The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-31 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence,

Major-General Sir Richard Dacres,K.C.B., com-
mandant at Woolwich, last week terminated his
final inspection of the whole of the district within
his command, and forwarded a most favourable
report of his inspection to the Field Marshal Com-
manding-in-Chief. The term of his appointment
(five years) will expire to-day, when he will give
over the command to his successor—Colonel E. C
Warde, C. 8., who will be promoted to the rank of
Major-Gen., according to regulations, on his assum.
ing the post of commandant. Last night the officers
of the garrison entertained Sir Richard nacres at a
farewell banquet given in his honour, at which were
present Viscount Sydney, Lord Lieutenant of Kent ;
Alderman Salomons and Mr Angerstein, the two
representative members of the borough ; Commodore
Dunlop, C. 8., Superintendent of the Dockyard ;
Col. Mitchell, commanding the Woolwich division
of Royal Marines; Major .Gen. Sandham, Lieut.-
Governor of the Royal Military Academy ; Col. Sir
David Wood, K.C.8., commanding the Royal Horse
Artillery ; Biigadier General Lefroy, President of
the Ordnance Select Committee; Col. Hawkins,
commanding the corps of Royal Engineers; Col.
Kennedy, C. 8., commanding the Military Train;
Cul. Hay, commanding at Warley ; the heads of
departments and officers commanding brigades and
divisions throughout the garrison, consisiing of 110
persons. Sir David Wood, who had been elected
chairman, proposed the toast of the evening, which
was responded to in a manner which clearly denoted
the satisfaction it gave every one present to testify
at their farewell meeting their appreciation of the
sterling qualities which have marked the whole
period of Sir Richard's command. It was intended
to present the General with a valuable sword on his
departure, but he could not be induced to accept
any testimonial of value.
The local corps of pensioners in the Chatham dis-
trict, having completed their annual course of train-
ing, under the command of Colonel R. Jenkins,
underwent their official inspection by Col. I'.
Lemon, C. 8., Colonel-Commandant of the Chatham
divis,on of Royal Marines, on Chatham-linee yester-
day. The number of men on the ground was nearly
400 of all ranks, formed into six companies ; they
represented what may be termed tke effective por-
tion of the pensioners, the men beyond a certain
age being exempt from the annual. training. Each
man was foruished with 15 rounds of blank car.
tridge, in anticipation of the manoeuvres being
rather more extensive than those hitherto attempted
by the pensioners. After the customary salutes
the companies formed in line and went through
the manuel and platoon exercise, at the termina-
tion of which they marched past the saluting post
in Blow and quick time. At the close of this por-
tion of the inspection the customary manoeuvres
were gone through, the whole terminating with
forming squares for the purpose of resisting cavalry.
The inspeclion concluded with the whole line ad-
vancing in e Oumn and giving a general salute.

At the close of the inspection Col. Lemon informed
the corps, through Col. Jenkins, of his complete
satisfaction with the manner in which the men had
acquitted themselves, and intimated that his official
report would be highly favourable. The pensioners
will re-assemble this morning at St. Mary's Bar-
racks for the purpose of returning their arms,cloth-
ing, &c., until they are again required for their
periodical training.

The mounted C battery 9th Brigade Royal Artil-
lery has received orders to hold itself in readiness
to proceed from Chatham garrison to Leith Fort
early in the ensuing week.
By direction of the authorities at the War
Department a number of new description of
military pontoons, similar to those in use
in the Austrian service, have been received
at the headquarters of the Royal Engineer esta-
blishment, Chatham, for use by the officers and men
of that branch of the service in pontooning opera-
tions, which commenced for the season yester-
day. The Austrian pontoons are considered to
possess several advantages over the ordinary
" Blanshard" and other pontoons in general use in
the English service, and in order to test their merit,
as well as to ascertain their alleged superiority,
they will undergo various trials, nada- every variety
of circumstance, during the present summer. The
portion of St. Mary's Creek at Chatham, hitherto
pontooningkyard extension, a new purposes, having been
settaken apart
in
forfor
pon-
toon-hard has been formed on the opposite side of
the
doc
the harbour, near Upnor Castle, where a suitable
establishment and buildings have been erected for
the accommodation of the officers and men while
going through that portion of their engineering
instruction under Col, Lovell, C. 8., the head of that
department.