The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-20 00:00:00

(/, •-•-------e...-_---7e---d. ----). ---------‘-----le-------- .%:e.--,)
c.._:: "" _.------7-z---e_._-- G--t,e,,,,,..
1....
• // ..- ‘2_ - - .--e_______ 4:::_.-----) ,„. ,
' 6fr , ~..
' --Ntl—: 17ft• to 22ft.; length aft. 91n., dm etc ~:';',, ---
,540. N • ~,..,.,•
' - it-
_ ...- -cw
trial was made in a smooth sca, with
-• z+i j_.
c,-.._,Mr,t4',7 .
~'_, ~ 1 or .' • 4., , l/ r - 1/4.........,
the wind very slight. It was perfec
, - 4'o•-•.' ';. It: \'' Ve \41.... ' tt f" 4,001 C.. -k)- r,-- •klit
~. 1.
1,, , , "
) '' ..'s
- -'
' \ %'" 14 4' -1'
; '"---
1 t-
•..- • ' --..": 4, , iii/A- - tory. The Coi,qacror has again taken u
_ ,i. ? ..
-.1.1-,A4.?
_,-- ,
~, , - 1)1,/' ‘54),
--_-1.
~ ~,,,, ,-,_-
... ~* J.1.-„,,,,-, i . LAII. '—', - • 017'4- ''''.)- ---A).. -, • .
-.----.
1 t 1 ' ings in the harbour. It is rumoured t
4.
41,10- 1,;.,,,.
i•hortly be commissioned, and carry t 1
--.1•-. ; 41- - 4. ••;(.00-$3. 4F
7` '— 4X' alo- o i'lksrd 4, -4.t.-.„-----4- "P 4 DIE otr ,piiitt r -,..0, Is ~-,,,,,.., . - -,..e.- ,
---",1„,,- •
....
Vice-Admiral.

...4d.
STAMPED ....sd.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.
The Duke of Somerset, as First Lord of the Ad-
miralty, had a levee on Thursday at the Admiralty,
Whitehall, at which the following officers attended:
—Rear•Admiral G. G. Wellesley, U. 8., Capt. J. E.
Ka,son, Capt. C. H. M. Buckle, C. 8., Capt. E.
Heathcote, Capt. H. Christian, Clpt. E. D. Aplin,
Capt. W. J. C. Clifford, Capt. J. F. Birch, Capt.
N. E. B. Turnour, Commander 0. M. C. Read, Com-
mander D. G. Davidson. Commander S. P. Brett,
Commander E. C. Symons, Commander E. T. Nott,
Commander T. P. Warren, Commander A. H. W.
Battisccmbe, Commander A. Butler, Commander
W. H. Jones, Commander A. C. F. Henage, Lieut.
J. P Cheyne, Lieut. P. H. Colomb, Lieut. H. T.
Gemmel], Lieut. H. A. Clevering, Capt. P. Har-
rington, R.M., and the Rev: L. Graham, chaplain.

On Saturday the Lords of the Admiralty paid an
official visit to Chatham dockyard for the purpose
of ascertaining the progress made in building and
fitting the iron and iron- casedvessels now ander con-
struction or preparing for sea at that establishment.
The members of the Board present were Rear-Ad-
miral C. Eden, C. 8., Rear-Admiral C. Frederick,
Capt. the Hon. J. R. Drummond, C. 8.. Rear-Admi-
ral Spencer Robinson, Controller of the Navy, and
Capt. A. P. Ryder, private secretary to the First
Lord. Tb e Duke of Somerset, the senior member
of the Board, together with Lord Clarence Paget,
the Secretary of the Admiralty, had also intended
being present, but were both detained at the Admi-
ralty by pressing business. Their Lordships
reached the dockyard shortly after 11, and were
received by Captain Fanshawe, superintendent
of the establishment; Commander Pope, master-
attendant ; Mr. Lang, master shipbuilder; Mr.
Laws, principal storekeeper; Mr. Churchward,
principal store receiver; Superintendent Richardson,
and the other heads of departments. Imme-
diately on their arrival the members of the
Board proceeded down the yard to the Queen's-
stairs, where they embarked on board the Admi-
ralty steam barge Wildfire, M. Brockman, master-
commander, and steamed down the harbour to Folly
Point for the purpose of making an inspection of
the Royal Oak, 34, 800 horse power, iron plated
frigate, which is now being rapidly brought for-
ward for her first cruise at sea. They spent nearly
fwo hours on board, during which they inspected
every part of the vessel, over which they were con-
ducted by Capt. F. A. Campbell, who has been ap-
pointed to this ship. There were 500 hands em-
ployed about the Royal Oak in preparing her for sea.
Should it become necessary this number will be in-
creased, in order that no delay may arise in sending
this vessel to join the other ships composing the
iron squadron, in order to test her sailing and
steaming capabilities. Capt. Campbell will hoist his
pendant on board on the 27th inst., immediately
after which her officers will be appointed, while her
crew, a fine body of picked men, have been for some
time waiting to be sent on board from the naval
barracks. Their lordships inspected every portion of
this fine frigate, including the engine rooms, cabins,
ward rooms, and men's berths, all of which are being
completed as rapidly as circumstances will permit.
From the energy with which the work is being per-
formed on board, there appears nothing to prevent
the Royal Oak being fully equipped and in all re-
spects ready for sea in about a month. Her stores
are on board, and she nnly awaits the shipment of
her 100-pounder and 40-pounder Armatrongs, as
well as her 68-pounder and 95cwt. smoothbore guns.
From the length of time she has been lying in har-
bour, it is probable that she 'will be decked either at
Chatham or Portsmouth, to clear off any accumula-
tions on her bottom before being despatched to see.
After completing their inspection of the Royal Oak,
the Lords of the Admiralty re-embarked in the Wil-
dfire, and returned to the dockyard. After luncheon
at the official residence of Capt. Fanshawe, in the
dockyard, the members of the Board, accompanied by
all the leading officials of the establishment, pro-
ceeded to the Achilles. The number of hands em-
ployed on her is 1,200 of all trades, and the progress
made in her construction is daily perceptible. The
20 inch teak planking, on which the armour plates
will be placed, has been carried some 200 ft. on both
of her broadsides. About 70 plates have been already
bolted to her sides. Their lordships directed that no
exertions are to be spared to have this vessel com-
pleted by the earliest possible day. In order to give
full effect to these instructions, the whole of the
hands employed on the Achilles will to-day com-
mence entering the yard at a few minutes before 6
in the morning end continue working till dark, with
only a brief interval for meals, which arrangement
will be continued during the whole of the summer.
After leaving the Achilles the Lords of the Admi-
ralty proceeded to No. 1 shed, under which the pad-
dlewheel steamer Salamis, 4, 260 horse power, is
building. This, it may be remarked, is the only
wooden vessel in hand at Chatham Dockyard. After
May 19, when she is to be launched, every hand
connected with the dockyard will be employed either
in the building, fitting, or repair of iron ships. Their
lordships next visited the dock in which the iron
paddlewheel steamer Recruit, 6, has been sonic time
under repair. Their lordships concluded their tour
of inspection by visiting the shed under which the
fine 51 gun wooden frigate Belvidera is in frame.
This vessel was commenced about four years since,
but for the past three years not a single hand has
been employed on her. The Lords of the Admiralty
have, however, now decided on converting her into
an armour-clad frigate of the Royal Oak class, ac-
cording to a plan submitted to them by Mr. Lang,
master shipwright at Chatham. She will accord-
ingly be taken in hand immediately the workmen
now employed on the Royal Oak have been released
from that vessel. Owing to the slip on which the
Belvidera is now lying being not sufficiently capa-
cious, and not furnished with the requisite machinery
for building an iron-plated ship, it is intended to
take that vessel to pieces and reconstruct her on
No. '7 slip, the same as that on which the Royal
Oak was built. This, however, will necessitate little
additional expense or delay, as to adapt her for an
armour-clad ship it will be necessary to cut the
Belvidere asunder amidships and haul up the fore
part some 40 or 60 feet, in order to make that ad-
dition to her length—an operation which will be
avoided during the process of reconstructing her,
the required addition to her length and
with
of beam will be made without diffibculitny;
lordships having transacted officiadl
the
dockyard
the Captain-Superintendent quitted
o'clock, a few
for the Admiralty shortly before
left breadth
heir
the establishment.
minutes before the workmen
ra
line-of-battle ship
Her Majesty's
Waterloo), 86, 2,845 tons, 500
Conqueror (late
horse power, a e'n Charge John C. Solfleet,
Master herfromamrnoeorryin,
• mile
gseafffitierNSibhaiielnirng-
akoehtne her macht
ofSwwaan tnnst ideiosnn steamfecharge
Fridayrtgel a taken
reserve c someapt. monthsT.P P. ago.ho m
ne s
broughth4rforward° and- - placed in the first division
The'Thompson, of the
steam reserve—Messrs. W. Rumble, inspector of
machinery afloat, arid G. Blexland, chief engineer
of her Majesty's dockyard at Sheerness, having
charge of and superintending
the
aworkingare
aalloofw t: h
—e
machinery. The results of the trial
True mean speed at full boiler power, 9 935
knots ; half
boiler power, Bhour ; revolutions, maximum 63,16 mean knots
6 olt
per
2.sper
3
minute; vacuum, fore 241 -0-, aft. 23; draught of
water, fore 23ft., aft 24ft. 9in. ; temperature on
deck 58 deg., engine-room 74, stokehole, maxinzum
104, minimum 94. The circle was made at full
boiler power, with helm port 17 deg., in 6 min. 30
sec. ; revolutions, 54 per minute ; the diameter of
circle being 500 yards at half boiler power, with
helm starboard 20 deg., in 6 min. 47 sec,, revolu-
tions 50 per min., diameter 400 yards. The half
circle was turned at full speed in 4 min. 29 sec., and
at half speed in 3 min. 40 sec. She is fitted with
from
Griffith's propeller, pitch 20ft., but variable

APEIi
litefithr.,
A
ck"-fk
-

:r 181 a
Pie forte o
;tly satisfac-
,p her tuoor-
hat she will
he flag of a

The armour-plated screw steamship Resistance,
16, Captain Chamberlain, went on Friday from
Harnoaze into Plymouth Sound. She received her
powder on Saturday, and is now ready for sea. S e
wiil probably leava to-day (Monday) or to,ruoirow
(Tuesday) for Pertsmouth to be docked.

The screw steam gun vessel Sparrow, 5, Corn.
the Hon. E. Cochrane, left Pk mouth Sound, on
Saturday, for her station, the West Coast of Africa.
The iron-screw steam gun vessel Tien Sten, C, re.
Nicholas, belongicg to the Emperor of China, m hi( h
left Plymouth on Saturday morning for China,
calling at Falmouth, returned ha the afternoon to
her moorings in Barnpool.
The iron screw steam transport Orontes, 3, re-
cently built for the Admiralty by Messrs. Laird
Brothers, of Birkenhead, was taken outside Ply-
mouth breakwater on Thurt day to test her engines
and machinery. The trial was under the supervision
of Capt. Astley, C. Key, C. 8., and Mr. A. Dinnen, in-
spector of machinery from the guardship of steam
reserve Indus, in Hamoaze ; Mr. James Steil, R.N.,
assistant to the chief engineer at Keyham steam-
yard; and Mr. James Edwards, assistant-master
shipwright of Devonport Dockyard. Mr. Schoales
represented the manufacturers of the machinery,
Messrs. Watt and Co., of London-street, city. The
waather was very fine. The Orontes, which is
built entirely of iron and hasher lower mast stepped,
has a burden of 2,812 tons, and draws 17ft. 1 lin.
aft and 17ft. 3in. forward. The engines, direct act-
ing, are 500-horse power nominal, but were worked
up to 2,020 horse power; cylinders horizontal; dia-
meter 31in ; stroke, 36in. The screw shaft is about
110 ft. long by 13in. diameter. The screw is Grif-
fith's shifting; diameter, 1811; pitch, 25ft. The
mean speed obtained from six runs was 13 292
knots, which, when, it is recollected that the ship
has been in the water since the beginning of De-
cember, and that her bottom cannot consequently be
clean, is considered very fair. The maximum num-
ber of revolutions is 63 per minute; the mean num-
ber of revolutions at full power 6i3 ; the pressure is
251 b. to the square inch.. There were no indications
of hot bearings or of priming. The engines of the
Orontes are similar to those of the Prince Regent,
Sanspareil, and Barossa, by the same makers. This
transport has accommodation for 1,150 troops. The
trial under steam appears to confirm the anticipa-
tions of her good qualities for speed expressed when
she was launched on Nov. 22d last at Birkenhead.
She will probably be put in commission at an early
period.
The surviving officers and crew of the Orpheus
arrived on board the Victory, at Portsmouth, on
Friday evening. They arrived at Portsmouth by
Southampton steampacket from the Peninsular and
Oriental Mail Company's mail steamship Ellora,
which arrived the same day at that port from Malta.
Th
e following
llowFinigetachpepro,inwtmhoesnetspehraivoed
of
service e. n inicaede at
the Admiralty :—Commander H. E. G. Earle, to be
hase
expired ; Lieut. F. C. Law and Lieut. John Shortt,
to the Valorous; Lieut. E. B. Wadlow and Lieut.t
an Inspecting Commander of the Coastguard, vice
Commanderhe
i Francis Stirling, to the Excellent ; Lieut. J. F.
Lenow, to the Resistance ; Lieut. E. Drummond, to
the Leander; Lieut. 0. H. Parker, to the Euryalus ;
A. I. Armstrong, master, to the Cumberland, for
the Cossack ; Stephen Spain, master, to the Royal
Adelaide ; Henry T. Ellis, master, to the Corn-
wallis; W. B. Shellabear, master, to the Indus, for
the Orontes; T. A. Watkins and S. A. Hamilton,
midshmen, to the Victory; G. A. J. Macdonnell,
midshipman, to the Nile ; H. F. H. Hallett and G.
H. R. Willis, midshipmen, to the Revenge; Piers
Warburton, nominated to a naval cadetship; E. A.
M. Chaffers, assist. paymaster, to the Canopus;
W. H. Whichelo, assist. paymaster, to the Hanni-
bal; T. Bullions, chief engineer, to the Hannibal;
W. Wotton, chief engineer, to the Leander; R.
W. Hultord, engineer, to the Leander ; John
Etherington and William Skelton, assist.-engi-
neers, to the Hannibal ; William B. Cottam, J.
Wendover, and G. Fordham, assist.-engineers,
to the Leander; C. F. Hulford, assist.-engineer, to
the Cumberland, for the Arethusa ; J. Forster, assist.
engineer, to the Indus, for the Aurora ; Charles G.
T. Cater, William R. Fox, John L. Veitch, and
Edwin W. G. Hilliard, masters'-aasista., to the
Leander; Malcolm Merrett, master's-assist., to the
Lizard ; Charles G. Ansell, assist.-clerk, to the Han-
nibal; and Charles F. Gahan, assist.-clerk, to the
Canopus.