The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-07 00:00:00

SIR CHARLES NAPIER'S SQUADRON.
PORTSMOUTH, OCT. 6.—By the arrival of the
packet yesterday we are put in possession of inte-
resting details of the movements of Sir Charles
Napier's squadron :
September 14.—At 3 P.M. the Vixen steam-sloop,
Commander Ryder, parted ccmpany ;and proceeded
with dispatches for England, taking letters from the
squadron then off Cape Itoco, ample time being given
to write. At sunset exercised reefing topsails and
courses by the watch only. The Stromboli steam-
sloop was ordered to get her steam up in case of
being wanted during the night, it being a dead calm,
and the ships quite close enough to each other.
" 15th.—Signal made to man and arm boats.' At
11 A.M. the boats asseinlded alongside the flag-ship,
and commenced a brisk fire from guns and musketry,
which was kept up with much spirit until 1 P.M.,
when the boats returned to their respective ships.
The paddle-box boats in this manoeuvre were most
conspicuous, owing to their build and their buoyancy
on the water. It was a perfect calm, with considerable
swell from the northward, the ships rolling consider-
ably ; the boats were often out of sight from the swell,
and, being extended over a considerable space, presented
a highly interesting and animating appearance; each
launch, pinnace, barge, and cutter, being commanded
by a lieutenant, and each being provided with an
ossistant surgeon as in actual warfare. All surrounded
the St. Vincent, and commenced a formal attack upon
her, firing great guns and small arms, which the
thred-decker used in repelling the attack. This was
a fine spectacle especially when viewed from the other
ships. When the attack was over, the boats proceeded
against an imaginary enemy. First the launches ad-
s anted to action, firing shot ; after a short time, these
boats being supposed to be disabled, the pinnaces ad-
vanced to keep up the action and to cover the retreat
of the launches; they in their turn were succeeded
by the barges, and so on ; the exhibition terminated
by a general volley of musketry, the boats returing
to their respective ships about 1 P.M. At sunset ex-
ercised reefing topsails and courses as usual ; mode-
rate breeze from N.N.E., tacked and wore during the
night as required by night signals.
" 16th.—At 9 30 A.M. the signal was made for
the Canopus, Queen, and Vengeance, to try their rate
of sailing. At 10 A.M. the trial commenced, the ships
close hauled, under courses, single-reefed topsails,
topgallant sails, jib, and spanker, as much sail as
they could carry to a fresh breeze from the N.N.E.
At 10 45 A.M. their inclination, as per signal, was—
the Vengeance, 7 deg.; the Queen, 9 deg.; the Ca-
nopus, 81- deg. At eleven o'clock they tacked, Canopus
about four cables ahead of the Queen, and the Queen
a mile and a half ahead of the Vengeance ; from this
time until one P.M. the ships continued on nearly the
ame bearings from each other; but both the Canopus
and the Queen weathered very considerably on the
Vengeance. At two o'clock the trial ended. The
Canopus had the advantage over the Queen by half a
mile; the Queen over the Vengeance three and a
half miles, to windward. The opinion of the squa-
dron was asked upon the trial by signal, and given
in favour of the Canopus. The squadron was ex-
ercised in forming line of battle in single and double
columns, and inverted order, &c.; at sunset reefed
courses, double- reefed the topsail; and stood off under
easy sail.
" 17th.—Gloomy hazy weather, fresh breezes from
the N.N.E. ; squadron exercised tacking and wear-
ing, together and in succession, forming order of
&c. The Dragon steam-frigate, Captain hall,
signalled making 18 inches of water in 24 hours.'
The Vengeance shifted her foretopsail- yard ; at sun-
set exercised reefing topsails and courses; sent down
topgallant yards and struck topgallant mast ; stood ofi
the land under easy sail. _ _

" 18th.—At nine A.M. the signal was made to
shift main-topsail yard.' In this manmuvre the St.
Vincent was 74 minutes, the Canopus, 84 minutes;
Queen, 115 minutes ; and the Vengeance, 117
minutes, from the signal of ' lower away' until the
topsail was set with two reels in it. At ten, the
steamers, being wider double-reefed topsails, fore-
course, jib, and driver, close hauled, their incli-
nation by signal was, Odin 6 deg., Avenger 7 deg.,
Sidon 8 deg., Dragon 9 deg., Stromboli 9 deg. :
they were then signaled to 'mice more sail. At this
time the Dragon was 11 miles on the Sidon's lee-
b. am. At 1 30 P.M. she was observed to cross
the Sidon's bows ; and at 4 P.M. she wis as much
to windward of the Sidon as she previou3ly had been
to leeward. At 3 P.M., under all sail that they could
carry on a wind, their inclination was per signal—
Stromboli, 8 deg. ; O.lin, 9 deg.; Dragon and Avenger,
11 deg.; Sidon, 12 deg. At this inclination they were
ordered to fire four rounds, which was done by the
Sidon, Odin, and Dragon. The Avenger and Strom-
boli did not fire. At 10 minutes past 5 signal was
made ' hands' shift topsails.' From lower away'
until fresh sails were set, double reefed, the Queen
was 15 minutes ; Canopus, 26 ; St. Vincent, 32 ;
Vengeance, 46; with the steamers it was optional.
The flag-ship signaled well done, Queen and Strom-
boli.' Afterwards the Canopus shipped her maintop.
sail yard. At 730 P.M. squadron tacked in succes-
sion and stood off, Cape Roco Light E. 1 S. six or
seven miles. The Canopus, instead of tacking, wore ;
consequently she and the Queen were wide of their
station when they came to the wind on the other tack.
19th—At 6 30 A.M. tacked in succession and stood
in for the lßnd ; the steamers kept their stations well
during the night. At 10 30 the steamers were signaled
to make more sail; when under all the sail they could
carry, the Sidon and Dragon, with maintopgallant:sail
set, their inclination, as given by signal, was—Strom-
boli 6 deg. (she had steam as well as sail) ; all the
others 9 deg. Signal was then made to know if
they could go into Lisbon under sail only, which
was answered in the affirmative. At noon signal
was made to know if the masters of the
respective ships and vessels were pilots for the
Tagus. Being answered in the affirmative, the
St. Vincent bore away for the south channel, followed
by the Vengeance, Queen, and Canopus, the steamers
standing in for the north channel ; the Vengeance
was observed to round too and allow the Queen to
pass and follow the St. Vincent, as per signal to that
effect, Canopus following Vengeance. The anchorage
signal was given for the St. Vincent, Queen, and
Vengeance to anchor in a line eastward of the Cale-
donia, the Canopus westward of her. At 4.30 the
squadron were all anchored abreast of the packet
stairs, the steamers in a line in shore of the line of
battle ships. The Admiral signaled that those men
who had nct had leave were to have it. Foreign men
of war anchored here—the French frigate IpLegimie
(gunnery ship), carrying a commodore, and two
steamers ; a Spanish corvette ; the Portuguese flag-
ship, frigate, and two corvettes.

" 20th.—The Canopus was ordered to shift her
berth as denoted, viz., due west of the Caledonia, and
the Queen to shift further towards the St. Vincent.
It appears that the cause of the Dragon's leaking so
much was from the defective fitting of her cocks and
valves-. The Dragon and Sidon were decidedly the
best sailers amongst the steamers, and latterly the
Dragon had the best of it.
" 21st.—Sir Charles inspected the Caledonia to-
:lay and expressed himself much pleased at the manner
in which her excercise had been performed.
" 22d and 23d.—Quietly at anchor. The packet
from England arrived to-day (23d).
" 24th.—To-day being the anniversary of the
death of Dorn Pedro, all the ships and vessels in the
Tagus—English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese—.
kept their ensigns half-mast,the Portuguese firing
minute guns from 8 A M. until
.sunset.
" 25th and 26.71110 movements.

gc 27th.—The Admiral inspected the Queen. We
understand he did not express himself particularly
pleased with her gunnery, &c., but we do not know
for certain that this report is correct.
"28th.—The packet from Gibraltar arrived this
afternoon and leaves to-morrow morning for Eng-
land. Foreign ships of war at anchor, same as on
our arrival, with the addition of another French
steamer.
our movements are to be. If contrary orders do not
acwanasop
" 29th.—There
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said the
have sprung, one a main,
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yard.
leaving the Tagus
were anchoring.
moment
c packet
" The Vixen got foulof
the Sidon in the early part
of the cruize, and carried
away or damaged her quar-
ter boat.

" There are various rumours afloat as to the ulti-
mate movements of the squadron, but none to be
depended upon, nor will there be until the dispatches
arrive in the iphitrite and Trincomalee.
" All the caulkers in the squadron are employed on
the Canopus ; she is undergoing a general caulking,
being very leaky in her upper work.
" The St. Vincent has landed her upper deck guns
and carriages, and if her sailing qualities are found
to be improved thereby, report says her poop will
be cut off and her armament reduced fivti la to
100 qup§,