The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-15 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

The Royal squadron, consisting of the Victoria
and Albert (Royal standard at the main), Fairy,
Osborne, Fire Queen, Dasher, and Emerald frigate,
weighed from Cowes-roads, about 7 p.m., on Fri-
day evening, and steamed down the West Channel,
bringing up in Yarmouth-roads for the night. At
daylight on Saturday morning the squadron pro-
ceeded to sea through the Needles passage.
The Russian frigate Polkane, 44, screw, left Spit-
head on Saturday evening for the Baltic, calling at
Havre. The liner Retvizan, 90, screw, and the 50-
gun screw frigate Gromoboi, bearing the flag of
Rear-Admiral Istomin, also left Spithead the same
evening for the Baltic, the Gromoboi saluting the
Commander-in-Chief, Admiral W. Bowles, C. 8.,
with 17 guns ; the Victory returning the compli-
ment. The Russian frigate Swetlana, lying at the
Motherbank, saluted the Gromoboi, on the latter
leaving Spithead, which vessel returned the com-
pliment. She remains at the Motherbank in at-
tendance on the Grand Duke Constantine.
The Trafalgar, 91 guns, screw steamship, 500
horse power (nominal), Captain Edward G. Fan-
shawe, at Sheerness, was inspected by the Com-
mander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Edward Harvey,
on Saturday. The gallant admiral, attended by his
secretary and flag-ieutenant, mustered the officers
and crew, after which the crew were beat to quar-
ters ; the admiral then minutely examined the ship.
On leaving he expressed himself highly pleased, and
complimented Capt. Fanshawe on the appearance of
the ship throughout, particularly the engine-room.
He also complimented Capt. H. C. P. Dyer, in com-
mand of the Royal Marines Light Infantry and
the Marine Artillery, upon their general appear-
ance and soldierlike efficiency, stating that he had
never seen a finer set of marines about to leave the
port since his command there. The Trafalgar
saluted the flag of the commander-in-chief at 10 45
yesterday, and steamed down to the Great Nore to
await her sailing orders.
An Admiralty order arrived at Sheerness on Sa-
turday for the screw steam corvette Cossack, Capt.
B. Moorman, to proceed direct to Plymouth. She
saluted the flag of the commander-in-chief, and left
the same day. The commander-in-chief, on leaving
her said that everything was in excellent order,
and the ship was in such a state of discipline that
she appeared more like a ship returning
.from a
station than one only six weeks in commission.
The new screw steam corvette Scylla, 21, 400-
horse power (nominal), Capt. R. Lambert, at Sheer-
ness, has had a trial trip which proved satisfactory.
The new screw steamship Mars, 80, and 400
horse-power (nominal), at Sheerness, proceeded on
a trial trip of her machinery on Saturday ; she re-
turned again to her moorings in the evening; the
results of her trial were satisfactory.
The screw steamship Queen, 86, and 500 horse-
power (nominal), in the fitting basin at Sheerness,
is progressing fast with her equipment.
The screw steam frigate Amphion, 36, and 300
horse-power (nominal), at Sheerness, in the fitting
basin, has all ataunt, and looks admirably.
The Cumberland, 70, sailing ship, Capt. H. D.
Rogers, at Sheerness, has completed the return of
her guns, stores, &c. On the commander-in-chief
inspecting her he paid Lieut.A. Owen, the gunnery
lieutenant, a high compliment on the state of disci-
pline the crew were in as regarded gunnery. A
large portion of her crew have volunteered for ships
in commission at Sheerness, and will join their re-
spective ships after their usual leave of absence.
The screw steamship Donegal, 101, Capt. Glan-
ville, received her powder in Plymouth Sound on
Thursday. Her crew were mustered on Saturday
by Port Admiral Sir B. Reynolds, K.C.B.
The steam gunboat Violet (tender to the
screw steam coastguard ship Eagle), from Milford,
arrived in Plymouth on Thursday to make good de-
fects. Capt. Tatham, of the Eagle, came passenger.
The coppering of the screw steamship Sanspareil,
70, in Devonport, was finished on Thursday.
The paddlewheel steam tender Lightning, 3, left
Plymouth on Thursday evening for Milford.
The crew of the sailing ship Calcutta, 84, Capt.
Hall, were paid off at Devonport on Friday by Ad-
miral Superintendent Sir T. Pasley. The steam
tender Locust, 3, Lieut. B. Field, commanding, con-
veyed a portion of the men to Portsmouth and
Sheerness. _

________
The screw steam frigate Caracoa, 31, Captain A.
Phillimore, from Spithead, under fore and aft can-
vass, arrived on Friday at Plymouth, where she
embarked some supernumeraries, and the next day
(Saturday) left under steam for the East Coast of
South America.
The screw steam ship Himalaya, Commander
Seccombe, is expected at Plymouth shortly.
The steam-tender Avon, Second-Master 7. H.
Laurence, having been repaired, was undocked at
Keyham on Saturday.
The following appointments were made on Sa-
turday at the Admiralty :—W. J. Grandy, master's
assistant, to the Sidon ; James Fisher, master's as-
sistant, to the Scylla; Richard Cargerver, pay-
master, to the Pearl ; John E. Skinner, assistant-
isaymaiter, to the Edgar, and Henry E. Kitchen,
assistant-paymaster, to the Hastings.
The following ships are now building at Chatham
yard :—Rattlesnake, 29 ; Orpheus, 20 ; Undaunted,
50 guns, which is 300 feet in length ; Irresistible,
80, ready for launching ; Bulwark, 91 guns ; Atlas,
91 guns, all screw. The following are in dock :
The Charybdis, 21, screw ; Swan, which has been
lengthened 60 feet, viz., 30 at her stern, 20 in mid-
ships, and 10 at her bow, she is to carry 70 guns ;
she was originally a5O gun frigate. The Rodney
is progressing very fast towards completion ; the
ship is to have a new figure-head.
Some experimental practice took place from the
Stork gunboat at Portsmouth on Saturday, on the
broadside of the Undaunted, old sailing frigate,
which was partially coated with metal of different
manufacture. The plates were marked off in six
sections, each being painted with a separate colour.
The range was 200 yards, and at that distance the
plates were ineffectual in resisting the shot, some
being completely perforated, while others are much
indented and fractured. After the experiments had
been concluded the plating was covered over by a
sail to prevent the results b?ing ascertained by any
curious or interested spectator.

DEVONPORT, AUG. 14.
Letters received at this port from the flag-ship
Indus, 78, Capt. J. C. D. Hay, state that on the
28th July she was at Halifax, all well. Some sea-
men gunners would leave her shortly for England.
By letters from the Orion, 91, to the 23d July,
we hear that her newly-appointed captain had
joined. She was then under repair, and the only
ship at Malta.
Ships in Harbour—Impregnable, Royal Ade-
laide, Wellington, Cambridge, Firebrand, Virago,
Grappler, Forward, Pigmy, Avon, Violet, Sylph,
Shadia (Turk).
In the Sound—Donegal, Caesar, Nautilus.