The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-03 00:00:00

NAVAL.

ADMIRALTY, Nov. 2.—APPOINTMECT9.—CIerk
W. It. Hatch, to the Madagascar, 44, at Devouport.
inspectors at Shipwrights R. Dawson, to the Pentbruite,
72, at Portsmouth ; and J. Orounsel, to the Portsewuth
yacht, at Portsmouth.
Measurers 11. R. Herbert, to the Pembroke; and A.
Stamp, to Woolwich Dmkgard.

PORTSMOUTH, NOT. 2.—The Princess Royal, 91,
screw two decker, went out of harbour this morning to the
measured mile at Stoke's Bay, to try her engines, &c. This
finu ship was launched from this dockyard on the 23rd of
Juno last, and the following are her principal dimensions •
Length (extreme), .1:52 feet 2 inches ; breadth (extreme),
58 feet 11 inch ; depth in hold, 24 feet; burthen (old mea-
surement), 3,130 tons. She belongs to the same class of
vessels aa the Agamemnon, 91, screw two decker, which has
answered so admirably; and an idea of the increased
teenage now given to our men of war may be gathered by com-
paring the tonnage of the Princess Royal with that of some of
the old line-of-battle ships, such as the Impregnable, 104
guns • PrincessCherlotte, 104; Queen Charlotte, 101; Royal
Adelaide, 104, whose tonnage is not more than 2,500 each,
whilst the Neptune, 120, ordinary guard-ship at this port,
and acknowledeed to be one of the finest and most efficient
three-deckers in the navy, is only 2,705 tons, having been
launched here in 1832. The l'rincess Royal carry the
following powerful armament :—Number of guns : lower
deck, 20 8-inch ; weight, 66 cwt. ; 12 32-pounders; weight,
66 cwt. Main deck, 8 8 inch ; weight, 65 cwt. ; 26 32-
pounders ; weight, 56 cwt. Upper deck, 24 32-pounders ;
weight, 42 cwt. Forecastle, 1 68-pounder; weight, 95
ewt. Total, 91 guns. The engines of this vessel are of
400 horse-power, and were made by Messrs. Mandalay,
Sons, and Field, and form one of the finest specimens of
mechanism to be met with. The pair of engines might be
placed in an ordinary sized drawing room, whether as to
their sus or cleanliness, whilst they possess a very high
order of beauty. They are on the horizontal pnnciple,
with double piston rods, and have worked to-day, pro-
pelling this large vessel at the high speed given be-
low, with the greatest ease and perfectness. In cem-
mum with the power of her engines we may place
those of the paddle frigates Tiger, 16 guns, 400 horse
power; Terrible, 21, SOO horse-power; Penelope, 16, 650
horse power; and the paddle sloops Gladiator, 6 glans, 430
horse-power, and the Dragon, 6, 660 horse-power. The
Princess Royal's engines will work up to a much higher
force than 400 horses, but there is still a vast economising
of power in reference to the work to be done in the engines
now constructed as compared to throe of past years, whilst
none of the above-named steamers have ever been noted for
speed. The screw-propeller of the Princess Royal was
made by Messrs. Maudslay and Co , being on Smith's prin-
ciple—the original invention in screw propellers. It is a
" permanent" screw : it having been usual hitherto to cast an
experimental one, in order to ascertain the most suitable
pitch for different vessels, but experience has continued to
progress in this department as well as in others,
and the necessity for an iron experimental screw
is now dispensed with. The permanent screw is
composed of a mixture of two or three metals.
The Princess Royal was to have been masted prior to going
out of harbour, but there was only time to put in her
bowsprit, owing to the stepping of her masts requiring
altering. This circumstance, Joined to the fact that she had
neither guns nor stores on board, made her very light and
high out of the water. It is not believed, however, that
this circumstance has bees any acceleration to her speed to-
day, as it is considered that whim she is deeper in the water
her propeller will have a better hold or purchase, as it
is at present scarcely immersed. By nine o'clock this morn-
ing she was under weigh, having had steam up some time,
and went out of harbour in excellent style against a strong
tide and a W.S.W. wind. She passed through the fleet at
Spithead, and went down to the measured mile, and then
returned back to Spithead, being passed in doing so by the
screw sloop Conflict, winch was also going to Stoke's Bay
to try her screw propeller. Having turned round, the
Princess Royal gave chase to the Conflict and soon made
up to and passed her with the greatest ease. The trial of
speed between the two, though short, was highly interest-
ing as seen from the shore. Six runs were made at the
measured mile, or rather knot, which resultedin the follow-
ing very high rate of speed :

Spied in Mean speed
Time. Knots Average of the
per hour. speed. six trials.
OL S.

lit Rua .... 1.411 12 500 1
2nd „ .... 8.18 9.524 j 12 012 11.031
3rd „ .... 4.40 12.8.57 I
10.955 knots
4th „ .... 635 9.113 per
sth s. •• • • 4.48 12 500 11 277 I hoar.
6th „ .... 5.58 10.055 1 ' J

The revolutions of the engines were on per minute.
Pressure of steam, 20Ibs to the inch. Drought of water :
Forward, 20 feet 2i inches; aft, 21 feet n inches.
- - - - - .

After the above runs, the Princess Royal made some ex-
periments with her expansive gear, &c., and came into har-
bour again this afternoon. Captain Lord C. E. Paget,
Lord George Paget, Captain Pelham, her Majesty's ship
Blenheim ; Mr. Murray, the director of the steam depart-
ment ; and Mr. Field, of the firm of Maudalay and Field ;
and other gentlemen, were on board during the above
highly satisfactory trial.