The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-13 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 12.—The Ajax steam guard-
ship, 56 guns, 1,761 tons, and screw power of 450
horse, was taken out to-day fcr a trial, under the com-
mand of Commander James Agnew Stevens, of the
Blenheim. This was the third trial, or rather
the third attempt at a trial, the vessel having
been prevented on the two former occasions from
achieving any result, owing to her pistons breaking.
The result of the present trial amply repaid the anx-
ieties and disappointments of the former. She left the
harbour at ten o'clock, with the following of on
board:—Rear Admiral Prescott, C. 8., Captain Chads,
C. 8., Captain Halsted, R.N., Commander Stevens (in
charge), Messrs. Maudslay and Field, the makers of the
engines, Mr. Lynn, civil engineer, &c. The crew of the
Blenheim manned the vessel. The tide was running in
almost at its utmost strength as the vessel was working
out, notwithstanding which resistance she made excel-
lent speed, and on emerging from the harbour's mouth
made Spithead in most triumphant style. She then
pursued the course of all large ships round the buoy of
the Spit, and steamed through the squadron of evolution
towards the steamer's course in Stoke's Bay, where the
measured knot is marked by posts. Whilst at this im-
portant experiment, the Fairy royal yacht, with his
Royal Highness the Prince Consort, General •Wemyss,
and Commander Crispin on board, came up from
Osborne, and his Royal Highness, seeing the huge
vessel making her progress along the course, and
being informed of the highly important nature of the
trial, expressed a wish to go on board and become
more minutely acquainted with its results. Accord-
ingly the yacht was steered alongside, and the Royal
barge quickly transferred the Prince from the yacht to
the ship. It is almost needless to say, the visit from the
illustrious Prince was as unexpected on the part of the
gallant party on board the vessel as it was spontaneous
on the part of himself, but the result was one of unmiti-
gated pleasure to all parties. Rear-Admiral-Prescott
escorted his Royal Highness all over the ship, and ex-
plained her nature and the object of such floating bat-
teries under the guidance of steam ; Captain amide ex-
plained the mode of fighting such batteries, and every
particular connected with ship gunnery. Messrs.
Maudslay succinctly described the character and work-
ing of the engines and machinery; to all which details
the Prince paid the most assiduous attention, and showed
the interest he took in such pursuits by putting sundry
pertinent questions touching the subject of the steam-
engine, showing Ibis acquaintance therewith, and much
interest in its progress. These items having been all
accomplished, the Royal Consort ascended to the upper
deck to note the speed of the ship, which was, on an
average of four runs, 6.4 knots per hour under all circum-
stances; with the tide, the maximum speed was B.2Pknots.
She steered moat easily, and went round 16 points in 2
minutes 10 seconds. This is the greatest experiment
and the most satisfactory result yet achieved with the
screw in propelling large bodies. The Ajax was brought
down to her load line by extra ballast, so that she drew
as mach water as if provisioned and stored for 500 men
for three months. The Prince Consort remained on
board an hour and a half, highly pleased with his im-
promptu visit. He left the ship in Stokes Bay at a
quarter to two, accompanied by General Wemyss and
Commander Crispin, and landed at Osborne. On leaving
the Ajax, both officers and crew sprang to the side, and
gave their illustrious visitor three sailors' cheers. The
ship returned to harbour about 4 P.M.
We are glad to hear that the report of the death of
Commander Baynton, which we adopted from a Hamp-
shire paper, is incorrect. The gallant officer is not only
alive, but ii good health, and is a candidate for active
service of any kind. The death of a relation of Captain
Baynton was mistaken for his own.
PRIZE MONEY YOR THE CAPTURE OR SLAYER!.

THE SEALiaIL—Mr. Woodhead has given notice to
Captain Gooch and the officers late of the Sealark dur-
ing her former period of service on the coast of Africa,
of the registry in the High Court of Admiralty, on and
after the 22d instant, of the proceeds of the following
prizes:—
The slaver Aquia, captured on the 22d October, 1846
The slaver Boneto Porto, on the 21st October, 1846.

, .
And also to the ship's company of the Sealark, when
commanded by Lieutenant (now Commander) White, of
the registry of the slaver Gustavo Premiero, captured
April 18, 1847.
TEE STYX STEAM-SLOOP.—Mr. Whitehead has also
given notice to the captain and the ship's company late
of this vessel, paid off from the coast of Africa, of the
registry of the proceeds arising from the capture of the
slaver Anna and Constance, on the 19th January, 1847.

APPOlNTMENTS.—Midshipmen—Richard Morris, to
the Superb, 80, at Portsmouth; Charles A. Johnson,
Thomas M. M. Wynyard, Richard J. Lawrence, Login
A. W hymper, and Charles Broadhead, to the St. Vin-
cent, 120, fisg-ship of the Channel squadron; Thomas
J. Young, to the Excellent, gunnery-ship; J. T. Jeyes,
to the San Josef, flag-ship, at Devonport; W. K. Bush,
to the Plumper, screw-sloop, at Spitbead.
We stated yesterday that two 60-gun frigates are to
be built at Deptford. They are not designed by the
Surveyor of the Navy. Sir Baldwin Walker does not
profess to be a naval architect, and his business, it
appears, is not to originate but to approve of designs,
exercising his well-known abilities as an officer and
seaman in judging of the excellence of the lines laid
before him. _ _

The Phwton, 50, has had her bottom coppered, and
has been taken out of dock at Chatham. This frigate,
designed by White, at Cowes, having no oficial patron. it
J. said, 11113 been placed in crrdinary.
The Iris, 26, has been taken into dock at Chatham, to
have her defects made good and be fitted for commission.
The Daring, It, was taken to Chatham, from Sheer-
ness, on Saturday last, to be docked, to have her defects
suede good.

SHIPBUILDING AT BOMBAL—The last mail brought
news of the launch of the Meeanee, two decker, of SO
guns, at the Royal Dockyard of Bombay. The event
came off on the 11th ult., in the usual manner, in the
presence of the representatives of the home Govern-
ment, naval, military, and civil. Her keel was
laid in October, 1841. She was designed by the ex-
surveyor of the English navy (Captain Sir William
Symonds), and has been built of the choicest teak; her
model and general workmanship challenging comparison
with any that has issued from the most famous building
yards at home. Her dimensions are principally as
follow: Feet. Inch.

Length of the gun•deck 190 0
Length of keel for tonnage. ... 155 3
Extreme breadth ... 96 9
Breadth for tonnage . ... ... 56 0
Breadth moulded ... 56 3 •
Depth in hold .........3 4
Burden, about 2,600 tons.
She will be xavigated to England, to be, fitted for
service.
The squadron of exercise was lest night at anchor off
Portsmouth, detained by the weather. It was joined In
the morning by the Rifleman and Sharpshooter, screw
gun-boats.
Commander John H. Gennys (1845) will be the com-
mander of the Centaur, steam pendant ship, for the West
African command.
Commodore Sir Charles Hotham, K.C.8., in the Pene-
lope steam-ship, was at St. Helena on the 25th October.