The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-25 00:00:00

THE SLING MORTAR.

The Drake, mortar-vessel, went out .to the Nab on
Thursday, and tested the principle of the suspension
mortar: An accident took place at the third discharge
with 201 b. of powder. Allowance had not been suffi-
ciently made for the bed or combings of the carriage for
the mortar to swing itself clear. The consequence was
'that the rump of the mortar at the discharge struck
against the bed, threw itself out of the elevation band
round. the muzzle, and,. as stated, put itself quietly at
rest in a moment, without the least jerk or shock being
perceptible—in fact, the party on board were watching
the flight of the 2001 b. shell, which reached the de•
sired range of 4,200 yards, and then perceived that
the mortar was hanging quietly on her iron slings.
The great suspension. principle, by this simple accident,
it is suggested, has proved beyond question its infinite
value. On personal inspection of every part of the
vessel, it could not be discovered that a seam or joint
had opened, a plank or nail had started, and the caulk-
ing and putty joints remained perfect. Not even the
thick limewash was disturbed in the shell-room immedi-
ately under the mortar floor, where the shock is the
greatest. The dockyard joiners, who were at work at
the time below, were not aware that anything had oc-
curred, and as to the vessel the motion was scarcely per-
ceptible at the heaviest discharge.
It is generally believed that in her trial at Sheerness
against the old bedded mortar, the superiority of the
former will render obsolete the latter principle.
A few hours' work will set the mortar right again, and
the Drake will be ready for service to day.

* THE ROYAL ALBERT.

We have been favoured with the following report sent
here relative to the Royal Albert :—She left on the
19th inst., at 9.50 a.m. At 10.30 a.m. stopped for
twenty minutes to adjust bearings, and anchored off
the Mouse at 11.50, there not being water for her to
proceed over the flats. On Monday, the 20th, got
under way at 10 a.m. Passed the Girdler light at 10.45.
Passed the Tongue light at 12.10. Was off Ramsgate
at 1.50. Eased and stopped for forty minutes to put
the pilot on shore at Ramsgate. Passed South Fore-
land at 3.15 p.m., engine waking sixty-seven revolutions
per minute. Some fore and aft sails set. Rate taken
by common log 114 knots per hour. Passed Dover Pier
at 3.35 p.m. Slacked speed off Folkestone, and worked
engines expansively till off Beechy Head at 8.5 p.m.
Then stopped engines for the night, and ran with jib
only till 3.30 next morning the 21st. Put on steam
easy until 6.45, then put on full steam, and arrived at
Spithead at 9.15 a.m. Speed by Massey's log at 8 a.m.
that day was 9.66 knots per hour, no sail ; draft of
water, 24 feet 9 inches forward, 27 feet 2 inches aft,
mean 25 feet 111 inches ; engines running making 69
revolutions ; nominal horse power, 500 ; indicated horse
power at 8 a.m. this day 1829, or 33ds nominal. En-
gines worked admirably ; no derangement whatever.
When getting her anchor weighing from the Mouse on
Monday morning the great advantage of the gutty percha
speaking tubes, and the engine-room indicator was most
apparent. As the order of Mr. George Brochnsan, mas-
ter R.N., who was in pilot charge, was given to "go
easy ahead," to assist the men at the c tpstan heaving
in the chain, the stupendous machinery was under the:
most perfect control, and when ordered to "stop her"
it was instantaneous. Her anchor was got with merely
heaving in the slack of her chain, as her engines put her
ahead to it. When drifting under jib osly she made
five knots per hour. On Tuesday morning Mr. Rumble,
the chief engineer, reported to Captain Sir Thomas
Pasley, Bart., the ship all ready for sea, as it regards
her maohiaery department, to-day if required.