The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-26 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The Duke of Cambridge, on the representation of the
heads of the Royal Engineer corps, Chatham, has autho-
rised the establishment of an additional department at the
Royal Engineer establishment by the formation of an
architectural and estimating school, for the instruction of
the officers and other members of the school in that
important portion of military engineering. The im-
portance of forming such a department has long been
perceived by the instructing officers at the headquarters of
the Royal Engineer corps, now that the plans and specifi-
cations for nearly the whole of the Government buildings
required to be erected in this country and the colonies are
prepared a' the Royal Engineer establishment, and the cor-
rect estimates of the necessary outlay on each ascertained,
The appointment of supetintrn4nt-instructor of the new
school has been conferred on Lieut.-Col. T. B. Collinson,
who will be assisted in his duties by a staff of instructors.
The non-commissioned officers and men to be taught will
join the new sch3ol as soon as they have completed their
regular course of instruction on the field works and in pon-
tooning, the seleciiiiiioithe students being left to Cot. Col-
linson on the recommendation of the captains•of companies.
Orders have been received at Chatham garrison from the
Horse Guards, directing the 2d company of Royal Engi-
neers, under the command of Capt. Sandford, and the de-
tachments of Royal Engineers for service at St. Helena, to
proceed on Tuesday morning to Dover, there to embark from
the Admiralty pier on board the iron screw troopship
Orontes, 2,812 tons, 600 horse power, Capt. W. Hire, for
conveyance to St. Helena and the Mauritius, to relieve the
26th company, whose period of colonial service has expired.
The Orontes will also embark a brigade of the Royal Artil•
ery from Shorncliffe, which proceeds to the Mauritius to

relieve the 12th brigade, on the return of the latter to Eng.
land.

On Saturday Lieut.-Col. T. B. Collinson, in command se
the Royal Engineer establishment, Chatham, commenced
the half yearly inspection of the companies of Royal En-
gineers at headquarters, including the 24th, 37th, 38th, 39th
and 40th, the 2d company, having been previously inspected'
by Col. Harness, C.B, The several companies were drawn
up on the general parade ground at Brompton barracks, in
front of the Crimean Memorial Arch, where the arms, kit,
and accoutrements of the non-commissioned officers and
men were inspected. At the termination of the inspection
Lieut.-Col. Collinson saw the companies go through a course
of company and battalion movements. The companies notin-
spected on Saturday will be inspected during the present
week, and the customary examination of the books and re-
cords of each company will bo made, as well as an inspec-
tion of the barrack buildings, schools, and other departmentst
connected with the Royal Engineer establishment,
On Thursday and Friday Major-Gen. Hay,
'lnspector-
General of Musketry, accompanied by Capt. M'Kay, De..
puty Assistant Adjutant General of the School of Mus-
ketry, proceeded with his annual inspection of the company
musketry returns, marksmen, &c., at the camp at Colches-
ter. The returns of the 4th and 9th depot battalions were
inspected on Thursday, and those of the 10th battalian were
inspected on Thursday, and those of the 10th battalion on
Friday. The Rev. Mr Barry has succeeded the Rev. Mr
Trahary as Roman Catholic chaplain to the garrison.
Lieut.-Col. W. W. Barry, C. 8., Captain R. Sandham,
Lieuts. H. B. Kingscote, R. M'G. Stewart, W. P. Georges,
2 staff sergeants, 14 sergeants, 4 trumpeters, and 125 rank
and file, forming the A battery 4th brigade field artillery,
left headquarters, Woolwich, on Saturday, for the camp at
Aldershot.
The squadron of vessels composing the sailing reserve in
Chatham harbour having been inspected by the officials
connected with tho master shipwright's department and a
confidential report forwarded to the Admiralty of the
condition and probable value of each ship, a subsequent
order from Whitehall directs a number of the vessels,
chiefly consisting of the smaller class of frigates and sloops,
to be sold out of the service, their condition being such as
to render thorn unfitted for further retention in the navy.
The larger class of line of battle sailing ships and 50 gun
frigates aro not affected by the order, and it would, there-
fore, appear to bo the intention of the Admiralty not to dis-
pose of that kind of vessels in case of their services being
required as tenders or blockehips.
A most valuable invention connected with the night signals
for her Majesty's fleet has been tried in Sheerness Harbour
during several nights of the past week, and will bo officially
reported upon after further trial next week by the captains
who have received instructions to investigate the invention.
The invention is Lieut C. J. Browrigg, Flag Licut to Sir C.
Talbot, K.C.8,, Commander in Chief at Sheerness, and the
numerous advantages of his plan over those already in use
will, it is believed, cause it to be at once adopted in the ser-
vice. Economy of time and money, together with quickness
and certainty of action, are among the advantages of this
plan, and it is also so simple that all who have yet seen it
used have been surprised at the ease with which it is learnt.
The dockyard craft belonging to Sheerness dockyard are
to boar the blue ensigns, with anchor and badge of office,
instead of the red ensign, as heretofore, by order from the
Admiralty.
In consequence of the increase of the establishment ut
Sheerness dockyard two new leading men of shipwrights
have been appointed to the yarJ.
An accident on Friday on board the ironeased steamship
Ocean, :35, iu the south basin at Keyham-yard, caused some
alarm. A quantity of tar in buckets was placed near the
stokeho le fire to warm it befare use on her boilers, and the
contents of one became ignited. As the buckets were standir g
on the iron platform the flews were soon extinguished.
The chartered screw steamship Gibratar, Capt. J. 'Harris,
arrived at Southampton at 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon
with troops from Gibraltar, which port she left on the 17th
inst. They wore under command of Lieut J. Napier, of the
Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and in medical charge of Aeiet Surg
Greig, M.B. They comprised the following :-14 pri-
vates of the Royal Artillery, one of the Royal Engineers,
two of the 31 Buffs, 27 of the Ist battalion and 12 Of the 2d
battalion 9th Regiment, four of the 2d battalion 15th Regi-
ment, tao officers and six privates of the Royal Welsh
Fusiliers, four urivates of the Rifle Brigade, and one of the
Commissariat Staff Corps, with 8 women and 15 children.
Of the number 35 were invalids, who, one landing, were