The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-30 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE•

PLYMOUTH, MARCH 29.--Tog MISSING} ADMIRALTY
STEAMER..—Her Majesty's screw steam troop-ship Vulcan,
Master-Commander John Penn, which was left by the
Simoom on Wednesday last, 10, A.m., twelve miles south-
west of Scilly, arrived at Plymouth late last night. Her
outward dates are—Portsmouth, Oct. 3 ; Cork, Oct. 12 ;
Sierra Leone, Nov. 8; and Simon's Bay, Dec. 12.
She left Simon's Bay Dec. 15, reached the Buffalo Mouth
on the 16th, landed her troops on the 17th, sailed therefrom
on the 18th, and returned to Simon's Bay on the 21st of Dec.
On her homeward voyage she sailed from Simon's Bay on
the 31st of Dec., arrived at Table Bay on the Ist of Jan.,
and took her departure for England on the 3d of January,
touched at St. Helena on the 15th, and reached the Island of
Ascension on the 23d.
She has returned Ordnance stores, guns, be., from the
Cape, and condemned naval stores from Ascension.
The Vulcan conveyed the Lord Bishop of Cape Town from
Table Bay to St. Helena. She brings, as passengers from the
Cape, Captain, now Major Monkland, 74th Highlanders,
whese leg was injured in an attack upon the Kafirs ; Lieute-
nant Palmer, of the 12th, and family, and Mr. Cassidy, who
has returned home to join the 21st Royal Northumberland
Fusiliers; Dr. Dick, of the 12th, and Captain Fortescue.
From St. Helena, Mr. Brownell; Ensign Cape, of the Gold
Coast Corps. From Ascension, Commander Corbett, late
gunnery lieutenant of the Penelope, who was wounded in
nine places in the attack on Lagos; Lieutenant F. Probyn,
Penelope, on sick leave; Lieutenant Williams, Royal Marine
Artillery, Penelope ; Lieutenant Noot, Royal Marines, Tor-
toise; Dr. Squire, Tortoise, in charge of invalids; Mr. G.
Bowen, midshipman, Royalist; Mr. Grant, midshipman,
Hastings; Mn Rainbott, second-master, Rhadamanthus;
and invalids from the African squadron.
It would seem that the engines and machinery of the un-
fortunate Vulcan have scarcely ever been in proper condi-
tion. The engines were constructed by Rennie, and have
been in use, more or less, since the 23d of January, 1851;
the collective horse power is 435, and they are of the de-
scription known as " horizontal," with direct action to the
screw. During the passage out, on the 9th of November,
the brass was observed working through the stuffing box in
the stern, on account of the friction of the engines, and the
revolutions were reduced from six to four per minute.
Subsequently the plummer block brass was observed to
wear considerably, which caused a jump upon the engines.
On other occasions the engineers appeared to have expe-
rienced considerable trouble in their vain efforts to get the
engines into good working order. The propeller shaft was
sent ashore at Simon's Bay.
During the passage home, on the 16th of January, after
steaming 13 hours the engines were stopped in consequence
of a favourable breeze having sprung up. The next day
(the 17th,
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the engines have never been tried since.
The greater part of her coal was discharged at Ascension.
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The passage of the Vulcan from that island to England is
not one which will reflect much honour on the steam navy
of Great Britain. The Vulcan, it appears, cannot get to
windward. About a month since she was 606 miles off, and
to cover that distance she has had to beat upwards of
2,700 miles. It is reported that her commanding officer is
about to publish an account of this remarkable voyage.
When spoken by the Simoom had provisions had been so
much reduced that all hands were on short allowance.
The Vulcan is called the sister of the Simoom; her en-
gine defect, off St. Helena, is of the same character as that
which occured on board the Megrera.
In consequence, we suppose of her very unweatherly
capabilities, the Vulcan, instead of being moored inside the
breakwater, has dropped her anchor off Cawsand-bay, near
Mount Edgecumbe—a most unfavourable position in case of
strong winds from the south-east. She will probably be
towed to the eastward by a paddle steamer.
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