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

GREAT NAVAL REVIEW

AT SPITHEAD.

--0~--

AS SEEN FROM THE ODIN WAR-STEAMER.
Some faint idea may be formed of yesterday's review
f:/,..0ni 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 man controlling the sea and subjecting the winds by
a mechanical power developed by the patient observa-
tion of natural forces and the happy application of them
to our 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 reck-
oning the result is truly astounding. There were no less
than 1,076 guns, the smallest 32-pounders, and as large
as the largest used in the great sea fights by which our
ancestors won the sovereignty of the seas. The largest
thrown 841 b. shells, which would be 104-pounders if solid
shot were used, and the frightful destructive-
ness 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
upon 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 reminds 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
tor the details of the review, we might proceed at once
with our narrative • but before doing so it is necessary
to 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-
less it be also borne in mind that this great spectacle,
Bo peculiarly national, had every influence that could in-
crease 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
also ; 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
seen, at half-past 10 o'clock, rapidly approaching the
fleet. The Board of Admiralty had arrived an hour
Previously in the Black Eagle, and swarms of steamers
and yachts surrounded or shot through the lines of the
fleet. The ships were unmoored and hove short before
8 o'clock in the morning, and soon after got up their
steam, in which state they awaited the approach of her
Majesty. Then the proceedings of the review com-
menced with a Royal salute fired by the whole fleet, and
the grandeur of which, great as it might appear from
the shore, could only be fully appreciated on hoard.
Therethe
no distance softened the effect, the fierceness,
'oe impetuosity, and the suddenness of which were
irresistibly striking, and the volumes of smoke which
at one moment enveloped the ship being the next lifted
11P like a curtain,, behind or through the rents of
which the rest of the squadron could be seen hurling
forth as quickly repeated fire. The Royal yacht passed
gaily through the fleet to the flag-ship of Admiral Coch-
rane, and received in her progress a separate salute from
the g ns of the Prussian frigate, which at least served
am a geod contrast to the chorus of great guns that pre-
ceded it. The Gefion also manned yards—a mark of
respect which the exigencies of the programme prevented
the fleet from showing. When the Royal standard was
transferred to the Duke of Wellington, another general
hoyal salute was fired, and then an interval elapsed,
'luring which her Majesty inspected the great flag-ship.
As a specimen of naval architecture, the Duke of Wel-
,.....lington well deserves the compliment of such a visit.
-tier towering bulk, conspicuous from afar, diminishes
by contrast the largest steamers in the squadron. Her
colossal proportions do not interfere with her speed, and
she glides through the water as smoothly almost as the
most finely made cutter. It was intended that a third
,salute should be fired when the Queen re-embarked on
noard her yacht, but it was signalled that this part of
the programme was to be dispensed with, and about 11
o'clock the order was given to weigh. This was soon
Performed, and then, gradually assuming the following
Order, and escorted by a surprising number of yachts
n(1 steamers the fleet, in two columns, put majestically
to
sea

POUT, OR LEE DIVISION.
Duke of Wellington
Hogue
Agamemnon $ STARBOADRIVDI,SOIRONIV.EATHER
Blenheim
Ajax
e,, Edinburgh
ai
llagicienne Arrogant Imperieuse
23
rePeating Tribune
'7l Amphion
Highilyer . ~..
ship Desperate
s
Encounter
c%) Odin
, Leopard
Vesuvius on
C Terrible
It is impossible to convey any
8:a precise
effect which this stately procedssionpr suitable idea of the
eseansteadn.yAnnpuridocdees.-
n it was as ceremonious an
14re to see, the number of huge ships
and the broad avenue
of
clear
water
the marvels of that
hsetatwteedeninttherevtawlsn,
power are
divisions, still pressing on. the mind
at
inconstant deep.
mechanical agency by which such order and
e,noMbined in one display on "the
h ir way out to sea,
',lle ships kept in splendid line on
smoke of
• to whic
'eir proudly
uncanvassed ria,
sstsuowing their long rows oft port-holes,e and by
their chimneys added an
at a respectable
P°l°P, holding every intruding
of the spectacle by
additinornaaflt feature of sullen
distance. To soften the grandeur
the
gentler syrnPa-
' feature which might appeal to
hiea of au, the Queen, in her Royal
central position between
'l,(lnadron to sea. Occupying a
Agamemnon on
' the Duke" on the starboard, and the yacht,.. led the
The
Port side, but slightly in advance
illustrious visitors,
ihe''.,fY and the Royal family, with their
view of the marine
of both, her. Ma-
a''' an uninterrupted and
ipaigeant. They saw not onPl
power, but
yerfaenct
nilY developed expression of our maritime
and steamers,
animatnaZing number of attendant yachts
unrived fleet, the
the eye could
\IT" which the sea swarmed as far as
and at no
P-4 if. In no other country of the world,a
spectacle have
been xi period even in this, could suchnn
thousands of spec-
thetat - got together. Thousandshu
Other high grounds o °rs from Culver Cliff, and
t e.
watched the great
Isle of Wight in that direction,
wnnel. They had,
Pageant as it moved out into the Cha
the sham fight
aPparently, calculated upon witnessingthave been sadly
fro
but must
island
in that elevated position,
commenced the
dies elevated
for when the action .
been so, the wind,
"a's no longer
and; had it .
day, must
which visible,
terl direction all
and the
have 1
was blowing in an eas
of the steamers
'4,ve interposed all the smoke
Not so those who
guns between them and the fleet.
e -of-war. They
accompanied it, or were on board
mthliat left nothing
saw everything with a distinctness
further to be desired.
given to
• nal was h
A few miles below. the Nab the sig
cable length
fo -
rni, line abreast which the ships did at Some
idea' each other, and with magnificent effect.
be formed
ide f their appearance in this position
may
three miles
idealthe fact that the line extended about
or
from end to end. Fancy, therefore, looking along
in this
fronting it. To the advance of the steam-fleet .
that
order the looming forms of three line-of-battle shipsn_o
igradnally grew more distinct and formidable in the. offing
added a fine effect. They had been very conspicuous
have
for some time before the Royal yacht appeared to
found them out, but at length she signalled three strange
sail in sight south-east and thereupon the Admiral
'Hakes signal, "All take course together to the south-
Wasest." The strange sail wore grandly while this order
obeyed, the drums beat to quarters, the hammocks
were taken down from their position on the bul-
warks, port-holes were thrown open, and the ships,
in line
I°°w tiirning their broadsides to the enemy, formed
of reply was battle, and signalled the demand. No
made, though one could by a telescope
~verin y easil y distinguish Admiral Fanshawe's flag
4 the V a.t the mizen of the Prince Regent, which
led way under a cloud of canvass. She
was followed
Y the Queen and London, also under a press of sail ;
While the Barracouta, Amphion, Vulture, and Driver
steamers attended them as they bore down. The Prince
Regent fired twice •
b in approaching, as if to try the range,
but beyond this there was nothing to distract attention
from the contrast which the sailing vessels presented to
:eel: steam rivals. The deeper we get committed to the
h • •
mechanism influences gatherino• around us, the more do
we seem to regret those splendours of the past which we
can no longer retain. This was a universal opinion yes-
ter
when as Admiral Fanshawe's squadron neared the fleet.
ironthey upon range, the latter opened their
sides hem, and the cannonade, taken up
and
p to ship, spread along the line with an energy
pidity quite astounding while it lasted, and a fine
iwinveze rolling away the immense volumes of

Conflict
repeating
ship