The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-10 00:00:00

" FOURTH, OR STEAM TRIAL, AS PER PLAN,

" A steamer, of not less than 300-horse-power, to be
used; both anchors for testing to be let go at the same
time, the depth of water and the speed of the steam (to
go with a back turn) agreeably to the wishes of the com-
mittee."
The following resolutions, determined on at a previous
meeting of the anchor committee, were then submitted
to the parties assembled:—
" 1. That the committee approve of Mr. J. Aylen's
plan for trying the anchors in the parade ground of the
dockyard, on the beach, under water, and at sea, and
that the same be adopted.
" 2. That the trials be open to anchors of all nations;
that the weight of each anchor be 25 cwt., inclusive of
the stock.
" 3. That such of the anchors as the committee shall
consider to have proved themselves superior at the pre-
liminary teats should be afterwards subjected to such
further ones as the committee may decide on, by means
of two qt.amers at sea, with regard to holding, bringing
up, old tripping "
head Li.eiiminaries having been concluded, the par-
ties proceeded to the parade-ground, which was prepared
with apparatus and gear designed by J. Aylen, Esq.,
master-attendant, by which ingenious process no prefer-
once could bo given, or deception practised. The owners
of the anchors then drew lots for the respective stations,
port and starboard, which terminated in the following
manner:—
1. Mr. lionibal (patentee 1. Ur. J. Aylen,
master at-
Porter's anchor). tendant.
Trotman
2. Mitcheson and Son. 2. Mr. Isaacs .(American
3. Lieutenant Rodgers, R.N. anchor).
4. Mr. G. Lennox. 3. Mr.
improved
Porter's.)
4. Admiralty (new).
The gear being affixed to the anchors, the testing
commenced. In accordance with the above arrange-
meets, Honibal's anchor (total weight, 24 cwts. 3 (111.
201b5.) was opposed to Aylen's (total weight, 24 cwts.
2 qrs. 241b5.). At a long scope of cable Aylen's came
home 3 ft. 7} in., Honibal's 1 It. 6 in. The position of
the gear being changed, so as to have the effect of a ship
riding at a short stay peak, Aylen's broke out of the
ground at 9 ft. 7 in., or 13 ft. 2i in. total distance
from first position, Honibal's holding on settling 21 in,
only.

&itcheson and Son's anchor, weighing 25 cwts. Oqr.
albs., was then tried against Isaac's American anchor of
25 cwts. Oqr. 171bs. A long scope of cable Mitcheson's
dragged 1 ft. 6 in., Isaac's 5 ft. 7 in. At short stay
peak Isaacs's was lifted out of the ground at 11 ft. 6 in.
total distance from first position, Mitcheson's holding on
at 1 ft. 8i in. total distance.
The two next anchors tested were Trotman's improved
Porter's, and Lieut. Rodgers', R.N.,'Exhibition Prize An-
chor, the total weight of the former being 25 cwt. 6 lbs,
that of the latter, 94 cwt. 2 qrs. 22 lbs. Rodgers' drew
5 ft.; Trotman's, 0 ft. 71- in. At short stay peak Rod-
gers' came out of the ground at 18ft. total distance,
Trotman's drawing only 24 in., holding on at 3 ft. 91 in.
total distance from first position.
The anchor invented by Mr. G. W. Lennox (the con-
tractor for cables and anchors used by the navy) was
then tried against the Admiralty anchor, constructed on
Sir William Parker's plan. Their weights were 24 cwt.
1 qr. 25 lbs., and 25 cwt., respectively. At long scope
Lennox'e drew 2 ft. 71 in., the Admiralty 1 ft. 61 in.;
at short stay peak Lennox's broke out of the ground at
17 ft. 11 in., the Admiralty having drawn atotaldtihse-
tance of 10 ft. 81 in.
This concluded the first day's experiments, leaving
four best anchors to be tested against each other.
SECOND DAY'S TRIAL.
The experiments were resumed this day ?t nine m A..,
Llonibal's being opposed to Mitcheson and Son's anchor.
At long scope Mitcheson's 5 ft. 6 in., llonibal's 4 ft.
41 in. At short stay peak, Mitcheson's came out of the
ground 24 ft. 41 in., Llonibal's dragging 6 ft. 81 in. total
distance.

The next contest was between the Admiralty and
Trotman's anchors. The former at long scope drew
6 ft. 8 in., the latter 4 ft. 10i in. At short stay peak the
Admiralty anchor was forced out of the ground at a
total distance of 22 ft. 10 in., Trotman's drawing 9 ft.
11 in. from first position, but still holding on.
The eight competing anchors were now reduced to
two, viz., Honibal's and Trotman's, to contest for supe-
riority. These partaking of the same principle, the
greatest possible interest was evinced by the jury and all
assembled as to the result of the trial. Honibal'a at
long scope drew 5 ft., Trotman's 6 ft. 5 in. After a
most severe contest at short stay peak, the great strain
applied making the blocks and gear creak, Honibal's
was eventually wrenched out of the ground at 16 ft.
6 in. total distance, as against 10 ft. 2 in. for Trotman's,
which still held on. .

These represent bower anchors, combining the two
great essentials, strength and holding power.
Lieutenant Rodgers, R.N., having sent in an anchor
which he designated a stream kedge, possessing holding
power without sufficient strength, the committee at the
onset considered it eligible for trial. Lieutenant Rod-
gers however, evincing great anxiety that it should be
tried against Trotman's, which bad in this series of ex-
periments proved itself the most efficient, the committee
appealed to Mr. Trotman on the subject, who forthwith
accepted the challenge. The following result of the
trial, in our opinion, confirms most fully the great
superiority of Trotman's principle over that of Lieute-
nant Rodgers.
The anchors being placed port and starboard re-
spectively, the gear attached, and strain applied, Rod.
gers's:at long scope dragged 7 ft. Si in.; Trotman's, 6 ft.
At short stay peak Rodgers's was pulled out of the
ground at 24 fr. 6 in.; Trotman's holding on at 9 ft. 1 in,
total distances from first position. This terminated the second day's trial.
THIRD DAY'S TRIAL,
The experiments were renewed this day at nine A,3i . ,
by placing Mitcheson and Son's anchor in competition
with the Admiralty new one. The strain being applied
Mitchoson's at long scope drew 1 ft. 6i in.; the Admi-
ralty's 8 ft. 7 in. At short stay peak the Admiralty
anchor was lifted out of the ground at udistance of 14 ft.
91 in. from its first position, Mitchesai's firmly holding
on, and not dragging the least.
The gmt watiderice of Mr, 5:t002412 is the acitncy