The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-29 00:00:00

:aval and initicary intedigeuce.

Lady Franklin, accompanied by Miss Cracroft, Mrs.
and kiss S. M`lienzie, Sir R. Murchison, Mr. Majendie,
Capt. M'Clintock, R.N., and Mr. C. Grinnell, paid a
visit to the Resolute, in Portsmouth harbour, on Satur
day afternoon. They were received on the quarter-deck
by Capt. Hartstein, the officers, and crew, attended by
the United States' vice-consul at Portsmouth. The Re•
solute will be given over to the British Government to-
morrow, and Captain Hartstein, with his officers and
crew, will return to the United States in the American
steamer Washington, from Southampton, on Wednesday.
On Christmas-day the whole of the crew were regaled
with an excellent dinner of roast beef and plum-puddiLg
at the George Inn, at the expense of the British Go-
vernment.
The Trident, 6, steam vessel, Com. Close, arrived at
Spithead yesterday morning from Woolwich, with super-
numeraries ; she is expected to sail immediately for the
coast of Africa. Lieutenant Charles R. Robinson takes
passage in the Trident to join the Bloodhound as lieute-
nant commander of that ship.
The following officers have taken up their commissions,
and joined the Hawke, 60 gun-,, screw steamship, Capt.
James Wilcox, C. 8., &c., now being fitted at Sheerness
for Coastguard service on the coast of Ireland :—Robt.
Bernard, surgeon, M. 8., 21 December, 1345 ; the Rev.
G. E. Carwithen, chaplain ; J. T Obree, assistant-en
gineer ; J. Whalebone, carpenter, first class ; R. Moul-
ton, boatswain, first class ; W. Andrews, gunner, first
class ; First Lieutenant J. R. Lloyd, 8.M., Light In-
fantry.
The Hermes, 6 guns, paddlewheel steam sloop, Com-
mander Wm. E. A. Gordon, at Sheerness on Saturday
took up temporary moorings off the yard for the purpose
of having her compasses adjusted, after which she is to
proceed on a trial trip previous to taking her departure
for the Cape of Go,,d Elope.
Captain C. R. M. Calcott, commanding the depot of
the 26th Cameronians at Chatham Garrison, has been
ordered to emoark forth with for Bermuda, for the per
pose of joining the service companies of his regiment at
that station.
The battalions of the Rife Brigade having received
permission for the man belonging to that corps to
volunteer into any of the regiments of the line which
are below their proper establishment, 25 men have
volunteered for the 26th Cameronians and the 35th Royal
Sussex Regiment at Chatham Garrison.
The Renown, 91, screw steamer, building at Chatham
dockyard, has a large number of shipwrights and caulkers
employed on her in order to have her completed. This
is the largest vessel ever constructed at Chatham, her
burden being 3,317 tons.
The progress of the works on board the old line-of-
battle ship Caledonia, intended to replace the Seamen's
Hospital, Dreadnought, having been considered
sufficiently forward to admit of her being hauled
out of dock, preparations for that purpose were on
Saturday made at Woolwich, and a number of per-
sons assembled in hopes of witnessing the launch,
although it was known to be very doubtful of success on
that day by reason of the lowness of the tide. As the
rising of the river gradually filled the dock, the vessel,
resting on the blocks, was at one time observed to give
indications of being afloat. The 18 feet water mark be-
came immersed, and, considering that to be about the
mea-nrement of her draught of water, expectations of
success for a short period ran high. Mr. Mugford, the
officer in charge of the undertaking, however, perceived
fr un the poop of the Caledonia that the ebb was about to
set in, and great was the disappointment of the specta-
tors to witness the ropes of the caisson thro NT. across the
mouth of the dock, and the entrance about to be closed.
The ceremony was then ordered to be deferred until to-
morrow, when the lanneh of the newly constructed 20-
gan screw corvette Scout is also ordered to take place, and
to succeed the Caledonia in dock. The new seamen's hoe
pital will be moored in the river off Woolwich Dockyard,
where the internal fittings will be completed. Nothing
has been spared to render the vessel perfect by carrying
out a number of improvements suggested, so as to
remedy the inconveniences suffered on board the old
vessel. The Caledonia is much more ro my than the
Dreadnought. Her principal dimensions are --length of
the gun-deck 205 ft ; length of the keel for tonnage,
170 ft. 9ti. ; extreme breadth, 53ft. Sin. ; depth in hold,
233. 2in. ; burden in tons, 2,616. She was built in
Plymouth in 1808. The admission and free circulation
of a healthful atmosphere had been studied with consi-
derable care, for which end a large portion of each deck
amidships has been left open, and from the lower deck
upwards open hatches, guarded by iron rails have been
established. At the rein of the ship are likewise im-
proved galleries connected with the respective decks and
easily accessible, adapted for the convenience of rerso•
ing the patients, when necessary, into the open air. The
weather-deck is fitted with a number of lantern lights, 6
feet high, and from its spacious accommodation will form
an admirable promenade for invalids. The forecastle is
intended to be arranged as cabins f r the petty officers
of the ship and their families. Tue poop will be occu-
pied by the superintendent or captain solely. The
maindeck is appointed to be laid out in the following
manner :—The whole of the after part is to be adapted
as a dint ig room and general quarters for the principal
medical officer, surgeon, assistant surgeon, and chaplain.
The starboard side is appointed to be separated by a
gothic screen of old oak wood, and to be converted into
an elegant chapel, capable of containing i 0 persons. The
pulpit and seats are being constructed of some oak tim-
bers which it was found necessary to remove from the
ship The larboard of this deck is intended to be bung
with 50 or 60 hammocks for the accommodation of con-
valescents removed fr-ma the sick wards, while the fore
part of the same deck is to serve as quartermaster's
cabins, female nurses' diming room, carp.-nt-r's work-
ah p, dispensary, noatswain's storeroom, &c. On the aft
starboard side of the middle deck, in close pr,xi.eity
With an open gallery, will be a commodious room
for surgical operat.ons. The larh.,ard aft will contain a
dispensary Time other portion of this deck will afford
a 'Pece f, .t. the reception of cases of accidents a-id cabins
for the horses. The lower gun deck will contain
aw-eurn• quarters for fever patients, and cabins
for the ho,pital attendants. A portion of the orlop deck
I is to be aepr,priated as a deadhouse, to be fitted with a
slate table. fir the purpose of examinattons. This deck
will contain lavati,ries and hair cutting rooms. Two
pumps will be fitted in this deck, with an engine hose,
in case of fire, and Will serve also for washing decks and
various other uses- There will be likewise a number of
nurses' cabins. One of the ports has been enlarged four
feet
square, so as o admit patients in cases of emergency.
The vari u- comitar!nents of the ship will be heated
from this deck by boilers intended to supply pipes to be
laid on each deck wan not air There are also to be
added to this deck six tanks for containing a good sup-
ply of fresh water, and stores for housing upwards of
100 tons of coals and coke. A shield, surrounded with
white fo iage, touched with gold, and emblazoned with
the Royal coat of arms, and surmounted by the British
lion, seven feet in length, and four feet high, stands in
bold relief over the forepart of the ship's bul-
warks. Rear-Admiral Thwles, chairman of the
committee of management of the institution, in his
numerous official visits to the 'Caledonia, expressed his
approl'ation on more than one occasiet! to Mr. Rice,
the Government superintending shipwright, and to his
a sis ant, Mr. Peaks, of the intelligence
and ingenuity
displayed in tie distribution and arrangements of tl.
vessel. "e

Her Majcsty's paddle.whael steam sloop aavius,