The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-25 00:00:00

->~.._.

THE CH.4.NNEL FLEET A T

MILFORD HAVEN, FRIDAY.
This magnificent harbour, which for many months
past has been all but deserted, is now a scene of
intense activity and animation, owing to the
arrival of the Channel Fleet. The capacities of
Milford Haven to shelter even the whole of the
royal navy, if occasion required, have long been
known and admitted, but by some unaccountable
mismanagement no attempts have been made to
apply it to the perposes for which it is so
admirably adapted. The arrival of the Channel
Fleet, and the Great Eastern, which is expected
here, on Sunday, will, it i lmope 1, tend to
direct some increased share of public attention
to the noble Haven. Between nine and ten
o'clock on Friday, the leading ship of the squadron
was signalled from St. Anne's point, and shortly
after the whole of this splendid fleet of 11 line-ot-
battle ships entered the harbour with the most per-
fect ease. The ships in the squadron are—The
Royal Albert, 121 guns, carrying thk flag—blue at
the fore—of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Fremantle.
Captain of the Fleet, Rear-Admiral Elliott; Captain
of the Royal Albert, Captain H. E, Lacon ; the
Aboukir, 90 guns, Captain Douglas Curry ; the
Centurion, 80 guns, Captain Henry Downey Rogers;
the Conqueror, 101 guns, Captain Edward Southby;
the Edgar, 91 guns, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral
Erskine; the Trafalgar, 90 guns, Captain Edward
Fanshawe ; the Algiers, 91 guns, Captain G. O'Cal-
laghan ; the Mersey, 40 guns, Captain H. Caldwell;
Mars, 80 guns, Captain Strange ; the Diadem, 32
guns, Capt. Cockburn ; the Donegal, 101 guns, Capt.
Broadhead; the Geyser,6 guns, Commander G. Jack-
son. During the previous night the wind had been
blowing great guns from nearly south-west, and
it
was confidently affirmed by many who were thought
to be competent authorities, that the fleet would
not venture out in a half-gale. They forgot that
this is the same fleet which so gallantly weathered
the terrible hurricane of October last; and all
scepticism was destroyed by seeing the squadron
enter the haven in a half-gale ; another proof—if
another proof is wanting—of the unequalled safety
and value of our unrivalled harbour. When .the
fleet came to anchor off Milford, between eleven
and twelve o'clock, it was dead low water—and
dead low water, too, of the highest spring—and
yet eleven line-of-battle ships found ample space
and room enough to moor in safety, while scores
of smaller craft were dotting the haven on every
side of them. And not only found ample room
enough, but actually seemed to occupy but
a very small space in the spacious waters of this
noble harbour. The whole of Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday the gale continued with unabated
fury, and communication with the shore was
matter of some difficulty. The ships are anchored
at a respectful distance from the dockyard at Pem-
broke, as it is not permitted for men-of-war with
their powder on board to approach within a certain
distance. The provision contractors are, as might
be expected, unusually busy, and a score of beasts
or more are daily slaughtered for the services of the
crews. Intense interest was shown on the an-
nouncement of the approach of the squadron in the
towns of Milford and Hakin. It was 10 o'clock
when the headmost vessel appeared, which was the
Royal Albert, with the flag of Admiral Fremantle.
Another and another quickly followed in the Ad-
miral's wake, until at length eleven gallant ships
were seen bravely steaming up the waters of the
noble Haven. As they neared Milford it was dis-
tinctly seen, without the aid of glasses, that the
three-decker in the van bore the flag of Vice-Admiral
Fremantle, and that the fifth ship in the line dis-
played a Rear-Admiral's flag at the mizen. About
11 o'clock the Royal Albert having arrived just off
the Milford Pier, came to moorings, and was fol-
lowed in rapid succession by nine of the fleet, and
all anchored in close order of battle. The eleventh
and last ship in the line—the Donegal—was sig-
nalled to by the Admiral, and instead of anchor-
ing below the Point, she steamed up the
Haven, passing all the other ships until, hav-
ing rounded the stern of the Royal Albert,
she came to an anchor just off the pier. Im-
mediately on the Admiral anchoring he honoured
the town of Milford with a salute of 7 guns. The
whole of the ships are open to the inspection of
visitors daily from 12 o'clock to 4, and the officers
and men in chate show every consideration and
courtesy to those who avail themselves of the pri-
vilege. It is not yet decided how long the fleet
will remain at Milford, but rumour affirms that
the ships will not leave until late in the next week.
The officers have been invited to a ball this evening
at Pembroke, and it is expected to be a magni-
ficent affair.
The arrangements for the reception of the Great
Eastern are all completed, and it is expected that
many thousands of persons will visit Milford at a
time when they will have an opportunity of seeing
this noble fleet of men-of-war, and the giant of ships.