The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-02 00:00:00

His Grace the Duke of Somerset will hold a levee
at the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, at 10 a.m.
on Friday, the Bth inst. A list for the entry of
officers' names who may wish to attend the levee
will lie at the College until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, the
sth inst., after which it will be closed.
The Lords of the Admiralty are expected to arrive
at Portsmouth on board their yacht Osborne for
their annual inspection of the naval and marine
establishments of the port on Tuesday next.
The Mersey, 40, screw, Capt. H. Caldwell, C. 8.,
arrived at Spithead yesterday morning, under sail
from Halifax, from which port she sailed on July
17. At the time of the Mersey's departure from
Halifax, the Nile, Capt. E. K. Barnard (flagship of
Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, K.C.8.), the
Agamemnon, 98, screw, were at that port, the two
latter under orders to proceed to Port Royal. The
Aboukir was to take the place of the Imaum, flag-
ship there, and the Agamemnon was then to return
to England with a number of the Aboukir's crew.
The Mersey has brought home from Halifax part
of the Aboukir's officers and ship's company, and
also a few naval invalids and prisoners from the
ships on the station. The Mersey awaits orders at
Spithead, which are expected to pay out of com-
mission, the ship's hull and machinery requiring
extensive repairs. Moderate weather was experi-
enced during the voyage home from Halifax.
The Racehorse, 6, screw, 200-horse power, by
Napier and Son, Glasgow, Commander Boxer, tested
her machinery at the measured mile, Stokes Bay,
near Portsmouth, on Thursday, on the:completion of
her alterations and repairs by the factory depart-
ment of the port, prior to her departure for foreign
service. The weather was favourable for the trial.
The ship drew 12ft. 6in, of water aft, and 10ft.10in.
forward. The load on the safety-valve was 201 b.,
with a pressure of steam in boilers of 19 2.3, and a
vacuum of 23 inches. The maximum revolutions of
the engines were 92 and the minimum 903,the in-
dicated horse-power being 758.18, and the speed of
the ship in knots 10.406. The propeller used was a
Griffiths' two bladed, with a diameter of lift. and
pitch of 16ft. bin. With the port helm over to 31
deg. the ship made a complete circle in 4 min. and
36 sec. With the starboard helm over to 25 deg.
the circle was made in 4 min. 49 sec. The tempe-
rature ranged, on deck, from 67 to 68 deg. ; in the
engine-room, from 97 to 101 deg.; and in the after
stoke hole from 87 to 104 deg. The machinery and
boilers gave perfect satisfaction, and, with some
slight alterations to her back firebars, which will
be completed this morning, the ship will be ready to
proceed to sea. She awaits final orders.

The Psyche, paddle yacht, got up steam yesterday
in the steam basin at Portsmouth to test the joints
of her machinery, &e., in the course of her outfit by
Messrs. Maudslay, Field, and Sons, and has com-
menced coaling preparatory to her trial at the mea-
sured mile in Stokes t?ay, She is expected to attain
a very high rate of speed.

The launch of the Enchantress is to take place at
the dockyard at Pembroke this day. She is a
most beautifully modelled vessel, of 835 tons and
250-horse power. Her fine lines and clear run have
given the impression that she is intended for a yacht
—a gift to the Emperor of Japan ; but the fact is she
is to be a paddlewheel despatch vessel, for which her
sharpness and high power will admirably suit her.