The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-28 00:00:00

pinching the splinters they crumbled to an impal-
pable yellow powder between the fingers. Yet this
vessel, than which no gunboat could by any possi-
bility be more rotten, was, we are informed, built at
one of her Majesty's dockyards. Timber, if so it
may be called when in this condition, can never be
regarded as affording a fair test of the resistance of-
fered by such iron-sided ships as the Warrior, now
being built at Blackwall, which, in addition to the
4:1 inches of wrought iron, is further strengthened
inside by 22 inches of the soundest teak beams laid
transversely, and with half an inch of wrought iron
inside these again.
The Duke of Somerset expressed himself com-
pletely satisfied with the result of the experiments,
which certainly were conclusive as far as the Trusty
was concerned.

No day has been named for the resumption of
the experiments, which are, now that the power of
the gun has been shown, comparatively need-
less, unless it is wished to prove the greatest
range at which its immense force can be exerted
with success. If the experiments are resumed, it
would be well if they were better orgamized and
arranged than on Saturday, when none seemed to
know what was to be done. Better arrangements
for insuring discipline and regularity in the prac-
tice might also easily be made,

THE NA Vl'.

The Ariadne, 26, screw, Capt. E. Vansittart, got
under way from Spithead on Saturday morning for
a cruise in the Channel, but brought up afterwards
in St. Helen's-roads, it blowing fresh at the time
from the S.W., with thick rain and squalls. She
proceeded to sea early yesterday morning.
The Bacchante, 51, screw, Capt. D. M. Macken-
zie, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Sir T. Maitland, has
nearly filled up her complement of bluejackets.
Shipwrights, joiners, &c., are engaged upon her fit-
ting the poop for the admiral's accommodation.
The 'Virago, 6, paddle, Commander M. B. Dunn,
arrived at Spithead from the Channel on Saturday.
The Blenheim, 60, screw coastguard ship, Capt.
F. Scott, C. 8., arrived at Spithead from Portland
Roads on Saturday. It is expected her officers and
crew will be turned over to the Colossus, 80, screw,
now in the first steam reserve at Portsmouth.

The Perseverance screw troopship, Commander
E. R. Power, will be again placed in No. 8 dock at
Portsmouth, on its being vacated by the royal yacht
Victoria and Albert, now undergoing her annual
re-embellishment for summer service. The Perse-
verance has to receive her screw shaft in the dock,
and afterwards take in new boilers under the sheers
in the steam basin, before she can be ready for fur-
ther service.

The Dee paddle storeship, Master-Coal. Pullen,
is discharging gear for the Prince of Wales, 131
screw, in the steam basin at Portsmouth. On clear-
ing out she will sail for the eastward to fetch round
new boilers for the Perseverance.

The screw steamship Orion, 91, Capt. Frere, in
Keyham steamyard, lias had her bends caulked, and
the artisans are now coppering them. The crew
were paid wages on Saturday, in presence of Rear-
Admiral Sir T. Pasley, and they are now on leave.
The screw steamship Hero, 91, Capt. G. H. Sey
mour, in Leyham dock, has shipped her shafting,
and will shortly be un docked.

The crew of the steam storeship Himalaya, Capt.
Seccombe, at Devonport, will be paid wages on the
Ist of June.

The Admiralty yacht Black Eagle, having got up
steam, started from Woolwich on Saturday morning
at 5 a.m., under orders for Gravesend, to embark
the Duke of Somerset and the Lords of the Admi-
ralty, to witness the effect of the experiments with
the Whitworth 80-pounder gun fired against the
broadside of the iron-clamped floating battery
Trusty, off Shoeburyness. The Black Eagle having
passed the turn of the river called the Bight, im-
mediately below the Royal Arsenal, was found un-
able to proceed further, owing to a fracture of one
of the bars of the starboard paddle Wheel. She made
her way back to the Hebe with one wheel at half-
past 7, and reported the accident to the Commodore
Superintendent of the dockyard, who ordered the
Vivid to be got ready with all speed. The provi-
sions and other stores having been transshipped on
board the Vivid, in which the Commodore also took
passage, she sailed at half-past 9. In the meantime
Commander Hawker WSIR ;Tactruotod to La tcrk..vin
their Lordships at the railway station proceeding
down to Gravesend, and inform them of what had
occurred, and the reason for which the Vivid had
been substituted for the Black Eagle, After the
experiments the Vivid again returned to Woolwich.
The following appointments were made on Sa-
turday at the Admiralty :—George Taylor Gibbs,
second class assistant-engineer, to the Bacchante ;
James Hird, promoted to the rank of second class
assistant-engineer in the Flying Fish ; David
Millar, promoted to the rank of second class assist-
ant-engineer in the Highflyer ; William Roberts,
promoted to the rank of second class assistan

engineer in the Blenheim ; Michael B. Kelly, pro-
moted to the rank of second class assistant-engineer
in the Wasp ; Thomas Edgar, promoted to the rank
of second class assistant-engineer to the Wellington,
as supernumerary ; Edwin Hawkes, promoted to
the rank of second class assistant-engineer in the
Eagle, for service in the Violet ; Robert Hardy
Dobney, promoted to the rank of acting second
class assistant-engineer in the Tribune.