The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-15 00:00:00

Her Majesty's New Paddle Yacht Alberta,

The Alberta commenced her trial some time
since at Portsmouth, but, as will be remembered
from our reports of the trial at the time, it was not
concluded, owing to the breaking down of one of
her paddlewheels. Yesterday, the necessary repairs
and strengthening of her wheels having been com-
pleted, and the tide serving for the purpose, the
Alberta completed her trials, under the superinten.
dente of the port officials, preparatory to being
pronounced ready for the service of her Majesty.
At 12.30 p.m. she steamed out of the harbour, the
weather being very thick at the time, and creating
most serious doubts whether the trial could take
place.

On reaching the trial ground in Stokes Bay the
marks on shore could barely be distinguished, but
soon afterwards the atmosphere clearing a little, the
yacht was at once put on the " mile," and six runs
at full boiler power were obtained, with the follow-
ing results :
No. of Time. Speed of Ship. Steam. Vacuum. Revolutions
run. m. s. Knots. lb. of engines.
1 3 49 15721 27 27} 49
2 4 16 14063 28 261 47
3 348 15789 28 274 49
4 4 7 14.575 28 271 49
5 341 15'2.9 28 271 494
6 4 1U 14'100 28 291 49
The first mean speed of these runs was, in knots,
14.892, 14 926, 15.182, 15.432, and 15.344 ; the
second means were, 14.909, 15'054, 15307, and
15.388. The mean speed of the yacht at full power,
with and against the tide and wind, was exactly
15.164 knots. At half boiler power, so far as could

be managed by shutting off half the boilers, the
following results were obtained :—First run, 3min.
45sec. : speed 16 knots; second run, 4min. 43sec. ;
speed, 12.721 knots ; third run, 3 min. 49sec. ; speed,
15.720 knots; fourth run, 4min. 49sec.; speed,
12.631 knots. The first means of these give
14360 knots, 14.221 knots, and 14 176 knots ;
second means, 14.291 ,knots and 14148 knots
and mean of means, 14.219 knots. In
making the circles the results were as follows:

With full power, starboard helm, half circle, Imin.
26sec. ; full do., anin. 58sec. ; port helm, half circle.
lmin. 28sac. ; full do., 2min. 30sec. The angle of
the rudder was in both instances 241 deg. With
half-boiler power the circles were made with the
results as follows :—Starboard helm, half circle,
lmin. 59sec.; full do., 3min. 10sec. Port helm, half
circle, 1 min. 37sec. ; full do., 3min. 3seo. The helm
in both cases had an angle of 251 deg. The machinery
worked admirably—we might almost say better thun
any yet seen afloat. The speed of the yacht as
attained yesterday, which was really under the
most favourable possible circumstances of wind
and weather, does not, however, at all
correspond with the power developed by her en-
gines. A fair rate of speed was certainly obtained,
but this was only done by the power and effi-
ciency of the yacht's engines, and not at all by her
form of hull. On the contrary, it is almost impos-
sible to imagine a vessel to perform duty as the
Queen of England's yacht more unsuited for the
purpose. She has been built, according to Admi-
ralty designs, to ply between Osborne and the main
land with a less rolling motion, a less draught of
water, and a greater amount of deck and cabin ac•
commodation than is now possessed by the screw
yacht Fairy. In all these very desirable qualities the
Alberta falls far short of the Fairy. The
Alberta is not fast under steam ; she has very scant
accommodation, indeed, on deck or below, and she
draws far too much water to allow her to supersede
the Fairy for general work in her Majesty's service,
for the Trinity-pier in Cowes-harbour, or for
Osborne-pier.

Yesterday was a day of smooth water and very
little wind, but the sea curled up under the
Alberta's bows, when at the measured mile, nearly
level with her upper deck, while at the same time
a sea followed on each quarter almost sufficient to
break over the ship, and under full speed the after-
deck is continually swamped with the sea flung
on board. The Alberta, in fact, is nothing more
than a thing without form, driven through the
water by tremendous engine power, but not worthy
the position of a yacht for her Majesty's private
service, and a perfect disgrace to her designers.
Had she been designed for any other purpose
than for the Queen's private use our criticisms
would have been far more severe.

IRONMASTERS' QUARTERLY MEETING,

BIRMINGHAM, Thursday Evening.
The second of the meetings of the ironmasters o

this district was held in this town this afternoon.
The attendance was one of the largest that has been
seen for many years, and was composed of a section
of all those who are in any way interested in the
trade. The distant iron-producing districts were well
represented, as were also the shippers and home
consumers. From 2to half-past 3 o'clock the hall
was crowded, and considerable animation was mani-
fested. The amount of business transacted was not
on a par with this, but that it is to be traced to the

fact .of many of the ironmasters not being in a posi-
tion to accept more orders in addition to those they
have on their books; otherwise the demand for bars
to-day was so considerable that large orders would
undoubtedly have been given if buyers could have
insured their speedy execution ; but such is the con-
dition of the trade at this moment that many con-
sumers and others have orders out, and are unable to
get the iron delivered. But, notwithstanding the
existence of this peculiar, indeed it may be said ex-
ceptional, condition of the trade, there was a very
good amount of business done, much more than could
h

ave been anticipated, looking at the very large
quantity of finished iron which had been previously
sold.

Perhaps that which mainly contributed to draw
together so large an assembly was a desire to ascer-
tain the feeling of those who are engaged in the
trade, and to gather if possible some idea relative to
the future of prices. On that subject the tone of the
ironmasters was full of confidence, and that was
borne out by the eagerness displayed on the part of
some buyers who were present to increase their
orders; to such an extent was this, that a further
advance in prices was much discussed, but checked
by the leading members of the trade. As to the
tenour of the latest advices from America there is no
doubt whatever iron is to be had for shipment to
that quarter at any price, and some of the Liverpool
houses have offered contracts to makers of finished
iron which would keep them engaged during the
greater part of the year. In such circumstances, it
is no wonder that this meeting was characterised
by a marked and unusual buoyancy.
The transactions in pig iron were on a moderate
scale ; consumers would not go beyond £4 10s, or at
most £4 12s 6d. for hot-blast iron, all mine ; and, as
most of them were well bought prior to the last rise
in the price of the finished commodity, they will
be content to use up their stocks,and whatever sup-
ply is not yet delivered before extending their pur-
chases. Ths quantity of pig-iron used ia, however,
very large at this moment, and in less than a month
consumers will again have to come to the market,
and in all probability have to pay an advance on the
present price. The cold-blast iron is firm at £5 10s.

Ironstone, the yield of the district, is in good de-
mand, at advancing prices, and a considerable
quantity of foreign ore is coming in.
The spirit which characterised this meeting at
the commencement was maintained to the close. In
that respect it is a long time since such a quarter-
day has been experienced.
On reference to the earnings of the thick coal
colliers mentioned in the report of the Wolver-
hampton meeting, it was not intended to convey the
idea that the rate of wages is Hs. per day, it being
in fact 55., but that the me❑ may and do earn from
7s. 6d. to lOs. at the advanced E cal e.

After the meeting the members of the nsseciation
and some of their friends dined et the Hen and
Chickens Hotel.

A COLOSSAL MAF OF CHINA 200 YEARS OLD.

—The Museum of Prague has just received a
valuable gift, consisting of a colossal map of China, com-
posed of eight large rolls of paper, neatly fitting each other.
This work was executed in the 17th century by some Catho-
lic missionaries, under tho Emperor Bang-lli. The
Chevalier Lipowski purchased it lately during his stay in
China of a family which had been ruined by the war.
BIRD MUSIC ON THE PlANO.—lierr Golmick has
issued, through the house of Spina, at Vienna, a very clever
four-hand composition for the pianoforte, called "Les
Petites Fauvettes," which seeks to imitate the singing of
y4riolyi hifdos