The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-02 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

By direction of the Admiralty one of the mortar-
vessels selected from the squadron of mortar -boats
at Chatham, which were built during the Russian
war, is to be immediately prepared for the recep-
tion of the trial 150-pounder rifled gun now in
course of manufacture by Sir W. Armstrong, in
order that some experiments may be made with it
upon the iron floating battery Trusty, 14 guns. It
is not yet decided whether one of the existing
mortar-boats will be used for the experiments, or a
new one constructed at Chatham dockyard for the
special purpose.
The construction of the Prince Consort, armour-
plated frigata, is being pushed on as rapidly as
possible at Pembroke. This vessel was originally
named the Triumph, but after the death of Prince
Albert her name was changed. The armour plates
have been supplied from the Park Gate Ironworks
at Rotherham, and weigh each 41, tons, being 15
feet long by three feet six inches in width.
Yesterday the large floating shears used at Chat-
ham Dockyard for masting the various vessels built
at that establishment were towed from the harbour
to Sheerness by the Adder and Otter steamers, to
have some alterations made in them. They are
to be considerably strengthened in order to sus-
tain the additional weight thrown on them in
masting the iron steamers, and placing on board
the heavy portions of the engines and machinery for
the various vessels. The whole of the alterations
are to be completed by the end of the present month,
when the hulk will return to Chatham.
The St. George screw liner, Capt. the Hon.
Francis Egerton, is hourly expected to arrive at
Spithead from the West India station. Lieut. the
Han. F. Charteris is appointed to the ship, and will
join on her arrival at Spithead.
The Zebra, 17, screw, Commander A.H, Hoskins
arrived at Spithead yesterday from Sheerness on
her way to the West Coast of Africa. On anchoring
she saluted the flag of Commander-in-Chief, Vice-
Admiral Sir H. W. Bruce. •

The Royal paddle yacht Victoria and Albert was
taken into the steam basin yesterday from her
moorings in Portsmouth harbour, and will be placed
in dock to undergo annual renovation and refit for
her summer service.
An accurate return having been prepared by the
officials at Chatham Dockyard of the sums expended
at that establishment in completing the iron screw
frigate Defence, 18, Capt. Powell, C. 13., the Go-
vernment has decided on deducting the sum of
£13,157 from the amount to be paid to her contrac-
tors—namely, £5,458 for materials and £7,699 for
workmanship. The above sums represent the amount
paid by Government on the hull of the ship, exclusive
of the engines, boilers; masts, rigging, screw, &c.
The Coquette screw gun vessel, Commander
Alexander, made her official trial of speed, with full
and half-boiler power, at the measured mile in
Stokes Bay yesterday, under the supervision of the
officials of the Steam Reserve and Portsmouth dock-
yard. She drew 11 feet 6 inches of water aft, and
10 feet 8 inches forward, carrying a Griffith's pro-
peller with a diameter of 11 feet 11 inches, a pitch

of 7 feet 6 inches, and an immersion of the upper i
edge of 1 foot 1 inch, The engines are of 200 horse•
power nominal. Six runs were made with full boiler
power, the mean of the whole being 10.657 knots.
With half boiler power four runs were made, which
gave a mean speed of 7.767 knots. The temperature
ranged—in the engine• room from 75 to 85 ;in the
fore stockhole it reached a maximum of 119, and in
the after stockhole a maximum of 85. The weather
was highly favourable for the trial—light winds off
the land, with smooth water. At the conclusion of
the runs the ship again anchored at Spithead. She
is under orders to proceed to the China station.