The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-09 00:00:00

IHE NAVY.

The screw frigate Phaeton, 51, Capt. E. Tatham,
got under weigh at Sheerness on Thursday after-
noon, and at 4 o'clock left under steam for Ports-
mouth. On the arrival of the Phaeton at Spithead
she will, it is understood, hoist the flag of Rear-
Admiral S. E. Erskine, who is expected to take the
command on the China and East India station. The
fact that the Phaeton was got, ready for sea within
two days after the order had been received reflects
the highest credit on all concerned in her equipment.
As she steamed out of harbour her splendid appear-
ance elicited the admiration of all who saw her.
Yesterday some further revised orders were re-
ceived at Chatham relative to the iron steam frigates
Defence and Resistance, which are now to be armed
on the maindeck with 12 68 pounder cast iron
guns, each of 95cwt, and 9ft 6in in length, and two
100 pounder Armstrong guns; and on the upper
deck with two 100 pounder Armstrong pivot guns.
The paddlewheel steamer Fearless is undergoing
a thorough repair in No. 5 dock at Sheerness, and,
from the extensive nature of the alterations in pro-
gress, as well as those contemplated, she will, when
completed, be almost rebuilt. Her engines and
boilers are being carefully examined in order that
any defects in them may be remedied during the
time the steamer is in dock. The Fearless will, as
soon as she is completed, be employed as steam
tender to the Cumberland, 70, flagship of Captain
Schomberg, in command of the steam reserve at
Chatham.

The screw gunboat Fidget, attached to the steam
reserve fleet on the Medway, has been placed in the
fourth dock at Sheerness, where she is being sub-
jected to a thorough overhaul in order to ascertain
her defects, which are found to be very serious, some
of her planking and timbers being so rotten that a
considerable time will elapse ',before she will be
ready to leave the dock.

On Thursday another large quantity of iro% chiefly
of the description known as angleiron,which had been
forwarded from the contractors to Chatham, to be
used in the construction of the iron frigate Achilles,
50, was reshipped on board the transports which
had conveyed it to the dockyard, the whole of it
having been condemned and rejected by the dockyard
authorities as not being of the superior quality re-
quired in building the vessel. Had it not been for
the difficulties which exist in procuring iron of a
sound and suitable quality, the Achilles would now
have been at least three-fourths in frame, and she
would have been entirely framed by Christmas•
Instead of this, the entire keel has not yet been
laid, and only two or three of her ribs and
frames have been fixed in their places. Be-
fore a single plate or bar of iron is used it is
taken to the testing-house, where it is subjected to
the severest hydraulic tests in order to ascertain its
quality. Some idea of the enormous strength re-
quired may be formed when it is stated that each
bar and plate has to bear a strain of 22 tons to the
square inch with the grain, and 19 tons against the
grain. Should the slightest flaw or fracture be dis-
covered after this severe test, the iron is at once re-
jected and returned to the contractors. In this way
some hundreds of tons have been rejected.
The Rosario, 11, screw steam sloop, 150 horse
power, 673 tons, left Sheerness harbour yesterday,
and proceeded to the measured mile for the purpose
of testing her speed and machinery. The trial was
under the superintendence of Capt. Schomberg,
first-class steam reserve; Mr. G. Blaxland, chief
engineer in the dockyard; and Mr. W. Price, in-
spector of machinery afloat. It was attended with
very satisfactory results—viz., speed, 91; revolu-
tions, 86; pressure of steam, 20; and vacuum, 25.
The Rosario is fitted with Griffith's screw, the pitch
of which is 14, and diameter 10ft. Her draught of
water forward is 13ft. 10in. ; aft, 14ft, 2in.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Commander Henry D.
Hickley, John L. Gilby, and X. H. Orlebar, naval
cadets, to the Greyhound, not to the Gladiator ; A.
J. Leith, C. C. Wood, F. Papillon, and S. E. Sy-
mons, naval cadets, to the Phaeton, and not to the
Orpheus; and J. R. Anderson, assist.-surg., addi-
tional, to the Nile, for the Marine battalion.