The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-21 00:00:00

2.11 E NAVY.

The Warrior, 40, screw, Capt. the Hon. A. A.
Cochrane, steamed into Portsmouth harbour yester-
day from Spithead at high water, under the guid-
ance of Mr. J. Jones, sen., the Admiralty pilot at
the port, and was berthed alongside the sheer jetty
of the dockyard preparatory to being placed in
dock, which it is intended will take place to-day
shortly before high water. Orders have been given
to pay her bottom over with a composition pre•
pared by Mr. Hay, the chemist to the dockyard.
Soon after the ship's arrival at Spithead from the
Thames, Mr. Watts, the Assistant-Controller of the
Navy, visited the dock which had been prepared
for the ship, and at once ordered an alteration in
the blocks, lowering them 3in. at the end next the
dock entrance and 21in. in the fore end, giving the
line of blocks a rise of 3in. only forward, instead of
2ft., as before. It being also determined to have
the caisson in the inner groove instead of the outer
rebate, thus making the ship's position 12ft. further
in the dock, it was ordered, as a measure of precau-
tion, that a portion of the inner dock floor, 10ft. in
length, and commencing at its height above the in-
vert 2ft., and tapering to a point at the end of
the 10ft., should be chipped off to give a clearer
space under the ship's forefoot. To carry out these
alto rations in the dock a large number of la-
bourers were set to work, but there was every pro-
bability of its being nearly midnight before they
would have them completed. On the Warrior being
berthed alongside the dockyard she drew 26ft. of
water aft, and 26ft. 7in. forward.

The Medea, 6, paddle, Commander D'Arcy S.
Preston,, tested her machinery at Spithead, on corn.
mission, yesterday, everything working satisfac-
torily.

The Pelican, 17, screw, Commander Brock, has
completed her trials at the measured mile in Stokes
Bay. She realised a medium speed of 103 knots.
The Octavia, 51, screw, tested her machinery in
the steam basin at Portsmouth on Thursday, the
trial being attended with the most perfect success.
The motion of the engines could scarcely be felt,
which was attributed to the smoothness of action
obtained by the introduction of the tl ird crank. It
is confidently anticipated that the consumption of
fuel will be 40 per cent. less than the average of
the same power.
The Duncan, 99, screw, was taken into the steam
basin at Portsmouth yesterday.
Much activity prevails in Sheerness dockyard.
The Swallow, 9, screw steam sloop, is to be fitted
for commission. Steam has been tried on board
the Collingwood and Leander, with successful
results. The Orestes, 21, was inspected yesterday
by the captain-superintendent and other officials.
It is expected she will sail shortly. The Malacca,
17, steam sloop, is also expected to proceed to sea
ere long. There are reports that the Meeanee, 80,
screw, is to be dismantled. Every exertion is
being made to bring forward the Barossa, 21, screw
corvette, to take the place of the Orestes, in the first
division. The North Star, 22, screw-corvette, build-
ing here, will soon be ready for planking.
A detachment of the depot of the second battalion
of the 4th Regiment is under orders to leave this