The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7, 1864.

LIFEBOAT SERVICES.—During the recent
heavy gales some of the toats of the Royal Na'ional
Lifeboat Institution have been instrumental in rescuing the
crews of the following wrecked vessels:—Schooner Theophi-
ins, of Aberdeen, 5 men ; barque Taniworth, of Noray, 17;
schooner Northern Lights, of Preston, 4 ; pilot boat, of St
Ives, 7 ; schooner Anion. of Workington, 4; schooner Gipsy,
of Drogheda, 4 ; smack Saucy Jack, of Inverness, 1 ; barque
Marietta, of Lisbon, 1 ; fishing boat, of Filey, 2 • Tenby
fishing boat, 3 ; and barque Providence, of Dantziei. Total
lives saved, 65. The liteboats also assistei in bringino• safely
into port, with their crews, consisting of 29 men, the Italian
brig Camoglin o, the schooner Sir Colin Campbell, of Whitby,
floe schooner Guilia, of Palermo, and the ketch Snip, of Am-
sterdam. The hieboats also went off in reply to signals of
distress on fourteen occasions, but their services were not
ultimately required. The amount of reward p lid for all
these services was £216.
The Committee of the institutionearnestly AP PEAL to the
public for ASSIsTAN..E to enable them to meet the con-
tinued heavy demands on the Society's 125 hieb at estab-
lishments. Contributions are receiv, d by all the Lon,on
and country bankers ; and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis,
Esq., at the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi, London.

WHERE CAN WE MEET' AF lER THE
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Naval awl Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.
The difficult operation of fitting the iron masts on board
the Achilles was successfully accomplished yesterday by
means of the massive floating sheers, which were towed
down from the dockyard to Gillingham Reach for that pur-
pose. The iron masts are the largest ever constructed for a
vessel of war, and were manufactured at the Bridge Works,
Chepstow, by Messrs. Finch and Heath, who have supplied
the whole of the masts to the iron and iron clad vessels al-
ready built. The Achilles will be the first vessel in the
British navy to carry four masts ; but even with this advan-
tage each of her masts will be 100 ft apart, or considerably
further distant from each other than in the ordinary line-cf-
battle ships. From the success which has attended the use
of iron masts in the navy it is probable that in a sheirt time
wooden masts, even in wooden vessels of war, will entirely
disappear, their advantages over the ordinary kind of masts
making their general adoption a paramount consideration.
Experience has shown that iron masts last much longer than
wooden, that they are lighter and stronger, that they serve
as valuable ventilators, and are alsO better conductors of
electricity. If they are shot away and fall overboard they
will immediately sink, instead of floating alongside and
fouling the screw, as is the case with wooden masts. The
mainmast of the Achilles weighs no less than 21 tons 12 cwt ;
its length being 121 ft 9in, diameter 3ft 4in, and length
of head from hounds 20ft. The weight of the second fore
mast is 19 tons 2 cwt, its length 103 ft, diameter 3ft 4in,
and length of head from hounds 20ft. The foremast weighs
15 tons 18 cwt., its entire length 103 ft 10in, diameter 2ft Bin
and length of head from hounds 13ft. The mizenmast is
tilft in length, its weight 8 tons 12 cwt, diameter 20in, and
length of head from hounds, 13ft. The diameter of the
main and second fore masts at the head is 30in in each,that
of the foremast 24in, and of the mizenmast 193/4in. Each
mast is formed of three curved plates half an inch in thick-
ness, which form the skin, or outside shell of each,the joint
where the vertical edges of the plates meet being so formed
that the outsides of the masts show no ridges. Under each
of the vertical joints three strong tie-irons are placed, to
which are riveted the plates forming the mast, the rivets on
the outside being counter-sunk, or let in flush, the exterior
of the mast consequently presenting a round and perfectly
smooth surface. The masts are parallel from the heel to
the hounds, where a horizontal plate is introduced which is
made to carry the top, and this plate facilitates the reduc-
tion of the size of the mast from the hounds to the cap.
Where the shrouds pass over the masts the plates are double
to resist the extra strain and wear. In the transmission of
the iron masts from Chepstow to Chatham considerable dif-
ficulty was experienced. From Chepstow they were con-
veyed by special train to Brentford, where it was necessary
to ship them in barges, which conveyed them safely to
Chatham, where they were landed at the dockyard.
Mr. E. J. Reed, the Chief Constructor of the Navy, paid
a lengthened visit to Chatham dockyard on Tuesday, and
was occupied till late in the afternoon in his official duties
at that establishment, his visit relating chiefly to the pro-
gress made in fitting the iron frigate Achilles, on board
which he spent a considerable time. Mr. Reed devoted
some time to the examination of the steering apparatus just
completed, and from the trials made during the inspection
there is every probability that it will work satisfactorily.
Whether or not the apparatus will answer when tested at
sea remains to be proved, but it appears exceedingly doubt •
ful whether a vessel of the vast size of the Achilles, covered
as she is from end to end with some 1,300 tons of armour_
plating, will ever be made to steer handily or answer her
helm rapidly. In this respect the Royal Oak, previously
built, and the new iron-clad frigate Bellerophon, now in
hand, each of which is some 100 ft. shorter than the
Achilles, undoubtedly possess a great advantage. As was
fully anticipated, Mr. Reed strongly objected to the under-
water scuppers which have been fitted to the Achilles, and
there is little doubt that they wi'l now be dispensed with.
The absurdity of fitting a vessel like the Achilles with
scuppers of that description was pointed out some months
since in 2he Sun, and the positive danger that would un-
doubtedly arise from their continuance urged upon the
authorities. Still. however, they were permitted to remain,
but it is satisfactory to find that means will now be taken to
render them safe and reliable by closing them in with thick
wrought-iron plates. It is to be hoped that the mistake in
this respect will not be perpetrated in the iron vessels now
in progress. The want of proper accommodation for the
large number of workmen—upwards of I,2oo—who are now
employed without intermission on board the Achilles during
this inclement weather engaged the attention of Mr. Reed,
and measures will be at once aeopted for placing at their
disposal one of the sailing vessels attached to the ordinary,
which will be fitted up as a receiving hulk for the men, and
supplied with plenty of hot water and other conveniences,
so as to enable than to wash themselves before leaving
their work. Before quitting the iron frigate Mr. Reed in-
vestigated the causes of the numerous accidents which have
recently occurred on board. It would seen. that most of
them might have been avoided had proper precautions been
observed, and the officials on board were therefore requested
to urge upon the workmen the necessity of exercising the
utmost care in the various operations on which they were
employed.
Yesterday M. Bokamo, the chief constructor of the Im-
perial Austrian navy, paid a visit to Chatham dockyard,
by special permission of the Admiralty, and was engaged
for some time in inspecting the factories and other depart-
ments, as well as the vessels fitting at that establishment.
In the course of his visit Mr Bokamo made numerous in-
quiries respecting the iron-clad frigate Lord Warden and
the frigate Bellerophon, both recently commenced. The
latter vessel, is appears, has excited considerable interest
not only among the Austrian and French Government offi-
cialse,but also among those connected with the navies of
most of the European Powers, the recent experiments on
the Bellerophon target at Shoeburyness proving that there
is not a gun afloat belonging to any country which could
even pierce her inner skin.
A large number of additional labourers have been en-
tered at Chatham dockyard during the present week for
service on board the iron frigate Achilles.
Admiral Ayscough, whose death has just been announced,
was the oldest officer in the service. He was born on board
her Majesty's ship Swan, during a desperate action fought
by that vessel while on her passage home from North
America, and was son of the late Capt. John Ayscough,
R.N., who .was in command of the Swan on the occasion.
This officer entered the Navy (under the auspices of the
late Admiral Sir J. Wallace) Aug. 12, 1787, on board the
Goliath, 74, Capts. A. Dickson and Sir A. S, Douglas. We
afterwards find him serving as midshipman and master's
mate on board the Juno and the Hebe frigates, and the
Hector, the Alcide, and the Monarch, 74's, and employed in
the first of those vessels under Capt. S. Hood. On Nov. 6,
1793, the deceased obtained a lieutenancy in the Monarch,
flagship, on the Newfoundland station. Being appointed
July 6, 1799, to the Blanche, troopship, Capt. Ayscough,
attended the ensuing expedition to Holland, where he served
as a volunteer at the time of the debarkation near the Hel-
der, and was in one of the first boats that effected a landing.
In command of the Inconstant he attended the expeditions
to Quiberon and Cadiz, on each of which occasions he
volunteered his services on shore, and was selected to com-
mand a party of seamen. He similarly joined in the Egyp-
tian campaign of 1801, and for his exertions was presented
with the Turkish gold medal. After various services in the
West Indies, the Arctic Seas, and the Mediterranean,
Captain Ayscough, with two frigates and several sloops
under his orders, was assigned the deeply responsible duty
of protecting Sicily against the threatened invasion of
Joachim Murat, whose attempts, although in command of
40,000 troops and of about 200 gunboats, to gain a footing
on the island he succeeded in frustrating. He was next em-
ployed, with seven men-of-war at his disposal, in reconnoi-
tring the line of coast between Naples and Civita Vecchia.
He afterwards, from April, 1822 until the spring of 1825,
superintended the Ordinary at Plymouth ; and for his sub-
sequent able management as Commissioner of Jamaica and
Bermuda dockyards was honoured with the thanks of the
Board of Admiralty. He attained fag rank Nov. 23, 1841,
was promoted to Vice-Admiral Dec. 24, 1842, and to Ad-
miral Oct. 3, 1855.
The death took place on Monday of Admiral Sir W. H.
Gage, Admiral of the Fleet, G.C.8., G.C.H., and Knight
Bachelor. The gallant admiral, who died at Thurston-
cottage, Suffolk, entered the navy when he was only 12
years of age, and in 1796, being lieutenant of the Minerva,
he distinguished himself in an action with two Spanish fri-
gates and in the caeture of a French corvette. In the fol-
lowing year he became a captain. In 1801 he was concerned
ire cutting out from under the batteries of Cameral, near
Brest, La Chevrette, 20 guns and 300 men. As post captain
ho commanded the Thetis anq the Indus. aril attained the
rank of Admiral of tho Blue in 1846, end in 1854 was made
Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom. The dignity of
Knight Grand Cross of the Bath was in 1860 added to that

of Grand Cross of the Order of Hanover, already possessed
by the gallant Admiral, and in May, 1862, he was promoted
to the office of Admiral of the Fled. He held office from
1841 to 1846 as a Lord of the Admiralty, and was com-
mander-in-chief at Plymouth from 1848 to 1851.
The following appointments and promotions were made
yesterday at the Admiralty—Capt. R. Gibson, to the Dun-
can; Lieut. P. P. Luxmoore, Lieut. H. C. Best, Lieut. M.
B. Medlycott, Lieut. EL N. Heppisley, and Lieut. Ernest
Rice to the Duncan ; J. G. Dathau, master, to the Dun-
can ; Sub-Lieut. 11. T. Paulin, Sub-Lieut. R. W. Davies,
and Sub-Lieut. A. G. M'Kechnia, to the Duncan; S. M.
E. Wilmot, C. G. Williams, W. A. Jukes, C. D. Smith,
T. E. Maxell, W. F. Rock, E W. Hodgkinson, R. R.
Jaffrey, and G. A. Ellis, midshirmen, to the Duncan ; A.
O' R. B. Ternan, naval cadet, to the Aurora ; Lord L.
Gordon, H, B. Callender, G. S. H. Jackson, A. C. Corry,
T. E. Cochrane, R. Rumsey and F. E. W. Lambert,
naval cadets, to the Duncan; R. Pottinger, Staff-surgeon,
to the Formidable; J. Little, strg., to the Duncan ; J.
Towell, paymaster, to the Duncan ; Dr. H. Maxwell, assist-
surg., to the Duncan; J. C. Mike, acting assist-Burg., to
the Duncan; E. W. R. Veale, assist-paymaster, to the
Cornwallis; Henry P. Brevan and George S, Goddard,
assist-paymasters, to the Duncan; W. C. S. Hyne, clerk,
to the Hawke; Gilbert J. Vaux, clerk, to the Duncan; R.
W. S. Bishop and W. C. Pullen, assist-clerks, to the
Duncan ; John H. Brimacomb, assist-clerk, to the Aboukir;
H. W. Paul, assist-clerk to the Cambridge ; James Coade,
chief engineer, to the Fisgard, for the Mutine ; Adam
Shoolbread, assist-engineer, to the Tamar ; William
Walker, of the Triton, Thomas Cape, of the Esk, Mark
Hawkins, of the Cumberland, Henry Darroll, of the Royal
Oak, Thomas Jones of the Dasher, Robert Horne of the
Asia, and Henry S. Pemberton, of the Edgar, promoted
to be first.claas assist-engineers ; James Book, of the Bac-
chante, Gustav A. C. Beucke-of the Grappler, William H,
Smith of the Bacchante, William A. Stewart of the Ariadne,
and George J. Barber of the Immortalite, promoted to be
acting first-class assist-engineers; and Gerald Trevor, no.
minated to a naval cadetship.

reconstructed Union holding out its right hand
with fifty millions of dollars for Garibaldi, saying,
Take possession of Rome;' and one hundred mil-
lions for the Republicans of Paris, saying,' Make
Napoleon sit uneasy;' and one hundred millions
for Germany, saying, ' Make Kings tremble.' If
Europe leaves America to Republicanism, well ; if
she interferes, we interfere, and the right hand of
our resistance is clasped in brotherhood with the•
Radicals of Europe to upset every throne on the
Continent,"