[under construction]
| Extracts from the Times newspaper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sa 17 February 1855 | Rear-Admiral Henry Eden is to be appointed one of the lords of the Admiralty, in the room of Rear-Admiral Hon. Richard Saunders Dundas, C.B., who is appointed to the command of the Baltic fleet. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Th 22 February 1855 | The Æolus, 42, gun frigate in ordinary in Portsmouth harbour, was moved down the harbour yesterday and placed in the fitting basin to be converted into a shot and shell magazine for the supply of the Baltic Fleet. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fr 23 February 1855 | The Duke of Wellington, 131, flagship for Rear Admiral the Hon. Richard S. Dundas, C.B., Commander-in-Chief of the Baltic fleet, will be taken to Portsmouth as soon as she is refitted for the next campaign, by the Captain of the Heet (the Hon. F.T. Pelham), who is now cruising in the Exmouth, 90, to test her efficiency. The Lightning steam-vessel, at present at Woolwich, is to be appropriated as a tender to the Duke for the service of the Admiral in communicating with the fleet, and for postal and other purposes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ma 26 February 1855 | As 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.
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 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Th 1 March 1855 | It is impossible to peruse the list of the naval armament which will assemble in about a fortnight at Spithead, in order to proceed to the Baltic under the command of Admiral Richard Dundas, upon the opening of the navigation, without a return of that pride and confidence in the resources of this great empire which the late military disasters in the Crimea and the incomplete results of the last naval campaign had so grievously shaken. It has been said that we are not a military nation; it has been shown by the melancholy experience of the last few months that the military establishments we had maintained during a long peace do not enable us suddenly and successfully to engage in those operations of war which the Continental Powers can carry on with armies of half-a-million of men. But, although this discovery has cost us dear, and has inflicted a check on the enthusiastic confidence with which England sent forth her troops to battle, yet it has reminded us the more forcibly that our naval strength is the chief clement of our national greatness; that it is by the navy that we claim to be ranked with the first Powers of the earth; and that the honour and the possessions of this country are secure so long as we can equip and man fleets exceeding the combined maritime strength of all other nations. If we are to choose between navel superiority and vast military power, the choice of Britannia was made long ago. Our institutions reject large standing armies levied by conscription and maintained too often at the expense of public liberty; but, if we ever ceased to take the lead upon the ocean, then indeed our national dignity would be lowered, and our national existence rendered insecure. Although, therefore, the state of the army in the Crimea is a just cause of depression and disappointment to the whole English nation, we may still look to Spithead and the Downs for proof that the naval resources of this country have not fallen short of our ancient renown; and, although we are unwilling to encourage that excessive confidence or those exaggerated expectations which marked the opening of our first campaign after so long a peace, yet there are solid grounds in the composition of this fleet for the belief that its success will be equal to its power. The Admiralty have shown a greater determination to keep pace with the improvements of the age, and within a very short period they have transformed the British navy, since every one of the vessels destined for the Baltic this year will be propelled by steam. They have also taken advantage of the experience of last year’s navigation in a sea which had been very seldom explored by our ships of war. The crews of the fleet which left our shores last spring had been hastily brought together at the commencement of hostilities; the men were not thoroughly acquainted with their duties, with their officers, or with each other; and, although we do not believe they deserved the unfriendly taunt of Sir Charles Napier against the noble squadron he had lately the honour to command, it is obvious that the efficiency of a man-of-war is enormously increased by a year in commission. A further improvement of equal importance has been made in the choice of the vessels of this fleet. We repeatedly pointed out at this time last year that in Nelson's Baltic expedition the ships of the line selected by the Admiralty were almost exclusively the 74’s of that period, not exceeding in tonnage and armament the large frigates of the present day, and that these ships had been found most available for operations in that sea. We also observed that the success of these operations depended very much on the number of gunboats we could employ, and the want of some craft resembling the old bomb-ketches or mortar-boats, which had disappeared from the navy, was continually felt. Experience has convinced the Admiralty of the value of these suggestions. The fleet consists of 20 sail-of-the-line, all capable of being propelled by steam power. Of these ships 10 are three-deckers; but only two of these, the Duke of Wellington and the Royal George, are first-rates, the remaining eight being all new, or nearly new ships, of 91 and 81 guns. Then come 10 more ships of the line, two-deckers, or third and fourth-rates, carrying 60 guns, and comprising what were termed the block-ships, the services of which were conspicuous in the last Baltic expedition. The number of steam-frigates and corvettes will be increased to no less than 35; and, in addition to these vessels, the fleet will contain eight mortar-boats, carrying one 13-inch gun each, 28 steam gunboats, carrying two or three guns, and five heavy floating batteries, plated with wrought iron on their decks and sides, and intended to be taken into action without rigging aloft. These batteries carry 12 guns each, which may, however, all be fought on either side of the vessel. This fleet, therefore, has all that is required to encounter the Russian navy, if it should venture to put to sea; to blockade the whole Baltic coast, if necessary; to carry the arms of the allied Powers into the shallow waters which have heretofore been the place of refuge of the enemy; and to assail the forts and strong places on the coast which have not yet been exposed to any real attack. Preparations so vast and so deliberate must be supposed to indicate on the part of the allied Powers a plan of campaign in the Baltic of considerable importance and extent. The expedition which sailed last year under Sir Charles Napier had no such plan. Neither the allied Governments nor their Admirals appear to have known with accuracy what could be done, or what were the means required to effect their objects. The attack on Bomarsund served to rescue the fleets from the ridicule of absolute inaction, but the whole cruise must be regarded as an elaborate attempt to reconnoitre the positions of the enemy and to prepare the way for future operations. This uncertainty, which gave an experimental character to the first expedition, cannot be urged as an excuse for the inefficiency of a second. The Government and the Admiralty have now the advantage of the evidence and opinions of the officers who were engaged in the Baltic fleet last year; and, in speaking of these officers, we mean more especially the post-captains of that fleet, than whom a finer body of men never hoisted their flags. There is, therefore, no excuse for any omission in the arrangements of the ensuing campaign so far as they depend on naval operations, and we trust that Sir James Graham has left the department over which he presided not only in possession of a powerful fleet, but fully resolved as to the objects to which that fleet can be applied. These objects must, undoubtedly, be materially affected by our political relations with the States of Northern Europe, more especially. with the kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, but also to a certain extent with Denmark and Prussia. Should the negotiations at Vienna fail to bring about the restoration of peace, it is impossible to doubt that the war will assume a more general character, and that it will be directed with the greatest energy against the possessions of Russia in the Baltic, where the vital interests of the empire are more assailable than they are in the Black Sea. Such a contingency will, at no distant period, terminate in one way or another the tergiversations and duplicity of the Cabinet of Berlin, and call forth the latent energy of the Court of Stockholm. There is reason to believe that in Sweden, at any rate, the operations in which this powerful fleet may be engaged would command the universal support of the nation, and that the Swedish Government is not unprepared at the proper time to join the confederacy of the Western Powers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sa 24 March 1855 | The Esk, 20, screw steam corvette, Captain Thomas T. Birch, arrived at Sheerness on Thursday evening last, from Portsmouth. The Esk sailed from Portsmouth in company with the flying squadron, on the 20th, and on the same night, during thick foggy weather, she got in collision with the Arrogant, 46, screw frigate, by which the Esk carried away her port cathead and did other damage to her bow, bulwarks, hammock netting, &c, She has put into Sheerness for repairs. A number of artificers have been put on her, and she will be ready again to proceed in a day or two. She brought up in the Downs at 2.30 a.m. on Thursday, and arrived at Sheerness at 4 30 p.m. The Cossack, 20, screw steam corvette, Captain Edward G. Fanshawe, arrived at Sheerness on Thursday evening. She left the Downs at 1.15 p.m. and anchored at Sheerness at 5 p.m., averaging 12 knots under sail with very easy steam power. She has returned in consequence of the after-crank bearing having heated and melted and run the white metal from the brasses, which require an extra bearing to be put in the after part of the propeller shaft to relieve the shaft pipe. It is reported that she is to leave Sheerness to-day for the Baltic direct by an Admiralty order. On the evening of the 21st inst., when off the North Foreland, John Pascoe, an A.B., while in the act of loosing the ship fell overboard, and, although strenuous exertions were made by lowering boats, &c., he was never seen to rise. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Th 29 March 1855 | DEAL, Wednesday Morning. The ships of the Advanced squadron have weighed and proceeded for the Baltic, consisting of the Imperieuse, Euryalus, Arrogant, Cossack, Tartar, Conflict, Desperate, Elk, and Archer. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Th 29 March 1855 | Rear-Admiral Dundas, Commander-in-Chief of the Baltic fleet, returned to Portsmouth yesterday, and rehoisted his flag on board the Duke of Wellington. Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.B. (Port Admiral), visited the fleet again yesterday, and marshalled them into more regular order. The James Watt, 91, Captain Elliot, is expected to be ready to join to-day; she reshipped her stores and bent sails yesterday. The Basilisk, 6, Commander Jenner, repaired her leak and undocked again yesterday. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Th 29 March 1855 | A letter from the Downs, dated Tuesday, the 27th, says:— "The Cossack returned from Sheerness on Tuesday, bringing boats for the Arrogant to supply the place of those smashed by the Elk, and other stores. The whole of the squadron have been exercised to-day and yesterday in firing shot at a mark. Discipline — strict and stern — seems to be the order of the day. While crossing topgallant and royal yards this morning, in accordance with the usual custom, a general signal of 'silence’ was hoisted on board the senior officers ship, enforced by a gun. Nothing followed. A court of inquiry, composed of Captains Watson (lmperieuse), Ramsay (Euryalus), and Fanshawe (Cossack), assembled to-day, and went on board the Arrogant and Esk to inquire into the circumstances of the late collision between these two vessels on the night of leaving Spithead. The result is not known. 1.30 p.m. —The wind, having changed to S.W., is now fair for sailing. The Harier, 14, Commander Story, has just arrived, and anchored to join the squadron; it is said she goes on to Yarmouth at once. 4 30 p.m. — A general signal has just been made to 'Sail to-morrow at daylight.’ Elsinore is the rendezvous.” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fr 30 March 1855 | Yesterday further advices were received as to the state of the Baltic. At Nyborg, on the 27th inst., the Balt was full of drift ice; at Memel, on the 23d inst., a thaw had continued several days; the Haff was free of ice as far as Dange; no ice could be discerned seawards; the wind was east, with 3° of warmth; at Cuxhaven, on the 25th inst., the light ship had been placed in her station at Ottendorf; at Frederickshaven a great many vessels had arrived since the 21st inst. from ports in England, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fr 30 March 1855 | The English consular agent at Kiel has just been officially informed by his Government of the early arrival in that port of a steam war squadron, forming the advanced guard of the Baltic fleet. Kiel will accordingly become again this year the great depôt of provisions for that fleet. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ma 2 April 1855 | THE BALTIC FLEET. The bulk of the Baltic fleet will sail from Spithead to-morrow, about 2 o’clock, consisting of the following force:—
The
...Sir Charles Wood, the First Lord, and a board of Admiralty will arrive at Portsmouth to-day, and a council of the admirals will be held, at which the final orders will be issued to the fleet. The only vessels now in hand at Portsmouth fitting out to join the Baltic fleet are the Pembroke and Hastings, block-ships, the Retribution and Sampson, paddle-frigates, and the Æolus, powder and shell magazine. The Sampson was taken into the steam-basin on Saturday and commenced upon. The Hastings and Pembroke got up steam again on Saturday to test their engines. Upwards of 100 tons of shot for the fleet arrived from Woolwich on Saturday and has been shipped. The Odin will go into harbour this morning to repair her defects. Yesterday the fleet received orders to demand charts for the Baltic this morning. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tu 3 April 1855 | This afternoon the shores of the Solent will witness one of those spectacles in which England is once more at home. A portion of the fleet, consisting of more than thirty vessels of war, and including a dozen sail of the line, will start to occupy the Baltic, to blockade every inlet and port of the Czar, and, if possible, find some vulnerable point of his triple granite and iron. At any time the sight of so many huge machines, sent out with the message to kill and destroy, may well subdue the most frivolous. Even a naval review, with its mimic thunders and its programme of triumphs, becomes a scene of horror exactly in proportion as we realize its true import. What we may see to-day, however, is ambitiously and industriously grander, sterner, grander, more real, and more deadly, than any like spectacle on these or any seas. The Baltic fleet of this year is in all respects much stronger than the last; it has more steam power, more guns, a new class of gunboats and floating batteries, adapted for creeks and shoals, and, what more than anything marks a resolution to do something — a new commander. Sir Charles Napier has ceased to command the Baltic fleet, not from any deficiency in skill, in courage, or temper, but simply because he did less than the British people expected to see done. We have ourselves been ever ready to do justice to his actual achievements, which are not to be denied or depreciated; but, when we send out the finest fleet in the world, we naturally expect it to do more than shut in a third-rate naval Power, and assist an army to destroy an unfinished fort. The new commander, Admiral Dundas, has before him the services of Admiral Napier, and, whatever his instructions, if any, no doubt he knows that he has to do more than Admiral Napier. If he does not accomplish more, he will certainly find himself next November under orders to lower his flag, with small prospect of ever hoisting it again. Such is the mission of the fleet the Queen sends this day on its fatal errand. It is to attempt more, to run more risk, to follow further and closer, to care rather less for losing ships and men, and rather more for inflicting losses and disgraces on the enemy. In a word, the force is stronger and the duty more terrible than last year; and, if the scene to-day should attract a smaller crowd of gazers than last year, they will doubtless see it less as a holy-day spectacle, and more as an operation of war. We certainly had wished that after last year’s experience we should have less of such floating castles as the Duke of Wellington and the Royal George, and rather more of the gunboats and other small craft, on which we must mainly rely in our offensive operations. For forty years we have been introducing a new power into naval warfare, and by its aid, together with continual improvements in gunnery, we have brought the old man-of-war to a perfection that Nelson never imagined. We have given it twice the size, twice the weight of metal, and infinitely more manageableness and security. Could we suppose one of Nelson’s fleets developed by a law of its own, to grow, to become more active, powerful, and docile; to arrive at a sort of intelligence, volition, and harmonious action, till it could defy the storm and breast the current, bent and resolved on its way, faithful to its mission, and not to be denied by any vulgar element, there we have the fleet that this day leaves our shores. Yet in this pride and might seems to consist the very weakness of our naval undertakings. The British man-of-war has been developed rather by an internal law than by any law of adaptation. It is, indeed, the grandest work of human hands, but it does not answer its purpose, if it has not actually outgrown it. Without inquiry, and as a matter of course, we have been making our ships larger and larger, when inquiry might have suggested that they should be smaller and smaller. Were it, indeed, the waves alone we had to deal with, could wo fight out every quarrel on the wide ocean, had we always to chase huge fleets from one hemisphere to another, and fight over again for ever, as in the old mythology, every battle ever fought with American frigate or Spanish three-decker, there is no doubt as to the excellence of the type wo seem to have adopted. But the actual state of things is far otherwise. Like some strong impetuous animal, we seem to miss our object by running ahead of it. We have to deal with shallow waters and granite walls, and find ourselves too gigantic for the petty warfare, and, giants though we are, we are so far baffled. No doubt we have improved on last year; but, unless there is a large supply of the smaller craft, adapted for the shallow waters of the Baltic, we shall only reiterate an inglorious campaign with even less glory than before. For anything we know, the departure of the Baltic fleet may be an annual ceremony for many a year to come. Up to this time everything indicates a very protracted war. At the chief point of collision there is on both sides an indefinite power of reinforcements and supplies, and we go on pouring in men and material for ever without decisive issue. But, if our army is thwarted by earthworks, our navy is not less at fault with granite, and, whether by sea or by land, the same endless warfare is before us, till genius or accident shall suggest some solution. Therefore it is that we still urge the necessity of adapting our means of warfare to the nature of the war. Great men have always been remarkable for adapting the means to the end. To do so politically argues a singleness and straightness of aim, a disregard of minor objects, and a contempt of mere material, never found in the common order of minds, however accomplished. No doubt, it does cost a painful effort to condemn a majestic structure to vulgar uses, to break to pieces the work of one’s own industry and skill, to acknowledge a life half wasted, and a thousand opportunities thrown away; but, if experience should establish that our magnificent ships are little better than useless lumber, or, at best, huge storeships, floating barracks, and naval depôts, we hope and trust that no false thrift or professional pride will interfere to save them from their proper fate. Let them be kept in their place, but let us not multiply them, or attempt to use them, simply because we have them, where they do not answer the purpose. The First Lord of the Admiralty has not given us any very recent account of the peculiar preparations made for the Baltic warfare. If they are on a scale for the occasion, and if from under the shadow of our huge three-deckers fleets of gunboats and batteries are ready to start and penetrate every frith and fjord of the Baltic, well and good — we stand corrected. But, as a dozen boats here, and half-a-dozen there, are all the public have heard of, it is not amiss to urge preparations that may still be in time for this season, and may probably be wanted the next. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tu 3 April 1855 | This morning the first thing done in the fleet will be to "heave short" and make all ready for unmooring, but we believe the ships will not be "aweigh" before 3 o'clock. This will enable the men to have their dinners comfortably and for the letter-boats to deliver all post letters that may arrive by the first and second deliveries. The scene in and out of Portsmouth harbour yesterday eclipsed in bustle and animation that of last year on the departure of the fleet under Admiral Napier; every floatable craft seemed employed in conveying people or provisions to the leviathans in the roadstead, and, we are happy to say, without accident to life; but a wherry belonging to Long, a waterman, of Gosport, in going out of harbour at 1.15 p.m. swamped in a swell with eight or nine persons on board at the time. She was, like many ethers, laden with provisions for the fleet, and was on her way to the two-decker Nile as a supplementary bum-boat; all the men were saved, but the cargo floated about until picked up by the prompt agency of one or two men-of-wars boats, the Bee steam-tender, and the tug of Mr. Ray, which were steaming near the spot at the time. The Lightning steam-tender to the flagship Duke of Wellington, Lieutenant Campbell in charge, having repaired her defects in dock, went out again yesterday, and will join the fleet this morning. One of the new gunboats was towed up to Portsmouth harbour yesterday afternoon, but, beyond the Ruby and Pelter, no others of the new flotilla of gun-boats have yet joined the fleet, neither have any of the new steam batteries or mortar-boats been seen with it yet; but it is urged that there is yet ample time for them to make an effective appearance. The Odin steam-frigate left her position as one of the advanced guard at the western end of the line at Spithead yesterday, and steamed into harbour to repair some defect in her machinery. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tu 3 April 1855 | THE BALTIC FLEET. PORTSMOUTH, Tuesday. The departure of the fleet, which was announced to take place at 3 o’clock today from Spithead, has been put off, and for a few hours more the giant ships rest quietly at their anchors in the Solent. In Londen and elsewhere the belief that they would start at the time stated was so generally entertained that from an early hour in the morning numbers of people flocked down here to witness the event. Steamers were in readiness on their arrival, and they were soon at Spithead gazing with all their might at the proud lines of floating fortresses — silent, stern, and cold, as seen through the thick atmosphere of a raw, disagreeable day. Though not the sort of weather for a brilliant spectacle, one could hardly fail to trace a kind of fitness for the occasion in the murky, leaden sky, the southwest wind, that came down in gusts, accompanied by spattering showers of rain, and the fretful surface of the water, broken up into a short and angry jumble of waves, through which open boats with difficulty cleft their way. The scene had a severe, earnest, serious look about it, which at a glance conveyed the impression of grave work at hand for those mighty and complex engines of war, close up to their anchors, and with a list forward by the bow, as if impatient to be gone upon their fatal mission. Very different indeed was the impression produced to that of last year, when the sun shone out brightly, and the placid waters of the Solent were alive with sightseers, and the popular expectation triumphed too hastily over the anticipation of victories which have yet to be achieved, and the Queen herself was present to see her gallant sailors off, and to wish them a hearty farewell. If the fleet sailed to-day, as was announced, it would put to tea quietly, with few visible manifestations of sympathy, in no exulting spirit, but with the fixed and high resolve of doing something worthy to be talked of before it returned. Such were the impressions with which the visitors from town gazed at those colossal ships formed in double line at Spithead, with the gunboats and smaller steamers also in line on their right, yet at a respectful distance, and dwarfed into mere pigmies by contrast. The fleet lay in more compact order than last year, and each, as you scanned her, appeared to be in better and more perfect sea-going condition. Even to inexperienced landsmen it was evident that here were no shorthanded or untrained crews, but men accustomed to the service, and confident in themselves. The sightseers passed up and down the lines in their excursion steamers, now taking the centre of the watery avenue formed by the men-of-war, and wondering at the long array of checkered broadsides; now going close alongside, and looking curiously into every porthole. By and by, they would run past the smaller paddlewheels, speculating sagely upon their number and efficiency for the shallow channels and granite fortresses of the North. All this time the signal ships kept signalling, and Admiralty yachts and tenders were dashing rapidly about, and bumboats and smaller craft clung precariously to the huge rides of the mighty ships, but people watched in vain for the evidences of an intention to weigh anchor and put to sea. No puffs of white vapour ascended from the steam-pipes; and the funnels, telescopic or otherwise, were smokeless. It was evident that the sailing of the fleet was postponed, and that the sightseers, ashore and afloat, were doomed to disappointment. Still, strong in faith and in the immutability of preconcerted arrangements, thousands refused to believe that at 3 o’clock each man-of-war would not weigh anchor and quit the Spit in grand procession with that mysterious air of movement without causation peculiar to them. 3, half-past 3, and 4 o'clock came and went, and, though the wind had moderated, and the sky in some degree cleared up, not a ship stirred. No one knew or could tell why the intention to sail had been altered, but so it was.It is uncertain now when the fleet rails, whether tomorrow or next day, or at what hour, but whenever it goes it takes with it the best wishes and prayers of the nation for its safety and success. A maritime people like this does not send forth such armaments without a degree of emotion corresponding to the incalculable interests committed to their safeguard and protection. While we entertain no shadow of doubt that our brave sailors will do all that can be done upon the sea to uphold the honour of their flag, we have no reason to be dissatisfied with the amplitude of the means placed at their command by the Government and the country. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Th 5 April 1855 | THE SAILING OF THE BALTIC FLEET. PORTSMOUTH, Wednesday. The disappointment caused by the non-sailing of the fleet on Tuesday, as appointed, was amply compensated for to-day in the eyes of the few who remained at Portsmouth to see what another day would bring forth. As early as 6 o’clock in the morning the Port-Admiral, Sir Thomas Cochrane, and the Board of Admiralty went to Spithead in the Vivid steam yacht, and gave the last orders to the fleet, after which the Vivid carried them to Sconce Point, to inspect the new works of defence at that part of the Needles Channel. A dense fog shut out the fleet entirely from the shore, and it was not until noon that even the spectra-like hulls became visible to the anxious eyes gazing seawards. It appeared uncertain in the early part of the day whether the fleet would move, but at 9 a.m. the flagship the Duke of Wellington signalled to the Geyser and Driver to get up steam and prepare to weigh; at 10 signa! was made to the fleet to weigh the small bower anchor and raise screw propellers; the wind being fair, it was then known to be the Admiral’s intention that the ships should put to sea under sail, and at 11 30 he signalled to the paddle-vessels to get steam up at slow speed, while at the same. time the dinner pennant was hoisted. At ten minutes after 1 signal was made "Prepare to weigh"; the fleet immediately hove short, and at half-past 1 signal was made "Weigh and form order of sailing as most convenient" with Magicienne and Basilisk in front to look out ahead of the Admiral, and the Bulldog and Dragon to take their places in the Admiral’s wake. At 2 a general signal was made to “Rendezvous in the Downs in case of parting company." The ships got under way as most convenient (per signal), and when standing out towards the Nab, appeared from that spot in the following order:—
The first off was the Blenheim under courses, topsails, and topgallantsails, the James Watt following closely in her wake under topsails and topgallantsails, and evidently having the heels of her; at a wide interval came the Colossus and Hogue, the latter carrying fore and maintopmast and topgallant studding sails, which example was followed by the other 60-gun blockships. Generally, the ships carried royals, which the Blenheim was first to hoist, and this she did when abreast of the Pylades. The Duke of Wellington besides the flag of the Commander-in-Chief (at the mizen) carried the broad pendant (blue) of the Captain of the Fleet at her main, although there were eight senior captains in sight. This, we believe, was a novelty, but perhaps a good one in some respects, as showing an utter disregard of precedent and "routine" in the "regulations" relating to such matters. The Port Admiral, Sir Thomas Cochrane, went out of harbour in the Vivid while the fleet was under way, and remained close to the Duke of Wellington for some time, eventually proceeding some way out with the ships. Had not the weather been so hazy, the picture from the shore would have been magnificent, but the first of the fleet was out of sight before any movement was known ashore; about half-past 3, however, the mist suddenly lifted, and a glimpse was then obtained of the fleet in full sail about six miles from port, between the Warner and the Nab. The last signal seen was now made out, flying from the masthead of the Duke, and was evidently in consequence of the wind falling light; it was for the line-of-battle ships to "Get up steam at low speed." During the time these manoeuvres were being performed by the fleet the splendid new two-decker Orion, 91, under full steam, was cruising about the roadstead, and trying her speed by the measured mile; she is a magnificent ship, and apparently of great power. The Bellerophon, 78, sailing ship, afforded a sad contrast to the outgoing fleet as sha was towed into harbour with sick and wounded invalids from the Crimea. There were but few vessels of any kind moving about the fleet, owing to the general impression that it would not leave before Thursday, Among those out we noticed the Vivid, the Pigmy, the Bee, the Argus, and the trim little Dutch war schooner Mercur, which got under way and stood out abreast of the Commander-in-Chiefs ship. The only casualty was with a schooner yacht, the property of Mr. H.D.P. Cunningham, R.N., the inventor and patentee of the plan for reefing top-sails from the deck, who got under way with the fleet to exhibit the utility of that important application. The yacht got under the bows of the two-decker Majestic, carried away both her topmasts, and obliged the line-of-battle-ship to drop anchor. There were 13 sail of the line and five paddle steamers gone to-day. The latter are the Magicienne, Vulture, Dragon, Bulldog, and Gorgon. There are remaining at Spithead the Neptune, 120; St. George,120; Orion (screw), 91; Powerful, 84; Calcutta, 84; Pylades (screw), 21; Cruiser (screw), 14; Ariel (screw), 9; Centaur, 6 (paddle); Geyser, 6 (paddle); and Driver, 6 (paddle). It is reported. that the sailing line-of-battle ships go shortly to the Downs, to salute the Emperor and Empress of the French, on their forthcoming visit to England. At 5 o’clock the van of the Baltic fleet was hull down from the extreme end of the land on the Portsmouth shore. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sa 7 April 1855 | THE BALTIC FLEET. The port division was led by the Exmouth with the flag of Admiral Seymour (second in command) and followed by the Nile, the James Watt, the Majestic, the Hogue and the Ajax. The six paddle steamers, the Dragon, the Bulldog, the Vulture, the Basilisk, the Magicienne, and the Gorgon kept station on either side of the lines. In this order the fleet proceeded up Channel with the moon (nearly at the full) shining brightly, and a gentle breeze, just enough to call a ripple on the water, when, about opposite Brighton, at 10 o’clock, a large merchant ship running under all sail with the wind a little on her starboard quarter, ran foul of the Duke of Wellington, doing some serious damage, carrying away her foreyard, port swinging boom, the whole of the port and part of the main chains, quarter gallery, and hammock-netting, breaking the stock of the best bower-anchor, and driving the sheet-anchor from its berth into the gangway. The shock to the merchantman must have been fearful, as she went nearly stem on. Her foremast went by the board like a stick, and she drifted astern a total wreck, carrying her gear with her. It is believed she wag a very large ship. A steamer was sent to assist her almost immediately, but returned after some hours, unable to find her and great fears are entertained that she has foundered. The accident, as far aa I can yet learn, seems to have happened through no "look-out" being kept in the merchantman, and the man who was steering her did not see his danger until he was close to the Duke, whose helm was hard to port, steering south to get out of his way. The vessels would have passed each other had he not in his hurry and consternation, put his helm hard a-starboard and run, of course, right into the forechains of the Duke. No blame is to be attached to the officer of the watch, who seems to have done all that was proper to avert the accident, which will detain the ship at least 10 or 12 days, and she will most likely have to go to Sheerness for repairs. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sa 7 April 1855 | A letter from Hamburg, dated April 2, says,— "You will already have learnt by the electric wires the arrival of the flying squadron, under Commodore Watson, at Elsinore; I hear to-day that the ice is breaking up so slowly in the Danish waters that the squadron will be compelled to find shelter in some port for some time to come before it will be able to enter the Baltic. "According to the last accounts, the navigation of the Great Belt is almost free; as much cannot be said of the Little Belt, through. which the men-of-war must pass, owing to its greater depth. The passage is still blocked up by enormous masses of ice. "The same may be said of Kiel. "In expectation of the fleet agents are scouring Holstein, buying up provisions at high prices for the crews. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ma 9 April 1855 | DEAL, Monday Morning. The whole of the Baltic fleet have sailed eastward except the Ajax and Ruby gunboat. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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