The Sun.
London, England, 1838-08-30 00:00:00

INTERESTING EXPERIMENT.

It may be known to some of scientific reader: that Pro-
fessor Airy has, for some time past, been engaged in a series
of experiments, having for their object t;) supply some meAns
by which the variation of the compass on board steamers might
be rectified. These experiments were undertaken at the re-
quest of the General Steam Company, arid their fine ship
the Rainbow has been placed for the purpose at the disposal
of the Professor.

There having been good reason for believing that the pldn
suggested had been so far matured as to afford a fair prospPt
of practical success, the Company made an excursion yester-
day down the River in the Rainbow, in order to ascertain the
working of the new system. For this purpose four com-
passes, besides those ordinarily appropriated to the ship's use,
were placed on frames erected along the middle of the deck,
and below each, at a depth varying according to circumstances,
was a shallow deal case containing a magnet placed parallel
to, and iri different degrees of radiation from, the line of the
keel. By these means the magnetic influence of the metal of
the ship and engines has not only been ascertained in its pre-
cise extent, but rectified, so that the true bearing is seen with
perfect accuracy. This was yesterday proved to the entire
satisfaction of Professor Faraday and other scientific gentle-
men, who were on board; and the discovery was evidently as
gratifying to then] as it cannot fail to be important in its con-
sequences on steam navigation, whether undertaken for com-
mercial or national objects. The General Steam Navigation
Company intend to despatch the Rainbow, in the course of a
week or two, on her voyage to Antwerp ; and if her rate of
going be in any way answerable to the capabilities she ex-
hibited
yesterday, they must be very fast indeed who can
keep her in sight.

In the course of her progress up and down the River the op-
portunity was afforded of trying her speed with several of the
fastest of the Gravesend boats, and the result was perfectly
conclusive as to her superior velocity. One remarkable cha•
racteristic of the Rainbow which attracted general notice was,
the entire absence of motion and vibration from the working of
the engines. In the cabins this was altogether imperceptible,
and but for the rapidity with which the various objects in ie
were passed, the smoothness with which she glided along
would have rendered it d:fficult to believe that she was moving
with any extraordinary degree of speed.

THE NAVY.

(From a Correspon
SHEERNESS Al
Gurs.
Waterloo
Royal George l2O,
*Camperdown
Monarch B4l
Powerful
Formidable' B4,

lent of the Times.)
D CHATHAM.

Illack Prince.
1* Blenheim ..
•Defence
Devonshire
l* Hawke
Hogue
Minotaur
Redoubtable
Tremendous ~
SOUTH.

Guns.
74

74
74

Cambridge. BO
Wellington 74'
Achille

74
74

PORTS
Guns.
*St. Vincent
Neptune l2O
Nelson
Hibernia l2O
Queen Charlotte
Prince Regent
*G'anges B4
Carnatic

Guns,

Ajax
Benbow .
Egmont
"Illustrious
Imaum
Pitt 74
',Revenge
Sultan
)I.ITH.

74

PLYM
Guns.
Royal William
*Caledonia l2O
*lmpregnable
Canopus B4
Bombay B4
Calcutta B4
Clarence
*Thundercr
Vengeance ..
Foudroyant

Guns

l* Agincourt
Armada
'l'Belleisle
Bellona 74
Implacable 74
Invincible 74
Kent 76
(Medway 74
Stirling Castle

84
84

Those marked with an * arc
:o receive their crews, and are

those that are in a state ready
really ready for service.

ABSTRk

Guns.
120 and
lupwards.

Guns.
84 and
upwards.

Guns
74 1