The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-12 00:00:00

Our correspondent at Plymouth has received let-
ters from Bermuda, whichstatethat the screw steam
corvette Racoon, 22, Captain Count Gleichen, from
Plymouth, March 19, arrived on April 14th at the
island. It is reported that she will return to Eng-
land to receive Prince Alfred, appointed to her as
lieutenant. The paddlewheel steam sloop Vesuvius,
0, Capt. R. V. Hamilton, from Fortress Monroe,
arrived on April 14, and was appointed to leave on
the 24th for Halifax, taking as
passenger General
Doyle, who has been on a i6i tof military inspec-
tion. The screw steam sloop Greyhound, 17, Com-
mander H. D. Hickley,sa.:led on the 16th for Char.
lestown. The screw steam sloop Petrel, 11, Comman-
der G. Watson, was appointed to leave on the 21st
for Barbadoes. The screw steam gunvessel Nimble,
5, Lieut. J. D'Arcy, which left on the Bth for the
Island of St. Thomas, was off Bermuda, on her re-
turn, on the 20th. She has despatches for the
admiral. The screw steamship Nile, 78, Capt. E. K.
Barnard, flag of Rear Admiral Sir A. Milne, K.C.8.,
from Havannah, was expected to return on the 25th
of April.
The paddlewheel steam frigate Virago, 6, Com-
mander Johnstone, from Gibraltar on the 3d inst.,
arrived in Plymouth Sound on Sunday with 14
invalids from the fleet in the Mediterranean and
some women and children from Gibraltar. She
also brought home Corninan-d-. _..Jawson, late of the
Shannon, which arrived from Malta the day the
Virago left. The screw steamship Edgar, 71, flag
of Rear Admiral S. C. Dacres, C. 8,, left on the 2d
for England.
The difficult problem of discovering a mode
by which the bottoms of iron ships shall be en-
tirely preserved from fouling has been but little ad-
vanced by the experiment just completed at Devon-
port. The premium offered by the Lords of the Ad-
miralty for producing the long-desired preventative
continues, therefore, open to competition. The iron
screw steam tender Minx, of 303 tons, which has
engines of 10 horse power, and is commanded by
Mr. Jas. Pook, does harbour service for the Chan-
nelport side with water. She
rec efli
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sdt esuepppt lei
me sbtehr e
osnh
he
es r
amid-
ships three samples of different compositions, each
10ft. wide, and extending down to the bottom of
the keel. The sample forward was that manufac-
tured by Mr. Finemore, the next was that supplied
by Mr. Elsworth, and the third was a preparation
ort dockyard. The remainder
Edwards, Assistant• Maste-
r recommendedbyp
ev Monr. p
of the port side forward and aft and all the starboard
side received the composition of Mr. Hay, chemist,
of Portsmouth. So prepared, tha Minx was
floated on the 10th of October, 1862, since which
time she has been constantly occupied on harbour
duty. Ships so employed foul much more speedily
than those making long voyages. After three or
four months' experience it was found that seaweed
and grass had grown considerably on the port side
of the Minx, which made her very " unhandy with
her helm." Last week she was placed high and
dry in dock, and an opportunity was given on
Saturday for examining her bottom minutely. There
is considerable difference between her draught when
laden with water, provisions, &c., as a tender, and
when in ballast; and, as she has been mostly in one
or other of these conditions during the last seven
months, the load line and the ballast or light line
are marked most distinctly all round. Between the
two there is not much vegetation, but on the lower
line, where the compositions of Messrs. Finemore
and Elsworth are laid on, there is a distinct fringe
of weed two feet long. Below the fringe in
the former light sea grass, small barnacles,
and much rust prevail. On Elsworth's
composition there are barnacles and thick
grass, but very little rust. On Hay's composition
there are some weeds, many email barnacles, but
very little rust. Before this preparation was laid on
a coat of bitumen was applied to the iron. The test
applied to the Min; according to the present trial,
places Mr. Hay's composition first, Mr. Elaworth'e
second, and Mr. Finemore's third in order o
success.

The Edgar, 86, screw, bearing the flag of Rear-
Admiral of the White Sydney Colpoys Dacres, C.B,
late second in command in the Mediterranean, and
the future Commander-in-Chief of the Channel
squadron, arrived at Spithead yesterday afternoon
from Malta and Gibraltar, and on anchoring ex-
changed the customary salutes with the Victory,
flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour,
G.C.8., Port Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
His Royal Highness Prince Alfred arrived at
Portsmouth yesterday morning from Osborne, in
her Majesty's screw yacht Fairy. His Royal High-
ness landed at the dockyard, and attended at the
Royal Naval College in uniform, where he success-
fully passed through his college examinations as a
lieutenant in her Majesty's Navy, His Royal High-
ness, accompanied by Rear Admiral Superintendent
G. Elliott, during the afternoon visited the turret
ship Royal Sovereign and other objects of interest
in the yard. He subsequently returned to Osborne
in the Fairy.

The Adamant, hired transport, arrived at Spithead
yesterday afternoon from Calcutta, with military
invalids from various regiments in India, who will
be transferred from the ship :his
morning to the
Royal Military Hospital at Netley. The Adamant
has made a miserably long passage to Eogiaod.