The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-31 00:00:00

THE 90. GUN SHIP WESAR AT PEMBROKE.

• The Admiralty have ordered the defects of the Caesar,
caused in launching, to be made good, as suggested by the
committee of shipwright officers, and the ship, when
completed, is to be removed to Portsmouth to receive
her screw machinery. The real cause of the mishap for
a long time remained wrapped in mystery, but there is
not now any doubt concerning the origin of the unto-
ward event. The disaster appears to have been caused
by a sufficient depth of water not being obtained when
the launch took place, in consequence of which the bilge-
ways stuck in the mud, and all the efforts made, and the
immense force brought to bear to force her into the
water, only served to fix her more firmly in the bed.
The water around was not of sufficient depth to take the
weight of the after body of the vessel from off the bilge-
ways, and thus allow her after-part to float. The use in
the formation of the lower part of the ways of fir-wood
in lieu, as customary, of sound Dantzic oak, it is con-
sidered, also contributed to the accident; the consequence
being that, more adhesive in their nature, the ship did
not so easily glide over the planks, and before the stern
could be lifted by the buoyancy f the water, the un-
usual friction and traction had aided in the stoppage of
the vessel. It has been remarked that she started and
passed down the slip at first with great velocity, and
with a speed apparently capable of overcoming every
obstacle. In consequence of a much greater declivity
being given at some of the other dockyards, fir planks
are occasionally used for carrying out the ways, but at
Pembroke this was never before attempted. One great
lesson has been gained—never to use fir in lieu of oak,
and also for the future to cause the launching ways to
be thoroughly greased, and carried out further into the
water than hitherto has been the case. It is satisfactory
to know that the groundways are perfectly solid and
firm, and that not the slightest sign of sinking or giving
way has been discerned, although a strict examination
of every part has been made by order of the surveyor,
the engineers having tested the same by means of the
theodolite. The launching apparatus was also sound
and well constructed. The condition of the ship is con-
sidered- to be much better than was anticipated, when
the very dangerous position in which she lay is taken
into consideration. One-third of her length lay off the
ways, when she appeared hogged and bent, but on float-
ing the strain was taken off, and she returned to her
normal lines. The leakage was also very trifling, thus af-
fording a, positive proofof the immensely strong a,n d perfect
manner in which our ships of war are put together. To be
" hogged " three feet out of build, and then to recover
the original sheer, is most convincing testimony of
strengh of build. As a proof of the immense strain we
may mention that the copper bolts by which the iron
knees were fastened were cut clean off by the iron work.
Some of the fastenings and a portion of the diagonal I
framing has been much strained, and will require addi-
tions and re-fastenings, and she will likewise have to un-
dergo
a thorough re-caulking. The Captain Superin-
tendent,
Sir Thos. Pa,sley, has expressed in terms of
high satisfaction his approval of the conduct of both
officers and men, and this he has reported to the Lords
of the Admiralty. Indeed, of the untiring and inde-
fatigable exertions of the workmen too much cannot be
said. Sunday formed no day of rest. The mechanical
officers evinced great skill in the method employed for
floating the ship.

PRIZE-MONEY FOR THE HECLA, STEAM-SLOOP.
Notice has been given by Messrs. Woodhead that ac-
count sales of the proceeds arising from three launches,
names unknown, captured and destroyed by her Ma-
jesty's ship Hecla, Commander E. H. Beauchamp, on
May 7, 1851, and from five launches, also names un-
known, captured and destroyed by her Majesty's said
ship Hecla, on June 25, 1851, will be registered in the
High Court of Admiralty on or after September the 3rd
next.

A LUCKY VICTUALLING-YARD AND AN UNLUCKY
DOCK-YARD.—The contrast presented by the two yards
at Deptford is both striking and grieveus. While
it is very gratifying to the one it is more than equally
disheartening to the other, though the latter is the prin-
cipal establishing of the two. During the last two
years no less than seven promotions (two to the first-
class, and five to the second) and eight appointments of
clerks have taken place in the victualling-yard ; while
in the dock-yard, which is larger than the former, and
as efficient, and the duties as onerous and responsible as
those in any of the other yards belonging to her Majesty,
there is no first-class clerk, and only one second, since
whose promotion, sixteen years since, not one promotion
has occurred—a case unprecedented and most dis-
piriting.
Mr. Armstrong, third-class clerk at the victualling-
yard, Deptford, has been appointed as third-class in
Pembroke Dock-yard, and Mr. Burr, son of the chief
clerk to the storekeeper at Woolwich yard, has been
appointed to the established vacancy at Deptford, vice
Armstrong.

THE LAW of EVIDENCE the recent acts of
.
proceedings, &c., ex-
ceptof the parties to any action,
f adultery, are now • criminal cases and cases o in
chap. Parliament
on wast
h the loanwe
ot
fo eav nienAdn
suit,omet. ohne gHl4ntshh
aannd ds lasntdh
wives
wife shall be compellable to
to her by her husband
ad-
missible witnesses. "No husbanaddeshtaollhbimechoymhpiesllwabifle
during the marriage, and no e
to disclose any communication m
disclose any communication made
dpnaarntlyedto inBs, as prov
d and wife of any
shall not render competent the husband 6tuirlianngdth7ethnviairori„age.''
chap. So much oi
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tlhof the act
esaid
anyact
the
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ocre,edoirnogf, t
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premises sought to be recovered in ejectment, or of the
landlord or other person in whose right any defendant
in replevin may make cognisance, or of any lessor in
whose immediate and individual behalf any action may
be brought or p
defended either wholly or in art, is now
repealed. This het received the royal assent on the 20th
inst., and by the last clause it commenced operation on
the 11th of July last,
Madame Ida Pfeiffer had arrived at Batavia from
Menada, and left Batavia on the 3d July, for California
in an American ship.