The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-21 00:00:00

The Channel Fleet at Liverpool.

Since the Channel fleet arrived at Liverpool on
Monday last there has been a continuous and gladly
reciprocated interchange of hospitalities and kind-
nesses between the authorities on shore and the
officers on board. Several entertainments have
taken place on board the ships, given by the officers
and participated in and warmly appreciated by the
inhabitants of the town. On their part, also, the
good feeling exhibited by the fleet has been re-
sponded to in a kindred spirit by the inhabitants
and the authorities. On Friday a muncipal banquet,
followed by a fancy dress ball on a munificent scale,
was given in the Town-hall in honour of the visit
by his worship the Mayor, Mr. R. C. Gardner. The
banquet was attended by about 60 gentlemen, in-
cluding Rear-Admiral Decree, Commander of the
squadron, and the chief officers connected with it.
The ball which followed was of a very brilliant
character, being attended by upwards of 1,200 ladies
and gentleman, among whom were the Right Hon.
the Earl of Sefton and party, Rear-Admiral Dacres,
and the principal officers of the Channel fleet, Capt.
Inglefield, R.N., and a large attendance of the lead-
ing families of Liverpool and its vicinity. The affair
was in every respect most successful. On Saturday
Admiral Dacres and the officers of the fleet, in com-
pliance with an invitation from the Mersey Docks
and Harbour Board, made an inspection of the dock
works at Birkenhead, and also those on the Lanca-
shire side of the Mersey. At Birkenhead they made
an excursion over the great float, and inspected
the two large graving docks now in course of
construction, and nearly completed. These grav-
ing docks are respectively 750 ft. long by 100 and
by 85ft. wide. While at Birkenhead the steamer
in which the party was embarked passed through
the Victoria Lock—the first vessel which had passed
—thus virtually and in fact opening the communi-
cation between the river and the large " inland
sea" which constitutes the great float at Birken-
head. The party then proceeded to the Liverpool
side, and, landing at the Canada Dock, witnessed
the opening and closing of the 100 ft. wide dock
gates there, which, through the agency of hydraulic
power, are opened and shut within one minute and
a quarter. They then proceeded to inspect the San-
don Graving Docks, six in number, and each 450 ft.
long, wide enough, it may also be remarked, to re-
ceived such vessels as the Great Britain, which was
in one of them at the time. With all of these works,
and also with the mode of working them, Admiral
Dacres and the other officers expressed themselves
as much pleased. While on the excursion—which
was performed almost entirely by water—the officers
and a distinguished party were entertained on board
the steamer Cheshire to a handsome luncheon. In
the evening the Admiral and officers were enter-
tained at dinner by the Eari of Derby at Knowsley
Park. This evening the officers of the fleet will be
entertained at a sumptuous banquet given in the
Philharmonic Hall by the members of the Royal
Mersey Yacht Club. The banquet is to be ,on a
scale of greet magnificence. In the evening there
is to be a ball in the Wellington-rooms, in honour
of the occasion, which is expected to be a very bril-
liant affair. To-morrow the crews of the different
ships belonging to the fleet, to the number of about
1,2110, are to be entertained in a substantial manner
in St. George's Hall by the members of the Royal
Mersey Yacht Club, and other friends, in acknow-
ledgment °The generally meritorious and good con-
duct exhibited by the men while lyicg in the port
of Liverpool. _ .

i It, is v-,orthy of note that at the police• court on
Saturday the magistrate remarked that no one of the
belonging to the fleet had appeared in custody
at the p..-nlice-office on any charge, a fact which he
stated refiecttgreat credit on the general discip-
- rt. the men, and also on the
line maintained amu.., - shown themselves en
good character they had 01114
titled to receive.

11. from

It is understood that the fleet will net 'iv._
the Mersey before Thursday, and it may not be