The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-18 00:00:00

WOOLWICH DOCKYARD.

The extensive improvements taking place in this
great naval depot are such as will in a short time ren-
der it superior to any in the kingdom, or it may be
safely affirmed in any other country in the world. The
dry-dock opposite the blacksmith's shop, at the cast
end of the yard, designed by Mr. bolt, is in a very
forward state under the able superintendence of Mr.
Smith, who has placed a number of extra hands at
work, in order that it may be ready by the end of
February next, for the reception of the Trafalgar, 120
gun ship, now building in the same dockyard. This
dock is, without exception, the finest and most com-
modious that has ever been built, and is constructed of
the most durable materials, being first laid in the
bottom, with one foot of brickwork, and over it large
granite stones about three feet six inches in thickness,
and each many tons in weight. It is constructed on a
principle that has never been before adopted. At the
part of the dock where the breast of the vessels
brought into it will rest, the tiers of stone recede about
double the size of the tiers on the sides, as by this
means it is made to accommodate itself to the shape
of the vessels, and will contain those of much
larger dimensions than it would have done by the
old plan. The base of the dock is •_'3o feet in
length, and of a proportionate breadth ; but it will
contain a vessel of upwards of 300 feet in length
on the upper deck, owing to the manner in which
it is constructed. At the west-end of the Dock-yard
excavations have been going on during the whole sum-
mer, for the purpose of making a dock of still greater
dimensions, designed by Mr. Walker, engineer, and it
is intended to lay the foundation stone in the course of
a few days. The contractors for this dock, Messrs.
Grissell and Peto, of Lambeth, have had great diffi-
culties to contend with in making the excavations. At
a few feet from the surface they came on a rich alluvial
deposit, evidently the remains of a forest, as the hazel
and other nuts and clumps of trees were found in a per-
fect state of preservation, and the leaves were in many
instances in layers of six feet thick. Under these was
a considerable bed of concrete like blue clay, all of
which had to be gone through before a safe gravelly
bottom could be found. This has now been obtained ;
but not without great interruption from powerful springs
rising in all directions, and it has required the constant
and unceasing exertion of a forty-horse power steam-
engine pumping night and day to enable the men to
proceed with their labours. The dimensions of this
dock will be Joo feet at the base, and as it will be con-
structed on the improved principle, it will admit of
vessels of 400 feet in length on the upper deck. This
is considerably larger than any ever made ; yet it is anti-
cipated steam-vessels of this gigantic size will be laid
down when docks capable of containing them for fitting
and repairing are ready for their reception.
'Pile TRAFAIGAIL.—'Phis splendid and magnificent
vessel, building in the Woolwich dockyard, and to be
mounted with 120 guns, is now in a very forward
state, being so far finished in the wood work as to ad-
mit of receiving the priming and first coat of paint on
the upper deck. Tne first duck is also nearly finished,
almost all that is required to complete it being the large
iron joints for connecting the main beams and sides to
each other. The supports of the upper deck have a
very chaste appearance, and consist of thirty-three hand-
somely turned pillars, of the best African oak, equally
rich in effect as if they were constructed of the best
Spanish mahogany. The second deck is also progress-
ing fast, and the supports of the first deck arranged of
similar pillars as those on it, and .of the same valuable
material, present;a beautiful perspective, being placed in
one line along the whole length of the ship. The Tra-
falgar is altogether in such a forward state that she
might be launched directly, but if this were the case,
she would have to be sent to Chatham, to be fitted, as
there is no dock in the Woolwich yard capablheeoref
arree-
ceiving her. It is on this account alone thdatt
upon her,
and she will he launched in the end of the month.
I only thirty shipwrights at present employe
n, for her
of Fe-
bruary, IS4I, the moment the dock preparing for
to
reception, by Mr. bolt, the engineer, ,
for this dock specified
re-
ceive her. The original conottrahc
the month of :mane,
that it would be completed by
part of the Admi-
ralty, that it should be
fi desire, on
at an earlier period, Mr.
extra hands upon it, for the
having it compiete y
1 d b the end of Fb 4 ruary.
1 purpose of
1118o11t1 p; I abcuetd owing
numbering to a
odrensiels•

haven to
has
expressed
nto retire from the bench. Mr. Solicitor-
be elevated to the Lord Chancellor-
Stuck will be the new Solicitor-General, and
L LAIL CCliiiaAnilceGllEors.—PluWokeet
I::G"ieilltiPii'eci.erftvrnrreraeispitn'iti:\hrieti:ai:tnf rroenwi Parliament. A vacancy will thus be
created in the representation of Cashel. Either Mr.
Monahan, Q. C., or Mr. Hatchell, Q. C., will receive the
coif vacant by D. Stock's prom)tion. Our information
does not warrant us to state definitely which of these two
gentlemen will be selected. These changes will not
affect Mr. Pigot, who remains Attorney-General. There
are other changes involved in the above-mentioned, t°
which we will not new alhade, —Dublin Monitor.