25 JUNE 1864, Page 3

The trial trip of the Royal Sovereign seems to have

been a great success. This splendid vessel is an armour-bearing iron ship, -built by Captain Coles on the turret -principle, of 4,000 tons' measurement, 250 feet long, and 63 feet broad amidships. She has four turrets, mounts five 300-pounder guns (throwing 150-pound spherical shot with a charge of 41) pound of powder), and engines of 800 horse-power. She can steam with full power 11 knots an hour, and 8 knots at half-power, and may be made ready for sea in 24 hours. The command of the vessel, the greatest experiment yet made in naval architecture, has been given to Captain Sherard Osborne. Her only defect seems to be the depth of water she requires, draw- ing upwards of 24 feet.