The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-24 00:00:00

71IE NAVY.

Rear-Admiral Robinson, Controller of the Navy,
has been in official attendance at Deptford dockyard
for some days past, for the purpose of making final \
arrangements for the commencement of the works
conneeted with the conversion of the large 2,000
tons corvette, the FaVourite, into an armour-plated
ship, upon the accepted principle of Mr. Reed, the
designer of the Enterprise, in process of construc-
tion in that yard. According to information yester-
day received at Woolwich, Admiralty instructions
are issued to proceed, and the work will be entered
on without further delay. New drawings have been
prepared under Mr. Reed's direction, with the view
of working in the existing frames of this vessel, so
as to economise both materials and labour. Mr. H.
L. Peake, master shipwright of Deptford dockyard,
has rendered valuable assistance in arranging the
mechanical details of the conversion. The Favourite
will be built upon the slip adjoining that of the
iron-plated sloop Enterprise, and the two ships will
proceed simultaneously under Mr. Reed's general
superintendence. This new system thus promptly
and fully adopted by the decision of the Admiralty
is looked upon in the Royal dockyards most favour-
ably, from the fact that the entire reconstruction of
the navy may be effected out of the materials origi-
nally converted for the wooden vessels now con-
demned. As numerous timber vessels are far ad-
vanced in many of the Royal yards and the works
have been suspended, ;we are now able, on Mr.
Reed's principle, to throw the whole strength of
the dockyards upon them anew, and can thus deve-
lope a large iron-plated fleet of sea-going ships of
moderate dimensions in a very short time with our
ordinary expenditure.
Her Majesty's paddlewheel steamsloop Prome-
theus, Capt. Norman B. Bedingfeld, from the West
Coast of Africa, was put out of commission on Sa-
turday, at Woolwich, and paid off. On account of
her damaged and leaky condition, her pumps are
• constantly at work in basin to prevent her filling.
Three feet of water was yesterday found in her hold.
The Prometheus did some good service on the coast
in the suppression of the slave trade, having cap-
tured two vessels engaged in that traffic, with con-
siderable benefit in the way of prize money to the
officers and crew.
The whole of the screw steamers of the Jason
class at Chatham are ordered to be altered and fitted
with the improved system of ventilation, the inven-
tion of Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, K.C.B.,Com-
mander-in-Chief on the North American station.
The Jason is a 21-gun screw corvette, of 400 horse-
power, and is attached to the North American
station. The invention of Admiral Milne has
been found to answer admirably in keeping up a
thorough system of ventilation throughout every
part of the ship, and preventing fevers and other
contagious diseases.
The Chesapeake, 51, 2,350 tons, 500 horse-power,
is ordered to be removed to Chatham dockyard as
soon as she has been sufficiently repaired to enable
her to flcat, in order that she may undergo a very
extensive repair, and be made ready for commission.
She will be placed in the dock now occupied by the
screw corvette Racoon, 22, until the dock is re-
quired for the reception of the armour-plated frigate
Royal Oak, 51.
The paddle-wheel steamer Lizard, 150-horse
power, Lieut.-Commander W. Spratt, tender to the
Formidable, 84, flagship at the Nore, is to have her
defects made good and be ready for sea by the 30th
inst., when she will be despatched to the coast of
Scotland to assist the Jackal), 4, 150 •horse power,
Lieut.-Commander E. F. Lodder, in the protection
of the northern fisheries.
The screw gunboat Ruby, which has recently un-
dergone some very extensive repairs, both to her
hull and machinery, is ordered to take the place of
the gunboat Fly, ae tender to the Cornwallis, 60,
200-horse power, Capt. S. Grenfell, while she is
being repaired.
Admiralty orders have been received at Chatham
dockyard directing that the officers and men of that
establishment, when required to travel on the public
service, are to be furnished with railway passes,
instead of money, as has been the case hitherto ; the
system having been found to lead to a great deal
of imposition on the public funds.
Tae Actmon was removed to the new jetty yes-
terday, where she was dismasted. This was the first
tine the new hydraulic crane was made available
for such purpose.
The Eagle, Commander Balfour, will be taken
4ut of the ship basin to-day, and is expected to leave
immediately for Liverpool. The Virago and Geyser
will take her in tow.
The Victoria and Albert, Royal yacht, is ordered
to be undocked on Wednesday, and to be made com-
plete for service with all despatch.
The Adventure troopship, Commander Leth-
bridge, will be undocked on Thursday, upon which
the Shannon screw frigate, Capt. V. T. Jones, will
be removed from the steam basin through the en-
trances of No. 7 and 10 docks.