The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-19 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF THE WAR STEAMERS BLANCHE

AND BEACON.

CHATHAM, AUCCRT It.
The rare ceremony of the launch of two vessels of
war on the mine day took place at this dockyard yesterday
afternoon, in the presence of an unusually large concourse
of spectators, the large galleries at the end of the building
slips, as well as every portion of the yard which oom-
manded a view of the vessels, being filled. A portion of
the gallery near the Blanche was set apart for the mem-
bers of the Admiralty, the board being represented on the
occasion by Rear-Admiral Spencer-noblemen, Contemner of
the Navy. The Blanche, the largest of the two vessels
launehed, is one of the new class of improved unarmoured
corvettes, designed by Mr. K. J. Reed, chid Constructor
of the Narksaris sister ship to the Dow, the fittli
and the ho, bull at some of the other
dockyards. eis out of the Amazon type of vemsela,
in her construction several improvements have been
. .

effected by Mr. Reed, having for their object giving her
increased stowage accommodation, and enabling her
to attain a mean speed of 134 knots, with
extra strength for mounting the heavy arma.
meat she is intended to carry. The ceremony
of "christening" the Blanche wee performed by
Min Dickens, daughter of Mr. Charles Dickens,
who, on being conducted by her father and Mr.
P. Thornton to the bow of the ship dashed the traditional
bottle of wine spinet the stein, bidding " Success to the
Blanche." The cord which held the last of the supports
was then severed by Miss Dickens, and immediately after
wards the Blanche ran down the ways into the harbour,
amid the, repeated cheering of the theothtan, the hand
playing. `elinsule Britannia." The fnolltowing arenhatuprux
72afit.d; dimensions:—Length
ketlnfgotri'tobnentuewee, 184'4 perpendicular
(extreme), 38ft. ; breadth for tonnage, 3MI. 10in. ; breadth
moulded 35ft. tin. ; depth of hold, 19ft. 41n.,- burthen,
in tons, i,218 8.94. The armament of the Blanche will
consist of two Tin. 84 ton, and four 84-pounder muzzle-
loading guns, with three 12-pounder and 6-pounder Arm-
strong.. Her engines are of 350 hone power, and aro is
course of manufacture by Messrs. Ravenhill and Co. She
is to be fitted with iron lower math
The Beacon, also launched at this dockyard the same
day, is one of the sgnadron of composite gen vessels built
for serriee in China. She ia built on the composite prin-
ciple, of iron frames with a double planking of teak
timber. Her floors are; perfectly fiat, which will give her
a very light draught of water. She is 155 feet in length,
and 26 feet in breadth, and will be propelled by two
screws, driven with a pair of 120-horse power engines.
The Beacon was " christened " by Miss Stewart, daughter
of Captain W. H. Stewart, C. 8., superintendent of the
dockyard, the launch being a very sucosedul one. Her
armament will consist of a couple of 7-inch ii .ton, and (4-
pounders, fitted as pivot guns. Both yeses`r are to be pre-
pared for sea with all despatch.

ADMIRALTY AUGUST 17.—APPOIN17dENT8.—
Sub-lieutenant W. H. Aimeeley to the Minotaur, W. S.
Chambre to the Dee, Assistant-Paymaster E. G. Richmond
in charge to the Jaime, C. P. Skinner to the Lion, and
Naval cadet J.B. Hay to the Viands,

---- S. W. Collier, an engineer in the navy, was on
Saturday tried by court-martial at Plymouth for forging
a bond and promissory note. He was sentenced to twp
years' imprisonment, with hard labour, and of course to be
dismissed from her Majesty's service with disgrace.
The fourth and last detachment of the sth
Dragoon Guards have arrived in Liverpool from Dublin,
en route for Colchester. They consisted of 99 men,
9 officers, and 116 horses, and were commanded by this
Hon. Colonel S. G. Calthorpe. To-day the Slat ltegimesl
will embark at Liverpool for Dublin.
A soldier of the 69th Regiment and the wife of
a serpent aelemheed enicide.eorrther on Saturday eight at
Dublin, by leaping into the river at Carlialebridge. They
were seen struggling in the water, and an ineffectual at-
tempt was made to rescue them. When taken out they
were found tied tightly together by • scarf passed round
their necks. The woman was rely twenty years of ego.
A beautifully modelled screw steam-yacht has
been launched from the shipboihting yard of Mere.
Palmer and Co., on the Tyne, for Lord Alfred Paget. She
is built after the model of the well-known clipper Hen-
rietta that won the great ocean tea race last year. She is
built of iron, and 123 feet 6 inches in length over all, 109
feet between perpendiculars, 19 feet extreme breadth,
depth amidships 11 feet, end tonnage 186, and is rigged as
• threentasted schooner.
MUTINY ON BOARD AN ENGLISH SHlP.—ln-
telligenoe has been received at Hartlepool giving pertieu•
dais of a mutiny which had occurred ou board the torque
Stately, Captain Stutter, of Hartlepool. The Stately left.
Hartlepool in the yrisg for Leghorn, from whence she
sailed on May 19, with a cargo of marble, bound to Bos-
ton, United States, nod she arrived there last month.
During the passage she encountered a severe gale, causing
the vessel to spring a leak, which hummed to 12 inches of
water per hoar. The crew, thirteen in number, were
ordered to the pumps, and they continued at work hi
hours, when all kends, except the mate and carpenter, re-
fused duty, demanding that the vessel be put back to •
pert for repairs. Captain Starter refused to accede to
their request, and ordered the men to continue their work.
The boatswain complied. but the others refused, and went
below, where they remained during the continuanceof
the gale. The ceptain, in order to carry his point, re-
moved all the provisions to the cabin, and then, with the
mate, carpenter, and boatswain, worked at the pumps for
34 hours, when the men came aft and demanded food.
They were answered that if they returned to the pumps
they should have their provisions as usual, which was
accordingly done by all except the ringleader, who was
placed in irons. The gale soon after abated, sad the leak
decreased to seven inches of water per hour, continuing
about the same during the rest of the voyage. By the
captain's energy, a quick passage was accomplished, and
the expense and delay incident to making a port of neces-
sity avoided.
SHOCKING ACCIDRIPT. —OD Friday afternoon a
dreadful and fetid occident, the result, it is feared. of some
necligraoe,took place on the grass-plot in front of the Royal
Western Yacht Club House, bordering on the Hoe. A flag-
staff was fixed on the greas-plot, and, the Plymouth regatta
approaching, arrangements were ~redo for painting the
staff. Two young men, named Noble and Avery, were
employed to paint it. Noble had been painting, and, on
feeling thirsty, just before five o'clock be descended, and
went to quench has thirst at a pump near. Whilst he was
away, Joseph Avery took his place, being drawn up the
pole by a rope, while he sat on a stick attached to the end of
the rope. He was proceeding with his work, with his back
to the Sound, when the inner support of the staff gave
way. This caused the spar to break just in the
centre, and it fell to the ground, toward the
path, carrying Avery with it. The poor fellow
fell under the pole, and was frightfully crushed. His
skull was fractured, and in addition he received internal
iujuriaa which werualonesuffleient to cause death. Several
who u ere near saw the accident and rushed to the spot.
Avery was lifted, but he did not move or show the least
sign of life. They quickly removed him to the South
Devon Hospital, but he was quite dead before his body
had arrived there. The deceased was about 19 years of
age. The pole was 70 feet in height, sad bad four gal-
vanised wire supports on either side. The pole, it is alleged,
was only fixed five inches in the ground, and several
gentlemen amongst the assemblage, drawn to the scene of
the accident, warmly denounced the utter recklessness of
such a thing, and to such • piece of negligence attributed
the occurrence of so melancholy an acci.lent. The pole,
being fixed but five inches ice the ground, must from its
great height have been very unsteady, especially with the
additional weight of the poor fello., and no number of
supporta at the top would have counteracted the insecurity
at the bottom.
NOVEL APPLICATION BY A POLICE INSPECTOR.
A young Sootchman, named Brody, was taken by Inspector
Carlyle before the Liverpool magistrates on Saturday, and
the inspector asked for a small allowance on his behalf.
Brody's story was a very curious one. A few days pre-
viously he hail arrived in Liverpool from America, loving
Mt in his possession, his seeing* during some years of bard
work as a dyer in the far west. Whilst strolling about the
streets he was robbed of all his mousy, and though the
thief was soon afterwards arrested, convicted, and
punished, the money was not recovered, and Brody in
despair made an attempt upon his own life. The attempt
was frustrated, however, and Carlyle having heard of the
ease, and ascertained that Brody had • desire to return to
America, informed Mr. Charles brlver of the &cum-
etance, and that gentleman at once offered to give the poor
fellow • purge to New York in the nest Cuuard steamer.
Carlyle now applied to the court for a small allowance for
clothing and • few other necessaries during the voyege.
The request was at once complied with. and Brody, with
brinimingeyes and • thankful heart, left the wart.
THE ROYAL HOSPITAL rox DISZASES OF ins
Crrr•kosu, EC. —The number of patients under
treatment at this hospital during the past week amounted
to 632, of which 50 were new cases.