The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-06 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY NEWS.

Sir,—The following particulars are facts within
my own knowledge, and relate to her Majesty's
troop ships Transit, Perseverance, atd Himalaya.
Originally they were designed for fast mail and pas-
senger packet. The Himalaya was fitted for sea
by Captain Kellock, under the auspices of the Pe•
ninsular and Oriental Company, and her perform-
ances have always elicited the very highest com-
mendations. The Perseverance was handed over
to the Admiralty, to be fitted for service as per
"Establishment of the Navy ;" and it will be re-
membered her first evolution before leaving dock
was to turn-turtle, capsize part of the saa-mills,
doing considerable damage to hull, dock, and
caisson. Subsequently, at the instance of the
Admiralty, she was taken in band by Capt. Harris,
also of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's
service, when the masts and yards of a corvette
were judiciously substituted for the top-hamper of
a "seventy-four ;" but in all other respects, rou-
tine and the " Establishment" prevailed against
every effort to obtain more suitable anchors, or
more than one chronometer, by which to navigate
the ship.
It would be vain to attempt to enumerate the
tinkerings her Majtsty's ship Transit has gone
through by order of the authorities. It has been
a continual going into dock and coming out again,
or going out of harbour one day to return the next
in a sinking sate ; else to make the first foreign
harbour in a state of deep distress ; on a previous
occasion it was Brest, and now Corunna has been
the part of refuge. The cause of such a state of
things is obvious. The "Establishment of the
Navy," approved by their lordships, decrees a dray-
horse load for a race-horse to carry—hence those
continual break-downs. On the day of the naval re-
view the difficulty of raising her ponderous anchor
caused considerable delay, thoagh noble lords and
grave judges lent a hand at the capstan. It was
the fluke of this same anchor, later in the day,
which hoooked an unfortunate "gun-boat," and
tore the masts out of her ; presenting at all times
a dangerous projection for other ships, or for self-
immolation, as on a late occasion. Now, the aggre-
gate weight of the Admiralty bower anchors on
board the Transit exceeds thirteen and a half tons,
costing over 8801., and the bower anchors (Trot-
man's plan) supplied the Himalaya are under seven
and a half tons, and cost less than 2801., though
the Himalaya, he it remembered, is 1,000 tons
greater burden. With them she rode out the ter-
rific gale of the 14th of November, 1854, in the
Black sea, amidst wrecks and destruction to other
ships with less efficient grpund tackling ; and it is
a significant fit that twice she parted her navy
cables of 21 in. diameter, but never once did her
light and efficient anchors fail to hold her in safety,
having no upper fluke to impale the noble ship in.
shoal water, or hook other vessels in shoal water.
It would, indeed, be a useful and practical les-
son, were the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
to ascertain the exact estimate at "Lloyd's" of the
risk to ships (such as the Transit) being fitted for
sea after the Admiralty regime, and the more sea-
sible plan of the Peninsular and Oriental Company,
by effecting an insurance, and paying out of their
own pockets the premium on 100,000 t., in case such
a fund should unhappily be needed hereafter, to
succour the families of those on board.
London, May 2. ANCHORA.

APPROACHING TRIAL OF BACON AND HIS WIFIC.—
Yesterday the gaoler at Lambeth police-court received
notice that the trial of Bac in and his wife for the mnr.
der of their two children is fixed for Wednesday morn.
ing next. The case will be tried by Lard Chief Justice
Campbell.
THUNDER-STORM.—The neighbourhood of Doniaster
was visited by a heavy thunder-storm, accompanied with
hail and rain, on Friday afternoon. A man in the service
of Mr. G. Innocent, farmer, Rosaington, was employed
in dragging in a field near that village with three horses,
all of which were struck dead with the electric fluid ;
the swingletrees were split from end to end, and the ma n
holding the stilts was thrown down, and bad to be car.
ried home. His legs were found to be quite black.
Under proper medical treatment he is now recovering.