The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-15 00:00:00


LAUNCH OF THE AMPHION
FRIGATE OP THIRTY-SI-X.' GUNS.

•

WooLvrimr, JAR. 14.—This fine frigate was ordered to be
built on the 16th of May, 1828, and to be named the Ambus=
cade, but from some well-grounded objection to that name,
it was altered to Amphion, by an Admiralty order of the 31st
of March, 1831. The building of the vessel commenced on
the 15th of April, 1830, and was carried on on the same lines
as the Castor frigate, but she has since been lengthened six-
teen feet by the bow, and fitted in the stern for a screw pro-
peller as an auxiliary, every other part and filling being the
same as a proper sailing frigate. She appears to be a sightly
vessel, and sits well upon the water. Her figure-head is a
bust of the late gallant Captain Sir William Hosts, Bart.,
and her stern is of a neat square form externally, but round
internally, for fighting her guns, and to all appearance will
be a fast sailer, and a good ship of war.
The following are her dimensions :

Feet. Inches.
Length of the lower deck 177 ... " 0
Length of the keel for tonnage
Breadth extreme
Breadth for tonnage 42 ... 8
Breadth moulded
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Burthen in tons, old measure, 1,473 66-94
Do. do. new
Miss Psyche Hoste, daughter of the late Captain Sir
William Hoste, was to have named the Amphion, but in
consequence of that young lady's indisposition, the interest-
ing ceremony was performed by Miss Hawkins, niece of
Admiral Sir James llawkins Whitshed, Bart., G.C.8., Ad-
miral of the Fleet.

At a quarter before three o'clock, r.m., Miss Hawkins, ac-
companied, by the Gallant Admiral, and escorted by Com-
modore Sir Francis A. Collier, C.B. and K.C.H., Captain-
Superintendent of the dockyard, entered the enclosed space
surrounding the ship, and the master shipwright having pre-
sented Miss Hawkins with a glass of wine, she drank to the
success of the Amphion, and the bottle, with the remainder
of the wine, having been attached to the bows of the ship,
was broken upon them. -The men then suspended their la-
bours in knocking out the dog shores, as the tide had not
risen sufficiently high, and it was twenty minutes past three
o'clock before the vessel was allowed to glide into the water,
which she did in beautiful style amidst the cheers of the as-
sembled spectators, the band of the Royal Marines playing
the national antheth. The company present was very nu-
merous, and the day particularly fine, and every person
seemed gratified, as, owing to the hour of the launch being
later than announced, none were disappointed of witnessing
the interesting scene.
The Amphion is to be taken on Monday next to the East
India Docks, to be fitted with engines of 300-horse power, by
Messrs. Miller and Ravensfortb, and will be the first con-
structed for the steam navy of this country with the whole of
her machinery considerably under the water line, and conse-
quently not liable to be deranged by shot during warfare.
The screw will be fifteen feet in diameter, on Ericson's prin-
ciple, attached to engines on the direct-action principle, in-
vented by Count de Rosen, with four feet stroke, performing
of war Danish
b y
Ambassador,
aid of t h se appliances.Lieutenant-Colonel
The
48 revolutions per minute. The boilers will also be under
the water-line, and the vessel is expected to be a superior
ship
Dundas,
C. 8.; Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmer, Major Elgee, Royal Ar-
tillery; Colonel Nichols, Major Bright, Royal Marines;
Commander Smith, Royal Navy; and the authorities of the
Dock-yard, with a number of naval and military officers,
were present, and the scene was exceedingly interesting.

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