The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-29 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

Yvaterday the floating shears in Chatham harbour
were removed along t'ae entrance to No. 2 dock, in
which the ironplated frigate Bellerophon is under
construction, for the purpose of being employed in
hoisting the massive sternpost for that vessel into
the dock, which operation was successfully effected
under the direction of the officials of the establish-
ment.
The progress made in the construction of
the Bellerophon during the last few weeks, cense•
quent on the large additional number of mechanics
and other hands placed on her is very marked.
Already nearly the whole of the inside ironplating
has been rivetted to the frames, or what would be
called the timbers in a wooden ship,.in readiness
for the 18 inches of teak planking coming between
the inner and outside plating, and to which the 6.
inch armour plates will be bolted. This makes the
total thickness of iron and timber covering her sides
to be rather more than 3ft. Unlike the whole of the
iron ships hitherto completed, the Bellerophon will
be built without any of the bulkheads which form
the principal feature in the Achilles, Warrior,
Minotaur, and other vessels of that class, that system
of construction being, as is now well known, at.
tended with enormous disadvantages. In order,
however, to enable the Bellerophon to surpass in
strength and rigidity the vessels mentioned, and at
the same time to give her additional security, sbe
is being constructed with a double bottom, and is
thus the first vessel in the Royal Navy built on
this principle. The space between the two bottoms,
which are about 3ft apart, is formed into a number
of calls or divisions, crossing each other transversely
at right angles, the whole binding the hull solidly
together. The inner bottom of the frigate rests on
these ribs or girders, dividing the interior into sepaa
rate compartments, each of which is made watertight,
so that in the event of any accident occurring to the
ship's bottom the space in the immediate vicinity
only would be filled with water and the inner bottom
remain uninjured. In addition to the improvement
described the Bellerophon is also being constructed
with internal water-tight walls, running completely
round the frigate, and these together with the double
bottom make her, in short, a double vessel from end
to end. It will thus be readily seen that with this
system of construction the necessity for internal
bulkheads is almost entirely done away with, as it
is obvious that no ordinary casualty could jeopardise
the safety of any vessel so built. To render her,
however, still more safe, a few water-tight bulk-
heads will be constructed, but in the arrangement of
these care will be taken that they shall interfere as
little as possible with the comfort and convenience
of those destined to serve in the frigate. Beyond
the central portion of the frigate at either end the
lower deck will form an interior bottom, the
space below being rendered available for stowage,
by means of watertight trunks rising above the
water-line. Already the inner plating of the
kind of bower which rises above her fighting deck
some distance is completed, and the sharp projecting
wedge-shaped prow intended to be used for cutting
down an adversary finished in readiness for its steel
covering. The tower at the bow is intended to
mount a couple of 300. pounder guns, which will fire
straight ahead when giving chase to a hostile vessel.
It is also intended to place a rifle tower on the upper
deck, rising to a height of about 12ft., and this will
be rendered shot proof by a covering of 6-inch
armour.plates. From this tower the orders will be
conveyed below by means of the telegraph, while
it will at the same time afford shelter for the steers.
men. From the rate of progress now making there
is little doubt that the Bellerophon will be com-
pleted and out of hand during the approaching
year.

An examination was yesterday made of her Ma■
jesty's screw corvette Cadmus, 21, 400shorse power,
which has been placed in the third dock at Chatham,
but:the inspection failed to detect any Berko us injuries
to her screw or rudder post, and slits will accordingly
be immediately undecked.

His Prussian Majesty's screw steam corvette Vice
toria, 14, Capt. Batch, from Gravesend, on Monday
the 21st inst., put into Plymouth Sound yesterday,
through stress of weather. Wind S.W., blowing

strong, with showers occasionally.
Col. Lambriek, Royal Marines, was yesterday
appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, in the room
of Col. William F. Hopkins, C. 8., resigned.
Rear-Admiral Edward G. Fanshawe is appointed
Conservator of the Thames, vice Rear%Admiral Jas.
Stopford, resigned.
The fo:lowing appointments were yesterday made
at the Admiralty :—Commander J. E. Bickford to
the Brilliant, vice Commander Skipwitb, whose
period of service has expired ; George Bellamy,
assistant surgeon, to the Victory, for Haslar Hospi-
tal ; Michael 'l'. It. Rahilly, assist.•surgeon to the
Asia ; Allan C. T. Mann, nominated to a naval
cadetship ; G. Tucker, assist.-engineer, to the Cum-
berland, as supernumerary ; B. G. Little, of the
Donegal, confirmed as second class assist.-engineer.