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AimtTST 1?, 1853.] THE LEADER. 773
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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The Nation's Fleet. The Mokning. All Tho...
not an inch of sail was visible on her . One hundred and thirty-one guns ,- eleven hundred men , seven hundred and eighty horse-power , and three thousand seven hundred and fifty tons—such are the statistics of the Duke of Wellington . Two cables from her lay the noble Agamemnon , with her ninety guns , and beyond these the other vessels . The lines looked most imposingly , and the idea of resistless power was strongly impressed by the array .
QUEEN VTCTOBIA . The Royal Mistress of this noble armament soon came down , to marshal it in " battle ' s magnificently stern array . " Exactly at eleven o ' clock a gay yellow steamer was seen glistening in the distance . This was the Queen ' s own yacht . As she passed along from Cowes to Spithead , the dense masses of people who darkened every eminence on the beach , and swarmed on the platform and ramparts , cheered again and again , until the sound , echoed from point to point along the Solent , rose like distant thunder . Then , as it rapidly glided up to the fleet , sparks shot from the side of every
vessel , followed by huge puffs of the whitest smoke , and the next moment the dead dull roar of the guns boomed over the waters , and crackled through the echoes around . The roar so like to the mighty voice of the heavens in their anger , the quick arrows of fire running along the batteries and piercing through the sheet of smoke , and - 'the graceful whirls of the wreath of aerified gunpowder- —this splendid royal salute , given from twenty powerful men-of-war , ^ was startlingly grand . In its terrific force and vehemence it appealed to nearly
every sense , and woke that dread instinct of war which must be inherent in man . Long before the royal salute was over each vessel was shrouded in its own particular cloud of smoke , and the effect was singular , as here a mast and there a stern showed out from the enveloping shroud , and then again was lost . But the wind dissipated the artificial mist , and the scene stood out in its striking grandeur .- Nearly every yacht club was present in every form , from the clipper schooner of 200 tons downrto "" theThames cutter of " 10 ; clothed in their
snow-white canvas , big jibs and' . gaff-topsails set , and , flitting over the water in every direction , they formed the most beautiful coup d'ceil that could be conceived , stretching away for miles , tacking to and fro , running out of every creek along the isle , and firing their tiny armament with wonderful zeal and tolerable regularity . The dusky forms of numerous steamers , struggling under the enormous loads of living creatures who swarmed from stem to stern , on paddlebox , deck ,
rigging , yards , contrasted with the livelier hues of the sailing vessels and relieved their monotony . The animation of the picture was further enhanced by a sea as green as grass , upon which an August sun shone and sparkled . Nothing could bo brighter or more festive , and the huge mass of the Wellington stood out in its black majesty of reposing power , a fine mountainous contrast to the slight craft that tossed and scurried about it . The Fairy now ranged up with the Russian Archduchesses and several officers in
uniform on board . The Stromboli , rolling about beneath the weight of tho House of Peers , lay still further astern of the Royal Yacht , and Lord Palmerston might bo seen chatting with one of tho sailors just as he would speak to a diplomate or an Islin gton deputationist . The Black Eagle , with the " foul anchor" of the Admiralty flying at the main , was close at hand , and a crowd of yachts and steamers were at greater distances to leeward . At half-past eleven tho Prince of Prussia , the Crown Princess of Wurtembcrg , and tho Duchess of Leuchtonberg , proceeded in a barge from tho Fniry to the Royal Yacht , where they were received by Her
Majesty . The boats of the Victoria and Albert were then lowered , and Her Majesty , the Prince , and the foreign visitors , proceeded on board tho Duke of Wellington , followed by a brilliant staff . The Queen then appeared nt the stern galley with her guests , the Duke oi" Cambridge and Sir T . Coclirane , the Admiral of tho port and of tho day , and remained for nearly ten minutes , gazing with tho greatest interest on the wonderful Hceno which lay before her . Never did monarch look upon a grander or more inspiriting night than that upon which the gaze of her Majesty now fell . Before her was the vast expanse of ocean dotted over , far as
the eye could roach , with every conceivable description of craft . Tho Royal Yiieht Squadron from Cowes was there , with its schooners and cutters of varied rig and size ; tho Royal Thames Yacht Club was represented by Home of its fastest yachts ; each Packet Company hud its representative there , and conspicuous among thorn all were tho fast-sailing , smart-built packets of tho South-Eastern Company ; whilo near und mound her Majosty wore thoso columns of first-rates and frigates whic h might safely bid defiance to the world . Her Majesty surveyed tho scene with intense interest , and , standing in tho gulleries , recoived tho homage of thousands of hor subjects , ao they hailed her raiafcress of tho
waves—the crews and passengers of all the vessels loudly cheering as they passed the stern of the mighty Wellington . They were followed shortly after by several other steam-vessels , the loud cheering of the visitors upon which was acknowledged by smiles from her Majesty . The ladies will be interested in the fact that her Majesty wore a pink dress and blue bonnet , in which costume she looked remarkably well-and happy . Prince Albert wore military uniform , and some foreign uniforms were also distinguishable on the deck of the Wellington .
GOING OUT TO SEA . After the Queen had returned to her yacht , the movements of the day commenced . The signal was given to weigh , and as the vessels had been " hove short" since eight o ' clock , and had only one anchor down , they were all off in a few minutes , in two columns , the Agamemnon leading the " port" division , and the Duke of Wellington headingthe starboard column . It is impossible to convey any suitable idea ot" the effect which this stately procession presented . A procession it was as ceremonious and precise as any could desire to see , the ' number of huge ships at stated intervals , and the broad avenue of clear water between the two
divisions , still pressing on the mind the marvels of that mechanical agency by which such order and power are combined in one display on " the inconstant deep . " The ships kept in splendid line on their way out to sea , showing proudly their long rows of portholes , and by their " stern ,, uricanvassed rig , to which the smoke of their chimneys added an additional feature of sullen pomp , holding every intruding craft at a respectful distance . To soften the grandeur of the spectacle by a feature which might appeal to the gentler sympathies of all , the Queen , in her Royal yacht , led the squadron to sea . Occupying a central position between
" the Duke" on the starboard , and the Agamemnon on the port side , but slightly in advance of both , her Majesty and the Royal family , with their illustrious visitors , had an uninterrupted and perfect view of the marine pageant ; They saw not only an unrivalled fleet , the fully-developed expression of our maritime power , but an amazing number of attendant , yachts and steamers , with which the sea swarmed as far as the eye could reach . In no other country of the world , and at no previous period even in this , could such a spectacle have been got together . Thousands upon thousands of spectators from Culver Cliff , and the other high grounds of the Isle of Wight in that direction , watched the great pageant as it moved out into the Channel . Such a procession , so effective and so
thoroughly English , could only be witnessed on our shores . The Englishman ' s love of the sea , and of all that enables him to subdue it , must have been thoroughly demonstrated to the foreigners during that sea march . As a long , broad stream of vessels of every description , amid which the mightier forms of the war-ships showed proudly and nobly , swept along in the train of the Sovereign , one was somewhat reminded of the victorious Greek armament returning to its city with the spoils of fight . The beautiful coast of the island , along which the naval procession passed , was a picturesque accessory , and here again the exquisite colour of the water , except where the hurrying prows lashed it into streaks of foam , could not but be noted . Sky and sea alike smiled upon Queen Victoria and her fleet .
THE NOVEL CIIAKACTEIt OF THE FLEET . There was tho great Duke , moving , " like Argo , self-impelled , " - and going easy n-head ; and all that mighty mass moved along the water by an invisiblo agency . No paddles churned the sea into foam , no acres of canvass courted the wind . A screw fan , hidden in the abyss of her hold , propelled the Leviathan , in whoso nostrils what foo shall ever fasten a hook ? " Sailing" will , we apprehend , soon becomo a term of disuse in tho Royal nuvy , for " steam" is gradually undermining the use of sails , und causing a mighty revolution in naval an well as in oilier matters . What were the feelings of soino of those elder admirals in the
British sorvico , who havo yet some dim recollections of a Nelson crowding sail and bearing down in lino of battle on bis foes , as they saw tho fleet yesterday gently steaming eight or ten knots an hour , without a sheet of canvass ! There was something absolutely aweinspiring in tho appearance of tho great screw stcum-« hips as they glided noiselessly along , without tho sli ghtest visible means of propulsion . In tho Wellington and Agamemnon tho * funnels are hardly perceptible , and as in Thursday's manoeuvres they emitted no smoke , and unfurled no sails , tho vessels appeared to glido nlong moved by some magic agency , producing by their peculiar motion a strango and startling effect on tho beholder .
Tho change from the paddlo to the screw find tho efficiency of tho now make aro very remarkable . Knock away the paddles or tho shaft of a steamer of tho old school , uud you had a vory damreroua log on tho
water , which might scald you to death , and which was deprived of half her broadside by the space taken up by her paddleboxes . Fire a shot into her , and the chances were she became a vast mortar filled with steam and blew the crew out of her . But now we have a perfect man-of-war , with a propelling force working down deep in the water , and secured against most contingencies except that of breakage , with her engines below waterline , arid , despite the prejudices of our old salts , there is reason to think that from and after this present time very few ships will be built indeed which are not provided with that potent auxiliary the screw . In these eight years a complete revolution has been effected in our navy and our system of tactics , and the most
striking evidence of the superior merit of the new order of things was to be found in the proceedings of Thursday , and , above all , in the rapidity with which it has been produced . On the occasion of the Queen ' s visit to Spithead in 1845 , the squadron consisted of the St . Vincent , Trafalgar , Queen , Rodney , Albion , Canopus , Vanguard , Superb , and Rattler . Of these , one—just one —( the Rattler ) was a screw steamer ! Thursday we saw a fleet of twenty men-of-war , thirteen screw steamers , and these by far the most efficient ships in the whole squadron ; and , as if to admit the fact of their superiority in a tacit sort of way , the vessels of the squadron which was intended to be beaten were composed altogether of sailing vessels and paddlewheel steamers .
MEETING THE ENEMY . The fleet steamed out in column till it had reached the Nab Light , the leading ships—the Agamemnon and the Duke of Wellington—still continuing abreast of each other . After passing the Nab , the columns steered a compass course , and having arrived in open water , orders were given to form the line abreast . This operation is similar to the military movement of a column deploying into line on the leading company or squadron . The vessels on the starboard formed in line on the Duke of Wellington at right angles with its column , while those of the port or lee division formed
in like manner on the Agamemnon . In order to" effect this ' movement the leading ships steamed very slowly , those astern increasing their speed in the proportion of their greater distance from the leading ships . Some idea of their appearance in this position may be formed from the fact , that the line extended about three miles from end to end . Fancy , therefore , looking along or . fronting it . Soon a signal was given to alter course , and the starboard and port divisions lying abreast veered with their heads opposite each other , the leading ships closing at one cable distance—the two admirals in the centre—the paddlewheel steamers on each flank ,
and the screws in the centre . At five minutes past two , the enemy tacked and stretched away towards the English coast . As the looming forms of three line-ofbattle ships gradually grew more distinct and formidable in the offing , they added a fine effect . By this time the enemy—the Prince Regent , the Queen , the London , and the Ainphion—had ranged themselves in line of battle to port of the port division , and to windward . The two leading ships hauled up their courses , but kept their topsails , topgallant sails , and royals . The London stripped to its three topsails and jib ,
and the Ainphion dropped behind with its topsails set , and topgallant sails dropping over them . Gradually the white sails of the first-rates and tho dark smoke of the steamers of the enemy approached nearer to the fleet . The approach of the two fleets was one of the most beautiful sights of the day , and the manoeuvres of tho squadron of Admiral Fanshawe , being for the most part executed under canvass , formed the most attractive portion of it , tho London being 1 conspicuous for the ease with which she was handled , her superior sailing qualities ( she spared the others ' royals ) , and the facility of her steering .
THE FIGHT . The enemy had been very conspicuous for some time before tho Royal yacht appeared to have found them out , but at length she signalled three strango sail in sight south-east , und thereupon tho Admiral trinket * signal , " All take course together to tho south-west . " Tho Htrango sail wore grandly while this order was obeyed , tho drums beat to quarters , tho hummocks were taken down from their position on the bulwarks , port-holes were thrown open , and theships , llow
turning their broadsides to tho > enemy , formed in lino of battle , and signalled tlw demand . No reply was made , though ono could by a telescope very easily distinguish Admiral Fiinsliuwo ' H flaig flying at tho mizen of tho Princo Regent , which led tho way under a cloud of canvass . JSho was followed by tho Queen and London , also under a press of sail ; whilo tho Barrricouta , Ainphion , Vulture , and Driver steamers attended them us they boro down . Tho Prince Regent fired twice in approaching , as if to try tho range , but beyond this thoro whh nothing to distract attention from tho con-
Aimttst 1?, 1853.] The Leader. 773
AimtTST 1 ? , 1853 . ] THE LEADER . 773
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 13, 1853, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_13081853/page/5/
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