The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-08 00:00:00

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Mr. RwriAnnsoN proposed the health of, the vice. -'\
president.
Mr. B. B. CABBELL returned thanks.
The CEAIRSIAN then proposed the health of the
tlematt who had won the pri e three
best essays on alleged lunacy, which was acknoli I, dged
by Mr. Maerraniara.
Several other toasts were drunk, and the company
did not finally separate until a very late hot r.

THE CHANNEL SQUADRON

PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY.—A friend has favoured us with
the following extract of a private letter, dated July :3, from
one of the ships of the squadron :
"On the 24th of June the Queen, Canopus, and Superb
tried rate of sailing under single-reefed topsails and topgal-
lant 'sails, with a strong breeze and moderate sea. The Queen
was beaten in three hours about two miles and a half by Su-
perb; the Canopus beat Superb about twor ships: length to
,windward. .

" On the 25th Vanguard, Canopus, and Raleigh started to
try.rate of sailing, the two former under single-reefed top-
sails and topgallant sails, the latter under double-reefed-top-
sails and topgallant sails, being unable to carry single-reeled
topsails. In about an hour after starting Raleigh
,earried
away her foretopsail yard, and was in consequence entirely
out of the race. During the hour, however, before the a,ct-
dent, she appeared to forereach on her two competitors.. and
might have beaten them. At the expiration of four hours,
Vanguard beat Canopus 500 yards to windward. Vanguard
much stiffer than either of her competitors. Raleigh the
most crank; twenty tons of extra ballast would, perhaps,
remedy this defect.
" On the 26th the steamers were ordered to fire three rounds
blank cartridge. The Avenger and Gladiator fired only four
guns each. The Retribution was the only vessel that fired
the whole number.

" On the 30th the steamers were ordered to try rate of
steaming. At 10 A.m. the Retribution, Gladiator, and Aven-
ger started, full power, with a strong breeze six points 'tni
port bow. In two- hours the Retribution gained on Gladia-
tor 14 miles; on Avenger three miles. At noon altered
course to wind on port beam, and tried- until 4 r.m. —at each
successive step of expansion gear—during the whole of this
time the relative distance,: were perceived as near as possible
as during the trial from 10 to 12. At four, being about seven
or eight miles dead:to leeward of the Admiral, the signal was
made to prepare to steam to windward. Topmasts were in
consequence struck, and everything got ready to loin the
ships to windward. At about 4.30 they started abreast.
Retribution soon got the lead, although Gladiator stuck very
close for a few minutes; but once clear of her, she soon shot
abead,'beating her in the run about two miles, and Avenger
four miles.

" Gladiator and Avenger were each working up to 10Ib.
the square inch, having tubular boilers; Retribution can only
work up to 61b., having the old common boilers.
"July I.—The Terrible having joined the fleet during the
`previous night, a signal was made to try rate of steaming
with her. They accordingly started at about ten A.m., with
full power, the Terrible, with her tubular boilers, working
up to 131 b. the square inch, and after steaming dead to
windward, with a strong breeze and heavy head-swell for
three hours, she beat Retribution as near as possible half a
mile an hour. Unquestionably she is a noble ship; bid,
nevertheless, lam inclined to believe she beat Retribution
principally by the great command of steam generated by
tubular boilers. Had both ships been fitted with similar
boilers, probably the result would have been different. One
thing by this trial appears to be clearly settled—that where
two ships of similar tonnage, or nearly so, and equal horse
power, but fitted with tubular and common boilers, are
matched, the former must have the advantage in speed ,
over the latter. This was very evident in the trial the day
before with Gladiator, for with Retribution's immense en-
gines 01800 horse power, over Gladiator's 450, the former
certainly ought to have beat her double the distance, had
they both been fitted with similarly constructed boilers. At
one P.M. a signal was made to the Terrible to steam with
61b. pressure only. At first Retribution gained rapidly on
her, but as soon as this was perceived on board she shot
ahead again. In short, this trial is not worth relating, it
being almost impossible to keep steam at any exact pressure.
A few shovelsful of coal, or slightest alteration of throttle
valve, more or less, will always cause an alteration. In the
evening they both banked the fires.
"July 2, at 9 A.m., we tried rate of sailing on a wind, star-
board tack. Terrible, under all plain sail; Retribution, with
single-reefed topsails. At 11, the and falling light, Retri-
bution shook out first reefs. At 1.30 P.M., Retribution being
about one mile ahead, tacked. At 3, having weathered on
her opponent about three-quarters of a mile, born up and set
port studding sails. Ran until sunset without any difference
of sailing; then lighted the fires of two boilers and steamed
all night. Terrible gained two miles all night. Arrived at
Cove this evening, July 3, at 7 P.M. Found the squadron
lying here."—Times.
(From the Cork Reporter of Saturday.)
This noble fleet arrived in our harbour yesterday, and now
is anchored in line at the man-of-war roads, presenting as
splendid and imposing a spectacle as can well be imagined.
The first which appeared at the harbour's mouth yesterday
morning was the St. Vincent, bearing the flag of Commodore
Collier, which, on entering, saluted the flag of Rear-Admiral
Sir H. Pigott in the usual form. The other ships of the
squadron continued to come in during the day, and the fleet,
when all are anchored in Cove harbour, will consist of tour
three-deckers, five two-deckers, three frigates, and five •
steamers, embracing a force of 17 men-of-war, with 1,020 -
guns and 11,400 men. They are as follow:
Three Deckers—Queen, St. Vincent, Trafalgar.
Two Deckers—Albion, Canopus, Superb, Rodney, Van-
guard.
Frigates—Raleigh, Constance, Brilliant.
Steamers— Retribution, Gladiator, Avenger, Scourge,
Rattler.

It is understood they will remain for a fortnight or three
weeks, several repairs having to be done, and it is
also confidently asserted that they will be paid in Coke.
harbour.

We have been favoured by a 'nautical friend with the
following notice of the arrival of the squadron and of their
movements since they were last in the harbour :---
" Cove, July 3, 1846.
"About ten, A.m., the Squadron of Evoluticri, after a cruise
of three weeks, between the Land's-end and Cape Clear, were
seen entering this harbour in the following order :
" Her Majesty's ship St. Vincent, Commodore Sir F. Col-
lier, under all plain sail to royals.
" Queen, Commodore Sir Gordon Bremer, under topsails
and topgallant sails, taking up station abreast of the St.
Vincent.
" Brilliant, fore and plain topgallant studding sails set.
" Vanguard, under topsails, anchoring ahead of St. Vin-
cent.

" Next came the little schooner yacht Kestrel, Right
Hon. the Earl of Yarborough, which accompanied the
squadron from Cove, and has continued in company during
the cruise.

" Rodney, under topsails, taking station ahead of the
Queen.

" Canopus, under the same sail, made her appearance 20
minutes after, and anchored ahead of Vanguard.
" Superb, under topsails, followed, and came to windward
of Rodney.
" At 11 15 her Majesty's ship Avenger also arrived."
Since our last report of the movements of the fleet a good
trial under steam took place between the latter-named vessel,
Gladiator, and Retribution, against a heavy head sea, in
which trial the Retribution had the advantage completely,
The Avenger, all in all, and next to the Rattler, was con-
sidered to be the most perfect steamer afloat. When,
therefore, she joined in this trial and could only keep pace,
last of the whole, much surprise was expressed at vas
her failure iY her speed, in comparison with others in a
heavy sea.

Several vessels are yet to make their appearance, having
been lost sight of in the fog.
' OPERATIONS DURING THE CRUISE.
After leaving Cove it was believed that Sir William
Parker in the Hibernia was on his way to take command of
the fleet, but he did not since fall in with them. A more
active and experienced commander could not be found
among the flag-officers of the day. His services in 1839-40
at the Admiralty, afterwards in China, where he gained
honours, and won imperishable laurels, all speak of
judicious selection. We look forward, if these reports are
true, to hear of some creditable manoeuvres in gunnery and
naval tactics, which will add a further store of information
to that already in possession of the Admiralty, and aid in
their conclusions those persevering and energetic individuals
who have devoted their lives to the study of British naval
architecture.

These are the means : ships well stored and provisioned (we
wish it could be said well manned), proudly floating in the
unfathomable waters of the Atlantic, ready at the will cf
some skilful commander to be guided as experience might
best-dictate, for -the nation's good.
June 11.—Weighed and proceeded out of Cove harbou4.
hove to ; Trafalgar and Belleisle parted company.
12th.—standing to the southward.
13th.—Wind variable. 4 P.M. her Majesty's sloop of war
Fly hove in sight on her way to England to be paid off;
communicated with her, and supplied the captain and offi-
cers with some live stock. The general liberality of, the
officers in most of the ships is deservingof remark, all having
sent, unasked, more or less in the shape of fowls, fresh boet,-
wine, &c. Indeed it was considered, that instead of beir:';
supply for the captain of the Fly and his officers, cr.
was handed on board to supply the whole ship's company.
Same evening, towards midnight, exercised at general quar-
ters, firing three rounds of blank cartridge, Brilliant first.
14th.—Standing to the south-west.
5 r.lit.Gladiator made her number. 8 P.M. Gladiator
and Scourge parted company.
15th.—Sqaadron took up her position and laid out targets
for exercise with shot, 150 miles south-west of Scilly. Sir
Gordon Bremer and captains of particular ships visited Com-
modore Collier on board St. Vincent.
16th.—Her Majesty's ship Canopus joined the squadron
from Spitbead, having on board supernumeraries for the
Hibernia, lat, 48 deg. 40 min., long. 10 deg. 10 min.
18th.—Light variable airs. Exercised firing at targets.
19th.—Gladiator and Scourge rejoined.
20th.—Light breezes; standing to the south-west.
21st.—Retribution joined; 185 miles south-west of Scilly.
22d.—Moderate breeze from the north-west. Vanguard,
Canopus, and Raleigh tried rate of sailing on a wind tinder
single reefed topsails and topgallant sails. After a trial of
four hours the Canopus weathered the Vanguard ; Queen
asked permission, after nearly two hours had^~^l, to join.
She was observed to settle considerahly to windward during
the last hour of the trial, though the former head-reached.
Raleigh, having split foretopsail, was done f 4 this trial.
23d.—A strong breeze sprang up from the southward.
24th.—Avenger steamer joined company from Plymouth,
bringing letters for the fleet.
25th.—Strong breeze. St. Vincent, Queen, and nalei
shifted topsails and reefed ; in doing which the Queen had a
man killed by falling from the mizen-top on the poop.
26th.—Squadron formed in line of battle under topsails
and canvas. Took stations in two columns as before ;
squadron standing to the southward.
27th.—Standing to the northward and eastward.

. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —DEAFNESS AND DEFECTIVE
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_ LETTERS FOR THE BRAZlLS.—Yesterday the foftu','•
ing notice was issued by the Post-office authorities in St.
Martin's-le-Grand, in • consequence of the detei%tion of
. ttnit,
Brazilian mail :—"Letters for the Brazil mail w 4.1 be
iv
on Wednesday evening" (this day).