The New York herald., 1862-04-30
Progrcss OF Ia. British Navy.

| ltlOn the LONDON Tim eS. April 10.
The Duke OF Somerset. First Iad OF the admiralty
accompanied by his private secretary. Captain j. hooro
C. g. and Rear AdmiraiR Spencer Robinson, Comptroller
of The Navy, paid official visit Chatham dock ard
yesterday Their object inspect the iron shir
now udor construction at Chatham order TO
tho progress mado with thsm arriving at The dock
yard tho Duke Of Somerset met by Captain ranshaws
superintendent; Nr. Lang master shipbuilder; Com.
mander Pope mastcr attendant and the her principal
officials OF the establishment, who accompanied him 10
ihe dock in which the Achilles, So building where ho
1peDt considerable time ~ tho inspection the works
After leaving the Achilles ho proceeded TO the extreme
end of tho building sheds TO inspect the arInOr plated
figste Royal OAK 90 which Is now waiting to re- Give
her shield platss. Instructions pero given for every
eEcron 70 be used in ms,iag this vessel which, pro-
vied delay arises In plating her will be launched
August next abcd mor % before tho period formerly
calculated upon. The works adjoining the Royal OAK
she'd 10 which the machinery required 20 be used p rrs-
psrsg the armof plates is % be erected then ia
spec.cd after whcha visit paid 20 tho rulwark
aud tho Bovi. ga 81, ordered to be converted INTO
srmoE plated shield ships.
The Back Prince iron frigats vas urdocsc yesterday
at Portsmouth, aud bcrthed along side the Bake OF Wei.
lington, at hsrb0. moorngs. This morning. weather
permitting, the Back Prince will ssvc the harbor and
test her steering qualities with her smpor,rily enlarged
rudder, ,0utCds the Isle OF Wight.
The Chesapeake, bi steam frgac 4ro horse power is
IN No. dock at Sbcerncss being repaired She no; 20
bo re6ted but ~ IS believed that she viii DO shortly
iron plated y which purpose sho Is admirably adapted
The IRON steamer Reslsance, 49, goo horse power got
eleven O'Clock vss taken IN tow by the paddle whool
steamers Adder. Mr.. Blakey, Master Commander aud
the African, Mr. Bcrvoy, Master Commander. sho then
proceeded shesrDsss under the charge cf M W. Hcms-
ey Master Of the wslissey, ~ and party OF riggcg
AMI isburcrs from The dookyarJ assisting navigating
Los. Ator getting clear OF tho harbor the Resistance
proceeded under her own s.ssu and was found
hsr helm very satisfactorily. No time IL 10 be lost In
rigging and completing her sheerness for tho Ars d.
vision * tie steam reserve.
orders have becn received II Portsmouth dockyard,
from the Admiralty, 10 suspend al further work on suil
for ships og.ihe-line.
Contract for n British Cupola ship.
from the London Army and Navy Gasstts, April l21
The tender OF Messrs sanuda Brothers, Of iho Isle Of
Dogs for the construction of Captain Coles cupola yes
sol hay ing been found 70 be the lowest 10 Monday
last accepted by the Admiralty. Messrs Samuda have
boune themselves under penalty Of $4,000 (which will
be rigdly enforced in the event of any acss their
part) to lsunch the ship 1s 1oh cf Ebruary 1863
iTe price which the contractviz., fA4 I5e-s taken
is regarded very low, and ths gentlemen who have
undertaken will, r they succeed IN complying with i.s
terms deserve great praise fer their enterprise and
energy Tho ship for which f1s0 600 has beer taken In
the estimates to be go feet long nearly 2eo0 TONS
will draw about twenty feet, and viii have engines OF 500
horse power. She will, according 10 present arrange
men,s, have sx cupolss, ssch AIMED with two 100.
pounder Armstrong guns.