The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-22 00:00:00

MILITARY OFFICERS AT MALTA.

On the Bth of November two officers, Capt. Crofton
Peddie and Lieut. Robert Henderson, both of the 21st
Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and four naval seamen, named
Thomas Starking, Robert Gunn, William Pearson, and
Walter Slader, belonging to her Majesty's ship Rodney,
nt proeont in port, vrrro placed at (be bar of the police
court, before the magistrate, Dr. Zammit, charged by
the police with having on the night previous assembled
with others in the streets of Valletta with the intention
of attacking the police, and having committed a disturb-
ance and insulted the police officers in the execution of
their duty.

From the evidence produced, it appeared that, to-
wards ten o'clock on the night above-mentioned, a num-
ber of officers belonging to the different depots in gar-
rison collected at Marich's cigar-shop, in Strada Teatro,
and one, of them wantonly insulted a constable, named
Paolo Deguana, who was on his beat, by snatching his
staff out of his hand, and throwing it across the street.
They then proceeded as far as the door of the theatre,
where they were joined by others, and having repaired
to Shepherd's cigar-shop, in the same street, commenced
insulting in various ways another police constable,
Michele Atard, on duty there. On the performance of
the theatre being over they entered the shop of Fran-
cesco Mercieca, the Cafe di Europa, and other drinking
shops, and by promising them money induced the
men-of-war seamen who were in these shops to ac-
company them to attack the police. At about mid-
night some thirty officers and sailors were gathered
together in Strada Ponente, some with sticks in their
hands, evidently with the intention of creating a dis-
turbance, and effecting their object with having a
row with the peelers. One officer, stated by a witness
to have been Lieutenant Henderson, but which was
denied by that officer, struck a constable with his shoul-
der, addressing him at the same time in a contemptuous
manner. A collision between the officers, sailors, and
constabulary being imminent the police collected a strong
force and narrowly watched the proceedings of the mid-
night disturbers, who seeing the odds against them
seemed inclined to return to their ships and quarters,
and took the way up Strada Teatro, the officers arm in
arm with the seamen ; but upon the police marching past
them towards Strada Reale, jeers and cries from some of
the party, and various military expressions, such as
"Left shoulders forward," " Quick march," "Halt," &c.
were addressed in derision to the police. Upon'this the
Inspector ordered his men to arrest Capt. Peddie and
Lieut. Henderson, and four sailors, who were most con-
spicuous amongst the disturbers. This was accordingly
done, and notwithstanding cries of " Rescue, rescue,"
the fficers and sailors were soon safely lodged without
much difficulty in the lock-up for the night.
The worthy magistrate, after patiently listening to
the numerous witnesses examined, and hearing read be-
sides a former police charge and sentence against Lieut.
Henderson for disturbance in the streets, for which he
had been fined 51., sentenced Capt. Peddie to pay a, fine
of 51., Lieut. Henderson 10/. (it being his second offence),
two of the seamen 51, each, and the two others 3/. each.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

We are glad to find that there is no foundation for the
report of the loss of the steamer Pacific. An official no-
tice, dated Admiralty, Nov. 21, on behalf of the direc-
tors of transport servica, states that the Pacific was at
Constantinople on the 20th inst.
Her Majesty's steam-transport. Urgent, Commander
Phillips, arrived at Spithead yesterday from the Medi-
terranean, with the passengers and invalids enumerated
yesterday.
The steam-transport Orinoco went into Portsmouth
harbour yesterday to prepare for further service.,
The Thalia, old 42-gun sailing-frigate, has been re-
moved from the ordinary to Portsmouth dockyard, to be
fitted, it is reported, as a floating church for the Catho-
lics of the fleet at Portsmouth;
Her Majesty's screw block-ship, Edinburgh, 58, Capt.
Hewlett, is ordered to leave Spithea 1 for Queenstown.
The Cxsar, 91, Capt. Robb, will not go into Ports-
mouth harbour until next week to refit.
The steam-transport Ar'abia, with the 2d Regiment of
the Royal Cheshire Militia, under command of Colonel
Davenport, left Plymouth at nine o'cloCk on Tuesday
evening for Dalrslin. Including officers, rank and file,
women and children, there are 1,014 persons on board
connected with the regiraent. Colonel Pester, R.A., in
the absence of General Eden, issued a complimentary
order on the departure of the Royal Cheshires.
The crew of the screw steam-ship La Hogue, 60, Capt
W. Ramsay, are to be paid wages to-day at Plymouth ;
six weeks' leave ilairsence will ho granted to them.
- The gun-boats Lark and Magpie' having had defects.
1[ made good, veld ordered to be tals-e;n-ain't of dock at
Devonport yesterday to give place t 3 the gun-boats
Badger and Redwing.
-rho frigate Mmander, 44, Capt. Thos. Baillie, which
arrived in Plymouth. on Sunday, was appointed to go up
Hamoaze on Tuehday,ite have defects made good.
The bark John IVlrtche 1, Captain Brown, Irom Mout-
Mein with timber for. the dockyard, arrived at Plymouth
on Tuesday._ . . .

The Phoenix, 6, screw steam-sloop, Commander Arthur
Tower, has been placed under the shears, and dismasted
by her craw. The order has arrived at Sheerness for her
being paid off, on Monlay next, into ordinary.
The chief engineer of the Phoenix, Mr. Charles K.
Renwick, is appointed chief engineer of the Chesapeake
screw steam-frigate, fitting at Chatham.

The Horario,-8, screw steam-frigate, Captain the Hon.
Arthur A. Cochrane, C. 8., is ordered to be fitted at
Sheerness with two 95 cwt. 10-inch guns in midships.
The machinery repairs, including the boilers, will occupy
nearly three months. Very considerable alterations in
her gunroom accommodation are to take place.
The Cressy, 80, screw steam-ship, Captain Richard L.
Warren, has sent down topgallant masts, and made all
snug aloft, ready for being taken into No. 1 dry dock,
Sheerness.

The following circular has been issued from the War-
office, signed by Mr. B. Hawes, upon the unnecessary
detention of soldiers committed to gaol upon charges of
desertion. The circular is addressed to officers command.
ing line and militia regiments, inPpecting field officers,
&c.:—" Complaints having been addressed to the
Secretary at War of the unnecessary detention in gaol
of soldiers committed to the custody of the governors
thereof on charges of desertion, and it being found that
the descriptive returns received from the committg ma-
wistrates under the provisions of the 46th clause of the
Mutiny Act, which are referred to officers commanding
with a view to the prompt and satisfactory identification
of the individuals charged with the offence of desertion,
are frequently detained, instead of being forwarded to
the War-office with the least possible delay, as in every
instance the several commanding officers are particularly
requested to do, I have now the honour, by direction of
the Secretary at War, to acquaint you that such des-
criptive return,i, when referred to you, should be sent
back to the War office, with the information required,
by return of post, it possible ; and if that be not practic-
able, I am then directed to desire that the Secretary at
War may as immediately be informed of the cause of
delay."

The mortar raft stated in The Sun a few day 4 ilihee as
being in the course of construction in Woolwich Dock-
yard was on Tuesday morning hauled nut of the basin to
the Royal Arsenal wharf, where a 13-inch mortar was
placed on board. She is to he thence conveyed to Shoe-
buryness to go through some experimental trials, in order
to verify her fitness for the service intended. The pre-
valent opinion among marine artillery officers and other
practical persons is, that the pontoons will not be able
to resist the force of the concussion produced by the dis-
charge of the mortar. They consider that the substance
of the capper is of.too thin a nature to-resist the force of
the recoil, and that it will consequently double in. If,
however, after the tests have been submitted to, the
rafts should prove successful, there is no doubt that a
great number of them will be constineted forthwith, as
the expen=e and time are trifling iu comparison with that
required for building ordinary gunboats.
The Russian east-iron gun brought from Bomarsund,
which has been bored for the discharge of the Lancaster
shells, has undergone a second experiment of two rounds
with the same kind of shot, weighing 2cwt. 81b. each.
The powder charge, however, was increased from 71b. to
121 b. The "searcher" was then applied, and the gun
was found free from the slightest damage. The result
has served to strengthen the impression that this metal
will resist a much greater amount of charge, and yet
the depth of material from the back of the chamber to
the breech, with the exception of the cascable, is only
four inches. There were many persons highly interested
in the trial, among whom were Mr. Fairbairn, of Man-
chcster, and Mr. B. Howell, of the firm of SbortriJge,
Howell, and Jessop, of Sheffield, who expressed their
opinion that we have every facility at home of rendering
our own metal for guns equally durable. A number of
brass guns for the King of Hanover, manufactured at
the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, likewise passed satisfac-
tory proof.
A new species of shell, somewhat similar to the Lan-
caster, but of smaller dimensions, has been receives at
the Arsenal at Woolwich for experimental proofs. These
shells are armed with four ribs of iron for their surer
guidance when discharged. Numbers of the monster 42-
inch shells are constantly arriving at the arsenal, like-
wise from the Lowmoor works. They are forwarded by
the various small craft employed in the Ordnance ser-
vice, and arrive in numbers of from four to ton. They
are landed on the wharfs and rolled thence to the labo-
ratory to be prepared for service. Their average weight
is 26 cwt. and 3 quarters. Plates of wrought iron for
casting Lancaster shells have recently arrived at the
Royal Arsenal in great abundance.
By reason of some abuse of the privilege granted to
strangers visiting the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, the
permission to adroit visitors, except on particular busi-
ness, is now withdrawn.
Brevet-Major Kelly, 84th Regiment, ordered to
Madras in charge of part of the soldiers of the depot of
the East India Company who have been instructed in
the practice of the Enfield rifle at Hytite.
It is stated that the troops will remain at the en-
campment on the Curragh during the winter, and mea-
sures are being taken to provide for their comforts.
Lord Seaton is unremitting in his inspections, and the
noble veteran is often seen riding at dusk across the
Curragh, after spending the day in the camp.
On Monday the draught of the depot of the 69th Ro-
-1 giment, under orders to join the service companies at
Barbadoes, left Kilkenny for Cork, via Waterfor I.
They consisted of four officers, two sergeants, and 82
rank and file. Lieut. Hill commanded, and the other
officers were Ensigns Bereford, Osmer, and Clarke.
Lient -Colonel Gaisford, 72d Highlanders, is at pre-
sent at Kilkenny, having returned from the Crimea with
the intention, it is said, of retiring from the army.
A monument to the memory of the late Colonel Yea,
of the Royal Fusiliers, son of Sir Wm. Yea, of Somer-
set, is about to be, erected near Taunton. The gallant
Colonel was present throughout the campaign of 1854,
including the battles of the Alma, Balaklava, and Inker-
man. •