The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-23 00:00:00

TILE NAVY.

During the past few weeks large supplies of the
best descriptions of both angle and plate iron have
poured into Chatham Dockyard, to be used in the
construction of the iron steam frigate Achilles, 50.
The number of hands employed upon the vessel will
shortly be increased to 700, the utmost number that
can be accommodated in the factory adjoining the
dock in which the Achilles is under construction.
Messrs. Collier, of Salford, have received orders to
erect two powerful machines in the factory—one a
" slotting" engine, for cutting and shaping the slabs
of iron which will form the shield-plates of the
Achilles ; and the other a planing machine, the
largest of its kind in the world, for smoothing the sur-
face of the plates before they aro affixed to the ship's
side. Both machines are now being fixed in the
factory, and will shortly be fit for working. By
direction of the Admiralty, Mr. Robinson, first as-
sistant master-shipwright at Sheerness Dockyard,has
been removed to Chatham Dockyard, in order that
he may acquire a knowledge of the details of the
system of iron shipbuilding. The projecting bow of
the Achilles, forged at the Thames Ironworks, has
been fixed in its place, and the stern-post will
shortly be received from Glasgow, where it is being
forged. The following are the principal dimensions
of the Achilles—Length between perpendiculars,
380 ft., length of keel for tonnage, 338 ft. din. ; ex-
treme breadth, 58ft. 31in ; breadth for tonnage,
58ft. 14in. ; breadth, moulded, 58ft. ; depth in hold,
21ft. lin. ; burden, 6,079 5-94 tons.
Orders have been received at Chatham to prepare
the following quantities of projectiles to be supplied
to the iron screw frigates Hector, 32, and Valiant,
32, now under construction at private establishments
for the Admiralty—viz., 290 common 110 pounder
and 290 of the segment 110 pounder Armstrong
shells, 113 common and 113 segment 20 pounder
Armstrongs, 200 12 pounder Armstrong shells, 288
of the 68 pounder smooth-bore Moorsom shells, 96
of the 7* naval 68 pounder smooth-bore shells, and
96 of the 68 pounder and 50 of the 12 pounder
diaphragm smooth-bore shells. The solid shot to
be supplied to each of the above ships is 1,680 68-
pounder, 280 110-pounder Armstrong, 75 20-
pounder Armstrong, and 50 12-pounder Armstrong.
Each vessel is also to be supplied with 115 common
12-pounder howitzer shells, and 60 24-pounder con-
greve rockets. The above is the largest quantity
of projectiles ever ordered to be furnished to any
vessels of that class.
The Shannon, screw frigate, Capt. Vainwright,
has been officially inspected at Spithead by Capt. H.
Broadhead, commanding the Reserve at Ports-
mouth, and will go into harbour this morning should
the weather moderate. Yesterday a strong wind
prevailed from W.S.W., accompanied the fore part
of the day with heavy rain. The Shannon is ordered
to be placed in dock on the 26th inst. to stop a leak
and examine her bottom.

The Victor Emmanuel, screw liner, Capt.W. J. C.
Clifford, C. 8., has also been inspected at Spithead
by Capt. Brordhead, and will go into Portsmouth
harbour this morning, weather permitting, to dis-
mantle and pay out of commission. An attempt
was made yesterday to take out of her the 45 cases
of goods she has brought to England from Corfu
for the International Exhibition, but the vessel sent
out by Lloyd's agent to receive them split her
mainsail, and was unable to get alongside the ship,
owing to the roughness of the weather. The cases
will now be landed at the dockyard on the ship
going into harbour. '

The Tribune, 23, screw frigate, Captain Viscount
Gilford, under orders for the Pacific, is detained at
Spithead, retubing her boilers.
The Royal Sovereign, at Portsmouth, will be
placed in No. 3 covered dock at that port, on the
25th inst., to complete her conversion to a shield-
ship.

The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Capt. L. G. Heath, C. 8., [to
the Cambridge, vice Capt. Jernirigham, whose period

of service has expired ; Commander H. Campion to
the Boscawen, vice Strode, promoted to be captain;

Commander S. B. Piers to the Firebrand, vice

Bruce, promoted to be captain ; Commander

Lord Elphinstone to the Devastation, vice
M'Crea, promoted; Commander T. B. Lethbridge
to the Adventure, commissioned; Commander W.

C. Chapman to the Ariel, vice Oldfield, promoted to
be captain ; Commander E. Nares to be Inspecting
Commander of the Coast Guard, vice Commander

Wasey, whose period of service has expired; Com-
mander G. A. Brine to be Inspecting Commander
of the Coast Guard, vice Chapman, appointed to the
Ariel ; Lieut. the Hon. M. Murray to the Bac-
chante, additional, for disposal; W. G. Hill, sur-
geon, to the Coquette; John Hay (b), paymaster,
additional, to the Russell; Edward Faulkner, pay-
master, additional, to the Asia; Richard Sainthill,

paymaster, to the Britannia; Mr. Gordon Glennie

has been nominated to a naval cadetship ; J. B.
Jillard, chief engineer, to the Adventure ; T. Seger,

engineer, to the Adventure; T. Summers, engi-
neer qualified for sharp, to the Asia, for the

Psyche ; John Lawson, engineer qualified for

charge, to the Fisgard, for the Vivid; John Fox,
acting engineer, to the Asia, for hospital treat-
ment ; Henry F. Saunders, supernumerary in the
Indus, promoted to acting engineer; Thomas Jeans,
first-class assistant-engineer, to the Tribune ; H, J.
Bailiffe, first-class assistant-engineer, to the Asia,
for the Swinger; J. Jolly, first-class assistant-engi•
neer, to the Adventure ; M. M'lntyre, second-class

assistant.engineer, to the Adventure ; William
Williams, confirmed as second-class assistant-engi-

neer, in the Defence; J. W. Siyewright, acting

second-class assistant-engineer, to the Adventure;

It. Pattison, acting second-class assistant-engineer,
to the Asia, for the Wallace ; H. W. Ross, acting

second-class assistant-engineer, to the Cumberland,
for the Adder; S. Watts, acting second-class as-

sistant-engineer, to the Cumberland, as supernu-
merary; J. W. Nelson, acting second-class assistant-

engineer, to the Indus, as supernumerary; B. Tay-
lor, acting second-class assistant-engineer, to the
.._.

Rhadamanthus, as supernumerary ;v S. Glaysher,
acting second-class assistant-engineer, to the Cum-
berland, as supernumerary ; and E. Gravestock,
acting second-class assistant-engineer, to the Asia,
for the Traveller.