The New York herald., 1870-11-19

LONDON, Oct 8, 1870.
Al length the rendezvous for the Portsmouth and
Plymouth division or the Channel Squadron has
been assigned, and there be but little doubt that
the SHIPS OF the squadron will go for short cruise
before Christmas. They VIII probably leave these
SHORES IN about fourteen days. Previous TO their
departure Mr.. Chiders, the First Lord Of the Ad-
miraty, VIII visit some OF the ships. l believe he
goes down TO Portsmouth ON the ensuing week and
proceeds thence TO Portland.
Iaking cruise among our vessels, In the Reserve.
up Portsmouth narbor, some few days aQo | was
astonshed to find splendid vessels rotting-t0 my
certain knowledge some or these vessels have never
done das's service. Two or three recognized
from beng present at their '.chrstenipgn some
eght or nine years ago. These vessels were launched
taken out for the trial of the engines and returned
into harhor, from whence they have not snce been
permitted TO come out. These costly luAuries have
therefore, been so much dead loss OF the cOuntry's
money. and further, have been an expense to the
counif as IN consequence OF their being ..aid up,n
they have required some one TO look after them,
ana the result is that some Old warrant onicer
has acted shipAeeper, being assisted In his
duty by about a dozen other hands. Some OF these
vessels have been surveyed lately, and reported
'unht' in consequence oil the detective state Of
their machinery and the deteriorated condition Of
their hulls. l am told that some OF these ships
which have been at moorings up the harbor at
Portsmouth are now ordered TO be thoroughly over
hauled and repaired, at average cost OF ESQ
Tack this sum on to their original cost, with the loss
OF interest for the article idly employed, and the old
wooden ships OF ten years since will amount Ia
nearly the price OF some Of the smaller Class Of
modern ron-clads. Then again some OF these ves-
sells are in snch rotten condition that tney Will be
only found useful IN the yard OF the "ship-breaker.n
THE ROYAL DUKE.
Gufp to To t1a rim hoo uartap of Ia Nov
Highness the Duke Of Edinburg during his short
sojourn in Australia and in the port OF sydney MS
fine igate the Galatea is to be docKed previous to
her return TO this country, where she Is expected In
the ensuing spring. He will IN ali probability de-
tach from the Australian squadron about Chri stmaa
and win make a round the Horn for the Bra
zs, touching at thai very interesting spot the Falk
land Islands en = oute.
MONITORS.
A very interesting trial took place In the early
part OF the week Of the monitor and ship
for the defence OF Bombay. she has remarkably
low reebord, in fact, have the other two vessels,
one o. which Is for the defence OF Melbourne harbor
ana the other Bombay. fhe one for the former
colony Is now In Plymouth Sound making up her
complement. she has larger tonnage and more
engine power than the Abyssina, but is In all other
respects similar In construction to the Cerbcrus and
Magdala far as regards her turrets, hurricane
deck, &c.; but the popularity Of her appearances,
compared with last vessels Is very singular,
she not having any rig at ALL while the others have
been bark rgged Tor their voyage out. which very
much question will he OF any use TO them-n fact,
the reverse; In my idea rigging these ships VIII nI
pede them. Irrespective OF thus they are the most
formidable vessels OF their class. That the present
| government deem them may be judged from tho
fact that orders have been entrusted 10 ive OF tho
most eminent private shipbuilding firms 10 each
construct vessel similar to these three, or the
monitor type, for the defence Of our coasts and har-
What revolutions naval architecture takes from
time TO time speaking the other day TO one OF the
most scientific and eminent naval olilccrs In the
| remarked
least astonsh him II at no distant date naval archi-
tects arrived at the CONCLUSION tnat the old wooden
vessels were the proper thing for ighting purposes
| This think Is rather stretch OF Imagination, al
though no surprise would oe felt Dy me- however or
| In whatever shape or form ships for war purposes
were constructed, after witnessing the alterations
which have taken place IN the last twenty years.
| THE FRENCH ''OFF CoAST.'
the French gunboat Desaix has just arrived in
Cherbourg with the crews OF no less than
others she burned.
Although the movements of the French Helgoland
squadron appears to mystfy some people, YET there
can be no doubt or mystery In the work the Frencn
| cruisers do. am told that the commander chief
has detached one large rigae and four gunboaIs to
cruise between Rio Janeiro and Monteyideo with
andnot let any be destroyed. lf this Is very
evident the gallant officer In command or the squad
ron Is looking after the main point"
The river gunDoat which lid some little work
whilc uD at Rouen has been brought down to Havre,
where she rs now IN harbor.
GERMAN NAVAL PRECAUTIONS.
IN tue narrowest part OF the channel below Cux-
haven the North German authorities have laid down
torpedoes, and have detached small gun vessel for
the service OF giving caution OF the existence and
whereabouts OF these internal Instrument Of tor
ture, added to which the commander OF the gupioat
has instructions TO convoy and pilot all friendly and
neutral vessels through the intricate channel.
The augmentation OF the British squadron in the
East Indies and The alteration in the command OF
the station from that OF a commodore to that Of an
ever, more upon this point another time. There Is
also rnmor Thar before the end OF the year several