The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-17 00:00:00

2'HE NAVY.

The Duncan, 101, screw, Mr. W. G. Barr engi-
neer, made her second experimental trial on Wed-
nesday in Stokes Bay, the propeller being a two-
bladed one, with the blades of the common Admi-
ralty form, and affixed to the boss on Messrs Mauds-
lay and Field's system. The vibration and lateral
motion of the ship were considerably greater than
on her first trial.

Letters received from Shanghai state that deser-
tions have taken place from among the crews of
her Majesty's ships at that port. From the Janus
gunboat, Lieut.-Commander Davidson, five of the
seamen were known to have deserted expressly to
join the Taepings, taking with them a revolver
each.

The Western Division of the Channel fleet,
which has been lately lying at Portland, hove in
sight off the east end of the Isle of Wight at 3 30
p.m. yesterday.

The Marlborough, 131, screw, Captain W. H.
Stewart, C,8., in No. 10 dock at Portsmouth, has
been examined, her bottom found to be in excellent
condition, and the caulking as firm as could be
desired. Her copper is exceedingly foul.
The Prince Regent, 90, converting from a sailing
two-decker to a screw, at Portsmouth, is ordered to
be undocked on the 27th inst., and removed into
the steam basin, where she will be immediately
fitted with her machinery.

The following are the principal dimensions of
the Helicon, 1 gun paddle despatch boat, ordered
to be constructed forthwith at Portsmouth dock-
yard :—Length between perpendiculars, 200 ft. ;
length of keel for tonnage, 200 ft. 14 in. z breadth
extreme, 28 ft. 2 in. ; ditto for tonnage, 28 ft.;
ditto moulded, 27 ft. 2 in. ; depth in hold, 14 ft. 6
in.; burden tons, 834 53 94; horse-power (nominal)
250. Each vessel of this class will have for arma-
ment one of Sir W. Armstrong's naval pattern 70
pounders, the gun with which it is said to be the
intention of the authorities to supersede the present
100-pounder on board ship, so soon as a sufficient
number have been manufactured for the purpose.
It will be seen by the dimensions of the Helicon
that vessels of her class and description are destined
in any future naval war in which this country
may be engaged to play even a more important
part in relation to our steam fleets than did the
fast frigate to the sailing fleets of Nelson and Col-
lingwood.
Messrs. Napier and Sons, of Govan, the builders
of the Black Prince, have commenced a smaller
armour-plated ship, 280 feet in length, 56 feet in
breadth of beam, of 4,080 tons burden, and of 800-
horse power. The contract has been taken at £4l
10s. per ton, an advance of £4 10s. per ton on the
price paid for the Black Prince, the augmentation
arising from the fact that the new vessel will be
plated entirely round from below the water-line
upwards. The stem will be ram-shaped, formed
inwards at the top ; and the plates employed will
be 41 inches thick, and of the' best description of
iron.

The Iris, 26, late the flag-ship of Commodore W.
Loring, C. 8., which is daily expected to arrive from
Australia, is ordered to be paid off at Chatham.
The Rattlesnake, 22, screw ccrvette, 400 horse-
power, building under the first shed at Chatham, is
ordered to be launched on the 29th of July. The
shipwrights are busily engaged preparing the
launching-ways.

In the naval promotions in our Military and
Naval Intelligence yesterday, Lieut. F. Harvey's
name was misprinted " Hardy!'
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty .—Commander E. Lacy to the
Castor, for service With the Royal Naval Reserve
in the Brilliant, vice Gardner, promoted ; Com-
mander W. H. Anderson, to the Flying Fish, vice
Hope, promoted ; Richard C. Dyer, master addi-
tional, to the Asia, for the Euryalus; Robert H.
Armit and Adolphus H. Barnard, midshipmen, to
the Driver; John Henry Trelwing, Robt. Wemvss,
Wm. Wootton, Thomas Fellowes Simmons, Henry
Brown, and W. R. Fabian have been promoted to
the rank of chief engineers ; W. Wotton, chief engi-
neer to the Cumberland, for the Leander ; T. F.
Simmons, chief engineer, to the Gorgon ; Henry H.
Henri, first-class assist.-engineer, to the Spiteful ;
Richard Holman, first-class assist.-engineer, to the
Alecto ; W. C. Archbold, third-class assist.-engi-
neer, to the Desperate ; and A. G. Young, assistant
paymaster, to the Aboukir.