The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-16 00:00:00

TILE NAVY.

Her Majesty's screw steam store vessel Baffalo,
Master in command Alexander Brown, from the
West Coast of Africa, yesterday went into basin at
Woolwich, to be stripped and paid off.
The iron steam vessel Avenger, brought up to
Woolwich from Portsmouth about eight months
ago to be docked and thoroughly overhauled, was
yesterday undocked and hauled into basin, to be
prepared for the pennant. On account of its great
length (280 feet) the dock had to be lengthened,
and the repairs, which are of an extensive charac-
ter, will be promptly carried out. She is ordered
to be completed by the 13th of next month.
The hired screw steam transport Adelaide, Capt.
Lambert, which left Cork on the 4th inst. for Hali-
fax, and put back to Plymouth yesterday, as re-
ported in The Sun, experienced very severe weather
in the Atlantic. She has on board 35 officers and
725 men, nearly the whole of the 15th Regiment
of Foot, under command of Col. Cole, and various
munitions of war, commissariat stores, clothing,
&e. On the Bth, in lat. 52 N., long. 24 W., the
wind freshened from the south-west, with dull,
dark weather ; barometer 29.50, falling rapidly.
The ship was hove to under storm mizen, and the en-
gines worked slow. At 6 p.m., barometer 29.00 a
furious hurricane broke out. The vessel lurched
with her lee gunwale under water, when part of
the bulwarks and the waist lifeboat were washed
away. At 8 p.m. it blew yet harder; the sea broke
over the ship fore and aft, and got into the engine-
room and troop decks ; the lee quarter lifeboat was
washed away, the gig on the weather quarter was
blown away, and the storm mizen (a new sail) split
to pieces. At 10 p.m. barometer 2860, the wind
had veered westerly; the hurricane was at its worst,
and threatened to blow the masts over the side. At
midnight the wind gradually decreased, veering
north-west. At 8 a.m., in a heavy lurch, Henry
Moore, one of the ship's boys, fell overboard ; he
caught hold of a rope, but from exhaustion let go
again, and was unfortunately drowned. Daring the
tempest the commander, Capt. Lambert, considered
that the ship was occasionally in imminent peril.
At one time Mr. Hosking, chief engineer, reported
the water to be gaining on the stokehole, and
threatening to extinguish the fires. Mr. Harris,
the chief officer, went down, and by his presence
successfully encouraged the firemen to persevere
in their work. On the troop deck three horses
and the officers' baggage broke adrift, but were re-
placed under the direction of Lieut. Blake, Admi-
ralty agent, by the military officers and the men,
whose discipline continued excellent throughout.
On the 9th, and the morning of the 10th, the
weather became finer. Little progress was made,
however, in consequence of the disabled state of the
engines, which stopped suddenly at 5 p.m. It be-
ing then found that one of the cylinder covers was
split, it was deter mined to bear up for port, On
the 11th, at daylight, another furious gale com-
menced from the westward. In trying to scud
under close-reefed maintopsail and foresail, the ship
broached to, and would not answer helm with the
screw not working. At noon the engines were
started with three cylinders only, after which
strong gales from the north-west were experienced.
Our correspondent at Plymouth has received a
letter from the screw steamship Sanspareil, 70,
Capt. George Le G. Bower, dated Port Royal,
December 20, 1861, which states that she arrived
there December 16, after a passage of 33 days from
Plymouth. The Sanspareil was to sail on the
24th for the rendezvous off Cape St. Antonia, the
north-west extremity of the island of Cuba, to
anchor in the bay, and there wait a few days until
the French and Spanish squadrons were ready,
when the combined fleet would proceed to Vera
Cruz.

The screw steamship Caesar, 86, Capt. Thomas
H. Mason, left Plymouth yesterday for Spithead,
to be paid off.

An Admiralty order was yesterday received at
Chatham directing the screw frigate Galatea, 26,
800-horse power, which has been removed from that
port to Sheerness, to be sent round to Plymouth,
where she is to be retained in readiness for commis-
sion. A number of riggers and seamen are to be
furnished from Sheerness Dockyard to assist in
navigating her round to her destination.
The paddlewheel steamer Dragon, 6, 1,270 tons,
660-horse power, having completed her temporary
repairs, was yesterday taken out of the steam basin
at Sheerness and removed to Stangate-creek, where
she will remain until the final decision respecting
her has been received from the Admiralty.
The iron steamer Defence, 18, 600 horse power,
Captain R. A. Powell, C. 8., was yesterday removed
from her berth, alongside the floating shears at Chat-
ham harbour, and towed lower down the river to
Folly Point, where she will remain to complete fit-
tings. Her destination is not yet known, but it is
probable she will be sent on a short cruise to the
Mediterranean, or some other less distant station.
to test her steaming and sailing powers, and to as-
certain her behaviour in a gale. On her return she
is likely to proceed to reinforce Admiral Milne's
squadron on the North American station. Herdecks
are still crowded with workmen, and, although the
utmost expedition is being used by the whole of the
hands, there still remains a considerable amount of
work to be completed.
The screw steam sloop Swallow, 9, 486 tons, Mas-
ter-Commander E. Wilds, fi ting for surveying
operations in the Japan waters, adjusted compasses
at Sheerness yesterday, preparatory to taking her
departure. In order to increase the accommodation
for the officers, which under present arrangements
is somewhat meagre, it is intended to con-
struct a poop on her upper deck, which will ac-
cordingly detain her for some three weeks or a
month longer.

The Racoon, 22, 400-horse power, Capt. W. C.
Chamberlain, will be put out of commission, and
the crew paid off at Chatham, on Tuesday next.
In accordance with orders to that effect received
from the Admiralty, the whole of the workmen and
mechanics employed at Chatham Dockyard, work-
ing either on shore or afloat, ceased working over-
time yesterday. The system of task and job work
also ceased from Saturday last, and the whole of the
hands are now employed on the ordinary day-
work until further orders.

A notice has been posted at the dockyard gates,
Portsmouth, granting 10 days' additional leave to
the crew of her Majesty's ship Hannibal, recently
paid off at Portsmouth, and whose final period of
leave has not yet expired.

Letters "received at Portsmouth from Vancouver
announce the death of Lieut.-Commander Robson,
of her Majesty's gunboat Forward. It appears to
have been part of the deceased officer's duties to
superintend the management of several lighthouses
along the coast. Whileproeeeding on horseback to
a port of the coast where one of these was situate,
the animal he was riding became frightened in pass-
ing a large flock of sheep, and threw him. He re-
ceived such severe injuries that he died shortly af:er-
wards.

The Sutluj, 51, screw, in charge of the officers of
the Steam Ilcservc at Portsmouth, steamed out of
harbour yesterday to conclude her trials of machin-
ery, &c., prior to commission ; but, in consequence
of the dense fog prevailing, the trial was again post-
poned.

The Britannia, Capt. B. Harris, naval cadet train-
ing ship at Portsmouth, will be docked to complete
repairs and outfit, prior to proceeding to Portland
on the 29th inst. According to present arrange-
ments, the cadets will not return on board from
their leave until the 4th proximo, by which time it
is hoped that the Britannia will be ready to pro.
ceed to Portland.

The Osborne, paddle yacht, Master-Commander
George K. Bower, took her boats on board yesterday
from Portsmouth Dockyard, preparatory to sailing
for the Mediterranean, where she will be in attend-
ance upon his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,
during his forthcoming tour. The Osborne is
expected to sail from Portsmouth about Saturday
next.
The work in the repair and outfit of ships of war
in Portsmouth yard is being pushed forward as
vigorously as ever, the only difference being that,
since the removal of the American difficulty, the
efforts of the departments are not confined to the
gunboats, sloops, and corvettes, but are more evenly
distributed among an the classes of vessels under

repair in the yard. The Highfiyer, 21, screw, and
ether vessels, have again been taken in hand by the
departments, and are receiving their share of the
skilled labour now employed in the yar 1. Upon
the Tribune, 31, screw, fitting for the fir: t-class re-
serve in the old fitting basin, the arti3t:ns are still
working overtime. Two of the gunt oats of the
advanced reserve, the Rose and Blazer, sailed
from the port yesterday morning for Queens-
town, convoyed by the Virago, 6, paddle, Com-
mander W. G. H. Johnstone, passing out to sea
by the Needles passage.
Upon her Majesty's ship Victory and her tenders
being paid off officially at Portsmouth on the 10th
inst., there were awarded by the Admiralty, for long
services and good conduct—to J, Cummins, seamen's
schoolmaster of the Rolla, apprentice training brig,
a silver medal and gratuity of £l5; to J. Wells, sig-
nalman of the Victory, silver medal and £10; to W.
Morley, carpenter's mate of the Fire Queen steamer,
silver medal, a gratuity of £l5 and £5 per annum
added to his pension ; to Drummer Partridge, Royal
Marines, a silver medal and gratuity of £5 ; and to
Charles Aitrill, a silver medal.
The divisional orders of the Royal Marine Corps
at Woolwich, in command of Col. Campbell, yester-
terday notified the appointment, by the Lords Com-
missioners of the Admiralty, of Major-Gen. Strans-
ham as Inspector-General of the Royal Marine
Forces. A previous circular memorandum from
the Board of Admiralty likewise announced the
promotion, on the 10th inst., of Major Chas. Loudon
Barnard to be Acting Lieut.-Col. of the Artillery
Division, vice Brevet-Col. G. C. Langley, appointed
to the Staff of the corps as Deputy-Adjt. General,
Nice Major-Gen. Wesley, retired—such arrange-
ments being carried into effect without prejudice to
the seniority of other officers of the corps at large.
The following appointments were made at the Admi-
ralty last evening :
Lieutenant Wm. A. Gambier, to the Edinburgh, for
gunnery duties.
Master—J. May (additional) to the Swallow.
Masters' Assistant—Vincent H. Lys, to the Rifleman.
Assistant Engineers—Hugh Thomson and Frederick
Smiley (acting second class) to the Asia.

THE TINE NAVAL RESERVE.

SHIELDS, TUESDAY EVENING.

To-clay the Tyne Naval Reserve, which now mus-
ters 1,121 men on its books, has had a demonstra-
tion in this town. Early in the forenoon, accom-
panied by several officers of her Majesty's ship
Castor, though the weather was very wet, with flags
flying, above 400 of the men, all at this time in port,
marched in procession through the town. They
were led by the fine band of the Ist Northumber-
land Volunteer Artillery, and wera much cheered.
At 1 o'clock, by the liberality of the Duke of
Northumberland, Lord Ravensworth, and several
of the resident county magistrates and shipowners,
they were entertained at a substantial dinner in the
large Albion Assembly-rooms.
The chair was occupied by Mr. R. Hodgson, M.P.
After the usual toasts,

Captain BEDFORD PIM, R.N., proposed " The
Naval Reserve, especially the Tyne Volunteers."
He said—Some three years ago a Royal Commission
was appointed to inquire into the best method of
manning the navy, and when it was manned, of
keeping up the supply of seamen. The importance
of the subject, in the then defenceless state of the
country, engrossed public attention, and received
the earnest consideration of Sir John Pakington
and the late Board of Admiralty, to whom the
credit of originating the reserve movement
is due. Regarding the nature of the plan
itself, Mr. Greenhow, the worthy shipping master
of this port, is entitled to the chief praise for it.
His intimate knowledge of seamen enabled him to
state their requirements. He knew that the press-
gang was as much out of fashion as burning an old
woman for witchcraft, and that if we wanted sea-
men, they, of all men, could only be obtained by
generous treatment, such as they deserve from their
country. The common sense and liberality of the
present measure is the principal reason of its suc-
cess. At first, as I well know, there was a strong
prejudice against everything naval, but I am
happy to say that this feeling has vanished, in
proof of which I need only allude to the esteem in
which my friends Capt. Palmer and Lieut. Camp-
bell are held, and the very high opinion they enter-
tain of the Reserve sailors who come under their
orders. Captain Palmer himself told me that the
intelligence and proficiency of the Tyne seamen was
remarkable, and if there was a review at Ports-
mouth he would back the Shields crew in his gun-
boat to beat all the rest. Times are altered since
the Russian war ; I had then to pick up a crew for
a gunboat the best way I could, and I only hope
I may never see such a lot together again on board
ship. Now all the gunboats we possess could be
manned at once by Reserve men, who would make
the very best crews in the world for that class of
vessel—in short, it is impossible to exaggerate the
importance of the Naval Reserve. Our naval admi-
nistration is still very defective ; it is almost impos-
sible for individuals, however earnest, to introduce
the necessary reform, because the system is so
faulty; but there is a well-founded hope that some-
thing will be done this session. A standing navy
is what the country requires, and then with a
powerful reserve we may hold our own against all
comers. A standing navy would necessitate de-
fences round the coast, and I know of no place
better adapted for a naval dockyard than the port
of Shields. Tynemoath Haven seems a favourable
site. I see, by the Itegistrar-General's report, that
in places there is only one naval reserve man. Those
ports have not enjoyed the advantage of a training
ship—not even a gunboat, I suspect, has been sent
to stir up their seafaring population, and until that
is done the numbers will not increase ; for if the
men are worth having, they must be looked after,
and I have no doubt when the system is perfected
we shall number all the British seamen sailing in
our merchant vessels. At present Ido not think
the men are fully alive to all the benefits they de-
rive from the Reserve. It is not alone the retain-
ing fee of £6, the pension of £l2, or the £1 is per
week training pay, but the amount of knowledge
gained that must be taken into consideration. I
appeal to any sailor present, if what he has lately
learnt has not made him feel twice the man he
was before learning, besides giving him additional
confidence in his own powers. Already the Reserve
has been of great value to the nation. Your late
loyal demonstrations strengthened the hands of
Government, and enabled it to act with vigour and
confidence, while at the same time the Americans
learnt that we were a united people, jealous of our
honour, and quite ready to resent any insolence to
our flag. Two valuable lessons have been taught us
by the Trent affair,—first, by bringing prominently
before our eyes the melancholy condition to which a
nation may be brought by universal suffrage and
ultra Radicalism, a warning which will, I hope,
strengthen the Conservative party in this country;
secondly, by proving to all the great value of being
prepared. In this instance millions have been saved
to the nation. Nothing but our readiness for war
prevented a collision with the Federal States. In
conclusion, I should like to give a word of advice to
the fine fellows now present. Do not be content
with merely learning to knock your guns about,
but in your leisure hours study the science of
gunnery and the laws of projectiles. Keep up
your cutlass drill by taking single sticks to sea
with you, and rapping away at each other on the
forecastle, and, if half-a-dozen Reserve men happen
to be together in the same ship I should strongly
recommend them to purchase a rifle and perfect
themselves in firing at a mark. I must now pro-
pose the toast, which I do with the greatest pleasure.
Mr. S. M•DowELL, one of the Naval Reserve
men, responded.
Mr. JOSEPH STRAKER proposed " The health of
the Chairman." He said that ho was an old sailor.
He remembered the little war we had with America.
When that war broke out under what colours did
the Amercans fight ? They hoisted a white flag at
the niein with these words on it, " Free trade and
sailors' rights," and he gave them some credit for
adopting such a motto, for at the time we did not
invite the Volunteers, but impressed them. (Hear.)
To the credit of this country we had abandoned
that system, and we now invited Volunteers, and
paid them for their services. (Cheers.) Our men
were now treated as they ought to be; and if we