The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-30 00:00:00

Naval and iviiiitaiy

LAUNCH OP THE RENOWN, 91.—CiATHAm, March 29.
—The launch of the large screw steamer Renown, 91
guns, took place yesterday afternoon in the presence of
several thousand speetators. A large gallery had been
erected extending round the bows and sides of the vessrl
for the accommodation of the Lords of the Admiralty,
the officers of the army and nary. and other visitors.
Owing, however, to the elections taking place yesterday
none of the members of lithe Admiralty were present.
An application had bean made to allow the launch to be
postponed, in consequence of the workmen employed in
the dockyard having been granted a holiday for the pur-
pose of 'recording their votc-. It was, however, not
considered ezpedient to po,tpono the launch. The
Renown is the largest vessel of her class ever constructed
in this dockyard, being several feet longer than the
Orion, 91, which was launched from the same slip. She
is a two decker, and is considered the finest sr .:cimen of
naval architecture in the service. She was construct- I
under the generd. direction of Mr. P. J. Laire, ma: ter
shipwright, from the designs of Sir Baldwin Walker,
vfollovving are her prin-
cipaly, and was commenced
K latter.o
inß a
thert ~
dimensions :-
Bp. ,asrutrovieyloBrso4f. t.h eTnhae

• , . Feet, In.
Length between perpendiculars....... 244- 9
Ditto for tonnage ........... ... . 2lO 0
Breadth, extreme 55 4
Ditto for tonnage ..... 54 6
Ditto moulded
Height forward 53 0
Ditto aft 5B 6
Depth of hold
Burthen 3,317 78-94 tons
The ceremony of " christening" was erformed by Mrs.
Goldsmith, the wife of the Captain1uperintendent of
the yard ; and on the signal being given she glided into
Marine
antelbyad playing " Rule Britaa-
fter wards towed by two
tnhiae.,M, esdhWeayw,atsheimMm
steamers to Sheerness, where she is to.be fitted with her
machinery and made ready for sea. The next vessel
21, which is just completed.
which will be launched from this dock Yard is the
.Racoon,

The Electra, 15, Commander W. Morris (1852), was
paid off on Saturday, having been in commission up-
wards of fouryears, during which time elle has been solely
employed on the Australian station, cruising between
New Zealand and Sydney. Her crew were remarkably
healthy, only one man, having died. On the morning of
the 20th Nov. 1856, whilst the vessel was on her voyage
from Auckland to Sydney, and when in lat. 32 deg. 4
min. S , long. 168 deg. 12 min. E., she was struck by a
powerful whirlwind, which caused her to begin to fill.
After great efforts the mainsheet was cut away and the
vessel lighted. She brought home abort 14,000 ounces
of gold on freight, which was landed at Portsmouth.
On the vessel being paid off two medals and gratuities'
were given away—one to Peter Francis, quartermaster,
and the other to William Boyne, captain's coxswain, for
good conduct ; Edward Rourke, able seaman, also re-
ceived a gratuity of 151. for gcod and Meritorious con-
duct.

Col. H. Jervis, commanding the provisional battalion,
assembled the whole of the troops belonging to the seve-
ral depots on the Lines on Friday afternoon, where they
were inspected for field exercise. The number of troops
belonging to the provisional battalion is bow 4,000 men
of all ranks.