The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-20 00:00:00

OFFICIAL VISIT TO PORTSMOUTH.

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The Lords of the Admiralty, mentioned yesterday,
and Lieutenant-Colonel Greene, the Director of Engi-
neering and Architectural Works to the Board, slept on
board the Black Eagle steam-yacht at Portsmouth en
Tuesday night, and at eight o'c'ock yesterday morning
their flag was saluted by the Victory. At nine o'cleck
Vieir host of the previous evening, Vice-Admiral Sir
Thomas C ,ehrane, K.C.8., went on board the yacht to
pay his respects, and at 10 o'clock Sir C. Wood, Rear-
Admiral Sir M. F. F. Berkeley, and Rear-Admiral
Richards landed at the'new stairs of the dockyard, and
were received by Rear-Admiral Superintendent Martin.
The Admiralty flag was hoisted on the dockyard gate
staff as soon as the Board entered the establishment.
Rear-Admiral Martin at once escorted them to his office.
At 11 o'clock their lordships, accompanied by the staff,
proceeded on board the Blake, old receiving hulk. From
the Blake the board proceeded to the site Of the new
King's-stairs, where the new offices for the Master-
Atteerlant, improved boatways, &c., are in progress of
construction ; thence along the newly-repaired sea wall
of the dockyard next the harbour to the upper part of
the dockyard ; thence making a cursory inspection of
the intermediate storehouses and offices between
that part and the building opposite the caisson of
the steam factory basin under reconstruction to
answer for a manufactory of the distilling galley,
which has become so general an adjunct in the
equipment of steam-ships of the fleet. From this
building the Board surveyed, in a walk round her, the
great steam three-decker Marlborough, 131 ; from the
Marlborough their Lordships passed to the inspection of
the new work lately commenced for the great new dock
between 600 and 700 feet long, which is to connect the
harbour with the steam basin. From this dock their
Lordships went on board the ships building—the Shan-
non, 60 guns, steam frigate ; the Royal Frederick, 120,
sailing ship (ready for launching several years past) ; the
Royal Sovereign, 131 ; the Prince of Wales, 120 ; they
then inspected the slip on which the Marlborough hung
SO unexpectedly when the attempt was made to launch
her. From this point the official visitors were conducted
through the steam factory and offices by the superinten-
dent, Mr. Andrew Murray, after which they inspected
the dockyard police station. At 1.30 they again pro-
ceeded to the Admiral Superintendent's office, and trans-
acted further business. After this the Board inspected
the dockyard schools, under the inspector-generalship of
Dr. Woolley. Thence they visited the lecture rooms and
experiment department of the chemical assistant to the
master shipwright (Mr. W. J. Hay), the storehouses for
boats adjacent, &c. ; and at a quarter to 4 o'clock, Rear-
Admiral Berkeley re-embarked on board the yacht, while
Sir C. Wood and Rear-Admiral Richards walked out of
the dockyard to the head-quarters of the Royal Marine
Artillery, where they were received with the usual mili-
tary honours by the staff. The Board afterwards par-
tok.k of the hospitality of Rear-Admiral Superintendent
Martin at his official residence, where the principal offi-
cers of the dockyard were invited to meet them. To-
morrow the First Lord will hold a levee at the Royal
Naval College.

COMMANDER M'KILLOP.
Commander MiKillop, promoted to his present rank
for his gallantry in the Sea of Azoff, while in c immand
of the Snake gun-boat, has been appoir.ted agent of
tranworts at Balakiava. We do not know how far such
an appointment is in accordance with the feelings of this
gallant young officer ; from his past career we should be
inclined to say the reverse, and that he has been induced
to accept it from the want of interest to secure a com-
mand in which further renoa a and promotion might be
secured. If "right men wore to be in right places,"
Commander should have had the command of
a dashing steamer for service in the Baltic next year.