The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-19 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

Yesterday Sir J. D.H. Elphinstone, M.P., and the
other members of the Committee on Dockyard Ma-
nagement, &c,, appointed by the House of Commons,
visited Chatham dockyard, and commenced their
investigations at that establishment. During the
early portion of the morning the members of the
committee visited the Lord Warden and Bellero-
phon, iron clad vessels, under construction, and
from personal observation, as well as from informa-
tion obtained from the officials employed on those
vessels, elicited many interesting details connected
with the system of labour pursued at Chatham
dockyard. The remaining portion of the morning
was devoted to the transaction of official business in
the Captain Superintendent's and other offices, and
later in the day the members of the committee in-
spected the works in progress for the enlargement
and extension of the dockyard by the creation of
additional steam basins, docks, factories, and other
buildings, the whole covering a space of 300 acres
beyond the area of the present dockyard. On the
previous evening the members of the committee
landed at Chatham dockyard from the Vivid,
paddlewheel steamer, Staff Commander H.
W. Allen, which brought them from Sheerness,
where they had been occupied in inspecting the
dockyard, naval barracks, and other establishments.
During their visit to the naval barracks the com-
mittee expressed themselves in an unfavourable
manner of the system of crowding in the building,
one of the rooms which was only fit for 100 being
required to accommodate 300 seamen.

Yesterday the War Department transport Bo-
marsund was placed beneath the steam crane at the
Ordnance wharf, Chatham, and during the day
shipped 12 of the 68-pounder smooth-bore 95 cwt.
cast iron guns for the iron cased frigate Caledonia,
35, 4,125 tons, 1,000 horse power; the Armstrong
guns, consisting of 11 110 pounders 7 inch, two 20-
pounders, one 9-pounder, and one 12-pounder hav-
ing been previously snipped on board. The War
Department transport Marlborough also shipped
at Chatham 50 tons of solid and hollow 68-
pounder cast-iron shot for the Caledonia. By
direction of the Admiralty every exery exertion is
to be used to hasten the completion of the Caledonia
for immediate commission.

The Orontes steam troopship, Capt. W. H. Hire,
arrived at Spithead last evening from the West
Indies, with the 14th Regiment on board. She is
ordered into the harbour, and the troop: will land
this morning, en route for Aldershot.

George Barnes Haddock has been appointed lieu•
,enant to the Royal Naval Reserve.

STATE OF TRADE,

DUNDEE, May 17.—There was rather a better

feeling in the market to-day, and more inquiry, if
not more actual business done. Flax and tow are
still very quiet, and difficult to sell excepting redue, d
prices are taken. Fine jute is saleable at or about late
rates, but common is very dull and cheaper. Flax
and tow yarns were in some request to-day at previ-
ous prices, but jute yarns were in favour of bnyers.
The better class of linens continue in good demand
at about former rates. Hessians were more in-
quired for, but the prices offered were generally
considered under the value, and little business was
done in them. In other sorts of jute fabrics there
was more doing, and a further improvement is now
looked for.
LEICESTER, 18th.—The hosiery trade continues
in a satisfactory state. The annual holyilays have
this week interrupted business, but on the whole
trade is in a healthy state, and
as
days me over will resume its
swooonnteads tahnetihvoitlyy:
Wools are making
high rates, and are very firm.
Yarns are very stiff, prices are extremely high, and
spinners are engaged chiefly toer.
NOTTINGHAM, isth,The Whitsuntide holydaya
have interfered to some extent with the lace trade,
and consequently there has not been much doing
during the past few days in the warehouses.
There wili be a speedy improvement in the Ger-
mantrade
should peace be established on the
Continent. Plain nets are still selling at a'most
unremnnerative prices. Silks, Mechlina, and quil-
lings keep in demand, but there is not much im-
provement in the silk lace aid edging trade. In
the hosiery trr,de there is not much change. The
home demand is improving, orders to a fair extent
having been placed. Yarns continue scarce and
dear.