The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-25 00:00:00

711 E NAVY.

The Duke of Somerset has left his official resi-
dence at the Admiralty for Stover-park, Devon-

shire

Her Majesty's armour-plated frigate Caledonia,
intended to carry 46 guns, was yesterday launched
from her building slip in Woolwich dockyard. The
operation was admirably carried out, every possible
care having been taken to insure success. Precisely
at 2 o'clock the youthful daughter of the Commo-
dore-Superintendent, Sir F. Nicolson, pronounced
the usual " God speed," the dog shores were re-
moved, and the vessel glided down the ways, and
with increased speed gained the body of the Thames.
She was then arrested in her course by a couple of
steamtugs, by which she was brought round and
safely docked to receive the remainder of her plates,
250 in number, weighing in the aggregate about
1,000 tons. The Caledonia was taken in hand (ac-
cording to the technical expression) in July, 1861,
and has been hastened to completion by 300 men in
constant work since that period. She ispronounced
to be one of the strongest built ships afloat. Her
iron riders, by a peculiar design of Mr. Turner, are
placed outside the frame, and are cemented toge-
ther, so as to form a series of arches over the ports,
thereby insuring greater strength longitudinally.
She possesses also a most important improvement
in the fitment of her inner waterways by the intro-
duction of a side binding strake to all her decks,
which adds considerably to her strength. Chocks
are likewise fitted between her .beams, giving addi-
tional solidity to the framework, the whole forming
a perfect tower of strength ; her outside and inside
planking are dowelled in every timber, instead of
the ordinary method, found tobe objectionable. The
interior fitments have also been constructed with
peculiar care and strength, in order to insure her
success as a battering ram, if necessary. She has
iron beams to her upper deck, plated with iron
casing, and a 4-inch wood flat over all, the whole
of the iron deck knees, &c., being completed by
the shipwrights in the most creditable and praise-
worthy manner. Her draught of water is as fol-
lows—forward, 15ft. bin. ; abaft, 20ft. bin. ; mean
draught,lBft. Her dimensions are—length, extreme,
277 ft. ; ditto, between perpendiculars, 273 ft.; ditto
of keel for tonnage, 232 ft. B!in. ; breadth, extreme,
58ft. Sin.; ditto for tonnage, 57ft. tin. ; ditto
moulded, 56ft. 4in.; depth in hold, 19ft. 10in. ;
burden in tons, 4,045 26-94ths ; horse-power, 800,
The day was one of the finest of this variable
season, and the spectators numbered many thou-
sands.

The iron paddlewheel steamvessel Oberon, Lieut.-
Commander George Morice, from the south-east
coast of America, yesterday arrived at Woolwich;
and the troopship Megoara, Commander Henderson,
yesterday received her sailing orders to leave Wool-
wich this morning for Portsmouth.
The iron-plated frigate Royal Oak, 1,000 horse-
power,the works connected with the armour plating
and completing of which are being pushed forward
with all the speed that the resources of Chatham
dockyard will permit, is ordered to be supplied
with the following large proportion of shot and
shell for her Armstrong and other guns,the required
space being allowed for in her fittings—viz., 260
filled and 140 empty 110-pounder Armstrong shells ;
140 filled and 200 empty segment 110-pounder
Armstrong shells, 480 68-pounder shells, 100 com-
mon and 100 segment 20-pounder Armstrong shells,
besides a large quantity of the 12-pounder Arm-
strong shells for her boat and field guns. Her solid
shot will include 1,680 68-pounders, 340 110-
rounder Armstrongs, 100 20-pounder Armstrongs,
and 50 12-pounder Armstrongs. She will also take
494 pentagon whole, and 47 metal-lined cases of
gunpowder. The above proportion of shot and shell
is considerably larger than that supplied to many
of our largest line-of-battle ships. .
The screw steamer Vigilant, 4, 200-horse power,
Commander Lord W. B. Elphinstone, which arrived
at the Nore on Thursday from the east coast of
Scotland, reports having passed the wreck of a
large vessel on the Essex sands, near Harwich,with
two women lashed to the rigging, and the sea
breaking over her. Owing to the tremendous gale
and the sea running very high, the Vigilant was
u„bh, to render the wreck the least assistance.
Since the Vigilant has been at the Nore an
examination of her has been made in order to
Ascertain what injuries she sustained from having
been on shore on the Gunfleet sands. It is believed
that her injuries are not of a very serious nature,
and her repairs are expected to be of a very trif-
ling character. After being docked and examined
she will fill up with provisions and stores and pro-
ceed, it is understood, for service on the coast of
Africa.

During the height of the gale from the south-
west on Thursday the Hart, sailing yacht of Capt.
Wise, broke from her moorings in the Medway
and drove foul of the jetty at the entrance of the
great basin, Sheerneo, sustaining some injuries to
her bulwarks. She was got off by a party of riggers,
under the direction of Capt. Martyn, master at-
te:ndant of the dockyard, and towed to her moor-
ingoi 1-y the Otter, steam tender.
The . following appointments have been made at
,the Adr;i*filty :--Lieut. J. A. Forbes, to the Ad-
veature 4. Henry Berkeley, to the Ariadne ;
J ohn S ; .
1;1 assist.-paymaster, to the Fisgard ;
John Irtivii t.-paymaster, to the Adventure;
James Dot tne, eer, to the Indus, for the Part-
ridge; Jan'e S dgeon, supernumerary, in the
Bacchante, confir. 1. as 2d class assist.-engineer ;
dames Stocks, in t: lacca, confirmed as 2d class
assim,,engineer ; Flee F. Goolden, master's-
assist., to the Trafalmar ; Charles Brent, master's
t o the Adv- 4--- ; Henry G. Snowdon,
assist.,
assist.-clerk, to the Ma ,ugh ernumerary.
, as sup

~......----
7,HE A:g1P11.
---K"---
Yesterday Major-Gen. R..r:mmley, the Inspector,
General of Infantry, completed his half-yearly in-
spection of the depot battalions and other troops
of the line stationed in the Chatham district, in
which he had been occupied for t- 'o days. On
Thursday the inspection was • ..fined to the Ist
battalion of Infantry, the depots composing which
consist of the let and 2d battalions, 4th King's
Own, 35th, 43d Light Lifsbtry, 77th and 94th Re-
gitnents, the Whole numbering about 500 non-com-
missioned officers and men. Previous to the inspec-
tion of the troops Major-Gen. Runaley examined
the books and accounts of the battalion, at the ter,.
urination of which he proceeded to the general
parade ground, Chatham Barracks, where the offi-
cers and men were drawn up in review order.
o
wing to the violence of the hurricane which swept
own the garrison the entire day the troops were
not marched to the Lines for the customary field
manoeuvres, the Inspector-General contenting him-
self with making an inspection of the arms, ac-
coutrements, and kits of the various companies and
witnessOag a few evolutions by the battalion, After
completing his inspection of the several depots,
Major-Gen. Rum' ''
07 Went through the rooms, where
lae saw the men
the
also examined The Inspector-General
the
.hiraaprovenients which are be-
ing effected in rooms for the com-
fort and convenience
sergeants'
troops occupying
erthack-
j-le also visited the them.
mess, and brought his
it; spection of the let batten
of
the ll to a close by
ming tion of the books severalwaadevotd depots. Yes-
an exa-
;he entire day
the inspection
Yes-
terday
:sif.ormer men-
nvuartered
poryi,t.nhge' 2Cdh ta'itnhdan3ldbdaerpraoetkbsa,ttthaeliloa:tBt,etrtho
ie the is and at Brompton barracks.
talion, whichi is now the strongest of
the tub" bat-
iii
of infantry, was under arms at an early
albehour
and after assembling. on the prade-ground
it
Ned
Gen. Rumley and
to the inner lines, under the command of Col.
men were
Phillips. On the arrival of Major-
sttNief the kits and accoutrements of the
examined. This terminated, the customary move-
ofmarching past,
saluting, &c., were accom-
mente
satisfactory manner. The depots
Plished 5n a very
those of the Ist and 2d bat-
on the grot:nd included
let and 2d battalions
talions of the ith Regiment,
and 83d, the lat-
20th, 31st, 52d (Lib Infantry),
The battalion was
ter being just Low very strong.
toon exercise
next put through ibe manz.tal and pla
xercis
by Lieut.-Col. Stewart,.snd the bq vonet ee by
~.,
Capt. Poster, 12th Regiment. Major-Gon. RunlleY
then selected Capt. Prevost, Slat Regiment, and
of ofacera to • . r_. •
• exercise the zuen in various MOO-. j

ments, all of which were executed in a satisfactory

I manner. At the close of the inspection Ma;nr-Gen.
I Burnley expressed his satisfaction at the n anner in
which the 2d depot battalion had acqu ted itself,
there being in fact nothing to complain of. The 3d
battalion, which includes the depots ot 'he Ist and
2d battalions of the 19th, 51st (King's Own Light
Infantry), 76th, 81st, and 91st Regiments, were in-
spected in the centre square of the hut barracks,
Brompton. After the arms and kits of the compa-
nies had been examined the troops were put through
a few manoeuvres, all of which were executed with
great precision. The inspector-general also went
over the huts, and was occupied until a late hour
yesterday in an examination of the books, accounts,
and other official documents of the battalions and
depots.
The 22d (Capt. Smith's) company of Royal En-
gineers having completed its course of ball practice
at the Government rifle range near Gravesend, re-
joined head-quarters, Brompton Barracks, Chatham,
yesterday. The 22d company is disposable for
either home or colonial service.