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Browse RN vessels: A; B; C; D; E - F; G - H; I - L; M; N - P; Q - R; S; T - U; V - Z; ??
| Name | Centaur (1845) | Explanation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | 2nd class frigate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launched | 6 October 1845 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hull | Wooden | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propulsion | Paddle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Builders measure | 1270 tons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Displacement | 2100 tons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guns | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fate | 1864 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Snippets concerning this vessels career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Event | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 January 1849 - 13 December 1850 | Commanded by Captain Claude Henry Mason Buckle, flagship of Commodore Arthur Fanshawe, west coast of Africa (until Buckle was invalided) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 December 1849 - 1 July 1851 | Commanded (until paying off at Portsmouth) by Acting captain Frederick Patten, flagship of Commodore Arthur Fanshawe, west coast of Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 July 1851 - 16 September 1853 | Commanded by Captain Edward St Leger Cannon, flagship of William Willmott Henderson, south-east coast of America | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 September 1853 - 6 May 1854 | Commanded (until paying off at Portsmouth) by Captain Thomas Harvey, flagship of Rear-Admiral William Willmott Henderson on the South-east coast of America station | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 February 1855 - 17 November 1858 | Commanded by Captain William John Cavendish Clifford, Mediterranean, then the Baltic during the Russian War | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 September 1859 - 21 July 1861 | Commanded by Commander Elphinstone D'Oyly D'Auvergne Aplin, East Indies and China (including British involvement in Taiping rebellion) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 March 1861 - 17 May 1863 | Commanded by Commander John Eglinton Montgomerie, East Indies and China (including British involvement in Taiping rebellion) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 January 1863 | Commanded by Acting Commander John Zell Creasy, East Indies and China | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extracts from the Times newspaper | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Extract | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Th 21 June 1849 | Wednesday The Pantaloon, 8, Commander Lewis de Teissier Prevost, arrived at Spithead this afternoon from the coast of Africa. She has not been 12 months in commission yet. She sailed from Ascension on the 1st of May, leaving the Centaur steam-frigate, bearing the Commodore, and the Tortoise store-ship the only men-of-war there. Sailed from Sierra Leone on the 13th of May. She has brought home the mail intended for the Contest, which would not sail homewards until the 1st of Jane, and the following officers Mr. Byford, Master of the Philomel, and Dr. Belcher, surgeon, of the Tortoise, invalided; also Mr. Buck and the prize crew of the Grappler, put on board the last capture made by that vessel on the passage home. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ma 24 April 1854 | The Centaur, 11, paddlewheel frigate, Captain Harvey, flagship of Rear-Admiral Henderson on the Brazils station, arrived at Portsmouth at noon on Saturday. She left Rio on the 14th ult. At 1 p.m., when the Madagascar (bearing Rear-Admiral Henderson's flag), Crescent, Trident, and Sharpshooter were there. Exchange, 28¾ to 29d. Per milreis. Left Bahia on the 20th of March, St. Vincents on the 9th inst., and Madeira on the 14th. The United States' frigate Constitution was at the last-named port, and the only pendant lying there. The Centaur reports seeing on Friday a squadron of six sailing ships and a steamer off the French coast, no doubt part of the French squadron from Brest for the Baltic. In saluting the flag of Rear-Admiral Henderson, on its being transferred to the Madagascar at Rio on the 14th ult., the charge of one of the Centaur's guns prematurely exploded and blew off the right arms of two seamen. The poor fellows are now doing well. The Centaur steamed into harbour without anchoring at Spithead, and hauled alongside of the coaling depôt to take in fuel, &c. What necessary repairs she required were done with the utmost expedition; she was revictualled with equal alacrity by the authorities of the Clarence-yard, and yesterday morning steamed out of harbour for the Baltic. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fr 2 June 1854 | The Rhadamanthus paddlewheel steam storevessel, Master Commander John Belam, took on board in the basin at Woolwich, for conveyance to Portsmouth, new boilers for the Centaur, and the remainder of the machinery for the Colossus, 80, screw steamship, fitting at that port. The boilers of the Royal Albert were put on board the Beaver steam vessel, and she was towed to Sheerness by the Rhadamanthus. The Rhadamanthus will leave tomorrow, and is under orders to return to Woolwich within a week to take round the machinery of the Harrier screw steam sloop, and the Curaçoa, 30, steam frigate, built at Pembroke. The boilers brought down by the Rhadamanthus were afterwards put on board the Royal Albert at Sheerness. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Th 1 March 1855 | The Hastings, 60, Captain Caffin; the Pembroke, 60, Captain Seymour; and the Hogue, 60, Captain Ramsay, screw blockships, fitting at Portsmouth, are hourly approaching completion, and abundance of labour is put upon them to turn them out of hand. The new high-pressure blockships will be more efficient, although of 230-horse power lees than the old ones, and will form (it is confidently expected) the most important and efficacious division of the Baltic fleet. The Blenheim, 60, Captain W.H. Hall, received her mainmast yesterday, and is completing her refit in the old basin at Portsmouth. The Edinburgh, 58, Captain Hewlett, is under repair and refit with the utmost expedition to rejoin the fleet; thus there are five of these screw blockships now at Portsmouth made highly serviceable and powerful war steam two-deckers out of useless old sailing 74’s —the Hastings, Pembroke, Blenheim, Hogue, and Ajax. The Britannia, 120, Captain Carter, will go into Portsmouth harbour today if the fog (yesterday and on Tuesday too dense) will permit, when she will be dismantled and put out of commission, and her crew paid wages, granted leave, and made available for the steam fleet. The Retribution, 28, paddle-wheel frigate, Captain Fisher, is yet under the shipwrights’ hands at Portsmouth, and great progress is making towards refitting her. The Centaur, 6, paddle-frigate, Captain Clifford, is very well advanced in her equipment, and is nearly rigged, with the assistance of the dockyard riggers; all her masts are up, and the rigging nearly fitted. The James Watt, 91, Captain George Elliot, is shipping her spare spars, and will leave the dock for the basin to complete the readjustment of her machinery in a day or two. The Esk, 20, screw corvette, Captain Birch, which has been on a few days’ cruise to prove her capabilities, &c., returned to Spithead on Tuesday, and remains awaiting further orders. The Calcutta, Peninsular and Oriental Steam-Navigation Company’s transport, has not been able to get into Portsmouth harbour with safety to embark the Lancashire Militia, owing to dense fogs. The Æolus, 42-gun frigate, fitted up to serve as a shell and powder depot for the Baltic fleet, will move out of the basin at Portsmouth this day. The Himalaya, Commander Priest, R.N., will embark the remount of cavalry horses she is destined to convey to the seat of war this day at Portsmouth dockyard. By the end of next week there will be at Spithead such an "armada" as that anchorage never before berthed, if the weather should be propitious. Tho screw steamship Duke of Wellington, 131, Captain George T. Gordon, was taken out of dock at Keyham, Plymouth, on Tuesday. The paddle-wheel steam-frigate Dragon, 6, Captain James Wilcox, was towed by the steam-vessel Confiance to the Jupiter coal depôt, in Hamoaze, on Monday. The screw steam corvette Tartar, 20, Captain Hugh Dunlop, is undergoing repair alongside the jetty at Devonport dockyard. The screw steamship Conflict, 8, Captain Arihur Cumming, was placed in dock at Keyham on Tuesday. The screw steamship Nile, 91, Captain George R. Mundy, was appointed to go from Hamoaze into Plymouth Sound yesterday, and to sail to-morrow for Spithead. The crew of the troopship Resistance, 10, Master-Commander Mauser Bradshaw, in Hamoaze, bent sails on Monday. They were paid wages by Admiral Plumridge on Tuesday. ... Rear-Admiral Michael Seymour shifted his flag at Plymouth on Tuesday from the Nile to the Exmouth. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sa 10 March 1855 | Har Majesty is expected at Portsmouth en route to Osborne on the 15th inst., and, it is supposed, will inspect the Baltic fleet prior to its sailing from Spithead. An advanced squadron of steam-frigates, denominated the "flying squadron," was ordered to proceed to Kiel, but whether this intention of the late First Lord of the Admiralty will be carried out by Sir C. Wood is not known. Captain Rundle Watson, C. B., of the Imperieuse, was intended to be the senior officer in command of this advanced flying division of the Baltic Fleet. The Royal George, 102, screw ship, Captain Codrington, C.B., arrived at Spithead yesterday, from the Nore, and joined the fleet. The Hogue, 60, Captain Ramsay, was taken out of the steam-basin yesterday, and Her Majesty’s steamyacht Osborne taken in, supposed for the purpose of clearing out her cabin furniture, prior to being turned over to special service. The Falcon, 17, Commander Pullen, was taken into dock yesterday to have the well of her propeller altered, the same as the Ariel, 9, Commander Luce, which was taken out at Portsmouth yesterday. The Centaur, 6, paddle frigate, Captain Clifford, bent sails yesterday in the basin at Portsmouth, and is ready to go out. She was reported complete in her outfit last evening. The Pembroke and Hastings, screw blockships, Captains Seymour and Caffin, were reported out of the hands of the dockyard artificers at Portsmouth last evening, and will leave the steam-basin next week. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fr 16 March 1855 | Rear-Admiral Baynes struck his flag on board the Centaur yesterday at Portsmouth, and went on Leave, it is presumed, until his proper flagship is ready. The Esk, 21, Captain Birch, whose leakage was reported yesterday, is ordered into harbour to be docked. The Blenheim, 60, Captain Hall, adjusted her compasses in Portsmouth harbour yesterday, and will be ready to join the fleet at Spithead this day. The Cressy, 81, will have to be docked to remedy her defects. The Falcon, 17, Commander Pullen, returned to Spithead yesterday. The Ruby and Pelter, new screw gunboats, were tested yesterday off Spithead to prove their machinery, &c. Mr. Miller, the chief assistant to the Superintendent Engineer of Portsmouth dockyard, went out on board one of them to make the experiments, after which they returned into harbour. The principal attention of the dockyard departments now seem centred on the James Watt, 91, Hastings, 60, Pembroke, 60, and Retribution, 23. These are being progressed with as fast as possible. The Gorgon, 6, paddlewheel sloop, Commander Crawford, steamed into harbour yesterday to be docked. The Dee steam transport arrived at Portsmouth yesterday with machinery for the new Royal yacht. The Walter Maurice, hired transport, arrived at Spithead yesterday, and will go into Portsmouth harbour to-day to receive a detachment of about 150 men of the 26th Regiment for conveyance to Bermuda. These troops will not embark, in all probability, until early next week, the vessel having sustained some damage on her passage from the Thames, which will require repair. The Cruiser, 15, Commander the Hon. G. Douglas, arrived at Spithead yesterday and joined the fleet. The screw steamship Exmouth, 90, Captain the Hon. M. [=F.T.] Pelham, and the steam frigate Magicienne, 16, Captain Fisher, left Plymouth Sound yesterday for Portsmouth. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sa 17 March 1855 | We learn by electric telegraph that an advance squadron of the fleet will leave Spithead for the Baltic to-morrow or Sunday, a signal having been made yesterday by the Commander-in-Chief of the following nature:— "Officers of flying squadron on loave to be recalled immediately; ships to be ready for sea by Sunday. — C.B." The ships thus denoted we believe to be the Imperieuse, 51, Captain Watson, C.B. (who will hoist a broad pendant aa commodore of the second class, and command the squadron); the Euryalus, 51, Captain G. Ramsay; the Arrogant, 47, Captain Yelverton; the Dragon, 6, Captain Stewart; the Centaur, 6, Captain Clifford; the Magicienne, 16, Captain Vansittart; the Bulldog, 6, Commander S. Gordon; the Archer, 15, Captain Heathcoate; the Conflict, 8, Commander Cumming; and the Falcon, 14, Commander Pullen. The Amphion, 33, Captain Key; and the Pylades, 21, Captain D’Eyncourt, both at Sheerness, will follow, when ready. The fleet at Spithead was augmented yesterday by the arrival of the Exmouth, 91, Captain the Hon. F.T. Pelham (captain of the fleet), and the Magicienne, 16, paddle-frigate, Captain Vansittart, from Plymouth, making the following force, which is hourly being increased, at the anchorage:— The Duke of Wellington, Neptune, St. George, Royal George, Exmouth, Nile, Cressy, Majestic, Calcutta, Ajax, Imperieuse, Euryalus, Arrogant, Esk, Magicienne, Archer, Dragon, Bulldog, Falcon, Ariel, &. The Blenheim, 60, Captain Hall, will join to-day, and one or two from Plymouth or Sheerness are expected. The Port-Admiral, Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.B., struck his flag on board the Victory yesterday, and went on leave, owing to indisposition. Rear-Admiral Martin is senior officer pro tem. The Pelter, screw-gunboat, was docked again yesterday to have another screw applied, and some further alterations made in her lee boards to keep her from rolling; this vessel has been on the doctor's list ever since she arrived at Portsmouth. The Ruby, steam-gunboat, is also to be brought into dock to have some alterations made. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We 21 March 1855 | An advanced division or flying squadron of the Baltic fleet left Spithead yesterday afternoon for the Downs, thence making for Kiel as soon as the ice will permit. This squadron, consisted of the Impérieuse, 51, Captain Watson (senior officer); the Euryalus, 51, Captain G. Ramsay; the Arrogant, 47, Captain Yelverton; the Esk, 21, Captain Birch; the Tartar, 21, Captain Dunlop; the Archer, 15, Captain Heathcote; and the Conflict, 8, Commander Brown. They each got up steam before noon, and made every preparation for weighing; but, as Her Majesty had signified her intention of seeing them depart, their starting was delayed until Her Majesty’s arrival. At about 3 o’clock the Fairy, with the Queen, Prince Albert, the Prince of Leiningen, and the Court on board, with the Royal Standard and Admiralty flag flying, was seen advancing towards the fleet from Osborne, when a general Royal salute was fired, and as the Fairy glided into the midst of the "line" the crews of each ship manned the rigging, and some daring spirits climbed to the trucks of the masts to cheer and welcome the august visitors. The Royal vessel lay to off the Neptune, and signalled for Captain Watson, commanding the flying squadron, to repair on board, which he did and was presented (we believe, by Rear-Admiral Seymour) to the Queen. In a few minutes afterwards the Fairy steamed very slowly through the line towards the east, each ship's crew manning the rigging and cheering even at the mainmasthead trucks. At about half-past 3 the signal was made for those about to leave to weigh and proceed, and at about five minutes to 4 o’clock all were off, the Fairy leading. On steaming ahead to lead them to sea, the Impérieuse and Euryalus manned their rigging, and their crews gave three rounds of cheers as the Queen passed them. The Fairy made the Knab light at about 10 minutes past 4, followed by the squadron in the following order:- Imperiéuse, Euryalus, Tartar, Esk, Conflict, Archer, Arrogant; the latter, which was the last to weigh, took the station third on passing the Knab. The whole then presented a very interesting spectacle, which the clearness and beauty of the weather considerably enhanced. At 4 15 the Fairy altered her course to the westward, and hoisted a signal of farewell, which was kept flying until the last of the departing squadron had steamed by, each in turn again manning their rigging and cheering. The yacht then put on steam, and returned through the fleet at Spithead to Osborne, arriving about 5 o’clock, at which time the "flying squadron" was about five miles from the Knab, on their way to the Downs, the Impérieuse several miles a-head. The departure of this small instalment of the Baltic fleet was witnessed by many thousands of spectators, besides those afloat; the walls of Portsmouth, the piers and beach at the Isle of Wight and at Southsea, were thronged with myriads of sightseers, and the Queen’s visit lent additional interest to the movement. The Vivid, with an Admiralty party on board, and numerous private packets, yachts, and smaller craft were also present, and gave additional animation to its features. Rear-Admiral Baynes will ultimately command the "flying squadron" of this fleet, but his flagship (the Retribution, 28, Captain Fisher) will not be out of the hands of the dockyard artificers until the 7th proximo. The fleet needs 3,000 or 4,000 men to complete it, and these are supposed to be provided by the sailing ships on their way home or about to be detached from other stations. The Vulture, 6, Captain Glasse; the Driver, 6, Commander Rice; and the Lightning, 4 (tender to the Duke of Wellington), joined the fleet yesterday. The Centaur, 6, Captain Clifford, will be ready to join to-day, and also the Edinburgh, 58, Captain Hewlett. The Dee and Rhadamanthus left yesterday for the westward. Mr. John Ward, who was selected as inspector of machinery in the fleet of Sir Charles Napier, has been again selected to fill the same responsible appointment in the fleet of Rear-Admiral Dundas, and has re-joined the Duke of Wellington. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fr 23 March 1855 | The fleet at Spithead was augmented yesterday by the joining of the Edinburgh, 58, Captain Hewlett, and the Driver, 6, Captain Rice. The Caesar, 91, Captain Robb, was also reported standing in from Plymouth, but the fog was too thick to enable the report to be confirmed. There were no movements in the fleet worthy of note. The Basilisk, 6, Commander Jenner, which went to Spithead on Monday, returned into Portsmouth harbour yesterday to be docked, having, it is reported, sprang a leak. The James Watt, 91, Captain Elliot, and the Hastings, 60, Captain Caffin, had their steam up yesterday in the factory basin for trial of their engines; after which the latter steamed into the harbour to ship her armament, sea stores, and swing for the adjustment of her compasses. The James Watt will leave the basin on Saturday. The Pembroke, 60, Captain G.H. Seymour, will also be ready to leave the basin by to-morrow. The Centaur, 6, paddle-frigate, Captain Clifford, is expected to join the fleet this day. The Retribution, 23, paddle-frigate, Captain Fisher, fitting for the flag of Rear-Admiral Baynes, is ready to leave the dock for the steam-basin, where her new boilers are ready to be put on board her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sa 24 March 1855 | Advices received yesterday, under date Nyborg, March 21, stated that the Great Belt was open on that date at the north and east, and free of ice from Knudshoord to Slipehaven. The navigation was open into Kiel harbour, also at Bremer-haven to the Danish coast. At Elsinore the ice had all broken up, and it was anticipated that the navigation to Flensburg would be open on the 4th of April. The advanced squadron of the Baltic Fleet, on leaving Spithead, took sailing order as follows:—
— and proceeded under steam for the Downs. It is now reported that the squadron will proceed to Elsinore almost immediately. The fleet at Spithead dressed ship and fired a general Royal salute at a few minutes before 3 yesterday afternoon, as Her Majesty, in the Fairy, Royal steam yacht, proceeded across the anchorage from Osborne to Gosport, towards town. No day of sailing is yet even "reported" for the Fleet. Its number is daily Increased. The Caesar, 91, Captain Robb, joined yesterday afternoon. The Hastings, 60, new screw block ship, Captain Caffin, was going out of Portsmouth harbour yesterday, but after a few revolutions of her engines she stopped and moored again to her hulk. The James Watt, 91, Captain Elliot, was removed from the steam basin yesterday and placed alongside a hulk to take in her sea stores, &c. The Centaur, 6, Captain Clifford, is ready to join, and will go to Spithead to-day. The Hogue, 60, Captain Ramsay, is also ready this day. The Black Eagle Admiralty steam yacht arrived in Portsmouth harbour on Thursday night from Woolwich, to attend on the Board of Admiralty on their parting visit to the fleet. The Neptune, 120, Captain Hutton, was paid wages down to the 31st of January last, at Spithead yesterday. The Basilisk, 6, paddle sloop, Commander Jenner, was docked in No. 2 dock yesterday to repair a leak. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ma 26 March 1855 | The fleet at Portsmonth yesterday consisted of the
The Hastings, 60, Captain Caffin, got up her steam again on Saturday, and proceeded out of harbour to test her engines, returning aftre the trial. The Pembroke, 60, Captain Seymour, also got up steam for a similar test, bul did not go out. The Hogue, 60, Captain Ramsay, steamed out of harbour, and joined the fleet, which has been supplied with an enormous quantity of Congreve rockets for boat service, and shot, shell, and powder, at the discretion of each Captain, and not regulated by any before regulated "establishment." Saturday, the 7th proximo, is the day rumoured as that of the departure of this fleet for the Baltic. The Driver, 6, steam sloop left Spithead on Friday night with supernumeraries for the squadron in the Downs, and returned to Spithead yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fr 6 April 1855 | The ships left at Spithead after the departure of the main body of the Baltic expedition shifted berths yesterday under sail, and formed two lines, as ordered, thus:—
The Geyser, 6, paddle, was ordered to take officers and men for the Baltic fleet in the Downs, and left last evening. The Driver, 6, paddle, will leave Spithead to-morrow, and will then also take supernumeraries to join the larger ships. The Falcon returned to Spithead on Wednesday night from the Channel. Rear-Admiral Baynes remains at Portsmouth to take out the third division; but his flagship, the Retribution, will not be out of the hands of the engineer department until the 10th, and then the shipwrights will not have done with her. She remains in the steam basin, with Admiral Baynes's flag at her mizen, and is being proceeded with as fast as possible. The Odin, 16, paddle frigate, is also in the steam basin, having new covers to her cylinders fitted, her old ones not being strong enough to contain the pressure of the additional power of steam generated by her new boilers; she will be refitted in this respect by the 10th. The Ruby, Pelter, and Grinder gunboats are all in the hands of the dockyard artificers; the latter, which came up from Cowes on Monday from the shipbuilding yard of Messrs. Robert White, is in dock, being fitted out for the fleet. The Pelter is having moveable iron plates of a quarter of an inch thickness fitted on to the gunwale, and projecting above the bulwarks about 18 inches, for, the protection of her crew from rifle bullets from without, when in close proximity with the enemy, and also the better to enable those onboard to shield themselves while at rifle firing themselves. This vessel needed some new tubes for her boilers, but those sent to replace the defective ones are said to be four inches too short for her! The Hastings, 60, new screw blockship, went out of harbour yesterday again to make a trial of her steaming properties at the measured mile. She went out with most of her weights on board, and drawing 22 feet. The mean of four runs showed an average speed realized of 6·7 knots — a result far beyond the most sanguine expectations of the scientific on board and ashore; revolution of engines, 78; and pressure of steam in the boilers, 55lb. The inexperience of the stokers alone prevented a better mean speed being realized, and there is little doubt that greater speed will be ultimately obtained. She victuals now 279 out of her intended complement of 600. The Ruby gunboat was undocked yesterday. The Bellerophon, 78, landed her invalids yesterday morning at the dockyard jetty, and they were conveyed to the invalid depôt by railway. The ship is now returning stores, preparatory to being put out of commission. Her officers will be paid off, but the crew will be paid down, and after a fortnight’s leave draughted for service in the Baltic. None of her bulkheads or internal fittings are to be removed. We learn by electric telegraph from Deal that the Baltic fleet at anchor in the Downs yesterday comprised the following vessels:—The Duke of Wellington, 131, Royal George, 101, Nile, 91, James Watt, 91, Caesar, 91, Exmouth, 91, Majestic, 81, Cressy, 81, Colossus, 81, Hogue, 60, Blenheim, 60, Edinburgh. 60, Vulture, 6, Dragon, 6, Gorgon, 6, Basilisk, 6, Bulldog. 6. The Ajax, 60, was coming in. The weather being very fine visitors were flocking in to Deal by every train. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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