The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-27 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.
Her Majesty's screw steam frigate Aretbusa, 35
guns, was taken on Wednesday, from her moorings
in Sheerness 'harbour to the measured mile off Map-
lin Sands, for the final trial of her machinery, pre-
viou* to her being place on commission, Capt.W.B.
Hall, commanding the Steam Reserve at Sheerness,
having command of the vessel. Mr. John Dinnen,
inspector of machinery, from the Admiralty ; Mr.
w. Rumble, inspector of machinery afloat at Sheer-
mess ; and Mr. G. Biaxland, chief engineer of Sheer-
ness docxyard, were in attendance on the part of
the Government; and Messrs. Matthews and Holli-
dAy were also pre.ent from the firm of Messrs. John
Peno and Sons, constructors of the engines. The
Avetlausa was built as a sailing vessel at Pembroke
18 years ago, from designs by Sir W. Symonds,
the then surveyor of the navy, bat she has since
been lengthened 41 feet amidships, and con-
vetted into a screw frigate at Chatham dock-
yard. Her dimedsions now are : Extreme
length between perpendiculars, 252 ft.; length of
keel for tonnage, 217 ft. ; extreme length, 521 t. Bin.;
breadth for tonnage, 52ft. sin.; depth of hold, 17ft.
lin.; and total amount of burden, 3,142 tons. The
Arethusa, together with the Octavia and the Con-
stance, vessels of a similar class, have each been
fitted with machinery constructed with a view to
obtain a greater amount of power at a less Working
cost than any yet introduced into the navy.
The
Arethusa is fitted with a pair of expansive trunk
engines with two cylinders 86/in. in diameter, the
trunk being 33in. in diameter, and the length of
stroke 42in., with surface condensers, containing
nearly six miles of 1-inch tubing. The boilers, four
in number, with four furnaces
aratusto
The each,prope are filleritts
ed
with superheating app.
Griffith's patent, pitch 20ft. to 26ft., present pitch,
23ft. During the trial 6 runs were made at full
The results were an average speed
boiler power.
of 11.43 knots an hour ; the revolutions of engines,
; pressure of steam 2316. ; vacuum,
65 per minute
27/lb. At half boiler power only two runs were
made. The results were an average speed of 8.780
knots, 52 revolutions, pressure of steam 161 b., va-
c
uum m26lb. The circle was made with full boiler
powers helm port 23/ degrees, in seven minutes one
second, the diameter of the circle being 501 yards;
with half boiler power, helm starboard 28 degrees,
is seven minutes 47 seconds, the diameter being 309
yards. The draught of water during the trial was
20f. 3in. forward and 22ft. 7in. aft., the vessel being
fully rigged, with guns on board, and in heavy sea-
going trim. The day was fine and the sea smooth,
with a wind from westiouth-west, with a force of
from 3 to 5. The trial, which occupied about 6 hours
from the time the vessel left her moorings till her re-
tura, was most satisfactory. Tne Arethusa, with
her sister competing vessels the Constance and the
Octavia, will shortly be placed in commission
and taken on a comi-etitive trial as to the con•
sumption of fuel and speed, as it is almost impos-
sible to arrive at the exact comparative results in
these respects from a trial of a few home at the
measured mite.

In accordance with instructions received at Chat-
ham yesterday from the Admiralty, I be line-of-battle
screw steamer Bombay, 500 horse power, is to be
fitted as a flagship for the East Indies. The ship-
wrights and mechanics were employed until a late
hour on Wednesday night in shoring her up on her
blocks on the water being pumped out of the dock.
On being docked the Bombay's draught of water
was 19 t 10in aft and 17ft forward. Notwithstand-
ing the long time she was in harbour, her bottom
was found to be very clean, and her copper to be in
excellent preservation. She will have to undergo
extensive alterations to adapt her for an admiral's
ship.
'the detachment of Royal Marines Light Infantry
sele,ited for service in the Conqueror, 78, 500 horse,
Capt. W. G. Luard, ordered to proceed to Japan,
assembled at headquarters, Chatham, yesterday,
under the command of Capt. T. H. A. Brenan. The
offieere and men were inspected by Col. S.N. Lowder,
aide-decamp to the Queen, and in the afternoon
were joined by the Royal Marine Artillery, from
Portsmouth, atter which the entire force embarked
en heard the steam tender which conveyed them,to
the Conqueror, at the Nore.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—J. E. Datham, master to the
Asia, for the Duncan; C. E. Gissing, J. C. Witkin-
son, E. G. F. Law, and G. A. Gifford, midshipmen,
to the Aurora ; Edmund W. Speck, Ford E. W.
Lambert, Henry C. C. Wynyard, S. F. Daabwood,
and Frederick Hutchinson, naval cadets, to the
Aurora ; W. J. S. Shand, nominated to a naval cadet-
ship ; Arthur H. Kelly, assist.-surg., additional, to
the Fisgard ; Constantine Keenan, assist.-surg., to
Hasler Hospital ; and W. Johnston, assist.-surg., to
the Impregnable.
The Rev. E. J. Hitchings has been appointed
chaplai❑ and naval instructor of the Conqueror,
commissioned at Sheerness.