The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-26 00:00:00

ARMAMENTS.

New Shannon. Old Shannon,
Weight
No. each. Calibre. No. Calibre.
Main deck ..30 65 cwt. 8-inch. Upper deck ..23 18-pounders
Upper deek 20 58 cwt. 32-pounders. Quarterdeck] 18 32. pounders
1 95 cwt. 68-pounders. & fofeeastle

The old Shannon was a sailing frigate ; the new one
will have engines by Penn and Son, on their patent
trunk principle, similar to those supplied to her Ma-
jesty's ships Agamemnon and St, Jean d'Acre by the
same firm :

Nominal horse-power 6OO
Diameter of cylinders equal to 70 inches.
Length of stroke 42 inches.
Diameter of screw lB feet.
Pitch of screw 25 feet.
Length of screw 3 feet 6 inches.
Number of revolutions to pro-
duce

The Shannon, launched to-day, was designed by the
Surveyor of the Navy, Sir Baldwin Walker, and only
about 12 months have been employed in building her ;
she has been hurried, owing to her interfering with the
progress of the work of the great dock adjoining the
slip on which she has been built. She pres,ents a most
beautiful and bold outline. Her figurehead is a hand-
somely carved bust of the late Captain Sir Philip Bowes
Vere Broke, by Mr. Hellyer, Admiralty carver, from a
design by Mr. Poate, of Portsmouth, and the likeness
of the gallant victor in the famous action is said to be
very correct. The ceremony of naming her was per-
formed by Lady Maitland in the presence of a vast con-
course of spectators. Her machinery is all made for
her ; she will be fitted forthwith ; and it is reported that
Captain Yelverton and the officers and crew of the Arro-
gant will be the first to commission her. In her action
with the Chesapeake the old Shannon had a crew of 306
men and threw a broadside of 5381 b ; the present Shan-
non will have at least 550 men, the benefit of Lull steam
power, and will throw a broadside of 1,2001 b. This
broadside is also 1 cwt. heavier than Nelson's old ship,
the Victory, ever discharged.

THE NEW IRON MORTAR-BOATS.—The iron mortar-
vessel launched from the building yard of Mr. John
Laird, at the south end of the docks, the other day, is so
constructed that when she has mortar, shell, crew, and
every necessary appliance on board, she will only draw
three feet of water. She will present very little bulk
above the surface, and as she will be painted seaegreen,
it will be. impossible for the enemy to distinguish her from
their batteries, even when within range of their guns,
except by the occasional puffs of smoke from each shell.
She is of 100 tons' measurement, and is made of the best
iron plates manufactured at the Mersey Forge. The ex-
pedition with wLich she was constructed is, we believe,
unprecedented. The order was received by Mr. Lair
on the 23d of October, the keel was laid down on the
25th of the same month, and on the 13th of November,
just three weeks from the date of the order being received,
she was launched in the River Mersey, all complete,
with mortar-bed, masts, rigging, anchors, cable,
shell-room, accommodation for crew, &c. She left Liver-
pool for Portsmouth, in tow of the steamer Uncle Sam,
on the day after she was launched, and arrived at Port--
mouth on Thursday, having been delayed by being
obliged to put into three ports, owing to the severity of
the easterly winds. The vessel is strongly built of iron,
with wooden decks ; and the complicated nature of the
work would have precluded the possibility of her comple-
tion in this short time, had not. Mr. Laird had relays of
men working night and day. The iron plates, &c., were
ordered from the Mersey Forge, from time to time, as re-
quired, and were generally delivered within 12 hours
from the time of specifications being sent in, The con-
struction of this morter-boat shows the rapidity with
which work can be completed in the Mersey, when
all the facilities are properly applied. This is the
first English mortar-boat built of iron; and, if the ex-
periments immediately to be tried upon her answer
the anticipations of the Admiralty officials, we may ex-
pect to hear of a large order being given for the con-
struction of more upon the same principle. Mr. Laird
is also constructing 14 wooden steam screw gun-boats, of
240 tons each, and about 69-horse power. She will be
similar in size and armament to the Lynx, Arrow, Viper,
Snake, Beagle, and other boats which have become
famous in the history of the naval operations of this
war. Mr. Laird is building seven of these boats at his
yard on the margin of the Great Float, at Birkenheal,
and seven on the Liverpool side. Although the ors:er
for them was only received from the Admiralty six
weeks ago, already about 1,000 feet of building sheds
have been erected at these yards and fitted with gas, so
that the men can work at the vessels night and day.
Four of the boats are well advanced in frame, and the
whole are to be ready for sea by March next.
[ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Pills a prompt and
certain cure for Bilious and Liver Complaints.—Mrs.
Mary Cook, of Mayling's Green, near Rumford, had
been suffering some years from bile, sick headaches, and
a severe liver complaint, for which she tried almost every
medicine usually taken for such complaints, but could
obtain no relief whatever; she had then recourse to Hol-
loway's pills, and so wonderful was the effect of this in-
estimable medicine that in a very short time she has
been completely cured by their use, and now enjoys bet-
ter health than ever. Mr. Yull, druggist, Romford, can
testify to the truth of this statement. —Solil by all ven-
dors of medicine, and at Professor Holloway's establish-
ments, 244, Strand, London, and 80, Maiden-lane, New
York ; by A. Stampa, Constantinople ; A, Guidicy,
Smyrna; and H. Hoods, Malta.
[ADVERTISEMENT.]— SIGHT AND HEAR IN(). —DgAFX" AND
DEFECTIVE VISION RELIEVED.— Messrs. S. and B. Solomous,
opticians, 39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. Observe--oppo-
site the York Hotel. Deafness—New Discovery.—The
Organic Vibrator, an extraordinary powerful, small, newly-
invented instrument for deafness, entirely different from all
others, to surpass anything of the kind that has been, or
probably ever can be, produced. Being of the same colour
as the skin, is not perceptible ; it enables deaf persons to
hear distinctly at church and at public assemblies; the un-
pleasant sensation of singing noises in theiears is entirely re-
moved ; and it affords all the assistance that !possibly eould
be desired.—Newly-constructed Spectacle Lenses or the great-
est transparent power. The valuable advantage derive.,
from this invention is, that vision becoming impaired is
preserved and strengthened, and very aged persons ars
enabled to employ their sight at the most minute occu-
pation—can see with these lenses of a much less magnify.
ing power--and they do not require the frequent changes
to the dangerous effects of further powerful assistance.
By her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent for valuable and
extraordinary improvements in the most nowerful and
brilliant Telescopes, Camp, Racecourse, Opera, and Per-
spective Glasses, to know the distances of objects viewed
through them—of great importance to the army, navy,
and others. These telescopes possess such extraordinary
powers that some three and a-half inches, with an extra eye-
piece, lc ill show distinctly Jupiter's moons. Saturn's ring,
and the double stars; with the same telescope can is;
soon a person's countenance three miles and a half distant,
and an object from 16 to 20 miles. They are of larger and all
sizes, with increasing powers accordingly ; while their vary.
ing from 4 to 6 inches enable us to discovermdre than the
above, and the Georgian, with his 6 satellites, &c.—The Royal
Exhibition, 1851.—Valuable, newly-invented, very small,
powerful waistcoat-pocket Tlass,the size of a walnut, by which
a person can be seen and known 1 miles distant ; they answer
every purpose on the race-course, and at the opera houses,
country scenery, and ships are clearly seen at 8 to 10 miles,
They are invaluable for shooting, door-stalking, yachting, to
sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and tourists. Opera,
race-course, camp, and perspective glasses, with wonderful
power.-39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. Observe—opposite
the York Hotel.