The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-29 00:00:00

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satisfied with the successful result of his labours as
applied to this and other iron vessels, and ordered him
to apply his discovery to the caissons and other iron
receptacles connected with the dockyard. From the
Undine their Lordship; proceeded on board the Ajax
steam- block ship, fitting in the adjoining dock
for service, thence to the Rocket iron tug,
which has also exhibited the success of Mr.
Hay's application, which was done last June,
between wind and water; thence on board. the
newly-completed 50-gun frigate Leander, built on
the design of Mr. Blake, late master shipwright of
this establishment. Here their Lordships remained
some length of time, makiag a most careful inspec-
tion, and asking numerous questions of Mr. Fin-
chain, which lead us to hope that she will not be
thrust into the ordinary to rot neglected. The
skeleton of the Princess Royal, 90, formerly in frame
on the design of Sir William Symonds, but pulled to
pieces, and now rebuilding on the recommendation of
plans furnished by the Committee of Reference on
Shipbuilding, at an officially estimated cost of 8,0001.
for the alteration (but which, it is said, will cost at
least 20,0001. snore), was next inspected. Next the
Plumper screw-brig, building on the design of Mr. ,
Fincham, and being armed on the plan of Lieutenant
Julius Roberts, R.M.A., -was visited, with the expe-
ditious building of which their Lordships expressed
both surprise and admiration, as she has been con-
structed since the last official visit of their
Lordships. The Arrogant screw-frigate, of 46
guns, and three hundred horse (auxiliary)
power, by Fincham, was also boarded. The Board
then made a perambulation of the new docks and
slips, and being joined by Colonel Irvine, C.B ,
the director of engineering and architectural works,
and Captain James, R.E., director of works in this
dockyard, proceeded to a particular inspection of the
new steam basin, docks, and factories. On their
arrival at the entrance of these works, Mr. P. Rat,
the contractor, specially attended, and had the
honour of receiving their Lordships. Lord Auck-
land soon perceived the very great progress which
had been made since his last visit, and was pleased to
express to Mr. Rolt the great satisfaction he felt.
His Lordship proceeded cross the pier-head and
lover the north entrance to the west factory, in pass-
ing through which magnificent building his Lordship
expressed much pleasure, and thence examining the
Camber double dock, by which striking feature of
the works his Lordship's attention was particularly
arrested. From this the Noble Earl and his colleagues
passed en until they got an entire view of the steam-
basin, with the factory in front running a length of
700 feet. At this point his Lordship appeared par-
ticularly struck with the imposing appearance of the
whole. On leaving this part of the works the Noble
Earl gave a most ready and hearty assent to the Chief
Secretary's remark that " it is the most business- like
affair he had ever seen." At Mr. Rolt's particular
request the First Lord and his colleagues proceeded
to view the two north inlets and coffer-dam for the
extension sea-wall up the lake to the battery. Not-
withstanding the extremely cold and snowy weather,
their Lordships' interest in the works was so great
that they pursued their inquiries without any regard
for their personal comfort. On the party quitting
the works, Mr. Rolt assured their Lordships he should
be quite ready to open the basin whenever it pleased
them to direct him to do so. The stupendous work,
therefore, is complete. It would be well if every
member of the Legislature, ere he took his seat at the
re-opening of Parliament, were to visit .this great
national undertaking, so as to make himself practically
cognizant not only of its immense importance as a
grand receptacle for our war steamers, but also as to
the judicious expenditure of the money he votes from
the country's resources. These steam adjuncts to our
chief ports form the most useful and indispensable ap-
pliances to "the national defence."
The Lords of the Admiralty then inspected the
Fairy Royal yacht in dock, the new battalion ar-
moury, the Prince Regent, 90, Captain Martin, fitting
alongside the jetty, and other important objects, with
all of which they appeared perfectly satisfied, and
left the yard a little before 4 o'clock, Lord Auckland
and Mr. Ward for Alverstcke, to dine with the Hon.
Mr. Bingham Baring, and the other members for the
George hotel, to an early dinner, after which they
left for town by the 5 30 train of the South-Western
Railway.
The Powerful, 84, and the Illustrious, 72, the or-
dinary and depot ships for this port will not be com-
missioned until the Ist of February, in order that no
trouble may be occasioned by this month being par-
tially taken into the work, which would derange the
hooks, &c.
It is rumoured that the Prince Regent " model
ship" is to be paid off, as men do not come forward
speedily enough for her to hold out any hope of her
being ready by the time her services are likely to be
wanted. Out of the whole of the Albion's crew we
are informed not one man would volunteeer for the
Prince Regent.
The Neptune, 120, was unmasted to-day, her lower
masts being intended for the Powerful, 84, as being
the oldest masts among the advanced ships.
The Seaflower cutter, Lieut. Henry Warren, ar-
rived from Jersey to-day for supplies.
The Meander, 44, Captain the Hon. H. Keppel,
was paid advance to-day.
In Harbour—The Victory, the Excellent, the Vic-
toria and Albert, the Blenheim, the Prince Regent, and
the Seafiower cutter; the Firefly, the Fire Queen,
and the Echo steamers.
In Dock—The Ajax, the Leander, the Sappho, the
Orestes, the Fairy, and the Undine.
In the Basin—The Britannia, the Retribution, the
Kite, the Swallow, and the Rocket.
At Spithead—The Meander and the Stromboli.
Wind E.N.E., fresh breezes and thick weather,
with continuous snow. Five P.m.
The Nautilus is ordered to the entrance of the
Channel, for the assistance of homeward-bound ships.
NATAL APPOINTMENTS, JAN. 28.
To the Blenheim—Horatio I'. Austen, C. 8., Cap-
tain ; James A. Stevens, Commander ; John Colwell,
Purser; William T. James, ditto. To the Excellent
—T. D. Read, Second Master; William Perryman,
Gunner (confirmed); George Green, Gunner of the
Excellent, advanced to first class. To the Ilavannah
Philip. Goring, Second Master. To the Ocean—W.
F. Short, Master's Assistant. To the Powerful—T.
M. M. Wynyard, Midshipman. To the Prince
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sistant. To the Urgent—Ralph King, second class
Engineer. To the Vindictive—John Fitzpatrick,
Clerk's Assistant. To the Wellesley—John Hayward,
Clerk.
WooLwlcll, JAN. 28.—The Triton steam-vessel
has arrived at Woolwich from Portsmouth, and will be
fitted at this port with the engines and boilers of the
Rifleman steam-vessel.
The Niger steam-vessel, fitting with a screw pro-
peller, is in the west dock, and the workmen are em-
ployed from an early hour in the morning until seven
o'clock in the evening upon her to get her ready for
service; she is to be completed in about six weeks.
She is expected, on being commissioned, to proceed
to Portsmouth, as one of the armed steamers to he
stationed at that port.
The Lightning steam-vessel, Master-Commander
Petley, was tried down the river yesterday, after
being repaired, and found to be in excellent order.
The hired barque Elisabeth and Hannah dropped
down the river yesterday from Deptford to moorings
off the Royal Arsenal, and will take on board female
convicts for conveyance to Hobart Town.
Captain Dawes, Lieutenants Rider and Gray, 3
sergeants, 3 corporals, 2 drummers, and SO privates
of the Woolwich division, joined at head-quarters
here yesterday, from serving in the Albion, recently
paid off at Portsmouth after four years' service on
the Lisbon station. The men are to be paid arrears
to-day at the Pay-oirice in the Woolwich dockyard,
and the marines of the Hecla steam-vessel will be paid
at the same time.
CHATHAM, JAN. 28.—The Triton steam-vessel left
this port on Thursday afternoon, the 27th, for Wool-
wich, to have seine experiments tried on her machi-
nery-. She was put out of dock on the 223, and the
Banshee was taken in the same day. She is to be
ready for sea next month.
The Blossom hospital-ship, at Standgate Creek,
being unfit for further service, was brought up to
Chatham on the 24th instant. It is yet uncertain
whether this vessel will be broken up or sold.
The Hercules store-ship, Master and Commander
Fulton, will go out of dock next week. She has taken
on board during the week 500 tons of coals, and ts
now
receiving large quantities of stores for convey-
ance to the East Indies.
The Vivid steam packet will be launched from this
yard on the 7th of next month.