The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-03 00:00:00

IRE NAVY.

Instructions have been received at Chatham dock-
yard to forward from that establishment a number

of 41-iucll wrought-iron plates, together with the
necessary frames and other fitments, to be used in

the construction of the target for the experiments
with the 120 pounder Whit worth gun. The plates
are to be of the same description as those used in
the construction of the W arrior,
and will be selected
from the number not required for that vessel. A
selection of the armour-plates was made at Chatham
Dockyard yesterday, from which they will be
shipped during the present week and forwarded to
Shoeburyness, where the target will be erected by
a number of the artisans despatched from Sheerness
Dockyard for that purpose.
Messrs. R. Napier and Sons, of Govan, on the
Clyde, have just contracted to build a cupola war

vessel for the Danish Government. Messrs. Na-

pier are now engaged in fitting the recently
launched war ram Hector with horizontal engines

of 800-horse power. lh.lector is lying for the
purpose at Lancefield QuTy, •
The resources of.Portsre~ockyard are now
chiefly concentrated on the repairs and 'refit- of the
Channel fleet, the outfit of the Sutlej, screw frigate,
commissioned by Capt. Connolly for service in the
Pacific, the fitting and repairs of the machinery of
vessels in the steam reserves, and the conversion of
the Royal Sovereign shield ship and the Royal
Alfred iron-plated frigate. The Royal Sovereign
has still about a score of men at work on her, who
manage to employ their time without making too
great progress, but irrespective of this unaccount-
able delay in the shipwrights' department the ship
is certainly ready to receive her side armour.
There is no possibility, however, of the armour
being ready for the ship for some time. Plates in
heaps are lying about the yard in nooks and corners,
but these have yet to be drilled, bent to the required
form, and annealed. The building to contain the
hydraulic presses and other machinery for pre-
paring the plates is not yet erected. Neither, of
course, is any part the machinery. The building is
in process of construction by the contractors, and
the frames for the travelling cranes to transport the
plates have been erected at the bows of the Royal
Alfred, but this is the extent of the preparations
for plating the two ships; meanwhile the Royal
Sovereign waits for her plates, and the Royal Alfred
will soon be in a like predicament. The last-named
ship has now 200 shipwrights employed upon her.
Her main and lower decks are down, hatchways on
both nearly completed, and fitting with gratings,
&e., and 22 out of the 52 iron beams (manufactured
at the Butterly Works), which support her upper
deck, are in position. Part of them are riveted in
their places. The completion of this deck is, how-
ever, much delayed by the non-delivery from the
Butterly Works of the shore beams and carlings.
Camp forges are in use about the ship's main deck,
and shipwrights may be seen busily employed rivet-
ing, drilling, and at other smith's work. The ship,
when complete, notwithstanding her ugly exterior,
will show a fine battery of guns on her main deck,
and will also have an unusually roomy deck below
for the messing and berthing of her crow. Under-
neath her armour plates she is fastened with iron
bolts, but underneath her metal sheathing she is
fastened in the ordinary manner with copper bolts.
The bolts which will carry her armour plates are
being galvanized in the steam factory, where bat-
teries and tanks have been erected for the purpose.
At present no arrangements have been made for the
ship's ventilation below, a fault common to all our
iron- cased and iron ships, the armour of which pre-
cludes the use of the ordinary side scuttle or port.
According to present appearances, the Royal Alfred
will not be afloat, as was intended, in the present
year 1862. In the three building sheds adjacent
stand the frames of the Dryad, 51-gun frigate, Har-
lequin, 17-gun corvette, screws, and the Helicon,
paddlewheel despatch vessel. The only persons
employed on them are shipwrights, who are at work
under the sheds cutting the iron beams to the moulds
for the Royal Alfred. In No. 1 dock the Powerful,
sailing 80-gun ship, once commanded by Sir Charles
Napier in his Syrian campaign, a fine old ship built
at Chatham after the French Canopus, and of 2,296
tons, is having her copper stripped off, to be pre-
pared as a target ship, which seems to be a wilful
waste of what must represent a large money value.
In No. 2 dock the Sharpshooter, iron screw gunvessel,
of 503 tons, built at Blackwell from designs by
Fincham, in 1847, is lying awaiting final orders as
to her fitment with Capt. Warren's bow rudder for
experimental trials. In No. 3is converting the
Royal Sovereign. No. 4 is being deepened to re-
ceive larger class vessels than it has done hitherto.
No. 5 contains the Esk, a wooden 20-gun corvette
of 1,153 tons, built at Millwall in 1854, half repaired
land still half rotten ; but work upon her at present
is all but suspended, owing to the pressure in other
quarters. In No. 7 dock the Simoom screw troop-
ship, of 2,000 tons, built by Napier of Glasgow in
1849, is receiving her preservative composition, or
varnish,"on her bottom, and will then be consigned
to the not inexpensive Limbo of the third class re-
serve, despite her well known carrying powers and
sea-going qualities. In No. 7, the Enchantress, one
of the new paddle-wheel despatch vessels of the
Psyche class, is having her launching ways removed,
preparatory to receiving her copper. Her engines
are being fitted on board by Messrs. Penn mad Son.
In No. 9 the Sirius, old target ship, is just com-
pleting breaking up, and in No. 10 dock the Re-
venge, screw line of battle ship, Capt. C. Fellowes,
the flagship of Rear-Admiral R. Smart, com-
mander-in-chief of the Channel fleet, is repairing
damage to her keel, caulking, and generally refitting
for sea. The Defence has been in dock, and is now
completing her outfit afloat. The Sutlej, screw
frigate, Capt. M. Connolly, is fitting out for the
Pacific alongside the dockyard, ordered to be ready
by the 14th inst. ; and the Falcon, 17, screw, Com-
mander Heneage, is also alongside, stripping and
clearing out to pay off. In the steam basin the
Rosamond paddle-steamer is fitting for a floating
steam factory ; two gunboats, the Earnest and the
Fervent, have been fitted with condensers, and are
rigged, armed, and ready for the pendant; and other
vessels waiting overhaul and repairs. At Spithead
the St. George, screw liner, Capt. the Hon. F.
Egerton, Resistance, 16, iron rain, Capt, Chamber-
lain ; Emerald, 36, straw, Capt. A. Cumming;
Galatea, 26, screw,
Capt. R. Maguire ; and Chanti-
cleer, 17, screw, Commander Stirling, are employed
making ready for their next cruise, reported -to be
for Lisbon.
The following appointments and promotions were
made yesterday at the Admiralty :—William Stan-
ton, master, additional, to the Fisgard ; Robert
Bacon, in the Asia, promoted to the rank of engi-
neer ; Herbert Pitt, in the Scout, promoted to the
rank of engineer; John Lanksbury, in the Mullet,
promoted to the rank of engineer; George Lucas,
in the St. George, promoted to the rank of engi-
neer ; Alfred Wood, in the Pantaloon, promoted to
the rank of engineer ; Wm.
Blarney, in the Chan-
ticleer, promoted to the rank of engineer; Joseph
Dearden, in the Pheasant, promoted to the rank of
engineer ; William Gibson, in the Icarus, promoted
to the rank of engineer ; Herbert Woolley, con-
firmed as engineer in the Indus ; Edward T. Peach,
promoted to acting-engineer in the Janus ; Charles
G. Warren, Gecrge F. M. Kent, and George D.
Daunt, assist.-clerks, to the Fisgaed, for service at
Somerset-house; E. H. S. W. Card, assist.-clerk,
additional, to the Bacchante ; Berners E. H. Dray-
eon and George j4ildell, assist.-clerks, additional,

711 E ARMY.

A field parade of the Scots Greys took place in

the Queen's Park, Holyrood, on Tuesday. It had
been ordered by Col. Griffiths out of compliment to
General Liprandi, who is at present on a visit to
Scotland. This splendidly mounted and appointed
corps were put through a variety of manoeuvres,
and elicited warm expressions of admiration from
the eminent Russian commander.

Yesterday a detachment of 105 non-commissioned
officers and gunners of the Royal Artillery, under
the command of Lieut. T. M. Hazlerigg, and in
medical charge of Assist.-Surg. D. F. de Hodgson,
M.D., arrived at Sheerness from Woolwich, and
joined the first division of the Depot Brigade. The
detachment consisted exclusively of old soldiers
recently returned from service in Canada, and they
will be distributed among the five batteries compos-
ing the brigade.
A battery of 11 32-pounder wrought-iron guns,
each of 58 cwt., was yesterday mounted on the de-
fences at the entrance to the Medway, replacing a
similar number of 32-pounders which had been
condemned by Capt. Dyer, R.A., Assist.-Inspector
of Artillery.
The winter lectures at the Royal Engineer estab.

lishment, Chatham, commenced yesterday, when
the first of the series was delivered by Capt. H.
Schaw, R.E., on " Electricity in Military Opera-
tions." The lectures will be delivered at frequent
intervals, weekly, through the winter, the names
of,:the lecturers including Professor Abel, F.R.S.,
Professor Pole, F.R.S., Sir W. Dennison, Mr.
Fergusson, F.R.S., and the staff of instructors at
the Royal Engineer establishment.
Maj.-Gen. Sir Richard Dacres, commanding at
Woolwich, yesterday assembled on parade the
Horse Brigade, the Riding Establishment, the 13th
and 15th Brigades, the Depot, and Coast Brigade
Royal Artillery, in order to their being present to
witness the ceremony of decorating and rewarding
28 non-commissioned officers and men belonging to
the corps, who were presented with various medals
and pecuniary rewards of £l5 10s., and £5, by the
special sanction and desire of the Queen in Council.
A 200-pounder muzzle-loading gun, manufactured
by the firm of Sir Wm. Armstrong and Co., at Els-
wick, was yesterday received at Woolwich Arsenal,
weighing about eight tons, and was forwarded to
the proof butt to be tested for service.
The Armstrong guns tested at Woolwich this
week have met with some serious reverses by the
bursting of no less than three of the 100-pounders
during proof at the butt yesterday and the preced-
ing day. Yesterday two of these huge guns, loaded
with an over-proof charge of 2721 b. of powder, and
a 1101 b. solid shot, burst through the B coil, imme-
diately behind the trunnions. The coil and the in-
ternal tube were severed, and the portion of the
tube remaining in the breech-piece was also rent
and torn in several places longitudinally by the
concussion. The third gun was separated in the
centre of the barrel or chase and gave *ay trans-
versely, almost as though cut through with a saw.
Each of the guns had been fired for some days past
experimentally to test the vent pieces ; and one had
fired over 200 rounds. It is rumoured that the
piece system, at which the men are now employed,
tends to lessen the value of the work, which is hur-
riedly performed.
The hired transport Lincelles, Commander Gooch,
arrived at Spithead yesterday from Fremantle,
Western Australia, with the 23d Company of Royal
Engineers on board, and a few naval invalids from
the Cape of Good Hope. The latter were transferred
from the Lincelles to the Victory flagship_ The
Royal Engineers are ordered to proceed round to
Woolwich in the ship, which was expected to sail
from Spithead at daylight this morning. They
comprise Capt. E. C. Sim, Lieut. R. G. Thorold, 5
sergeants, 8 corporals, 29 women, and 87 children,
and 1 sergeant, invalided, from the 12th Foot, wife
and 4 children. The Lincelles sailed from Fre-
mantle April 27, Simon's Bay July 20, and St.
Helena Aug. 9. Two births and two deaths oc-
curred during the voyage, which has been consider-
ably delayed owing to strong winds round the Cape
and contrary winds on nearing and in the Channel.

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTI
7 U7ION.

Yesterday a meeting of this institution was held
at its house, John-street, Adelphi ; Thomas Chap-
man, Esq., F.R.S., V.P., in the chair. There were
also present—Admiral Sir George Sartorius, Capt.
Sir Edw. Perrott, Bart. ; George Lyall, Esq., M.P.,
Admiral M'Hardy, Admiral Cator, Alex. Boetefeur,
Esq.; Capt. De St. Croix, Capt. Ward, R.N. ; and
Richard Lewis, Esq., secretary of the institution.

A reward of £9 was voted to the crew of the
Dungeness lifeboat of the institution, for going off
on the night of the 21st ult., and after much diffi-
culty saving fourteen men belonging to the Portu-
guese barque CruzV., of Oporto. The ship had gone
on shore off Dungeness in blowing weather, after
having experienced a heavy gale of wind. The
ship's crew were in a very excited state, and about
to abandon their vessel, over which the sea was
breaking heavily, in their own longboat, when the
lifeboat, fortunately, about midnight, came np to
them. They were thus opportunely rescued from
an apparent death, for their boat could not, it was
stated, have lived in such a heavy sea. The life-
boat was reported by Coxswain Mockridge, chief
boatman of the Coast Guard, to have behaved re-
markably well on the occasion. A communication
was read from the Portuguese Ambassador, express-
ing his high satisfaction with the important ser-
vices thus rendered to 14 of his countrymen, and
stating that he would not fail to report the same to
his Government. A reward of L 7 10s, was also
voted to the crew of the Rhyl lifeboat, belonging
to the institution, for putting off with the view of
saving the crew of the schooner Jameson, of Liver-
pool, which was observed suddenly to founder in a
heavy squall on the 13th ult. The schooner's crew
han taken to their own boat, and were fortunately
picked up by the Point of Ayr lifeboat. A reward of
£8 was also given to the crew of a pilot-boat for put-
ting off and rescuing at considerable risk of life the
crew of three men belonging to the schooner Dove,
of Leith, which during a gale of wind and squally
weather had sunk off Newhaven. The crew clung
to the rigging, from which perilous situation they
were after an hour of agony saved by the pilotboat.
The coxswain of the Bude Haven lifeboat of the
society reports that he had recently fallen into a
canal at that place, and was under water for nearl,
10 minutes before he was got out, when he was found
v
apparently dead. Ile was immediately
accordance with the rules of the National
arena
Lifeboat
waas4hlyaarpsphiall
Institution for the restoration of the)r P
drowned, founded on those of the late i
Hall, and after about half an hour h
retored to life, and is now doing very s t month the
kl
It was reported that during the I:4lowth, Dublin,
institution had sent new lifeboats t
J• General Sir
u, G ernse
Blakeney, Norfolk, and to
d to the society
nthe
G. Bowles, K.C.8., had pre Miss Brightwell that
a en.e
cost of the Howth boat, a
alsoa stated that the following
for Blakeney. It was
past
month been received by
legacies had during the
tion ,—From the executors of
the Lifeboat Institu Esq., of Salford, £lOO
vton
the late £lOO ; and Mrs. Gedge,
Dr. Turner West, of ,
th, £lOO. That lady had also
of Great bequeathed to the institution one third
benevolentlly'sbrule
of her residuary estate.
couside"
• g the very extensive character of the

operations of the National Lifeboat Institution, its
exponditure must necessarily be always very large
on its 123 lifeboat establishments ; accordingly pay-
ments amounting to £3,550 were ordered to be made
yesterday on some of its lifeb. at stations which had
recently been completed, and on the repairs, &c., of
others. The committee appealed with renewed
confidence to the public for support, resting their
appeal on the great fact that 740 shipwrecked crea-
tures had been directly saved from a watery grave
by the lifeboats of the institution during the last
two years or so. These 740 people represent pro-
bably 2,000 or 3,000 women and children, who
would otherwise to-day be in a state of widowhood
and orphanage. The proceedings then closed.