The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 21, 1863

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.

The iron paddlewheel steamer Recruit, 6, 150
horse power, Commander G, F. Cottam, fitted at
Chatham for the coast of Africa, was taken to the
tiiaplin sands on Wednesday for the purpose of
making an official trial of her speed at her sea-going
trim, with all her Armstrong and other guns, stores,
&c., on board. On the occasion of her former trial,
on the 9th ult., the Recruit, after one breakdown,
attained an average speed of 10.508 knots per hour
in six runs at full boiler power. In four runs, with
half of the boilers cut off, the average speed was
8.652 knots, the paddlewheels making 31 revolu-
tions per minute. Her mean draught was eight
feet. Since her former trial all her guns, stores,
&c., have been put on board, and the result of her
performance on Wednesday leaves little doubt that
the Admiralty will abandon their intention of send-
ing her to sea, and immediately transfer her officers
and crew to another vessel. With all her stores on
board the Recruit lies like a log in the water, and
at times during the trial on Wednesday the sea
washed over her sponeons in a manner which was
rather alarming. Only two runs were made at the
measured mile, when the speed attained was only
about five knots an hour. Capt. Hall, in command
of the steam reserve, was on board to superintend
the trials; the other officials present being Mr.
Baker, chief engineer ; Mr. Moore, principal assist.-
master-shipwright at Clatham dockyard; and Mr.
Rumble, inspector of machinery afloat. After
steaming twice over the Maplins, the perform-
ance of the vessel was found to be in the high-
est degree unsatisfactory. Captain Hall conse-
quently determined on abandoning the trial, and
the vessel was brought back to harbour, a very
strong report of the unfavourable result of the trial
being at once forwarded to the Admiralty. The
Recruit is sister ship to the Weser, 6, now in
the Mediterranean. Both vessels were originally
constructed for the Prussian Government by Mr.
Scott Russell on what is termed the wave line prin-
ciple. They were afterwards exchanged with the
Admiralty for a couple:of our wooden sailing frigates.
The fitting of the screw frigate Arethusa, 39, 500
horse power, for the pennant, is being hastened as
much as possible, the Lords of the Admiralty hav-
ing decided on placing her in immediate commis-
sion. It is stated at Chatham that she, as well
as the Octavio, 39, 500 horse power, and the
Constance, 39, 500 horse power, will be despatched

on an experimental cruise to test and compare their
steaming and sailing qualities, the Arethusa, the
last of the 50 gun sailing ships altered to screw

steamers, not having been at sea since she under-
went the converting process at Chatham dockyard.
On the recommendation of Capt.. S. K. Hall. com-
manding the Chatham reserve in the Medway,
a method is to be adopted on board the Cumberland,
74, guardship—provioed it is found to be practica-
ble by the dockyard authorities—for masting cor-
vettes and other similar classes of ships, without
necessitating their being docked for that purpose.
This will effect a considerable saving both of time
and expense, the want of such an arrangement often
operating most injuriously to the service, by com-
pelling every vessel, however small, to be taken to
the masting shears in the steam basin of Chatham
harbour. The plan only awaits the favourable re-
port of the dockyard officials, to whom it has been
referred, to be at once carried into effect.

and success are alike admitted by all, and yet the number
of annual subscribers amounts only to 1,000. Our financial
position therefore is anything but satisfactory, and we feel
confident that it is only necessary to call attention to it to
induro all who approve of the objects of the association, and
whose means enable them to do so, to become subscribing
members. In that me we should number our members by
thousands instead of hundreds—our income would be ample,
well-assured, and independent of the many chances of the
prize meeting, where success or failure depend upon the ace:-
dent of weather, and we should then be able to deal more
literally with the volunteers and the shooting public, and
carry more fully into effect the objects for which the asso-
cia ion was founded.

ELCHO (Chairman). JOHN LATRD•
SPENCER. RADSTOCK.
HORATIO Ross. BURY, Lieut.-001.
G. RUSSELL. DE GREY and RIPON.
H. A. TEMPLER, Major. J. S. NORTH, Col.
W. WELLS. JOSEPH BARTON.
THOMAS FAIRBAIRN. DUCIE.
M. M'MURDo. W. C. BEIVES, Lt.-Col.
Tnos. STEELE, Col. S.FRASER. Master of Lovat.
GROSVENOR. C. H. LINDSAY, Lt.-Col.
C. HAY, Major-General. COLVILLE.
J. C. KENNEDY, Col. ALGERNON EGERTON.
LICHFIELD. L. LINDSAY, Lt.-Col.
A. KINNAIRD, Treasurer.
ED3iOND ST. JOHN MILDMAY, Secretary.
P.S.—Twenty-five of the banking houses of London have
within the last fortnight kindly agreed to open an account
with the association for receiving subscribers' names and
subscriptions, and it is confidently expected that their ex-
ample will be followed by the other banking establishments
in London and throughout the country.
It is only due to Messrs. Coutts and Co. to mention that
at the formation of the association they opened an account
for subscriptions, and have themselves given an annual do-
nation of 20 guineas. We may also state that although the
annual subscription is may £1 Is., there are 28 members
who subscribe sums varying from two to 20 guineas ; and
Sir W. Martins, Lady Martins, and Miss Martins have given
as donations to the association the very large sum of £375.