The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-22 00:00:00

fran

THE NAVY.

Yesterday the Commissioners of the Admiralty
commenced their annual inspection of the dock-
yard at Chatham. They visited, in the first in-
stance, the lead mills, and afterwards the testing-
house's, where the anchors and cables manufactured
at this and other yards are tested by powerful hydrau-
lic engines before being delivered to the various
vessels of war. Their Lordships, having directed
a few minor alterations to be carried out at the
testing-house, proceeded to the Anchor-wharf,where
the anchors, buoys, and other stores are deposited.
Since their last visit several improvements have
been carried cut at this part of the dockyard, and
others are in contemplation. They spent a short
time in examining one of the portable steam cranes,
several of which have been recently supplied to the
yard by Messrs. Taylor, of the Britannia Ironworks,
the saving of manual labour by the use of these
machines being very great. Leaving the wharf
their lordships proceeded to inspect the various
docks, and also the ships now on the stocks. Pass-
ing No. 1 slip, on which the Salamis has only been
within the last few days commenced, the members
of the Board inspected the Reindeer, 16. under the
second shed. Their Lordships next visited No. 1
dock, which is in course of being extended seaward,
and deepened and enlarged, by Messrs. Foord and
Sons, the contractors. Already a considerable depth
has been gamed, by the harbour at that spot having
been deepened and the entrance to the dock cleared
of the mud, which h - d for years been accumulating
to such an extent that only the smallest vessels could
be docked in it. The alterations effected, however,
will now admit of large line-of-battle ships being
accommodated in it. At present this dock is empty.
Advantage has been taken of that circumstance,
and the °whole is now being floored over, in order
that the space thus gained may be used for storing
the models and portions of the iron-work required
in constructing the Achilles, 50, building in the
next dock. The new factory and workshops recently
erected between the first and second docks were next
visited, the factory being filled with machinery,
forges, and workmen employed in preparing the
beams, slabs, and plates for the new iron frigate.
The Orpheus, 21, screw corvette, in No. 3 dock,
being rigged and fitted_ for the first division of the
Steam Reserve, was next inspected, the Duke of
Somerset going en board and inquiring into the
work in progress. Passing the President, 51, in the

next dock, their Lordships briefly inspected the
Menai,22, the Belvidera, 51, the Bulwark, 91, and the
Myrmidon, 4, screw steamers, all of which are in
various stages of progress, and then visited the
Royal Oak, 51, building under the last shed. This
vessel, although only a short time since commenced,
has made considerable progress, and every effort is
being made to have her completed by an early date.
She is the first of the large wooden frigates which

the Admiralty have decided on having covered with

armour plates, and more than usual interest is
therefore felt in her progress. The massive iron
plates, each weighing nearly five tons, and of a re-
gular thickness of four and a-half inches, are lying
by the side of the vessel in readiness to be placed

on the sides whenever the timbers are fit to receive
them. The members of the Board went over this

fine frigate, which, although only in frame, appears
to he of the most gigantic size and of enormous

strength. After completing the inspection of the

ships building and in dock, their Lordships visited
the eastern end of the yard, and inspected the site

on which it is proposed to construct the additiona

docks, basins, and locks for the extension of Cha-
tham Dockyard, in conformity with the recommen-
dation of the Parliamentary committee, the estima-
ted cost of which is upwards of £1,000,000 sterling.
Close to this part of the yard the iron gunboats,
built at the close of the Russian war, are laid up
under cover, but these were not inspected by their
Lordships. Their Lordships then landed at the
New-stairs, and proceeded to Melville Naval Hos-
pital, where they were received by Surgeon J.
Moody, the principal medical officer, and the staff
of the establishment. The excellent arrangements
of the interior of this hospital were warmly com-

mended. The buildings are of the largest kind,
and a greater space is afforded the inmates than in
any other similar establishment. At present there
are 170 patients in the hospital, but accommoda-
tion is provided for nearly 300. After leaving the

hospital the Duke of Somerset and their Lord-
ships again took boat, and were rowed over to
St. Mary's Island, to inspect the works in pro
gress there for enlarging the dockyard establish-
ments in that direction. A. considerable tract of
land has already been reclaimed from the
river and embanked, chiefly by means of convict
labour, several hundred prisoners being daily em-
ployed on the operations. Their Lordships were
conducted over the place by Mr. Rivers, clerk of
the works, and Mr. Macdonnell, C.E., under whose
superintendence the improvements are being carried
out. The works are of great magnitude, and will
occupy several years before they are completed.
The entire sum required for this part of the im-
provement of Chatham Dockyard, exclusive of the
new docks, &c., is nearly £200,000. The members
of the Board will resume their inspection of the
naval establishments at Chatham this morning,
after which they will proceed to visit Sheerness.
The Antelope, recently commissioned by Lieut.-
Commander Allingham, for service in the slave
preventive duty on the West Coast of Africa, has
shipped the whole of her officers and crew, to the
number of 100. She yesterday hauled out of basin
at Woolwich and berthed in the stream, for the
purpose of receiving her cabin stores and sea stock
preparatory to d)parture.
The Rhadamanthus, Master Commander Sturdee,
in the river at Woolwich, has commenced unship-
ping her cargo, 'consisting of naval stores from
Portsmouth, among which are ships' cable, 59
lengths, measurhig over 150 miles in extent.
The hired transport Faith sailed from Woolwich
yesterday, conveying the armament for Perch Rock
battery and military and defence stores for the
other forts above Liverpool.
The War Department steamer Lord Panmure,
Master-Commander Moore, yesterday commenced
loading with Armstrong guns and other stores for
Devonport and Ball's Point, and the Wasp com-
menced shipping the armaments for TiFbert and
Kilkenen forts on the Shannon.

The Furious, 16, Capt. 0. J. Jones, arrived from
China on Tuesday (as reported in The Sun of yes-
terday). She left Hong Kong on the 21st of
March, arrived at Batavia on the 12th of April,
at Simon's Bay on the 2d, at Ichaboe on the 19th
of June, at St. Helena on the Ist and at Ascension
on the Bth of July. She has brought home a large
number of invalided officers and men from China,
the Cape of Good Hope, and the coast of Africa.
She was inspected yesterday, and will, after taking
out powder and shell, go into harbour and strip,
prior to her paying off.
The ship Sir George Grey, Ellis master, arrived
at Spithead from the Cape of Good Hope, she hav-
ing left that port on the 20th of June, and St.
Helena on the 10th of July, with invalids and pas-
sengers, including Major Summers and Lieut H.
Wayne, of the 10th Regiment, Mr. Banks and
family, Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher, and Dr. Therzen
and family ; she landed her invalids yesterday
afternoon in the Sprightly.
His Italian Majesty's frigate Eurydice, 36 guns,
Capt. Chevalier Riboti, from Genoa, with 64 naval
cadets on board on a voyage of instruction, arrived
at Spithead yesterday.
The following promotions of officers have been
made at the admiralty :—Comrnander W. Wood,
Commander W. G. Jones, Commander Henry C.
Glyn, Commander Henry J. Bloomfield, Comman-
der Charles E. H. Vernon, and Commander George
F. Day, V.C., to the rank of Captains ; Lieut. John
B. Scott, Lieut. Thomas C. Bruce, Lieut. Maxwell
Vox, Lieut. Thomas C. Cholmeley, Lieut. Hugo D.

Burnaby, Lieut. John K. Simcoe, Lieut. George A
W. Welch, Lieut. W. B. Brant, and Lieut. W. E
Gordon, to the rank of Commanders.

The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Lieut. Clayton Mitchell, to the
Hecate ; George H. Doming, Master, to the Panta-
loon ; Mitchel Thomson, Surg., to the Saturn ; John
C. Sabben, Surg., to the Asia; Frederick L. W.
Wright, Assist.-Surg., to the Haslar Hospital ;
Godfrey Goodman, Assist.- Surg , to the Plover ;
Gordon Jackson, Assist.-Surg., to the Aboukir; and
George F. Elliott, Assist.-Surg., to the Victory, for
Haslar Hospital.