The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-01 00:00:00

.NA PAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE CHANNEL FLEET.
All the divisions of the fleet are by this time clear of
the English Channel, and are engaged in trial sailings
and exercise. Both Admiral Corry's and Commodore
Martin's squadrons will touch at Bantry Bay occasionally,
and anchor for a day or night ; but, as we stated at first,
the fleet will rendezvous at Queenstown on the 17th
instant, to meet the Admiralty. The other screw
frigate Tribune, 31, Captain the Hon. S. T. Carnegie,
will join Commodore Martin's squadron after her escort
attendance on the Royal yacht squadron.

PORTSMOUTH, AUG. 31.

The London, 90, Captain Eden, was paid wages at
Spithead to-day by Rear-Admiral Fanshawe, C. 8., and
the clerks of the pay-office. She sails to-morrow to join
Rear-Admiral Corry's division of the Channel fleet.
The Daedalus, 20, Captain Wellesley, arrived at Spit-
head this morning from the South Pacific, last from
Plymouth, where she landed her news. She is now dis-
charging the freight, $1,400,000, which she brought
home on m,'
ear-^hants' account, which will be landed at
'
the dockyaru by the Sprightly steam-vessel, Mr. G.
Allen, acting-master, commanding, and conveyed thence
to the Bank of England to-morrow by Messrs. Casher,
freight agents and wine-merchants of Portsmouth, by
special train on the London and Brighton Railway.
The Rhadamanthus steam-transport, Master-Com-
mander Belam, which arrived last evening from the east-
ward, proceeded on her voyage to the Channel Islands
with Royal Artillery.
Rear-Admiral Corry's squadron passed down Channel.
Seven of them were seen from the heights at 6.30 on
Monday evening.
Eighty-six seamen riggers are to be sent from this port
to Pembroke, to assist in navigating the Cmsar, 90, to
Portsmouth, and are to be there by the 29th September.
Mariner, 12, is to be brought forward for commission
at this port. Artificers are to be placed on her as soon
as more important works will admit.

The Fire Queen, tender to Victory, Master Com-
mander T. W. Paul, conveyed Rear-Admiral Superin-
tendent Fanshawe (commander-in-chief pro WI.), with
the Treasury clerks, on board the London, 90, Captain
Charles Eden, to pay wages.
Antelope, 3, iron paddle brig, Lieut. Commander
Young, hauled out of the steam basin to-day into the
stream to ascertain the deviation of her compass.
Harpy, 1, iron steam paddle one of the notorious
" half dozen," has moved out Of the steam basin—we
hope to be placed up Porchester Lake, as a target for
the Excellent, in the room of the old York.
The Prince of Wales, Indiaman, arrived at Spithead
this evening from London, to embark passengers and
stores from Lloyds' agents at this port, the Messrs. Gar-
ratt and Gibbon.

PLYMOUTH, AUGUST 31.

TRIAL TRIP OF THE'Sr. JEAN D'ACRE.—In accord-
ance with the arrangements previously made by the
master attendant, Mr. Mills, the St. Jean d'Acre, 101,
screw steam line-of-battle ship, Captain the Hon. H.
Keppel, made her first trial trip yesterday afternoon. A
distinguished party of officers of the navy proceeded in
her, including Commodore Michael Seymour, superin-
tendent of the dockyard ; Captain William Sandom,
superintendent of the victualling-yard and hospital ;
Captain Quin, of the Ajax, 58 ; Captain Kingcome, of
the St. George, 120 ; Mr. Edye, master shipwright ;
Mr. Mills, master attendant ; Mr. Brown, assistant
master attendant ; Mr. Biddlecombe, master of the St.
George ; Captain Mends, Mr. John Dinnen, Govern-
ment inspector of machinery, &c. The St. Jean d'Acre
slipped her moorings from off the dockyard at half-past
twelve o'clock, and proceeded under easy steam out of
Hanioaze under the charge of Mr. Brown, of the dock-
yard, after which Mr. Odgers, harbour-master, took
charge. The orders to proceed were communicated from
the poop by Captain Crispin's telegraph, with which
both sides are fitted, and all subsequent orders were
readily complied with from its indications.
The navigation of the very critical portion of this har-
bour from off the dockyard to beyond Drake's Island
was effected without check, and to the admiration of all
the naval officers on board ; for, to use a nautical phrase,
'she steered like a top, and was perfectly under command
of her helm at a very easy speed.
When clear of the island orders were given for full
speed, and the engines were then placed in the hands of
the contractors, Messrs. John Penn and Son, the emi-
nent engineers of Greenwich, who were represented on
the occasion by William Hartree, Esq., of that firm.
From this time until casting anchor in the Sound,
a bout five p.m., the course was variously steered, and
her engines for some time reached a velocity of 53 to 55
revolutions, and without any casualty or hot bearings.
In consequence of this being the contractor's trial, and
from apprehension of the boilers priming from the waters
of the Tamar, the usual run between the Breakwater
and the Eddystone was not made, still some notes of
speed were made during the trip, especially when going
hard to a stiffish breeze, when she made eight knots, and
this without the engines being at full power, for the
steam was not well kept up by the stokers. To-day,
however, better things are expected, when the measured
ground will be gone over, and the rate of speed tried,
for the engines and boilers are exact counterparts of the
Agamemnon's which keep steam easily at 201 b. per
square inch, at which pressure the boilers of the St.
Jean d'Acre are loaded. ~
After displaying her number to and chasing the
channel squadron (supposed to be Commodore Martin's),
observed in the offing, for some time, her head was
turned towards the Breakwater, she having been five
miles westward of the Eddystone, and she ran back to
the Sound before the wind.

The St. Jean d'Acre is ihe largest line-of-battle ship
of two (decks in the world, and with, we believe, the
heaviest armament, and her efficiency, contrasted with
other liners carrying 100 guns. is rendered complete
from the superior advantage of being fitted with steam
power. It is only about twelve months since we wit-
nessed the departure from this port of the first screw
line•of-battle ship constructed for our navy, the Sans-
pared, 70, 350-horse power—for the Blenheim and her
class of screws are simply conversions. We have now
to express our astonishment at this most recent sample
of the giant growth of our steam navy, which, at a like
rate of progression, will shortly bid defiance to the whole
world.

The St. Jean d'Acre was designed by Sir Baldwin
Walker, K.C.8., surveyor of the navy, and Messrs.
Edye and Watts, assistants. She left the Sound at nine
o'clock this morning on her second trial, when she will
be timed and observations made thereon.

The Nautilus, apprentices' exercise brig, Lieutenant
Dolling, master, sailed yesterday for a cruise in the
Channel.