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. Tho 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 forestaysail. 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
left 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
for 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 sho 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 ceal on their shovels from the bunkers 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 unseaworthiuess of the Prince 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.
ante 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 unseaworthiness, is however greatly increased by
her fearful propensity to roll. It was this qualitYlAptei,ally
which disabled and disheartened so many direr 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 aide, 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 •
sista 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, 58ft. broad, and has a depth of hold of 19ft. 10in.
She draws about 23ft. Bin. forward and 23ft. 81in. alt.
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 Trenchard, 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 moans 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
feblelambacankdinstoevethreelyhdolatasgimnasghitnhge
stwhhaei yp
hatchway
hao hugeuntd
aning
any fatal consequences.
A number of rolled armour plates of a new description
have been received at Chatham dockyard, supplied by
Messrs. 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-
d.awwbhi
as
iaec
about
been
nmuoastreeyd
epatlsa
etrnee
acq
auasri
erode
rine
qauTr
imhr
eeoduo
rnt
01 yi
sbpteahfiretx of the Achilles
stern,edt °ono complete
the 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 axed 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 td-day if
possible, and the ship is expected to sail as soon as it is con-
cluded, probably calling in at Plymouth Sound.

THE ARMY.
The head-quarters of the 55th Regiment will embark this
morning at 7 a.m. on beard the :hired sailing transport King
Arthur, Captain Marshall, for conveyance to Madras, in the
following strength :—Col. Robert Hume, Capts.' J R.
Hume, E. F. Twysden, W. H. Rowland, and R. F. Daiton.
Lieuts. A. H. Kay, W. M. Frobisher, and W. King ; En-
signs C. B. Betham and Braddon ; Adjutant 0. S. D.
Osborne; Surg. T. Parr; Inspector of Musketry, Lieut.
T. Dunn; 3 officers' wives and 4 children; 23 sergeants,
8 drummers, 313 rank and file, 43 soldiers' wives and 66
children, The King Arthur is an iron-built ship of 1,221
tons register and 233 ft. in length over all. She was con-
structed in 1861 by Messrs. Pile, Spence, and Co., of Sun-
derland, for the East India trade, and is owned by Messrs.
Higgins and Co., of Leadenhall-street. She is an unusually
fine, well ventilated, awl well-arranged ship for the convey-
ance of troops. 11(4. cabin accommodation for officers and
their families in the poop cabins is apparently all that the

most fastidious can desire, especially for the ladies and chil-
dren. The main deck, on which the troops will be berthed,
is of great height from the planking of the deck to the lower
part of the upper deck iron beams, and the means of venti-
lation, in which the roomy hatchways of the ship largely
assist, are as perfect as can be wished for on board ship.
The arrangements of the messes and the sleeping arrange-
ments are according to the excellent regulations laid down
by the Horse Guards and the Hon. Council for India. The
rank and file are messed and sleep forward of the main
hatchway ; next aft are the staff, non-commissioned offi-
cers, &c., and abaft all, and screened in to themselves, are
berthed the. women and children. The officers and crew of
the ship are berthed on the upper deck, the former in the
usual house cabins amidships, and the crew under a roomy
forecastle forward. The upper deck of the ship is very
much arched with sluice waterways below the level of the
deck, so that no large quantities of water can ever be washed
across it in rough weather at sea. The stock of water car-
ried in the hold is 244 tons, and the ship also carries a fresh
water distilling apparatus in the galley capable of furnishing
60 gallons per day. The fore and mainmasts are of iron, and
the mizen is of wood. The rigging and gear aloft are to all
appearance of the best quality. The fora and maintopsails
are Cunningham's patent. The boats are fitted with Clif-
ford's patent lowering apparatus, of the efficiency of which
at sea the officers on board speak, from their past experience,
in enthusiastic terms. The ship's ground tackle consists of a
Trotman and common anchor in use, with the usual spare
gear. All the cables on board were officially tested before
leaving the Victoria Docks. In the gale of Friday the ship
was brought to an anchor under Dungeness, the Trotman
anchor being let go. This, the ship's officers state, never
moved an inch after touching the ground, although it was
their belief that the common anchor would not have held
the ship in the position she was then in against the gale.
Should the weather be favourable, the King Arthur will
start on her voyage from Portsmouth this afternoon.
The Rajah of Cochin, hired transport, is expected to ar-
rive at Spithead at an early hour this morning from Liver-
pool, and will immediately on arrival be towed into Ports-
mouth harbour and embark the remainder of the 55th Re-
giment and detachments for Madras.

The screw steam transport Sea King, taken up by the
War Department for the conveyance of troops and artillery
supplies for Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday shipped a
large portion of her stores, consisting of one complete bat-
tery of 12 pounder Armstrong guns, and one 6 pounder bat-
tery, for effective service in the bush and over the soft and
cultivated part of the country infested by the insurgent
tribes, and inaccessible to the ordinary artillery. She like-
wise shipped 40 sheep, 30 pigs, 100 dozen of poultry, and an
abunndant stock of preserved meats and milk, for 151 days'
supply, should any unforeseen mishap prolong the voyage
beyond the anticipated term of 60 or 65 days. Lieut.-Col.
Williams, under orders tc proceed in the Sea King to take up
the command of the Royal Artillery in New Zealand, has
been provided with commodious accommodation for himself
and family, but on account of the indisposition of one of his
children his family will follow him on a future opportunity.
On account of the forward state of the embarkation the
order for their departure on Thursday next was yesterday
changed to Wednesday. The battery will consequently go
on board this morning, and the ship will leave the pier on
the following morning for Gravesend.
The Royal factories at Woolwich have commenced ma-
nufacturing guns of the new kind ordered by the War De-
partment. A number of the old hands discharged some
time ago, have been re-engaged, and the work is ordered to
be carried on night and day to insure despatch.