The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-19 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence,

The Lords of the Admiralty at Portsmouth yesterday com-
menced their day's duties with the inspection of the Royal
Marine Artillery at Port Cumberland, the headquarters of
this famous corps. The Duke of Somerset, K.G., with Vice
Admiral Sir Frederick Grey, Rear-Admiral Hon. J. R.
Drummond, and Mr Childers, M.P., accompanied by Capt.
R. Hall, private secretary to the Duke of Somerset, Major
Clarke, R.E., Admiralty Director of Engineering Works,
and other officials, left the Dockyard soon after 10 a.m. in
four carriages for the Fort. They arrived there at 11 a.m.,
and were received at the outer practice ground by Major.-
Gen. Stransham, Acijt.- Gen. of the Royal Marine Forces ;
Col. Schomberg, Col.-Commandant of the Royal Marine
Artillery, with his Staff•oflicers, and a guard of honour,
which rendered the usual salute. Their lordships were con-
ducted to the ship broadside gun and the light mortar
batteries, where practice was mtide from the 8-inch ship guns
with shot, and front the mortars with dead shell at 600 yards
ranges. This having been brought to a conclusion, a field
battery of six Armstrong breach-loading guns, and a rocket
battery, consisting of three 61b and one 121 b rocket tubes,
were manned, and their fire directed against pole targets
anchored out at various distances seaward. The practice from
the light Armetrongs and the rocket tubes was succeeded
by firing shell at long range from the heavy guns mounted
on the N.E. angle of the fortress, and with shot from
the pivot gun battery at 900 yards range. This brought
the firing to a conclusion. The practice throughout was
admirable. The fosse of the fortress was next visited
by their lordships, and here the same men were to be
seen hauling tackles and guys, swinging enormous
ordnance in the air in process of mounting and dis-
mounting, and transporting other ordnance from one
part of the fosse or glacis to another. Their lordships'
visit being much limited in time, they were soon on their
way to the western glade of the fort. There the men were
drawn up under arms in line ; they then broke into open
columns of companies right in front, and their Lordships
having taken up a position at the saluting-point, marched
past in quick time. This ceremony over, the men were
wheeled into line on the original alignment, and advanced
in review order. Another general salute brought the in-
spection to a close. It was the first time the Lords of the
Admiralty had seen the men in their new uniforms in
movement under arms, and they appeared to be much
impressed with their general appearance and bearing.
From Fort Cumberland their Lordships drove to the new
sad extensive barracks now erecting for the Royal Marine
Artillery at Eastney, a short distance from Fort Cumber-
land, and spent some time there examining the different
ranges of buildings, including the married men's quarters,
the schools, &c., &c. From the barracks their Lordships
drove back to Portsmouth, and went on board the Osborne
to luncheon. After luncheon they disembarked at the
King's Stairs of the dockyard, and, accompanied by Admi-
rals Sir M. Seymour and G. Elliot, with Mr A. Murray,
chief engineer of the yard, and Mr Cradock, master ship-
wright, went on board the screw three-decker Victoria,
which has been for some months fitting as the future flag-
ship for the Mediterranean. Nearly an hour was spent on
board this vessel, and from what was allowed to transpire
there can be little doubt but that the Admiralty will
eventually decide upon supplanting this vessel in her in-
tended duties with one of our largest iron frigates, The
Duke of Somerset afterwards, accompanied by his colleagues,
went on board the Tamar iron screw troopship, Capt.F. Stir-
ling. Admirals Sir F. Grey and Drummond remained on
board for a considerable time examining the general arrange-
ments and fittings of the ship, but the Duke after being on
board a short time, left the ship accompanied by Capt. Hall
and Mr Romaine, and proceeded on board the Wolverine,
21, screw corvette, Capt. De Horsey, lying alongside the
transport jetty. This concluded the round of inspection
visits for the day. In the evening the Duke of Somer-
set, with the other Lords at Portsmouth, and a large
party of naval and military officers, were entertained at din-
ner at the Admiralty House. Their Lordships afterwards
attended the ball given at the King's Rooms, Southsea, in
aid of the funds of the Seamen's and Marines' Orphan
Schools.

This morning the Duke of Somerset held a levee at the
Royal Naval College in the dockyard.
.._. . . __

Earl de Grey and Ripon, on landing with the Lords of
the Admiralty yesterday morning from the Osborne, pro•
ceeded, accompanied by Col. Jarvis, R. E., to the Gun-
wharf, where his lordship was met by Major-Gen. Lord W.
Paulet, C. 8., accompanied by Colonel Shadwell, Assistant
Quartermaster General, Capt. Paulet, A.D.C., Mr Row-
land, ordnance storekeeper, and Capt. Hall, barrackmaster
for the south-western district. His lordship was occupied
during the day in inspecting the various ordnance stores,
and afterwards partook of luncheon at Col. Shadwell's resi-
dence. Rear-Admiral Robinson and Mr Childers, M.P.,
left Portsmouth for London yesterday afternoon.
The Channel fleet, consisting of the Edgar, screw line of
battle ships, 71, Capt, Geoffry Ilornby, cam ing the flag of
the admiral commanding, Rear-Admiral S. C. Dacres, C. 8.;
the Warrior, screw iron frigate, 40, Captain Hon. A. A.
Cochrane, C.B. ; Black Prince, iron frigate, screw, 41,
Capt. J. B. Wainwright; Hector, iron frigate, screw, 54,
Capt. George W. Preedy, C.B, ; the Defence, iron frigate,
sinew, 16, Capt. A. Fhillimore ; the Prince Consort, iron-
cased frigate, 35, Captain George O. C.B. ; and
the Enterprise, iron-cased sloop, screw, 4, anchored at
Spithead yesterday morning on their return from their
cruise westwar I. The presence of the ships at Spithead
enabled the officers serving in them and their friends
to he present at the hall given last night at the Ring's