The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-05 00:00:00

7HE NA Y.P.

The Defence, 22, 600 horse power, 3,668 tons, is
still in dock at Chatham, but from the energy now
shown in fitting her, and the number of hands em-
ployed about her, a very short time only will elapse
before she is ready for sea. Her crew will be sent
to her immediately, and during the time the vessel
is being completed they will be employed at Chat-
ham in preparing the screw frigate Galatea, 26, 800
horse power, for sea. The necessary provision is to
be made at Chatham for their accommodation.
In accordance with orders received at Chatham
yesterday the screw corvette Pylades, 21 guns,
1,278 tons, and 350 horse power (nominal), will be
placed in the fourth dock this afternoon, to be
brought forward for sea with all despatch.
The line-of battle ship Collingwood, 80, which
has been converted from a sailing ship to a screw
steamer, proceeded to the measured mile at the
Maplin Sands, on Tuesday, for the purpose of mak-
ing a trial trip, for the purpose of testing her ma-
chinery. The average rate of speed attained during
the several runs, was nearly 10 knots per hour.
The engines worked very satisfactorily.
Detailed instructions were yesterday forwarded
to the Commander-in-Chief at the Nore, directing
the following steamers referred to in The Sun of
yesterday to be prepared with the utmost possible
despatch for active service—viz., the Severn, 51 ;
the Galatea, 26; the Barrossa, 21; the Zebra, 17;
the Rosario, 11, and the Dragon, 6. A special re-
port is to be forwarded to the Admiralty, stating
the shortest possible time in which the foregoing
ships can be made ready for sea, allowing for
the increased number of hired mechanics and
labourers ordered to be entered. The Severn, 51,
500 horse power, and 2,767 tons, is now in the steam
basin, and yesterday had • her lower masts put in
under the masting shears. The dockyard authori-
ties state they will be enabled to complete her and
have her ready for sea in the course of three weeks
or one month from this date. The Galatea, 26 guns,
3,227 tons, and 800 horse power, is one of the finest
frigates in the royal navy. She has been attached
to the second division of the steam reserve in the
Medway, but has been sent to Chatham, where she
will be rigged and fitted. She steamed into Chatham
harbour yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the
Nore. Immediately on her arrival she was placed
under the floating shears, and had her bowsprit put
in, and to-day her lower masts will be got on board.
The Barrossa, 21 guns, 1,700 tons, and 400 horse
power, is completely rigged and fitted, and attached
to the first-class steam reserve. She can be made
ready to proceed to any part of the world in a few
days. The Zebra, 17 guns, and 200 horse power
(nominal), is in No. 1 dock, fitting. She is in a very
advanced state, is almost completed in her rigging,
and with the exception of painting little else re-
quires to be done to her. The Rosario, 11 gun
steam sloop, 150 horse power, is attached to the first
division of the steam reserve, She is completely
rigged and most of her stores are on board, and will
be ready for sra in a few days. The Dragon, 6,
paddlewheel steamer, 1,056 tons, 360 horse power,
is making good defects in the second dock, and
from her present condition some time must elapse
before she is ready to be commissioned.
The scrowsteam frigate Orlando, 51, was brought
on Tuesday from her moorings in Hamoaze to Key-
ham basin. Sho will be taken into No. 1 dock to-
morrow to have her bottom cleaned, valves over-
hauled, and be coppered to her load line ready for
sea. The screw steam frigate Phcebe, 51, at Devon-
port, is receiving her masts. She will be placed
alongside the dockyard to-morrow to be rigged.
Orders were received yesterday at Davenport, for
the artisans employed forwarding the repairs of
those and other ships, to work extra hours for their
advancement.

In consequence of the large number of steam
vessels ordered to be fitted out forth with, in antici-
pation of a war, Admiralty instructions have been
forwarded to the superintendents of the several
Government dockyards directing that the whole of
the continuous service seamen, who have recently
beep paid off from her Majesty's ships returned
from foreign stations, shall immediately join at the
respective flag ships, to be available when required.
This order also applies to petty officers, &c., and