The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-17 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.

Chaplain.—Rev. Robert Hind, to the Rodney, 92,
Portsmouth.

Chaplain and Naval Instructor.—Percy Rogers to the
Firebrand, steam-frigate, Woolwich.
Clerk.—J. W. Colverd, to the Leopard, 14, steam-
frigate.
_

Assistant Engineer.—Henry Polley, to the Blenheim,
58, Portsmouth.

TITE MARLBOROUGH 130 SCREW LINE-OF-

BATTLE-SHIP.
PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 15.
The launch of the after body of this noble ship took
place at 10.30 a.m. tliis day. We had for many days
previous given notice of this most interesting and truly
national event—an event of much import at the present
time, because of the necessity of increasing the tonnage
of our " first rates " for the purpose of their receiving
the auxiliary power of steam, and to place the ma-
chinery where the greatest strength of the hull
should be commensurate with the required weight
of the engines. This great desideratum has been ob-
tained, and most successfully carried into effect by
the talented master shipwright of the Portsmouth dock-
yard (Mr. Abethell) ; and the great results attending
such experiments on the largest man-of-war ever built
(the Duke of Wellington) induced the Admiralty to
advise that the Marlborough, 120, should undergo the
same process. Most faithfully has this been effected.
The merit of the launch was in its true simplicity, that
simplicity the result of scientific calculation, brought to
bear by the zealous co-operation of the officers and
artisans of her Majesty's dockyard, and when all felt
that an important duty was entrusted to their keeping
they acted as one machine.

It is no every-day occurrence to view so mighty a
fabric gliding down her " ways" as quietly and with as
much steadiness as a model exhibition upon a mahogany
table. Yet such was the case ; and it made one's blood
tingle when this huge pile of oak—measuring at a rough
guess some 120 feet in length, by 60 feet in breadth, and
60 feet in height, moved like a mountain, yet noiselessly
but surely, to the extent required, We before described
that two powerful anchors were buried to the shank,
and these each covered with about five tons of iron pig
ballast—to these anchors were attached four immense
purchases in connection with the " ways," which ex-
tended the whole length of the ship. Two of the pur-
chases were overhauled to 17 feet length, the other two
to 14 feet ; the purchases were under the direction of
that most indefatigable officer, Mr. Harvey, boatswain
of the yard, and so nicely had he arranged the lengths,
that the strain was exactly equal upon all four purchases
at the same moment, and upon this depended the safety
of the launch.

At 10.30 all was breathless anxiety—a pin might have
been heard to fall when the master shipwright (Mr.
Abethell) gave the order to " Knock away dogshores."
The next instant the noble ship parted company with her
fore half and glided majestically to the extent of 17 feet
when her purchases brought her up. The boatswain of
the yard then gave the word, " Ease away handsomely,"
when she was lowered another six feet to the end of the
balk timbers. The whole of the clever experiment was
accomplished from beginning to end in the short space of
two minutes. The Marlborough will not only receive
this Addition amidships, but a further lengthening, by
the stern, of about seven feet more to make it suitable
for the screw-propeller.
The Russian admiral, who was present, marked his
approbation of the skilful operation by clapping his
hands most energetically. The example spread, and
thence commenced a cheering that came from the very
hearts of Englishmen.

The Princess Royal, 90, also being converted into a
screw-vessel, had her new aft sternpost put up to-day.
We have no doubt but that the seven or eight first-
rates now on the stocks will undergo the same advan-
tages, for it would be next to madness in the present day
to launch a man-of-war without the necessary addition
of the screw-propeller. We most heartily congratulate
Mr. Abethell on the success that has attended him in
this highly-gratifying and great national experiment.
The unpropitious state of the weather in the early
part of the morning prevented very many persons from
witnessing the launch ; but amongst the company we
noticed the Lieutenant-Governor (Major-General Simp-
son), Rear-Admiral Superintendent Fanshawe, C. 8.,
and a host of officers of both services ; and with the
Russian Admiral, the captains and officers of the Russian
men-of-war at Spithead, &c.
The Vengeance, 84, Captain Lord Edward Russell,
sailed yesterday afternoon for Plymouth, to undergo a
refit. A rumour had prevailed that great ill-will existed
between the crew of this ship and that of the Phaeton,
50, Captain Elliot, which left Spithead for Sheerness on
Thursday, but to disprove this, the crew of the Ven-
geance asked permission of Lord Edward Russell to give
a cheer for their comrades on board the Phmton as the
ratter came under their stern. The permission being
granted, they gave a round of three hearty cheers to the
Phaiton's people, which the latter returned with a round
of nine cheers. This display of good-will was very pleas-
ingto the officers of the two ships.

The Sidon, 22, paddle-steam-frigate, Captain Gold-
smith, broke her port piston and cylinder bottom last
week, in consequence of water getting into the cylinder.
This will be repaired by Thursday, when she will be
ready for sea again.

The Blenheim, 60, screw-guard-ship, Captain W. H.
Henderson, C. 8., hauled out of the fitting basin yester-
day afternoon ready to return to her moorings, having
had her defects made good.
_ _

The Rodney, 90, Captain Graham, C. 8., is going
into dock. She unshipped her rudder yesterday, and
sent it to the dockyard for repay.
_ _

The Sir Robert Peel, American line-of-packet ship,
arrived at the Motherbank yesterday from the Thames
on her way to New York.

PLYMOUTH, JAN. 16.

Her Majesty's steam-vessel Encounter, -14, Captain
Callaghan, passed off this port, going down Channel, on
Friday.
Her Majesty's steam-vessel Vulture, 6, Captain F.
H. H. Glasse had her compasses adjusted on Friday by
Mr. Thompson, Queen's Harbourmaster. She left yes-
terday afternoon for Torbay, to take in tow and bring
to this port her Majesty's ship Vengeance, which is to
be paid and refitted.
Her Majesty's steam-guardship Hogue, Captain W.
Ramsey, will go out of harbour on Monday, and take a
trip round the Eddystone to test her engines and exer-
cise her crew.

The Argus steam-vessel is ordered to the East Indies
Wind, southerly, light, heavy rain.

SHEERNESS, Jan. 16, 1 P.M.
The launch of her Majesty's screw steam-frigate Tri-
bune, of 30 guns and 300-horse power, did not take
place until Friday list, in consequence of the boisterous
state of the weather. On the morning of that day pre-
parations were made for launching, by relieving her
from her shores, and letting her rest in her cradle ; im-
mediately after which the splitting out of her blocks
was commenced, until only the eight foremost blocks
remained, these blocks being left to be tripped in
launching. All the workmen belonging to the yard,
except those immediately engaged for the launch, left
the yard at one o'clock at noon, and at two o'clock the
yard gates were thrown open to the public. By three
p.m. several thousand people had availed themselves of
ever situation ' eligible to get a sight of the launch.
Vice-Admiral the Hon. Josceline Percy (Commander-in-
Chief at the Nore) and family, Captain the Hon. Mon-
tagu Stopford and family, Mr. Jonathan Aylin (master-
attendant and family, the family of Mr. Samuel Read,
master shipwright, with most of the principal officers of
the port and fort were present, including Lieute-
nant-Colonel England, R.A., and family, also Cap-
tains Dalton, Dunlop, and Mercer, R.A. The ne-
cessary arrangements had been made by Mr.
Samuel Read, assisted by Mr. Joseph Large, as-
sistant master shipwright, and the foremen, Messrs.
Netherwood and Thornton, for the ceremony of
christening the vessel, which was performed by Miss
Stopford (daughter of Captain the Hon. Montagu Stop-
ford). Immediately after the band of the Royal Dock-
yard Battalion played the national anthem ; Mr. S.
Read, the master shipwright, gave orders to " stand
by ;" at a given signal, both dogshores were knocked
away at the same instant, and this splendid specimen of
marine architecture gradually and gracefully glided into
the sea, amidst the hearty cheers of thousands of spec-
tators.
The steam-frigate Tribune is of the following dimen-
sions, viz. : Ft. In.
192 0
Length between the perpendiculars ..• ...
Length of keel, for tonnage ... ... 163 51
43 0
Breadth, extreme ... ... •• • • • •• • •• •
Breadth, for tonnage ... •• • ... ... 42 6
Breadth, moulded 7.. ..• • • •• • •
-••-" ••• 41 10
Depth in hold .... ..• •• •• •- ••• •• 12 11
Burden in tons ... •.. ... 1,570 35.94
HOrse-power ..• •.. ... 300
Mr. Charles Pope, assistant master, attended by sea-
men riggers, was on board the Tribune at the time of
her being launched ; 30 of the latter remained on board
under the directions of Mr. Pope, and immediately she
was fairly clear of the basin entrance, and to the extent
of her hawser, the African and Monkey steam-tug vessels
ran up alongside, and at 4.15 p.m. she was towed out
of harbour for Woolwich. Mr. W. Barnes, Queen's
pilot, of Woolwich, on his arrival here with her Ma-
jesty's steam-frigate Imperieuse, N.vasot retainerid. by the
Captain-Superintendent here to pil the Tribune to
Woolwich, which he has done.
The Agamemnon, Captain Sir om as Meaitl?.n get-
The
The engineers and millwrights haviTh ng succeedd
burst which
i
ting off the nut of the hydraulic-pump tha ,
prevented their working it, the accident will be repaired
afloat, thereby saving the necessity of the ship being
docked. Immediately she is ready for sea she will first
proceed on a trial trip down the Swin, as the principal
parts of her engines have been unconnected during the
time she has been under fitment. here. After her trial
trip she will anchor at the Nore, be inspected by the
Port-Admiral, take in her powder, &c., and proceed to
Portsmouth and Plymouth.
The screw steam-sloop Miranda, of 14 guns, fitting in
the basin, under the superintendence of Lieutenant John
Seccombe, of her Majesty's screw guardship Horatio,
has housed her top-ga,ll..an?nasts, crossed topsailyards and
lower yards, and her rigging is now all ready for rattling

down:
The Rattlesnake, Commander Henry Trollope, is to
be out of the shipwrights hands by the 27th inst., and
she is to be all ready for sea by the 4th of February

next. It has caused some surprise here among
naval men that only an assistant-surgeon is appointed
to her, taking into consideration her destination.
The officers and crew of this vessel are all
living on shore in her Majesty's dockyard. The
paddlewheel steam-vessel Avon (tender to her Majesty's
flagship at Devonport, the Impregnable, 104 guns), in
charge of Additional Second-Master Alfred J. Veitch,
arrived here yesterday from Devonport, with 83 volun-
teers for the Agamemnon, Imperieuse, and Barracouta.
They are nearly all what are called " long-shore men."
It is currently reported that a great number of A.B.'s
would have volunteered had they not been informed by
some of their old shipmates from this port, recently from
the northern and the western ports, that the promised
increase of grog and an advance of 7s. per month, which
they were told would commence on the Ist of January
past, was, as far as the former part was concerned, un-
true, and no guarantee or hope given for the latter.
The Barracouta, Commander George Parker. —A Court
of Inquiry was held yesterday on Mr. Charles M. Bal-
four, clerk of this vessel. The officers who composed
the Court were Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, of the
Agamemnon • Captain the Hon. S. T. Carnegie, of the
lbratio ; and Captain Charles G. E. Patey, of the
Amphion. The result of the inquiry is at present un-
known. A.B.'s volunteering for this vessel and the
Amphion are " few and far between."
The Waterloo, 120 guns, Captain the Hon. Montagu
Stopford.—Lieutenant Thomas H.M. Martin (12th of
Oct., 1848) took up his commission to this ship yester-
day.
The following ships' officers and crews were mustered
yesterday by Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, of the Aga-
memnon :—The Monarch, 84, guardship of ordinary,
Captain Charles Hope ; the Horatio, screw steam guard-
ship, 24, Captain the Hon. S. T. Carnegie ; the Am-
phion screw steam-frigate, Captain Charles G. E. Patey ;
the Barracouta, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, 6 guns, Com-
mander George Parker ; and the Rattlesnake, Com-
mander Henry Trollope.

Second-Master Alfred J. Veitch, in charge of her Ma-
jesty's paddle-wheel steam-vessel Avon, reports that he
passed her Majesty's frigate Phaeton, 50 guns, Captain
George Elliot, to the westward of the South Foreland,
early yesterday morning. She may therefore be ex-
pected here this afternoon's tide.
The paddle-wheel steam-vessel Myrtle, Master-Com-
mander William F. Bourchier, left here for Chatham
yesterday, and returned again in the evening, with money
for public use at this yard, under charge of the Treasury
clerk here, Mr. Henry Morgan.

WOOLWICH, JAN. 15.
A board of naval officers, consisting of Lieutenant
Pym, of her Majesty's steam-frigate Firebrand ; Master
Commander Henry William Allen, of the Lightning
steam-vessel ; and Surgeon Edward D'Auvergne, have
been engaged during the whole of the present week in
inspecting the preserved meats sent into Deptford Vic-
tualling-yard.
The Cruiser steam-sloop, Commander the Hon. George
H. Douglas, will leave Woolwich for Portsmouth about
the 22d inst. Lieutenant William Lambard (1848),
serving in the Blenheim, 60, screw steam guardship,
having been appointed to the Cruiser, he has taken up
his commission and joined at Woolwich. The following
officers have also joined this steam-sloop :—Lieutenant
Thrupp ; Mr. D'Auvergne, surgeon ; Mr. Cleaveland,
master ; Mr. Cooper, paymaster ; Mr. Sharpe, mate ;
Mr. Walker, clerk ; Mr. Carr, assistant-surgeon ; Mr.
Deny, assistant-engineer, Ist class ; Mr. Alcox, assistant-
engineer, 2d class ; Mr. Stayley, assistant-engineer, 3d
class ; Mr. Pitman, midshipman ; Mr. Dickenson, naval
cadet ; Mr. Curley, gunner ; Mr. Harvey, boatswain ;
and Mr. Grimes, carpenter.
The Fearless steam surveying-vessel, Capt. Frederick
Bullock, arrived at Sheerness on Friday forenoon from
surveying the coast between Beechy Head and Ports-
mouth, and will come up to Woolwich to be refitted.