The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-13 00:00:00

The following ships in this harbour will fire 30-
minute guns each to-morrow :

The Excellent to fire at I lh. 30m. A.M.
The Blenheim ... ... 12
The Illustrious 12 30
The Victory . 1 P.M.

The Royallery will commence firing 60
minute guns from Blockhouse Fort at half past one
o'clock, au! a like number of guns in succession from
the platform saluting- battery, ceasing at sunset. The
Royal Marine Artillery will fire 30• minute guns from
Fort Cumberland, 60 as to cease at sunset.
His Royal Highness Prince Alb rt will leave 03-
borne at half-past eight o'clock for Gosport, quite pri-
vately, no saluting or guard of honour being reiuired.
On Friday all the colours will be hoisted at the staff
masthead, and the bands and drums of regiments play
as heretofore.

Det.:ehments of the 44th and 69th Regiments will
embark at Cowes on the 14th inst., in the ship Wa-
verlev for Malta.

WOOLWICII, DEC. 11.-It is understood that Capt.
Sir James Stirling, Knight, at present commanding
the Howe, 120, on the Mediterranean station, is to
be the new Lord of the Admiralty, in the room of
Captain Lord John Ilay, C. 8., on the latter gallant
officer proceeding to Devonport to succeed Rear-
Admiral Sir John Louis, Bart., on his retirement
from the superintendentship of that dockyard, which
will shortly take place. There is not expected to bi
any change in the controllership of the coast guard,
at present so ably filled by Captain Houston Stew-
art, C.B.

The master blacksmith of the blacksmiths'-chop at
the east end of the yard, has received permission to
employ two superior workmen, at 6s. 6d. each per
day, to assist him in the increased work which will
take place on the Nastayth steam-hammers being
transferred from the factory department. The usual
wages in the east blacksmiths' shop is 4s. per day, or
245. per week. An order has also been received that
25 men are to be discharged from the factory
department.
DEc. 12.—The Minx steam-vessel, fitted with a
screw-propeller abaft tYe rudder, and one of Bishopp's
disc engines, of 10-horse power, went down the river
on an experimental trial, under the charge of Lieu-
tenant Robertson, with Mr. Casey, chief engineer of
Captain Austin's department, and Mr. Taplin, second
Essi,t.lnt to the chief engineer at Woolwich Dock-
yard.

- The trial of this engine caused considerable interest,
and Captain Mangles Denham, F.R.S., who has for a
considerable period been engaged in inquiring into
the causes of accidents to steam vessels ; Commander
Forsythe, studying steam at the factory ; Mr. F.
Rufford, M.P. for Worcester ; Mr. Laming, Managing
Director of the General Screw-Propelling Shipping
Company; Mr. Donkin, civil engineer; Mr. Farey,
civil engineer ; and Mr. Mylne, civil engineer of
the New River Company, were on board to
witness the experiments. The days are at
present !o short that it was considered advisable
on starling from Woolwich at 9 40 A.M. to have a
hawser from the Monkey steam-vessel attached to the
Minx, and both vessels to put on their full power to
get down to the measured mile at Long-reach with
the least possible delay, that the two runs up and
two down the measured distance might be accom-
plished, and the vessels return to Woolwich with
daylight The arrangements were well carried out,
and the experiments were made in a very excellent
manner, and with a very satisfactory result. On arriving
within about a mile of the measured distance, the
vessels separated, and the Minx held on for trial, and,
on the average of too runs down and two up, the
speed produced by the disc engine was ascertained to
be 5.148 knots per hour, the mean pressure of steam
being 53.5 lb. on the square inch, and the number of
revolutions 164 per minute, the result being nearly half
a knot greater speed on this occasion than was ob-
tained during the last trial, on the 26th of November,
being 4.659 knot per hour. A new screw was sub-
stituted for the trial today, to -work what is termed