The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-23 00:00:00

MILITIA.

In our notice of the militia regiments which marched
before her Majesty at Aldershott Camp on Saturday,
no mention was made of the Hereford and Cavan
Regiments. Those regiments should have been in-
cluded in the account as they performed the same part
as the others.

LAUNCII OF THE THUNDERBOLT FLOAT-
ING BATTERY.

Yesterday a numerous company assembled at Mill-
wall, Poplar, on the occasion of the launching of her
Majesty's iron floating battery Thunderbolt, built by
Messrs. Samuda, Brothers, of Millwall. The Thunder-
bolt (which was originally intended for an attack on
Cronstadi) is 136 feet long, 48j feet broad, and 18 feet
in depth; whilst its burthen is 1,954 tone. The vessel is
propelled by a screw worked by engines of 200-horse
power, and is pierced for 30 guns, though the intention
was to arm her with 16 guns of 68 pounds calibre, and
each weighing 95 hundredweight. Her draught of water
is calculated at 7 feet 2 in. aft, and 5 feet 6 in. forward,
whilst her sides would present only a depth of 4 feet 6 in.
out of water with all her armaments on board. Her keel
is framed liked that of an ordinary iron ship, and the
framework is entirely of iron, the top rides, for twelve
feet downwards, being covered with teak planks six
inches in thickness. Over these are bolted iron armour
plates four inches thick, and weighing from two to three
tons each. These plates are laid over the whole surface
above water ; and it is stated that a shot or shell fired at
her sides at a distance of 400 yards would produce no
effect wbatever. The vessel is what is called flat-bottomed,
her sides projecting towards the keel, and the beams
which form the upperor weather deck being fitted so close
to each other as to preserve the general characteristic of
strength, The beams of the lower or fighting deck are
also very strong, being fitted close to each other, and
planked with teak. On this deck are the officers' cabins,
whilst underneath are the magazine., store rooms, dis-
pensary, &c. One of the most interesting facts in connec-
tion with this battery is the brief period occupied in its
construed r It was commenead on the Bth Jan, last,
and on the 16th inst. the vessel was ready for launching.
The rapidity with which operations of such extraor-
dinary magnitude were carried on is accounted for by
the fact that the men in Mr. Samuda's employ went
about their work with a spirit and energy which evinced
a personal interest in the duty they were discharging ;
and it often happened that many of them laboured for
three consecutive days and nights " without (to make
use of Mr. Samuda's own words) taking their clothes
off." He had never, he said, seen a body of men so ar-
dently devoted to an enterprise as they were. We have
only to add that the engines by which this vessel is to
be worked were constructed by Messrs. Miller and Ra.
venhill, and that the building operations have been
greatly facilitated by the assistance of the under sur-
veyor to the Admiralty, Mr. Watts, whose daughter
performed the duty of "christening" of the vessel.
Amongst those present on the occasion were Earl Grey'
Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Rose, Mr. Watts, Mr. Raven
hill, and a select party of ladies and gentlemen whom
Mr. Samuda had specially invited to witness the cere-
mony, and who afterwards assembled at an elegant ban-
quet prepared at the Brunswick Tavern, Blackwall.

THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS LIVERPOOL, Tuesday._
The White Star royal mail ship Mindoro, Capt. Dover,
sailed this afternoon for Melbourne, with the usual bi-
monthly mails, about 300 passengers, and a full cargo of
merchandise on freight.