H.M.S. WANDERER.

From the COMMANDER OF THE WANDErer.

"H.M.S. Wanderer, Port Royal,

"December 22nd, 1837.

"I can now give you a pretty fair account of the qualities of this sloop, as I have since August experienced all kinds of weather. her in all weather, steer remarkably easy on a wind, in fine weather carrying her helm about turn a weather. She certainly has not the fault of carrying a slack helm under any circumstances. In going before the wind in moderate weather, the wheel is frequently not moved in an hour; blowing hard, and scudding in a heavy sea she steers very easy; in fact she is altogether a remarkably fine vessel. I am just returned from the northward, and when off Sancho Bank, 31st October and 1st November, I experienced very severe weather, the wind shifting from E.N.E, to S.W. and west, blowing at times a perfect hurricane, and from the frequent changes of the wind there was a broken and heavy sea. I found she preferred low sail, and when I got her under reefed main stay-sail, reefed main top-sail, and occasionally, as it moderated, the fore stay-sail, she was very easy, and although from the constant breaking of the sea, she shipped a good deal of water, she never strained a rope-yarn. I found the Spey (Packet) at Halifax, she having anchored an hour before us, and had been in the same gale. She suffered a good deal, having her bulwarks injured in a good many places. Rainbow, and Comus came in a few days afterwards, they had also suffered considerably.

Hh

H.M.S. DOLPHIN.

From the LIEUT. COMMANDER OF THE DOLPHIN to the CONSTRUCTOR.

"H.M.S. Brigantine Dolphin, Ascension,

"December 14th, 1836.

"I beg to acquaint you that after five days' sailing together with the Waterwitch that vessel was left without a leg to stand on, having been beaten considerably at all times, and at all points, and the last day she was seen hull down in ten hours. The Waterwitch is the only vessel I have had an opportunity of trying with, and she is reported to be the fastest vessel on the station, having sailed with, and beaten all of them.

"I have come thus far after going the round of the Bights without a single accident, or straining a yarn, and without being greatly prejudiced in favour of the vessel I command, must say I never was in anything so easy.

"To her qualifications as a sea-boat Mr. Walker, the 2nd Master Attendant of Plymouth yard, who took a passage in her down Channel against the heavy gales of October will I think readily bear testimony. Her masts are well secured with their present rake. She stands up well and does not appear to feel the weight of her guns, nor is there a single thing I should wish altered, with the exception of her fore courses, which have not drop enough by a whole reef, they were made before the foremast was raked, which throws the tack up.”

From the LIEUT. COMMANDER OF THE DOLPHIN to the CONSTRUCTOR.

"H.M. Brigantine Dolphin, Bight of Benin,

"April 1st, 1837.

"I have taken the liberty to send to you the result of a trial of sail

ing between this vessel, Columbine, and Waterwitch, together on a wind. My former report related principally to sailing with Waterwitch off the wind in November last, when I was on my way to the Cape, shewing the decided advantage I had over her on that point, and this I hope will be equally satisfactory "to windward."

"On my first arrival at Princes, in February, a short trial took place with Columbine without any advantage on either side. I was then swamped with provisions having nine months' on board, and every breaker of water filled up. The present trial took place in the Bight of Benin yesterday, all hands making sure of a victory, and I believe all pretty well satisfied with their stowage; great preparations were made to beat the Dolphin. The race commenced shortly after 7 o'clock in the morning, and was continued till 7 bells in the forenoon; making three tacks to windward, Columbine and Waterwitch sailing nearly alike, the Dolphin stepping out most gallantly in the "wind's eye," keeping them nearly in the same line of bearing, and going steadily from them for the whole time, till the distance was increased to two miles, when the "recall" was made; average rate of sailing 5 knots. The time of the angles does not comprise the whole time of trial, the first was taken at eight o'clock, and the last at 15 minutes past eleven, but the result will show what was gained in the interval.

"The commander-in-chief, Sir Patrick Campbell, inspected me at Princes, and expressed his high approbation of her order. fitness, &c. and said, she was the only vessel he had seen so well adapted for the service intended. I think, 1 foot 10 inches by the stern is about her trim which is not far from the estimate when press of sail is allowed for. Her guns answer admirably, she does not feel their weight, and she is a real beauty not only in performance but in looks.

66 I suppose you have heard that she can do other things besides sail, or rather by her sailing, having been so fortunate as to capture a large ship, a beautiful French built Corvette of 560 tons, and pierced for 18 guns, with 700 slaves on board.”

HM.S. STROMBOLI.

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From the CoMMANDER OF THE STROMBOLI.

"H.M. Steamer," Stromboli," at sea, off Galita Isle,

"September 16th, 1840.

"You will be glad to hear that the Stromboli has exceeded the most sanguine expectations which I could have formed of her. Her speed in smooth water, and when drawing aft 15 feet, and forward 14 feet, is twelve knots, this with 595 marines in heavy marching order. I hope to get 13 knots out of her as we lighten to, aft 13 feet 9 inches, forward 12 feet 3 inches, which I conceive her best trim. We steered 7 knots against a heavy sea, and gale, which brought H.M.S. Inconstant (then in sight of our smoke) to close reefed fore and main top-sails, and mizen top-sail furled. We arrived at Gibraltar in six days, exclusive of 10 hours, we hove to after making the land over night. When straining against the gale the ship pitched remarkably easy, although necessarily she was rather wet forward, but nothing to speak of. Since leaving Gibraltar we have had a fresh gale, and heavy sea right aft. She scudded well, and rolled easy, not exceeding 7 degrees. The engines do the greatest credit to Mr. Napier, and are in good order, the only deficiency is Maudsley's brine pump for the boiler, which it is most important that every man-of-war steamer should be fitted with."

H.M.S COLUMBINE.

From the COMMANDER OF THE COLUMBINE to the CONSTRUCTOR.

"H.M.S. Columbine, Bight of Benin,

"April 15th, 1837.

"I am anxious to tell you Columbine has been very successful since her return from the Cape, having taken three clippers, with 1183 slaves on board, all by superior sailing, none of them being nearer than 15 miles at starting. The brig sails exceedingly well, and has beat Waterwitch on every point. The first time we met the Dolphin we had rather an advantage over her, but on the 31st, ultimo she beat Waterwitch and Columbine better than a mile to the wind in four hours, the winds were unsteady and she started on our weather bow by which she gained at least a of a mile; she is in very fine order, and does her commander much credit. The same afternoon, Waterwitch and Columbine made sail within speech of each other at 2 o'clock, and at 4 she was of a mile a point before the lee beam, and I dare say does not want to sail with us again. Both the Dolphin and her should sail round us, neither of them have a stock anchor, or hammock netting above the gunwale. If our upper works were as clear, nothing could sail with us to the wind. Off the wind we are very superior. We met our old competitor, Thalia, the other day, and spared her courses to the wind."