The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-18 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

VALETTA., Oct. 12.—The commission, of which the Duke
of Somerset is chief, to inquire into the best site for the new
naval dock, arrived here at 4 o'clock on Monday afternoon,
on board the Admiralty yacht Enchantress, Staff-Comman-
der J. E. Petley, from Marseilles-, Toulon, and some of the
ports of Sicily. Hie Grace is accompanied by Rear-Admiral
Drummond, Rear-Admiral Robinson, Mr Childers, his pri-
vate secretary; Capt. Hall, Mr Alfred Buckley, and Capt.
Hore, naval aide-de-camp to the embassy at Paris. Immedi-
ately on the yacht making her appemance between the two
forts at the mouth of the Grand Harbour salutes were fired
from the town and the flagship of the commander-in-chief,
and the principal ships of the fleet In port, consisting of the
Marlborough, 131, flagship of Vice-Admiral Smart; 'Re-
venge, 73, flagship of Rear-Admiral Yelverton ; Gibraltar,
81, Meeanee, 60, Orlando, 46, Magicienno, 16, Chanticleer,
17, and the ironclads Royal Oak, 95, and Resistance,.
18. A serious accident unfortunately occurred on board
the Marlborough, one of the men having fallen from
aloft. Mr Alen, Master-Attendant of Malta dockyard,
piloted the Enchantress into harbour, and she was admit-
ted to pratiquo Ly Capt. Hoseason, R.N., Superintendent
of the port. No sooner had she taken up her moorings
than Vice-Admiral Smart, Rear-Admirals Yelverton and
Austin, and the captains and commanders of the flag re-
paired on board to pay their respects to the Duke of Somer-
set, as First Lord of the Admiralty. Major Brett, aide-de-
camp and private secretary to the Governor, also waited
on him on the part of his Excellency Sir Gaspard Lo Mar-
chant, who late on the following day paid a visit to their
lordships. The Duke and party, accompanied by Admiral
Smart, yesterday inspected most of the ships of the fleet,
and expressed the highest satisfaction with their efficient
and orderly condition. They also paid a visit of inspection
in company with the chief naval authorities, to the creeks
and bays of the great harbour, paying especial attention to
the various sites pointed out by different authorities as best
adapted for the wants and requirements of a large naval
dock. In the evening they accepted the Governor's invita-
tion to dine at the palace, where they were received by a
guard of honour. Their Lordships will land officially to-day
at half-past 2 o'clock, when there will bo the usual salutes,
guards of honour, &c. Before taking their departure on Sa-
turday the local chamber of commerce and the elected mem-
bers of Council intend to wait on the Lorda Commissioners
to make known their views regarding the proposed docks,
in so far as these may affect mercantile and local interests.
Her Majesty's gunboat Surprise, 4, left port on Monday for
Beyrout to provision the Cossack. Mr Hervey, R.N., in-
valided from the Revenge, Mr Boddington, dismissed the
se: vice for deserting from the Gibraltar, and Corporal Smith
left by the Syria for Gibraltar and Southampton. The
Cecile yacht, having on board the Marquis and Marchioness
of Drogheda, Itft for Gibraltar on Oct. 11th. The Egyptian
steam frigate Brahimia, with 55 naval cadets, arrived a
short time ago, left on Sundry on a voyage of instruction.
She is to call at Marseilles and several English ports.

A public meeting of inhabitants of Chatham, convened
by the High Constable in accordance with a numerously-
signed requisition, was held yesterday for the purpose of
taking into consideration the great danger experienced by
the inhabitants of that town and the adjoining city of Ro-
chester from the close proximity of the large gunpowder
magazines and stores at Upnor Castle, and urging upon the
proper authorities th 9 necessity of taking the necessary steps
for protecting the lives and property of the inhabitants of
the neighbourhood. It was elicited that the powder stores
at Chatham are among the largest in the country. So vest
is the quantity at present in store that if an explosion were
to occur it would infallibly destroy the dockyards and naval
establishments at Chatham and Sheerness, and spread ruin
and devastation in both places. Only some short time since
the Upnor magazine had a narrow escape of beir g destroyed,
a fire having been discovered in one part of the establish..
meat, and this after &owe difficulty was extinguished, It
was ultituateiy resolved to present a memorial to the Go-
vernment to adopt such measures as might be deemed
necessary to prevent the calamitous results of an explosion
at the magazines.
The following appointments were made yesterday at the
Admiralty :—Lieut. Hon. A. D. S. Denison, to the Victoria
and Albert—Lieut. 11. T. F, Campbell, to the Hector—
Lieut. F. L. Wood, to the Excellent--Henry Edmonds,
surgeon, additional, to the Fisgard—and Fred. A. Bulley,
chief engineer, to the Cumberland, for the Basilisk.

The marriage of Barm Gorge de Soubey ran,
member ct the Legislative Body and Deputy-Governor of
the Credit Foncier of France, with Mile. Marguerite de St.
Aulairo, was celebrated on Saturday in the Chapel of the
Legislative Body. The Archbishop of Paris cfUeiated,