The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 12, 1853,

smoke to leeward, enabled the spectators almost uninter-
ruptedly to mark the splendour of the spectacle. The
deep bass of the 68 and 84-pounders, chiming in at in-
tervals with the sharper roar of the lighter guns, could
be readily distinguished, and the observer could even
note how these tremendous engines of destruction hurled
forth a more projected and larger mass of flame and
smoke into the wind's eye. Along the whole line of
battle, nearly three miles long, the cannonading was
kept up for many minutes with a fury which it is quite
impossible to convey an idea of in words. The expedi-
tion and facility with which the crews worked their guns
in the midst of this terrible hubbub was a subject of
nearer and hardly less interesting observation than the
general effect of the battle. On board the Odin, com-
manded by Captain Scott, and the heavy armament of
which is peculiarly unwieldy, this was very con-
spicuous.
The enemy had replied vigorously at the outset to the
fire of the fleet, and this was sustained for some time ;
but at last the Prince Regent, the Queen, and London
began to slacken their fire. When the firing had ceased
and the great " war cloud" formed by it had swept com-
pletely away, the signal was given to "chase to the
south," ' and in this direction the whole fleet proceeded
at full steaming speed. The movement was only con-
tinued long enough to make a fair display of the supe-
riority of the Imperieuse, the Agamemnon, and the Duke
of Wellington screws. These would have beaten all the
rest of the fleet, and seem to establish the inferiority of
the paddle-wheel construction to their own not only for
fighting, but even for speed. The royal yacht, which
had retired to a safe distance during the action, joined
with its attendant flotilla of steamers in the chase ; and
both houses of Parliament, in the Stromboli and Bull-
dog, also joined eagerly in the pursuit. They were bolder
still, for, just before the engagement commenced, they
passed through the line of the fleet into theu central spa
to
ce
between it and the enemy. They were ts exposed
the entire fury of the cannonade, and it is expected that,
in consequence, for some time to come there will be a
marked diminution in the number of interjectional
"hear, hears" observable in our Parliamentary reports.
To yachtmen a leading attraction in this part of the re-
view was furnished by the performances of two beautiful
foreign vessels sent over to the Ryde Regatta—one an
American, the other a Swede, and both remarkably swift.
These kept up with the squadron the whole day, and ac-
companied it on its return to Spithead. This return was
made in the order which each ship could maintain by her
sailing powers, the Duke of Wellington and the Aga-
memnon, however, easily leading. It was a fine irregu-
lar race back to the starting point of the morning, the
stalwart and martial-looking war-vessels shouldering
their way by screw power through clouds of yachts and
steamers. Far behind, under a press of canvas, came
the gigantic sail--cf-the-line=distance and the declining
sunlight giving somewhat of a spectral character to their
movements. The fleet reached Spithead about 6 o'clock,
and on its arrival the signal was given for the gunboats
of all the ships to assemble, manned and armed, round
the royal yacht. The execution of this order involved a
greater amount of exertion on the part of the crews than
any other of the day's proceedings. Having seen proved
the difficulties attendant on launching heavy boats with
all the discipline and resources of a man-of-war at com-
mand, we can now under,tand how the terrors of ship-
wreck become so aergravated. Yesterday the gunboats
of the fleet were all round the royal yacht in a space of
little more than half-an-hour from the time when the sig-
nal was given. They then commenced, for the amuse-
ment of the multitudes of spectators on shore, a grand
attack with great guns and small arms on the Magicienne
and Conflict steatn-frigates.
Thus terminated a spectacle unprecedented in
el this
country, and that could be produced nowhere se
a spectacle which well accords with our national
sympathies, and which is doubly gratifying from
the light in which it places the efficiency of our
navy. If it restores our confidence in that surest and
greatest arm of defence for this island kingdom of ours,
it will not have been held in vain.

STARBOARD, OR WEATHER
DIVISION.
Agamemnon Duke of Wellington
Hogue .4 Blenheim
Ajax g, Edinburgh
44.21.e1•enne Arrogant d Imperiense Conflict
''Peating Tribune I°, Amphion repeating
ship
Desperate 8 Highflyer ship
Encounter u Odin
Sidon c'.i., Leopard
Vesuvius -1 Terrible
It is impossible to convey any suitable idea of the
i effect which this stately procession presented. A proces-
:" it was as ceremonious and precise as any could de-
-IN to see, the number of huge ships at stated intervals,
4(11.1d the broad avenue of clear water between the two
tilvisions still pressing on the mind the marvels of that
eehanical agency by which such order and power are
The in one display on " the inconstant deep."
eh 6 ships kept in splendid line' on their way out to sea,
they7log proudly their long rows of port-holes, and by
their ir stern, uncanvassed rig, to which the smoke of
chimneys added an aditional feature of sullen
POMP, holding every intruding craft at a respectable
_ distance._ To soften the grandeur of the spectacle by
tlifeeature which might appeal to the gentler sympa-
-4 of all, the Queen, in her Royal yacht, led the
!cl, tukadron to sea. Occupying a central position between
ti,iie Duke" on the starboard, and the Agamemnon on
Pert side, but slightly in advance of both, her Ma-
hadtr and the Royal family, with their illustrious visitors,
an uninterrupted and perfect view of the marine
faeant. They saw not only an unrivalled fleet, the
a:11Y developed expression of our maritime power, but
,i aroaziwhing number of attendant yachts and steamers,
thwhich the sea swarmed as far as the eye could
Macl• In no other country of the world, and at no
teey,l'lla period even in this, could such a spectacle have
the Isle
tat:got together. Thousands upon thousands of spec-f
t,_ at:
from Culver Cliff, and the other high grounds o
Pageant as it moved out into the Channel. They had,
of Wight in that direction, watched the great
PParentlY, calculated upon witnessing the sham fight
4;:°'n that elevated position, but must have been sadly
~,,lsaaPPcinted, for when the action commenced the island
1,,,'1,8, ,o 0 longer visible, and, had it been so, the wind,
I,..."'etlewas blowing in a'n easterly direction all day, must
''''Te interposed all the smoke of the steamers and the
Tula between them and the fleet. Not so those who
,ac_conaPanied it, or were on board men-of-war. They
furtwAllietrOjbtheidnegairweidtl.l a distinctness that left nothing
to few miles below the Nab the signal was given to
from line abreast, which the ships did at cable length
enaa each other, and with magnificent effect. Some
idea of their appearance in this position may be foamed
'order
from the fact that the line extended about three miles
inend. to end. Fancy, therefore, looking along or.
fronting° it. To the advance of the steam-fleet ;11, this
ra
_u the looming forms of three line-of-battle ships that
.5,
`ceded
ally grew more distinct and formidable in the offing
r_asucluna fine effect. They bad been very conspicuous
ii"-Z. lnthsimg
17u .
them
time before the Royal yacht appeared to have
makes signal,
hotuts,obuutht-aetasletngatulidshtehesirgenuaplolend thhereeAsdtrmanirgael
west." The strange
"All takesail
wore grandly
the sout h -
Vas , while this order
obeyed, the drums beat t
`were taken to quarters, the hammocks
down from theirposition the
bul-
warks,
on
port-holes were thrown
3)!lrkoW turning their broadsides t
oo open, and a n
enemy,d the
formedship:
_ e
reply
of battle, and signalled the demand.
1. PIY was made, though No
very easily
4.in distinguish Admiral Fansbawe's flag uY gat the wizen of the Prince
led the Regent, which
way under a 1
by the Queen and London,coud of canvass. She was followed
while the Barracouta, u also under a press of sail ;
Steamers attended them phion, Vulture, and Driver
Regent fired twice in as they bore down. The Prince
but beyond this thereawpparsoanhg, as
if
to
try
the range,
from the contrast which the sailingnothingto distract attention
their steam rivals. The deeper we vessels presented to
auveeclianical influences gathering aroguentdcommitted to the
''nn
to regret those splendours of theus, the more do
, no longer retain. This was a universalpast which we
t2rda as Admiral Fanshawe's squadron neared opinion yes-
whenbroadsides the got within range, the the fleet.
re upon them, and the cannonade
their
-1 inship to ship, spread along the line , taken up
andrapidity 'with a, energy
~ quite astounding while it lasted fresh sea-breeze rolling away the • ana
fine
Immense volumes of

PORT, OR LEE DIVISION.

parts, cheered again and again, until the sound, echoing
from point to point along the Solent, rose like distant
thunder.
Precisely at 10.45 the Victoria and Albert was seen
advancing from Cowes road between the leeward ships
of the fleet, passing first between the Vesuvius and
Terrible, and then proceeding straight down the line
towards the Duke of Wellington at the weather extre-
mity. Suddenly three little balls are run up to the
Admiral's fore, where they burst out into tiny flags,
flutter for an instant, and are hauled down again. Away
go as many balls to the fore of every vessel in the fleet
and repeat the same process ; and then those ponderous
dark hulls, so silent, so deserted-looking, so gloomy,
spurt out lightning, smoke, and thunder from their
grim ports. The Royal salute, as rendered yesterday
by 20 powerful men-of-war, was startingly grand. In
its terrific force and vehemence it appealed to nearly
every sense, and woke that dread instinct of war which
must be inherent in man. The roar so like the mighty
voice of the heavens in their anger, the quick arrows of
fire running along the batteries and piercing through
the sheet of smoke, and the graceful whirls of the
wreath of aerified gunpowder exercise a powerful in-
fluence over the fancy, and reason, in spite of itself,
submits to the power which it cannot analyse.
As the Royal yacht passed up the line, she was fol-
lowed by the Vivid and Elfin, by the airy with the
members of the Russian Royal family on board ; by the
Banshee (Lieutenant Hoskins), with General Simpson,
Governor of' Portsmouth, and several other distin-
guished officers ; by the Black Eagle, Bulldog, and
Hecla, laden with " the Lords" and friends of the Ad-
miralty ; by the Stromboli and Gorgon, bearing on their
decks both Houses of Parliament ; by the Lizard, Fly,
and several other vessels, carrying pendants and
freighted with persons who had been provided with
tickets for that day.
Nearly every yacht club was present in every form,
from the clipper schooner of 200 tons down to the
Thames cutter of 10, clothed in their snow-white can-
vas, big jibs and gaff topsails set, and, flitting over
the water in, every direction, they formed the most
beautiful coup d'ceil that could be conceived, stretch-
ing away for miles, tacking to and fro, running out
of every creek along the isle, and firing their tiny
armament with wonderful zeal and tolerable regularity.
The dusky forms of numerous steamers, struggling under
the enormous loads of living creatures who swarmed
from stem to stern, on paddlebox, deck, rigging, yards,
contrasted with the livelier hues of the sailing vessels
and relieved their monotony. It is to be regretted, how-
ever, that in some cases the captains were more anxious
to give th&r passengers an opportunity of demonstrating
their loyalty than of consulting the convenience of those
whom they intended ,to compliment—occasionally run-
ning their vessels so near as to interfere somewhat with
the motions of the Royal yacht, or, when to windward,
favouring those on board with a full taste of their quality
in the production of smoke. As the Royal yacht ad-
vanced, head turned, the smoke was soon blown away,
and her stately march between the ranks of the squadron
was plainly visible to the many thousands afloat and
ashore. At 11 o'clock the Royal pacht was astern of
the Duke, and her speed was slackened. She then
slowly went on ahead till she took a position on the
starboard bow of the Duke. Her Majesty, Prince
Albert, and the royal children, attended by a numerous
suite, were seen on the deck admiring the giant man-of-
war. The Prussian frigate (Gefion) and sloop manned
yards in excellent style as her Majesty passed, but the
squadron did not follow their example, for it has been
almost decided not to continue the practice in steamers,
on account of the injury done to the men's clothes by
the soot on the yards and rigging. The Fairy now
ranged up with the Russiau Archduchess and several
officers in uniform on board. The Stromboli, rolling
about beneath the weight of the House of Peen, lay
still further astern of the Royal yacht, and Lord Pal-
se
ehieet•a..ouril,de
espßeiaikektot aagete:/womitahtethoer a,n,
flesellinagnteohnedre,-,
inetston might he seen chatting with one of the sailors
justpuba
tai
of the Admiralty flying at the main, was close at hand,
[FROM ANOTHER OBSERVER.] and a crowd of yachts and steamers were at greater dis-
t Laces to leeward. At 11.30 the Prince of Prussia, the
On July 16, 1845, now just eight years ago, her Ma- Crown Princess of Wurtemberg, and the Dachess of
testy Queen Victoria inspected the Experimental Squa- Leuchtenberg proceeded in a barge from the
Fairy
to
dron of that day, under the command of Admiral Hyde the Royal yacht, where they were received
by her
geve iboard
ostaff.
thet Prince,and
sons The sight attracted an immense crowd of per- Majesty. The boats of the Victoria and Albert were
theotlfs then
Wellington,
son§ from the metropolis and the surrounding country,
and well were they repaid by one of the most splendid
spectacles ever beheld. But at one time there were great nf'l
roewi
ar e
visitors
i e
iatnedre
followed her
proceededMajesty,by a
brilliant thelli a
t
11.55 the Queen appeared at the
fears entertained on shore that the sight-seers would be with. her guests th
the Admiral e Duke of
of Ca
thmebridpoge,rt an andd
disappointed. The success of the whole ceremonial de-
Sir T. Cochrane,
- of the day, and remained for nearly 10 minutesgazing
pealed on "the wind," which was then the deity be
with the greatest interest on the wonderful
scene which
loved or the demon abhorred by poor Jack, according as
lay before her. Her Majesty was greetedinthe most
it was fair or foul, for he was the exception to the enthusiastic manner by the passengers in the commer-
" nobody" to whom an ill wind is inferred to be of some cial steamers which happened to be near enough to see
advantage. Many an old sailor turned aside to pucker her.
up his lips into a sly whistle, thinking, after all, there At 12.5 the Queen returned to her yacht. Admiral Sir
Hyde Parker and Sir Baldwin
Walker came on board
could be no harm in the moribund superstition, and that
the Banshee at the same time, and it was soon evident
it might- do good to indulge in it, and it was felt that if
that the proceedings of the day were about to begin. In
these little supplicatory expostulations with Providence
a few minutes more the signal was given to weigh, and
did not succeed and the wind remained in abeyance, the
as the vessels had been "hove short" since 8 o'clock, and
exhibition might do very well for Vandevelde to paint
had only one anchor down, they were all off in a few
" a dead calm" from, but would be very uninteresting
minutes, proceeding in the order of the published pro-
to the Queen and her subjects. No doubt, too, there
were thousands of good honest blue jackets who did not gf
steamers following each other with much regularity,
ramme. The spectacle presented by the two columns
like seeing her Majesty in a "smoker" at all, and would o
considering the difference in their relative speed, was
much sooner have beheld the Royal standard floating
from one of those gaily ornamented barges, which were splendid. At 1.30 o'clock "the enemy" were seen in
fondly believed to be Royal yachts half a century ago by the distance, beating out towards the eastward, six or
seven miles beyond the Nab Light, and at 1.45 the alg-
a generation not yet recovered from their reverence for
the " Shrewsbury Wonder" and the "Brighton Tally- nal was given to form line of battle, while the drums
ho." But a mightier power than the wind was spring- beat to quarters on board the squadron, and the ports
ing fast into maturity. The youthful giant was in baby- were triced up and guns run out. `The enemy," con-
clothes. Most people said he would never be fit for listing of the I"rinee Regent, 02 ; Queen, 113 ; London-
fighting, and recommended him to be kept to work on 90 ; Amphion, 34 ; Barracouta, and Driver, were on
railways or to serve in the merchant marine • but now the port tack—the sailing vessels wawa all the canvas
he has grown up, and he has changed the whole' tactics they could set, the steamers standing yto windward
of war. Knock away the paddles or the shaft of a of them. it was soon very evident that with all the ad-
steamer of the old school, and you had a very da igerous vantages of their position wind must yield to steam,
log on the water, which might scald you to death, and and that they could not escape the "screw." At 2.5
the enemy tacked and stretched away towards the English
which was deprived of half her broadside by the space
coast, while the squadron
taken up by her paddle-boxes. Fire a shot into her, andformed the line of battle, the
the chances were she became a vast mortar filled with ships moving in succession from their positions astern
steam and blew the crew out of her. But now we of each other, till they were in a line abreast—the two
have a perfect man-of-war, with a propelling force work- Admirals in the centre—the paddle-wheel steataiers on
ing down deep in the water, and secured
noeuvre was executed in about 20 minutes, but the Duke
against most each flank, and the 'screws in the centre. This ma-
contingencies except that of breakage, with her engines
below water-line, and, despite the prejudices of our old and the Agamemnon had to wait for some time for the
" salts," there is reason to think that from and after blockships to come into line, and when there the latter
could not keep their position, though they did much
this time very few ships will bp built indeed which are
better than they had done when in column. The
not provided with that potent auxiliary " the screw." a
In these eight years a complete revolution has been P roach of the two fleets was one of the most beautiful
of the day, and the manoeuvres of the squadron of
effected in our navy and our system of tactics, and the si
most striking evidence of the superior merit of the new Admiral Fanshawe, being for the most part executed
under canvas, formed the most attractive portion of it,
order of things was to be found in the proceedings of
a hick it the London being conspicuou, for the ease with which
yesterday, and, above ail, in the rapidity with
she was handled, her superior sailing qualities (she
has been produced.
On the occasion of the Queen's visit to Spithead in
spared the others' royals), and the facility of her steering.
1845 the squadron consisted of the St. Vincent, Tra- At 2.40 signal was given "to chase." At the same
moment the Prince Regent tacked, and was followed by
falgar, Queen, Rodney, Albion, Canopus, Vanguard,
'list one— (the
Superb, and Rattler. Of these, one . ( the rest of Admiral Fanshawe's squadron, and at 2.45
_ the enemy formed line of battle, beat to quarters, and
Rattler)—was a screw steamer ! A vessel of 880
tons
epared for action, as it was quite evident nothingelse
and 200-horse power, and by no means deserving of her
could be done:
name so far as speed was concerned, thought built by
- The Admiral fired a gun now and then as a signal to
Sir W. Symonds,„ represented our navy, all the rest of his beleaguered force. Nand •
his
the squadron being sailing vessels. forces came, and every motion was watched with the
Yesterday we saw in a
fleet of 20 men-of-war 13 screw
~ reatest excitement by every one, from those on board
steamers, and these by far the most efficient ships in
the
the Royal • ht down to the sailors •
in the fleet. At
whole squadron ; and Ms if to admit the fact of their ya°within 3.30 the squadrons were
a quarter of a mile of
superiority in a tacit sort of way, the vessels of the
each other, and suddenly the action commenced. The
squadron which was intended to be beaten were tom broadside of the Prince Regent was tremendous—for
posed altogether of sailing vessels and paddle-wheel
regularity and rapidity she could not be excelled. She
steamers. was followed by her consorts with an effective fire, but
It was, in every sense of the word, a national exhi-
all the roar of their guns was drowned in the crashing
bition yesterday, and, as far as might be, in spite of the
localised nature of the display, a national holiday. Such cannonade of the Duke, the Agamemnon, and the screw
fleet, which vomited forth the fire of their batteries with
a day was never seen in Portsmouth, even when our
testify to its uninterrupted energy for nearly a quarter of an hour,
navy was wont to tow in whole fleets to
prowess. Many a strange tale has been told ere this of when the firing ceased, and the enemy, maimed and
the dreadful Wed- wounded and crippled, was understood to be defeated.
shifts to which visitors were put on
nesday in order to find a resting place—the hotels were The Amphion and the Admiral imitated the effects of
filled with people, who roamed all night in hopes of some an action most admirably by letting sheets and tacks fly
One being driven out of leis room by an electric tele- hauling their yards out of trim, and letting down the
graph, a fire, or insanity, and who, failing in their ex- to
on the caps, the former particularly contributing
pectations, lay down in holes and corners wonderful to to this picturesque effect with remarkable skill. The
think of, and it is to be feared that many a respectable whole fleet then steered south-east till 4.25, when a
man with a well-filled purse had no better resting place " race " homewards erect place, in which the Duke of
than his house-dog was enjoying in the back yard at Wellington and Agamemnon greatly distin,guished
.theni-
home. The trains swallowed up thousands, only to selves, and gave the Royal yacht as much as she could
leave more thousands behind, and then delivered them do to diminish her dietance from them. The quiet
over to hungry watermen with the keenest thirst of gold smoothness and celerity with which the Duke moved
ever known, or to innkeepers, seized with equally acute through the water astonished every beholder, but in the
end she was passed by the Agamemnon. At 4.45 Bern-
manifestations of a similar appetite. bridge Light was passed, and the fleet proceeded in order
The note of preparation sounded all through the night,
and soon after daybreak the whole world of Portsmouth, to their former moorings, after which the review was
Gosport, and Southsea rushed down to the beach to find terminated by the boat attack.
the fleet quietly at its moorings, with scarcely a sign of At half-past 6 o'clock the Admiral made signal for the
boats of the squadron to attack an enemy to leeward.
life on board except the steam blowing off from the
boilers. Thousands repaired to the dockyard in order to The hostile force was represented by the Magicienne
get on board the men-of-war for which they had orders ; and the Vulture steamers, which took up a position
and so great was the anxiety to be in time that the yachts within a mile of the Southsea beach. They lay " broad-
side on " to the shore, and as soon as the boats were
from Cowes and about the island ran over and anchored
during the night in the shingle off Southsea beach, in hoisted over the side they prepared their batteries to
order to get a good start of wind for the Nab in the give them a warm reception.
morning, and stood off at an early hour for the point of The utmost activity prevailed among the vessels of
the attacking squadrons, which were now anchored at
action indicated in the programme which was published
the moorings they ha
in yesterday's paper. The sky gave promise of a fine d left in the morning, in a line
day—regular "Queen's weather"—and the day fulfilled from Spithead all along the coast of the Isle of
The
the pledge. The wind was east-north-east, and though Wight. rapidity with which the huge launches
there was not enough of it for the sailing vessels to work were cleared away, raised over the side, and lowered
with, and to puff the smoke away, it would have been into the water, must have surprised those who had not
uncharitable and ungallant to have asked for more, when before witnessed the admirable perfection to which the
so many ladies were preparing to brave some amount of boat service of our navy has been brought. In a few
suffering in trusting themselves even to the tame and minute each vessel had its launch floating by its side, a
gentle Neptune of the Solent. Soft white clouds floated carronade (a short, serviceable gun, of heavy metal) on
placidly through the blue sky, and the sun shone out its slide in the boesw, and then pouredartill intoery her its
With stream
brightly, the only consequence of his appearance being of seamen, matin, marine . 24
the adoption and use of an extensive crop of " wiles " oars, double-banked, the marines
tseatehe sternsheets
water, which interfered with the full scope of the tele- the yokS lines in his hand, and the jack floating from
scope. As the morning wore on the crowds of course the tall
in itself flae-staffnd for in th
med any
stern,
engin each e
of war, boat was
so a beautiful
increased along the shore. Every landing place was a object , a
centre of attraction, and men-of-war and shore boats by no means despicable, having all the appliances of
laden with parties of ladies and gentlemen, and portly ; attack, defence, and retreat concentrated in a very short
hampers of provender, crossed to and fro, coining and i compass. A few minutes more, and the words " Give
going in all directions, the sun's rays flashing brightly way ' sent from the sides of the squadron a flotilla of
back all the while from the blaze of gold in the officers' i enormous force and power. The boats might be seen
uniforms as they sat in state and dignity in their trim 1 advancing with great velocity from the line of ships,
gigs. Hour after hour passed cheerfully away, for there , swept along by the long powerful pull of the stalwart
was plenty to see and remark upon its the ever-changing ' oarsmen, and convereine as they advanced in two divi-
panorama which lay before one from the Southsea beach
, rims —one for each of the devoted enemy. The Royal
to the opposite shore, where the Isle of Wight, rich in yacht moved slowly up towards tie steamers, and all
all its natural beauties, formed a graceful background to the immense multitude of yachts and tenders, wherries,
the scene. Soon after 10, o'clock some longesighted people steam-vessels, great and small, swarmed astern of her,
declared the "flag was down at Osborne," and, indeed, or dodged about to find an opening in tie thronged
it soon turned out they had reason to be proud of their masses of hull and spar and rigging through which this
eyesight or of their imagination, for the royal standard exciting portion of the spectacle amid be witnessed.
not long after was transferred to the main of the Victo- Meanwhile the launches drew rapi fly ahead, and as
ria and Albert, eszkch lay off shore in the Cowes roads. , soon as the leading boat had cleared the vessels of the
The yacht in a few minutes afterwards left her moor- spectators a flash from the bows of the Vultare, followed
lugs, and steamed towards Spithead, threading her by a gush of white smoke, showed that the fight had
way with care and difficulty amid the innumerable com
vomitedboats T
dense masses of people who darkened every eminence , of the launches, served with great quickness, sounded a
on the beach, who swarmed on the platform and rain- 1 rolling bass of thunder to the smart sharp rattle of the

musketry ; and the irregular nature of the firing, at one
time bursting into a simultaneous roar as the metal of
boats and ships spoke in awful unison together, and now
subsiding into the discharge of a single gun, diversified
the tumult of the uproar. And now one could
understand the formidable character of a boat attack,
for, as the flotilla drew near the broadsides of the
men-of-war and got into range, they divided and
steered away, so that one division made for the bows
and the other for the sterns of the ships at bay,
thus escaping to a great extent the fire of the
st-ongest portion of their batteries, and assailing
them in their weakest parts. The smoke blew
away to leeward in advance of the boats, but as they
drew nearer to the steamers it became so dense that
they became altogether enveloped in it, and nothing
could be seen but the wreaths of the snowy vapour
rising in pile on pile, and hiding from view the animated
work which it seemed as if anxious to conceal. The
heavier metal of the frigates was heard at intervals
through the din of the carronades and firelocks, and at
length the rapid rattling volleys of the marines on board,
delivering their fire as the launches drew up alongside
to board, were distinctly audible. Still more launches
kept coming from the fleet, and opened fire as they
formed their divisions, the marines all loading and firing
as if for life, and the sail Ors pulling with the regularity
of machinery, until a loud ringing cheer—such a -joyous
burst of exultation that one might imagine the gallant
fellows had won a new Trafalgar—proclaimed their vic-
tory over the enemy, and the firing was over. As the
wind slowly rolled the clouds to leeward of the flotilla
bringing into view boat after boat and the hulls of the
steamers, the coup d'ail was one no language can con-
vey, for it was instinct with motion, teeming with ener-
getic life. The boats were returning to their respective
ships, from which the signal of recal had been hoisted 4
or with oars aloft were lying-to off the late " enemy ;
on the white beach at Southsea, as far as the eye could
reach, thousands of people were gathered in full enjoy-
ment of the spectacle ; every mound—every hillock—
the ramparts of the fortifications, the tops of houses—
any and every place, in fact, from which a view of Spit-
head could be had, were black with a swarm of human
beings. On the other side, with the aid of a glass, it
could be perceived that the whole population had poured
down to the shores of the Isle of Wight, and the pier at
Ityde and the hills towards the seaside were covered
with men, women, and children. Everything that could
float and move by sail or oar—and wonderful it was to
see occasionally what feats, contrary to all appearances,
were performed in this way—collected from all parts of
the neighbouring shores, was on the waters flitting
about, so as to shut out the face of the waves, beneath
a shifting veil of rope and wood and canvas. The
Royal yacht, beset with theth like a queen bee by its
loving subjects, floated tranquilly, the centre of
innumerable lorgnettes and prying eyes. At in-
tervals some very dirty and very loyal steamer came
waddling close to the -Victoria and Albert, and
discharged a volley of hearty cheers from its
living cargo as the well-known form of their Sovereign
was seen on the deck of her floating palace ; and gen-
tlemanly yachts veiled their topsails as they came near,
and ungentlemanly ones stood too close in, and became
objects of universal abhorrence, for the time being, to
many thousands of people. Far away to the east a
thick black background of coal smoke, left behind by
the steamers, rested on the horizon, and brought out
in fine relief the snowy canvas of the hundreds of yachts
which were stealing up to their moorings. The slower
steamers, and men of-war, with company on board,
came hustling through them, each with a long dark
trail in the air behind it, and, in the centre of the pic-
ture, Admiral Fanshawe's squadron, with every stitch
of canvas that could be set, except studdingsails, bore
down majestically in line between the port and star-
board divisions of its late assailants, towering above
the pigmy craft as the pillars of some ruined Eastern
temple over the Arab tents at their base. No other
country ever exhibited a spectacle so grand and so im-
pressive. It was a great Peace Congress, headed by
the Queen.

THE SMYTII FORGERY CASE,

EXAMINATION -OF THE PRISONER.

GLOUCESTER, Thursday.
To-day Dr. Smith, alias "Sir Richard Hugh Smyth,
Dart.," the plaintiff in the notable action of " Smyth v.
Smyth," which terminated yesterday in so remarkable
and dramatic a manner, appeared before the Rev. D.
Jenne, master of Pembroke, and a magistrate for Glou-
cestershire, on the charge of forging certain documents,
purporting to be deeds and certificates belonging to the
Smyth family, the prosecution having been instituted by
the direction of Mr. Justice Coleridge.
Mr. Way, a relative of the Smyth family, deposed to
the inaccuracies in the spelling of the letters of the pri-
soner, and he also deposed to his stating that the trinkets
produced were the same that had been given to him by
John Provis.

The prisoner cross-examined Mr. Way at some length,
and continued to ejaculate, " You may hang me if you
please, but give me a fair chance." In reference to the
mis-spelling of the word "holiday," he asked Mr. Way
if he knew the derivation of the word. Mr. Way de-
clined giving any explanation, and the prisoner then
stated that the word was derived from the holly branch
by the Catholics, and that therefore it was impossible a
scholar could spell it otherwise than he had. He also
asked Mr. Way if from his own knowledge he could
swear that he had forged the parchments.
Mr. Moring, engraver, 42, High Holborn, London,
deposed that he made and engraved the steel seal now
produced about the 7th March last. The prisoner em-
ployed him to make the seal, and he sent it to him in the
brown paper parcel produced. He had examined the
seals on the two documents produced, and the impres-
sion on both was made from this seal.
By Mr. Gray (who conducted the prosecution)—The
order was a written one by the prisoner (produced). The
order was shown to the prisoner yesterday while under
examination, and he admitted it to be his. Made a
sketch of the arms while the messenger waited, and in
the hurry he blurred the u in "capitur," and hence the
mistake in the engraving of the word " capitor " occurred.
He engraved the arms and crest, and sent out the seal
to have the motto stamped on it. The words "the one
before" in the order referred to another seal, which he
had previously made for the prisoner about December.
The seal with the ivory handle produced is it. He had
no doubt that the seal on the document " A." was made
with the same seal as that on the document " B." The
impression on the letter signed "Hugh Smyth," ad-
dressed to " Mrs. Smyth, Warminster," and dated Feb.
2, 1797, was made with the seal which witness engraved
for the prisoner in December last. This letter was
produced on the trial of "Smyth v. Smyth." No two
seals could be made su much alike that he could be de-
ceived as to the impression, and, more than that, the
peculiar manner in which both seals are engraved had
only been discovered within the last three or four years.
The peculiarity was, that the seal was engraved by
peculiar circular steel tools. It was a peculiarity that
could be seen by the eye, both by the impression and
the seal itself. He discovered that peculiarity in the
documents A and B sealed. Before sending out the seal
made in March, he took an impression of it, which he
had kept ever since, and now produced. In that impres-
sion the word appeared " Capitor."
By the prisoner—l received the handle of the smaller
seal from you, when you gave me the first order. There
was a seal upon it at the time; with a crest and motto.
The crest was an elephant's head.
The prisoner having put several other questions to the
witness, without shaking his testimony, said—Now I
have one question to ask you touching my honour—for
bad as I may be thought to be, I have still some honour
left. Did I not call upon you after the appearance of
certain advertisements and handbills issued to seal en-
gravers, respecting the larger seal, and offering a re-
ward of 51. for the discovery of the person who en-
graved it ?
Witness—Yes, once.
Prisoner—Did I not say a person would call on you
respecting the engraving of those seals ?
Witness— You asked me if a person had called on me.
The witness went on to say that the prisoner had re-
quested that the porter in the shop should be sent
out, and witness having sent him out, the prisoner
said inquiries might be made respecting the seals en-
graved by him, and requested him to give no info',
mation whatever respecting them. He asked witness
to give no information respecting his knowledge
of the engraving of seals. He did not request him to
observe secrecy when he gave the order for the seals.
He (witness) first gave information by letter to Mrs.
Warrington on the day the advertisement appeared. It
was the day the prisoner called upon him. A letter
was produced bearing the Bristol post mark of March
15, 1853, and another of the 16th of March, 1853, ad-
dressed to the "Rev. T. G. Bennett, Ballinadee, Ire-
land." They bore a seal which the witness identified
as having been made with the larger seal which he
made for the prisoner.
We understand that Mr. Robert Cocks, of Oxford-
street, London, engraver, will make the following state-
ment as to the trinkets produced in court yesterday,
and which brought the trial to the crisis :—That on the
sth of June last the prisoner called at his shop, and
giving his card, " Sir Richard Smyth," stated that he
was trustee of children just come of age, and who de-
manded the mother's property, and he (the prisoner),
finding he had been robbed of them, desired to purchase
other similar articles made not less than fifty years ago.
He selected five rings and two brooches, and wrote the
inscriptions which were placed on them.
These facts were communicated by telegraph to Glou-
cester yesterday.

SOUTHAMPTON, TFICRSDAY NIGHT, 10 O'CLOCK.
No public event which has happened of late years has
excited such a strong interest in Southampton as the
grand naval review which has so successfully terminated
this evening.
During Wednesday afternoon, and throughout the
night, a constant succession of trains brought an im-
mense concourse of visitors to this town. All the hotels
and lodging-houses were crammed, and enormous prices
paid for accommodation. The price of tickets issued
by the various excursion steamers rose to a great sum,
and transactions of this nature were even effected at an
advance of 300 per cent. on the original cost, the tickets
to a great extent having been bought up by speculatora,
one, two, and three guineas being freely paid for per-
mission to go in the vessels.
The movement towards Spithead. commenced this
morning shortly before daybreak, and steamers were
rapidly dispatched, filled with people, to the scene of
action. At half-past 6 o'clock the Royal West Indian
mail steamer Thames got under way, with the directors
of the company, their friends, and distinguished party
on board, to the number of nearly 400 persons, for
whom a magnificent hospitality was prepared.
The Thames monceuvred throughout the day in the
rear of the fleet, and afforded the persons on board an
excellent opportunity of witnessing this grand spectacle.
At 9 o'clock the beautiful screw steam-ship Cadiz, under
charge of Captain Cooper, and belonging to the Penin-
sular and Oriental Company, started from the Docks,
having on board a number of the directors of the com-
pany, with a large party, including the mayor and cor-
poration of Southampton, the Governor of the Bank of
England, several Directors of the East India Company,
and many gentlemen eminent in the monetary and com-
mercial circles of the metropolis. The Cadiz was early
dressed with colours, and had the fine brass band of the
steamer Bengal on board, which played during the day.
On board this ship also an excellent entertainment was
provided for the invited guests.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company having placed
at the disposal of the officers of the camp at Chobham
their steam-ship Tagus, a party consisting of nearly 200
from that encampment, and accompanied by the band
of the Bth Hussars, embarked in that vessel, under com-
mand of Captain Killock, and have returned to South-
ampton highly delighted with their trip, and with the
bountiful preparations and refreshments provided for
them by the liberality of the company.
• Besides these excursions of a special nature, the seve-
ral steamers of the South-Western Company, the Isle of
Wight Company, and
many vessels from London and
• various places which came to this port to provide con-
veyances for the masses anxious to go afloat, went off
during the morning crowded with passengers, and have
returned with their freights, no damage or accident
having, so far as we know, happened to mar the general
enjoyment. The town is full of company, and in the
course of the morning and evening the Docks have been
visited by thousands of persons to witness the embarca-
tion and return of the visitors from the review.

WHITECHAPEL COUNTY COURT.
(THIS DAY.)

(Before Mr. Sergeant Manning.)
WILSON V. CHAMBERS.

IMPORTANT QUESTION AS TO TENANTCY.—This was a
case on a judgment obtained in the City Sheriffs' Court
to recover the sum of 4/. 10s. for rent.
Mr. Beard, from the office of Mr. W. It. Buchanan,
for the plaintiff, stated the case, by which it appeared
that, after the judgment had been obtained, defendant
tendered the key, which was accepted ; and it was con-
tended by Mr. Hughes, as counsel for the defendant,
that this was a waiver of judgment.
Evidence was adduced to show that plaintiff had
agreed to forego the claim ; but, on cross-examination of
the witness by Mr. Beard it was clearly shown that, so
far from assenting to this, the plaintiff had positively to
sign a document to that effect which had been previously
prepared.'
His Honour decided that the defence had not been
made out ; and even if it had been made out, he did not
consider it would have been a satisfaction of the judg-
ment.

The defendant was then committed for 30 day s

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(TRIS DAY.)

__—
THE GREAT FIRE IN ST. JAMES'S.—Notwithstanding
that the firemen had been actively engaged during the
whole of Wednesday and the greater part of yesterday,
the fire was not entirely extinguished until past 6 o'clock
last evening. It was then found that the property
destroyed by this disastrous event was considerably
greater than was at first expected, for, owing to the fire
continuing to rage so long amongst the ruins, much
property that was expected would be saved has unffirtu-
nately been consumed. In the veneer-house there was
a stock in trade valued at from 1,5001. to 2,000/., and i
is to be regretted that nearlythe whole has been reduced
to ashes. The premises of Mr. Sibley, the silversmith,
are also gutted, for since the fire had been not somewhat
under, the whole of the floors and roof havebfallen in, and
the timbers which had settled on the ground floor, in
spill of the torrents of water thrown upon them kept
burning until they were reduced to a charred mass.
Amongst the property destroyed were a great number of
partially-finished pianofortes, including several Foncias,
of which the firm were the patentees. A very valuable
stock, however, in the southern warehouses has escaped
with only trifling damage by water and heat. Asb to the
origin of the fire, in spite of the inquiry madded e y the
brigade authorities, nothing that can be ye ended upon
could be learned. The factory has been in the hands of
the same family for ieearly 200 years, and the present
was the first fire that had ever broken out in the place.
A subscription is about being opened for the aid of the
numerous men, who, besides being thrown out of work,
have lost their tools, and are consequently unable to take
another shop of work.
HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN.—A quarterly Court
of the Governors of this Institution, which was established
in 1851, for the purpose of treating poor children both
surgically and medically, attaining knowledge regarding
gHoaspnuitffiale,i4en9t,
cohramv
ne
nbde-es nt r heldee
t,
but ye s ttebrety ,n ae tt thebei n
the diseases of children, and training nurses for children,
'aG'aresatto
number of Governors present to form a quorum the
meeting was postponed. It appeared, however, from
the books of the Hospital that the number of in-patients
had been extended to 27, and the attendance in the out-
patient department was upwards of 120 daily. During
the quarter the number of in-patients had amounted to
about 40. Since the foundation the number of in-patient 3
had been about 200, and the out-patients about 2,000.
1 The donations for the past half-year amounted to 7341.
16s. 4d., and the subscriptions to 4141. Bs., making the
total receipts 1,1791. 19s. 11d. The expenditure for the
same period had been 8641. 17s- 7d., leaving a balance
of 3151. 2s. 4d. The Committee rejoice at the progress
of the Institution, and earnestly entreat the public to
come forward and support them in their exertions to re-
lieve the poor child in the time of sickness.
FARE TABLES FOR HACKNEY CARRlAGES.—Yesterday
the commissioners of police issued orders, under the pro-
visions of the New Hackney Carriage Act, for the pro-
prietors of hackney carriages immediately to post tables
of fares inside and outside their vehicles. Forms of the
tables may be seen at Scotland-yard ; they contain a
statement of the fares to be charged by time and dis-
tonne the quantity of luggage that may be taken, and
the Charge allowed for extra luggage and passengers.
The Hansom cabs must carry them inside, on the off-
s de, close to the roof, near to the front glass blion the
nd, to
e char of the same up or down ; and outside,
near side close to the roof, to the right hand of the
w i do+,v panel. Clarence cabs and others must have
tem inside the panel of the off-door, immediately under
the window, and on the outside on the back panel in
the cenire close to the roof. All who neglect to supply
their vehicles with these tables forthwith are to be sum-
moned, and the penalties enforced. That there may be
no excuse, the commissioners supply the tables for ls.,
on application.
COAST DEFENCES.—Among the many arrangements
for effecting the more efficient defence of our coast, the
Government has directed that a tower shall be at once
erected in the spit of the Isle of Grain, opposite Sheer-
ness. To those who know the locality, it must be evi-
dent that the erection of this tower will prove a most
efficient coast defence.

LONDON, Aug. 12.—Wind this day at Noon, N.B. to
E.N.E. ' • light breeze, and dry weather, but cloudy at
times. The barometer is steady.
RAMSGATE, Aug. 11.—Wind, N.E. to E.N.E. Sailed
—Twee Godfields, Melbourne.
DEAL, Aug. 12 (9.10 a.m )—Wind, E.N.E. ; fine and
cloudy. Aassed—Earl Balcarres, from London, for Bom-
bay ; Alfred, from London, for Calcutta ; Herefordshire,
from London, for Sydney.
LIVERPOOL, Aug. 12 (10.30 a.m.)—Wind, S., moderate,
and fine. Arrived—Star of History, new ship, from Har-
lington. Sailed—Frier, for Cronstadt ; Bella Ancona ;
Trois Freres, Dunkirk ; Honour, Ceylon ; Dolphin, Narva ;
Sebastian and Leon, Havannah. Off Port—Gouverneur
von Devriere, from Bruges._
QUEENSTOWN, Aug. 10.—Wind, S., moderate. Arrived
—Eliza Emma, from Rio Grande ; Rosa A. Moranda,
from Ibraila.