The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-25 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

Yesterday morning the Duke of Somerset, First
Lord of the Admiralty, and the other members of
the board, with Rear-Admiral the Right Hon.
Lord C. E. Pag,.et, C.B. First Secretary, and Rear-
Admiral Sir 13. W. Walker, K.C.8., Surveyor of
the Navy, resumed their inspection of Chatham
Dockyard. Notwithstanding their lordships were
occupied until a late hour on Tuesday afternoon,
they were unable to complete their inspection that
day, in consequence of the number and extent of
the various docks and factories to be inspected. In
addition to the portions of the establishments which
were enumerated in The Sun of yesterday, their
Lordships also inspected the fine screw corvette
Charybdis, 21, recently launched at Chatham, which
is now undergoing the necessary fitment, in order
that she may be attached to the steam reserve fleet
in the Medway. On passing through the smithery
their Lordships inspected the heavy forgings now
in progress in that department, under the direction
of Mr. Costell, the master smith. They also wit-
nessed the working of one of the powerful Nasmyth
steam hammers for forging large ships' anchors and
heavy work. Their lordships were conducted through
the machinery department by Mr. Baker, chief en-
gineer, and spent some time in this portion of the
inspection. After leaving the dockyard on Tuesday
evening their Lordships passed the night on board
the Black Eagle, in order to be in readiness to con-
tinue their inspection yesterday. On landing yes-
terday morning they were seceived by Captain-
Superintendent Goldsmith, C. 8., and all the officials
and heads of departments. Previously to continuing
their inspection their Lordships witnessed some ex-
periments in the Medway with Mr. Heinke's new-
ly-invented diving apparatus, the inventor, who is
at present at Chatham, where he is employed by
the Government in superintending the diving ope-
rations of the Royal Sappers and Miners, having
been requested to attend with his apparatus for
their Lordships' inspection. Mr. Heinke explained
to the Duke of Somerset and theeether members of
the Board the principles of the invention, whereby
a diver can in any emergency, such as one of his
Flosses becoming broken, or from any other cause,
immediately float himself to the surface, and thus
avoid drowning. A diver having descended into the
river immediately floated to the surface, and after-
wards again let himself down, both efforts being
accomplished by a simple movementof the air valves
He also descended and remained some time under
water with a large hole knocked in his helmet with-
out the least inconvenience. Their Lordships ex-
pressed to Mr. Heinke their perfect satisfaction with
his invention. After transacting business at the
superintendent's office, their Lordships resumed
their tour of the dockyard, inspecting No. 1 dock,
in which the Tartar is now being broken up. This
dock it is intended to have entirely rebuilt and en-
larged, so as to receive the largest line-of-battle ships
in the navy. The cost of this undertaking will be
included in the next estimates. Their Lordships
afterwards visited the anchor wharf, at the extre-
mity of the dockyard, where are ranged some thou-
sands of anchors of all sizes, sufficient for the whole
British navy. After completing this portion of the
inspection, their Lordships continued their exami-
nation of the several establishments and factories
not inspected yesterday, and shortly after 11 o'clock
left the dockyard for the purpose of inspecting
Melville Naval Hospital. Their lordships were re-
ceived by Dr. Moody and the other officers, who
conducted them through the wards and over the
establishment, every portion of which was inspected,
their Lordships expressing their opinion that it was
one of the best establishments of the kind they had
ever visited. On returning to the dockyard they
again transacted business at the superintendent's
office, and afterwards went on board the Black
Eagle. As their Lordships were unable to inspect
the division of Royal Marines on Tuesday, it was
arranged that the inspection should take place yes-
terday. The whole available force accordingly as-
sembled in the barrack-square at 1 o'clock yesterday,
afternoon in heavy marching order, under the com-
mand of Col. E. Rea, commandant. The Chatham
division is now very strong, and in consequence
of the activity with which recruiting has proceeded,
and the high bounty given, the battalion is only
three men short of its required complement, the
number of all ranks on the parade-ground yesterday
being 850 men, above 400 of whom were recruits.
Their lordships arrived at the barracks at half-past
1 o'clock, and inspected the battalion, after which
they visited the men's quarters and the several por-
tions of the barracks. They also inspected the site
which has been purchased by the Government for
enlarging the barracks at a cost of £55,000, and
before leaving witnessed the men at gun drill at
the battery. After completing their inspection of
the Royal Marines their lordships embarked on
board the Black Eagle for the purpose of proceeding
to Sheerness, the inspection of which dockyard will
commence to-day. The usual muster of the work-
men of the yard did not take place, and the half-
holiday heretofore granted on the occasion of the
visit of the Lords of Admiralty was not given. It
is, however, understood that the workmen will be
granted a half-holiday on Saturday next.
The paddlewheel steam frigate Sidon, 22, Capt.
R. B. Crawford, from Portsmouth, arrived yester-
day morning at Plymouth, whence she will convoy
two gunboats to Vancouver's Island.
The screw steam corvette Cossack, 20, Captain
Moorman, left Plymouth on Tuesday afternoon for
North America and the West Indies.
The screw despatch gun vessel, Flying Fish,
Commander Hope, having coaled at Plymouth, left
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