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

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 strung 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 two 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. about an hour ater starting Raleigh carried
away her foretopsail yard, and was in consequence entirely
out of the race. During the hour, however, before the acci-
dent, she appeared to forereach on her two competitors, and
might have beaten therm At the expiration of four hours,
Vanguard beat Canopus 500 yards to windward. Vanguard
much stiffer than either of competitors. Raleigh the
most crank ; twenty tons of extra ballast would, perhaps,
remedy this defect.
" On the 2dth 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 cf
steaming. _At 10 A.M. the Retribution, Gladiator, and Aven-
ger started, full power, with a strong breeze six points on
port bow. In.two hours the Retribution gained on Gladia-
tor 1.4 miles; on Avenger three miles. At noon altered
course to wind on port beam, and tried until 4 P.M.—at each
successive step of expansion gear—during the whole of this
time the relative distances were perceived as near as possible
as during the trial from 10 to 12. At four, being about seven
or eight miles deao: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 join 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
ahead, beating her in the run about two miles, and Avenger
four miles.

" Gladiator and Avenger were each working up to 101 b.
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 bead-swell for
three hours, she beat Retribution as near as possible half a
mile an hour. Unquestionably she is a noble ship; but,
nevertheless, I am 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,
tiling 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_
glues of SOO horse power, over Gladiator's 450, the fo,rmer
certainly ought to have beat her double the distance, had
they both been fitted with similarly constructed bo:ders. At
one P.M. a signal was made to the Terrible tQ steam with
61b. pressure only. At first Retribution g:tined rapidly on
her, but as soon as this was perceive.',l 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 shovel*tul of coal, nr 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 wind falling light, Retri-
bution shook out first reefs. At 1.30 p. 31., Retribution being
about one mile ahead, tacked. At 3, having weathered on
her opponent about three-quarters of a mile, bore 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 11. Pigott in the usual form. The other ships of the
squadron continued to come in during the day, and the fleet,
when all aro anchored in Cove harbour, will consist of four
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 Cove
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 Evolution, 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 g;i4J
trial under steam took place between the latter-named yeast),
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 tkie
her failure ix 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 believedthaty Sir William
Parker in the Hibernia was on his way to take command of
the fleet, but he did nut 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 gainedi
honours, and won imperishable laurels, all speak of thils
judicious selection. We look forward, if these reports ares
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 (wa
wish it could be said well manned), proudly floating in the
unfathomable waters of the Atlantic, ready at the will of
some skilful commander to be guided as experience might
best dictate, for the nation's good.
June 11.—Weighed and proceeded out of Cove harbour,
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 mostof the ships is deservingof remark, all having
sent, unasked, more or less in the shape of fowls, fresh beef,
wine, &c. Indeed it was considered, that instead of being a
supply for the captain of the Fly and his officers, enough,
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,
14t1L—Standing to the south-west.
5 r.m.—Gladiator made her number. 8 P.m; Gladiator
and Scourge parted company.
15th,—Squadron 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. Vinc2nt.

16tb.—Hor MBjesty's ship Canopus joined the squaaron.
from Spithead, having on board supernumeraries for the
Hibernia, let. 48 deg, 40 min., long. 10 deg. 10 min.
18th.—Light variable airs. Exercised firing at targets.

19th.—Gladiator and Scourge rejoined.
2,oth. Light breezes; standing to the south-west
21st—Itetribution joined; 185 miles south-west of Scilly.
29d.—Modorate breeze from the north-west. Vanguard,
Canopus, and Raleigh tried rate of sailing on a wind under
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 d, to join.
She was observed to settle considerably to windward during
the last hour of the trial, though the former head-reached.
Raleigh, having split foretopsail, was done for this trial.
2341,----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 Raleigh
shifted topsails and reefed ; in doing which the Queen had a
man killed by falling from the mizen-top on the poop.
26th.—Squaktron formed in line of battle under topsails
and canvas, Took stations in two columns as before ;
sonadwn standing to the southward.
27th,—Standing to the northward and eastward.

-- '
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