The Express.
London, England, 1860-09-17 00:00:00

LAUNCH OP THE ANSON.

Another valuable addition to the Royal Navy
was made on Saturday afternoon at Woolwich Dockyard, by
the launch of her Majesty's steam screw line.of-battle ship
Anson, of 91 guns and MO horse power engines, in the pre-
sence of at least 5,000 spectstora. The most complete ac-
commodation had been provided, under the direction of
Commodore-Superintendent the Hon. J. R. Drummond,
C. 8., and before we o'clock the spacious booth erected at
the bow of the vessel was fully occupied by visitors admit-
ted by tickets, the seats in the centre being reserved for
members of the Admiralty, naval and military officers, &c.
About 600 persons were also enabled to obtain a good view
of the launch from brows erected on the starboard and lar-
board sides of the building.slip, and every available space
on board the vessel itself was crowded with occupants.
The band of the Woolwich division of Royal Marine Light
Infantry was stationed in on orchestra near the stern of the
ship ' • and not the least imposing part of the scene was the
Fiawrd flagship, the Hebe, Wsate, and other vessels in
harbour with crowded decks, and covered with bunting
from fore to aft.

About 1 o'clock Commodore-Superintendent the Hon. J.
Drummond, C. 8., asmompanind by Captain Charles Fre-
derkk (one of the Lords of the Admiralty), Viscount Syd-
ney (lord-lieutenant of Kent), lady Sydney, Admiral Sir
James Alexander Gordon, O.C.R. (Governor of Greenwich
Hospital), and Sir Watkin Owen Pell took their seats
nears table upon which were pieced the mallet, kc., re-
quired for the occasion and in the reserved space were ob-
served Major-General Sir Richard Decree. K.C.8., com-
mandant at Woolwich ; Colonel Stransharn, commandant
of the Royal Marines; Mr. Ante:stein, M.P. for Green-
wich, and a large number of naval, military, and volunteer
officers. The work of releasing the huge vessel horn her
stays on the slip, and superiute the launch, devolved
upon Mr. Turner, master shipwright at the yard, and the
arrangements made were considered to be in every rained so
efficient that the modern mechanical appliance of hydraulic
pressure to give an impetus to the movement of the ship was
dispensed with, as the result proved, with the most complete
success. At 23 minutes past one lady Sydney performed
the interesting ceremony of chriatening, by dashing a bottle
against the bow of the vessel amidst the reiterated cheers
of the vast assembly. Five minutes subsequently, at a given
signal, her ladyship received from the Commodore-Super-
intendent the unique mallet and chisel prepared for the oc-
casion, and having severed the cord which then alone held
the dog-shores, the magnificent vessel glided slowly and
gracefully into the Thames, the band performing " Rule
Britannia." The reveal was then moored alongside the
Hobe, and her living cargo was conveyed to the shore by
means of small hosts, an occupation which occupied at least
an hour. A numerous party of distinguished &plaits sub-
sequently proceeded to the Commodore-Supenntendant's
residence at the dockyard, where, at six o'clock, a dinner
was provided, the Royal Mario* Band being in attendance.
The Anson will be forwarded to Sheerness this day to
receive her machinery, manufactured by Messrs. Mande-
lay and Co., and to be completed for aervice. She was
had down in October, lbi,B, on the WOO slip from
which the Edgar, a similar vessel, was launched, and not-
withstanding the short period of her construction she is
ia • very forward state. The following are her dimen-
sions :—Length between perpendiculars 344 feet 10 inches ;
length of keel for tonnage, 209 ft. llljin. ; breadth, ex.
trerne, Wt. 7 jin. ; ditto moulded, 53ft. 10in. ; ditto
for tonnage, Gift. Bin. ; depth in hold, 24ft. bin. ; Cur.
then in tons, old measurement, 3,33370.94 ; ditto new mea-
surement, MOO.
The armament, to he furnished from the Royal Arsenal,
will consist of ninety-one guns, as follows:--Thirty-four'
eight-inch 133-cwt. guns, 9tt in length; thirty-four 32-
pounder 116-cwt. guns, 9ft. 6in. in length; twenty two
32-pounder 45-owt. guns, Bit. fun. in length; and one 68-
pounder 90-cwt. pivot gun.
A vessel of the mine clam, to be named the Cidadonian,
is ordered to be laid down forthwith on the slip vacated by
the Anson.
During the launch a large number of the swell mob were
pursuing their avocations, and several prisoners were made.

.)

LTWOPENCE..

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

PORTSMOUTH, SEPT. 16.
The Donald flfsKay, freight ship, arrived at
Spßhea yesterday morning from the Mauritius, having on
board the 61st Regiment.
The Victoria and Albert, royal deem yacht. Captain the
Rom J. Denman, was docked yesterday, to be brought for-
ward for her Majeet's service.
The Osborne, paddle-wheel yacht, Master Commander G.
H. K. Bowes, sailed last evening for the eastward.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty terminated
their oißeial visit at Portsmouth yesterday afternoon. At
eleven o'clock in the morning his Grace the Duke of
Somerset held his levee, at which the following °Moors and
clerpmen were proseut : -Major-General T. P. Dwyer,
KM., Lieut.-Colonel H. C. Tate, Captain Bickford, lieut.
C. 0. P. Hall, Commander J. G. Harrison, Master H. W.
Inglis, Commander L. C. H. Robinson, Commander Kings-
ton, Commander J. W. Pike, Captain M. Cooolly, Com-
mander N. B. Bedingtield, Captain W. H. Debbie, Com-
mander W. R. Hoboon, Captain J. Hallows', the Rev. H.
A. Veck (incumbent of St. John's, Porton), Commander
T. IL Jones, Limit A. R. Carter Rev. J. W. 'fearless (o(
Oesport), Master It. C. Allen, Commander H. C. Hendon,
Lieut.-Commander C. G. Nelson, Lieut. P. Harvey, Com-
mander S. H. Henderson, Lieut. H. Underwood, Com-
mander J. F. Ross, Commaides K Camille, Commander A.
Johnstone, Inspector-General Dr. Mlieschnie, Captain H.
B. Roberts, Vice-Admind H. Robinson, Captain Perris,
Captain J. 0. Gordon, Admiral Sir L cartis, Bast., C. 8.,
the Rey. K. 13. Phelps, Captain C. Knight, MajurJ. Hewett,
Lieut. J. W. James, Lieut.-Col.R. C. Spading the Rev. W.
H. Bedinapp (acting okapimin at Fort Cumberland),
Corn. H. 0. Austea, A. B. Studer', Major of Sea Dockyard •
Civil Service Artillery Corps, and F. R . Feeling, first lieu-
tenant and adjutant. It The Lords of the Admiralty
left shortly before 3 O'clock, under& salute from the Victory
of 19 guns. The Civil Service Artillery Corps furnished a
guard of honour.
The Runnymede, hired freight-aip, arrived at Spithead
this morning from China with 'bold NO naval invalids.

CHATIIAM, Beet. M.
Yeeterday a detachment of the let battalion of
the Itth (the Kind.) Regiment, to the number of :11M non-
oommissionetl officers and men, left the Hut Banacks, and
proceeded by special train to Gosport, there to join head-
quarters. Me forlowing officers proceeded with the sih,
via. :—Major W. Gayly, Captain T. W. Degmore, Lieut.
.rE. G. Blair, Ensign A. H. Cotter, and Aseutant4iirgeon
T. W. Biddle.

DEVONPORT, Seer. 16.
The Rhadainauthes, steam attire ship, arrived
from Pembroke on Friday morning with twenty invalids,
mostly hospital cases.
The Boscawen, 70, Captain Richard A. Powell, C. 8., was
paid off into ordinary on Friday.
The Avon, steam tender, went round for Portsmouth on
Friday with men paid off from the Boscawen.
The Megiera, troop ship, Commander Bendel-mai, arrived
yesterday from POrtemouth with Durban' Militia Artillery,
which having landed she returned for Portsmouth.
The Mars, 20, screw, Captain J. ,N. Strange, arrived here
on Friday evening from the Channel fleet.
The St. George, 90, screw, Captain the Hon. J. Egerton,
is out of the hands of the dockyard, and will ba ahwtly
ready for sea.
The Elanspuoil, 70, Captain Wilraot, CB., is out of the
hands of the dockyard.
'red from the fleet yesterday.,
Commandere' ter, with Paul and a party of
Nimble RVrises ' :Ibn portbobro e
Devotyv.otret. rday, to navigaterlgate
the
The Rapier winch left for the coast of Africa on Wednes-
day, pet back thii morning through stress of weather.
Ships in Itabotir: Impmenable, Royal Adelaide, Cam -
bridge, .Wellington, India% Implacable, Dee, Porpoise, Red-
wing, Cirlew, Avon„ Sylph. In the Sound:
Donegal, ileniipareil; ffirs, :Hoff, Nautilue.

• •
IREPECTI9N OF TRW LearDON RIFLE
' BRIETADR.
On gatur4lafteinoon au inspection of the London
RifleßryarlelryColOnet /ff-Mnrdo, the Inspector-General of
Bide Yolapteeniu Ina *es ire Hyde-park, in the presence
of a large eennasyitaiir spestatom The Quern's (West-
minster) kept the , Laving meambled fur that pur-
pose &bent Wes 14 wader the command of the
colonel of tkosiMlstt, Bort 'Grarvenor, at Carlton-ride.
fatally lett fgrot,, Ain mint ent, to the number of
some 500, eld try tlfelent bead, marched thrill
Pall-mall, St. James's-street, and Piccadilly, to Hyde-
where they. took up the position assigned to them,
formed en enclosure for the London Brigade inspection and
evolutions. They looked remarkably well, and showed
their advance in soldierly tactics by the easy manner in
which they kept the ground as compared with the trouble
and annoyance they experienced some few months since
when the same corps did the same duty for the City
brigade in St James's-park, at the inspection by its hon.
lieut.-001°ml, the Duke of Cambridge. The City brigade
mustered at Guildhall, and marched out about hilt-past 3
o'clock, also headed by its splendid band, and reached Hyde.
park, rid Cheeped°, Newgot•-strest, Holborn, and Oxford-
street, entering the park by the Marble Arch. On its
arrival the brigade was loudly cheered by the people while
taking up position on the plateau fronting Park-lane, coca.
pied by the volunteers in the grand review before her Ma-
jority on the 23rd June last. The regiment, to the number
of some POO or 900 mew, were formed into line under the
command of Lieut.-Colonel Hicks. The other officers pre-
sent were—Lieut.-Colonel Close, Major Row, Surgeons May
and Propert. In command of companies were—Captain
Pawson ; Lieutenants Sewell, Finch, hPloughlin, Hop.
klnaon, and Bainbridge ; Ensigns Ramon, Pinckney,
Hopkinson, Towse, Valiance, Stretton, and Worth.
Colonel M'Murdo, accompanied by several military officers
and sub-inspectors of the volunteer fortes, shortly after
arrived on the ground, and the brigade was put through a
variety of evolutions connected with the company e bat-
talion, sod light infantry drill, moving in echelon, deploy.
ing on right and left thinks, marching peat in slow and
quick time, forming into squares to receive cavalry, and finally
again forming into line, when Colonel M'Munlo attended
by the officers of his staff passed along the front—
the brigade presenting mine and the bands playing the
national anthem—and made his inspection. At the
conclusion of the inspection, the word " Mounted officers
to the front" was given, and Colonel M %unto spoke as
follows : "Soldiers and volunteers of the London Rife
Brigade, I have bad very great pleasure in witnes.ing what
I did to-day. I have had many opportunities of seeing
volunteers to different porta of this country, and it may be
perhaps interesting and advantageous for you to know, that
for rapidity and steadiness of movement you base surpassed
anything I have seen in any corps ; and it is my opinion
and must be that of every old soldier on the ground cil
which there are many), that your movements are admirable.
I have one word to say to the officers. Those who are
present to-day have done well ; but I regret to see from the
field state furnished me on the ground, that the number of
officers present is totally inadequate for the number of com-
panies. Now I stets that it is the duty of officers of volun-
teer corps to make themselves fit and worthy to command
soldiers such as you. (Cheers.) You are deserving of officers
of the highest etkcioney ; and I am much pleased to hear
from Colonel Hicks that in a short time officers properly
qualified will be appointed to this regiment. I regret that
you labour under difficulties with respect to your target
practice, and I hope that they may be soon removed. But
this I can say, that the proficiency and accuracy that I have
this day witnessed, coupled with target practice, would en-
title you to the most honmusble position in a line of battle."
This speech was received by much cheering front the public.
The brigade then formed fours and marched off, whilst
the Queen's presented aims, sad the latter regiment also
subsequently formed and marched back to Caritomride,
with its band playing, amidst the enthusiasm of the people.

THE WINDSOR RIFLE COMPETITION.