HMS Hastings (1819)
HMS Hastings (1819)

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NameHastings (1819)Explanation
TypeThird rate TypeBlockship
Acquired (Sail)June 1819 Converted to screw5 February 1855
HullWooden Length177 feet
PropulsionSail Men600
Builders measure1763 tons Builders measure (as screw)1763 tons
Displacement  Displacement (as screw)2948 tons
Guns74 Guns (as screw)60
Fate1886 Last in commission1866
Class  Class (as screw)Cornwallis
Ships book   
Snippets concerning career prior to conversion
DateEvent
22 June 1819Purchased upon arrival in Britain (as 3rd rate sailing ship; built by East India Company at Calcutta as a speculation).
7 April 1834Commanded by Commanded by Captain Henry Shiffner, flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir William Hall Gage, Lisbon
31 January 1838
- 4 June 1839		Commanded by Captain Francis Erskine Loch, Mediterranean
4 June 1839
- 3 February 1842		Commanded (until paying off at Portsmouth) by Captain John Lawrence, Mediterranean (including operations on the coast of Syria in 1840)
9 April 1848
- 21 June 1850		Commanded (from commissioning at Portsmouth) by Captain James William Morgan, flagship of Rear-Admiral Francis Augustus Collier, East Indies
21 January 1850
- 6 May 1853		Commanded (until paying off at Portsmouth) by Captain Francis William Austen, flagship of Rear-Admiral Charles John Austen, East Indies
Career as unarmoured wooden screw vessel
DateEvent
5 February 1855Undocked as screw at Portsmouth Dockyard.
6 February 1855
- 28 August 1855		Commanded by Captain James Crawford Caffin, the Baltic during the Russian War
29 August 1855
- 14 May 1856		Commanded (until paying off at Portsmouth) by Captain Edward Gennys Fanshawe, the Baltic during the Russian War, then Queenstown
3 April 1857
- 1 February 1860		Commanded (from commissioning at Portsmouth until paying off at Liverpool) by Captain William Robert Mends, Coast Guard, Liverpool (replaced by Majestic)
4 February 1860Commanded by Commander Charles Maxwell Luckraft, Royal Naval Reserve drill ship, Liverpool
1 April 1862
- 30 June 1862		Commanded by Commander John William Whyte, Royal Naval Reserve drill ship, Liverpool
16 October 1862
- 7 July 1864		Commanded (from commissioning) by Captain Charles Frederick Alexander Shadwell, flagship of Rear-Admiral Lewis Tobias Jones, Queenstown
2 July 1864
- 18 May 1866		Commanded (until paying off) by Captain John Corbett, flagship of Rear-Admiral Lewis Tobias Jones then Rear-Admiral Frederick Warden, Queenstown
1870Coal hulk, Devonport.
September 1885Sold.
Extracts from the Times newspaper
DateExtract
Fr 23 April 1841Portsmouth.— There is a report that the Warspite, 50, is to be forthwith commissioned here, for the broad pendant of Commodore Sir Charles Napier, who is to have the command in the Pacific. The line-of-battle ships, Edinburgh, 72, Captain Henderson, and Bellerophon, 78, Captain C.J. Austen, are ordered home from the Mediterranean to be paid off, and may shortly be expected to arrive. The Hastings, 72, Captain Lawrence, will leave Malta for England, for the same purpose, in May next. The transport Belle Alliance, in command of Lieutenant Densten, has put into Plymouth from Deptford, with naval and ordnance stores for the squadron in the China seas. The Fair Rosamond schooner has been commissioned at this port by Lieutenant Bulman, for service on the coast of Africa. The Bonetta brigantine, Lieutenant Austen, fitting out at Chatham, is to go to the same station, and to be at Spithead by the 23th inst. The Stag, 46, Commodore Thomas Sullivan, recently from the Brazils, will haul down the pendant on Friday at Plymouth, and be hauled into dock to be surveyed as to her fitness for re-commissioning. The surveying vessel Thunder, Commander G. Barnett, according to private letters, will be in England in July next, to be paid on, from the Bahamas. The brig Acorn, 16, Commander Adams, has reached Plymouth from the Cape station, and is ordered to be refitted there without delay. She left Simon's-bay on the 28th of January, at which date Rear-Admiral Elliot had not arrived from China on his homeward voyage. Rear-Admiral Sir Edward King, K.C.B., was daily expected to arrive at the Cape from the Rio Plata in the Southampton frigate. The Acorn brought no news. The steam frigate Salamander, Commander Henry, returned to Sheerness on Monday, being ordered for some special service forthwith. The Asia, 84, recently from the Mediterranean, is to be forthwith reported upon, for recommissioning at Sheerness. Several large frigates and steamships are in active progress of completion for commission, should any emergency arise. — Brighton Gazette.
Fr 28 January 1842

PERILOUS SITUATION OF HER MAJESTY’S SHIP VINDICTIVE.
PORTSMOUTH, Jan. 26.
(From a Private Correspondent of the Standard.)

The Warspite, 50, Captain the Right Hon. Lord John Hay, C.B., arrived yesterday from the Downs. This ship is ordered to be got ready for sea as soon as possible, to receive on board Lord Ashburton, and convey him to New York.
The Vindictive, 50, Captain Toup Nicholas, C.B., left the Downs in company with the Warspite, for Spithead; she has not yet arrived. It is supposed the Vindictive will take out Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane recently appointed to the East India command. The Hastings, 74, at present preparing to pay off at this port, will, next week, be recommissioned by Captain H.W. Bruce, as the permanent flag-ship of Sir T. Cochrane. The Spy, 10, Lieutenant Potbury, sailed yesterday for Plymouth. The Queen, 110, Captain Rich, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Owen (red at the fore), Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, will be ready for sea next week, having a complement of upwards of 1,000 men. The Formidable, 80, Captain Sir C. Sullivan, with the Alfred, 50, Commodore J.B. Purvis, are ordered to this port from the eastward. The former ship proceeds to the Mediterranean, and the latter for South America.
The Revenge, 78, Captain the Hon. W. Waldegrave, is daily expected at Spithead from the Mediterranean, to be paid off; as also the Winchester, 52, Captain Carter, from North America, to be recommissioned by Captain C. Eden, for the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir J. Percy, ordered to the Cape of Good Hope as Commander-in-Chief, vice King.

Noon.

Since writing the above, Her Majesty's ship Vindictive has been discovered in a perilous situation, at anchor near the dangerous sand or shoal called "the Dean," off St. Helen's. It is at present blowing a gale of wind from W. by S.. and should it not moderate, great fears are entertained that this splendid frigate will ground on the edge of the shoal.

4 p.m.

The Vindictive has unfortunately grounded on "the Dean," with her mizenmast cut away, and a heavy sea breaking over her, owing to the violence of the wind, now blowing a strong gale about W.S.W., with every appearance of the wind increasing. She has fired several guns, and made signate of distress. Unfortunately there is only one small steamer belonging to Government now here; two dockyard lighters are gone to her assistance with anchors and cables. It is feared little or no good can be rendered this ill-fated ship, owing to the lateness of the day; and, from her alarming position, white the present gale continues, it would be attended with danger getting boats on board her. The Vindictive is a new frigate, built at this dockyard, on Mr. Blake's plan. This is the first time of her going to sea. The greatest anxiety and suspense will naturally prevail during the night as to the fate of this noble ship, with her gallant crew, near 400 in number.

(FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.)

PORTSMOUTH, Wednesday, 9 o’clock, p.m.

I regret to inform you that the fine ship Vindictive, 50. Captain T. Nicholas, C.B., K.H., is now aground on "the Dean," having taken the ground this day at noon, and remained there, with the sea beating over her, till night hid her from our view. The last glimpse we had of her, her mizen had gone over the side — most probably cut away. At it will not be high-water till midnight, and the ship would of course be much strained, it is feared she will drive on the iron coast of Selsy Bill; if so, the most serious consequences may be dreaded.

LATER INTELLIGENCE.
(From our own correspondent.)

PORTSMOUTH, Thursday.

The Vindictive, 50,Captain J.T. Nicholas, took the ground on the "Dean" Bank, near Spithead, yesterday morning and was, last night, considered to be in imminent peril; am happy, however, to inform you she got off this morning with the loss only of her mizen mast, the wind fortunately having shifted from S.W. to N.W.
Sa 29 January 1842

PORTSMOUTH, Jan. 28.

The Vindictive will go into harbour at high water to-day, and will be taken into dock to be examined, in order to ascertain to what extent she has been injured by her late disaster. It was intended that she should proceed to China with the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir T. Cochrane; but whether such intention will now be carried out will depend entirely upon the state she is found to be in upon examination, and how long it will take to repair the damage she bas sustained.
The Warspite returned to Spithead on Tuesday evening last. Her powers of sailing are found to surpass even the most sanguine expectations of those who knew her of old, when as a 74 on the South American station, with the flag of Admiral Sir T. Baker, she was noted as a fast sailer, and made one of the quickest passages from Rio to this country on record. On Monday night, at 11 o'clock, she was in company with the Vindictive, off the South Foreland, and on the Tuesday morning she anchored at Spithead, while the Vindictive did not reach the offing until Tuesday afternoon, and was obliged to bring up there, the tide being against her and the wind having dropped. It was in removing from the anchorage to endeavour to reach Spithead on the following morning that she unfortunately got on shore. The Warspite sails admirably, even in a moderate breeze, but it is when the wind is fresh that she displays her speed to the greatest advantage. It is considered by competent judges that few, if any, ships in our own, or any other service, can equal her. She is now having her bulk heads fitted up to make the additional cabins necessary for the accommodation of Lord Ashburton and suite.
The Hastings, 74, is nearly unrigged, and will be paid off to-morrow.
The Queen, 110, is likely to remain at Spithead for three or four weeks longer, as she is still considerably short of her complement of hands, and it is expected it will take that time before she obtains the whole of them.
Fr 4 February 1842The Rapid, 10, Lieutenant-Commander E.C. Earle, went out of harbour yesterday afternoon. She has her full complement of men, and will be paid in advance to-morrow, previous to her sailing for the coast of Africa, where she is to be stationed. It is understood that she will touch at Plymouth. Several officers are going out in her as passengers, to join the various ships on the station to which they have been recently appointed.
The Hastings, 74, Captain J. Lawrence, C.B., was paid off yesterday. Many of her hands have volunteered into the Queen and other ships fitting out here.
The Warspite, 50, Captain the Right Hon. Lord John Hay, C.B., after proceeding to New York with Lord Ashburton, will join the squadron stationed at the West Indies and North America, under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Adams, K.C.B. It is expected that Lord Ashburton and suite will embark on Monday or Tuesday next, and that the Warspite will sail on the same or the following day.
The Queen, 110, Captain G.F. Rich, is now quite ready for sea, with the exception of not having yet completed her complement of men. These, however, she is now procuring very fast. She obtained yesterday a number of volunteers from the Hastings when that ship was paid off, and she is continually receiving men who have been brought from various seaports in the kingdom to join her. 22 volunteers for her are expected daily from Bristol, under the charge of Mr Molesworth, on board the Mercury cutter, which was disabled in the Bristol Channel during the late severe gales. Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Owen will re-hoist his flag on board of her in a few days. She will be at least three weeks before she leaves for the Mediterranean.
The Vindictive, 50, Captain J. Toup Nicholas, has had all her masts, guns and stores, taken out, and was docked yesterday morning. The shipwrights are at work upon her, and she is to be got ready for sea again with all possible despatch.
The Geyser, Commander E.J. Carpenter, and the Growler, Commander C.H.M. Buckle, steam-frigates, will come round here from the eastward to complete their stores and complement of men, preparatory to proceeding to a foreign station.
The Alfred, 50, Commodore J.B. Purvis, is expected daily from Sheerness. She is the same class vessel as the Vindictive, Several of the Hastings' ship’s company have volunteered into her, and will join her when she comes round to Spithead.
The President, 50, Captain Broughton, is expected home from the South American station every day, the Dublin, 50, Captain T. Tucker, having arrived there some months since to relieve her.
Ma 26 February 1855As far as can be ascertained at present, the fleet about to be despatched to the Baltic will be thus composed:—
Commander-in-Chief.— Rear-Admiral of the Blue, the Hon. Richard Saundars Dundas, C.B.
Second in Command.— Rear-Admiralof the Blue, Michael Seymour.
Third in Command.— Rear-Admiral of the Blue, Robert Lambert Baynes, C.B.
Captain of the Fleet.— The Hon. F.T. Pelham.
 GunsHorse-power
Duke of Wellington (flag)131700
Royal George, Captain Codrington, C.B. 102400
Exmouth (flag)91400
James Watt, Captain Georce Elliot91600
Orion, Captain Erskine91600
Caesar, Captain Robb91400
Nile, Captain Mundy91500
Majestic, Captain J. Hope, C.B.81400
Cressy, Captain Warren81400
Colossus, Captain Robinson81400
Sanspareil, Captain Heath70350
Blenheim, Captain W.H. Hall60450
Hogue, Captain Ramsay60450
Ajax, Captain Warden60450
Edinburgh, Captain Hewlett60450
Russell, Captain Scott60200
Hawke, Captain Erasmus Ommanney60200
Cornwallis, Captain Wellesley60200
Pembroke, Captain G.H. Seymour60200
Hastings, Captain Caffin60200
Imperieuse, Captain Watson, C.B.51360
Euryalus, Captain Ramsay51400
Arrogant, Cantain Yelverton47360
Amphion, Captain A.C. Key34300
Horatio, Captain Cochrane24250
Cossack, Captain Fanshawe212ö0
Pylades, Captain D'Eyncourt21250
Esk, Captain T.F. Birch21250
Tartar, Captain Dunlop21250
Archer, Captain Heathcote17200
Retribution, Captain Fisher28400
Magicienne, Captain Tatham16400
Odin, Captain Willcox16560
Sampson, Captain Brock6467
Dragon, Captain Stewart6560
Bulldog, Captain W.K. Hall6500
Penelope, Captain Sir W. Wiseman18650
Lightning, Captain B.J. Sulivan3100
Vulture, Captain Glasse 6470
Desperate, Commander White8400
Conflict, Commander Cumming 8400
Cruizer Commander the Hon. G. Douglas1460
Harier, Commander Story14160
Ariel, Commander Luce960
Falcon, Commander Pullen17100
Basilisk, Commander the Hon. F. Egerton6400
Rosamond, Commander Crofton6286
Driver, Commander Rice6280
Janus, Lieutenaut Kane4220
Locust, Lieutenant -3180
Otter, Lientenant W.A.J. Heath3120
Porcupine, Lieutenant Jackson3132
Zephyr, Lieutenant Bond3100
Recruit, Lientenant J.F. Day4160
Weser, Lieatenant Commerell4160
Vulture, Captain Glasse 6470
Floating Batteries
Ætna16Thunder16
Glatton16Trusty16
Meteor16 
Mortar Vessels
Blazer1Manly1
Firm1Mastiff1
Hardy1Porcupine 1
Havock1Surly1
Steam Gunboats
Gleaner3Hind2
Pelter3Jackdaw2
Pincher3Jasper2
Ruby3Jack2
Teazer3Magpie2
Badger3Redwing2
Snapper3Skylark2
Biter2Snap2
Boxer2Starling2
Clinker2Stork2
Cracker2Swinger2
Dapper2Thistle2
Fancy2Weasel2
Grinder2Pigmy2
The Belleisle, 24, Commander Hosken, hospital ship.
The Æolus, 42, ammunition magazine.
The Perseverance, storeship.
The Volcano, floating engineers' factory, Master-Commander Dyer.
Rear-Admiral Michael Seymour has hoisted his flag (pro tem.) as second in command of the Baltic Fleet on board the Nile, 91, Captain Mundy, at Plymouth. Mr. Dyer, secretary at the Devonport dockyard, goes to sea with Admiral Seymour as secretary.
Th 1 March 1855The 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 1855Har 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 1855Rear-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.
Fr 23 March 1855The 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 1855Advices 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:—

Weather Line    Lee Line    
ImpérieuseEuryalus
ArrogantTartar
EskArcher
Conflict

— 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 1855The fleet at Portsmonth yesterday consisted of the
Duke of Wellington131Retribution28
Neptune120Magicienne16
St. George120Odin16
Royal George102Cruiser16
Caesar91Falcon16
Nile91Ariel9
Exmouth91Vulture6
James Watt91Bulldog6
Calcutta84Dragon6
Cressy 81Geyser6
Majestic81Driver6
Hogue60Centaur6
Ajax60Basilisk6
Blenheim60 Gorgon6
Edinburgh58Lightning4
Pembroke60Pelter3
Hastings60Ruby3

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 1855The 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:—
Falcon, 14 (screw)Neptune, 120
Ariel, 9 (screw)Calcutta, 84
Cruiser, 16 (screw)Orion, 91 (screw)
Centaur, 6 (paddle)St. George, 120
Pylades 21 (screw)Powerful, 84

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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