The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-01 00:00:00

Tile NA VI.

Rumours have been current for the past week
that the Princess Royal, 91, screw, fitting out at
Portsmouth as flagship of Rear-Admiral Smart,
Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet, was in
so rotten a state that the Revenge, 91, screw
steamer, at Devonport, was about to be substituted
for her. This is contradicted by the authorities at
Portsmouth, where, whatever may be the ship's
condition, no steps have been taken to examine into
it since she received a new stern in No. 1 dock sub-
sequently to her last commission. Rear-Admiral
Smart hoisted his flag on board yesterday. Mr.
John Davey, inspector of machinery afloat, has also
joined the ship for service with the Channel Fleet.
The Immortalite, 51, screw, Capt. G. Hancock, is
ordered to receive stragglers belonging to the ships
of Itear•Admiral Erskine's division of the Channel
Fleet, for conveyance from Spithead to Lisbon.
Should all the stragglers be recovered, the Immor-
talite will scarcely find room to stow them.
The Stork gunboat to the Excellent gunneryship
at Portsmouth, went out of harbour on Tuesday,
and steamed to the back of the Wight to test her
breech-loading guns. During yesterday and Wed-
nesday she has taken up a position off the Sirius,
up Portsmouth harbour, for the purpose of testing
the Armstrong and Whitworth guns against a plate
from the sides of the Trusty.

It is rumoured at Devonport that Capt. Henry
Broadhead, now in command of the screw steam
ship Donegal, 101, 800 horse power, one of the
Channel Squadron, is likely to be appointed to the
screw steamship Warrior, 36, of 1,250 horse power,
at Sheerness.

The gunboat Hind, tender to the coastguard
steamship Russell, 60, Capt. G. Wodehouse, at Fal-
mouth, arrived in Plymouth Sound on Wednesday
afternoon with some seamen, and went up Hamoazo.
The banjo of the propeller of the screw steam
ship Hero, 91, Capt. Ryder, in Keyham steamyard,
has been patched, and she will shortly be removed
from No. 3 dock.

Steam was got up yesterday (Thursday) morning
on board the screw steam frigate Narcissus, 50,
Capt. Risk, in the basin at Keyham steamyard, to
try her machinery.

The gunboat Porpoise, 3, was hauled yesterday
into Keyham steamyard, to have her air pump and
condensers overhauled and repaired.
The naval apprentices' brig Nautilus, 6, Lieut.
B. Grant, was hauled into No. 4 dock at Devon-
port dockyard.
_ _

The gunboat Redwing, tender to the gunnery
ship Cambridge, 42, Capt. A. Jerningham, in
Hamoaze, took one of her customary tripe into
Xiymouth Sound yesterday for practice with the
Armstrong gun.

The boys belonging to the training ship Impla-
cable, 24, Commander J. W. Dorville, in Hamoaze,
were exercised yesterday, sending up royal and
topgallant yards, loosening sail, &c.
Commanders J. Dorville, E. D'O. D'A. Aplin, J.
J. S. Josling, and W. Bowden have been promoted
to the rank of Captain ; Lieuts. E. L. Strang ways,
W. T. F. Jackson, E. E. Maunsell, T. A. Swin-
burne, W. H. Phipps, J. Murray, R. H. Burton,
W. F. Ruxton, T. L. Ward, and J. S. Hudson
have been promoted to the rank of Commanders.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Commander S. B. Dolling
to the Implacable, vice Dorville, promoted; and E.
Dyer, clerk, to the Princess Royal.