The New York herald., 1870-11-14
THE BRITISH NAVY.
Danger in the Iron-Clads-The United States
Ship Franklin at Plymouth, from Ports
mouth-American Visits to the Iron
hips-Cruising-Captain Comme-
rell-Colonial Defence-The
Flying Squadron.

IN my last letter referred to the Audacous, Van
guard ana Invincible the three new iron-clads
Just commissioned, being sent TO sea before they
had undergone ballast test OF their stability.
Pup'lc Indignation has not been able to be sup
pressed In the OF these ships, and the English
aaiiy journals are taking up the question, which,
sincerely trust, may have the desired effect upon
the authorities 10 institute o rigid inquiry as
10 their efficiency IN all respects. One OF
the three went outside the breakwater at Ply
mouth on Wednesday. ana her .'sensitvenessn was
alarming TO all on board. With slight breeze, say
Win iorce from four to five on the broadside.
these vessels VIII heel while at anchor from four
70 SIX degrees. They are to all appearances re-
markably line ships, and fitted up with every de-
gree OF comfort, far AS Is compatible with the ex-
igencies OF a British ron-claa. Nevertheless they
nave not The stability which necessary for ships
80 much "top-hanpered." Again, their bottoms are
ike the sides OF CASKS, perfectly round. and need
hardly tell your readers that o round bottom has no
hoid IN the water; therefore, this Is another and
further reason why every prccaution should be
taken before they In contact with actual ser.
vice In the Channel or on coast guard.
Ihe United States frigate Franklin with the nag OF
Rear Admiral Glisson arrived In Plymouth Sound
at nine O'Clock on. Thursday morning from Ports
mouth, anu exchanged salutes with the citadel and
the Admiral Commanding in Chief, Sir Henry Cod.
rington.
Several of the officers Of the Franklin have paid
visit to this trio" OF costly ronclads ana would
venture to assert that their impression to man is
the same as minctha all three Of the ships are de-
ncicnt IN their stability and are too much tQp-nam-
pered, although 10 The eye they beautiful looking
vessels. understand tnat the franklin Will not re-
main long In Plymouth Sound, but Will sail TOR the
Iasus, wnere, no doubt, she will again meet some Of
the vessels OF tle Channel squadron which she has
Just ielt behlnd at Portsmouth, as l am Informed
thy VIII proceed to Lisbon during the ensuing
MONTH
IL is pretty certain that the British souadron
under Admiral Wellesley VIII not tins year remain
at Lisbon during the Christmas holidays. Last year
they dld, ana the angry growi .'Jack gave vent TO
humble yet home nreslde made q slight impression
| upon our naval admlnstrators. 1t Is true that no
llnchpins were thrown overheard or shot
rolled about tue deck, yet there were un-
mlstakabe signs OF discontent not only among
the men, but also among the officers, at beng
| eAiled unnecessarily FROM their homes when ut
Carstmastlde nearly every English home ringing
win Joy, and they, alas compelled to pass their
time Nv that festive season In the realms OF tine Kinr
of Portugal instead of those OF Engiand's Queen.
| CAPTAIN COMMERELL.
| Captain j. Il. Commcreil, who commissioned the
| Monarch and mad command OF that vessel when she
proceeded across the Atlantic with the remains OF
the great pnilanthropst, Is aBouL 70 be superseded
III tie coIlnalu VI tat Vessei ana entrusted Win
more lucrative post although one perhaps, not so
| healthy or deslrabe-the command OF the British
squadron at the Cape OF Good Hope and on the
west coast OF Africa l believe the gallant ollcer
| Will leave England early in the ensuing month on
board the lnalla, . new corvette which Is TO con,
| vey him TO his STALLION, where, on arrival, NJ VIII
hoist MS broad pennunt as commodore.
! WEARING OUT.
am told that some OF The ronclads rhe old ones,
refer TOY are getting into sad condition, the wood
Work OF tner hulls below the water line being rot
ten. Tns, believe, Is the case with some OF the
SHIPS on the Mediterranean station, ana also hear
| that the Jealous, the sagsnip OF Rear Admiral
| Arthur Farquhar, the Coinmandcrn-C Chief OF the
Pacitc sqniaron, IS III very SAD condition. II this
| is the case and have no reason TO doubt It, as
| have heard 1t from very old friend OF mine on
board-it appears to me surprising that the Admi.
| rally 10 not take some Immediate step 10 relieve
her, IL s quite impossible Tor them be ignorant
oil the state OF Things ooard their ships when such
| voluminous reports are perio iicaly made by the
officers on board concerning all matters Tor the In
| formation OF the Lords Conmss oners.
| ACCIDENTS.
| An accident occurred ON board the Hercules OF
| Wednesday last by winch some OF her crew were 81
much injured that they mad to he sent TO hospital
| IL appears tlat d cask OF antl-loung compos tlol
was being lowered into the hold when the tackle
gave way or was let go and the cask le The decL
ana burst. Some or the men most ncautiously
| took lantern TO ascertain wnere IL had fallen and
the napntna, when is said TO be tue component
| consequentlyloo place. At hrst 1t was Thought
| That the men were very much injured but on In
qulry at Haslar Hospital last night was Informed
that the injuries were not great as at first sun
posed and that all the men were progressing favor
| ely.
| COLONIAL COAST DEFENCE
Tne two new turret ships for the defence OF BOm-
| bay harbor will leave England some time next
month.
1ne Abyssinia is TO be tried next week. and from
all astertain she likely to fulfil the antcipa-
ton OF her contractors, who, believe are deter
mined, the same as the contractors OF the Mapdala
not 70 let the British Admiralty officials do more
| with the vessel than Is absolutely necessary and
that only In the trials OF the vesses speed engines
ana boilers, they tine contractors taking upon them
selves the safe delivery OF the vessels 10 the Indian
authorities.
IN ASIA.
II was reported some time since that Sir Harry
Kcllett the British Commander-in-Chier in emma
and Japan, would be compelled to resign through III
if ID
mucn TO be hoped that the Admiral Will be able to
remain out I'LL the crisis has passed; although the
| allies have had their hands SO tried that much
question whether any operations Will be taken this
year against John Chinaman, and next year. on tine
return OF the French forces they will find conside
rable alteration In the forts at Saku.
FLYING SQUADRON.
Admiral HOrnbys flying squadron may any day
arrive at one OF our ports, and is to hoped It
Will make irs appearance before the departure OF
the Channel squadron, SO tnat the combined fleet OF
the Channel portion or the Mediterranean (which is
now In England refittngj and HOrnby's may be ex
ercised In ieet eyoutions before the latter Is paid
OF.