The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-28 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE EXPERIMENTAL SQUADRON OF 1845.
PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAT.—The long-looked for report
of Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker (accompanied by reports from
the captains of the respective ships), upon the performances of
the various ships under his command, comprising the expe-
mental squadron of 1845, has at length been printed and
published. The surprise and discomfiture of the detractors
of the Surveyor of the Navy must necessarily be great on
perusing this report, inasmuch as it establishes the complete
success of his ships.
Placing that faith in the document before us which as a
Parliamentary return it is entitled to, we find Admiral Parker's
report agrees with all.the succeeding ones in awarding the
palm to the Surveyor's ships. Knowing as we do the anti-
pathy Rear-Admiral Parker was supposed to entertain for the
productions of Sir William Symonds, we are not surprised at
the report being unaccompanied by any " opinion" from the
gallant Commander-in-Chief; but we regret the circum-
stance, as it compels us to take the report merely as we find
it ; consequently we can only give the result of the trials of
sailing or speed without reference to the other essential qua-
lities of a ship as an efficient man-of-war; but as all the
trials were copiously reported in the very figures
used in the return, and some nine months before the returns
appeared, we shall only now touch upon that part of the do.
cument before us having reference to the trials which took
place under the superintendence of Rear-Admiral Parker, the
report of which has been hitherto withheld. In a word, then,
the Queen is declared to have been the best of the three-
deckers, and the Albion and Canopus the best of the two-
deckers, in the sixteen trials which took place under Rear-
Admiral Parker's command.

We subjoin a selection from the reports of the respective
captains of the ships upon their qualifications :
The Trafalgar, 120, Captain Martin.—" She carries her
lower deck ports longer open than any other ship in the
squairon, except the Rodney, and her rolling and pitching
being less than theirs, her capability of effectively using all
her batteries is proportionally increased. Being extremely
weatherly, having great power of using her lower deck
guns, being very easy, and consequently having little wear
and tear, good stowage, and ample room on her decks, are
the Trafalgar's good points. I believe her defects would be
corrected in a very great degree if her masts were placed
further aft."
The St. Vincent, 120, Captain Rowley.—" The St. Vin-
cent is decidedly a leeward ship in comparison with the rest
of the squadron. She rolls deep, but easily, and does not
jerk ...train anything. I should say she rolled during the
late trial quite equal to the Albion and Canopus. In very
light air before the wind, the St. Vincent would run away
from the whole squadron—except the Queen. My opinion
of the Trafalgar is, that she is a very weatherly
ship, and particularly in bad weather, but tke other ships all
fore-reached her. The Queen always appeared to me to be
a remarkably fine man-of-war on all points. In all mode-
rate weather, whether on a wind, going free, or before the
wind, she has no competitor, the Albion being the next
ship to her. With the Queen, Albion, Rodney, and
Canopus, the St. Vincent had no chance. In strong breezes
and a heavy head sea the Queen also proved herself a very
fine ship, standing up remarkably well under a heavy press
of sail, and appearing to pitch easily. The Queen is cer-
tainly much stiffer under a press of sail than the Trafalgar
or any of the squadron, the Albion excepted. The Albion's
superiority over the other two-decked ships, and particu-
larly the Rodney, a ship of her own class, consists chiefly in
her being much stiffer under a heavy press of sail. In strong
breezes on a wind, I did not perceive much difference be-
tween them, except on one occasion, when the sea was
right ahead, the Rodney beat the whole squadron and ap-
peared much easier than the Albion. In moderate weather
and smooth water the Albion is the fastest ship, and off the
wind will always beat the Rodney. Before the wind and in
a heavy swell the Rodney would fight her lower-deck guns
better, and with more safety, than the Albion. The Van-
guard Was certainly very much improved from what she was
during the preceding crime, and, considering how very light
she was, surprisingly stiff under a press of canvass. I could
not perceive much difference between her and Canopus on a
wind, but off the wind Canopus was certainly the fastest ship
although she appeared much more crank under a press of
canvass, than the other ships, heeling more with two reefs in
her topsails than the Queen and Vanguard with one. She
is not so weatherly as either the Albion or Rodney, but fore•
reaches considerably. Under easy sail I should say she was
steadier than any of the other two-decked ships. have
only to add that I have come to this conclasion upon the
relative merits of the several ships after the most careful and
attentive retching during the late cruise."
The Queen, 110, Captain Sir B. Walker.—" I consider the
Queen to be a most magnificent man-of-war, in every respect
superior to the St. Vincent or Trafalgar, or any ship I ever
served in ; she is fast, and had on the whole a decided ad-
vantage in sailing over every other ship of the squadron.
She is very stiff, very weatherly, rolls and pitches very easily
and without straining ; she steers and works remarkably
well ; her spacious decks are well adapted for working the
guns, as well as for the comfort and health of the officers
and crew. She can stow under hatches seven months' pro-
visions of all species for her war complement, and would, if
the hold was properly stowed, carry at least 550 tuns of
water, and, in my humble opinion, she is the finest ship in
the world."
The Albion, 90, Captain Lockyer.—" I beg leave to state
that the Albion's behaviour during the late trial cruise
proved herself to be a good seaboat during the heavy gales ;
when under a close-reefed maintepsail, foretopsail, and
maintrysail, her motion was remarkably easy in the heavy
sea that • was then running, and I am fully persuaded ne
ship could behave better. In comparison with other shpt
which were all near us at times, I consider her behaviour
equally as good as any of them, and they all appeared to roll
equally as deep, though I think she rolls rather quicker
than the St. Vincent, Queen, Trafalgar, or Rodney ; this
perhaps is owing to the want of ballast. Her pitching
motion is remarkably easy, and apparently less than other
ships. With respect to the other ships of the squadron, I
consider the Queen to be by far superior of her class, on all
points, either in fine or bad weather. The Trafalgar is
rather a more weatherly ship in bad weather; but no sailer,
either on or off the wind. The Canopus is equally as quick
in her motion as the Albion in a sea-way; she is also crank,
as is the Rodney, which is a great advantage the Albion
possesses over every ship in the squadron."
The Canopus, 84, Captain Moresby—" In keeping station
in order of sailing under easy or moderate sail, the Canopus
had much the superiority. In reference to the whole squa-
dron combined, the St. Vincent, in blowing weather or in
strong breezes, showed a great leeward propensity ; the
Queen, as compared with the last cruise, fell into a doubtful
comparison with Rodney, Albion, and Canopus. The Tra-
falgar maintained her extraordinary weatherly qualities,
with want of speed. The Albion, I thought, did not do as
well as the first cruise. The stability of the Queen, Albion,
and Vanguard, as compared with the St. Vincent, Canopus,
Rodney, and Trafalgar, was very apparent. In chasing by
the wind in such weather as we encountered during the late
cruise, my opinion is that an admiral, having his flag on
board the Queen, would have found Rodney his leading ship,
Canopus next, then Albion, Vanguard, and St. Vincent,
Trafalgar hanging to windward, and picked up on crossing
tacks."

The Rodney, 92, Captain Collier.—" In the trials by the
wind during the last cruise, all of which were in good
breezes, always with a considerable swell, and sometimes
against a head sea, the Rodney had the advantage of the
whole squadron on the 3d, with the Queen,Albion, Trafalgar,
and Vanguard, against a head sea ; the Rodney weathered
considerably on the Queen and Vanguard, and also on Albion
and Trafalgar, but not so much. On the 6th a gale from the
north-west came on about sunset, and under a close-reefed
maintopsail, fore-staysail, and maintrysail, the Rodney in
twelve hours weathered fifteen ,or sixteen miles on St. Vin-
cent and Vanguard, and considerably on all the rest of the
squadron, but less than any on the Trafalgar. The Canopus,
from her place in the line, has generally been nearest us.
I consider her, tinder the weather spoken, the next best
ship to the Rodney; the Trafalgar, although weatherly, is
not so much so as the Rodney, and slower. I consider the
Queen the fastest ship both by and off the wind in fine
weather:"
The Vanguard, 80, Captain Willes.—" Queen, perfect in
all points. Albion, the same, except she appears to
have a quick rolling motion in a moderate swell, and to
roll deep in heavy weather and before the wind. Rodney,
a fine bold man-of-war ; carries her ports well, even
with a large quantity of provisions and water on board.
Sails well, is generally weatherly, stands well up
to her
canvass, and is remarkable for her easy motion in a head sea,
but is slow in stays. The Canopus,fast when it does not over-
blow, is apparently not so stiff under canvass as other ships
of the squadron ; does not stay well in a heavy sea, but still
a fine man-of-war. Trafalgar, stiff and weatherly, but by no
means fast ; requires a strong wind to make herkeepinuc,.
com-
pany well with the other ships, and appears to pitch much.
The St. Vincent sails well in light winds and smoot x water,
i le e wasx;d.. The vat
ly and crank when
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lower deck guns a good height out of the water; stows well,
considering her magazine occupies the principal part of the
main hold; is best calculated for heavy weight, and which is
required lower down. I consider her superior and faster than
any ship in the experimental squadron. She sails better the
last cruise than the first in
and
consequence
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of of raking the main
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part of the hold. I feel confident that,
if properly stowed
and ballasted, in sailing and working
not superior, to any ship of the squadron."
The Superb, 80, Captain Corry.—" In the trials which
have taken place. ' off the wind,' the Superb, on each occa-
sion, beat all the squadron," &c.
The Bat, victualling-buoy, and Rocket, steamer, were un-
docked to-day, and the Cambrian, 36, docked for repairs.
The pendant was hoisted to-day on board the Eurydice,
26, Captain G. Elliot, arrived here on Monday.
Rear-Admiral Superintendent A. Parker, C. 13 , went on
Admiralty leave yesterday for three weeks. His flag was
struck on board the Victory at sunset. The dockyard duties
will be carried on during his absence by Mr. W. Purdo, the
Master-Attendant, and those of the Ordinary by Captain J.
Pascoe, of the Victory.}
The Echo, steam-tug, embarked to-day on board the
Florentine, freight-ship, at Cowes, four officers and 184 men
belonging to the 14th, 23d, 71st, and 81st Regiments, from
Parkhurst-barracks, Isle of Wight, for Quebec.
The Cornwall, freight-ship, to embark detachments of the
45th Regiment for the Cape of Good Hope, and of the 12th
Regiment for the Mauritius, arrived at Spithead to-day.
The Camel, lighter, with stores from Plymouth, arrived
yesterday.
The Grecian, 16, Commander Montgomery, sailed from
Rio for Bahia on the 17th of March.— Times.

ARRIVAL OF THE ORIENTAL.--SoIITHAMPTON, MAY
28.—Arrived at the Motherbank at nine last evening, the
Oriental, Captain Joy, with the Indian mail. Her dates are
—Malta, Mey 14 ; and Gibraltar, May 20; with about 170
passengers. She passed on the 22d, off Lisbon, four ships of
war, supposed to be the Russian squadron. On the 24th she
passed the packet-ship Madrid, running for Corunna. The
Oriental would have arrived here on Monday last, but for a
head-wind, which has been dead against her for the last
three days. Her mails have just been landed at the South-
ampton bock, and will be in London to-morrow morning.
The Madrid is expected here to-morrow night.
EPSOM RACES.—We believe that the plates and stakes
run for this season exceed those of any former occasion. In addition
to the sum of 3001. given by the lessee of the Grand Stand, Mr. Dor-
ling (the clerk of the course), John Ivatt Briscoe, Esq., late M.P. for
East Surrey, the lord of Epsom manor, has appropriated three-
fourths of the rents of the booths, &c., being in amount nearly
500/, to be run for at the various races during the present meeting,
and which has been his usual practice for many years.
PIGEON EXPRESS. WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY.—Ina.
mediately after the race for the Derby, this afternoon, a carrier
Pigeon, belonging to Mr. Oxley, the proprietor of the Windsor Ex-
press was tossed on Epsom Downs, with the names of the three
horses attached in the usual way. Within less than thirty minutes
afterwards afterwards the bird alighted en Mr. Oxley's pi h
The
distance from Windsor to Epsom is very nearly qty
eer9ll the 511"79 •.“.45) straight
• -