The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-16 00:00:00

Matti anti intlitarp.

ADMIRALTY, MAY I.S.—APPOINTMENTS.--Captain
J. C. Wilson, to the Narcissus, vice Campbell.
Commander G. R. Wilkinson, to the Curacoa,additionsl,
for survey service.
Lieutenant H. T. Gammen, to the Narcissus, as flag-
lieutenant to Rear-Aibuiral G. Ramsay, C.B.
Staff-Surgeon Dr. J. J. Crawford, to the Trincomalee.
Paymasters W. Harris, to be secretary to Rear-Admiral
Ramsay ; J. T. Sueter, to the Spiteful.
Master W. E. Archdeacon, additional, to the Seringapa-
tam.

Assistant Masters J. R. H. Macfarlane, to the Mullett ;
G. M'Carthy. to the Orontes.
Assistant-Paymaster B. F. Meyer, additional to the
Narcissus.

Clerks T. W. Hall, to the Pembroke ; J. P. Brains, to
the Canopus.
Aesistant-Clerk W. W. Inch, to the Terrible.

PORTSMOUTH, MAT 15.
A torpedo experiment was carried out to-day
upon the old sailing frigate America, which at high water '
floated over the mud in the north-eastern part of Ports-
mouth harbour. The experiment was conducted under the
superintendence of the obstruction committee, consisting
of Colonel Fisher, R.A., Colonel Askvrith, KA., Captain
Horton, KA., Commander Dawson, KN., Mr. Ferguson,
C.E., and Mr. Abel, chemist to the War Department.
Conunander Arthur, and several officers of her Majesty's
ship Excellent, were also present. The torpedoes, twelve
in number, contained charges of gunpowder varying from
201ba to 601b5., and they were fixed to
the sides of the vessel, below the water line, at
distances varying from five to fifteen feet. An additional
torpedo, charged with gun cotton, was suspended from the
bows of the ship. The whole of these machines were con-
nected by means of a magnetic wire, which was, by a sub-
merged line, connected with a battery fixed in a boat
belonging to the Excellent, about 70 yards distant. At a
given signal the torpedoes were ignited and a violent ex-
plosion immediately took place, causing the ship to lurch
upwards, and immediately afterwards she partially col-
lapsed? the upper deck having fallen in. The damage to
the ship below the water-line could not be precimely ascer-
tained until the tide had receded, but it appeared to be
quite sufficient to sink the ship had she been afloat in deep
water.

CHATHAM, MAY 15.
ARRIVAL OF TROOPS FROM MAURITIUS, —The
chartered troop-ship Alambagh arrived in the Thames, at
Gravesend, this morning, from the Mauritius, from which
she sailed on the 19th February last, having on board two
oompanies of Royal Engineers, together with detachments
of Royal Artillery, 13th Light Infantry, 22nd, and 24th
Regiments. The troops have been generally healthy during
the voyage, and there have been only a very few deaths on
board. The detachmenta will embark to-morrow, and
will be forwarded direct to this garrison. Detachments of
the 20th and 77th Regiments, each numbering 60 men of
all ranks, have arrived at this garrison from Portsmouth,
where they disembarked.

THE C HOLERA. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY. —Two
additional deaths have occurred at the Birkenhead depot :
one that of • child, the other of an adult 37 years of age,
the husband of • woman who died on Sunday. The num-
ber of deaths which have occurred in all at the depot is
eight. Fifteen patients are under treatment at the two
hospitals, and four are so nearly well that they will be
sent out this evening. A case of cholera is reported on
board the Peruvian, lying in the river, bound to hew York.
A man named Hynes, arrested in Dublin on
suspicion of being • direct emissary of Janice Stephens,
accounts for himself by saying that he Is • clerk in a
Connecticut bank, who has come to Dublin to see his
friends. The reason for doubting this story, however, is
his having • diary in which Fenian resolutions were
entered, and which also professed to be • not* of inter-
views in Paris with the heed contra