The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-21 00:00:00

Naval and

Ltelligence.

The Lords of the Admiralty continued their official
inspection at Portsmouth yesterday. After their in-
spection of the Royal Marine Artillery on the previous
evening the Board proceeded in their barge to inspect
the Wye steam-vessel in the harbour, which has been
fitted up as a condensing vessel for Balaklava, by Mr. T.
T. Grant, Controller of victualling. The steam was up
on beard, and the whole process of working was fully
exhibited and explained to their lordships by Mr. John
Davies, R.N., Master-Attendant of the Clarence Yard.
On leaving their lordships went on board the Black
Eagle. Yesterday morning the Board embarked in
their barge at 10 o'clock, and landed at the Royal Naval
Hospital at Hasler, where Captain-Superintendent
Dacres, R.N., C. 8., and the medical staff received
them and escorted them through the building. At
noon they proceeded on a similar visit to the
Clarence Victualling Establishment, also accompa-
nied by Captain Dacres, where they were received
by Master Attendant Davies. Mr. Storekeeper Pinhorn,
R.N., and other officials. The stores are all well sup-
plied with every kind of consumptive stock for the fleet,
and all in admirable order and condition. The new
slaughter-house was the chief object of inspection. At
2 o'clook their lordships embarked at the Queen's Stairs
and proceeded to the water-gate entrance of the Royal
Marine head-quarters at Gosport, on entering which they
were received by Colonel-Commandant Fortescue Gra-
, ham, C. 8., A.D.C. to the Queen, and the officers of the
division, which was drawn up in heavy marching order
in line with the band and colours. After their lordships
had passed through the ranks the battalion was formed
in open column of divisions, and marched past in review
order ; and, although but recently brought into batta-

lion formation, all the movements were executed in a
correct and precise manner. A visit was then made by
their lordships to one of the pavilions of the men's
quarters, through which they passed, whenca they
adjourned to the office of the Colonel-Commandant,
and inspected the books of the division ; after this
they adjourned to luncheon with the Colonel and
officers in the grand mess-room, where the band played.
On quitting the Royal Marine Barracks the Board of
Admiralty proceeded to her Majesty's ship Excellent,
and witnessed experimental shell practice, concentrated
broadside firing, &c., under the direction of Captain Sir
Thomas Maitland, C.B. From the gunnery instruction-
ship their lordships proceeded on board her Majesty's
ship Illustrious, Captain Harris, the training-ship for
novices for the Royal Navy, finishing with a visit to her
Majesty's ship Victory, and inspecting the boys (ap-
prentices to the service), &c. Yards were manned, and
all the manoeuvres incidental to a seaman's training for
service were exhibited to their lordships, with which
they expressed their entire satisfaction. In the evening
they attended a ball at the Seamen and Marines' Or-
phan Schools, Portsea,in aid of the funds of that charity,
which was well patronised.
Among the numerous visitors who have inspected the
factory departments of the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich
it is a remarkable fact that no one has appeared to take
au interest in viewing and thoroughly understanding-
the mechanical routine of the department to the degree
evinced on Wednesday by Lord Palmerston. The offi-
cers who accompanied him were fearful at the commence-
ment that the circuit of the whole establishment must
be fatiguing, and consequently not to be attempted, but
his lordship expressed his desire to go through the
whole, in all of which he evinced an interest seldom or
never witnessed there, and displayed an extraordinary
amount of judgment in many matters connected with
the foundries which astonished his attendants. In wit-

nessing the casting of seine segments for traversing plat
forms he remained with his watch in hand to note the
time required in their construction, so as to retain a prac-
tical knowledge, as it were, of these matters. On being
shown the split mortars from the Baltic his lordship was
sensibly struck with what he was convinced was a very
inferior metal. From the Arsenal they repaired to the
Marshes to witness the firing off ef 6 of Capt. Boxer's para-
chute shells. Evening had already set in, and the little
fairy-like lights hovering in the air were beautifully dis-
played and seen to great advantage, in which there was
not a single failure.
The Stella, Captain Smith, sailed yesterday morning
from Woolwich arsenal with ammunition, artillery wag-
gons, and general merchandise for Constantinople. A
large number of water carts have been shipped for the
use of the troops. The barrels are fitted with screws as
well as taps, so as to render them efficient not only for
conveying water, but also to act as pontoons, if requisite.
Her Majesty's paddle-wheel-steamer Avon, of 361
tons (tender to the flag-ship Impregnable at Devon-port.),
sailed on Wednesday from Woolwich with machinery
fur Plymouth.
In consequence of alleged breach of duty, on Tuesday
last, by the senior Lieutenant of Royal Marines, J. C.
Knight, of the frigate Castor, 36, now in Plymouth
Sound, who is charged with having gone on shore con-
trary to the orders of his superior officer, a court-martial
is to be held to-day (Friday) or to-morrow.. The frigate
is bound to the Cape of Good Hope, and this circuin-
stance will detain her probably until Monday.
The Urgent, iron screw steam store-ship. Commander
Phillips, completed her engine machinery department
yesterday at Sheerness, and is ordered to proceed on a
trial trip on Monday next.
The crew of the Siren, 1G guns, Commander Otway,
have been paid their advance, and are now waiting orders
to leave for the Brazilian station.
The Alban, 4 guns, paddle-wheel steam-vessel, Lieu-
tenant Commander W. E. Fisher, has been taken into
the fitting-basin at Sheerness to make good defects,
which :will occupy about 14 days, when she will again
proceed to Heligoland to convey volunteers for the Fo-
reign Legion.
The African steam-vessel and the Lizard steam-vessel,
Lieutenant T. B. Christopher, have been taken into the
fitting-basin at Sheerness to make ,good damage and
defects.
The Princess Alice, iron paddle-wheel steam-vessel,
arrived at Sheerness on Wednesday, with despatches
from the Baltic, and left yesterday for Woolwich.
Improvements in Sheerness yard are being carried out
on a very extensive scale by Messrs J. and C. Rigby, of
Westminster, contractors, under the superintendence of
Mr. W. J. Caldwell. They Lave commenced erecting a
jetty to the entrance of the great fitting basin, at the sea
or harbour frontage, where there will be from 20 to 22
feet of water at high tide. It has been found necessary
to erect this jetty to give greater facilities and security
in the transport of men-of-war in and out of the fitting
basin. The jetty will consist of about 150 piles. The
deck or platform will consist of whole timber beams, on
which will be laid 4-inch deck plank with two powerful
capstans, with leading-blocks, &c., for the security,of
transport.
A new foundry is also to be erected, and an extensive
enlargement of the yard smithery, capable of employing
at least 250 men.
The new boiler shop, of 224 feet by 111 feet, is now
quite complete and in full operation.
Various other minor improvements are being carried
out.
By a recent Admiralty circular, issued to all captains
and commanders of cruisers through the respective Com-
manders-in-Chief, Port-Admirals, &c., it is ordered that
all Prussian vessels are to be permitted to pass unmo-
lested with cargoes of gunpowder bound to Rotterdam.
The Prussians are availing themselves of this order, or
rather indulgence, to a very considerable extent. It has
been asked, what is the destination of the powder after
it passes through Holland l
In consequence of the great number of boys who have
of late volunteered for continuous service in the navy,
the Admiralty have issued orders that no more boys
shall be entered, unless they have been employed on
board some barge or other sailing vessel.
No. 7 Company, 13th Battalion, of the Royal Artil-

lery, in garrison at Sheerness, under command of Capt.
Cannon, are ordered to hold themselves in readiness for
immediate embarkation for Corfu. The company con-
sit•ts of one captain, two subalterns, and 136 rank and
file, with S women. Daily draughts of artillerymen are
sent from Sheerness to Shoeburyness for mortar and
heavy gun practice.
A party of invalids from regiments in the Crimea ar-
rived on Wednesday at Chatham from the hospital at
Chichester, including non-commissioned officers, 25 in
number ; they are all wounded. Ainotag them was
Robert Clinton, a native of Scotland, a private of the
88th, who is blind ; both eyes were knocked out by a
ball passing through the head ; it entered under the left
eye, close by the nose, and went out under the right
ear ; he is only nineteen years of age, and is taken into
the General Hospital to be surgically attended. Private
Downard, 3d Buffs, who came home with the above, is
insane ;he is also at Fort Pitt. The remainder were
sent to the invalid depot.
Twenty-eight invalid soldiers arrived at Chatham yes-
terday from Portsmouth, in charge of Captain Richard
Thomas, 7th Foot. They came from Scutari by the
ship Colombo. They- are all wounded, and must be
discharged from the service.
The General Court-martial which assembled on Mou-
sey, the 10th inst., in the camp at the Curragh of Kil-
dare, for the trial of Lieutenant A. B. M`Causland, of
the;7sth Armagh Light Infantry Regiment, re-assem-
bled on Monday last, when the trial was proceeded with.
The whole of the day was occupied in the examination
of the accused witnesses, and on Tuesday morning
Lieutenant M'Causland read an address in his defence.
Lieutenant-Colonel Caulfield, M.P., the prosecutor, re-
plied, and the Court was cleared to consider its finding,
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Mr. William Barker
on behalf of Lieutenant AiTausland,,