The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-23 00:00:00

THE SCREW GUARD SHIPS.

The following armament Las been ordered for the
ships—old 72's and 74's—such •s Cornwallis, Hawke,
&c., now in course of conversion into floating port bat-
teries or guard-ships :
N.. Length.
Lower deck ... 24...32-pounders...sB cwt. ... 9 ft. ti in.
... 4... 8-inch _65 cwt. ...
Main deck ... 26...32-pounders...so cwt. ... 9 ft.
'Upper deck ... 2...68-pouaders...9s cwt. ...10 ft.
... 4...10-inch ...85 cwt. ... 9 ft. 4 in,

Total .., 60 guns.

These ships it will he seen are of the same class as the
sea-going converted screw-ships Blenheim, Ajax, Hogue,
and Edinburgh ; but half-a-dozen of them fitted and armed
in the manner proposed will not costas muck as the Blen-
heim, while at the same tnne they will be quite efficient.
The conversion of the Blenheim cost almost as much as a
new line-of-battle-ship, but the Edinburgh cost compara-
tively little, as no attempt was sand• to renew her, but
simply to convert her with as little alteration as possible
reasonably, se that their conversion into effective de-
fence-ships will be accomplished at a very small expense.
The success that has attended the conversion of the
Royal George and some of the new sailing line-of-battle
ships into good serviceable screws hes been most remark-
able. The experience has been dearly bought, as it has
cost much to overcome the prejudice that prevented the
conversion of those old 72's to some better purpose than
rotting in our harbours. The Blenheim and others have
engines of 450-horse power ; but the Hawke and Corn-
wallis batch are to have high-pressure engines of 160-
horse power ; and the accession of strength to oar fleet
by these powerful additions is incalculable. They have
given us a force superior to the world. This enables us
once more to take the lead, anti which, we have little
doubt, now we shall keep.
The two first of the screw guard-ships that are likely
be soon complete are tee Cornwallis at Devonport,
and the Hawke at Chatham.
The Russell, another of the 74's, is in the graving dock
at Sheerness, having her poop taken off, and a large
space cut away in the after part for converting her into
a screw. Some trifling decay has been discovered in the
dead wood ; not sufficient, however, to prove her the
worse fur wear. This vessel, like the Hawke, 74, at
Chatham, is to draw a foot less water when colrlplete.
g. The prevailin opinion is that these ships will have a
seasoning in tht;'Baltio before they are appropriated to
certain ports.

THE ADMIRALTY.
The whole of tho Board of Admiralty
s
will be at their
posts this week. Rear-Admiral Berkeley, C. 14., h a
been ce • ntienously within hail, and Rear-Admiral Dun-
dn.s and Captain Richards have continued in town. The
Hon. W. Cowper, has returned from the Continent, and
Captain Milne, whose health had suffered from his se-
vere application to the war preparatione and supplies,
and compelled to a temporary a‘o-sence,'returns to White-
hall this week.

If the appointment of Admiral of the Fleet should be
filled up, Vice-Admiral Sykes will become Admiral of
the Blue, Bear. Admiral Fitzwilliatn Owen will heconse
Vice-Admiral of the Blue, and the three senior captains
on the list, not having served their full time in command
as captains—namely, Captain 0. V. Harcourt, the Earl
Talbot, C. 8., and Sir William Symonds, C. 8., they
will go, on the reserved half. pay list ; and Captain James
Scott, C.F. (183),
8 will become Rear-Admiral of the
Blue.