The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-28 00:00:00

ARMY CONTRACTS.

Commissariat Office, Aldershot, Oct, 9, 1863.
TEND will be received at this Office, until
12, o'clock, noon, on THURSDAY, the sth November,
1863, f mill persons who may be willing to enter into Con-
trail to supply
PAILLASSE STRAW AND STRAW FOR ROYAL
ENGINEER SERVICE,
In such quantities as may be required tram the Ist December,
1R63, to 30th November. 1864, for the use of her Majesty's
rorces stationed at Aldershot Camp, and within the corn-

Forms of Tender and Conditions of Contract may be ob-
tained on application at this office, by letter or in person,
between the hours of ten and lour o'clock.
The Tenders must be properly filled up and signed, and
delivered atthis office (under closed envelope, marked on the
oc
putside "Tender for Supply of Straw)," and no Tender will
-noticed unless made on forms obtained from this office,
and delivered by the hour appointed.

NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE.—The greatest and
elrmost useful invention of the d y AGUA TARELLA
streetyollN GOSNELL and C0.a,'.3, Kling-court,Lomlbard-.
to th„. —°nuon Perfumers to her Majesty, respectfully offer
lestoi. Public lid
what
agaethe hums truly marvellous fluid, which gradually
dyt._ ; t 7,, _an hair to its pristine hue—no matter at
wilL !_eon he Aga A mamba has none of the properties of
y uh‘a__ from
wirketlit. 1ia41,18
Once Testored one application per month
in half bootleghihest order, toZbalou,;- !'rice one guinea per bottle, or
individuals
from artistes ot the
bility, ma._ , a,, 4
and Co. have i;eBeert on of undoubted respecta-
au.uapplication. Messrs. John Gosnell
ness the Princessoaaitued Perfumers to her Royal High-
-
EvOiYnT:itriFlnlteP,dp—, HOSPITAL, Gray's-inn-road,
way Terminus, at Kin vich i
nwa.crol tY of the Great Northern Rail-
Patron ,VL
walatrod Maste ' • •
l'resident--The ii"."l-iit'-'e.'l° QUEEN.
Treasurer—Ed of BUCCLEUCH K G
let t, the destitute-
This was the first hospital
It is e the principle of free
and instant admission introduce nnan'
Esq.
ntirs,,,cik, Without the for-
mality of envernora•
tntion in its most pititioert
6trnn 1.--viz., Y devoted to desti-
with adeq4r thatandis which is accom-
penicil by sickness and
large be rendered
warp p port, it may
of sufficient
ma, im i tilde that,
;;;puroportion of
the
receptioncapable of
it gratuitously aflords medical advice cover,
on the average, than 3,00,0 out, a NvineeeiT6l4' to more,
The Weekly Board feel it their Imperative duty to
EA RNEST APPEAL to the public f continued make at
,asupport,
to enable them to admit and relieve the distressing e
daily present themselves. sea that
Contributions are received by the Treasurer, Edward
maa,,..rinan, Esq., Nicholas-lane; also by Messrs. Coutt i
Co. ; Drummond and Co.:_ Berries and
Co.;; -.Mason: and -
Co. ; Prescott, Grote, and Co.; Smith, Payne, and Co. , G.
idi.
and Co. ; Jones Loyd and CO. ; Barclay and Co. ; Denison
and Co. ; W Matas, Deacon, and Co. ; overend, Gurney, and
Co. ; Nisbet and CO. ; Messrs. J. Barned and Co., Liverpool
and at the iloepital.
STANFORD S. SMITH Secretary

CELEBRATION of the TERCENTENARY of
the of SHAKSPEARE, at Stratford-upon-
Avon. The Tercentenary Committee (of which Sir Robert
N. C. Hamilton, hart, K.C.8., is Chairman, are now receiv-
ing SUBSCRIPTIONS, and they may also be paid to the
account of the Tercentenary Committee, at the Stourbridge
acd Kidderminster or Warwick and Leamington Banks,
Stratford-upon-Avon ; Messrs. Greenway, Smith, and
(:ireenway, Warwick ; or their London agents, Messrs.
Smith, Payne, and Co , Messrs. Hanburys and Co., or Messrs.
tslyn and Co , bankers, London.
The. Tercentenary Committee, in submitting the subscrip-
Pprsi 11,:t to the nation, most earnestly appeal to the admirers
?i
oliakspenre for their aid and assistance. The Committee
tifeir claims upon the ground that Stratford is not Only
alleacinrthplace of Shakspeare, but the centre of attraction to
~"%au irers of the great Poet's works, and that it was his
s the telYl3, he loved, and where he lived and died.

The Criterion, postponed from yesterday, owing to the
dense fog, brought 11 starters to the post, including Fille de
l'Air, Coast Guard, Linda, Evelina, and Ely, all horses of
repute, and carrying penalties for their winnings, Coast
Guard was made the favourite, but he was almost the first
horse beaten in the race, retiring from the contest at the
Duke's Stand, and the French mare having her horses safe
breasted the hill, despite her 91b extra weight, in gallant
style, winning by a 16ngth in front of Prince Arthur. This
performance stamps her as one of the finest 2-yr-olds we
have yet seen. The race preceding the great event, a VO
Plate, for 3-yr -olds and upwards, excited much interest from
the appearance of Johnny Armstrong, the trial horse of
Catch'em-Alive. He won easily, but the result did not im-
prove his stable companion's position, as he still remained
second favourite prior to the start. As the time approached
for the race the excitement deepened in intensity, and the
clamour of the ring rose louder and louder. After a delay
of upwards of half an hour the 40 got off to a fair start.
The race is fully described beloW. Sufficient to say that the
weight told on Carnival at the hill, that Limosina was
beaten about the same place, and that a slashing race be-
tween the three placed resulted in Catch'em-Alive's victory
by a head. The same distance separated Summerside from
Merry Hart. Great excitement was caused by Adams on re-
turning to scale not being able to fetch his weight ; ulti-
mately, however, he succeeded in doing so, and he was de-
clared all right, though it is likely from a discrepancy exist-
ing between the scales in use in the two stands the matter
will have to come before the Jockey Club.

The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge were
present. The attendance was very large, the weather every-
thing that could be desired.

Fifty Pounds, for 2-yr-olds carrying sst 71b ; three, Bst llb
four, 9st 21b; five, six, and aged, 9st 91b. The winner,
with his engagements, to be sold for 300 guineas, if de-
manded. Last three miles of B.C.
Mr Chilton's Claxton, 2 yrs, sst 71b (carried sst, 91b)

_ . .
(Carroll) 1
Mr G. Lambert's Farnhurst, 2 yrs, sst 71b (Atkins) 2
Mr Fleming's Jeannette, 2 yrs, sst 71b (Tweed) 3
Mr IL Joice's Folly, 2 yrs, sst 71b (J. Grimshaw) 4
Nucleus, Kate Coventry, Belle of Yorkshire, Dunsinane,
Inverness, and Bubble also ran.

Betting-2 to 1 agat Farnhurst, 3to 1 agst Claxton, and
6 to 1 agst Folly.

Inverness got away in front, and made play at a slow
pace for a short distance, when he was headed by Kate
Coventry, who came along at an improved pace, followed by
Farnhurst, Folly, Inverness, and Belle of Yorkshire to the
bushes, where Farnhurst headed him, and came on in ad-
vance to the site of the old Duke's Stand, where Claxton
came out and won cleverly by a length, a bad third, Folly
was fourth a head in the rear, Belle of Yorkshire was fifth,
Kate Coventry next. Tho winner was claimed by Lord
Westmoreland, and he goes into W. Day's stables.
The Criterion Stakes of 30 soya each, 20 ft, for 2-yr-olds ;
colts Bst 71b, and fillies Bst 51b ; winners extra. From
the turn of the Lands in. 52 ;subs.
Count F. de Lagrange's File de l'Air, 9st (car 91b ex)

(A. 'Watkins) 1
Mr J. Osborne's Prince Arthur, Bst 101 b (car 31b ex)
(J. Osborne) 2
Baron Rothschild's Evelina, Bat 101 b (culled 61b extra)
(Fordham) 3
Mr Cartwright's Ely, Bst 131 b (carried 61b extra)
(Custance) 4
Sir J. Hawley's Caryophyllus, Sat 71b (Wells) 5
Knight of Snowdon, Coast Guard, Vauxhall, Gazza
Ladra, Linda, and Battaglia also ran.
Betting-7 to 4 agst Coast Guard, 5 tot_ each agst Ely,
Prince Arthur, and Fille de I'Air, and 6 to 1 agst Eve-
lina.

Shortly after starting Gazes Ladra went to the front and
made the running at a good pace, followed by Ely on the
lower side, and Fille de l'Air, Vauxhall, Prince Arthur, and
Coast Guard on the upper ground, Evelina, with Caryo-
phyllus at her girths, lying close in their track. In these
positions they ran until nearing the entrance of the rails (a
quarter of a mile from home), when GazzaLadra,the favou-
rite, and Vauxhall dropped away beaten,leavia g Sir Joseph's
colt with a slight lead, which he held but for a few strides,
when he was headed by Ely and Evelina, who were closely
followed by Prince Arthur and Fine de l'Air, the latter
running wide on the right. On their fairly reaching the
brow of the hilt Ely gave way, and the French filly with
J. Osborne's colt came out, the five placed finishing a fine
race home, Fille de l'Air winning at last very easily by a
length and a half, Prince Arthur defeating Eveline by a
length for second, who finished a head in advance of Ely, a
like distance separating the fourth and fifth. Gazza Ladra
was sixth, Knight of Snowdon seventh, and Coast Guard
next, a wide interval separating these from the last lot,
which comprised Linda, Vauxhall, and Battaglia. Mr. J.
Osborne after the race lodged an objection against Fille de
l'Air, on the ground of age.

Selling Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 sous each, 10 ft, for 3
yr-olds and upwards. The winner to be sold for 200
sovs. R.M. 5 subs.
Mr Ten Broeck's Canzonette, 3 yrs, 7st 91b (car. 7st 10Ib)
(G. Fordham) 1
Mr Fleet's Glowworm, 3 yrs, 7st 91h.... (H. Grimshaw) 2
Mr Reeves's Topsy, 3 yrs, Bst 121 b (Reeves) 3
lkiir Bowes's Sauterelle, 3 yrs, Bst 71b (carried Bst 81b)
( A shrnall) 4
Count Batthyany's Actmon, 3 yrs, 7st 91b (11. Bradley) 5
Betting— 7 to 4 agst Canzonette, 5 to 2 agst Sauterelle,
and 5 to 1 agst any other.
Topsy jumped away with a decided lead, attended by
Glowworm to the bushes, where the pair raced head and
head to half. way down the hill, where they were joined by
the favourite and Sauterelle, the lot running in company
into the bottom, where Canzonette drew away and won easily
by half a length, a length between the second and third.
The All-Aged Stakes of 100 soya each, h ft, 16 soya ft.
if declared and 25 Bova ft, if declared in the July meet-

Punctually at the time set down the 40 riders were
weighed and took their departure to meet the starter, who
speedily got them in order, but in consequence of the over-
anxiety of several of the riders the start was delayed up-
wards of 47 minutes, At last the signal was lowered, and
they were despatched from the post nearly in a line, but
after they had proceeded a quarter of a mile Merry Hart
emerged from the ruck and came on with a slight lead of
Despair, Cairncastle, Juliet, Polynesia, Carnival, and Blue
Mantle, the others lying nearly in a line widely spread
across the heath, headed by Carnival, Bohemia, Exchequer,
Catch-'em-Alive, Summcrside, and Tolurno. They ran
thus, as nearly as we could make out, to the Old Duke's
Stand, where Cairncastle and Blue Mantle gave way, and
Glenorchy joined the leaders, who came in the centre of
the course, with Hospodar and Fantail on the lower
ground. On entering the rails Glenorchy's colours were
seen in advance, closely pressed by Merry Hart, at whose
girths came Summerside and Catch-'em-Alive, the latter
being on the upper ground and Juliet on their loft. Half
way up the hill, Carnival with Polynesia and Blue Mantle
were beaten, and the race was left with the four. Lord
Westmorland's filly retained her advantage to within
a hundred strides of the chair, when the three joined
issue, Catch-'em-Alive getting up in the last stride, and
winning a fine race by a head, a head separating the
second and third, a neck between the third and fourth;
Bohemia was fifth, Polynesia sixth, and Glenorchy seventh.
The next lot were headed by Borealis, Despair, Blue
Mantle, and Limosina ; the others were widely spread, the
last were The Monk, Bellnaan, Carisbrook, and Victor, the
latter walking in some distance in their rear. On returning
to scale it was found that Adams who rode the winner
could not draw the
Weight, which immediately
created an immense sensation with those who had backed
him, and a scene of excitement ensued that we have but
seldom witnessed. Admiral Rous and Lord Coventry, the
senior stewards, were called in, who, having examined the
scales, pronounced him ', all right ;" but, subsequently,
Lord Westmoreland lodged an objection with Mr. Man-
ning, demanding a further investigation. The stewards
met before dinner and decided that the owner of Catch-'ern-
Alive was entitled to the stakes, the scales having been
found defective at the stand at the top of the town, where
they weighed in.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
It will be seen from the result of the race that
the judge's decision and the prediction of " A
Fresh Man" in The Sun of Monday very nearly
agree. Out of a field of FORTY I actually placed
the First and Third, as the following extract from
my prophecy will show :
Having noticed the merits of those likely to take a
prominent part in the race, I will now attempt to forestall
the judge in his decision by placing
CATCH= EM-ALIVE ................ 1
LIMOSINA ............. 2
SUMMERSIDE ........ 3
The excitement after the horses had weighed in
was immense, as Catch-'em-Alive was found to be
nearly lib. short of weight, and the rider of Merry
Hart pronounced to be all right. Lord Westmore-
land immediately claimed the race as his.
When, however, the rider of Summerside weighed
he was also found to be short of weight, which led
to an examination of the scales, when it was found
that some unprincipled had inserted
two pieces of lead on the weight side, making more
-'ena-Alive. This
than 11b. against the rider of Catch
immediately rectified the error, and Seratehem was
declared the winner to the intense delight of
William Day, " A Fresh Man,'' and the readers of
The Sun.

Lord Westmoreland lads lodged a third objection
against Scratchon, but as the Stewards' decision is
seldom overruled, his lordship ought to take the
advice that our facetious contemporary Punch gave
Lord Stamford last week, viz., " That noble lords
have as good a right to eeratch themselves as any
other TilOn."

A FRESH MAN.
4' We leave car naaors to fill up the blank.

Handicap Sweepstakes of 10 soya each, for 3 .p.-olds and
upwards; T.Y.C. 4 subs. The highest weight .left in
•
at 10 o'clock the evening before running being Bst 6h' it
was raised to Bst 101 Ia and the others in proportion.
Mr G Bryan's Zora, 5 yrs, Bst lolb (Custance) w.o.
Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 soya each, 10 ft, for 2-yr.olds
and 3-yr-olds. T.Y.C. 15 subs.
Mr (lapel's Teddy 2 yrs' Est 10lb (Loates) 1
Mr G. Bryan's Woodcraft, 2 yrs, 6st 121 b (T French) 2
Baron Rothschild's Breeze, 2 yrs, Est 51b.. (« 3
The tollowitig also ran.'--Vivid, 41N•Ws Armatronh, Ania-

With regard to a paragraph which appeared in
the Naval and Military Intelligence of yesterday
relative to scarlet fever on board the cadet training
snip Britannia, at Dartmouth, we learn that Capt.
Powell has been authorised to disperse the boys
should matters become worse. He is gratified in
having received liberty to act, which places him
more
at ease, but he hopes that there will be no ne-
cessity to send the lads home, as there have been no
fresh cases since Friday, and young Mr. Brocke,
about whom he was so anxious, is recovering,
although he cannot yet be pronounced out of dan-
ger.
It would have been a source of much annoy-
ance to Capt. Powell to break up before the usual
time,
as the boys thoroughly enjoy themselves on
board the Britannia, and work with so much spirit
that an interruption would have been a great check
to their progress. Yesterday a north-easterly wind
which was the most favourable the
was blowing,
Britannia has had for some time. There is not now
a single case of scarlet fever on board. Every patient
has been
removed to sick quarters on shore.
The Lords of the Admiralty on Monday afternoon
transmitted a telegram to Port-Admiral Stewart, at
Devonport, to have the new steam iron-cased fri-
gate Prince Consort, 20, 4,043 tons, commissioned
for " short service, supposed to be for a month, and
giving the command to Captaia Vesey, whose com-
mand of the Royal Adelaide expires on Saturday.
s were also despatched to Commandant
Telegram
Gascoigne to send one captain, three subalterns, and
100 Royal Marines on board ; to the Royal Naval
Hospital to send two surgeons; acd to the Royal
William victualling-yard to prepare provisions.
Yesterday
morning the Marines, with 450 seamen
al Adelaide, Cambridge, and Canopus,
from the Rey
began to prepare the Prince Consort, and proceeded
most actively to bend sails, &e., and boats were
hastily launched from the dockyard. A court-mar-
tial was postponed until Thursday. At 10 o'clock
orders were unexpectedly received to stop all further
progress. The men returned to their ships, and the
.Marines to their barracks. Shortly before noon, how-
ever, another telegram was received to prepare
the Prince Consort for a trial trip, and the men re-
newed their labours on board. At a late hour last
evening it was announced that the ship's destine.-
tion is Liverpool, and that her duty there will be
to watch the iron rams preparing for sea in Mr.
Laud's yard.
The Prince Consort went in the
evening from Hamoaze into the Sound. It is ex-
pected that immediately after her compasses are
adjusted this morning she will sail for her destina.
tion. The apparent indecision on the part of the
Lords of the Admiralty is attributed to an error in
the transmission of the message of yesterday morn-

ing.
The screw steamship Desperate, Commander
Arthur T. Thrupp, from Jamaica, Sept. 23, and
Bermuda, Oat. 6, arrived in Plymouth Sound yes-
terday (Tuesday) afternoon. She brings as passen-
gers from Bermuda, Dr. Donville, her Majesty's
ship Nile, and Mrs. Donville, and the Rev. John
Evans
and Sub-Lieutenants Darwell, from the
Landrail,
Skipworth, from the Challenger.
Mr. e
t and
head
Master-Assistant of the Ariadne,
i
and Mr. E. N. Naylor, midshipman from the Phae-
ton, 12 supernumeraries, 6 naval and 10 military
invalids, and 5 military prisoners. She left at
Jamaica the Ariadne, the Cygnet, and the Barra-
couta, and at Bermuda the Challenger and the
Plover. She spoke on the 21st of October, in lat.
44 23 N., long., 21 21 W., the Flyingnglish bark Flying
Cloud,The and
Resistance,on the
16, ironfrigate,
23d , in 46 2 N.,5 long. 15 30 W„
i,he ship Beloochee, outward bound.
Capt. Chamber-
lain, had her bottom examined and reported upon
yesterday, on being docked, by the officials of Ports-
mouth dockyard. She was coated when last in dock
with Hay's and Peacock's protective and antifoul-
ing compositions on opposite sides. On examining
both sides now they appear to be nearly alike in
their state, whether as regards cleanliness or pre-
servation of the iron, but if there is any difference
it is certainly in favour of the " Peacock," as
the " Hay " side has a more liberal allowance
of adhesions of all kinds—dirt, coralline, weed,
and barnacle. Small patches on the ship's bottom
when last in dock were coated with Brown's patent
vitrous sheathing, attached to the iron of the
ship's bottom with Hay's marine glue. The ma-
jority of these plates have, however, fallen off, hut
the patentee of the vitrous sheathing, who was pre-
sent yesterday at the inspection of the ship's bot-
tom, attributes the falling off of the plates to the
inefficiency of the marine glue for the purpose to
which it was applied, and the glue remaining on
the ship's bottom appears in a great degree to verify
this assertion by its evidently
fresh trial will probably be ordered to test both
glue and sheathing. decomposed state. A
Admiralty instructions were yesterday conveyed
by telegram to the authorities of Woolwich dock-
yard annulling the previous order for the removal
of the iron-cased ship Caledonia tbis day from the
Victoria docks to Sheerness. It appears that the
works on board recoire some few days more for
completion, although the men have been latterl\'
employed day and night. Their Lordships ha;
twelve-
month ordered her detention in the Victoriq decks
until the 10th of November. Shy; was IRirrolei from
her building slip at -Woolwich precisely n.
ago—namely, October 21, 1862,
The iron-cased ship
Royal 0.,1„., 00, Cept. Fred.
A. Campbell, one of the Channel squadron, was
nlaced in No. 1 dock
dav last. When high
in Keyham steam-yard on
Fr.
and dry on the blocks she d
gave ', about an inch, which is not considered much,
as most 8,211)s droop a little at both ends when afloat.
The ports a ,:he Royal Oak, which are of iron, were
originally 101,4 ,;:n hinged below, 60 tiatA when they

were thrown down their weight tended to break the
hinges and detach them from the ship. Since she
has been at Keyham the ports have al/ been removed,
and they are nose to be hung from the heads of the
poi tsholes. There is some talk of increasing the
canvas of the Royal Oak by rigging her chip-like
aft. At present she carries no yards on her mizen
mast, being what may be called hark-rigged. In
consequence probably of the position of the engines
and machinery her mainmast is stepped well
aft, and its present position would not perhaps ac-
cord with the applic ition of increased canvas on the
mizen, which might destroy the balance of the sail-
ing forces. With light winds much silted cannot
be got out of the Royal Oak, but when going before
a strong wind she is said to be the fastest ship in
the squadron. When the Warrior was running
with studding sails alow and aloft the Royal Oak
was obliged to drop her topsails to the cap to keep
company with her, The Royal Oak, which is 100
feet shorter than the Warrior and Black Prince,
can stay in about four minutes. In the west it is
considered very remarkable that while the Royal
Oak is furnished in her 'tween decks with two
powerful guns aft, which would be extremely use-
ful when chased, she has none for use forward when
pursuing an enemy. It is true that there are pivot
guns on her upper deck, but no artillerymen could
work these when exposed to the rifles of an oppo-
nent. Perhaps the existence of bow ports might
decrease the efficiency of the Royal Oak as as a ram.
Could not her hawser-holes, which are very capa-
cious, be adapted foc bow ports ? This ship has an
iron standing bowsprit, which is considered disad-
vantageous for running down an enemy. The most
important fact connected with the late trial of the
Royal Oak at sea is that which relates to the pre-
sent condition of her iron-plating on and below the
load-line. She is, we believe, the first of the iron
armour-plated wooden ships tried; and her first
trial has in this respect been far from satisfactory.
After the water was let out of the dock Port-Admi-
ral Sir Houston Stewart went to Keyham and in-
spected her, and expressed his surprise and great
regret at her condition. The lowest tier or layer of
her iron plates, which is painted with red lead or
some composition, is all more or less honey-
combed, and partially destroyed by galvanic
action, arising from contact or proximity to the
copper sheathing below. Where the corrosion has
set in pieces of the injured iron can be picked
out with the point of a penknife. The tiers
of plates on each side of iron-cased ships are usually
similar in size. The lowest tier on the starboard
side of the Royal Oak consists of 19 plates; each
plate is about 15 feet long, 3 feet 2 inches deep,
and 41 inches thick. Commencing at the bow, the
first plate has 72 holes or pits in it, varying in
depth from a quarter to half an inch ; the second,
40 holes,l to Z-; third, 60 holes, ato ; fourth, 94,
-1,- to ta the a in this plate being very close to the
copper ; fifth, 66, s to I ; sixth, 109,1 to -2- ; seventh,
168 ; eighth, 115; ninth, 188 ; tenth, 220; eleventh,
176 ; fourteenth, 122 holes, &c. Wherever the
least abrasion or friction has taken place, and the
red lead or composition has been rubbed off from
the surface of the plates, galvanic action is in full
force. This is remarkably evident in one part.
The hook, several feet long, which keeps the acco-
modation ladder in its place,is fastened to the ship's
side by an eye-bolt ; when not in use the end drops
below the level of the sea between plates 11 and 12.
It has been allowed to sway about fore and aft, and
has thus worked off the composition. The action
of the copper has in consequence had full effect here,
a portion of a circular groove exists in each iron
plate, each portion being 2 feet 6 inches long in the
sweep, and about aof an inch in depth. in some
places, just at the junction of the iron with the cop •
per, the edges of the iron plates are corroded for
lengths of Gin., 1 foot, and in one place, under the
quarter, this kind of corrosion extends to a length
of 10 feet. Between the iron plates and the copper
sheathing there is a band of 1* inch deep, appa-
rently of lead, but said to bo brass or some metal of
a similar colour, which is covered with thin c,p-
per. This intermediate band may have been
pieced there with a view to neutralise the effect of
the copper upon the iron plates ; if so, it has proved
to be useless. It is extraordinary that few if any
of the officers of the Royal Oak were, aware
of the existence of this band, and that none
appear to understand for what purpose it is placed
there. Between some of the butts of the armour-
plates a quantity of black liquor has been oozing out
in a stream the whole depth of the sheathing. Its
appearance indicates that a serious galvanic action
is going on inside the plates as well as outside. This
would be effected by the penetration of salt water
between the butts, or from the deck scuppers. In
these observations the Royal Oak's bottom is stated
as being sheathed with copper, although strictly
speaking it is not so. She is sheathed with Muntz's
metal, a composition of copper and zinc. Sometimes
the copper prevails to the extent of 60 per cent.;
that on the Royal Oak may be taken at 60 per cent.
It is, however, as copper that the alloy has affected
the iron plates. There appears to be only one remedy
and that is to cover the bottom of an
iron-plated
ship with zinc, but this would involve a more fre-
quent inspection in dockw, as zinc fouls so rapidly.
A layer of zinc in place of the upper layer of copper
on the Royal Oak would only have the effect of
causing the Mantra metal to become foul yet more
fated that all the plates above
rapidly. It may be s
the lower layer are apparently free
they are of course out of the water, and have an
exterior coat of black paint. The copper on the
bottom of the ship
is in an excellent state,
and was comparatively clean when the ship
was docked. The condition of the Royal Oak will
form a subject for the serious consideration of the
Lords of the Admiralty. It will be almost neces-
sary to remove some of her lower plates, and this
may lead to the removal of the whole of the lower
tier. If so much damage is done in a few months,
it would be highly imprudent to send her on a
foreign station. When one of the indentations be-
fore referred to amounts in five months to a seventh
of the thickness of the armour-plates, it is evident
that by the external action alone the effectiveness
of the plates would be destroyed in three years or
less, without speculating on the duration of
the fastenings or bolts, as they no doubt would de-
cay and become loosened in much less time. The
Royal Oak was launched at Chatham in :Nlarch,
1863 ; she was put in commission April 27, and
came out of dock May 12, and has consequently been
five months in the water.
The plates out of which the' ,c,rlacis" plates which
are to encircle the base of the Royal Sovereign's
turrets on her upper deck are to be made have been
received at Portsmouth yard, and handed over to
the steam factory department to accomplish the
work. This will be one of great difficulty, and will
only be eventually accomplished, if carried out in
the way now proposed,
in the utter destruction of
all the shot-resisting qualities of the plates. The
proposed plan is to take the now perfect masses of
metal in their rough strength, carve them out in all
manner of semi-circular lines, and then plane them
down from their innee 51in. thickness of inner edge
to nothing on their outer edge or circumference,
thus destroying the skin, fibre, and strength;
certain
rto resisting power, of the metal, and mahing:
to break up under even the shotrsistently
- cost is the
pounder like pottery ware. If this the ship can •
of an. ordinary 68-
d
pursued the cast will be enormeos; auny a rougher
not be finished Wore March nit.e:r: plating to forma
may be obtained,
and simpler disposition oftrteh:gth
the glacie, ten times thefecied..3:tive surface, and at
with the same amount 0
the
coo,
and the work com-
one-hundredth part of
the time. It is but just to
plated in oneetlaird af
department to say that its chief
the steam factory
of the vast difference in the two
is fully aware favour of the shorter and
The Royal Sovereign isbut morean
plans, and jo
economical OM'.
experimental ship atter all.