HOUSE OF COMMONS, Monday, April 12.
…
THE NAVY ESTIMATES

The House then went into committee on these estimates.

Sir J. PAKINGTON said…
I must now state to the committee what is the opinion of the present Government upon another point, in which opinion I anticipate the concurrence of every member of the House - viz., that we ought never to be without a Channel fleet. (Hear.) I do not think it is consistent with our position, with our national dignity or safety, that we should have no naval force at all in the Channel. I remember when my right hon. friend opposite proposed his estimate last year he said there would be no Channel squadron on account of the state of affairs in China. I allow the pressure of affairs in China at that time was severe, but I venture to think that no Government should under any circumstances leave the Channel without a squadron. Her Majesty's present Government hold it to be their first duty, without any loss of time that can be avoided, to establish a Channel squadron, not only for the protection of our shores, but for the exercise of our officers and men. The hon. and gallant member for Southwark (Sir C. Napier) will agree with me, I am sure, when I say that the introduction of steam into our navy is so recent and our officers as yet so unaccustomed to its application, that it is essential there should be a squadron for evolutions and practice which shall enable officers and men to become practically acquainted with the new system. (Hear.) We have an example before us set by our opposite neighbours in France, which we cannot with prudence neglect. They do not allow their coasts to be left defenceless, nor do they allow their officers and sailors to remain without opportunities for practice. On the contrary, with great prudence, and with his usual sagacity, the Emperor of the French has assembled at Toulon a force which will form a squadron of evolution, and I hope before the present summer has passed away that we shall see in our own Channel a squadron worthy of England and her naval reputation assembled for the same praiseworthy object. Having told the committee the number of men which we shall ask them to grant, I will now proceed to explain how we shall dispose of them. I have said we ask for 2,000 additional men, in order to complete the manning of our ships. Of those 2,000 men 1,621 are already on board ship, leaving 379 to be obtained. I have explained that, in order to complete the harbour ships in commission we want 1,318 men more than we have. Deduct from that number the balance of 379 to be gained out of the increased vote, and there will remain 939 more than the increased estimate, supposing all the ships to be fully manned. For the Channel squadron, which we hope to fit out in the course of the summer, we shall require 1,500 more men, and also 1,000 for reliefs, which must be effected during this year. That gives 3,439 men more than the increased vote for which we ask, but within the next three months there will arrive from China, the Mediterranean, and other stations ships whose crews will be paid off to the extent of 3,488 men. Therefore, after having provided for the requirements of the ships now in commission, for such additional ships as we hope to have soon in the Channel, and 1,000 for foreign reliefs, we shall have a balance out of the vote we now ask for of 49 men remaining in England. That is the explanation I have to give of the vote, which is a large one, I admit. I wish I could consistently with my duty have proposed a lower amount, but I trust the explanation I have given will convince the committee that it is not unnecessarily large in order to maintain the navy in a state of efficiency. I hope the policy of this country will ever be, while adapting its force to the varying circumstances of the time, to maintain the navy in an effective condition, to keep up an effective Channel squadron, and further to have a reserve of available seamen to man our ships upon an emergency without the recurrence of so humiliating and unsatisfactory a state of things as we have lately witnessed in our ports, (Hear, hear.)

THE CHANNEL FLEET IN THE GALE
(From an eye-witness)

As the Channel fleet has experienced one of the heaviest gales that have visited our coasts for many years, a short description of this revolving storm and of the wellbeing and doings of the fleet may not be uninteresting. The ships that comprised the squadron, under Rear-Admiral George Elliot, were the Hero, Captain Seymour, bearing the Admiral's flag; the Trafalgar, Captain Fanshawe; the Donegal, Captain Glanville; the Algiers, Captain O'Callaghan; the Aboukir, Captain Schomberg; the Mersey, Captain Caldwell; the Emerald; and the Melpomene, Captain Ewart. The ships remained in Queenstown a week. On Saturday the Admiral received his orders to proceed with the fleet to sea. The harbour was filled with shipping, a fresh north wind blowing. The signal was made about 9 a.m., "Up propellers," shortly followed by "Weigh; outward and leewardmost ships first." This was immediately obeyed; the Algiers led out under all sail, followed closely by the Aboukir, Melpomene, Emerald, Mersey, Trafalgar, and Hero; the Donegal remained in port in consequence of the illness of her captain. The ships sailed out in beautiful style, threading their way through a quantity of shipping. Nothing occurred at sea worthy of note until Monday morning. On that day the winds were light. The fleet was formed in line of battle, targets were laid out, and the whole forenoon was devoted to gunnery practice. The practice was extremely good, notwithstanding a good deal of rolling motion. On that afternoon several heavy storms of hail and sleet came from the N.W., and continued during the night, with very variable winds. After quarters at sunset the topsails were double-reefed, and courses reefed for the night. Variable winds still prevailed. Land was seen about the Land's-end and the Lizard lights sighted at about daylight, 6.30 a.m. The weather set in very dirty at S.E.; with increasing wind and heavy rain. The third reefs were taken in the topsails about 9 a.m., and shortly after topgallant-yards sent on deck; topgallant masts struck by signal; and also a signal, "Admiral will endeavour to go to Plymouth," "Form two columns; form the line of battle." About 10 a.m., signal, "Prepare to move with bowers. Bend sheet cable." The wind increased to a fury, with torrents of rain toward 11 a.m., with very thick weather, the wind heading the ships off, so that it became very doubtful if the stemmost ships could possibly get into the Sound, although it was probable the Hero and the headmost ships could get in. Admiral Elliot then, with the spirit of a British Admiral, decided at once (although he knew his exact position, having made the Eddystone lighthouse) to wear the fleet together and stand off and face the gale. Although the leading ships were in good positions to wear, it was not so with those in rear of the line. The Aboukir had just passed the Eddystone; the Trafalgar and Emerald were still in the rear, the Trafalgar having been detained to pick up a man who had fallen overboard from the jibboom, which was executed with great skill. The Aboukir immediately wore, set her courses, and dashed to windward of the lighthouse by carrying a press of sail and weathered it half a mile followed closely by the Mersey. The Algiers, Melpomene, and Trafalgar passed it very closely to leeward, as the Hand Deeps were under their lee. Added to these difficulties there was a perfect fleet of trawlers, vessels unmanageable while their trawl is towing, so that it required the greatest skill to avoid running them down. What must have been the sight from the lighthouse - these leviathan ships darting about like dolphins round it in the fury of the storm, defying the elements, and the little trawlers, with their masts bending like reeds to the gale! The signal was made to get up steam to secure the safety of the ships. The ships then got their canvass reduced and stood off the land. The Mersey and the Melpomene furled their sails, and got up steam, the former stalwart ship moving along like an ocean giant. The gale still increased until about 3 p.m., remaining very thick with rain. About 3 it lifted, the wind fell, the sun shone; but the sea remained towering up and breaking. The barometer then stood at about 28.50 deg. The Hero, Trafalgar, Algiers, Aboukir, and Melpomene were not far separated. Signal made, "Form the order of sailing in two columns." This was partially executed, when in a squall the wind shifted to N.W. It then for some three hours blew a perfect hurricane, considerably harder than it had previously blown at S.E. The ships stood up well. The Hero, dauntless as her name, appeared to take it easy. The Aboukir, close to leeward of her, carried one reef out of her maintopsail through the whole of it; and the Algiers, the Trafalgar, and the Melpomene were all doing well. The former eased up her topsail sheets in the squalls. The Mersey and the Emerald, it is supposed, had steamed into Plymouth, as they were not in sight. The ships kept in open order through the night; they wore in succession by night signal at about 1 a.m., made the land at daylight near the Start Point, formed the line of battle by signal, got the steam, up, and carrying sail came up Channel at about 11-knot speed, steamed into Portland, and took up their anchorage without the loss of a sail, a spar, or a rope yarn.

This appears highly creditable to newly-organized ships, - some only a few months together, the senior not a year; and I hope it will tend to show that our mariners of England are not in that decay that some old gentlemen in the House of Commons are so glad to point out at all times and seasons. A little quiet organization - not a continual harassing and worry at shifting sails and spars and killing men, but a fair exercise at guns, sails, &c. - will make our fleet a credit to the country and a safeguard to the nation.

MALAGA, Nov. 17.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Friday, March 2.
…
ACCIDENTS TO THE CHANNEL FLEET.

Sir J. PAKINGTON rose to put a question to the noble lord the Secretary of the Admiralty, but before making that inquiry he cold not refrain from saying how warmly he concurred In all that had been said by the right hon. gentleman the member for Portsmouth [Francis Thornhill Baring], with respect to Sir Leopold M'Clintock and Lady Franklin… The question which he had risen to ask referred to some accidents reported to have occurred to the ships of the Channel squadron. The Times of that morning contained the following paragraph:-

"A letter dated Torbay, Tuesday, received at Plymouth, from one of the officers of the Channel squadron. says that off the Lizard the ships were taken all aback, and could not again form a line. The Edgar, Queen, and Donegal remained out. Besides the casualties to the Queen, Diadem, Algiers, and Mersey, already reported in The Times, the letter states that the Aboukir lost her cross-jack yard and starboard quarter-boats, the Royal Albert pitched her jib-boom under at times, and the Trafalgar lost her jib-boom; she will probably call at Plymouth before proceeding to the Tagus."

He wished to know whether the Admiralty had received any account of this dispersion, as he might call it, of the fleet off the Lizard, and whether the damage which had been caused was to be considered as the inevitable result of the late gale, or whether there was reason to attribute any blame to the offices in command of the squadron. A much more important question, however, and one upon which he was still more anxious for an explanation, arose with reference to the casualties to the Queen, Diadem, Algiers, and Mersey. Was he right in believing that these casualties had arisen from these magnificent ships having on three recent occasions come into collision with each other in the open Channel? He understood that on one occasion the Diadem and Queen ran foul of each other, and that on another, the Algiers and Mersey came into collision; and that both these occurrences took place when the ships were sailing in two lines, and tacking in succession. These collisions could not take place without much danger, and without causing serious damage and consequent expense, and, with regard to their cause, it was impossible to escape from one of two inferences. Either the sailing order under which the manoeuvres were executed must be of a defective and unsafe character, or there must be a want of seamanship among the officers who were in command of those ships. He therefore asked his noble friend to give some account of these circumstances, and he trusted that it would be in his power to give such an explanation as would remove the unpleasant feeling on the part of the public, to which the statements contained in this paragraph had given rise.

Lord C. PAGET hoped he might be permitted, on the part of his brother officers, to thank the right hon. baronet the member for Portsmouth for the handsome way in which be had mentioned the services of Captain M'Clintock and others connected with Arctic exploration and discovery…

The noble lord then proceeded to state, in reply to the question of the right hon. baronet the member for Droitwich [Packington], that undoubtedly there had been two collisions in the Channel, one of which had been of a very serious nature, inasmuch as it had resulted in the loss of the bowsprit of the Diadem. He was disposed to think, however, that the right hon. baronet was rather inclined to listen to what he had formerly called midshipmen's yarns. The statement which had appeared in The Times of that morning had evidently been prepared by the youngest midshipman in the fleet. He had looked over it very carefully, and he confessed that neither he nor any of his brother officers at the Admiralty had been able to make head or tail of it. (A laugh.) The fleet started from Portland on Thursday, and proceeded with a moderate breeze down the Channel, until it arrived off the Lizard. There during the night, the squadron being in two lines, a signal was made to tack in succession. The Diadem was the stern ship of the weather line, and the Queen fell foul of her and carried away her bowsprit. A very detailed report had been received from the captain of the Diadem, but the Admiralty had not yet obtained a very distinct report from the captain of the Queen. They had, however, ordered an inquiry into the circumstances. The other collision had taken place between the Algiers and the Mersey. The only information which the Admiralty had received was contained in a letter from the Mersey, which had put into port for some slight repairs, but in this case also a minute investigation would be instituted. The right hon. baronet had expressed opinions with respect to the conduct of the Channel squadron, which, if they had not come from a person intimately acquainted with the navy, he should have regarded as undeserving of notice.

Sir J. PAKINGTON:- I expressed no opinions, but merely asked for information.

Lord C. PAGET appealed to the House whether the right hon. baronet had not talked of extreme mismanagement in the conduct of the fleet. (Hear, hear.) There could be no doubt that when two vessels came into collision a certain amount of blame attached to one party or the other,- generally, indeed, to both; but he could not at that moment state whether any, and, if any, what degree of censure had been incurred in the late collisions in the Channel. He could perfectly understand, considering the state of the weather when the squadron left Portland, that there should be a loss of spars, a pitching away of jib-booms, and various accidents of that nature; but the Admiralty had at present no reason to suppose that there had been any mismanagement whatever. Accidents might always be expected when a squadron, commanded by young inexperienced officers, and manned by raw crews, put to sea for the first time. But that only showed the importance of keeping our squadrons constantly at sea. (Hear, bear.) He believed the right hon. baronet would find that our Channel fleet, notwithstanding the recent collisions, was well commanded and officered, and that the accidents which had occurred at starting would be followed by complete success. (Hear, hear.)

Sir C. NAPIER thought the only fault which had been committed was that of sending a young squadron to sea to meet the equinoctial gales. But he could not agree with the Secretary to the Admiralty that the collisions were caused by the weather. The ships were taken aback, and the signal was made to tack. Every sailor knew that there were stringent orders to the effect that the ship on the port tack should always give way to the ship on the starboard tack. Those orders had not been obeyed on the occasion of the recent collision, and he was afraid the officer commanding the ship on the port tack had incurred some blame in not giving way, as he ought to have done, to the ship on the starboard tack. Young officers, however, could not be expected to be familiar with all the rules and regulations connected with the conduct of a squadron at sea, and he supposed there was not an officer in the Channel squadron who had ever sailed in a fleet before. The Admiralty ought to have sent the squadron to sea in the month of June, July, August, or September, in which case it would have had ample time to put itself in order before the equinoctial gales came on. (Hear, hear.)

Sails were unbent on Tuesday on board that portion of the Channel squadron which arrived in Plymouth Sound the same day from Lisbon, and measures are in progress for their immediate refitment. Those ships previously in the Sound sent up topgallantmasts and yards, and loosed sails to dry. The Conqueror, 101, Capt. Sotheby, steamed into Hamoaze and brought up off Keyham; she was appointed to go into dock yesterday (Wednesday).

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES.

PLYMOUTH, MONDAY AFTERNOON.

Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Fremantle's Channel squadron, consisting of the flagship Royal Albert, 121, Captain Henry J. Lacon; the Donegal, 101, Captain Henry Broadhead; the Aboukir, 90, Captain Douglas Curry; the Greyhound, 17, Commander Francis W. Sullivan; the Conqueror, 101, Captain Edward S. Sotheby, C.B.; the Trafalgar, 90, Captain Edward G. Fanshawe ; the Centurion, 8 0, Captain Henry G. Rogers, C.B.; the Edgar, 91, Captain James E. Katon; the Algiers, 91, Captain George W.D. O'Callaghan; the Mersey, 40, Captain Henry Caldwell, C.B.; and the Diadem, 32, Captain James H. Cockburn, under canvas only, with a smart breeze a little to the southward of east, hove in sight from Mount Wise at half-past 8 o'clock this morning in two lines. They then formed one line, and stood in for the port. At half-past 10 o'clock the ships wore in succession, and went away to the westward. Shortly after they came in sight more to the southward. Their funnels are up ready for use. The only ship likely to enter the Sound is the Diadem, which is said to be short of fu el. The Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe, in his steam yacht, near the Royal William Victualling-yard, is waiting the approach of the Prince of Wales. The Hero continues inside the Breakwater ready for sea, and arrangements are made for the expected departure of his Royal Highness to-morrow (Tuesday) morning. Her escort, the Ariadne, will probably take the Osborne in tow. The Flying Fish has gone on to Newfoundland.

(BY ELECTRIC AND INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPH.)

PLYMOUTH, MONDAY EVENING.

Sir Charles Fremantle's squadron, which arrived off the port this morning, formed two lines, ranging about north and south, in the afternoon to receive the Royal yacht, which hove in sight at 7 o'clock, and was saluted by the Impregnable and other ships in Hamoaze. On rounding the west-end of the Breakwater the yardarms of the Hero, St. George, Emerald, and Ariadne, in the Sound, were manned, and the three last-named and the Plymouth Citadel saluted. At half-past 8, when the Prince left the yacht to join the Hero, the Emerald and the Citadel repeated the compliment. The weather is extremely fine, and thousands of the inhabitants were assembled on the heights.

DEPARTURE OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.

PLYMOUTH, JULY 10.

The screw steamship Hero, 91, Captain George H. Seymour, C.B., with his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and the screw steam frigate Ariadne, 26, Captain Edward W. Vansittart, weighed anchor in the Sound at 7 o'clock this morning, and shortly after sailed for Quebec. On leaving the port the Prince was saluted by the screw steamship St. George, 91, Captain the Hon. F. Egerton; the screw steam frigate Emerald, 51, Captain Arthur Cuming; by the Artillery in Plymouth Citadel, and by the Cornish Royal Volunteers from a field battery near the ruins of Mount-Edgcumbe-park. About a league and a half south-east of the Edd ystone the Hero was joined by Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Fremantle's Channel squadron; wind, easterly; very light. It is understood that the squadron, after escorting the Prince part of the way across the Atlantic, will return to Bantry Bay, and, having already visited the capital of Scotland, there is some probability of their going afterwards to Dublin.

IRELAND.
(From our own Correspondent.)

DUBLIN, TUESDAY Morning.

THE CHANNEL FLEET- The arrival of the Channel Fleet, consisting of 11 sail-of-the-line, in Bantry Bay, on Saturday, has created a considerable stir in that locality, and a demand for fresh provisions has given a great impetus to the beef trade. One dealer slaughters daily 20 head of cattle for the supply of the fleet.

REVIEW OF THE CHANNEL FLEET.

The fleet, having all got under way by about 8 a.m., stood out to sea from Milford Haven, and, having made an offing of about seven miles, the Osborne, which had previously joined, with the Lords of the Admiralty on board, made the signal for the fleet to form a double line. They accordingly broke into two divisions; the starboard one, consisting of the Royal Albert, 121; the Donegal, 101; the Conqueror, 101; the Mars, 80, and the Trafalgar, 91, was led by Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Fremantle, K.C.B., in the Royal Albert. The port division, under Rear-Admiral Erskine, in the Edgar, 91, which was leading, comprised also the Algiers, 91; the Aboukir, 91; the Centurion, 80; the Mersey, 40; and the Diadem, 32. This manoeuvre having been executed with great precision, the Osborne signalled for the fleet to make sail under easy canvass, followed by an order from the Admiral to bank up the fires. Having stood on thus for some time, the two divisions tacked in succession to the starboard, after which the order was given to form a single line of battle. This was effected by the starboard division standing on its course, and the port one tacking until they came into line, when they followed in the wake of their predecessors, an interval of two cables' length separating each ship. The concluding and most exciting manoeuvre of the day was then made by the whole getting orders to make all sail that could be done with safety, and running before the wind. Studdingsail booms were then run out, and every inch of canvass both alow and aloft that would draw was set. The order was then given to make for the nearest port, on which the fleet bore up for Milford Haven. The Osborne then steamed up to the Admiral's ship, and Rear-Admiral Pelham, C.B., hailed Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Fremantle, K.C.B., and expressed, on the part of his Grace the Duke of Somerset and the rest of the Lords, the extreme satisfaction they all felt, not only in the appearance of the fleet, but also in the admirable precision with which all the manoeuvres had that day been performed, and we believe Capt. Ramsay, C.B., the superintendent of Pembroke Dockyard, was commissioned to convey the above opinion in writing to the Admiral of the fleet. The Osborne then parted company, - the Royal Albert giving the Lords of the Admiralty a salute of 19 guns, which the Osborne acknowledged by dipping her ensign, after which she stood to the southward, it being their Lordships' intention to inspect some important works in progress at the Scilly Isles, and afterwards proceed to Devonport to inspect the dockyard at that place. Nothing could be more favourable than the weather; it was slightly hazy up to 8 o'clock a.m., when it cleared up, and a fine fresh breeze came from the north-east, which lasted up to 3 o'clock p.m., when it died away. The whole of the signalling was done by bunting, and not by Ward's new system, as was generally supposed that it would be, and the brilliant flags had a very pretty effect as rapidly repeated by every third ship. As the fleet entered the harbour the Admiral made the signal for all the ships to take up their old berths, and by 6 o'clock p.m., all were in their original positions.

The Lords of the Admiralty previous to leaving Pembroke-dock granted the employés the usual half-holyday for Saturday.

IRELAND.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

DUBLIN, TUESDAY.

The sudden recall of the Channel fleet has surprised everybody, and been a sad disappointment to many. The Mayor of Derry had invited the officers to a public dinner in the Corporation-hall, and the people of Belfast were looking with eager expectation to the appearance of the fleet in their own Lough, when the last of the ships was observed to weigh anchor on Monday morning, and sail for Plymouth. So unexpected was this movement and so hasty that about 200 of the men were left behind, with a steam tender to pick them up and convey them to their departing ships. Conjecture is busy as to the cause. Was Government afraid that the crews would fraternize with the Tenant-right men of Donegal, or did they apprehend a French invasion of England?

(From the Court Circular.)

"VICEREGAL LODGE, Aug. 23.

Her Majesty the Queen and the Prince Consort, accompanied by their Royal Highnesses Princess Alice, Princess Helena, and Prince Alfred, landed yesterday morning, at 11 o'clock, at the new pier at Kingstown, and proceeded by train to Dublin.

In attendance were Lady Churchill, the Hon. Victoria Stuart Wortley, Earl Granville, K.G., Viscount Sydney (Lord Chamberlain), Lieutenant-General the Hon. C. Grey, and Major Du Plat (Equerries in Waiting), Colonel the Hon. Sir C. Phipps, K.C.B., Major Cowell, and Dr. Jenner.
Previously, at 10 o'clock, Rear-Admiral Erskine, commanding a division of the Channel fleet; Captain Mundy [Mends???], of Her Majesty's ship Edgar; Captain Ryder, of Her Majesty's ship Hero; Captain Dickson, of Her Majesty's ship Trafalgar; and Captain Heathcote, of Her Majesty's ship Ajax, were presented to Her Majesty.
At a quarter before 11 his Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant came on board the Royal yacht, attended by the Hon. Leopold Agar Ellis, A.D.C. in Waiting, and Captain Marshall, Master of the Horse.
Sir Robert Peel and General Sir George Brown, G.C.B., Commanding the Forces in Ireland, likewise paid their respects to Her Majesty.
The Chairman of the Kingstown Commissioners had the honour of presenting an address to the Queen.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

DUBLIN, Wednesday, Sept. 11.

The presence of the Channel fleet in Belfast Lough has excited a furore among the sight-seers of that place. The crowds which thronged the steamers that ran on Monday between the quays and the Royal Squadron exceeded in number, says the Whig, anything ever witnessed at this harbour:-
"All sorts and conditions of men, from the mayor to the mudlark, were up for the day's sight-seeing. Men, women, and children, the sturdy lads and lasses from the rural districts, the operatives of factories, and a large number of artisans, jostled together, as it were, in one dense mass at each run of the different steamers, and, for the nonce, grades had scarcely an existence. During the day some tens of thousands must have been conveyed up and down the Channel."

At half-past 11 o'clock the Town Council, accompanied by the ladies of their respective families and some friends, went down in the Adela to visit Rear-Admiral Smart on board the Revenge, and were very courteously received. Mr. Mullen, senior alderman, in the absence of the Mayor, welcomed him in the name of the corporation, invited him and the officers of the fleet to lunch at Belfast, and offered to place a steamer at their disposal. One of the ladies, Miss M'Gee, was introduced to the Admiral, and presented him with a handsome bouquet. Another party invited the Admiral and the officers to a ball this evening. The invitations were all politely accepted, and the parties retired well pleased with their visit, having first steamed round the ships. The multitude continued to pour down from Belfast till a late hour. Some accidents occurred in the crowding. A lady from Bangor-castle fell from the bridge of one of the steamers upon the deck with great force. One of her legs was broken, and the other badly sprained. Dr. Corry attended to her promptly, and she is said to be progressing favourably. A young man fell overboard, but was picked up in time to save his life by a coloured seaman belonging to the Revenge, who leaped in and rescued him. The report says,- "From the way in which, the passengers push and pull one another in endeavouring to secure a seat on the steamers it is almost a miracle that more have not been precipitated into the water."

Dublin, Monday

ENGLISH FLEET IN THE BALTIC.

Copenhagen, Aug. 31.

Admiral Smart and several other English naval officers dined with the King on Friday last.
Yesterday afternoon His Majesty paid a visit to the English fleet, and inspected several vessels. The visit lasted four hours. On the arrival and departure o£ the King all the ships of the squadron fired a Royal salute.