The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-24 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

The screw steam frigate Emerald, 51, Capt. A.
Cumming, continued in Plymouth Sound up to yes-
terday morning. Thenew yoke for her rudder, or-
dered on Saturday, the 14th inst., was sent on board
on Friday, the 20th. It spreads 11 feet, and weighs
10 cwt. 2 qrs. 171 b.; the arms are about 2* in. by
4to 5R in. Casualties like those which occurred to
this frigate are of much more frequent occurrence
now than formerly, owing, it is thought, to the
great projection of the rudders of screw ships be-
yond the sternpost, by which they are more exposed
to the violence of the sea. Naval men at Plymouth
consider that the subject is entitled to serious at-
tention, and that a second rudder of some kind is
requisite in such things. In the recent case of the
Emerald it happens that loss of time is the only in-
convenience. It is fearful to contemplate the conse-
quence which might result to the frigate and her
crew from a similiar casualty en a lee shore.
The screw steam corvette Satellite, 21, Capt. 0.
Johnson, accompanied by the gunboats Sheldrake
and Spider, left Plymouth Sound on Sunday for the
south-west coast of America.

The screw steam frigate Orlando, 51, Capt. Scott,
C. 8., in Plymouth Sound, will take out winter cloth-
ing for the squadron at Halifax. She will probably
touch at Gibraitar.

Several gunboats at Devonport are ordered to be
prepared for the pennant, and others aro to be
brought forward from the second to the first division
of the steam reserve. The Calcutta, 84, is to be pre-
pared for a hospital ship.
A further series of trials has just been made in
Chatham dockyard for the purpose of testing speci-
mens of plate and angle iron from the Consett and
Derwent ironworks, proposed to be used in the con-
struction of the iron frigate Achilles, building at
Chatham. The result of the trials of the angle iron
was deemed satisfactory, nearly all the specimens
subjected to the hydraulic tests standing the strain
of 22 tons to the square inch, with the grain, without
signs of fracture. In the second series of trials with
some additional specimens of iron, consisting princi-
pally of plate iron, the result of the several tests was
not deemed so satisfactory by the dockyard offi-
cials, under whose superintendence they were made.
' A quantity of the largest kind of chain cable, con-
structed of the best iron at the establishment of
Brown and Lennox, Cardiff, intended for the iron
frigate Defence and the other vessels fitting for com-
mission at Chatham, was also subjected to a variety
of tests to ascertain its strength and quality with
vt ry satisfactory results.
The iron masts and bowsprit for the iron steamer
Defence, 22, 600 horse power, which have been
forged at the Thames Ironworks Company, arrived
at Chatham yesterday in the two Government
lighters, and during the day preparations were
made for landing them. Each mast is of great
apparent strength, the weight of the lower main-
mast and fittings being 16 tons, that of the fore-
mast 15 tons, and the mizenmast 6 tons 5 cwt.;
the iron bowsprit, which was landed yesterday
afternoon, weighs exactly 4 tons 15 cwt. On the
occasion of Rear-Admiral Sir F. W. Grey, one of
the Lords of the Admiralty, and Rear-Admiral
Robinson, Controller of the Navy, visiting Chatham
Dockyard on Friday, they urged the completion of
the Defence by the earliest possible period, and ex-
pressed their regret that she was not likely to be
in readiness till the middle or end of January, in-
stead of the commencement of that month, as had
been originally expected. Admiral Grey and Admi-
ral Robinson both signified that but comparatively
little attention need be paid to the fitting up and
preparation of the officers' cabins, but that the efforts
of all engaged about her should be devoted to getting
the vessel ready for sea. From the delay which has
taken place in the completion of the Defence, Admi-
ralty instructions have been received directing the
officials to make a special report why that vessel
will not be ready for sea by the time first intended
—the 2d January, and whether greater progress
could be made if more hands were employed on her,
Directions were yesterday received for accommo-
dation to be provided on board for the following
large supply of solid and hollow shot and shell, and
the Armstrong shot and shell, viz., 190 common, and
190 segment 100 pounder shells; 50 boxes of the
segment 20 pounder shells; 125 boxes of the 12
pounder segment shells ; 360 of the naval 68
pounder shells; and 109 boxes of the 24 pounder
howitzer shells. Her solid shot will consist of 600
68 pounders, 160 100 pounder conical Armstrong
shot, 50 20 pounder Armstrongs, and 50 12 pounder
Armstrongs. Two additional 100 pounder Arm-
strongs are to be supplied her in lieu of two 68
pounders.
The Orion, 91, 400 horse power, line-of-battle
screw steamer, has been removed from the great
basin at Sheerness to the harbour, to afford addi-
tional space for other vessels being brought forward
for commission.

The Galatea, 26, 800 horse power, has still a con-
siderable amount of work to be executed on board.
Notwithstanding that her docks are swarming with
mechanics and artisans, she will not be completed
and ready for sea until the 17th of next month, and
an intimation to that effect has been forwarded
to the Admiralty. According to present ar-
rangements, she will be taken out of Chatham har-
bour to-day and removed to Folly Point, where she