The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-15 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The Meanee, 60 guns, screw line of battle ship,
2,591 tons, 600-horse power, Capt. George Wood-
house, lately returned from the Mediterranean,
arrived at the Nore yesterday afternoon, and saluted
theifiag of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Talbot, K.C.8.,
Commander-in-Chief of the district. She will
shortly be taken into dock and dismantled.
The Conqueror, 71, screw line-of-battle ship,
2,845 tons, 500-horse power, Capt. W. G. Luard,
will be paid out of commission on the 21st instant.
She is now in the large basin in Sheerness Dock-
yard dismantling and discharging her stores.
After several unsuccessful efforts last week, and
a partially successful attempt on Monday, the Lord
Clyde found weather On Tuesday which enabled her
to test her engines and machinery at the measured
mile outside Plymouth breakwater. She was built
at Pembroke from the lines of Mr. Reed, the Chief
Constructor of the Navy, is 280 ft. long, 58ft. 9in.
broad, 201 t. 9in. deep, and burden 4,067 tons. The
Lord Clyde is ironcased, and at the trial drew 22ft.
bin forward, and 25ft. liin. aft. Capt. Edmonstone,
Mr. Bannister, Mr. Sampson Harris, and Mr. Saun-
ders were present on the part of the Admiralty,
Capt. Roderick Dew, C. 8., who is to have the com-
mand, was also on board. The contractors are
Messrs. Ravenhill, Hodgson, and Co., who were
represented by Mr. Hodgson. A detailed account
of the engines has already appeared in The Sun.
They are of 1,000 horse-power nominal, capable of
exerting an indicated power of 6,000 horses, being a
multiple of six to one. Steam is worked expansively,
the aggregate heating surface is 19,000 square feet
and grate surface 700 square feet. The following
were the results of the runs on Tuesday, mean speed
of six runs, 13.312 knots, maximum revolutions 58i
per minute, mean 58; steam on engines 261 b, vacuum
26 ; pitch of screw 21 feet, diameter 23 feet ; half-
power speed, 11.565 knots ; maximum revolutions
48, mean 47i ; wind N.N.W., force two to four;
sea smooth, with a light swell. On this
occasion she drew 4i inches more than on the pre-
vious trial, when only two runs were made, a speed
of 13.533 knots per hour was then attained. On
Tuesday the Lord Clyde went round the circle in
five minutes and 20 seconds, the diameter being 526
yards. The ship is constructed with a long protru-
ding prow, armed with a heavy mass of metal.
The Royal Alfred, 18, partially ironcased frigate,
800-horse power, yesterday morning steamed out of
Portsmouth Harbour to Spithead, and gave her
machinery a three hours' trial under steam, prepa-
ratory to making her official run over the measured
mile; 67i revolutions of the engines were reached,
and their working „was satisfactory in the highest
degree to the Government officials on board super-
intending their trial. The ship afterwards returned
into Portsmouth harbour to await the decision of
Rear-Admiral S. Robinson, the Controller of the
Navy, as to the day of her trial.
The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty :—J. Chapple, master, to the Prince
Albert, commissioned ; Fredk. W. Sutton (a), chief
engineer, to the Prince Albert ; Francis C. B. B.
Simpson, midshipman, to the Topaze ; Somerset A.
Hungerfield, midshipman, to the Doris ; Dr. Daniel
Finncane, surgeon, to the Prince Albert ; Dr. D.
McN.Johnston, assistant-surgeon,to the Irresistible ;
James G. Mime, assist.-surg., to the Indus ; George
G. Roberts, assist.-paymaster, to the Victory, as
supernumerary ; Frank A. Halloran, master's assis-
tant, to the Doris ; Peter Baldwin, engineer, to the
Prince Albert; Wm. J. Hancock, Augustine Ked-
ward, and Thomas Jas. Richards, first-class assist.-
engineers to the Prince Albert; Angus Leitch, first-
class assistant-engineer, additional, to the Doris ;
George Paul, second-class assist.-engineer, to the
Cumberland, for service in the Wildfire ; Thomas
Wm. Curtis, acting second-class assistant-engineer,
additional, to the Doris ; Henry M. P. Pellew, act-
ing second-class assist.-engineer, to the Star; and
Eden H. Gawne, nominated to a naval cadet.

GEORGE IV. IN RATHER A NEW LIGIIT.—
Lord Brougham, the late lamented Thaekeray, and
others, have been very severe in their censures on the
character of George IV. My readers will, perhaps, be in-
terested in hearing the following :—Some few years before
the death of the king, Dr. Porteus, then Bishop of Lon-
don, having heard that his majesty had appointed a re-
view of the household troops to take place on a Sunday,
ordered his carriage, though he was in a precarious
state of health, and waited upon his Majesty at Carlton
House. The bishop was most gracious]y received, and
proceeded to say, "I am come to warn your Majesty of
the awful consequences of your breaking the Sabbath, by
holding a review on that day which the Almighty has
hallowed and set apart for Himself." The king upon
this burst into tears, and fell on his knees
before the bishop, who bestowed upon his Ma-
jesty his blessing. The king then assured Dr. Porteus
that no review should take place on the Sabbath during
his life. Bishop Porteus then left the royal presence,
never more to return ; for, on arriving at his residence, he
took to his bed and died shortly afterwards. The King
was so deeply afflicted at the news that, on hearing it, ho
retired into his own apartment, and was heard to sob as
one in deep affliction.—Capt..Gronotes last Volume of Anec-
dotes.

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HER MAJESTY•

OSBORNE, Wednesday.
Her Majesty went out in the morning with
Princess Helena, and in the afternoon with Princess
Louise.

Princess Helena rode on horseback, attended 13
the Hon. Harriett Phipps.

-0- -
The Princess of \Vales took a carriage drive
yesterday, attended by the Countess of Macclesfield.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge had
a dinner party yesterday evening at Gloucester House'
There were present the Eail of Westmorland, Lord Len-
desborough, Lord Colville, Lord Clarence Paget, the Right
Hon. Thomas Milner Gibson, Col. George linos, Col. the
Hon. George Augustus Liddell, Col. Ponsonby (Grenadier
Guards), Sir Charles Russell, Mr. George Bentinck, Mr.
George Tomline, and Col. the Hon. James Macdonald, 11'
waiting. On Monday evening his royal highness received
at dinner a distinguished circle of military officers, includ-
ing General Viscount Melville, General Lord de 11c)st
General the Hon. Sir James Yorke Scarlett, General Sit
Duncan Cameron, General Sir Charles Yorke, General Sir
Alexander Woodford, General Sir George A. 'Wetherall,
General Sir Edward Lugard, General Romilly, Adniiro
the Hon. Sir Frederick Grey, Admiral Charles Eden, C°l*
Gambier, Col. Wetherall, Col. Johnson, Ste.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde
arrived at their residence in Stratton-street, Piccadilly,
yesterday evening, from Portumna Castle, county Galway
The Marchioness of Salisbury will have all
assembly this evening at the family residence in Arlington-
street, Piccadilly.
The Earl and Countess Russell had a select part,'
at dinner yesterday evening at their residence in Cheshaw
place.

THE LATE STORMS IN THE ATLANTIC. —lt is admitted
on all hands, and the admission is unhappily OP'
ported by a long series of melancholy marine disasters, that
the storms of wind which swept the Atlantic and raged with
almost unparalleled violence along our western coasts during
the last few days of December and all the first week °f
January last were in severity much beyond those which
have been experienced for many years past, and were power-
fully felt by steamers going westward. The westward voyage°
are selected, because the storms coming from the west were
encountered in their greatest strength by vessels proceeding
in that direction. A notable ins Lance of the exceptional
violence of the hurricanes referred to is to be found in
the
following authentic account of the outward voyage of tll,l°
royal mail steamship Scotia, Capt. Judkins, which se
ne;
from Liverpool for New York on the 30th of December lax
"
with her Majesty's mails, a numerous complement of Pee:
sengers; and a valuable cargo. The anchor was raised a'
9 a.m., and the Scotia proceeded to sea in the teeth ef,is
strong westerly gale. As far as Point Lynas she made
at the rate of about seven knots an hour with a strong
head wind and a heavy tumbling sea. After Paser;
Point Lynas the weather appeared as if about to le".
up, and the vessel's speed was increased to about nine
knots. As the South Stack Light was approached, tha
wind, veering slightly to the south of west, rose graduall°'
and blew very heavily, till at about ten
complete hurricane, which continued with unremitting
lence till 3 a.m. on the 31st, when the wind dropped roull"
more to the westward and eased the ship in her eenrseci
In contending with the fury of the hurricane refers
to with a pressure of steam of from 19 to 23 pounds on
the square inch, such was the strength of the wind tb:
the ship during considerable periods could not make ,111-r°
than at the rate of from three to four knots an hour. It-
ing this fearful storm, about 9 p.m. on the 30th, the South
Stack light bore almost east ; and as the ship was rakiung.
p.m. it WO
so little headway, in order to prevent any loss of reel'Th--;
ingby currents, the lead was kept going every hour, 549.:
by soundings the exact position of the vessel was e-cr-
Wiled. This precaution was rendered all the more neee':
sexy from the circumstance that besides the night
drift
dark and wet, the storm was so violent and the slae°°-dr
so strong that no one could look out ahead on deck, s 1
iiin
men were placed on the foreyard and foretopsail-yard te
a look out. Soon after 11 p.m. on the 30th the course store!
was south-west and at 715 a.m. on the 31st the Scotia We:
off the Blackwater Bank, the lightship on which was se„° r
distinctly, bearing north ; this was fully 22 hours so'_.e
leaving Liverpool. At 930 a.m. the Scotia rounded Tuse'd
and the wind coming more westerly and by north she IntAii:
more way, and arrived at Queenstown at 7 p.rile, wbort:g6so
cast anchor and took in the mails. Here the harbour,W`"o
crowded with vessels which had run in for shelter that
Li"
Scotia could not get under way till the tide turned 'er
swung the vessels round, enabling her to get clear.
anchor was swung up at 12 30 a.m. on the Ist of Jaauer?;l
and she passed the Fastnet Rock at 7 a.m., a strong gale i3tpla
hlnwing fled right. cl. S trnng westerly gales prev,"",
all the way till Tuesday,the 9th, when the wind moderato',
having veered round by N. to N.B. On the following del
(Wednesday, the 10th) it blew a heavy gale from the easy'
ward, and the vessel proceeded under reefed foresail du r"
ing the day and succeeding night. On Thursday, tir,l
11th, at 11 a.m., the captain took soundings, and found ;(L'i
fathoms of water, with sandy bottom. At 11.45 a.m. Passe
Nantucket Island, and had moderate weather till 9 Pin"
At
when the Scotia made the lightship at New York. 3
this point she was kept off, Capt. Judkins not deereieg.,lh
prudent to go into New York bay on account of ice,
was coming down in great masses, and which had cut dow'ci
a large schooner in the bay. The harbour was safely inn
°...
at daylight on the morning of the 12th, after a voYeg°
CO
unusual length for the Scotia, and under such trying 04 h
cumstances of weather, as nothing but the great slr
and power and fine seagoing qualities of the vessel, al
by the skilful, prudent, and bold seamanship of Cetaid,
i
Judkins, could have enabled her to accomplish. Indeen-
that experienced and able commander states that in. n° 40
stance during the 26 years he has navigated the Atle°.re
in the Cunard Company's service has he encountered a ra°o
stormy passage than on his last voyage from LiverP°°lo9
New York, nor one demanding more vigilance or arda
exertion on the part of all engaged in navigating the
—Liverpool Albion.
Loss OF THE UNITED STATES STEAMER NARCISSI:
—The New York Herald of the 3d inst. publishes the fell.°Bo
bag particulars of the wreck of the U.S. steamer Narcis
11
on the night of Jan. 2, off Tampa Bay, Florida,
on board (about 30) the ill-fated vessel were lost.
cissus, under the command of Capt. Bradbury, left I' °nth,
cola for Key West on Monday, Jan. 1, in companywith co
steamer Althea, and the next day made the land betWe- f
Fort Harrison and Mullen Key, somewhat to the north' Of
the entrance of Tampa Bay. The shoals here make out fur_
the Gulf some five or six miles ; and the steamers
cissus and Althea, after making the land, Coasted "W
cur-
along the corner edge of the shoals ; but the wind and
rent being both from the north-west, and settling directlY
the shoals, they found it hard work to keep clear ef tite
of
breakers. The steamer Althea was about one mile ahead
the Narcissus, with the latter vessel about one mile Ileu—„:
to the shoals, and they were both steaming along pleasae ea
".'
and without accident until just previous to nightfall, wh
the Narcissus made a signal for her Consort to come Wit-ti:
hail. When the vessels had neared each other suffieler'"„l
to allow an understanding being had, Capt. Bradburn
the Narcissus, proposed to Capt. Kilgore, of the Althee,,,t-
propriety of anchoring where they were for the night,-P:
this Capt. Kilgore deemed injudicious, and advised Caps
Bradbury to follow him and run further out to sea. l'wi.,a-
proposition was finally accepted, by Capt. Bradbury, 611 x
both vessels were immediately headed off shore. put
the interval that elapsed while the vessels were in n°:—„;
munication with each other the wind that was bloy("`
strong from the north-west, and the current that was °bill;
ing in the same direction, drifted the vessel a considers-,1
distance towards the shoals, and this was the fatale rr',
which resulted so disastrously. It is the opinion of Pettis
sons well informed on such matters that had the Narcise
followed the Althea without signalling her to come After
she would not have been drifted upon the shoals. 'lt'.
tho commanders of the vessels concluded to run out to se-d.
the Althea steered a north-west course, which Wee, the
against wind and tide, but the Narcissus kept more to the
westward. The Althea struck very heavily once ul3°.%er
edge of the shoals, but glided over them without te)., 0
damage, and continued on her course. The Narcissus
some distance astern of the Althea at this time, and
observed making signals of distress ; but Capt. Vg°l.-ii of
the Althea, having already struck durst not turn beck t° ere
assistance. The signals used on board the Narcissus mare
what are known as Costa's regular naval signals, andd
by
burn red, white, and blue, or vice versa, and are rea-ii,s,
numbers. Second Assistant Ensign M'Allister, of the
took the numbers down as they were burnt b°tLft- el
the Narcissus, but was unable to interpret them, S 5, that
appeared to be somewhat confused, and it is supnese'tae
in the excitement of the moment those on board e''), .r
Narcissus made use of the first lights that came to
hands, without any regard to the order of the ullw:ere
Capt. Kilgore then made a signal, asking them if they
ich
in danger, but to this he received no answer. After l'im
he stood off from the land and saw no more of the ill".af3',:p
steamer. The next day the Althea put into Tame`'' '013,0
and sent a boat to the beach to ascertain, if possible, e the
trace or tidings of the Narcissus. Here they picked u.,Phed
dead body of ono of the firemen, which had bon w,„ of
ashore, and the hat of Capt. Bradbury, and saw the hilt
the vessel in the surf, about four miles from the beantir.
could not reach her on account of the heavy sea. 11'.4 d,
two persons, including officers and men all told, Fori°A 1.
not a soul escaping to tell the tale. Acting Ensign
Igso
Bradbury was in command of the Narcissus when she
lost, and Mr. Dunbar was the executive officer. j-tip
steamer Narcissus was the same vessel that was blownso
by a rebel torpedo in Mobile Bay on the 7th Dent! Go-
Shp was afterwards raised and was employed by the Cola
vernment as a tug and despatch boat for the Pensaczr..
navy yard. She was a screw tugboat of 101 tons, and
tied a battery of two guns.

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