The Express.
London, England, 1855-09-06 00:00:00

NAVAL AND NILITAR

RETURN OF MORTAR VESSELS FRO,
BALTIC.
SHEERNESS, Sm.

The Sanspareil, 70 guns, screw steam-ship,
Woodford J. Williams, arrived at the Greet Novel
at 9 a.m., from the Baltic. She left Elsinore on
ult., lifter coming down from Kiel. She brioge Sack
her the 16 sea-service mortars shipped here (as reported
her leaving here). She steamy(' into harbour yt
afterneoo, and remains waiting the admiral's orden
Eaters movements.

The Bullish, 6 guns, paddle-wheel steels sloop,
mender Robert leaner, urived here yesterday
boar), at 10 a.m., with the mortar
Pickle, ,? Redbreast, Growler, and Mastiff,
she has towed from Elsinore. The following Royal
Artillery oilieen have taken passage home here in'
link:—Captain Lawrence; Lieutenants Horsey,
Wriford, and Beetle. The Basilisk has captured 1.
rimed thirty Russian merebant vessels, laden with
and salt. In addition to the above, two vessels wer
lamed by her after capture in the Gulf of Riga, laden
Are billet wood for burning in the tug steamers at
which vends are attached to the Rusaian gun boats.
Basilisk, in company with the Desperate, exchanged
with the Raglan batteries at Riga, and with the
gun boats, all of whom kept under the protection
batteries, and never ono* attempted to come out
range is certainly quite equal to our own. The
fired a 681 b. shot from her 95 cwt. gun over the
batteries at an elevation of 16 degrees, and over 3,.
range, which fell some distance within the battery
upon. The Russians bad six gun boats, each of
attended by a tag steam vetoed.
Toll Pickle, Mastiff, and Growler, mortar vessels,
their mortars. The two former vessels were fitted
old principle ; the latter, the Growler, was fitted
swinging sea service mortar, as designed by Captain
Roberts, of the Royal Marine Artillery. There were fired
from the Growler's mortar no less than 355 rounds, being
considerably more than war fired by any other mortar
vessel. Everything acted admirably, without any serious
derangement, until the 366th round, when the mortar burst
(er rather split) from end to end perfectly through, ins per-
pendieular line wit► the tow:oh-hole, and the two halves fell
down into the wall-bed. The heavy cheek-framing
protected the men working the mortar, not one of
whom was hart. At the time the mortar split
they were Bring at the rate of about from 7 to
10 rounds per hour. The mortar is to remain in
its present position for the inspection of a scientific com-
mittee of oaken, to report thereon to the Lords of the
Admiralty.

The mortar vessels hereafter named arrived here u fol-
lows, nnamisted by steam :—The Carron, at 3.30 cm. ; the
Rocket, at 4 cm. ; and the Grappler, at 6.15 a.m., yesterday;
the Desperate clearing them past the &ay. They have all
eaperkseeed very heavy weather across the North Sea, as
else in the Baltic.
EXPN/LIMINTII WITII

interesting prac-
tie, took place here on the 4th instant, in the presents*
of Vies. Admiral the lion. W. Gordon and several
distinguished officers and ecientiflo gentlemen. Boxer's
patent Shr►pnel shells, with his improved patent friction
fusee*, adapted for the 13-inch hollow shot gune,were tried on
one of the seaward batteries. The target was fixed 1,200
yards off, on the water. The practice was under the
direction of Capt. Acting Adjutant W. H. IL Simpson,
recently returned from the trenches, and Lieut. Carey, who
ma anus, arum SOT We Vilma. lawn 50511 &Manna 500
bullets of the common musket size. The guns were elevated
3.6 deg. Each shell fell within a few yards of the target,
'War bursting a few yards above the same, or on immediate
imasimiss. The' contents of each shell spread over a space
eir at least 100 yards, passing rapidly in every direction. On
every Malian of hie laying the gun the shells burst a few
het above the target. The friction fusee' did not miss in any
ene instance, and were much admired by all. These shells
OM intended for receiving heavy columns of cavalry or
"'Santry.

Ninety Ranson and driven, with non-commissioned
odious, have bean sent from this garrison to Sisoeburyness.
for Leavy gun and mortar pnotice there.

PORTSMOUTH, Garr. 6.

Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, Commander-
ia•Chief, left this port this evening in the Fanny cutter,
accompanied by the Sealark and Rolla brigs, and Sprightly
steamer, for the Channel Islands, on an official visit.
The Wye, steam tank Teruel, takes parcels, &c., on board
to-day for the Crimes, and sails to night for her destination.
The Lively, lighter, sailed to day for Pembroke with jury
rigging and stores for the Repulse, 91, new screw ship,
shortly to be launched there. The Duck, lighter, is also
taking in stores, cables, dtc„ for the Repulse.

SOUTHAMPTON, SIFT 5.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company have given
orders to hays their steamer, Ripon, which returned from
the Moditorranoan yesterday, re victualled immediately, u

, ..
she haa bean taken up by the government to convey out to
the But 1,000 troops, a number of officers, 100 tons of stores.
and as many shells as she can stow away besides.
The troop screw steamer Victoria is rapidly taking in a
cargo of shells and huts for the Crimea. A large number
of vessels have arrived here from the Thames, all laden with
shells to be put on board the Southampton transports.
Them shells are 13-inch and 8-inch ones. A great number
of them are empty and are to be filled in the Crimea, and
the rest are live or loaded shells. The latter are all prepared
to salute the Russians, with the exception of the fuses%
which are not fixed in them. Large boxes of fuss are to
be sent in the Victoria. Long trains of railway carriages
filled with the prepared timbers for the huts are to be seen
daily in Southampton ready to be shipped.

DUBLIN, Barr. 6.
Lient.-Colonel Wemys has received orders to pro-
ceed from Ki.kenny to Limerick, to resume the command
of the Kilkenny Fusiliers. This, it is hoped, will put en
end to the misunderstandings which have existed in the
earls.
The City of Dublin Militia arrived in Waterford last
evening, to relieve the 3rd West York. Among the °Moen
of the former corps was Captain Jobs O'Connell, who
was greeted by his late constituents on the halt of the Leila
at Kilkenny.
The Cork Reporter says: "In consequence of the i
accommodation n the bursas, required
by the departure of numerous strong drafts for the
Crimea, Re., it is understood that the Ordnance department
intend purchasing about four acres of ground in the intake-
dist* vicinity of the barracks, for the purpose of erecting
new buildings thereon. The six buts, which will be in a few
days completed, will accommodate 130 men, and are said to
have cost upwards of 1001. each. The barrack contains the
following drafts: 640 of the 2nd Somerset MOW., 200 of
the 16th Foot, 600 of the South Cork Militia, 60 of the 16th
Lancers, and 600 of the 2nd, or Queen's Regiment ; in all
2,000."

ADMIRALTY, SEPT. 6.—APPOINTMENTS.—Mnoter
John W. Lowe, to Madagascar. Second Master John Z.
Pollard, to Des. Acting Assistant• Surgeon E. T. Ryes, to
Bloodhound.
The screw transport, Great Britain, Captain Gray
(Lbmtenairit Chapman Wise, R.N., Admiralty Agent, in
charge) sailed on Tuesday afternoon from the Money. She
bad on board about 1,000 troops, composed of detachments
from the 4th, 6th, and Bth Dragoon Guards, the Bth sad
11th Rusurs, 2nd Dragoons, 4th and 13th Light Dragoons,
17th Lanolin, Grenadier Guards, 9th, 17th, 79th, 92nd,
and 94th Regiments of the Liao—Captain Bruce, of this
94th Regiment, in charge. Sbe will all at Gibraltar to
land six officers and 214 men of the 91th and other line
regiments ; at Malta, to land 20 officers of different regi-
me% ; at Constantiaopla, to land 1,600,0001. of
the Turkish Loan, and then.. to Balaklava, to disembark
12 odasers, 667 men, and 22 hones.
Mr. Scott Russell's new steamer, now being built
at Blackwell, is making great progress. The frame
is completed, end the work will be finished within the neat
twelve mouths. When ready for sea she will go to Liver-
pool, sad mil regularly from that port, sad not, as stated.
from Milford Haven ; for, although she cannot enter any
one of the Liverpool docks, she can, like the Collins bo►ts.
such.. in Ms river. The commend has been offend to, bat
mioeted b 2 Ins of the Caved captains.