tested) the success was equal to that of the
common propeller. A fourth trial will soon be made with
Woodcrott's patent, constructed upon a new plan of shifting
the angles of the screw to the most favourable position, with
the view of determining the best angle of impingement.
Some trials have also been made by altering the dead wood of
the Dwarf, so as to resemble the square stems of the old
block ships ; but in this case it was found that the screw
could scarcely give the vessel tideway. The results, in all
these cares, have been reported to the Admiralty, and on the
conclusion of the experiments their lordships will give their
opinion as to the former propeller which it is considered moot
advisable to adopt in the Royal Navy.
Pitonormes. Nor. 6.—Omunander J. I'. Roepel to be Captain.
Arroisvarivis, Nov. 7.--Lieuteniuits, E. B. Rice to the Hibernia;
P. T. C. Strode to the Thetis. Assistant Surgeon, W. 11_ Cameron, to
the SpitefuL Second Master 8.. Reed to the Lightning. Clerk 11.
11. Gilbert to the Belvidere, in charge. Naval Wets I'. 11. Colomb
to the Sidon ; 11. R. Wrutislaw to the Rosamond. Masters Assistant
J. T. Wright to the Penelope. First Engineers, G. Russell to the
Rosamond; C. Pemberton to Um Medea, acting. Second Engineer
W. N. Bidet% to the Medea, acting. 'Mild Engineer. T. U. Se) moor
and J. Stewart tio the Rosamond; L. G. C. S. Davis to the Medea; T.
hunt to the Gutter.