The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-01 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

From the notices published of late respecting the
extraordinary activity displayed in the outfit, corn
mission, and despatch of the first-class reserve gun-
boats to the Mersey and elsewhere it might natu-
rally be presumed that an equal degree of activity
existed at the head quarter depot of the gunboats at
Haslar. This is not the case, however. With the ex-
ception of 31) hands specially employed to complete
the Tyrian, begun, but delivered in an unfinished
state by a private builder, there is nothing doing in
the yard and shipway. It would take a considerable
number of hands some length of time to render the
boats stored under Hasler sheds fit for commission.
Many of them now lying on the blocks with their
copper off and an air-strake out of their planking on
each side have lain thus for 18 months, and some
still longer, since they were partially examined and
passed as sound boats. If a judgment may be formed
of the probable state of the whole of these, from a
recent examination of one of their number, it may
be concluded that many of them now are exceedingly
faulty. There can be but little doubt that many of
these vessels, which at the time of the official exa-
mination may have had but a rotten timber or piece
of planking at wide intervals, are now very defec•
tive. The line of blocks on which the boats are
stowed are divided by brick partitions into six
equal parts, and the whole covered by zinc ridge
and furrow roofing. The mortar boats stand on the
opposite side of the yard, with their decks merely
covered with penthouse roofing. In the first divi-
sion of the gunboat sheds are stowed the Caroline,
Pet, Pert, Tiny, Wolf, Crocus, Camel, Skylark,
Garland, and Gannet. The seven last named have
each their copper off, with which exception they
are supposed to be complete and sound in their
hulls. But it is well known that they are not. 'The
Pet and the Pert have portions of the planking
stripped from their bottom. One is in a gcod state
of preservation ; the other is not. One was built
in a public and the other in a private yard. The
remaining boat in the shed is the Caroline, still
doing penance for her faults of construction. In
the second divisional shed stands the Mackerel, fixed
like the Caroline. Both vessels should be pulled to
pieces and their places occupied by craft that may
be some day of use. In addition to the Mackerel is
the Flirt, with fore part of keel and some of her
timbers crumbling to dust from dry rot. Her after
body has not yet been sufficiently opened to give a
correct idea of its state. The Cherokee is bare yet
to her timbers, which are being completed slowly
for planking. The Brave is rather more forward,
and will soon commence planking. The Beaver and
Badger have been hauled up, and still retain their
old copper, with an air-strake of planking out, but
no one can say what condition they are in until
they have been fairly opened. The remaining boats
here are the Primrose, Prompt, and Pickle, belong-
ing to the uncoppered class. In the third shed are
the Fervent, Albacore, Gnat, Swan, and Redbreast,
of the uncoppered class; the Grinder and Brazen,
with their old copper on; the Beacon, stripped of
planking, and making good her timbers; and the
notorious Whiting, at length nearly complete in her
new planking. In the fourth shed stands the Snap-
per, partially opened, and faulty, as also may be
termed the Pincher ; the Peacock is stripped of
planking, and making good her timbers ; the Gadfly ,
Rocket, Midge, Charger, Parthian, Blossom, and
Confounder belong to the supposed sound, but un-
coppered class. In the fifth division the Thrush and
Ready are partially stripped of their planking, and
in the adjoining and last division of the sheds are
the new class of gunboats now building by the Go-
vernment, comprising the Minstrel, Netley, Orwell,
Bruiser, and Cherub, with the majority of their
timbers and framing in position, and the Tyrian,
completing, after having been received in an unfi-

nished state from the hands of the contractor, as
already stated. The mortar boats in the yard consist
of 12 built of wood and nine of iron. Of the condi-
tion of the former at present no one can speak with
confidence until they have been further opened and
examined. Twelve months since they were said to
be in good condition. Thrcefcurths of the gunboats
are of 60 horse power. Of those afloat in the port are
the advanced flotilla, comprising the Rose, Raven,
Blazer, and Highlander. From this class have been
detached the Amelia and Escort for service in the
Mersey. To supply the places of the advanced flotilla
in the first-class reserve the following boats are being
hurried forward in the ship and steam basins of the
dockyard from the second-class reserve :—The Jas-
per, 80-horse power, and the Earnest, Savage,
Cracker, Foam, Swinger, and Pheasant, of 60-horse
power each. The remainder of the gunboats in the
port reserve consist of the Fenella and Hunter, of
40-horse power each, and the Chub, Decoy, Ant,
Rambler, Daisy, Angler, and Cheerful, each of 20-
horse power. The gunboat-yard at Haslar at pre-
sent is a solitude compared with the chief yard at
Portsmouth. In the latter it is one continuous scene
of energy and bustle. The efforts of the departments
are at present chiefly concentrated upon the gun-
boats being brought forward for first class, and the
vcasels in the ship and steam basins and contiguous
docks, comprising the Black Prince, 40, screw,
ordered for completion by the 30th of April next ;
the Geyser, 6, paddle, Commander Jackson, bound
for Vancouver, ordered for the 15th inst. ; the Sutlej,
51, screw, for the 10th inst. ; the Tribune, 32, screw,
for the Ist of February; the Duncan, 101, screw, for
the 28th of February ; the Glasgow, 51, screw, and