The New York herald., 1870-12-05
The British Navy Ii Is--.'tIer 1iajesty,.,s
Navy aud Tue Goasf Defcnces.

The British Navy Ii Is-s'uer 1iajesty,.,s
Navy aud tue Ioasi Defcnces.
LONDON, NOV. 10, 1870.
wars and rumors ot wars crowd into the public
departments daily-nay houriy--but for the present
they VIII not be dwell upon by me.
FACTS Asp HOME woRgs.
Apropos Of the Admiralty getting their house In
order, rather looking after their ships, to DO
ready for any eyentualiles | think nave already
inferred that the step the Emperor Alexander in
the North or Europe was about to take with regard
the Treaty. OF ls5G known in the English Cabi-
net last week. ! am told and assured
1t was knDW1 10 some Of the Ministers
before This may be so aud may in
some measure account lor The late visit--which,
BY the way, was not an official one--of the Admit
rally Board TO The South OF England naval port.
Singular enough, 1t Is just twelve months since the
First Lord tried hts hand Mt this very dockyard In
clinchlng Lne first rivet in new iron ocean.oruisng
monitor, The Devastation. This vessel need
scarcely tell you, was the object OK special interest
among Mr. 'Cnders' colleagues on their visit last
Monday and tho progress made Ia the building or
this vessel is somewhat remarkable. BY the middle
OF The ensuing year she viii be completed and ready
for launching. The vessel IS on the tnrrst principle
constructed Tor ocean cruising aad ia manitsr or
the veriest type
her. Her engines are to he 500 horse power nomi-
nal and capable Of working up 10 three yEes this.
she is vessel OF about 1000 TONS and 1t expected
will, when ready for the pennant, be without O.
rival. Most certainly she Is formidable looking
craft and, although III the minds Of some the turrct
vessels are not now looked upon In nytning bur
very sanguinc light, yet IN this instance he dock
yard officials and. IN fact, all Ia the constructors
department al whitehall make sure OF great ex.
pectations' from her.
''wAsPn VESSELS.
After inspecting this vessel the new gunsoats
ready and IN course OF construction claimed some
notice ON the part or their lordships. Among these
the PlucEy, Comet and Blazer appeared TO attract
the attention. All these on the Wasp prin-
ciple II 1t may be termed, ncet OF which was
originally intended 10 oe built The first one which
IS III commission, ~ mounted with twelve ton gun,
and her enduring powers aud hitting would render
,6 aep a6ie 20 give very s9oa Account OF herself
her way, has a very light araugnt OF water and is
very short In the BEAM The two Others vessels
OF similar class, and ore being pushed forward IN
their building with ell hasle. believe all three Of
these vessels are copies OF gunooas purchased by
the Admiralty from Sir William Armstrong.
transactions lii the Admiral supcrintendeups lie.
partment ana others were gone into when the ad.
Hiralty returned To London Tue "llcisl visit 70
the docEyards will take place next month without
anything very striking intervcnas.
PORTSMOUTH AID THs STunE1
A most remarkable fact Ia connection with his
uocKyard which have been referring To Is that
when the House OF Commons voted IN the array ana
navy estimates q large sum ol money Tor 1t, fee
pretty sure the honorable members, not only OH the
opposition benches, but also on tie government
sije did not think they would be cplled upon fog
further sum this month Such however. is the case,
and hear II Is less than 81, 300 Yes, tns sup Ia
required 10 rcplensn stores at Portsmouth pocN
yard, although 1t does not agree with the asser-
ton made by the First Lord OF The Admiralty when
Parliament was sitting that tue stores were m a
peace or war. The consequence is tnat an order
has been issued TO al dockysrds that the supplies in
store are never TO be less tnan required Tor one
years consumption.
!. Thus oas AZ been brought abeut by pesty