The Express.
London, England, 1862-03-05 00:00:00

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

IlinnuALTT, MARCH 4. —APPOINTS! WNW. —Muster
J. A. R. Petah, to the Cumberland, for service in the
Zebra.
Midshipman A. W. S. Lyon, to the Nile.
Assistant Paymaster C. E. Phillips, to the Royal
Adelaide.
Aesistant Clerk W. T. Crosthwaite, to the Royal
Adelaide.
Engineers J. Fraser, confirmed se necond-cleas assistant-
engineer in the Vino; and J. W. Watson, acting seems&
elms amistant-soginear, to the ludas, as supernumerary.

PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 4.
The Simoom, 8, iron screw troop sbip, Com-
=oder J. Pollard, when paid off, will be planed in the
third-clans steam reserve, with her fittinp standing.

CHATHAM, Maine 4.
During the last few days a series of trials have
been made, under the direction of the principal officers
stleched to the stuns reserve at this poet, cm board several
of the screw gunboats, in order to ascertain the compare,
tare advantage obtained in the use of wood, instead of
coal, on board the gunboats, and the superiority of wood
over coal in more quickly getting up the steam in the
boilers. The experiments, as far as they have bean ai
' are midi* be very conclusive as to the superiority of woad
for the boiler fires.
The screw steamer Swallow, 9. Mr. E. Wilda, Muter
Commander, sailed yesterday for Japan, calling at Ply.
mouth, where she will resign her final order. She is to bs
employed in surveying the entire extent of coast along the
islands of Japan, in order that the necessary charts may be
prepared for the information of the captains of vessels
trading to Japan, now that that oonntry is opened to the
commerce of England.

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.-OFFICIAL
TRIAL OF RIFLES.
a -

This trial was resumed and concluded yesterday
at theßoyal Laboratory practice rases. Woolwich Aroma.
Mr. levant basis( Wired from the held after protesting
that he had not been trotted fairly by the council, the re-
insioing competitors—Messn. Whitworth, Henry. Rigby,
Terry, and Burdett, for Mr. Turner—each fired 20 rounds
at the 1,000 yards range, Wltioh terminated the contest.
The result has not yet bees officially given, but it is all but
certain that the wiener is Mr. Whitworth, and that the
nest brat are Messrs. Hoary sad Turner.

ROYAL NAVAL RZSERV4-11,251 claims had
been received up to the 28th of February, 1862, and 10,014
volunteers intoned. Of the above, 32 hold certifioatee of
competency aa masters, and 149 certificates of cumpetercy as
mates ; 19 bold esttificates of service as masters. sod 39 eer-
tificatra of service as mates—total holding certificates, 239 ;
and the force 'abysms 1,496 petty officers in the merchant '
terries.
Another Coolie ship, the third for the ecaaon, the
Alowiek Castle, arrived in our gulf en Friday last, with 337
mee, 87 women, and 49 children, immigrants from Calcutta, I
in the quick run of 71 days. There were but five deaths I
during the voyage—throe men and two women.—Triaided I
Pr.
S THE BLOCZADI EVIRCTIVI I—ln face of the
rumour that Those bawds to Interfere with oar blockade
beceuae of its ineffectiveeses, it is well to place the follow-
tog on record fawn the Mobile ddeertierv. This paper
glom a oomparative statement of the receipts of cotton at
several of the cotton ports for the first fear months of the
" cotton year." The following le the result :—Received at
New Orleans, 1860, 901,076 hales • 1861, 1,789 ; received at
YohOß 1888, 396,370 ; 1861, 23; received at Savannah,
1880. 39,880 ; 1861, 13D ; rewired at Charlestea, 161,888 ;
1861, 4,591 ; rewired at Memphis, 70,310 ; 18M, 3,326 ;
aped bales,lBBo, 1,483,033 ; 1861, 9,836. If the blockwia
a abed, it le evidently Dot bemuse the blockade is not, bed
bows it le, effective.—Beries Doily Treiseeript.
• telegram was published on the 13th tali., in
Elea Frasis at 11.30 Lon., which wee mat treat flow
Trot at 1.80 p.m. ea that day. Thus the meows snivel
at the Paola° oily from the Atlantic city, two hear **mod
of tine. The laecltede of San Frenciene le sheet 50 dor
pass met Si New Yeek.