The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-22 00:00:00

lIIE NAVY.

The Admiralty paddlewheel yacht Osborn, Capt.
Bower, arrived in the Mersey on Wednesday morn-
ing, having on board three of the Lords of the Ad-
miralty, who proceeded at once to visit the eh p-
building and engine works of Messrs. Lard
Brothers, at Birkenhead, where they inspected the
iron-cased frigate Agincourt, of 7,000 tons, and the
troopship Orontes, of 3,000 tons, now building at
that establishment for her Majesty's service. Th3y
also made a minute inspection of the graving docks,
and other parts of these works. Their Lordships
then proceeded to inspect the Birkenhead Dock
works accompanied by Mr. Laird, M.P.; they first
visited the Morpeth and Egerton Docks, and be
Low-water basin ; then proceeded to the upper ad
of the great float, to see the new graving-docks,
returning down the Wallasey side to the new iron
bridge and chain-testing machine, crossed to Liver-
pool, and, after calling upon the Mayor at the
Town-hall, proceeded to the works of the Mersey
Steeltaken e andby Mr. Clay,
Iron
and
Company over which they were
shown
the armour plates
for the iron-plated ship Agincourt, which are being
made at that establishment, several shafts for
engines of the largest class, and other descriptions
of manufacture in iron for which these works are
famous. After leaving these works they proceeded
to the Osborne, which vessel is to be got ready at
Portsmouth for carrying the Royal Family to the
Continent. One of their Lordships, we are in-
formed, proceeded to Scotland, another to London;
Mr. Whitbread remaining on board their Lordships'
yacht. This is, we believe, the first official visit of
the Lords of the Admiralty to the Mersey on their
annual tour of inspection. _ _

About 500 tons weight of armour plating for the
sides of the Caledonia were yesterday landed at
Woolwich Dockyard from the factory of Mr. Brown
of Sheffield, together with one sample slab of iron
7 feet in length, 4 feet broad, and 4 inches thick,
manufactured at the Thames Ironworks at Black-
wall, to be tested at Shoeburyness for target
practice. A huge floating baattery is in course
of construction at Woolwich, to carry a number of

110-pounder Armstrong guns, for the purpose of the
experiments at sea. The floating battery Trusty,
fitted with Capt. Coles'e cupola, and destined for
experiments with the 300-pounder Armstrong gun,
to fire a 150-pounder cylinder, still remains in basin
at Woolwich, under a protest of Capt. Coles, as not
having been fitted in accordance with his design,
nor under his supervision.
The iron frigate Resistance, 18, 600-horse power,
Capt. Chamberlain, still remains at the Nore, where
she is being completed for sea, the fitting out of this
vessel having already occupied nearly three months.
During the last few days increased energy has been
used by those employed on board to have her com-
pleted and ready for sea, but it seems probable that
it will be some days yet before she can take her de-
parture from the Nore. Like her sister ship the
Defence, the Resistance is described as a most un-
comfortable ship, the berths of the men being
always damp, from the oozing of the water through
_ _

the iron. This, perhaps, might be in a manner re-
medied by means being adopted for obtaining in-
creased ventilation between the decks.
The Fire Queen, steam yacht, Master-Commander
Paul, sailed from Spithead at 8 a.m. yesterday for
the Channel Islands, with Vice-Admiral Sir H. W.
Bruce, who, accompanied by his flag officer, has left
Portsmouth to make his annual tour of inspection.
The Black Prince, 40, screw iron frigate, Capt.
Wainwright, went out of Portsmouth harbour yes-
terday morning and anchored at Spithead, saluting
the flag of the Commander-in• Chief as she rounded
the Spit buoy. It had been feared, owing to the
unusual slackness of the tides, that there would not
be sufficient water for the ship to leave the harbour,
but by the skilful management of the captain and
pilot she was passed out through the harbour chan-
nel in perfect safety. She has begun to take in her
powder and shell, and if the weather proves favour-
able will commence her trials of speed on Monday
next.

The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—James W. Ashton, acting
second master, additional, to the Fisgard ; Frederick
T. Robins, paymaster, additional, to the Excellent;
John E. Charlton, assist.-paymaster, to the Formid-
able ; F. North and C. H. Collings, assist.-paymas-
ter, additional, to the Rattlesnake.