The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-08 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

The new screw steamship Hero, 91, 600-horse
power (nominal), at Sheerness during the 6th and
7th inst., has been undergoing a trial of her en-
gines and machinery in the fitting basin. On the
first day's trial Messrs. Maudsley and Co. tested the
pipes, tubes, and joints by high pressure of steam,
which all stood the severest tests. Yesterday the
trial of her engines took place under the superin-
tendence of the chief inspector of machinery of the
steam squadron of reserve, Mr. J. H. Langley of
H.M.'s ship Cressy. During the basin trials work-
ing up to the maximum power is prohibited. The
result of the trial was in every respect highly satis-
factory. There were no hot bearings, no priming.
She made 45 revolutions per minute with 151 b.
steam pressure on the square inch, wigs a vacuum
of 261. This is the second ship at this port which
has been fitted with the deck iron casing around
the funnel for ventilation of the stockhole. The
cowls, of iron, commonly called wind sails, are fixed
down the fore hatchways, leading down into the
fore end of the stockhole, which has the effect of
sending the hot air up into the ventilating casing
around the entrance to the Tunnel. This invention
was by Mr. G. Blaxland, the-superintendent engi-
neer of the factory of Sheerness-yard, and was ap-
proved by the surveyors of the navy and the super-
intendent of steam machinery afloat. The Renown
was the first line-of-battle ship fitted on this prin-
ciple, and all reports from her have been highly
satisfactory, the temperature being kept much
lower in the stockhole than in any other ships of
that class where the common ventilation only has
been in use.

The screw stearn•corvette Cossack, at Sheerness, is
making good defects in. No. 2 dry dock. A very
serious accident happened on board yesterday to a
factory labourer named John Shields, by his falling
from off the upper deck down into the engineroom,
by which several ribs were fractured, and he received
several internal injuries.
The Queen, now being cut down at Sheerness
yard, in No. 3 dry dock, is being cut to her fore and
aft sheer, as a two decker. Preparations are being
made for lengthening her from aft to adapt her for
a screw steam line-of-battle ship. A number of
additional shipwrights have been placed upon her.
The new screw steam corvette Clio, at Sheerness,
is being brought forward in No. 1 dry dock.
The following ships are now fitting in the basin
at Sheerness :—he Mars, 80 ; the Hero, 91; the
Malacca, 17 (now waiting for her newly invented
metallic steel-boilers) ; the Wrangler, 4, despatch
vessel ; and the African steam vessel repairing
damage to hull and machinery.
The Dee, 4, steam store-ship, Master-Commander
T. Pullen, arrived at Portsmouth on Wednesday
afternoon with the machinery and boilers for the
Howe, 121, which she takes to Plymouth. She also
brought round some stores for this port.
The St. Vincent is to go into dock to-morrow for
repair.
--His Royal Highness Prince Adalbert of Prussia,
accompanied by Captain Baron von Bothwell, dined
with Sir G. Seymour, the Port Admiral, at Ports•
month, on Wednesday evening. The Prussian Vice-
Consul, Chevalier Van Den Bergh, had also the
honour of dininr, with him. It was the intention
of his Royal Highnesse' to sail the same evening for
Hamburg, but owing to the heavy gale of wind
blowing then and yesterday, he postponed his de-
parture till the weather moderates.
His Royal Highness the Count de Paris, with his
Royal Highness the Duke of Wurtemburg, the
Marquis of Beauring, and Captain Baron von Gut-
tenburg arrived at the Admiralty House, , Mount
Wise, Devonport, on Wednesday morning, and,
being attended by Captain Stewart, of H. M. S.
Impregnable, and. Flag-Lieut. Preston, drove to
Keyham-yard, where they were received by Mr.
Biddlecombe (Master-Attendant), Mr. Turner, Mr.
Townshend, and Mr. Ward, who escorted the party
through the factory and the other branches of the
establishment. The great size of the new steam
frigate Orlando appeared to excite especial atten-
tion. After visiting the Himalaya, now preparing
to convey troops to India, his Royal Highness and
suite went through the tunnel to Devonport Dock-
yard, over which they were conducted by Mr.
Brown, Master• Attendant, and the other principal
officers. • The Count went on board the Royal
Albert, and then with his suite entered the Admi-
ral's barge and was conveyed to Mount Edgcumbe.
They took luncheon with. Port Admiral Sir B.
Reynolds at Mount Wise, and subsequently em-
barked in the Sylph, which conveyed them through
Admiral Fremantle's fleet in Plymouth Sound.
The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty :—Frederick Piper, second master, to
the Himalaya ; W. C. Spain, master's assistant, to
the Cesar ; B. Harding, master's assistant, to the
Victor Emmanuel •, and C. A. bucket, assistant-
surgeon, additional, to the Victory.