The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-26 00:00:00

2HE NAVY.

The Warrior, 40, screw, Capt. the Hon. A. A.
Cochrane, C. 8., made her trial of speed with re-
duced power at the measured mile, in Stokes Bay,
yesterday, in charge of Capt. Broadhead, com-
manding the reserve at the port, Mr. Miller, of
the factory department, and Mr. Murdoch, in-
spector of machinery afloat, superintended the work-
ing of the machinery and other details of the trial.
The weather was as favourable as could be wished
for the occasion. Four runs were first made over
the trial ground with six boilers (the ship at full
power uses 10), and the following results were ob-
tained :—First run Pressure of steam, 211 b ;
vacuum, forward engine, 26*; after do., 26* ; revo-
lutions of engines, 43 ; speed in knots, 13.483. Second
run—Pressure of steam, 201 b. ; vacuum, forward
engine, 26; after ditto, 26; revolutions of engines,
44 ; speed in knots, 11.013. Third run—Pressure
of steam, 1811 b.; vacuum, forward engine, 27 ; after
ditto, 26 ; revolutions of engines, 43; speed in knots,
13.235. Fourth run—Pressure of steam, 201 b; va-
cuum, forward engine, 27 ; after ditto, 25 ; revolu-
tions of engines, 44; speed in knots, 11.077. The
mean speed of the four runs in knots was 12.186.
Two runs were next made with four boilers as fol-
lows : First run—Pressure of steam, 201 b. ; vacuum,
forward engine, 27 ; after engine, 28 ; revolutions
of engines, 37* ; speed_ in knots, 12.080. Second
run—Pressure of steam and, vacuum the same as in
the preceding run; revolutions of engines, 38;
speed in knots, 10.000 ; mean of the two runs,
11.040. Temperature, engine room—Max., 92; min.,
85. Temperature, stokehole—Max., 113; min., 98.
The indicator cards showed favourably. The above
figures will speak for themselves. A very short time
and we shall know what the ship can do at sea, for
as at present arranged the Warrior will leave Spit-
head at daylight on Tuesday morning, and, calling
in at Portsmouth to embark some of the members
of the Board of Admiralty, will proceed on her ex-
perimental sea trip, during which we may fairly
be excused wishing that she may meet with toler-
ably rough weather, as there can be no doubt, from
their antecedents, that both her captain and com-
mander are well qualified to handle her under any
circumstances.

By direction of the Controller of the Navy, acting
under the instructions of the Admiralty, a modifica-
tion is to be made in the construction of the stern
portion of the Royal Oak, 50, iron-plated frigate,
building at Chatham, by doing away with the aper-

ture, or screw well, at the stern of the frigate for
raising the screw when not required in steaming.
This will add considerably to the strength of the
vessel, as the opening between the rudderpost and
stern will be filled up, with the exception of the
space for the working of the screw. By the adoption
of this principle any defects in the screw can only
be remedied on the steamer reaching the harbour.
The Admiralty have also under their consideration
a suggestion for the adoption of headless rudders and
some other improvements which are likely to be
used in the construction of this class of frigate.
The armour plates which will protect the exterior
of the Royal Oak are not to be tongued and grooved,
but are to be of an uniform thickness throughout,
experiments having shown that grooved iron plates
present less resistance to shot than the plain plates.
Yesterday a number of the new description of
armour-plates were landed at the dockyard. They
are of immense weight and substance, each plate
being 16 feet in length by 3 feet 3 inches in breadth,
and 41 inches in thickness, while the weight varies
from 79cwt. to 82cwt. each. Instead of being
forged, the plates are all rolled, the Admiralty
having entered into a contract with the Parkgate
1 Iron Company, Yorkshire, where powerful machi-

nery for manufacturing them has been erected. The
Royal Oak is now completely framed. During yes-
terday the shipwrights commenced laying the beams
for her main and- low''. deeke_ Every Pfrort id
being made to hasten forward her construction, for

which purpose there are nearly 300 shipwrights,
caulkers, and labourers employed on her. The
alterations ordered to be effected in the Royal .Oak
are to be adapted in the Royal Alfred, the Ocean,
and the Caledonia, 50-gun iron-plated frigates,
under construction at the other Royal dockyards.
The paddlewheel steamer Wildfire, Mr. Brock-
man, master-commander, left Chatham yesterday,
having on board the Hon. R. Dundas, Storekeeper-
General to the Navy, who is on a visit of inspection
to the various naval establishments.
The paddlewheel steam-sloop Medea, 6, Comman-