The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-10 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

The iron-cased screw steam-frigate Prince Consort, 35,
Capt. Vesey, which returned from Dublin to Plymouth on
Saturday, is now in Keyham steamyard for the purpose
of being thoroughly overhauled and refitted. As the
circumstances connected with her voyage to Liverpool to
watch the steam rams, and of her failure to reach the
Mersey have excited much attention, the following details
may prove interesting : She left Plymouth Sound on
Wednesday, October 28, at 1 p.m. The weather began to be
squally on Thursday morning, and at sunset it blew most
fearfully from west-north-west. At 7 30 a.m. on Thursday
the Smalls lighthouse, some miles west of Milford Haven,
was observed on the starboard bow. At 815 the course
was altered to north-east. Cardigan lighthouse bore east-
south-east at 11 40, and Bardsey Island lighthouse, east,
seven miles, at 1 45. The frigate then commenced rolling
very heavily, large quantities of water were shipped, and
the second gig was stove in. At 440 the Southstack light-
house (Holyhead Island) was observed on the starboard
bow, and sail was shortened. At 4 the wind carried away
she forestay sail. At 5 p.m. the Southstack lighthouse was
12 miles distant, east-south-east. The gale increased, and
a heavy sea was running, the wind being west and west-
south-west. As the night was approaching, it was not con-
sidered safe to stand on for the anchorage in Holyhead, and
the frigate therefore stood over for Dublin Bay. The water
then came on board in such quantities that the steam pumps
could not keep it clear, and all hands were therefore sent to
the ship's pumps. At 730 she lost sight of the Southstack
lighthouse, which then bore east-south-east. At 9 the
foretopmast staysail and gaff mainsail were split, and the
foretop gallant stay (wire) was carried away. The gaff
sails were taken in. The frigate laboured very heavily,
shipping green seas over all. At 12 15 on Friday-morning
Bailey-head lighthouse (en the north side of Dublin Bay)
was observed on the starboard bow, and at 12 30 the Kish
Bank light on the port bow. The engines were stopped at
1 o'clock, and the vessel came to off Bailey-head, in 20
fathoms, with the small bower veered out to 80 fathoms. At
8 30 she anchored off Kingstown in 7 fathoms, when the
cable parted, and the best bower was dropped and veered out
to 75 fathoms. The Prince Consort experienced very heavy
weather during the week she lay in Dublin Bay, and, being
ordered by the Lords of the Admiralty to return to Plymouth
lest on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m., and, after an ordinary
passage, arrived in the Sound at 6 a.m. on the 7th. But
fur the very superior engines of 1,000 horse power with
which the Prince Consort is supplied the frigate must have
gone ashore on Thursday night, the 29th, when all on board
would have probably perished, so severe was the weather.
Previous to the storm she went 10i knots an hour without
hot bearings, and at its height eight knots, head to wind.
Then the after stoke-hole plates were washed up, and the
water was so deep that the stokers were obliged to carry
the cGal on their shovels from the buskers to the furnaces
in order to keep it dry. The fires at this time could not
have been kept in more than half an hour longer. As to
the apparent. mseaworthiness of the Vrince Consort, it is
difficult as yet to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion.
From the immense quantities of water which were in the
vessel it was supposed that she leaked to excess, but there
is no evidence of the fact. When in harbour no extra
leakage is observable. It is unknown to those on board how
such an accumulation of water took place. It is, however,
certain that when head to wind under full steam great seas
were shipped, especially after 5 p.m, on the 29th, when her
forecastle port, on the port bow, with the waist netting,
was broken in. For such seas the Prince Consort has no
adequate means of escape. In other ships they pass through
the scupper-holes out upon the water; in her the outlet of
the scuppers is 6ft. below her load line. Not finding clear-
ance through them, these seas bore down the ventilators
and hatchways, entering the ship in every direction. Her
capabilities for retaining leakage, instead of discharging it,
and her uneeaworthiness, is however greatly increased by
her fearful propensity to roll. It was this quality especially
which disabled and disheartened so many of her crew. Her
engines, boilers, screw shaft, and propeller, 750 tons, are
of necessity placed (with the fuel) nearly in the bottom of
the ship. On each side, chiefly above the load line, she has
550 tons of iron armour plates. The disadvantage of this
application of weights for stowage purposes is unfortu-
nately increased by her ponderous armament, which con-
sists of 11 Armstrongs, 110-pounders, and 20 solid 63-
pounders, weighing 120 tons in all, chiefly near her sides.
A. ship thus weighted must roll, unless means are adopted
for distributing the weights or for counterbalancing them.
The Prince Consort has a burden of 4,045 tons, is 277 ft.
long, 581 t. broad, and has a depth of hold of 19ft. 10in.
She draws about 23ft. Bin. forward and 23ft. 8A in. aft.
When before the wind she goes very steadily, and, unlike
ships built of wood only, does not roll. Her system of
ventilation, as such, answers extremely well. It was stated
that when in Dublin Bay the crew of the Ajax assisted at
the pumps in relieving the frigate from her leakage. This
is incorrect, as the Prince Consort's crew only worked her
pumps. Boats from the Ajax made several ineffectual efforts
to recover the missing anchor. When the ship rolled so
heavily several accidents occurred. The only person severely
injured, however, was John Trenchant, A. 8., whose leg
received a compound fracture.

The Robert Keedy, laden with heavy ordnance from the
contractors at Lowmoor, yesterday hauled off the landing
wharf at Woolwich arsenal, awaiting the floe, to discharge
her cargo under the sheers, used only for guns of extraordi-
nary dimensions, The Robert Keedy arrived at Woolwich on
Saturday, and commenced discharging by means of the
ordinary crane, stipulated to lift 10 tons only. One of the
guns weighing 20 tons was already lifted about half way out
of the hold, when the chain, which it appears was covered
with rust, having been eight years in use, suddenly gave
way, and the huge gun fell back into the hold, smashing
the hatchway and main beam and severely damaging the
ship, but without any fatal consequences.
A number of rolled armour plates of a now description
have been received at Chatham dockyard, supplied by
Alessrs. Chapman and Co. The new plates, specimens of
which have been tested in the usual manner to ascertain
their condition, are intended for the stern portion of the
Achilles. Already there are four kinds of plates on the ex-
terior of the Achilles, supplied by as many different firms.
The broadside plates were manufactured at the Parkgate
Iron Works, by Messrs. Beale and Co. ; those on the port
and starboard bows, where they are required to be tapered
to suit the form of the vessel, by Messrs. Brown and Co., of
Sheffield ; and a few of the plates manufactured for the
Government by the Thames Ironworks Company have like-
wise been used as required. The only part of the Achilles
which is not yet encased in armour is the stern, on which
about 20 more plates are required to be fixed to complete
the work. Owing, however, to the difficulty attending this
operation, from the peculiar rounded shape of the stern,
the work of plating this portion of the vessel will occupy a
much greater time. :The date fixed for launching, or rather
undocking, the Achilles is the 26th of December.
The Falcon, 17, screw, Commander Parker, got under
way yesterday from Spithead to try her machinery, but in
consequence of the strength of the wind did not run over
the measured mile. The trial will be completed to-day if
possible, and the ship is expected to sail as soon as it is con-
cluded, probably calling in at Plymouth Sound.