The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-24 00:00:00

THE GUNNERY PRACTICE ON
BOARD HER MAJESTY'S SHIP ASIA.

On Saturday, the 20th instant, her Majesty's slt, As was
iuspected at Spithead by Admiral Sir E. Codringtoti, and
when it is mentioned that this 514 had been in eommission
five years and two days, and under the eonitnand of zealous
and able officers, nota:ng need be said of her general discip-
line, except that it was in all respects perfect. The chief ob-
ject of the inspection, however, was the efficiency of the gun-
nery department ; and certainly nothing could exceed the
precision of the firing. A target, consisting of three small
flags on different staves, and about a foot and a half apart,
was placed at seven hundred yards distance, and it was not
one or two shots which either struck it or went near.
but the whole, from whatever part of the ship fired, went with
almost the same precision. It was not broadsides that were
discharged, but single guns deliberately and carefully directed,
and the triggers pulled only when the captains of the guns felt
certain of their arm. With the excepti.n of a single shot,
every one either struck the flags or went between them, or
fell within three fret on either side, or passed above them at
no greater distance. The Only shot which did not pass within
a yard or two, at most, of the centre cf the target, mast have
been accidentally misdirected. It was the last fired but one,
at a moment when the target was all but demolished, and the
sea round it looked like a huge bed of cauliflower, from the
splashing of the other shot, so that it was not wonderful the
seaman's aim might have been a little disturbed.
Sir Edward Codringten, than whom no officer in the ser-
vice has seen more shot fired, either for practice or in glorious
earnest, was so much gratified by this remarkable exhibition of
skill, that he considered it his duty to express himself in strong
terms of approbation. In a short, but pithy, address, during
which, with much feeling and good taste, he alluded to his hav-
ing formerly carried his flag in battle on board this very ship,
he strongly advised the crew, who, by long habit, had become
such thorough-bred men-of-war's. men, and who had shown
how well they could work their guns, to continue in the public
service if her Majesty.
It is greatly to be hoped that this excellent advice of the
gallant Admiral may be followed by the highly-disciplined crew
of the Asia, and that the ships now fitting out may enjoy the
benefit of so much well-directed attention on the part of Capt.
Fisher, who has, for a series of years, so ably commanded this
perfect model of a man-of-war.

PRINCE ALBERT'S VISIT TO THE
VESSgLS OF THE NIGER EXPEDITION.

His loyal Highness Prince Albert, who has always evinced
the liveliest interest in the expedition that is shortly to proceed
to the River Niger, has availed himself of the earliest opportu-
nity of inspecting the vessels to he engaged in it.
His Royal Highness, attended by the Hon. Major Keppel,
Sir E. Bovrater, Mr. Anson, &c., proceeded on Tuesday to
Deptford Dock-yard, and immediately embarked on board her
Majesty's ship Albert, where he was received by Captain H.
D. Trotter, the commander of the expedition.
To afford an opportunity of seeing the other vessels, and of
examining to greater advantage the arrangements of the Albert,
she was got under weigh, and proceeded to Woo! vrich, where
her Majesty's ships Wilberforce and Soudan, the other vessels,
were 13 ing. His Royal Highness inspected minutely every part
of the Albert, and appeared much interested with his visit.
The principal pecul'arities in the construction of this ves-
sel, and the general arrangement of the machinery, were
pointed out to him, as well as the nautical instruments, the
method of correcting the compasses (which was explained by
Professor Airey himself), the sliding keels. Captain Smith's
paddle boats, air. Grant's patent fuel, and Dr. Reid's venti'-
ating and medicating apparatus, the latter of which was an
object of peculiar interest. Dr. Reid explained and super-
intended the ventilating experiments performed on board, in
which he was assisted by Dr. M‘William, surgeon of the
ship, and head surgeon of the expedition, in whose charge
tha ventilating apparatus is placed, illustrating its action,
by exhausting the air from the various compartments, and
afterwards propelling it into them—by Altering the ar-
rangement of the valves—various odorous matters and
other substances were successively communicated to the
air, which rendered its progress visible. These experiments
were concluded by filling the lowerdeck (where the men
sleep) with a dense smoke, which was rapidly exhausted, and
discharged by the fanners, proving to the great satisfaction of
his Royal Highness the command which the apparatus had in
regulating the movements of the air.
The paddle-box boats of Captain George Smith also excited
much interest. Captain Smith showed the method of getting
them off and on the paddle wheels. These boats are covered
with another boat of basket work, with a cover of sailcloth over
all, making altogether four boats, in addition to the number on
board other steam vessels fitted in the usual manner.

The Prince, on the Albert's arrival at Woolwich, was waited
upon by Capt. Phipps Hornby, C. 8., the senior naval officer
of the port ; Capt. William Allen, of her Majesty's ship Wil-
berforce; Capt. Washington, of her Majesty's ship Shearwa-
ter ; Capt. Bullock, of the Boxer ; and after these and the va-
rious officers of the Albert were introduced to his Royal High-
ness, he proceeded on board the Wilberforce and the Soudan,
the other vessels of the expedition, where he was respectively
received by Commander William Allen and Commander Bird
Allen. After inspecting these vessels the Prince landed at the
Dock-yard, where he was received by the Commandant of the
garrison, and amidst the cheers of a orowded assemblage who
had awaited his arrival ; and he entered his carriage, and pro-
ceeded direct for Buckingham Palace.
Sir Fowell Buxton, Hart., attended on board the Albert to
pay his respects to his Royal Highness. There were also intro-
duced to him—Dr. Reid, Capt. Smith, Mr. Laird, of Liver-
pool, the builder of the vessels ; Mr. Cicalae, of Portsmouth
Dockyard ; and Mr. Grant, the inventor of the patent fuel,
which was used instead of coal on this occasion, and the advan-
tages fully pointed out by that gentleman.
This visit of the Prince to her Majesty's ship the Albert was
the more interesting, as it was the first which his Royal High-
ness has paid to a British man-of-war.