The Express.
London, England, 1862-10-25 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF THE CALEDONIA.

WOOLWICH, Om. 24.
Her Majesty's armour-plated screw frigate Cale-
donia, of 34 goes and 1,000 horse power, was launched in a
most successful manner from No. 1 slip, at the dockyard,
this afternoon, under the direction of Mr. Turner, muter
' shipwright, in the presence of many thousands of spec-
tators. A spacious booth and platform, fitted up with seats
for the accommodation of 6(10 visitors, had been erected at
the end of the slip, opposite the bow of the vessel, and was
fully occupied by naval and military officers, the heads of
various government department., and • large number of
ladies. Every available position within the dockyard com-
manding a view of the launch, was crowded with spectators,
and also the decks of the Fisgard flag-ship, the occupanta of
which were admitted by tickets issued by the commodore
superintendent. The river presented • gay a pearaoce, the
several vessels In harbour being decorated with bunt-
ing and colours, and the entrance to the building
slip was kept from any obstruction by the well-
manned galleys of the Thames and Dockyard police force.
The Royal Marine band and the band of the 14th Rent
f Woolwich Dockyard) Volunteer Artillery were stationed
in orchestras erected at the larboard bow and the head of
the vessel, which displayed the royal standard at the main,
the Admiralty flag at the fore,• blue ensign and two union
jacks, her decks containing many hundreds of persons who
were admitted by special favour of Commodore Nicolson. A
few minutes before 2 o'clock the operation of removing the
dog shores was performed, and the ceremony of christen-
ing the vessel having been deputed to Miss Nicolsoer,
daughter of the commodore superintendent, that
lady dashed a bottle of wine against the bow, and
immediately after severed the silken cord attached
to the log, which alone kept the vessel stationary. At the
same moment powerful jack-screws were applied to the keel,
and the noble vessel glided gracefully down the launching-
ways, and swung out into the centre of the river, amidst
the cheers of the spectators, the bands performing " Rule
Britannia." She wen then taken in tow by two steam-tug.,
and removed into dock, where she will receive her ma-
chinery, and be completed for service. The Caledonia was
laid down about three years since as a 90. gun timber
frigate, but the Admiralty having abandoned the building of
such vessels, she was altered and reoooetructed as an armour-
plated ship, under the direction of Mr. Turner, master ship-
wright,whointroduced several improvement. in thecoratruc-
tion of her frame, which is more than usually solid and sub-
stantial,and fully capable of smtaioing the immense weight of
iron which will be her sides. The contractor for the supply
of her 4!,-inch wrought-iron plates is Mr. Brown, of Shef-
field ; and the most complete machinery, consisting of
hydraulic presets, planiog and drilling machines, &c., has
been fitted up in a shed erected close to the dock where
the vessel remains. About 200 workmen will be employed
for her completion, and when ready for service she will re- I
oeive an armament of the muzzle.loading rifled gnus, re-
cently adopted by the Admiralty for the royal navy. The
following are her principal dimensions : Length between
the perpendiculars, 273 feet ; length of keel for tonnage,
231 feet 31 inches; extreme breadth, 59 feet 2 inches;
breadth for tonnage, 57 feet 11 inches; breadth moulded.
57 feet 1 iocb ; depth io hold, 19 feet 11 inches; burthen
in tons, builders' measurement, 4,125 39-94ths.