, 1889-09-07
The British Naval Review.
(FrOm the Daily TeEegyaph.)

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The dlSappOintmeEtS Of SATURDAYS wild
weather were borne lightly enough on
board our good ship Oceana. In tke eve
ming an excellent string band discoursed
music, to which many q CAV measure was
trod upon the spacious deck. while during
the wet afternoon sea-cricket was ener.
getlcally played upon the leeward side
OF the ship, "grOund" being covered in
with netting, under which a very lively
match went on with regular sides and
overs, the wicketS being pitched in shoes
purpOSely cOntrlved, and the balls those
used III tennis, covered with string Az
night fell the various ships of war in orr
vlclnliy,a many of the merchant st cam.
ers and yachts, dressed themselve s ont
IN lines of lanterns suspended from mast.
head to masthead, with electric lamps at
the peaks, while starch.lights darted their
Keen beams round ami round the horizon
revealing III the paths of their piercing
rays every object, however minute. uDOn
the surface of the waves. 1t would he
truly impossible for the smallest and Swift
est torpedo boat to approach by night
d man OF war equipped with these 'Eeneny.
hnderS," so fierce is the illumination thev
cast in whatever region their pencil of
radiance explores. Rockets of all colours
and from all quarters were flung into the sky.
and a sort of informa! illumination was,
in fact, carried out on Saturday night
though the fleet itself made no display,
out preserved a sOmbre repose, diversified
only by the riding lights and the occa.
SlOhal passage OF the dancing lamps of q
man'ot'Wars launch or captains gig.
sunday WAS sunny aud glldSon4. 80 thar
early Ill the day the Oaeanagot in, 0 motion
TO steam through the fl Aet. After passing
ana re'paSSlng the stately tiers of battle
ships and cruisers, we..stoOd out for u cruise
10 sea, running under the white craoS' of
the Needles and going as far as Anvil
Head, on the Dorset Coast, before turning
round for our mornings again. The great
OrmuK OF the Orient line, with our sister
SHIPS, the Massilia and the Oriental, bore
US com pany on this little trip into the Chan
nell IN south westerly squalls of the
preceding day had beQueathed a little rise
anu TALL to the emerald and silver surface
OF the sea. upon which the Oceana, being
Ight, condescended slightly to move. La
returning oy CoWes another opportunity
was Afforded of studying the Germ IN sQtIa-
dron. No sailor will deny to them the
merits OF ship-Shape, business like, we'll
QUILT, and well-kept fighting craft, though
OF a somewhat bygone type. AS we once
more passed along the southern tier of the
nome navy the Royal Standard, Haunting
It's beautiful rich colours on the mast head of
the Howe, showed that the Prince of
Wales had gone on board Admiral Com
merells mighty battleship on a quiet and
quasi private tour of inspection. Towards
evening a rumour ran about the concourse
OF vessels that a signal victory had been
gained In Egypt over the Dervishes, but
LORD Wolseiey, who was adoat, was disin-
cllned to believe it. Rain came again to-
wards sunset, and after the decorous and
noble custom of English ships on, the sea
on sunday, We had Divine. service IN the
saloon-the pulpit an erection Of cushions
covered with the white ensign, the choir a
Volunteef company of sweet-voiceh Ladies'
ana the band playing the hymn tunes on
vioiins. Our chaplain for the nonce, the
hev. Il. +. Fraser, Frizell, OF st. Allen
Rectory, Truro, formerly a chief Offices Of
the R0niDSulQr and 0fionfo1 o0unnonu hoEnrA