The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-30
THE BRITISH NAVY.
SPECIAL MAIL TELEGRAM TO THE HERALD

TIE Grand Naval Review in Honor Of the
Submissions in the Solent Water-Thc
Sham Fight-Queen Victoria DecOrntcs tho
Sultan.
PORTSMOUTH, July IT, 1861
Tho naval review to-day, like all the other f6tes in
honor Of the Sultan a comparative failure Heavy
gales made 1t dangerous to unmoor the ships, and
squalls with drenched the spectators Occasionally
when the shone, the magnificent, rcsem
bling immense marine picture, but the view could not
be appreciated because all tho visitors aAoat
sick, and all ashore uncomfortable.
The Sultan and vceroy Of Egypt arrived at the dock
yard at noon. and embarked the steam yachts
Osborne and Heicon and sailed through the feet to
meet the Queen. Tho Prince OF Wales, with brilliant
SUITE attended the Sultan Steamers with members Of
the House OF Lords and House Of Commons followed
the royal yachts, but there very distinguished
members OF either House present
This opening procession would have boon superb but
for the weather. which drove the sultan his suite
below and cleared the Channel of oil excursion boats
and small craft.
Tho shore 1t Southsea frnged with thousands Of
dripping people, and decorated with long line OF flags
among which the American conspicuous.
The dashed into white caps by gaie; the sky
was banked with masses Of those gray clouds which
painters love to look
Tho ships nuttering with flags Despite the
storm, tho sailors manned the yards and the cannon
thundercd out a royal salute tho Sultan passed
The war vessels moored In two lnes the sixteen
wooden ships headed by the Victoria Admiral Pasey's
flagship and sixteen iron-clads, led by the Minoaur
Rear Admiral warden's gunboats made up the balance
Of the ieea
There wore forty nine vessels in ALL with one thousand
one hundred guns and moved twenty three thousand
horse power and one hundred thousand tons burden
Besides these Ave royal yachts and twenty troop
ships and tenders
The turreted iron-cIads attracted tho most notice.
This probably the last review where wooden vessels
will take up the post OF honor To-day Is the funeral
CAV Of England's wooden feet The American Monitor
sunk them when she fred on the Merrmac.
Queen Victoria awaited the Sultan the royal yacht
Victoria and Albert at Osborne and tho English
Turkish ensgns were seen flying together announcing
that the sovereigns had mot
On the deck OF tho yacht, aud in presence OF the
viceroy Of Egypt the Prince Of Wales, the Prncessss
OF England and distinguished company, the Queen
vested the Sultan with the Order OF the Garter
Then the procession Of yachts, led by the Queen,
passed down tho highway, as may be called OF ships,
royal sauies being tired and the crews cheering from
The Danish and Italian fngatos commenced this
salute.
Orders were then issued TO omit the manmuvres and
for the ships TO remain at their moorngs and engage
In few moments every gun Numbered forth. Tho
scene boted dense masses OF SMOKE through
which the flame flashed like lurid lightning.
The eunboass next attacked tho forts ashore, which
responded with heavy batteries.
Despite the smoke the noise and fame, both these
sham battles were failures The firing was wild and
unsteady and the British navy must do better than
that when IL faces a real enemy.
During the cannonading the royal party returned 10
Osborne, whore the Queen dscmbarked- The Sultan
and vceroy OF Egypt sailed swiftly back 70 Portsmouth,
the feet again salutng them They took special trains
for London where they arrived safely at ten O'Clock
This evening the feet 10 illuminated but the effect Is
marred BY the Storm
Crowds Of visitors we're detained here BY bad way
arrangements
Ths naval review cost the country nfty thousand
pounds sterling.
The Queen the Sultan and the viceroy express their
gratincstou but everybody else Is dissatisfied at the
dfsplav