The new steam frigate Orlando—ono of the new class of
frigates ini- tiated by the American vessel Niagara, and followed up by the British frigate the Mersey—made her experimental trip outside Plymouth breakwater on Monday. The average rate of speed was 13 2-10. This rate is not quite equal to expectation ; with alterations sho may attain 131, knots, but her sanguine admirers calculated on more. The Orlando will be placed in the first-class steam reserve in Hamoase. In order to estimate her size and capacity, the length and tonnage of several other large ships are appended :—Orlando, 337 feet, 3727 tons; Duke of Wel- lington, 240 feet, 2190 tons ; Niagara, 375 feet ; Great Britain, 274 feet, 3509 tons ; Royal Charter, 306 feet, 2720 tons; Atrato, 338 feet, 3476 tons ; Persia, 376 feet, 3300 tons; Great Eastern, 697 feet, 18,915 tons. The peculiar advantage of this new class of frigates is that with about the same tonnage as an ordinary ship of 100 guns, having auxiliary steam power, they possess superior means of propulsion, which counterbalance to a great extent the difference of armament, while the extra speed gives them many advantages over other ships, although carrying more metal. In the British navy the nearest appraach to the Orlando is the Mersey, which has equal steam power, 1000 horses, but has only 40 guns, the Orlando mounting 50. The increased steam power in both is, however, obtained only by a great additional outlay. It is difficult to form a com- parison, but it may be stated that formerly an ordinary sailing frigate carrying 50 guns would cost 50,0001., being at a rough estimate 10001. per gun. The cost of the Orlando will be four times that sum, or 200,0001. Her construction involved an outlay of upwards of 90,000/, ; and her machinery and outfit will nearly absorb the remainder.
Eight of the eleven vessels composing the Channel Fleet, steamed out of Spithead on Saturday—namely the Royal Albert 131, the Algiers, 91, the James Watt 91, the Agamemnon 91, the Hero 91, the Emerald 51, the Diadem 32, and the Flying Fish 6. The remainder of the Channel Fleet—the Trafalgar 91, the Mersey 40, and the Scout!21—remain at Spithead. The Aboukir 91, the Topaz 51, and the Melpomene 51, left Portland harbour on Sunday to join the fleet. The Nile left Cork harbour on Saturday for the same purpose.
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