The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-17 00:00:00

r:XIIIMSS, SATURDAY EvFNING, MARCH 17, 1866.

LATEST SPORTING INTELLIGENCE

(sr Lamm TZLIG/1•18.)
WARWICK NUCETING.—THIS DAY.

FILM. HANDICAP..

Jai* 's Aiii;
thasseook
Conics.

5 ea&
HANDIOLP.

Lord of the Mama 2
/Womack
ENTRIES FOR CHALLENGE CUP.
&bib, Diana, Jeruialere, Omar, Bolingbroke, Lissom,
The Swallow, Mariana, Aee of Hearin, tkirtolvia, Pallas
Lass, Bee, Acrobat, and Unkeown. All are here.
ENTRIRS FOE MILITARY SWEEPSTAKES.
Wizard, Reg Ramifies, Lamplighter, The Sarah, Tambour
Major, Sweet Spirit, Westbury, Lady Pigott, Hotspur,
Bird of Pauage, Spider, Te 11114111.013, Pardee*, Liooole,
Bravo, Cloister, Slasher, Little Hanky sad Queen Mary
All are hare.

LAUNCH OP THE NORTHUMBERLAND.

This afternoon the launch of the new ironclad
screw steamer " The Northumberland," bollt for the
government by the =wall Ins Works sad Ship-building
Company, is to take place. The Northumberland beloop
to the same ohm of vim& as the Miostaar and dencoari.

--
Her principal dimensions are u follows : —Lel4th be-
tween perpeediculars, 400 feet ; breadth, 59 feet 31 inches;
depth of bold, 21 feet 1 Web ; total depth, 4211. ;
in toes, 6,621; mean disught;of water, 25 feet ; WWI%
nominal bone power. 1,350. She is pecneeted by armour
plates 51 inches in thickness, with • teek heckles of 9
inches. Her proposed armament will be Co main dock
four 12-toe 9-Inch rifled guns (300-pounders), eighteen 9-ton
8-iach rifled gain (150-pounders) ; Co upper deck tear
6-too rifled guns (100-pounder shell).
The Northumberland, like the Minotaur class of vessels,
is built on the ram system, with • swao front, protruding
beneath the bow under water. The bull is throughout
separated into longitudinal and transverse water-tight coen-
pertinent', of which there are no! em than 15. This arrange.
mint not only provides for the safety of the vessel in ease
of injury below the water line, but adds considerably to her
_

The Northumberland differs from her sister ships in re-
gard to the mode of plating. The alteratios consists in not
casing the vessel with armour entirely at the stem and
stern, bat merely over those parts tekiog a broad belt of
iron above and below the water-line, reserving the great
raw of armour for the midships, which en-
ekes her heavy guns. Thus the Northumberland's
armour, for the length of about 100 ft. forward, is
only a belt of about 10ft. broad, and for the same
length at the aftermost part of the vessel it is
only Bft. broad, going to a depth of Eft. below the water
forward and 41t. aft. For a length of 200fth amidships,
however, the whole body of the vessel is cued with plates
up to the main deck. Here the armour rises to a height Of
16ft. above the water, and goes to a depth of 61ft. below It.
This main portion of the ship is further protected
by transverse bulkheads, plated with 4*-Inch boa,
inclosing the battery inside the ship as in a box.
These armour Dowering* extend from she floor of the
main deck to the spar deck. Above and beyond
these protections the Northumberland has a semicircular
shield, also of 4i-inch iron, which completely iodates her
bows at the forecastle. Within this shield two guns of the
heaviest calibre are to be worked as bow chasers. All the
portsills of the mai* battery will be, whets the vessel is
fully stared, no Ism than Mt. clear from the water. This
is lft. higher than the portaille of the Warrior, and solos
than 6th tin. higher than those of La Ciloire. All the
portholes ere made on the improved principle which is
almost peculiar to the iron-elads, and are very narrow.
She ie provided with a deck tower, will have five marts
instead of three, and have a crew of 750 men. With the
exception of her rigging sad engines, which are ham the
establishment of Mews. Pears, she will, when launched, be
almost ready for sea. Internally sad externally she pre-
gents a fine specimen of naval arehiteetcre. Their Royal
Highnesses the Prince and Primps' of Wales were to be
present, and Lady Percy, is represeetieg the House of
Northumberland, wee to name the vessel. The weather
which was extremely wet is the morning, happily cleared
up in the afternoon.