The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-08 00:00:00

711 E NAVY.

Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir Frederick W. Grey,
8.C.8., and Rear-Admiral R. S. Robinson, Control-
ler of the N:lvy, yesterday made an official inspec-
tion of Woolwich dockyard, and, having examined
the progress made by the factory department in
affixing the armour-plates amidships on the Cale-
donia, in dock at Woolwich, they witnessed a series
of tests and experiments by the application of heavy
weights of pig-iron, to prove the endurance and effi-
ciency of the huge rudder applied to the ship. After
the trials, which were perfectly satisfactory, they
inspected the timber-sheds, fitting basins, and dock-
yard factory.
Her 'Majesty's steam store-ship Fox, 1,131 tons,
Master-Cfornmander Pullen, was yesterday hauled
into the basin at Woolwich, to make good defects
occa,:lioned by the late gales in the Channel on her
voyage up from Plymouth ; after which she will
ship boilers and machinery for the west.
The weight and measurement of the three rival
ships' Pumps, tested on the preceding day at Wool-
wich dockyard are given as follows r—Roberts's, 2
cwt. lqr. 20413 ; Gossage's, 3cwt. 2qrs. 71b ; and
Stone's, ;cwt.Oqr. lib. ; and their capacity
Roberts's, 326 in. ; Gossage's, 332 in. ; and Stone's,
402 in, it is probable that a further trial will be
ordered.

The Flying Fish, 6, Berew, Commander W. H.
Anderson, came into P ortsmouth harbour yesterday
from Spithead. rile engines broke down, when she
was assisted
the do },,y the tender Bee, and hauled along-
sider.:kyard. She will be taken into dock to
be exarztined, and see what damage was done to her
keel on going on shore on Newton-bank, in the
Needles passage, as noticed in The Sun of Friday.
The Hero, 89, screw line-of-battle ship, Capt. A.
P. Ryder, sailed at daylight yesterday for Sheer-
ness to be dismantled and pay off.

His Danish Majesty's scrivr corvette Dagmar, 16,
Capt. Seidelin, sailed from Spithead yesterday
morning at daylig'nt for Gibrallar. Captain Seidelin
and the Vice-Admiral dined with Admiral Sir H.
Bruce on Thursday evening at the Admiral's resi-
dence.

The screw steam corvette Barossa, 21, Capt. W.
M. Dowell, which put back to Plymouth Sound
leaky on Sunday night, has since been in No. 1
dock in the Devonport yard, with a view to the dis-
covery of the leak. She was removed on Thursday
evening, without any positive conclusion on the
subject being al.rived at. The defect is supposed to
arise from the condition of her Kingston valves,
which have, of course, been thoroughly overhauled.
The corvette left Plymouth on Friday, Oct. 31, for
the East Indies and China, where she will be sta-
tioned. Under steam and canvas an offing of about
1.50 miles was made, wb.en the engines were stopped,
the fires let down, and she proceeded under canvas
Only. Some time after, to the surprise of all on
board, the pump well being sounded as a part of
the routine duty, as much as 4ft. bin. of water were
found in the hold. All hands were set to work
immediately with the ordinary pumps, but, not
-withstanding their most strenuous exertions, the
leakage increased five inches in one hour. Mean-
time every effort was used by the engineers to get up
the Fires below. This was a work of no little diffi-
eulty. The water was as high as the powder maga-
zine, and when the ship rolled it washed up to the
men's knees. Providentially the weather was not
stormy. Notwithstanding the wetness of the fuel,
fire was at length got up under the boilers, and,
the aid of the donkey-engines being thus obtained,
the leakage diminished rapidly, and the engines
being kept going prevented its recurrence. There
were only 10 inches below when she anchored in
Plymouth Sound, and—what was very remarkable
—no leakage whatever occurred while she lay
there. On Monday afternoon Captain Astley Key,
C. 8., who is at the head of the steam reserve Lt
Devonport, went with the engineer officers from
Keyham-yard to the Barossa,and she steamed out-
side the breakwater; still there was no renewal of
the leakage. The engines were then stopped, the
ship was put under canvass only, and allowed to
roll about in the trough of the sea, when she began
to leak immediately, and the next morning was
Placed in dock.

On Thursday the screw steam-frigate Phoebe,
.51., Cupful. Fortimmoe, made a trial of her engines
outside Plymouth breakwater, and returned to the
Sound.

The paddlewheel steam-frigate Leopard, 18, Cap-
tain Leckie, was placed in No. 1 dock in Devonport
dockyard yesterday (Friday), for the examination
of her bottom and valves. She will probably vacate
it again t o-day (Saturday).
The screw steam-sloop Rosario, 11, Commander
S. Graham, sailed from Plymouth for Jamaica yes-
terday (Friday), taking with her disposable men for
ships on the West India station.
The Lily, 4, screw steam despatch vessel, 200-
horse power, and the Jaseur, 5, screw steam gun-
vessel, 80-horse power, both in the first division of
the Sheerness steam-reserve, have been officially in-
spected by Capt.-Superintendent C. Wise and the
dockyard officials, and are declared to be quite ready
in every respect for commission. The Lily is to take
the place of the Vigilant, disabled by being on shore
on the Gunfleet Sands ; and the officers of the Vigi-
lant are to be turned over to that vessel.

Yesterday afternoon, as the Thistle gunboat was
returning from the coal ship in the harbour at
Sheerness to her duties in connection with the docit-
yard, from some cause or other not yet ascertained,
the man-hole covering of the boiler was blown off,
causing great consternation among the persons hav-
ing charge of the engines. Signals of distress were
immediately made, which, being observed by the
other ships in the harbour, together with the large
volumes of supposed smoke which was seen escap-
ing, led to the supposition that the Thistle was on
fire, and telegraphs to that effect were made for the
fire engines and other help. Capt. Wise, Superin-
tendent of the dockyard, who happened to be on
board the Lily, 4, screw gunvessel, put off at once
with other officers for the distressed gunboat, and,
on arriving, discovered that the accident was of
minor importance, and that fortunately no injury
had been sustained by any person on board.
A court-martial, of which Capt. T. P. Thompson,
'of the Cumberland, 70, guardship of the Chatham
steam reserve in the Medway, was the president,
assembled on Thursday on board the Formidable,
84, flagship of Vice-Admiral W. J. H. Johnstone,
Commander-in-Chief at the Nore, for the trial of
Mr. Thos. Booth, acting first-class assistant-engi-
nnr, serving on board the Vigilant, 4, 200 horse
Power, for having, on the 26th October last, ab-
sented himself without leave from the naval bar-
racks. in Sheerness dockyard, and not returning un-
til 29th October. Commander Lord W. B. El-
Knight iat°lle, of the Vigilant, prosecuted • and Mr.
Is •
icitor, of Rochester, officiated as Deputy
Advocate. the presedvocate. At the termination of the case for
defence,
teeatinn the prisoner handed in a written
f ether with a large number of certificates
hehadcharacterrortaanerdl service from officers under whom
forfeit
found
the prisoner guilty, and
assistant engineer of etint_ seniority us an acting
reprimanded, and to ,orti_ firs.t class, to be severely
of £5 ss. felt out of his pay the sum
The following appointments
day at the Admiralty T:wtiitezuetri G:eeorreg emlaVd.ellYiensdt etro.
tsther to the Lily ;
the Megwra; John 1). g
Frederick L. Leonard, surge,,,,, t:
alr,.ey(,;epl
llppway.ni
laisagtnefekr,iidnt: tihi,dthwif.aipriltliNyte‘rv;.i
eNnia.rtcl
ll um
,thtoLthe
ner, and James Bedin
Euryalus ; David Brown, midshipman to
par d;
d • John Wendover, supernumerary in the A:•°
to be first-class assist.-engineer; and Benjamin tljar,
wick, clerk, to the Lily.
The following appointments have been made in
the Royal Naval Reserve be Lieut, Henry
j4wee oimblett ; to be Sub-Lieut., Fred. Anderson.

F [ADVER.TISEMENTI—HoIIoway's Ointment and
ese Pills
Coughs, Influenza.—The soothing. properties of th
caments render them well worthy of trial in all diseases of
the lungs. In common colds and influenza the pills inter-
nally and the ointment rubbed externally aro exceedingly
efficacious. When influenza is epidemic this treatment is
easiest, safest, and surest. ITolloway's pills and ointment
purity the blood, remove all obstructions to its free ciroila-
tion through the lungs, relieve the over-gorged air tubes,
and render respiration free without reducing the strength,
irritating the nerves, or depressing the spirits. Such are
the ready means of saving suffering when afflicted with
colds,
coughs, bronchitis, and other chest complaints, by
Ni so many are seriously and permanently afflicted in
this t

HE AR"'-`'
•

Major-General Bloomfield, the Inspecto • Generel
of Artillery, accompanied by Col. Henry C,ll, has
returned to town from a visit of inspe3 ion in the
South-Western district. The gallant General in-
spected the B battery of the Royal Horse Artillery,
commanded by Captain Paget, on Tuesday at Dor-
chester; and on Wednesday went over the new
artillery works on the breakwater at Portland.
The burstin g of a 40-pounder Armstrong gun took
place yesterday in the proof-cell in Woolwich Ar-
senal. The gun had been used for proving vents,
and had fired 1,058 rounds. The ammunition ex-
pended was upwards of 10,000 Lb., and the weight of
shot upwards of 42,000113. As the charge employed
in proving vents is extraordinarily heavy the burst-
ing of the proof weapon occasions no surprise to
those employed in the department. The gun is ex-
pected to give way after a certain number of rounds,
and an occasional failure, as above stated, is in no
wise looked upon as any detriment to the credit of
the gun for the public service or the system of its
manufacture.

THE FREE NEGROES 4T PORT ROYAL.

The following is an extract of a letter dated Port
Royal, South Carolina, Oct. 14:—.
On Sunday the negro church at Hilton Head
was dedicated to Divine service. General Hunter
authorised the construction of the building, and be-
fore he left the work was nearly finished. The
situation of the church is good; the appearance is
neat, though plain as a Quaker meeting-house, and
in all respects the building meets the requirements
of the case. Three hundred persons may be com-
fortably seated. The pastor is a black man from
Savannah, named Abram Murchison, who has been
in due form ordained a Baptist minister by the army
chaplains, and installed in office. Abram, though
able to read and write, is not polished in his man
ners ; but what he lacks in culture is more than
compensated in earnest eloquence, a vigorous and
clear expression of his views, deep piety, and a
powerful influence over the coloured people. The
dedication exercises were interesting in themselves,
being conducted by Rev. H. N. Hudson, chaplain
of the New York Volunteer Engineer Regiment, an
elocutionist of celebrity. General Mitchell was
present, with the members of his staff, and by in-
vitation. addressed the audience. His remarks were
pointed, impressive, and instructive. They were
listened to attentively, and endorsed with nods of
approbation from young and old. I do not think
that a portion of a paper could be better filled than
with this frank and unmistakeable expression of Gen.
Mitchell's views on the slavery question. He said :
" I have been requested to say a few words to you by
your teacher, who is a good man. Any good man I
like, regardless of colour. I respect him as much
whether he is black or white. If he be a bad man I
shall treat him as such whether he is white or black.
Most of you know I have talked to all my soldiers
since I came here, and now I am talking to you who
are another set of soldiers, who have not yet arms
in their hands, but who are under my protection
and guidance, and in whom I take deep interest.
With your past life I fully sympathise. I know and
understand it all. I was reared in the midst of slavery,
born in Kentucky, and know all about it. While
there are many things connected with it which are
pleasant, to which you will testify, there are vast
many other things which are not pleasant, and I
think God intends that all men shall be free, be-
cause he intends that all men shall serve Him with

heir whole heart. But in any condition we can all

love and serve God. That privilege cannot be taken
away. I care not how savage and wicked the master
may be, he cannot prevent you from praying in the
midst of the night, and God hears and answers the
prayer of all, slave or free. But it seems to me that

there is a new time coming for you coloured people;
a better day is dawning for you oppressed and down
trodden blacks. I hope that the door is being opened
for your deliverance. And now, how deeply you
should ponder these words ! If now you are unwil-
ling to help yourselves nobody will be willing to help
you. You must trust yourselves to the guidance of
those who have had better opportunities and have
acquired superior wisdom, if you would be carried
' through this crisis successfully. And I believe the
good God will bless your efforts, and lift you up to
a higher level than you have yet occupied, so that
you and your children may become educated and
industrious citizens. You must organise yourselves

into families. Husbands must love their wives and
children, clinging to them and turning from all
others, and feeling that their highest object in
life, next to serving the good God, is to do all

they can for their families, working for them con-
tinually. Good coloured friends, you have a great
work to do, and you are in a position of respon-
sibility. The whole North, all the people in the
Free States, are looking at you and the experi-
ment now tried in your behalf with the deepest
interest. This experiment is to give you free-
dom, position, home, and your own families
—wives,property, your own soil. You shall till and
cultivate your own crops; you shall gather and sell
the products of your industry for your own benefit ;
you shall own your own savings, and you shall be
able to feel that God is prospering you from day to
day and from year to year, and raising you to a
higher level of goodness, religion, and a nobler life.
Supposing you fail down here ; that will be an end
of the whole matter. It is like attaching a cable
to a stranded vessel, and all the strength that can
be mustered is put upon this rope to haul her off.
If this only rope breaks the vessel is lost. God help
you all, and help us all to help you. If you are
idle, vicious, indolent and negligent, you will fail,
and your last hope is gone; if you are not faithful
you rivet eternally the fetters upon those who to-
r day are fastened down by fetters and suffer by the
driver's goad. You have in your hands the rescu-
ing of those sufferers over whose sorrows you mourn
continually. If you fail, what a dreadful responsi-
bility it will be when you come to die to feel that
the only great opportunity you had for serving
yourselves and your oppressed race was allowed to
slip. And you, women, you must be careful of your
children. You must teach them to be industrious,
cleanly, obedient, and dutiful at all times. You
must keep your houses neat and tidy, working all
day, if necessary, to have them in the best possible
condition, always thinking and contriving to make
them cleaner and more comfortable. When your
husband comes home from the labours and fatigues
of the day, always have something good and nice
for his supper, and speak kindly to him, for these
little acts of love and attention will bring you
happiness and joy. And when you men go out
to work you must labour with diligence and zeal.
It seems to me, had I the stimulus to work
that you have, that I could labour like a giant.
Now you know who I am. My first duty
here is to deal justly; second, to love mercy
and third, to walk humbly. First, justly—I
shall endeavour to get you to do your duty
faithfully. If you do I shall reward you ; and if you
refuse, then what comes next ? Why the wicked
must be punished, and made to do right. I will
take the bad man by the throat and force him to his
duty. Ido not mean that I will take hold of him
with my own hands, but with the strong arm of 2
military power. Now do we understand each other .
lam working for you already. lam told by your
superintendent that a gang of men are building
your houses at the rate of six a day. These houses
are to make you more comfortable. You are to have
a patch of ground, which you can call your own, to
raise your own garden truck, and you may work for
the government for good wages. And you women
must make your houses shine ; you must plaister
them and whitewash them, and gradually get fur-
n," i
r truarnegiend
iyourn s
such
eh a
cabins,w aya and
hda
taycooking-stove. rI
LI have
Ing cheaper and better than before, and you are to
te,earsscinhoolfor your children. And you must have
doors, You
your
will
li
gardens and blossoms before your
theca, idn a little while how much hap-
pier you will be
for this? yes, ciod it Are you not willing to work
'rhis is only for 3.„,s:LPlng, you will all work.
ful, this
through the country
, and
plan willgo :I'l
tsh;r h
but if you are success-
we will have answered the question that has puzzled
all good, thinking en in
theworld for
willon ey
olluund-o
dred year 9. They have asked, << What
with the black man after liberating him ?» We