The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-23 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

CONTINUATION OF CAPTAIN NORTON'S
SHELL PRACTICE.—FOURTH DAY.
The firing continued again on Thursday morning, at
nine o'clock, at the top of high water, for the
purpose of testing the qualities of these formid-
able missiles, as ricochet shells—the Swiftsure the
target. The guns used were as before, 68 and 32-
pounders. Twenty-five shells were thrown at a very
small elevation of the gun, to make the first graze
about eight hundred yards from. the Excellent, the
object being to test the operation of the shell on
striking the water. We understand that a number of
the shells fired were not pointed at the Swiftsure, but
merely to try whether the shell would explode by
the resistance of the water, which it did not do
except in one or two instances, and then we suppose
the shell came into contact with the hard ground
under the slight coating of mud and water ; about 10
shells struck the ship, four of which exploded with
tremendous effect, one entered through the quarter-
deck, and did not explode, but was picked up and
taken back to the Excellent.

We subjoin a list of shells fired, &c.
No. 1. First graze about 800 yards, passed over
Swiftaure, grazed water eight times ; no explosion.
No. 2. First graze about 850 yards, second graze
into ships' bulwark, quarter-deck, port side, splinter-
ing timberheads, side-planking, &c. No. 3. Ex-
ploded in the air, about 700 yards from the Excellent.
No. 4. First graze 800 yards, third graze into ship
and exploded. No. 6. First graze about 800 yards;
at third graze struck ship, passing through quarter-
deck bulwarks, and into deck ; no explosion seen.
No. 6. First graze about 800 yards ; at third graze
struck ship through quarter-deck by skylight, through
main deck ; no explosion. No. 7. First graze about
850 yards; struck, third graze, passing through
quarter and main deck ; exploded on main deck.
No. 8. Ricochet, nine times, passing ahead of ship ;
no explosion. No. 9. First graze about 900 yards,
passed ahead of ship, grazed nine times. No. 10. First
graze about 900 yards, passed ahead, grazed six
times; exploded. No. 11. Passed ahead of ship,
grazed water twenty times ; no explosion. No. 12.
Into ship the fourth graze ; no explosion heard.
No. 13. Into ship the third graze, struck port fore-
castle bulwark, and exploded. No. 14. Into ship the
third graze, and exploded. N 0.15. First graze about
800 yards passed over ship; no explosion heard.
No. 16. First graze about 800 yards, struck ship the
third graze, and exploded. No. 17. First graze about
800 yards, struck the third graze into ship's water-
line. No. 18. First graze about 950 yards, passed
ship, grazed water twelve times. No. 19. First graze
about 950 yards, passed, grazed seven times, and ex-
ploded. No. 20. Struck water about 950 yards, and
exploded. No. 21. First graze about 900 yards,
missed ship, grazed water twelve times. No. 22.
First graze 950 yards, missed ship, grazed water
twelve times. No. 23. First graze about 700 yards,
missed ship, grazed water twenty times. No. 24.
First graze about 800 yards, missed ship, grazed
water thirteen times ; no explosion. No. 25. First
graze about 900 yards, missed ship, grazed water
thirty times ; no explosion.
Sir T. Hastings, Colonel Dansey, and Capt. Stevens,
inspected the Swifture after the firing ceased.
The Daedalus, 20, Captain P. M'Quhae, is ordered
from Woolwich to Devonport, where she will be paid
advance and receive orders.

The Black Eagle steam-yacht, Master-Commander
B. Cook, has returned to Woolwich from Dover.

The Champion, 18, Commander Clavell, has arrived
from South America at Portsmouth, sailed from Val-
paraiso Aug. 10. She worked out of the bay with
a French frigate, bound to Otaheite. The Dublin,
50, Captain Tucker, had sailed on the 7th to blockade
Callao. Left at Valparaiso the Cormorant steam-
sloop, Commander Gordon ; and at Rio, the Alfred,
50, Commodore Purvis, and the Crescent receiving-
ship. The Champion reached Portsmouth in forty-
seven days ; had fine weather all the passage.
The Satellite, Commander Rowley, arrived at
Monte Video, from Rio Janeiro, on the 30th July.