The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-12 00:00:00

GREAT NAVAL REVIEW

AT SPITHEAD.

AS SEEN FROM THE ODIN WAR-STEAMIER.
Some faint idea may be formed of yesterday's review
from the aggregate of guns, horse-power, and tonnage
in the fleet, and from the number of men required for
the full complement of each ship. There were employed
1,076 guns, the power of 9,680 horses (nominally, but
in reality nearly double that amount), 40,207 tons of
,shipping, and ships' companies that should altogether
have amounted to 10,423 hands, although the actual
numbers probably fell short of that by 1,000. The fleet
thus comprised about the same number of men as are
encamped at Chobham, only that, instead of being dis-
tributed in tents stretching over 2 miles of heath, they
are cooped up in 25 ships-of-war, 13 of which are screw
steamers, 9 paddle-wheel, and 3 sailing ships-of-the-line.
The total steam-power employed, being stated at about
half its actual value, probably represents a larger horse-
Power than all the cavalry regiments in the service put
together, and when the nature of this modern agent is
considered, and its adaptability for the purposes of naval
Warfare, the contrast which' it illustrates becomes still
More formidable. For giving certainty and rapidity to
the movements of a fleet, and for all the attendant ad-
vantages which are thus secured, the steam-engine far
exceeds the standard by which its capabilities are mea-
sured, and in this respect those who did not witness the
spectacle of yesterday can hardly realise the effect which
it was calculated to produce on all thinking minds. It
is not that those influences have been almost entirely
disarmed which invest the seaman's life with such perils,
but we have in addition the sublime idea fully realised
of rnan controlling the sea and subjecting the winds by
a mechanical power developed by the patient observa-
Von of natural forces and the happy application of them
to
°tit' wants. If, however, the fleet in its crews and
steam-power had such a grand significance, when the
number and calibre of its guns are taken into the reek-
*tiling the result is truly astounding. There were no less
'llan 1,076 guns, the smallest 32-pounders, and as large
thrownathelargest used in the great sea fights by which our
—ors won the sovereignty of the seas. The largest
841 b. shells, which would be 104-pounders if solid
shot were used, and the frightful destructive-
cress of these missiles may be imagined, explod-
ing on concussion, according to Captain Moorsom's
recent invention. The great feature, however,- of
the armament of the present fleet is its 68-pounders,
Which produced, when fired, a prodigious effect both
nPert the imagination and the tympanum of all who
Witnessed the review. Thus, by its floating batteries
of the heaviest description, and by the power of steam
to move them rapidly into any position that may be re-
quired, the British navy has now become the grandest
concentration of force for destructive purposes that can
Well be conceived. A tonnage of 40,207 tons in one
fleet dedicated to such an object rditlinds one not only
of the resources of a country providing such tremendous
means of defence, but suggests also how vast must be
the interests that require to be so guarded.
And now, having said this much to prepare the reader
for the details of the review, we might proceed at once
Z9:th our narrative ; but before doing so it is necessary
observe that no facts setting forth the character of
the
fleet, its armament, and capabilities can give an
adequate conception of what took place yesterday, un-
I ess it be also borne in mind that this great spectacle,
„..s
"" Peculiarly national, had every influence that could in-
eease its splendour. The Queen, the Royal family,
their illustrious guests, both Houses of the Legislature,
the Ministers of the Crown, the Diplomatic Corps, a
host of official personages ; many of the most distin-
guished men, not only in the navy, but in the army
ale° ; crowds of eminent civilians, vessels of all the
Yachting clubs in the country, and some from abroad
a long train of attendant steamers, packed with excur-
sionists ; such are among the concomitants of the re-
view which must be borne in mind by those who wish
to form a true conception of it. Above all, however,
the spectacle was favoured with magnificent weather,
and it was with bright sunshine overhead and fine sum-
Mer breeze crisping the waters that the Royal yacht was
Bnee, at half-past 10 o'clock, rapidly approaching the
eet. The Board of Admiralty had arrived an hour
Previously in the Black Eagle, and swarms Gf steamers
rsei Yachts surrounded or shot through the lines of the
t• The ships were unmoored and hove short before
eto'clock in the morning, and soon after got up their
Siam, in which state they awaited the approach of her
in-„,a,s•leatY. Then the proceedings of the review corn-
tic`teed with a Royal salute fired by the whole fleet, and
the grandeur of which, great as it might appear from
shore, could only be fully appreciated on hoard.
the There no distance softened the effect, the fierceness,
it impetuosity, and the suddenness of which were
%iesistibly striking, and the volumes of smoke which
one moment enveloped the ship being the next lifted
ii;hii_4e a curtain, behind or through the rents of
foriel,',the rest of the squadron could be seen hurling
e, a.l 44 quickly repeated fire. The Royal yacht passed
ra„l.l through the fleet to the flag-ship of Admiral Coch-
th;; and received in her progress a separate salute from
guns of the Prussian frigate, which at least served
-Jr' good contrast to the chorus of great guns that pre-
Ceded it. The Gefion, also manned yards---a mark of
.j.sPect which the exigencies of the programme prevented
transferred
fleet from showing. When the Royal standard was
tl'ausferred to the Duke of Wellington, another general
°Y al salute was fired, and then an interval elapsed,
mAnring which her Majesty inspected the great flag-ship.
as a specimen of naval architecture, the Duke of Wel-
b"ligton well deserves the compliment of such a visit.
by contrast
towering bulk, conspicuous from afar, diminishes
contrast the largest steamers in the squadron. Her
colossal proportions do not interfere with her speed, and
she
e glides through the water as smoothly almost as the
finely ade cutter. It was intended that a third
thite sho-ulind be fired when the Queen re-embarked on
about 11
the
her yacht, but it was signalled that this part of
e Programme was to be dispensed with, and
I.,O'cleck the order was given to weigh. This was soon.
Performed, and then, gradually assuming the following
eider, and escorted by a surprising number of yachts
tontsate:afers, the fleet, in two columns, put majestically