The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-20 00:00:00

MILITIA.

The following regulations, it is said, will be carried
out in the Irish militia :
" All old captains and subalterns in the Irish militia
are to retire, but are to have the privilege of retaining
their regimental rank and of wearing their uniform.
" Lieutenants and ensigns who served in the militia
when they were last embodied, and have been receiving
half-pay, are to have the same continued to them on
their retiring.
" No captains or subalterns to be appointed in future
who are not active youg men.
" Adjutants of militia regiments are not to be more
than thirty-six years of age, and must have served in the
army for some years."

TRIAL TRIP OF THE STEAM-SHIP PACIFIC.
The Pacific steam-vessel, launched on the 25th ult
at Mi Hymn, and guaranteed by the constructors to attain
a speed of 16 statute miles an hour, has since been
tried, both in the open sea and at the measured mile,
and the following is the report of Captain Thompson,
her commander, who tried the vessel on behalf of him-
self and owners :
First trial at sea under steam alone, distance from
headland to headland named in nautical miles :—Ar-
rived at the North Foreland at 3.37, and made the
South Foreland at 4.47, a distance of 17 miles, in one
hour and ten minutes, against tide running at the rate
of 2i knots per hour, giving an average speed of 14k
knots, the engines making 25 revolutions per minute.
with a pressure of 161bs. to the square inch of the
boilers, and a consumption of 32 cwt. of coals per hour.
Arrived at Dungeness at 6.22, or a distance of 21 miles
from the South Foreland, in 1 hour and 25 minutes,
against the tide running 2 knots per hour, increasing
her speed to 141 knots, and making the number: of revo-
lutions 241 per minute, the pressure being 161bs. the
square inch of the boilers, and the consumption of coals
32 cwt. per hour. Arrived at Beachy Head at 8.35, or
a distance of 31 miles from Dungeness, in 2 hours and
13 minutes, with the tido in favour at the rate of 1
knot an hour, making an average speed of 14 knots,
with 26 revolutions per minute, a pressure of 191bs. to
the square inch, and consumption of 32 cwt. of coals per
hour. Arrived at the Overs light-vessel at 11.0, or a
distance of 36 miles front Beachy Head, in 2 hours 25
minutes, with the tide running against at the rate of 2
knots per hour, the revolutions being 251 per minute,
with a pressure of 181bs. to the square inch, and a col-
samption of 32 cwt. of coals per hour.
Second trial at the measured mile in Stoke's Bay.—
The first mile run is 4 min. 30
fifth seeds. ; second, ia.3 4.10
the
third, in 4.23; fourth, in 4.8; , 4.19; sixth, 4;
two latter runs giving a speed of 14.34 knots or 16.51
statute miles per hour, and the mean average speed of
the six runs was 14.11 knots or 16.24 statute miles per
hour.
Third trial for economy of fuel, with two boilers only,
working expansively, engines with half steam.—Started
from Brighton at 5.30 a.m., and arrived at the Tongue
light-vessel at 6.47 p.m., making a distance of 89 miles
in 13 hours 17 min., making 15 revolutions per minute,
with half steam, and 121bs. pressure on the square inch,
consuming 12 cwt. of coals per hour, or 14 tons 8 cwt.
per day.
From Owe data it will be seen that both at sea and at
the measured mile the speed of the Pacific has exceeded
the contract speed, and that she is consequently the fastest
ocean steamer now afloat. Her exact tonnage, as mea-
sured by the Custom-house officers, is 1,469 2892-3500
tons, and the nominal power of her engines is 500 horse
ower, aho has evidestlY meter Pined ut proportion to