The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-12 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE BELLEROPHON, 78, AND CALCUTTA, 84,
OUR NAVAL SUPREMACY.

With feelings of national pride and exultation we record
one of the most brilliant and splendid feats of active seaman-
' ship, performed at Portsmouth by the crew of her. -Majesty's
ship Rodney, 92, Captain Edward Collict; C.B. The fact of
itself speaks volumes, and provee tliat treat Britain is still
" the undisputed mistrtst of the seas."
At noon yesterday, the Bellerophon, 78, was anchored at
Spithead, all ready for sea, completely rigged, royal yards
across, sails all bent, three months' provisions on boards guns
all in, and fitted for service. In fact. she Was in a fit con-
dition to go into immediate action with an enemy, powder
only being required, and that the harbour regulations pre-
vented her from taking in.
The esprit, the enthusiasm, the alacrity with which every
person belonging to the Rodney has displayed, from the
captain downwards, have been a source of gratification to
every person who has witnessed it. The many nautical
people of Portsmouth have been completely astonished.
Saturday was the first day named for her being completed ;
then, when it was observed that the gallant crew were
getting on rapidly, Thursday was fixed as the day for her
going to Spithead; but not a single individual expected she
could be got ready and go there by noon on Wednesday;
however, there the was, and we have no doubt this splendid
exhibition ',")i seafaring activity will find a place in our navalhistor"
Wejyesterday gave a precis of the work done on Monday
and on the morning of Tuesday. On that afternoon she
completed painting, received more guns, provisions, rum,
bread, and a variety of other stores, got part of her spare

' spars in and partly stowed away, got jib-boom out, sprit;ail-
yard across, and, the last thing, bent topsails and courses.
At 7, r.m., part of the people had leave on shore for the
night. On. Wednesday morning, at 4, A.M., began work—
got up topgallant and royal yards, with sails bent, bent
head sails and driver, got remainder of lower-deck guns on
board, stowed the booms, got a portion of the boats in, re-
ceived breeching and gun-tackle gear. At 11, A.M., cast
off warp, and, in tow of the Echo steam-tug, proceeded to
Spithead.
So pleased were the crews of the ships in harbour with the
energetic conduct of the Rodney ship's company, that, as
the Bellerophon passed, the St. Vincent, 120, flag-ship, and
Victory, 104, guard-ship, turned up all hands, and loudly
cheered that ship as she proceeded out of harbour. The
same compliment was also paid them by the Carysfort, 26,
and the war steamers, when the Bellerophon anchored at
Spithead.
When at the harbour's mouth the Bellerophon saluted the
flag of the Commander •in- Chief, Admiral Sir Charles Ogle,
which the St. Vincent returned.

It is only just to Captain Collier, to Commander Clarke,
and to Mr. M'Donald, the master, to observe that no three
officers in her Majesty's service could have done this work
in better style than they have. The whole crew, seamen
and marines, were most admirably stationed, whereby con-
fusion and waste of time were avoided ; every person had
his work pointed out, and the different gangs did not inter-
fere with each other. A lighter, with 400 bags of bread,
was cleared, and the bread stowed away in something over
an hour. The guns were got on board in an admirable
manner ; but it is impossible to particularise the number
of instances of excessive activity where all worked so well.
On Monday morning, at four A.M., the Bellero phon was
alongside the jetty, with only her bare masts and bowsprit
in ; no tops nor caps over, and in fifty-six hours she was at
Spithead, all ready for sea, or for going into action with an
enemy.
This fitting-out of the Bellerophon has excited the most
lively interest amongst the nautical and other persons re-
siding in this neighbourhood. The jetty has been thronged
with gentlemen, and some few ladies. The two gallant
Admirals, Lord Yarborough, the commander of the Royal
Yacht Squadron, and many members of the Yacht Club,
have been among the spectators.
At three P.m., the steam-yacht tender, Fairy, Com-
mander Crispin, with the standard flying, was seen ap-
proaching Spithead from Osborne. But the Rodney's people
in the Bellerophon were not to be caught napping, they had
their lifelines on the yards, and as the royal yacht came near
them, she manned yards, saluted with twenty-one guns, and
cheered the royal party on board the yacht. The Carysfort
also manned yards and saluted. After cruising round the"
Bellerophon, the Carysfort, and Retribution at Spithead for
half an hour, the Fairy again shaped her course homeward.
The day was remarkably fine.
The Bellerophon will be under charge of Mr. J. M'Donald
for the present. She is expected to be commissioned imme-
diately.
We have little doubt that the Calcutta, 84, is in the same
state as the Bellerophon, as she was in the same effectivecondi-

. .
tion in Plymouth Sound at the same time that the latter was at.
Spithead. On Monday night she had her topmast rigging
set up, and her lower yards across, and at the time of the
post leaving on Tuesday the topgallantmasts were up, rig-
ging was set up and the men rattling it; the topmast yards
were across, jib-boom was out, the guns were being taking
in, provisions were got on board, and everything was pro-
gressing in prime style.