The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-13 00:00:00

11,D.A.Y EVENING, MAY 13, 1854.

5

.111 E LAUNCH OF THE
ROYAL ALBERT.
(THIS DAY.)

The exciting yet imposing scene witnessed to-day at
Woolwich by thousands upon thousands of persons will
occupy no insignificant place in the historic annals of
those important and nteresting events in which the
reign of Queen Victorie has singularly abounded. We
speak not of the actua. ceremony of launching a three-
decker man-of-war of 111 guns, screw-propelled, and with
every possible modern inprovement, but of the auspicious
novel circumstances urder which it took place. 'We are
far from saying that thi first trial of a huge structure
of that description, laqe enough for the accommodation
of a crew equal in size to the population of a moderately
sized town, and in the tonstruction of which skill of the
highest order, and a east amount of labour, has been
employed over several /ears, at an expense difficult for
as ordinary arithmetician to calculate, is an occur-
rence of more than ordinary magnitude. None can look
with indifference at one of those noble ships gliding
slowly and gently from the stocks in which she has so
long rested, into that watery element in which she
may play a distinguished part during a period ex-
ceeding perhaps the allotted space of man's existence.
Who knows in what service she may still add to the
already well-earnt and not excelled reputation of our
navy, or how honourally she may be associated with
achievements which nay eclipse all those of former
times ?
It is not, however, to those matters that we address
ourselves. We spent of this magnificent vessel being
named the " Royal Albert," in honour of the consort of
our beloved and gracious Queen—that amiable and en-
lightened Prince, the sincere esteem of the public for
whom, gained not onlyby a blameless career for many years
in a position in which the least indiscretion would have
been observed, but by one single act that is enough to
make a man's name live for centuries, and to which the
year 1851 bears testimony, has only been augmented by
the insane and grouniless caiumnies recently directed
against his person. We speak of the graceful and
well-timed act of the Queen in christening this
worthy addition to the impregnable " wooden walls
of England," in the name of her royal husband.
We speak of the attendance of the greater portion of
the members of both branches of the Legislature, of the
vast concourse of the aristocracy, and of the innumera-
ble masses of her other faithful subjects of all classes,
who 'wore drawn together to the Royal Dockyard to do
honour to the occasion. Independent /of the display
itself, which we may mention was grand beyond
precedent at Woolwich, or indeed it may be
assumed anywhere else, the curiosity of the
uniniated in naval affairs to know something about one
of these floating bulwarks, which have always stricken
terror in the minds of our enemies, it is not unlikely has
been redoubled since we have commenced in earnest to
check the aggressive policy of the great northern tyrant.
The late hour at which the proceedings terminated
compells us to give only a very hasty sketch of the
events of the morning. The first topic generally touched
upon in such accounts is the state of the weather, and in
regard to it, it is gratifying to be able to say that thegood
genius who follows her Majesty in all out-door exhibi-
tions of this description warded off, if not all the ominous
clouds from the horizon, at least all'eord Vvinds aid`
everything in the shape of rain or unpleasant dews.
The spirits of the ladies, to be sure, were now and then
damped by the eccentric conduct of King Sul,
who was rept ttedly showing himself and then to-
tally disappearing, and seats were in request where
shelter could be obtained, in the event of showers
but the general feeling was that the presence of the
Queen was tantamount to there being no such drawback
to the enjoyment of the spectators -
The cards, of which an immense number were dis-
tributed by the Admiralty, fixed the hour of admission
at ten o'clock, but before nine the gates were opened
and persons were at once allowed to pass to their re-
spective booths and positions without any interposition.
On the North Kent line special trains to Woolwich com-
menced running at a very early hour in the morning, and
continued doing so, at short intervals, until near one
o'clock. This was, of course, the principal means of
conveyance for the public, and, notwithstanding the
crowds who besieged the station during the entire morn-
ing, the excellent arrangements of the company enabled
all to avail themselves of it, and, as far as we could
ascertain, there was not the slightest mishap.
Steamboats were alsoincessantly plying between Lon-
don and Woolwich, and, judging from their appearance,
we should say that the proprietors must have made an
excellent harvest. Numbers of these, as well as sailing
vessels and small boats, gaily decorated with flags, filled
the river in the neighbourhood of the launch, and even
on the opposite banks of the river platforms had been
put up in every place where a glance of what was going
on could be seen.
In the largest of those immense, shed-looking
erections, which so prominently strike the eye in the
Woolwich dockyard; as one passes down the river, the
truly formidable " Royal Albert" was comfortably
lodged before the christening ceremony commenced,
ane towering up from the ground as it did, higher al-
most than the most elevated house in the Strand, it
would have seemed to the casual observer the height of
absurdity, if be did not know that such things had been
done; before, to suppose that in a few Minutes it could
be lowered down into the Thames. Round the build-
ing an inueenecw numbea or seats, beginning close to the
keel of the ship, and extending backwards in the shape of
an amphitheatre, were fitted up for the nse of the spec-
tators, and we need scarcely say that not a spot was
left unoccupied. This afforded the best points for seeing
it—and was graced by a most brilliant assembly, in
which the fairer sex, it may be said, predominated.
But the roofs of all the different buildings in the dock,
as well as most of the Fhips there, from which a view
could be obtained of the Royal Albert, swarmed
with collections of humanity. Along each side
of the vessel were suspended every conceivable variety
of flags. As the christening took place at the bows of
the ship, which pointed towards the land (the hinder
part of the leviathan nearly touching the river), a plat-
form and a booth were erected for the Royal party. The
entrance to them was by a covered awning, which was
lined by a few young tars. A detachment of the Artil-
lery and Marines and bodies of police kept the thorough-
fare, along which her Majesty passed, and bands from
those regiments played enlivening airs continually until
her arrival.
The following few facts, descriptive of the Royal
Albert, may not be without interest :—The Royal
Albert was designed by the late Mr. Oliver Lang,
master shipwright of the Woolwich Dockyard, and
her keel was laid down on the anniversary of Prince
Albert's birth-day, August 26, 1842. She was origi-
nally constructed for a sailing ship of the line, and was
proceeded with as such till January, 1852, when she
was ordered to be altered to a screw ship of the line,
and was in consequence lengthened about 14 feet at the
stern, to give space for the screw propeller. By this in-
crease of length, the tonnage (builder's measurement)
was increased by about 264 tons.
Her present dimensions and tonnage, &c., are as
follows :
Length between the perpendiculars 232 ft. 9 in.
Length of keel for tonnage 193 6h
Breadth, extreme
61 0
Breadth for tonnage 6O 2
Breadth, moulded
Depth in hold
Burthen in tons, 3,726 4.94

Ermines by John Penn and Son, on their patent
trunk principle, of 500 horse-power.
The carpentery of this magnificent ships differs 'in
many particulars from the 'ordinary mode of shipbuild-
ing, and evidences the great mechanical skill of the
master shipwright by whom she was designed.
On his demise, in 1853, the task of completing the
Royal Albert devolved on the present master-ship-
wright, Mr. Wm. M`Pherson Rice, in the fulfilment of
which much good taste and ability have been displayed.
The Royal Albert is a very fine specimen of naval ar-
chiteeture, and reflects the highest credit on all who have
been engaged in her construction.
With her proverbial punctuality, her Majesty reached
the Dock-yard, at one clock, in a carriage, and escorted
by a few Dragoons, and was enthusiastically cheered,
the bands striking up " God Save the Queen," and the
people waiving their handkerchiefs. Besides her Majesty
there were in the carriage, Prince Albert, the Prince of
Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Duchess of Suther-
land. Other carriages followed, containing the rest
of the Royal Family, and attendants. The Queen
looked extremely well ; as also did Prince Albert, who
wore his uniform as Colonel of the Guards; the Princess
Royal appeared to be quite in ecstacy of delight at the
scene, but her brother seemed to be in a rather thought.
ful mood. _

The party entered, and one of the warehouses which
bad been temporarily prepared as a retiring-room, and
in a few minutes reappeared at the other side facing the
river, and having taken a hasty glance at the helm and
and proceeded up a gangway by the side of the ship,
amidst renewed applause to the platform, mentioned
above at the bow. Prince Albert, on arriving here,
bent himself back and took a comprehensive glance at
the sight before him, and, from his manner, he appeared
amazed at the height of the ship and at the gigantic
effigy of himself, by no means an unlike one, which
ornamented the prow.
After a brief conversation with the naval officers, who
surrounded her, the bottle of wine, attached by a cord
to the ship, was handed to her, and corning forward with
a very determined step, she flung it with force against
the bow, but it did not break, and was again given to
her, and the operation age:a repeated, but with
the same success. The third time, however,
her Majesty dealt a smarter and more direct
blow, and the bottle was shivered to atoms. She

audibly pronounced the words " The Royal Albert."
Here was another burst of onthusiasin, the like of

which is not often beard. Her Majesty, accompanied
as before, then returned by the same gangway
to the river side, and there awaited the lowering down
of the man•of--war into the bosom of old Father Thames.

After a good deal of hammering and tramping to and
fro inside the ship, in less than a quarter of an hour
there was a loud whisper "she's going," and in a
minute, and without the slightest noise, she elided
into the water with the same ease as a swan would have
done :

" - and waving streamers floated in the sky.
Thus the rich vessel moves in trim array,
Like some fair virgin on her briday day ;
Thus, like a swan, she cleaves the watery plain,
The pride and wonder of the ./E,gean main."
The band again repeated the National Anthem, the
people cheered, and the ceremony was at an end.

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.

THE WAR.

ANOTHER LETTER FROM ADMIRAL
DUNDAS.
RUSSIAN PRISONERS GIVEN UP.

The Journal of St. Petersbourg, in its number of
April 22 (May 4), republishes from the Invalide
Busse, two fresh reports from General Osten-Sacken
respecting the affair of Odessa. These reports do
not communicate anything new ; but General
Osten-Sacken adds that Vice-Admiral Dundas had
sent him, by means of an Austrian merchant-ves-
sel then in the roadstead, 49 men (prisoners), in-
cluding the captains and the crews, belonging to
the Russian merchant service, togeth€r with a
letter, which we here re-produce :
"On board her Britannic Majesty's Ship the
Britannia, off Odessa, April 12 (24), 1854.
" Vice-Admiral Dundas has the honour to announce
to his Excellency Baron Osten-Sacken, Aide-de-Camp
General of his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russia;
that as the allied squadrons do not desire to keep any
longer than was indispensable the small number of Rus-
sian merchant seamen (49 in all) whom they had taken
prisoners, he has placed them on board of an Austria❑
vessel, in order that they may be landed at Odessa.

"J. W. DIINDAS."

THE BALTIC.

- -
STOCKHOLM, May O.—Accounts from Finland to
the 3d of May confirm the statement relative to
large defensive preparations there. General Junker
has been appointed commandant of the fortress of
Wiborg, and General Drake commandant of the
artillery. Four new companies of reserve of the
rowing flotilla have been enrolled ; head-quarters
at Rothensaln, where there are magazines and
barracks for 14,000 men. Expect important news
from Admiral Napier in a few days. Cronstadt
reported " not impregnable."
COPENHAGEN, May 12.—At 2 p.m. to-day five
steam frigates anchored at Elfsnabben. At 4 p.m.
the whole fleet sailed excepting two vessels, a man-
of-war and a corvette.
STETTIN, Thursday.---Sir C. Napier's fleet, after
going towards Sande, off Gothland, was proceeding
towards the Gulf of Finland. Ten French ships
had come up. The weather was fine. Russian
vessels had been moving in the gulf. The Nor-
wegian na✓y was in Swedish waters. The Swedish
Court was thought to be leaning to the Western
Powers. Frequent meetings of the Council of
State had taken place.
It is stated that the Russian ships just "showed
their noses" out of Revel, but learning that Sir
Charles Napier was not fa* off they at once slunk
back again, under cover of the batteries.
We subjoin additional letters from the fleet. It
will be seen that they are of the latest date. Rear-
Admiral Plumridgo has shifted his flag from the
Leopard, 18, paddle frigate, to the St. Jean d'Acre,
101, screw.

" ELFSNABBEN, MAY 2.—The fleet here consists of :
Duke of Wellington, 131, screw, flag-ship of the Com-
mander.in-Chief, Captain Gordon;• St. Jean d'Acre, 101,
screw, Capt. Hon. H. Keppel, flag of Rear-Admiral
Plumridge ; Neptune, 120, Captain Hutton, flag of Rear-
-344 i ralm.Coarryl, :PO ncess spre w, Captain
Lord C.—Paget ; James Watt, 91, screw, Captain G.
Elliott ; Blenheim, 60, screw, Captain Hon. F. Pelham ;
Edinburgh, 60, screw, Captain Hewlett, flag of Rear
Admiral Chads, C.B. ; Hogue, GO, screw, Captain Ram-
say ; Cmsar, 90, screw, Capt. Robb ; Cressy, 80, screw,
Capt. Warren ; Boscawen, 70, Capt. Glanville; Monarch,
84, Capt. Erskine ; Royal George, 121, screw, Captain
Codrington ; Austerlitz, 100, screw (French), arrived
yesterday ; Dragon, 6, paddle, Captain Wilcox ; Gor-
gon, 6, paddle, Capt. Coming ; Basilisk, 6, Commander
Hon. F. Egerton ; Lightning, 4, paddle, Captain B.
J. Sulivan ; Vulture, 6, paddle, Captain Glasse ; Valor-
ous, 16, paddle, Captain Buckle ; Leopard, 18, Captain
Gifford, coaling; Odin, I know not where, but she left
on Sunday ; Euryalus, 51, screw, Capt. Ramsay, in the
Slack-bit, cruising ; Desperate, 8, screw, Capt. D'Eyn-
court, off Dago ; Dauntless, 24, screw, Captain Ryder,
and Arrogant, 47, screw, Captain Yelverton, Hango
Head ; therm. 28 deg. ; ice still firmly to the shore.
Report is that paddle-wheel steamers go with Admiral
Pluinridge to attack 18 gun-boats at Aland. We have
not had letters for one month. Magicienne, 16, paddle,
Captain Fisher, is gone to see if there are any at Copen-
hagen. The mouth of the Gulf of Finland is quite open,
and so is Hango. Poor Foote, we are very sorry for
him."
"FLEET AT ANCHOR NEAR STOCKHOLM, May 5.
Hitherto there has been no news worth imparting of 'any
interest, or opportunities have not offered at the moment
of transmitting it. Of the present and prospective poli-
tical position of affairs we know nothing. On the water
nothing has been done as yet ; the ice, and unusual
severity of the weather, added to the difficulties of a
very dangerous navigation, have thrown the greatast
obstacles in the way of any combined naval movements.
The time for action is not far distant. Sir Charles has
determined, without loss of time, on an attack upon a
grand scale ; the place selected is of course not made
known. The icei a breaking in the Gulfs of Bothnia and
Finland. The large island of Aland, commanding the
entrance of the Gulf of Bothnia, will, I think, be the
first attempt, then Port Baltic and Revel—he fears the
fortress of Sweaborg is too formidable for Helsingfors to
be attacked on that side alone. We were joined yester-
day by the Prince Regent, Cumberland, and the schooner
yacht Estneralda, from England. The Austerlitz, screw-
liner, is the only French ship with the fleet, no others
are reported as having entered the Baltic. Neptune and
Cmsar have cases of smallpox on board. The Admiral,
on receiving the melancholy intelligence of the death of
poor Captain Foote, of the Conflict, who has been
drowned with four of his boat's crew off Memel, on the
coast of Courland, has given Captain Cuming his
vacancy."

"COPENHAGEN, May 6.—Under the title, "Truth
and Fiction, Pen and Ink Sketches from the Coast
Islands," a social novel has just appeared in Sweden,
which has made quite a sensation, and may produce the
best fruits. It is a vigorous and well-written attack on
the present Swedish prohibitive Customs laws. It ad-
vocates free-trade in all its extent, and shows what
terrible crimes and demoralisation result from the
smuggling system now directly encouraged by the
State. Many of the scenes and characters are
charmingly described. The Swedish schooner Ac-
tiva is to be provisioned for a three months' cruise.
The English fleet at Elsfnabben has obtained a
large mass of refreshments, and 200 oxen, from Stock-
holm, besides a number of pilots and other assistants,
some of them Finlanders. The Bulldog has arrived at
Vinga, and the Alban has left that roadstead. A bat-
talion of Prince Barclay de Tolly's carabineer regiment
has entered Helsingfors, and been welcomed with re-
freshments by the citizens. There is to be an exercise
camp for all Gothland on the plain near Visby. The
whole island is in the utmost activity, especially at
Fareysund, and English money is plentiful—a real
godsend for the poor islanders. The English officers and
crews have gained universal goodwill by their
urbanity and manliness. The Magicienne has left
Farey, with four prizes for England—the Dido, Ida,
Patrioten, and Victor. A number of frigates and cor-
vettes, some of them from Sir C. Napier's fleet at
Elfsnabben, come and go for coals, of which there is a
large depot at Farey. The French man-of-war Auster-
litz has joined the fleet at Elfsnabben. The well-known
Frederika Bremer has written a warm appeal to the
Swedish Parliament in favour of the Jews, who are now
subject in Sweden to ten thousand injuries. In Den-
mark (exclusive of the duchies, where our present Cabi-
net has refused them justice), and in Norway they are
entirely free. A number of ballads (stall-songs, fly-
sheets) have lately appeared in Sweden, and are sold in
immense numbers. They treat of the present warlike
state of affairs, and breathe the utmost hatred against
Russia. This is of more consequence, as the principal
secular reading of the lower classes, in the Swedish pro-
vinces, consists of this stall literature, which includes
many magnificant ballads from thejiniddle ages."

THE GREEK INSURRECTION.
SALONICA, April 28.--A Turkish frigate brought
yesterday two battalions of regular troops (1,600
men), under the orders of a colonel, sent from
Constantinople against the insurgents. These
troops will join 2,000 irregular soldiers, of whom
200 have already left under Bey Ahmet Aga.
It is generally thought that they are sufficiently
strong to defeat the insurgents, who have already
arrived at Ormilia, fifteen hours' distant from
this town ; at any rate they are amply sufficient
to protect Salonica. The sudden arrival of this
force, in a much briefer space of time than is
generally the case here, has had a very good effect.
The letters received this day from Volo do not
mention any engagements as having taken place in
Thessaly. Fresh regular troops had arrived there
from Constantinople, amongst whom are 500 ca-
valry. A Turkish flotilla was in the port of Volo.
On the admiral hearing of the landing of the rebels
at Seika, he immediately left for that place.
Letters from Janina state that the insurrection
in Epirus may be considered at an end.
The Austrian corvette Carolina is expected here
to-day. She left Volo yesterday, towed by the
Austrian Lloyd's steamer. The wind being, how-
ever, very contrary, she left her to herself.

THE WAR IN THE DOBRUDSCHA.
SCHUMLAt April 22.—The state of suspense we
have been in for some weeks as to the advance
of the Russians on Schumla is gradually subsiding.
The inhabitants no longer imagine that every
rider who is seen hurrying along the plain is a
messenger announcing the approach of the grand
army of the Russians. If time is a valuable
element in conducting commerce, and in agricul-
tural affairs, it is much more so in war. Had
the Russians intended to attack Schumla, we
think it stands to reason that we would
,have
heard the sound of their artillery before now.
Omer Pada thinks that he has sufficient
is in-
formation for concluding that their plan to
stand on the defensive, and that if there is to be
any more fighting upon a great scale, we must
move against them, and not expect them to move
against us. Those, however, who profess to be
acquainted with the superstitious feelings and
habits of the Russians, will not allow themselves
to think, until the Easter of the Greek Church be

passed, that the Russians will be so slack in their
ambitious military designs. The Russian soldiers
have always considered that a most lucky day, and
reserved many of their great enteprises for
it. In 1831 they expected, by a grand attack,
to seal the fate of Warsaw and Poland. They
failed ; but still an ignorant people are not easily
disabused of their prejudices. Very likely they
may do something on the Danube, but we think
that they are too tardy in their preparations for
making this, place the scene of any great -exploit.
There has been an affair at Kalafat and another at
Silistria some days ago, but from the conflicting
accounts, the only certain thing we could gather
has been that there was very little blood shed in
either. The departures at Omer Paella's may de-
serve a little notice. His brother has left with one
of his sons, who is a major in the army, for
Paris. Another son is a lieutenant-colonel. Both
these young men, we believe, have renounced the
Christian faith, but their father is still true to his
religion. His brother is not attached to the Ottoman
army, nor does he live in Turkey. His native
country and home are in Croatia. The French
General Bosquet has also taken his leave. This
officer has been for twenty years in Algeria. If
the opinion of a man who gained his rank, not in
the circles that assemble at the Tuileries, but in
the fierce contests with the native tribes of that
trying country for a soldier, and whose style of
speaking has been fotmed not in the fashionable
salons of Paris, but in the camp and field, is of
value—then we have reason to congratulate our-
selves upon having him at the head of this great
army now assembled here. " Omer Pacha and
I," said the General, putting his two hands
together, "are alike there, we are both united
in our opinions. I entirely approve of his plan
of resisting the enemy. I see," continued the
General, "that he has a natural genius for war.
It is there," said he, striking his forehead, "It is
there." That Omer Paella has hitherto played his
cards well cannot be doubted ; but a great deal
has yet to be done, and the future will better decide
his generalship than the past.
SCHUMLA, April 24.—The Greek Easter has
passed away, and the Russians have not made a
move of any kind against Sahumla. The im-
provement and extension of the works still go
on, the many roads leading into the town
through the narrow passes in the heights ren-
dering a great variety of defences necessary. The
semicircle of heights or hills above the town pre-
sent a very gay appearance, being everywhere
almost dotted with white tents, which tend to take
off the otherwise tame character of the sky line.
At least 20,000 soldiers live there night and day.
Their situation must have been, until now, more
romantic than, pleasant, for during my short'stay
here we have had many nights of such piercing
cold that even in the houses, with fires and great
coats, we could hardly make ourselves comfortable.
We have heard no murmurs from the Turkish
soldiery. Had English troops been sent to occupy
such quarters, iu all probability a mutiny would
have been the consequence. At Chobham the
complaints among the men were very general, but
their privations were nothing in comparison of
those that have been undergone by Omer Pacha's
troops on the heights of Schumla. I have no hesi-
tation in pronouncing the Turkish soldiery here to
be models of submission and patience.