The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-04 00:00:00

TRIAL No. 3.

"March I.s—At noon the fligates again started
by the wind, strong breezes, wind south, going 8
knots 8 lengths. The Phaeton was going tolerably
to windward of all ; at 1.25 tacked per signal. The
Phaeton's foretopsail yard was sprung, and this ended
her chance of the race, leaving the Thetis to beat the
Leander, the Leander the Arrogant, and the Arrogant
the Indefatigable.
" The Phaeton shifted foretopsail yards remarkably
well for the first time, but gave up the race, and did
not make sail when the wino fell light, but even then
beat the Indefatigable, when at sunset the ships re-
took their stations.
TRIAL Ne. 4.
" March 16—Signal to try rate of sailing before
the wind ; studding sails both aides ; course east ;
wind W. by S. ; speed 6 to 7 knots ; 0.45 P.M., short-
ened sail. In 4 Lours 45 minutes there was hardly
any perceptible difference between the Thetis, the
Leander, the Phaeton, and Indefatigable. The Phae-
ton had a slight advantage, and gained a few ships'
lengths. The Arrogant was 6 miles astern. 130
r.M., signal—' Steer N.E. by N.; try rate of sail-
iag,' the Commodore wishing to try what ships would
do ; wind 4 points abaft the beam. They set port
topmast, topgallant and studdingsails and lower stud-
- dingsail. 5.40 P.M.—Phaeton shortened sail to top-
sails, and took station; having beaten Thetis 4mile;
Indefatigable 1 mile; Leander 1 mile. The Arro-
gant was not in tho trim, as she never came up.
" March 17—Sunday, a day of 'rest. The Ter-
rible went round the squadron and collected diagrams
of.sailing.

" March 18-11.30—Made all plain sail her sig-
nal, and try rate of sailing on the starboard tack ;
royal breeze, smooth water. Wind N. A E. ; speed
from 6 to 7 knots. The ships had a good start.
Thetis and Phaeton close together, Arrogant a little
on Thetis's lee bow, Jndefatigable from 1;500 to
2,000 yards to leeward. 4 P.M.—Signal, ' 'Cake
station.'

" Phaeton had beat, in 4 hours and 20 minutes,
"Thetis 22 miles to windward.
" Leander 4-1- miles to windward.
"Arrogant 51 miles to windward.
"Indefatigable 7 miles to windward.
" Phaeton thus beat the Thetis more than half a
mile to windward per hour.
"March 19—Forenoon, Fquadron exercised, ma-
noeuvring and sailing in line of bearing. 1.50 P.M.
—Signal, Try rate of sailing W.S.W.' Light
breeze from N.N.W., made all plain sail, and set
topmast and topgallant-studding-sails. 4.30. Signal
to take station, Phaeton having beaten Leander
milt., Thetis 2 mile, Arrogant and Indefatigable,
Nowhere.'

" March 23-8.30 A.M.—Signal to close Thetis to
leeward. 9 A.M.—Frigates try rate of sailing by the
wind ; ships under topsails, topgallantsails, coursers,
jib, and spanker ; smart breeze, wind N.E. by E. f
E 9.50 A.M.—Thetis set reefed royals, and soon after
the others set their royals. At 10.30 the Phaeton
tacked her signal. 10,30 Leander tacked. 10.45,
Thetis, Arrogant, and Indefatigable tacked. Breeze
very steady, but freshening a little. 10.50, signal to
show heel of ship. Answered as follows :—Arrogant,
Sf degrees ; Leander, 4 degrees ; Thetis, 4 degrees ;
Indefatigable, 5f degrees; Phaeton, 4i degrees.
"1 r.m., Phaeton tacked ; 1.45, Thetis and Leander
tacked ; 2 P.M., Indefatigable tacked, and Arrogant at
2 30. Signal to take station. The result was about
as follows, as near as is correct to state :

Phaeton beat Leander .. rni!e.
Phaeton beat Thetis .. 1 mile.
Phaeton beat Arrogant .. 4 mile.
Phaeton beat Indefatigable .. 3 miles.

" This was the best trial, and very decisive.
" Squadron arrived off Lisbon on the 2Gth, And
found the Arethusa there."

PLYMOUTH, APRIL 2.—ller Majesty's ship Superb,
80, Capt. Purcell, came in yesterday morning from a
cruise in the Channel, and anchored inside the Break-
water. This morning, under double-reefed topsails,
she went up liamnaze. The Superb is to be got
ready in six weeks for foreign service.
WooLwieu, Arum 3.—The Ariel steam-vessel,
fitted with a smoke.consuming apparatus, went down
the river to-day on an official trial, under the charge
of the proprietors of the invention, with their own en-
gineers, stokers, and others, to navigate and pilot the
vessel. Lieutenant Robertson, assistant to Captain
llenderson's steam department afloat at Woolwich,
and Mr. 3aplin, assistant to the Chief Engineer at
Woolwich, also went in her to report the result to
the Admiralty. The vessel came down the river to
Woolwich in the furenoor, and continued running
up and down short distances until 12.20
when she left Woolwich, and proceeded down the
river, against tide, as far as Erith, and returned
to Woolwich shortly ufrer three P.M. On this occasion
the proprietors hare demonstrated that the prin-
ciple of thoroughly consuming the smoke on board of
steam-vessels is practicable, and the fires can be fed or
stoked without any inconvenience from the smoke,
as was the case on former trials. The greatest appa-
rent difficulty they have now to overcome, is to ensure
the proper working, under every circumstance, of the
small boiler of the donkey engine for driving the
fanners. No difficulty was found with it. du
down
ringprivate trial on Monday last, but in
g
the river to-day the draught of air was
nooltnrgufficient
to keep the steam up to the full working. pressure
when the wind and the vessel were proceeding in the
th e
fire Erith and
same direction. On turning
oppositeeyn
coming up the river against the wind,
gtoines spare,v
va s
brought up to the full p
the small boiler was very bright, and consequently
speed of the fanners revolving wais greatly in-
creased, and the steam for working
with plenty
the
although the throttle valves
very were both left open.
This result Wassatisfactory, and in the
event of the full power of steam being kept up
at all times, a very important desideratum
will be obtained, and a
great saving
effected, as she run for five hours on Monday with a
consumption of one and a half tons of coals, her usual
consumption in the same period without the smoke-
consuming apparatus being two and a half tons. NlThen
the vessel started she made twenty-three revolutions
per minute, and during the whole trial made from
twenty-two to twenty- six revolutions, although her
engines are very old and much worn. The wind blew
a strong breeze to day, testing the vessel fairly, and
she presented a singular appearance, having no funnel
or masts. The great objection which existed on
former trials of a close and heated air below strongly
mixed with an unpleasant sulphuric smell, arising
from the imperfect combustion of the coals and smoke,
was completely remedied to-day, and the air below in
the part where the fanners were at work was as pure
as on deck, with comparatively little heat in the
engine-room.

NAVAL OBITUARY.
Th followin of-,t b 5 have been officiey
reported since Dec. 20, 1849 :--
flag 011icers—Admirals—Lorcl Colville, 1841