The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-27 00:00:00

NAVAL INTEL lAGENCE

PORTSMO!,TI-1, JAN. 25.—Mr. John Fincham, master ship-
wright of this dockyard, delivered a most interesting and
edifying lecture upon ship-building on Friday night last,
showing that science, uncoupled with experience, was cot
sufficient to form a good naval constructor—that the
greatest care should be taken that one good point in a ship
should net be made at the expense of others. The lecturer
also proved that the French have not advanced in the
science of naval construction as shown in the result of the
experimental trials between the English and French squa-
drons in 1832; but he also showed that for upwards of a
century past eur best ships have been built after French
models, and that no improvement in any essential quality
had been exhibited in our mode of construction since the last
war with France; that some of the ships of 1790 were better
than those now constructed by us. The restrictions to
which constructors were confined previous to 1832 might, he
said, account for she slow progress made up to that time in
comparison with the French. Mr. Fincham instanctd La
Gloire, Pomone, Transit (small model), the Dart and
Arrow, the Cornwallis, built in the East Indies—
a good ship—in support of his opinion ; and showed
by models and diagrams before the audience, that fast-
ness of sailing depends upon other elements than the
form given to the vessel. The Caledonia and Victory in
their time, with the armaments and complements they car-
ried, where excellent ships, as were the Endymion, Cam-
brian, and Castor, built in 1797. Mr. Fincham very graphi-
cally illustrated by diagrams the cause and effect of ships
rolling, and proved that speed in sailing does not depend upon
extreme sharpness or extreme fulness, as, when the ship is in
a heavy sea, those bodies are placed in different positions.
Mr. Fincham alluded to Admiral Hayes's Inconstant as a
beautiful model and perfect ship, and said stability was one
of the most important elements of a ship, and as regards sta-
bility that quality depends much more upon the sails than
we are aware of; that fast sailing depends entirely upon the
trim of the ship, and the trim of the sails; one case in point
Mr. Finch= knew of, where two ships were recently com-
peting in a trial of sailing ; if both had attended to the brac-
ing of the yards, the result would have been equality ;
whereas one did attend, and the other did not, to that impor-
tant feature in seamanship, and consequently one was ccn-
siderably beaten by the other. If we carried on experiments
with a view to scie-Aific purposes, we should, in Mr. Fin-
cham's opinion, attain much more excellence in naval archi-
tecture.

The Royal yacht Victoria and Albert, Captain Lord A.
Fitzclarence, after having her lower masts taken out, and a
considerable portion of her lead ballast removed, apparently
for the purpose of going into dock as soon as one was ready
to receive her, took in her lower masts again on Friday,
and was taken back to her moorings yesterday. Her
lower masts have been shortened by the head about three
feet, and the centre shaft of her engine, with some other
minor parts of her machinery, taken out. It ig still sup-
posed and reported she is to be docked, but when, or for what
purpose, does not clearly appear.
The Fairy Royal yacht tender, Master-Commander Ro-
berts, arrived yesterday afternoon from Weymouth.
The General Palmer naval transport, Lieutenant Wool-
dridge agent, was towed out to Spithead by the Echo on
Friday afternoon, and sailed the same evening for Deptford
with stores, where she will undergo such repair as to enable
her to be employed again without risk.
The Grampus, 50, Captain H. B. Martin, remains at Spit-
head, where her alterations are progressing. She is to be
fitted with Brown's patent chain-cable compressors. If the
weather (at present and for some days past awfully bois-
terous) does not moderate, she will be towed into this harbour
to complete her alterations, Ise. We are informed, that in
consequence of an error in her outfit, the alterations in the
fittings of this frigate will be very extensive, as taunter lower-
masts have been given to her than the regular establishment
prescribes, while the rigging has remained of the established
length ; the consequence is, that all the shrouds are too short.
Whether these reported irregularities are correct we do not
pretend to affirm, but this is certain, her lower-masts are dis-
proportionately taunt.
The Alban, steam transport, Master-Commander Aylen,
arrived at Kingstown from Cork on the 22d inst.
The Java and Alfred, heavy frigates of 50 guns, are ordered
to be advanced for the pendant with all dispatch.
The Scourge. steam bomb vessel, Commander Catlin, is
ready for sea, and will leave the harbour when the weather
moderates.

The Merwede, Dutch transport, Captain Van Hasseldt,
bound from the Texel to Surinam, is detained at the Mother-
bank by contrary winds and foul weather. Her officers have
received all the courtesies due to foreign visitors at the
hands of the Port-Admiral and Lieutenant-Governor. They
have, accompanied by M. Vandenbugh, his Netherlands Ma-
jesty's Vice-Consul, visited all the Government establiAi-
ments of the ports and garrison, and been most hospitably
entertained.

The Barretto Junior, transport, Lieutenant Griffiths agent,
is detained at Spithead by contrary winds and foul weather.
She is ready to sail for Bermuda when the weather will
permit.

The schooner Ann and Elizabeth, wrecked on the Spit, still
holds together; her masts, however, are the only parts visi-
ble above water. If the present weather continues, she must
shortly go to pieces. Messrs. Garratt and Gibbon, the agents
to Lloyd's, are indefatigable in their endeavours to save all
that is possible of the cargo, &c.
In Harbour—The St. Vincent, Victory, Excellent, Carr-
fort, Sparrow, Nautilus, and the Victoria and Albert; the
Fairy, Retribution, Scourge, Rattler, Dasher, and Echo
steamers.
In the Basin—The Nelson, Edinburgh, Trincomalee, and
Harlequin.
In Dock—The Prince Regent, Rodney, Amphitrite, Lean-
der, Rifleman, Childers, and Wanderer.
On the Slips—The Royal Frederick, 110; Princess Royal,
90 ; Arrogant, 36 ; and Dauntless, 46.
At Spithead—The Superb, Grampus, and Baretto Junior.
At the Motherbank—The Merwede (Dutch transport).