The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-27 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The Rattlesnake, 8, Commander Trollope, sailed from
Spithead on Monday evening for the eastward, to be paid
I off. The Sir J. Easthope, steam transport, left Spithead
of Monday evening for the eastward to be paid off. The
Wasp, steam-sloop, 14, Commander Lloyd, arrived at
Spithead OA Tuesday from the Black Sea. The Poly-
phemus, 5, steam-sloop, Commander Warren, returned
to Spithead yesterday morning with supernumeraries
from the westward. The Transit steam transport, Com-
mander C. R. Johnson, left Portsmouth on Tuesday
morning for Scutari, with the 2d Light Infantry Regi-
ment of the British German Legion. The Northumber-
land steam transport left Portsmouth on Tuesday morn-
ing for the eastward. The Imperador steam transport,
with the 3d Light Infantry Regiment of the British Ger-
man Legion, went out of Portsmouth harbour yesterday
morning to Spithead, but made no further progress to-
wards her destination (Scutari) owing;to the extraerdi-
!wily tempestuous state of the weather, which was more
violent than has been experienced on the southern coast
for many years at this season. The Thames steam tran-
sport embarked a body of the British German Legion at
Portsmouth dockyard yesterday, but did not leave har-
bour.

The iron mortar raft No. 1, which was towed down to
Shoeburyness on the 21st inst., with a second mortar,
for the purpose of testing the efficiency of the new prin-
ciple on which these boats are built, was again brought
back to the Arsenal-wharf, Woolwich, on Monday evening.
On her return to Shoeburyness preparations were imme-
diately made to recommence the trials. Two rounds
were fired successfully, but at the third discharge the
mortar (loaded with an ordinary charge of 201 b. of pow-
der, &c,) was shattered in pieces, scattering the fragments
over the sides of the boat, and shivering the frame
work of the bed. The gunner and crew of her Ma-
jesty's surveying vessel Merlin have been transferred to
the steam-tender Lizard, to assist in these gunnery ex-
periments, under the superintendence of the lieutenant
commanding the Lizard, and were all in attendance on
the deck of the raft. The Commander of the Lizard
was struck by one of the fragments of the metal, and was
severely injured. The gunner escaped serious injury, but
one of the pieces, ejected with great force, grazed and
slightly excoriated his throat.

On Monday evening two Lords of the Admiralty,
Rear-Admiral Sir M. F. Berkeley, K.C.8., M.P., and
Rear-Admiral Eden went down to Woolwich for the spe-
ciAl purpose of visiting and inspecting the progress made
in the dockyard there in fitting out the important flotilla
of gnn-boats. The rapidity with which these vessels have
passed from the builder's yards through the shipwright
department at Woolwich elicited encomiums from their
Lordships. Before their departure theCommodore•Super-
intenclent conducted them to the east dock to visit the
c tisson, which at this season of the year has on various
occasions been forced from its bed. The consequence of
this is, that the dock becomes flooded, and on one occa-
sion considerable damage resulted to the Firefly, then
undergoing repairs therein. Their Lordships' visit was
confined to the gun-boats and the other vessels in the
docks and basins.

The gun-boats Sandfly, Lieutenant-Commander B. G.
W. Nicolas, and Plover, Lieutenant-Commander Stew•
art, went down to the Royal Arsenal-wharf, Woolwich,
yesterday, to receive their live shell, powder, ammuni-
tion, and other stores, whence they will proceed and
rendezvous to complete the Sheerness squadron. The
Dove, another of this class of vessels, has been received
into basin at Woolwich ; and, as all other work, except
in cases of great emergency, gives place to fitting out
and completing of the gun-boats, she will be coppered
and rigged with the greatest possible despatch.
The steam-transport Durham, No. 179, put into Wool-
wich basin yesterday morning, from Deptford, with a
c trgo of military stores for the East. She is to ship an
engine and boiler from Woolwich for Malta, and will
proceed to Greenhithe to have her compasses adjusted
for the voyage.
Some recruits, mustering between 60 and 70 young
men, between the ages of 18 and 22, were received at
head-quarters of the Royal Sappers and Miners, at
Woolwich, from Aldershott, Southampton, Giasgow, and
Edinburgh, yesterday morning.
It is reported to be the intention of the Horse Guards
authorities early next year to allow the men of the diffe-
rent depots composing the Provisional Battalion, Chat-
ham, under the command of Col. H. Jamie, to volun-
teer for the regiments in the Crimea. Most of them will
have made mach progress in the use of the Enfield rifle,
under the instruction of Capt. W. Nott, 83d Regiment,
and Lieut. W. H. Ballingall, 35th Regiment, as to have
rendered them perfect in that arm of the service. Officers
commanding depots will be required to give every assist-
ance for the purpose of carrying out this order. The bat-
talion being about 2,500 strong will form a ♦aluable
auxiliary in this new and essential branch of military
operations.

The Government, it is calculated, when army agencies
are abolished and the business transferred to the War
Department, will be gainers to the extent of 40,000/.
annually. The allowance paid to army agents is 3001.
per annum for each regiment, and GOO/. for regiments
having two battalions.

The new convict prison in the course of erection M
Chatham has already cost about 200,0001., and, it is sup-
posed, will accommodate 1,000 prisoners. The new huts
recently erected for the Royal Sappers and Miners, ca-
pable of holding 525 men, have cost about 8,0001.

Tke Dublin Mail calls attention to the two following
instances of official mismanagement :—" 'rite Clare Mili-
tia, under orders for Newport, South Wales, left the
Curragh at half-past S a.m. on Saturday, the 22d inst.,
arid upon their arrival in Dublin at half-past 12, were
marched from the railway terminus to theßoyalßarracks,
where they remained all day in the open barrack-square,
exposed to the weather. At abour 20 minutes past
4 o'clock they received orders to march to Beggars-bush.
On arriving at Beggar's-bush Barracks, they found that
no sort of preparation had been made for them—no food
of any kind, not even bread. The colonel sent one of his
officers out, who suceeeded in purchasing about 210
loaves of bread, which were distributed among the men.
The men were obliged to lie on the floor, wrapped up in
their blankets, unless they chose to lie on the hard iron
bedsteads, as no straw had been provided for them. This
was a severe trial for young militia soldiers. Up to 6
o'clock on Sunday no bedding had been provided. The
regiment was to embark for Birkenhead next morning.
The Roscommon Militia was sent, ♦ia Liverpool, to Leeds
on Thursday. The were ordered and counter-ordered to
embark on the same day, and were sent out of Kings-
town in a heavy gale at last. At Liverpool the weather
was so bad as to cause great difficulty in disembarking ;
and when the regiment arrived at Leeds they were kept
under arms in the streets for three hours before it was
settled where they were to be quartered."