The Blake had her steering gear tested on Tuesday, Nov. 17. With both engines going full power ahead and turning to starboard, with her helm hard over 35 deg., she completed the circle in 4 min. 40 sec., the port circle being completed in 5 min. 5 sec. The diameter was estimated approximately to be about 575 yards. Forty-five seconds were required to change from engine steering to steering by hand. By manual gear the helm was moved from midships to hard a-starboard in 40 sec., from starboard to hard a-port in 2 min. 10 sec., and from hard a-port to midships in 2 min. 20 sec. The heavy balanced rudder and the speed of the ship throwing great labor upon the crew manning the wheels, the hand gear was afterward disconnected and the connection with the steering engine completed in 40 sec. [Illustration: THE NEW BRITISH CRUISER BLAKE] On Nov. 18, when the vessel went on speed trials, the draught of the vessel was 24 ft. 8 in. forward and 26 ft. 8 in. aft, which gave her the mean load immersion provided for in her design. There was a singular absence of vibration, said to be due to the space over which the machinery is spread, but perhaps also due, in part at least, to the number of cranks, as the cylinders deliver six throws throughout the circle of revolution. The results of each hour's steaming are as under: Hours. Revolutions. Steam. Power. 1st hour 86.86 120.6 13,568 2d " 89.26 128.0 15,298 3d " 88.55 125.0 14,251 4th " 89.58 127.6 14,759 5th " 89.40 125.0 14,394 6th " 89.55 125.0 14,512 7th " 89.15 126.0 14,893 The trial was originally intended to continue for eight hours, but at the end of the seventh, as the light began to fade, and as, moreover, the engines were working with a smoothness and efficiency that showed no signs of flagging, it was considered expedient to terminate the run. Steam pressure in boilers 125.5 lb. Air pressure in stoke holds 0.42 in. Revolutions per minute, starboard 88.41 Revolutions per minute, port 89.39 | Starboard. | Port. | +---------+--------+--------+--------| | Forward| Aft | Forward| Aft | Vacuum in condensers. | 27.85| 27.85| 28.1 | 29.1 | Mean pressure in cylinders, high | 43.04| 38.95| 42.36| 42.45| Mean pressure in cylinders, inter.| 31.49| 30.82| 30.17| 28.38| Mean pressure in cylinders, low | 11.68| 12.4 | 12.85| 12.32| Indicated horse power each engine | 3631.42| 3589.07| 3721.37| 3583.50| Total | 7220.39 | 7304.88 | Collectively | 14525.37 |