The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-01 00:00:00

7HE NA VI.

Yesterday morning the Duke of Somerset, First
Lord of the Admiralty, and the other members of
the board, with Rear• Admiral Lord Clarence E.
Paget, C. 8., Secretary, and Sir Baldwin W. Walker,
K.C.8., Surveyor of the Navy, resumed their in-
spection of Portsmouth dockyard. Their lordships
landed from the Osborne in their barge, in charge
of Lieut. Robinson, Senior Lieut. of her Majesty's
ship Victory, at the King's Stairs, shortly after 10
a.m., where they were received by Rear-Admiral
Hon. G. Grey, Mr. Murray, of the steam factory,
Mr. Abethell, master shipwright, and the other
officials of the yard. Their lordships first visited
the West Sea storehouse, the steam reserve boat
store, the store where are kept the boats, spars, and
gear belonging to the mortar vessels, gunboats, and
floating batteries, the boat-houses, chymical labo-
ratory, and the rigging store. At the latter
building a deputation of the riggers of the dock-
yard waited upon their lordships, to lay before
them their claims for increased pay, &c., and
were understood to receive a favourable recep-
tion. The seaman rigger urges—and with great
appearance of truth—that he is as much a mechanic
as the ropemaker or sailmaker, and that while he
receives only 3s. 3d. per day, the ropemaker and
sailmaker receive about 4s. He also urges that the
pay and allowances of the seaman serving afloat
having been increased, the seaman rigger has an
equal right to an advance. Every ship now fitted
out in our dockyards is fitted from deck to truck by
these men, who, from the work they have to per-
form, must be the very best of their profession.
Their lordships next proceeded to the western sea
wall, where a jetty is about to be erected for the
landing of coals, &c. Passing next along the tram-
way by the Admiral Superintendent's office, the
large pile of buildings in progress of erection for
the new foundry received a short visit,
.then to the
timber stores at the north-east part of the yard, and
the ground now occupied as a coalpit, but which it
is intended to take in on the formation of the new
dock opening from the north-east corner of the
steam basin, and which was commenced soma time
since but abandoned ; now, however, we believe it
is intended to carry out the original design. From
this point their lordships proceeded along the north
quay of the steam basin, and this portion of their
visit will form the most interesting part for their
'after consideration, embracing as it does proposed
plans for the enlargement of the steam factory and
the construction of a new steam basin of much
larger dimensions than the present one. Retracing
their steps along the north quay. their lordships
next visited the new screw frigate Bacchante, now
receiving her machinery in the steam basin, and on
board of which their lordships remained some time.
An inspection of the steam factory and convict pri-
son closed the day's proceedings in the dockyard.
Captain Eden was engaged during the forenoon at
the Royal Clarence-yard. After taking luncheon
on board the Osborne, their lordships embarked on
board the Black Eagle, Master-Commander Petley,
and paid a non-official visit to the Russian frigate
General-Amiral, Captain Schestakoff, at the
Motherbank, and to the Mersey, 40, Captain H.
C. 8., at Spithead, on board both of
which ♦essels they remained a considerable
time. The Board were entertained at dinner in
the evening at the Admiralty-house in the dock-
yard. the residence of the Commander-in-Chief,
Admiral W. Bowles, C.B.

The Harrier, 17, screw, Commander Sir Mal-
colm M'Gregor, berthed alongside the north jetty,
Portsmouth Dockyard, yesterday, for the greater
convenience of stripping and landing her stores.
The Vivid, 2, paddlewheel steamer, Master
Henry W. Alie.:, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday
from the eastward.
The Pitt, coal depot, has been warped into the
steam basin in Portsmouth yard.
Port-Admiral Sir B. Reynolds, K.C.8., accom-
panied by Capt. Jerningham, of the gunnery ship
Cambridge, went into Plymouth Sound on Tuesday,
in the gunboat Redwing, to the frigate Alarm, 26,
Capt. D Curry, and inspected her crew. She has
discharged her powder, and was appointed to be
towed up Hamoaze yesterday (Wednesday) to be
placed alongside the jetty.
It is reported at Plymouth that the Channel
fleet will return in a few days to Portland.
The paddlewheel steam sloop Virago, Comman-
der Dunn, was removed from Keybam basin on
Tuesday, and placed at her sailing moorings in the
stream, Hamoaze, Plymouth.
The paddlewheel steam sloop Gorgon, 6, Com-
mander B. E. Pim, left Plymouth on Tuesday
under steam for the North American station.
Capt. G. Goldsmith, C. 8., Superintendent of
Chatham Dockyard, having been granted a month's
leave of absence, the temporary command of that
establishment has devolved upon Mr. C. Pope,
master attendant.
One of Shand and Mason's patent steam fire-
engines (the third which has been constructed)
was yesterday forwarded to Wcolwich Dockyard,
drawn by a pair of horses, for the purpose of under-
going a trial of its capabilities. The engine is
intended to combine all the useful properties of