The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-11 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

The Royal paddle yacht Oaborne, Master-Com-
mander G. K. Bower, is being fitted in :the steam
basin at Portsmouth with new wheels, on the patent
feathering float principle, by Messrs. Maudslay,
Field, and Sons, the manufacturers of her engines.
The wheels with which the Osborne was first com-
missioned as her Majesty's yacht were made for the
paddle frigate Firebrand, and the pair with which
she is mow fitted are the only pair which have been
specially constructed for her.
Her Majesty's paddle yacht Victoria and Al-
bert, Capt. his Serene Highness the Prince Lei.
ningen, refitting at her moorings in Portsmouth
harbour, is ordered to be ready for service by the
20th inst., and, it is reported, will then be placed at
the disposal of their Royal Highnesses the Prince
Louis and Princess Alice of Hesse.

The Gunn, 26, screw frigate, Capt. Sir Wm.
Wiseman, fitting at Portsmouth for service in the
Pacific, is expected to leave Portsmouth harbour,
on the completion of her outfit, for Spithead, about
the 14th inst., and to sail in a few day afterwards
for her destination,

The Emerald, 34, screw frigate, Capt. A. Cum-
ming, on Friday made her fourth experimental
screw trial, at the measured mile in Stokes Bay,
near Portsmouth. The ship's draught of water, as
nearly as possible, was the same as on the former
occasions, being 20ft 9in forward, and 21ft 10in
aft. The wind was at a force of from 2to 3 from
the south-east. The screw used on this occasion
was one of four blades, the blades being set at equi-
distant intervals round a Griffith's boss. The mean
of six runs made gave the ship a speed of exactly
12 knots, an extremely satisfactory result, and fully
confirming those obtained with the same descrip-
tion of screws in the experimental trials of her
Majesty's ship Shannon. In fact, it may be stated,
that the four trials of the Emerald confirm the
trials made with similar screws in the Shannon,
and that so far nothing has been added to the know-
ledge
expected, w
e ho,
w alreadyeve
thatsses possessed
Emerald will conclude I
on the subject.
It is
her series of trials with the leading corners cut off
her four and six-bladed common screws, and
with a
two, a three, and a four bladed screw of the Grif-
fiths pattern. If this course is followed it will ren-
der the whole series of trials complete and highly
valuable, not only to the Royal naval service, but
also to the mercantile navy. In making the circles
on Friday, at the conclusion of the six runs at the
measured mile, the Emerald, with the helm sport,
made the circle in 7 min and 9 sec, the angle of the
rudder being 131 deg, and revolutions'of the en-
gines 53. With the helm astarbosrd, a full circle
was completed in 8 min and 22 sec, the angle of the
rudder being 14 deg, and the revolutions of the
engines 53i.

The Black Prince, 40, iron frigate, Capt. J. F. B.
Wainwright, refitting at Portsmouth, has her time
fixed for being out of the hands of the dockyard
officials by the 28th inst. There is a difficulty, how-
ever, connected with her cylinder covers which may
probably delay her completion until a period later
than the day named.

The Thunderer, old sailing 84, has been taken
into the ship basin at Portsmouth, to clear out and
return into store her fittings, &0., preparatory to
being made into a target ship.

A statement to the effect that the Board of Ad-
theWoolwich miralty has determined on abolishing the law of
superannuation in her Majesty's dockyards was last
weekconfirmed
ontbryoller of the Navy.
the reading of a
circular
It was directed to the apprentices in the factories,
who have served a great portion of their time under
the condition of being entered on the permanent
order from at
e
the
staff of the establishment after the expiration of
their term of apprenticeship- The memorandum
sets aside the established rule under which these
young men entered the service, and affects to free
the Board of Admiralty from responsibilityas regards
any future provision for their apprentices beyond
allowing them the privilege of continuing tempora-
rily in the service on the hired list, and to be dis-
charged as circumstances may require. The order
has occasioned much dissatisfaction in the dockyard.
Mr. Tucker, one of the superior officers of the
shipwright's department of Woolwich dockyard, has
been ordered by the Board of Admiralty to proceed
to Glasgow and survey the frigates (three in num-
ber) under construction by Messrs. Napier and Co.
for the Turkish Government. The frigates will be
built of iron, of the Warrior class. Two of the num-
ber aro already somewhat advanced.
The hired transport Ranger, of St. John's, on Fri-
day sailed from Woolwich pier for Halifax. She
was laden with a part cargo from the London Docks,
and shipped at Woolwich Armstrong 110-pounder
guns and gear, ammunition, and light Government
stores.

The Arethusa, 39, 600 hoarse power, is being
brought forward to take the place of the Leander,
39, 400 horse power, in the first division of the
Cnatham steam reserve in the Medway until rt-
quired for commission. The engines and machinery
of the Arethusa, which were taken to pieces and
stowed away after her last official trial trip, are DOW
being put together by the engineers belonging to
the steam reserve. According to orders received at
Chatham, she is to be commissioned in the ensuing