The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-22 00:00:00

THE EXPERIMENTAL GUHIIRIGS.

CHATIIAM, Arun, 20.—This day the Mutine and Espiegle,
12-gun brigs, which are to form an experimental squadron
with the Daring, Osprey, Kingfisher, and Flying Fish, ships
of the same class, in the month of June next, for the pur-
pose ofatesting theirrelative capabilities at sea, were launched
at this dockyard in the presence of a considerable number of
the resident gentry and inhabitants of the town and neigh-
bourhood. Among the number of professional men present
were—Captain William Henry Sheriff; Mr. John Fincham,
master shipwright of this dockyard, who launched both
vessels; Captain G. G. Burton, with many other naval gen-
tlemen. Messrs. Chatfield and Creuze, two of the constructors
of the Espiegle, were also present, with Mr. John Wilson
Patten, M.P. ; Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Stevens, R.M. ;
Captainßrown, R.M. ; Mr. Gage, Master-Attendant of Sheer-
ness Dockyard; Major Smith, Barrack-master, and other
officers of the garrison, with their ladies. The first part of
the launch was the ceremony of christening the Mutine,
which was performed with great eclat by Mrs. Charles
Baldock, a daughter of Mr. Fincham. The Espiegle was
christened by Miss Wilson Patten, daughter of the Member
for North Lancashire. Both vessels went off the stocks in
gallant style—the Mutine at two o'clock P.M., and the
Espiegle at a quarter past two o'clock. The dockyard band,
which was in attendance playing several national airs,
during the preparatory arrangements, struck up " God
save the Queen," amidst the loyal and enthusiastic cheer-
ing of the spectators. The Mutine and Espiegle have
each been built upon the lines of their respective
ancon-
structors ; that of the Mutine by Mr. Fincham,
who a
the Espiegle by Messrs. Read, Chatfield, and Creuze,
_io
were formerly students at the College of_ Naval 1
on the
Archi-
tecture at Portsmouth. The Mutine was d
Pi'b' uilt in the incredibly
Fe-
bruary last, consequently it has been bunt
yener in their form ap-
short space of ten weeks and twold3o)
men, including officers
sels is to have a complement of .
30th of October, 1843, and the Es
armament :—ten 32-
pounders,and marines, with the following
18 -pounders, six
25 cwt., and two feet,
six feet,sterns, and are alike, Both vessels have elliptic ,
giElaoaaninchdthote of 7ethesetEspiegle
of
N -es
20 cwt.
s.scthhieienMutine. The
11give greater facility to the working of
only two, which -will
men very
handsome.
pears to be, that the Espiegle carries her breadth far more
fourhad ports,
before
efo
towards the surface of the water than the Mutine, while,
though both ships have a hollow floor, it is to a much greater
iisfieso peculiar,
bows of the Mutine are fuller than those of the Espiegle ; in-
re them, was the
dd theeeeg
r clp guns.ealtogether,eO t i s
e Bothrval b The
elvessels
only
tshape
1i
eaa
peculiarEr
ee s
Espiegle
thisegconsideredidifference
fftherelaanntbtei
that those Who saw her in the dock would not believe the
sharp, ex-
cepting
rising that
tiho re e vesseld•Muti ne
thhaesy
apparently bulky body which they had just launched
seen
off the stocks. Both vessels are, however, spoken very highly
of, and must excite considerable interest among nautical
men at the time of trial. Owing to the Mutine being in a
much more complete state than the Espiegle, their relative
draughts of water cannot be correctly compared at present.
An opportunity will be afforded between the two ships when
they are completed and floated out of dock.• It is rumoured
that th; two brigs Osprey and Daring, recently launched at
Portsmouth, are to have an increase of canvass in their four
courses. This will certainly be unfair, unless the constructors
of the two brigs now launched are allowed the option of the
same advantage.
The following are the actual dimensions of botknhipa':—; ,
ESPIEGLE: 14et. Inches.
Length between perpendiculars lO4 9i
of keel for tonnage B3 74
Breadth extreme '
for tonnage 3l 6i
Moulded ' -
_

13 1i

Depth in hold
Burden, in tons, 442 57.-94
MUTINE.
Length betteen perpendiculars lOl 11
of keel for tonnage 6l 2