The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-19 00:00:00

7IIE NAVY.

13y private advices from Lisbon Vie hear some
further details respecting the behaviour of the iron
ships of Rear-Admiral Smart's squadron during
their recent cruise between Lisbon and Gibraltar.
The weather had been so bad outside that hardly
any comparative trial took place except in wearing.
All the ships are said to have behaved wonderfully
well during the heavy weather they had gone
through, and, in the emphatic language of an offi-
cer serving on board the Revenge, "have proved
themselves fit to go anywhere." In comparison with
the Revenge they were found to rise and fall with
the sea very easily, and it was remarked that no seas
were seen to break over them in the roughest part
of the voyage. All four—the Warrior, Black
Prince, Resistance, and Defence—had proved to be
in possession of weatherly qualities beyond expee•
tation, and requiring very little aftersail. The fleet
returned to Lisbon on the 4th inst. As they were
running in, with the wind fresh abeam, under
double reefed topsails and topgallantsails, signal
was made from the flagship to take tho latter in,
which was no sooner acconiplistied than a heavy
squall struck the squadron. Topsails were lowered,
and mainsheets eased off The Warrior's maintack
carried away, and her mainyard went in the quar-
ter. The Revenge's foretopmast gave way between
the fid-hole and the sheave, but was arrested there,
and no further mischief was done. The Admiral
appeared determined to test the ships in every pos-
sible way, and each ship is described as being ad-
mirably handled.

We are glad to find that there is some chance of
that very useful ship, the Simoom, being again
brought forward for the publia service as a troop-
ship. Her machinery has been taken in hand by the
steam factory officials at Portsmouth, and a number
of convicts are employed in chipping the scale from
the inner skin of her plates, to ascertain their exact
condition.

'l% 0 tba arraw afrair Fr;gata 11nris. 32.
Capt. Sir F. L. M'Clintock, at Plymouth, will be
paid off on Monday next.
The screw steam frigate Emerald, 36, Captain
Arthur Cumming, continued in Plymouth Sound ap
to yesterday morning, waiting orders from the Ad-
miralty.

His Prussian Majesty's screw steam corvette Ga-
zelle, 26, left Plymouth Sound on Tuesdayfor Japan.
The Pylades, 21, 350 horse power,Capt. A. Hood,
having received the whole of her stores, provisions,
&c., on board, left her moorings at Folly Point,
Chatham, yesterday morning, shortly before day-
light, under the guidance of Mr. Blakey, Queen's
pilot at Chatham for the Nore, where she will ad-
just her compasses and proceed this morning, pro-
vided the weather be favourable, to the Maplit'
Sands, for the purpose of testing her rate of speed
at the measured mile. She will afterwards take her
departure for the West Indies.

The dimensions and weight of the masts sent to
Pembroke from the Chepstow Ironworks, for the
use of H.M.S. Prince Consort, were not accurately
stated in The sFun of Tuesday last. The mainmast
is 116 ft. long by 37in. in ciicumference,and weighs
18 tons 14cwt. ; the foremast is 110 ft. long by 36in.
in circumference, and weighs 17 tons lOcwt.; the
mizenmast is 83ft. long by 24in. i❑ circumference,
and weighs 5 tons 14cwt. ; the bowsprit is 43ft.
long by 36in. in circumference, and weighs 4 tons
lOcwt. Thus the united length of the masts is
352 ft. and their weight 46 tons Bcwt.
A. memorandum issued by command of the Field-
Marshal Commanding-in-Chief states that the esta-
lishment of officers of the Royal Artillery and Royal
Engineers being nearly complete, only 20 cadets can
be received at the Royal Military Academy, Wool-
wich, from the January examination, and that at
Midsummer next the number admitted will most
probably be still further reduced.