The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING,' 'APRIL 5, tlB6l.

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—whether a surrender of the forts and a virtual
recognition of the new Confederacy, or the retention
of the forts and war. Mr. Breckinridge, too, has
taken the field in an elaborate attack upon the in-
augural, as coercive and oppressive. Evidently
alarmed at the Union strength in the South, he de-
nounces, in advance, Mr. Seward's policy as subtle,
dangerous, and 'demoralising, building up an anti-
slavery party in the Southern States under the
name and in the disgnise of a Union party. The
South, he says, will not submit, and he calls upon
the Administration to avoid collision by removing
all the troops from the border of the Confederated
States. A motion to that effect, offered by Mr.
Mason, of Virginia, is pending in the Senate, with-
out the slightest chance of passing.
The New Hampshire election results favourably
to the Republicans, though by a decreased majority.
If they can carry Connecticut the Administration
can adopt a more vigorous policy, one would think.

THE NA VT.

The Duke of Somerset, Vice-Admiral the Hon.
Sir R. S. Dundas, K.C.8., and Capt. Moore, private
secretary to the First Lord, yesterday paid a visit
of inspection to Woolwich dockyard. Their Lord-
ships entered the yard at 4 p.m., and were received by
a body of the principal officials, namely, the Commo-
dore-Superintendent, the Hon. J. R. Drummond,
C.B. ; Commander Hawker, Mr. Thomas, and Mr.
Hall, of the flag ship Fisgard ; Mr. Hatherton, and
Mr. Patridge, chief engineer and assistant of the
factory; Mr. Thornton, assistant-master shipwright,
in the absence of Mr. Turner, now on the sick list ;
Mr. J. Petley, commander of the Admiralty yacht
Black Eagle, Mr. Sturdee, commanding the troop-
ship Rhadamanthus, &c. Their lordships proceeded
first to the Commodore's offices, and went over an
inspection of the books and system of official ac-
counts, whence they were escorted through the prin-
cipal thoroughfare to the fitting basin, and went on
board the floating battery Trusty, in course of fit-
ment with Captain Cole's patent target. Their lord-
ships examined with minuteness the preparations
entered into for that purpose, which have necessi-
tated the cutting away a portion of the upper deck,
as the target is intended to rest on a pivot attached
to the lower deck, which will have to undergo con-
siderable strengthening. They then proceeded on
board the Wye, under conversion as a storeship for
the West African station. Their lordships were
detained some time in an examination of the new
system of superheating steam invented by Mr. Pat-
ridge, assist.-engineer of the factory, and which
has been fitted on board at an extremely low rate of
expenditure, and turned out in working order in
the short space of 14 days after receiving the Ad-
miralty instructions for that purpose. After in-
specting the various compartments of the Wye,
they went on board the 51, screw steam frigate
Bristol, launched from the yard on the 12th of
February last, and examined her throughout. They
next visited the masting stores, and entered the fac-
tory for the purpose of examining the process of
grooving and tongueing the iron slabs in process of
preparation for the Warrior's sides. Their attention
befoie leaving the factory was called to the design
of a 20-horse power steam engine about to be manu•
factured in the factory, to be fitted on board the
Warrior, for the purpose of pumping water to and
from every compartment of the huge vessel, and also
to serve the purpose of clearing the gun deck from
smoke in time of action and practice with the
guns, by means of a fan to be worked by the engine ;
likewise to hoist up the ashes and other refuse from
the stokehole, &c. Their Lordships then visited the
timber stacks, made an inspection of the 91 screw
steamship Repulse, and the 21 screw steam corvette
Wolverine, under construction in the yard, the
latter vessel to be fitted with iron beams. They
thence proceeded towards the testing-house and
examined a batch of seven anchors and cables re-
cently received from the firm of Messrs. Brown,
Lennox, and Co., of Miliwall, intended for the iron
cased ship Warrior. Their Lordships afterwards
examined with attention and interest a number of
Brown and Lennox's patent cast-iron, annealed and
galvanised blocks, to be used in the rigging of ships,
and intended to supersede the old wooden blocks.
To demonstrate the advantage of these blocks it was
stated that they were in every way superior to the
wooden ones, both in wear and price, and although
made of east iron, they were not subject to be broken
—as a proof of which a couple were cast with great
force upon the solid pavement, and were in other
ways tested and found to be intact. The Board of
Admiralty having terminated their inspection, left
the dockyard for London at 5 minutes before 6
o'clock.

It is understood that the Gibraltar, 101, went
outside Plymouth Breakwater on Wednesday for
the purpose only of making a preliminary trial to
ascertain the most suitable pitch for the screw (Grif-
fiths's). The official trial of the engines will take
place about a fortnight hence. It is stated that on
Wednesday too many revolutions were made in
proportion to the speed attained. The pitch is to
be altered from 231 to 25.

The paddlewheel steam sloop Buzzard, 6, was
transported yesterday to the sheer hulk in Hamoaze,
where her masts and bowsprit were taken out. She
was then replaced in the Devonport Dockyard,
where her crew will be paid off.
The screw steam storeship Industry, 2, recently
returned from Rio Janeiro, left Plymouth on Wed-
nesday evening for Woolwich.
The gunboat Procris, 3, Lieut. the Hon. J. Car-
negie, in Plymouth Sound, was swung yesterday
morning for the adjustment of her compasses.
The statement which has appeared in several of
the papers, that the Lords of the Admiralty have
decided on not having the mail-clad iron steamer
Achilles, 40, built at Chatham dockyard, is with-
out foundation, as no orders whatever have been
received at that establishment for suspending the
preparations for commencing the vessel, the works
connected with which are in active progress.
The only delay which has arisen up to the pre-
sent time has been occasioned by the non-
arrival of the powerful machinery required
for the preparation of the ironwork for the ves-
sel ; but it is expected that within a very brief
period the whole of the machinery will have been
delivered by the contractors at the dockyard, ready
for erection. The largest of the galvanised iron
workshops has been completed by Messrs. Grissell

and Co., and a numerous body of workmen in the

employ of Messrs. Foord and Sons, are now engaged

in erecting the various buildings for the differen

kinds of machinery, and in preparing the concrete
foundations on which the heavy drilling, punch-
ing, planing, cutting, and other machines will be

placed. Large quantities of iron still continue to
arrive at the dockyard from the several iron com-

panies which have entered into contracts with the
Admiralty for providing :the beams, plates, and
other heavy parts of the ship.
An attempt was made at Portsmouth on Wednes-
day evening to place the new screw frigate Glasgow
in No. 8 steam basin dock, but which had to be aban-

doned when the frigate was partially in, owing to
the want of the necessary depth of water over the

invert at the dock entrance. The frigate remains

partly in and partly out of the dock, but lies as safely
as she would in the basin, being water-borne in

every part. She, however, affords an illustration of
the scarcity of dock accommodation at Portsmouth.
In the steam basin of Portsmouth dockyard the
Pandora, 5, screw, has shipped her eylinders and
condensers, with the greater portion of her machi-
nery, and is expected to receive her boilers to-day.
The Chantic:eer, 17, screw, is also in the hands of
the contractors fitting her machinery. Both these
are new vessels. The Elfin royal paddle yacht has
received her new boilers.

The eighth anchor for the use of the Warrior, in
course of manufacture at Messrs. Brown, Lennox,
and Co.'s, was yesterday brought to the process of
what is technically termed shutting up—viz., the
bringing and welding together the arms and the
shank.

The process was witnessed by a number of

scientific gentlemen and others connected with the
iron trade, and many ladies were also present. On
being drawn from the fire, almost in a state of

fusion, the three parts were brought together and

united under the operation of a powerful hammer,
_ .

suspended over the anvil, worked by means of a

weight
hand lever, and giving'a stroke of seven tons

This operation was followed by the assistance of 16,

hammermen, who worked with extraordinary regu-
larity within a circle of less than 30 feet, their
strokes being directed by a leading man, over the
entire surface of the parts about to be welded, and
which have been proved by the Admiralty test to
be inseparable. The weight of each anchor is five
tons 12 cwt. The entire batch of seven, already
completed, have withstood the test well,
Sir W. Armstrong's contract for the erection of
hydraulic cranes and capstans in Portsmouth dock.
yard is now being rapidly effected. The pipes used
in the work are connected with each other in a
peculiar manner by a socket joint and stout shoulder
pieces round the end of each, and when jointed
braced up by nut and screw bolts through the
shoulders. The quantity of piping used in the
work must be enormous, as the length required for
the working of two capstans only, on the north
quay of the basin, taking the distance from the
accumulator in the new foundry, is no less than
2,160 feet.

About 200 men are still employed at Greenock
on the Black Prince. Nearly all the 10 boilers have
arrived, and have been placed on board.
The Atlas, 91 guns, has been taken out of dock
at Sheerness to her moorings in the river, having
had her machinery tested to 40Ib. pressure and her
condenser to 201 b. Subsequently steam was got
up to see that she was all right after the pressure.
The trial was in every respect satisfactory. She
will be shortly taken out to the measured mile for
trial of her speed.

The Isis, 44, recently converted into a store and
coal ship, to be stationed at the island of Ascension,
in command of Capt. F. L. Barnard, after having
her compasses adjusted, was inspected by Vice-
Admiral Sir W. J. Hope Johnstone, Commander-
in-Chief at Sheerness, and sailed yesterday for
Devonport and Ascension. Capt. Barnard will
leave his ship on her arrival at Ascension, and will
join the Meander, 44, store ship. The captain is
appointed Governor of the Island of Ascension, and
his family accompany him in the Isis.

The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Mr. Howard F. Hay has
been nominated to a naval cadetship; Benjamin
Brierley, acting 3d-class assist.-engineer, to the
Cumberland, as supernumerary; Wm. Hair, acting
3d-class assist.-engineer, to the Indus, as supernu-
merary ; Charles F. Gulliver and Charles J. Bigley,
second masters, as supernumeraries, to the Victory;
and Wm. H. J. Aitken, assist.-paymaster, to the
Emerald.

271 E ARMY.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
arrived at Plymouth at midnight on Tuesday. On
Wednesday morning, attended by General Foster,
Colonel Chapman, R.E., and Colonel Bingham, who
came from the Horse Guards with him, he pro-
ceeded to the Devonport Park for the purpose of
inspecting the military in the district. The duke
was received by Major-General Hutchinson, Com-
mander-in-Chief of the Western District, Colonel
Owen, R.E., Brigade-Major Kirk, Captain Main-
non, Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant Rimmington, R.E.,
Aide-de-Camp, &c. The troops at present in Plyr
mouth garrison include the 3d Brigade of Royal
Artillery, commanded by Colonel Pester, and the
sth Brigade, under Colonel Maberley, numbering
together about 460 men quartered in the citadel;
Major Simpson's Bth Brigade, a mounted battery,
130 men, in Granby barracks; the 2d Battalion of
the 12th Regiment of the Line, commanded by
Colonel Hamilton, part in the citadel and part in
Milbay, 780 in all ; the Plymouth Division of Royal
Marines, 900 men, under Colonel Holloway; the
sth Regiment, 700 men, under Colonel English,and
the 61st, 750 men, commanded by Col. Raynaud,
both of which regiments are in the Raglan bar-
racks, Devonport. Besides the Line and Marines
there are also the 3d Devon Administrative Bat-
talion of Volunteer Rifles, under Lord Valletort.
They include six companies of about 43 men each
from Plymouth, Devonport, Stonehouse, Millbrook,
Cawsand, and Tavistock, and attended by special
request from his Royal Highness. The weather for
some time had been very unpropitious, and the
ground was in an unfavourable condition. The bands
of the various regiments were united, and played
under the guidance of Mr. Winterbotham, of the
Royal Marines. The troops marched by in quick
time and in quarter distance column, but as there
was a heavy shower impending, the Commander-in-
Chief dismissed them to barracks, first stating that
their appearance was very satisfactory, and that
the demeanour and marching of the Volunteers was
superior to that of many regiments of the Line.
After inspecting the works iu progress at Trpgantle
Fort on Wednesday afternoon the Duke went to
Cawsand, and returned by way of Cremhill to Mount
Wise, where he dined with Major-Gen. Hutchinson.
Yesterday morning before 9 o'clock the Duke, ac-
companied by his staff, visited Plymouth Citadel,
which he entered under a Royal salute,and inspected
the Royal Artillerymen, who went through reposi-
tory exercises, handled heavy ordnance without the
aid of machinery, mounted and dismounted guns,
&c. The men were also exercised at firing from
8-inch guns at the Higher Ligonier battery, in the
lower fort. The target, at a distance of 1,500 yards,
was demolished by the fifth shot. The 12th Regi-
ment, commanded by Col. Hamilton, were then by
that officer and Major Hibbert put through a variety
ofevolutions, including the platoon and bayonet
exercise,
whic
which was performed with remarkable cor-
rectness, although the regiment was in marching
order, and of course encumbered with knapsacks.
The Commander-in-Chief expressed his approba-
tion at their appearance, and took especial notice
of the efficiency of Mr. Strong, the junior ensign,
who put the men through company drill. The
questions to several of the captains, regarding
different field manwuvres, were answered to the
satisfaction of the Duke, who, after breakfast-
ing in the Artillery mess room, proceeded, in
company with the officers of Engineers, to the Hoe,
where they embarked at Brethren-steps, and went
on board the steam tender Avon, Second Master J.
Long, which conveyed them to Bovisand Pier,
where he examined the proposed sites for the forti-
fications at Bovisand, Staddon Point, Staddon
Heights, Brown-hill, and Turnchapel.
Lieut.-Col. Sampson Freeth, late the commanding
Royal Engineer at Bermuda, has been appointed
commanding Royal Engineer at Sheerness for the
purpose of superintending the erection of the addi-
tional fortifications which the Government has
decided on erecting at the entrance to the 'Medway,
Lieut.-Col. H. W. Montagu, the present command-
ing Royal Engineer, having been placed under
orders to ('proceed to Malta. During the period
Lieut.-Col. Montagu has been in command at Sheer
ness he has effected several highly important alte

rations and improvements in the locality, and as a
mark of respect entertained for that officer the
inhabitants of the town are now raising subscrip-
tions for the purpose of presenting him with a
suitable testimonial prior to his proceeding to the
Mediterranean.
Intelligence has been received at the head-quar-
ters of the Chatham division of Royal Marines, an-

nouncing that the battalion of Royal Marine Light
Infantry, under the command of Col. J. H. Gas-

coigne, C. 8., is on its passage home from China in
the iron screw steamship Adventure, and that the
officers and men may be expected to arrive at head-

quarters in the course of a few weeks.

The Secretary of State for War, on the recommen-
dation of the Duke of Cambridge, has appointed
some of the most efficient noncommissioned officers,

selected from the Royal Engineers at Chatham, to
be instructors to the Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Lan-
cashire Volunteer Engineer Corps, recently formed.
The arrangements for the formation of the depot
battalion of the Royal Marine Light Infantry
which the Lords of the Admiralty have decided
on establishing at Deal are now completed, and the
officers who will be attached to the depot have
joined the head quarters of their division at Chat-

ham, in readiness to proceed with the detachments
to Deal. Tho depot will, in the first instance, com-

prise a certain number of noncommissioned officers

and men from the three divisions at Chatham,
Portsmouth, and Woolwich, together with the
necessary staff, after which the whole of the re-
cruits on joining that branch of the service will, as

soon as they have been finally approved at head-
quarters, be transferred to the depot battalion until

they are fit for duty, when they will be sent up to
headquarters to join their respective companies.
By this arrangement all the marines stationed at
headquarters IA iil be those who are fit for duty.
The remaining military invalids on hoard the
screw steam hospital ship Mauritius were disem-
barked at Portsmouth, yesterday, and forwarded
to their destinations by the 9 15 a.m. up train—
the artillery, 16 in number, to Woolwich, and the
other men, 103, from various regiments, to Chatham
these latter accompanied by 32 of the Medical Staff
Corps. The Mauritius is ordered to return stores and
fittings at Portsmouth. A special report will be made
by the military and medical authorities on the fit-
tings of this ship, and also on the Sir Win. Peel
screw hospital ship, which is daily expected at Spit-
head from China and the Cape.

The 6th battalion Military Train, now quartered
at the Hut Barracks, has been ordered to be in
readiness to move from Woolwich to Ireland on the
Bth.