The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-17 00:00:00

THE NAVE

The party of seamen, 100 in number, despc.tched
to the Victoria Docks for the purpose of toasting
the Warrior, -yesterday returned to Woolwich in
command of Mr. Thomas, master of the flagship
Fisgard ; and this morning Mr. Jones, master
rigger, with a party of 50 of his department, pro-
ceeded from Woolwich to commence rigging. The
Warrior's chain cables (24 inch), manufactured by
Messrs. Lennox and Co., were yesterday tested at
Woolwich, and bore the strain of 101 tons, ordered
by the Admiralty as the regulated test, well.

The remainder of the masts, yards, spars, and
other gear for the Warrior, iron steamer, were
shipped at Chatham dockyard yesterday on board
one of the Government lighters, and towed round
to the Victoria Dock, to be put on board that vessel
by the shipwrights sent from Woolwich dockyard
for that purpose. The main and foretopmasts are of
large size and great strength, each measuring 65 ft.
inlengtb, and weighing rather more than, three tone.
The mizentopmastmeasures 50 ft., and its weight is
about two tons. The fore and mainyards are each
gs large as the masts of many large ships, each
measuring 105 feet in length, and weighing up.
wards of six tons. The length of the mizen yard is
71 feet. The three topsail yards are also of great
size and strength, the two largest being each 74 feet
long, and weighing about two tons. The whole of
the masts, yards, &c., for the Warrior have been.
constructed of unusual strength under the imme-
diate superintendence of the officials connected with
the meeting department at Chatham doetyard.
The lower masts of the Warrior have all been fixed
in their places by means of the Chatham sheer hulk,
which was sent to the Victoria Docks for that pur-
pose.

Her Majesty's paddlewheel steam sloop Vixen,
6, Commander Frederick W. Richards, from the
Pacific, has arrived at Woolwieh to be paid off.
Commander Hawker, acting in the absence (on a
week's leave) of the Commodore Superintendent of
the dockyard, went on botird yesterday morning
and inspected the ship, and having mustered the
crew, 165 in number, on the quarter-deal, he
expressed his admiration of their fine and healthy-
looking appearance, and the clean and admirable
condition of the ship throughout. The Vixen had
an exceedingly prosperous voyage home, and has
arrived without having experienced a single case of
sickness in the ship. She commenced dismantling
immediately after her arrival, and will be ready to
be paid off by Saturday next should the Admiralty
so decide. She was fitted out at Woolwich in
October, 1857, having been previously employed in
transporting machinery and naval stores during
the Crimean war, and bore the cognomen of the
" Saucy Vixen," The authorities at Woolwich are
desirous of testifying that the character of the
Vixen, and her neat and orderly trim, are deserving
of the highest official encomiums. The present
Commander (Richards) was appointed to the
Vixen in February, 1860, on the death of Com-
mander Lionel Lambert, who was biutally
murdered at Lima, in Peru. The boilers and
engines of the ship are in excellent order, and
every compartment appears free from any
defect. She will, however, undergo a com-
plete overhaul before being re-commissioned.
Commander G. F. Meehan, who commissioned
the Vixen on ber departure from Woolwich for the
Pacific, died after a short but severe illness from the
effects of a cold caught while in the execution of his
duties on board.

The screw steamship Princess Royal, 91, Capt.
Charles FelloweE, flag of Rear-Admiral Robert
Smart, K.H., who was on board, having been re-
paired in Keyham steamyard, went yesterday
morning outside the Breakwater, on an experi-
mental trip. She returned into the Sound, intend-
ing to go up Hamoaze ; but at 3 o'clock, in conse-
quence of a brigantine being in the fair way, ran
on the Win tershoal, and remained there till 6 o'clock,
when, as the tide rose, she was got off and -went
into harbour.

The Isis, 44, Capt. Barnard, in Plymouth Sound,
had the recall flag up yesterday afternoon, and she
would probably leave in the evening for Ascension.
The screw steam frigate Orlando, 51, having been
cleaned and had her valves overhauled, will be put
oat of No. 1 Dock in Keyham steamyard to-day,
and to-morrow the screw steam troopship Himalaya
will be placed there, and her repairs will be com-
pleted with all despatch.
The Emerald, 51, screw, Capt. A. Cumming, at
Spithead, has a defect in her auxiliary feed-engine
pump-box, which will have to be made good before
she proceeds to sea.

The Icarus, 11, screw, Commtnder N. Salmon,
V.C., at Portsmouth, is filling up coal, preparatory to
swinging and going out of harbour to Spithead.
The Melbourne, No. 13, screw, hospital ship, Capt.
Henry B. Benson, will go into Portsmouth Harbour
this morning from Spithead to land invalids and

stores:
The Henry Fernie, hired transport, commenced
shipping her provisions and medical comforts in
Portsmouth Harbour yesterday. She will be offi-
cially inspected by the military and medical au-
thorities to-day, and embark her detachments of
troops for New Zealand to-morrow.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Lieut. Albert Dent, to be
Flag Lieut. to Rear-Admiral Warren; Paymaster
Hugh F. Pullen, to be secretary and assistant-pay-
master; Valentine D. J. Rickcord, to be secretary's
clerk to Rear-Admiral Warren ; Charles D. Shep-
hard, to be surgeon to the Imaum ; William B.
Fabian, to be first-class assistant-engineer to the
Fisgard, in charge of the machinery of the Driver.
Laurence Moreton is promoted to the rank of se-
cond-class assistant-engineer in the Indus, as a su-
pernumerary.