At midday last Saturday the Dreadnought,' the most powerful ship
of war that has ever taken the water, was launched at Portsmouth by Sing Edward. In spite of the bad weather, the ceremony was witnessed by immense crowds, and the launching of the great battleship—always a most impressive sight—passed off without a hitch. The honour of knighthood was conferred on Rear-Admiral Barry, Admiral Super- intendent of Portsmouth Dockyard, and on Rear-Admiral Percy Scott, Inspector of Target Practice, and a C.V.O. was conferred on Captain Jellicoe, Director of Naval Ordnance, the honours in the two latter cases being understood to mark recognition of the great improvement which has recently taken place in the gunnery practice of the Fleet. After the launch the King crossed to Cowes in the Royal yacht, and drove to the Osborne College, where he inspected the Cadets and visited the invalid officers in the Osborne Convalescent Home.
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