The Press.
London, England, 1853-08-27 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

More stringent regulations in passing young officers for
the navy are now in force at the Royal Naval College at
Portsmouth. Midshipmen, or masters' assistants, on being
examined for the rank of lieutenant or master, it' turned
back at their first trial, will lose three months' time ; for
the second rejection. six mouths; for the third. nine
mouths ; and if at the fourth trial they are again mimic-
cestiful, they walla) dismissed from the service with dis-
grace.
The Virago, tl, steam-sloop. ('ommeuuler Prevost, in one
of her discovery trips along the coast of Yancouver'a Island,
met with an accident by touching on an unknown reef',
and sustained some damage. which it was believed, how
ever, could be repaired on the station. It would appear
that no blame was attributable to the Akers, for the loca-
lity had not been surveyed, and the reef was nut therefore
in the chart.
The large Channel fleet, which is now separated into
divisions, each ordered on detached cruising service, will,
it is said, form a junction in the course of the next mouth,
and will all rendezvous at Queenstown, about the 17th or
ISth of September, to meet the Board of Admiralty on
their tour of inspection.
The royal squadron appointed to attend on her Majesty
in the royal visit to Dublin, consisting of ricioria cad :Merl,
Captain Crispin, leaving the broad pendant of Commodore
of the first class Lord Adolphus Fitzelarence; Encounter,
14, screw, Captain George W. D. ('Callaghan ; Tribune, 31,
screw, Captain the Hon. 14. 'l'. Carnegie: Rorroconta,
11,
paddle, Commander G. Parker ; Banshee, '2, paddle. Channel
despatch veasel, Lieut. Commander J. Hosken ; lilac* Eagle,
Admiralty yacht, Master Commander J. E. Pettey; and
Fairy, tender, Master Commander I). N. Welch, left Cowes
on Sunday evening for Holyhead, to be in attendance on
the Queen on her Majesty's arrival at that place, en route
for Ireland. The reriblr, 21, Captain ('Callaghan, is
also ordered to join the royal escort at Holyhead.
Commander Pitman, who was dismissed the service by
sentence of court-martial, at Devonport, in August, 11451,
has been reinstated, by royal command, to the rank he
formerly held.
By the decease of Sir George Cockburn the office of
major-general of marines will be abolished. and the amount
of salary will be appropriated to the retirement of flag•
officers on service-pensions of 1501. per annum, the
salary being 91401. per annum. There will be no less than
six promotions of captains to the active flag list, which will
include Commodore Lord Adolphus Fitzelarence, Captains
the Hon. M. Stopfonl, and H. D. Childs, C.B. Commo-
dore Lambert, Captain A. 'F. E. Vidal, Captain Hope ; and
the following to the reserved half-pay list :—Captains
Percy Grace, H. Dundas, the Earl of Hanlwieke, J. Leith,
and Lord Colchester. Upon these promotions taking
place, four captains' good-service pensions and two appoint-
ments of A.D.C. to the Queen, together with the appoint-
ments of the eommand of the Royal Yaeht Squadron, flag
captain, and captain superintendent at Sheerness, the se-
cond in ennemand in India, and the command of the
Excellent and superintendentship of the Royal Naval
College, will be relinquished, and fall to the patronage of
Sir James Graham. Promotions of the usual proportion
of commanders to the rank of captains, lieutenants to the
rank of commander, itc., will also follow.