The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-07 00:00:00

Cruise of the Royal Mail Steamer Wolf.

Admiral Dacres and the officers of the Channel Squadron
were on Thursday entertained on board this magnificent
vessel by the Messrs. Burns, upon whose invitation a dis-
tinguished company had the pleasure of meeting the naval
officers. The Wolf left Greenock at ten o'clock, and
steamed down to her Majesty's ship Edgar, the flag ship of
the squadron, off which she lay to to receive the admiral
and his officers, who came off from their various ships in
their respective boats. In addition to the admiral, every
captain and every commander in the squadron was pre-
sent, as well as a large representation from the civil and
junior officers; and it may be mentioned that the regularity
and order with which they embarked in the Wolf from their
own gigs and jolly boats presented a pleasing and animating
scene.

On the admiral stepping on board the private signals of
the Wolf were lowered, and the flag of a Rear Admiral of
the White was run up at the fore ; at the same moment
the white was substituted for the red ensign at the peak,
whilst the band of the 41st Regiment played "Rule Bri-
tannia" from the main deck of the Wolf. The ship then
hied away down channel on her cruise. Keeping close to the
south side till she reached Wemyss Bay, she struck across,
and after bending into Rothsay Bay, as far as to obtain
a view of the ancient burgh and seaport, her course was di-
rected towards the Kyles of Bute. through which the Wolf
passed, affording delight to all, but especially to the nume-
rous naval and other stranger 3 on board, who often and
again expressed their admiration of the beauties of this
charming marine route. Emerging from the Kyles, the Wolf
steered over to the west coast of Arran, and proceeded so far
as to open the Sound of Kilbrannan, and at this point she
turned, sweeping in by Loch Ranza, doubling the Cock of
Arran, and then pushing into the open channel. Proceeding
upwards at full steam, she reached the Tail of the Bank
about half-past 4, and here the admiral and the officers were
received, and proceeded on board their own ships by means
of their own boats, in the same manner in which they had
embarked. The cruise was a singularly pleasing one. Rain
occasionally threatened, but rain never fell. The Arran
Hills were seen under a shifting light of alternate cloud
and sunshine, and the serrated peaks of the mountains
receded from the sight, and again came into view, as if seen
throught tha kaleidoscope.

In all, between 200 and 330 ladies and gentlemen shared
in this gladsome voyage, amongst whom were—Colonel
Goodwyn, C. 8., and the officers of the 41st Regiment,
General M'Dowall and Mrs. M'Dowall, of Garthland,
Cclonel Bayley, R.E., Major Barber, Mr. and Mrs.
Campbell, of Blythswood, and party, Mr. and Mrs. Bum-
ley, Colonel Campbell, Scots Fusilier Guards; Mr. and Mrs.
and Miss Graham, Mr. and Mrs. and Misses Crum, Mr. and
Mrs. and Misses Hamilton, of Harlon ; Rev. Dr. and Mrs.
Foley, the Right Hon. Joseph Napier, Mrs. Napier, and
party, Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, Bart., Mr. John Maciver,
Mr. and Mrs. Shaw Stewart, Sir Robert Arbuthnot, Bart.,
Lady Arbuthnot and Miss Arbuthnot, Mr. Trevor, Mr.
Edward James, Captain and Mrs. Campbell, of Ardpatrick,
Mr. Lamont, of Knockdow ; Mr. and Mrs. and Miss
Arbuthnot, of Mavisbank ; the Rev. W. M'Donald, Mr.
Buchanan, of Auchentorlie ; Mr. and Mrs. Bosanquet,
Captain Algerncn Lyons, R.N., Mr. and Lady Charlotte
Locker, Mr. and Mrs. Napier, of Merchiston ; Mr. and
Mrs. Dennistoun, Miss Dundas, Admiral Sir Rodney
Mundy, Lord Blantyre, and the Hun. Misses Stewart, Sir
James Stewart, Bart., Mr. Donaldson, 3d Light Dragoons ;
Mrs. Kirwan and party.
_

On the homeward trip the party sat down to a dejeuner,
which was served in the main saloon, and was of the most
recherche kind. There were no toasts:of any description,
the ladies and gentlemen enjoying themselves with all the
absence of formality which marks a genial family party.
The Wolf was admitted to be no unworthy representative
of the mercantile marine of the country, when she lay
alongside of the iron and wooden walls of Old England.
The Messrs. Burns, who did everything on board to en-
hance the pleasure of the party, were, as we have said,
singularly fortunate in the weather; and perhaps on no
occasion since Lord Palmerston honoured the Wolf with
his company has there been a sight more imposing and
animating than that presented when the boats of the
squadron came alongside with their respective officers, and
when the crews " tossed oars," and gave to the chiefs all
the honours of the navy.
THE VISITORS TO THE FLEET.

Thursday, the weather being very fine, a large number
of excursionists visited the fleet. The Black Prince and
Warrior received the largest number of visitors. The colos-
sal proportions of these vessels, their marvellous combina-
tion of strength and grace, the novel principles upon which
they have been constructed, and the tremendous power of
their armament, give to them an interest which the wooden
walls now fail; to command. To compare the decks of the
Black Prince to a bee-hive would give but a faint descrip-
tion of the animation that prevailed. The spectacle was a
striking one, and must have been admired by every one
who witnessed it.

Large bodies of liberty men were again seen in our streets,
all of them behaving in a most exemplary manner. Of
course, Jack on shore considers himself as good as his
master, and while many of the officers were being conveyed
in cabs to the residence of Provost Grieve to dine, several
of the tars also got cabs, some of them seating themselves
inside—in the '' cabin"—while others got on the seat beside
the driver, to see that ho "steered" right. Those who dis-
dained the cabin and got on the upper deck (the top of the
cab) occasionally called to the driver to " lie to" when they
neared a spirit shop to enable them to take in some fresh
grog. A laughable scene was witnessed during the evening.
A handsome young fellow, a sheet or two in the wind, en-
tered an ironmonger's ¢h op and purchased a frying-pan.
He next proceeded to a flesher's shop and had the pan filled
with sausages, thereafter travelling from shop to shop ask-
ing the use of a fire for a few minutes to prepare his
savoury stew. But to detail the eccentricities of the "jolly
tars" would be an endless task.
The scene at the Tail of the Bank was a very animated
one. Hundreds of vessels, from the large sailing and steam
vessels down to the small punt, were continually plying to
and from the shore.

ADMIRAL DACRES ON THE UTILITY OF SMALL
VESSELS OF WAR.—On Friday evening Admiral
Dacres and the officers of the squadron under his command
were entertained to a banquet by the Corporation of
Glasgow. In responding to the toast of the evening,
Admiral nacres said that what little he had done in the
course of his career in the navy had been amply rewarded.
He believed there was not an officer in the British navy
who, if he had the same opportunities he had had, would
not do as well as he had done, and a great deal better.
Alluding to the ships ho now commanded, he said there
were gentlemen present who knew a great deal more of
building ships than he did. But there was one thing he
might speak of with as much confidence as most people.
Ha believed the present was just as well as any other
fleet in the world; and it matters very little whether it
was well or ill, they would manage to fight their way
through some way, and they would get the people on
shore to help if it came to the worst. (Applause.) As
to the Glasgow shipbuilding, he spoke not as a sailor only,
he spoke of it as a most interesting subject to every
Englishman. The great question in case of war would
not be, how many iron-clads we had, but what nation
would sweep the seas of its opponents ? He had seen yards
there that could build a vessel in a year, he meant such a
vessel as the Royal Oak. These, however, were not the
vessels we should want. We should want hundreds of
vessels like the Alabama, that everybody bad heard of, and
which the Americans were now suffering from. He did not
mean to reflect on the Admiralty in adverting to this ques-
tion of small vessels. It would be very unbecoming in him
if ha did, for he knew that the Duke of Somerset, in a
speech he made recently, was exactly of the same opinion
he had expressed.

BALL ON BOARD SHIP.—The officers of the line-
of-battle ship Duke of Wellington, now lying in
Portsmouth Harbour, gave a luncheon and ball on
offer
that noble vessel on Thurday last. The hospitableen of
°d
they
the gallant entertainers was well responded.
visitors to their
had the pleasure to welcome upwards of 200
ship, comprising members of the principal
at those pre-
county, including the Isle of Wight. Avong
Iftamilies in the
hie at rortsmouth,
sent were also the commander-in-
en, and of the ships in
the officers of the regiment in gasTe.r
VMS beautifully fitted
commission at the port. Thehavte
taste and effect for which
up, and was decorated with
tabundance of bunting and the
sailors are remarkable.
Ad
in every dit ection, but what was
gayest flags were displayed
most admired, perhapeoves
tle profusion of beautiful flowers
dispersed about the main deck and other parts of the vessel.
,0 well arranged,and was covered with
The upper deck was a 1
on the poop arrangements mere made for
an awning, while
the accommodation of the ladies, who were thus enabled to
view the animated scene presented when dancing commenced.
The luncheon, which was of a most excellent description,
was served on the main deck. In the decoration of the
tables a liberal use was made of many handsome cups and
other articles, lent by their owners. Amongst these were
many beautiful cups kindly placed at the disposal of the
officers by Lord Londesborough, whose brother, the Hon.
Albert Denison, is now serving as lieutenant on board the
vessel. The splendid Ascot Cup, won by West Australian,
in 1854; the Emperor's Cup, won by the Ursuline, in the
celebrated match to Cherbourg, in 1858 ; and the cup won
for the present lord, by the Albertine, last month, over the
same course, were amongst the more conspicuous objects.
Grimstoa Hall had also furnished a supply of flowers and
fruit, which arrived in excellent condition, although it had
travelled from the further end of Yorkshire to Portsmouth.
Several handsome epergnes and centre pieces, supplied by
Messrs. E. and E. Emmanuel, of Portsea, also contributed
to the decoration of the tables. The ship's bane, stationed
around the mainmast, soon set in motion the nimble feet
of the happy guests, and, with the necessary intermission
during luncheon, dancing was maintained with great an-
tnatiou from three in the afternoon till about eight in thei
evening, when the visitors took leave of their gallant en-
tertainers, and were conveyed ashore.
THE NATIONAL SHAKSPEARE COMM ITTE—The
t he cu
York,r rent
list of members added to the committee during
week includes, over and above the Archbishop o f
who has accepted office as one of the vice-presidents,
Canon Stanley, Viscount Itaynharn, Mr. Henry Reeve,
~ Dr, Charles Mackay, and Mr. Henry Huth.

REMEMBER, WE SUP AT Ei VANS'
EVERY EVENING THIS WEEK after Alfred
Mellon's Promenade Concerts.

SECOND EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, HALF-PAST 4 o'Cl. OCK.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.--This Day.

CITY BET TING—TEns DAY.
LEAMINGTON STAKES.
4to 1 agst Magnum Bonum (taken and offered)
sto 1 agst Fantail (taken)
Bto 1 agst West End (taken)
10 to 1 agst Amy (taken)
10 to 1 agst Flirtation (taken)
ST. LEGEIt.
7to 2 agst Ranger (taken)
11 to 2 agst Queen Bertha (taken)
Bto 1 agst Avenger (taken)
10 to 1 agst Golden Pledge (taken freely)
100 to 6 agst Lord Clifden (offered)
20 to 1 agst Blue Mantle (taken)
20 to 1 agst Borealis (taken)
33 to 1 agst Mogador (taken)
66 to 1 agst Cheerful (taken)
66 to 1 agst Scamander (taken)