The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-06 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The Sanepareil, 70 gun•, screw steam-ship, Captain
Woodford, J. Williams, arrived at the Great Nore yes-
terday at 9 a.m. from the Baltic. She left Elsinore on
the 31st ult. She brings back the 16 sea-service mor-
tars shipped here, and remains in harbour waiting orders
as to her future movements.

The Basilisk, 6 guns, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, Com-
mander Robert Jenner, arrived at Sheerness yesterday
with the mortar-vessels Pickle, R.dbreast, Growler, and

Mastiff, which she has towed from Elsinore. The fol-
lowing Royal Marine Artillery officers have taken pas-
sage home here in the Basilisk :—Capt. Lawrence, Lieu-
tenants Horsey, Ansel], Wriford, and Searle. The
Basilisk has captured and destroyed 30 Russian mer-
chant vessels laden with grain and salt. In addition to
the above, two vessels were destroyed by her after cap-
ture in the Gulf of Riga, laden with fire billet wood for
burning in the tug steamers at Riga, which vessels are
attached to the Russian gun-boats. The Basilisk, in
company with the Desperate, exchanged shots with the
Russian batteries at Riga, and with the Russian gun-
boats, all of which kept under the protection of the bat-
teries, and never once attempted to come out. Their
range is certainly quite equal to our own. The Basilisk
tired a 681 h. shot from her 95 cwt. gun, at an elevation
of 16 degrees. The range obtained was over 3,000 yards,
and the shr.t fell some distance within the Russian bat-
tery. The Russians had six gun-heats ; each of them
were attended by a tug steam-vessel. The demonstra-
tion was made by the Basilisk and Desperate to ascer-
t•+in the true position of the enemy's batteries and range.
The Russians had laid down buoys at the extreme range
of their heaviest guns, and apparently withheld their fire,
in the expectation that the Basilisk and Desperate would
pass within these buoys. This, however, the comman-
der of each vessel judiciously declined doing, having pro-
cured the desired information.
The mortars on board the Pickle, Mastiff, and Grow.
ler burst during the bombardment of Sweaborg. The
t vo former vessels were fitted on the old principle ; the
latter, the Growler, was fitted with the swinging sea-
service mortar designed by Captain Julius Robert:, of
the Royal Marine Artillery. No less than 355 rounds
were fired from the Growler's mortar—considerably
more than were fired by any other mortar-vessel. Dur-
ing this firing, until the last round, there was no serious
derangement ; but at the 355th round the mortar was
split from end to end in a perpendicular lined witb the
touchhole. The heavy cheek framing protected the
men working the mortar, not one of whom was hurt.
At the time of the bursting they were firing at the rate
of from 7to 10 rounds per hour. The time wag about
nine p.m., when the firing had slackened for the night.
The mortar is to remain in its present position for the
inspection of a scientific committee of officers, who are to
report thereon to the Lords of the Admiralty.
The mortar-vessels hereafter named, arrived at Sheer-
ness as follows, unassisted by steam :—The Carron, at
3.30 a.m. ; the Rocket, at 4 a.m., and the Grappler, at
6.15 a.m. yesterday, the Dearerite clearing them past
the Scaw ; they have all experiencei very heavy wea-
ther. across the North Sea, as also in the Baltic.
The Siren, 16-pun-sloop, fitting in the basin at Sheer-
ness, has taken in her provisions ; she is taking in her
armament, shot, &c., and will shortly be ready to leave

the basi
The Urgent iron screw steam store-ship, Commander
Phillips, at Sheerness, is having the patent felt stripped
off her boilers, pipes, tubes, Ice., and Sir Wm. Burnett's
solution is to be put on instead.
The transport No. 22, George Hawking, arrived at
Sheerness yesterday afternoon from the River Thames,
to take on board stores, packages, parcels, and de-
spatches for the Baltic fleet.
The Wildfire steam-vessel, Master-Commander Brock-
man, left Sheerness yesterday afternoon, and proceeded
to the Nor.- to accompany the Sanspareil into harbour.
The Castor, 36-oun frigate, remains at Blackstakes,
waiting coders. Her crew are to be paid advance pre-
vious to her departure from Sheerness for the Cape of
Good Hope.
Her Majesty's steam yacht Fairy, Captain the Hon.
Joseph Denman, embarked the Qieen and Court at
Cowes yesterday morning- about 11 o'clock, and conveyed
them to Gosport, en route to London. The usual digni-
tsries of the port and garrison were in attendance at the
Royal Clarence-yard. The fleet and garrison al, Ports-
mouth salu'eri, and the Royal train left the port at 10
minutes past 12. After dtsembarking the Court the
Fairy was taken into dock to have her bottom cleaned.
A. rumour is very current that a new F.iiry is about to
he built ; but, as we never heard of any fault being
found with the present one, we doubt the accuracy of
sunh a r.porf.
The Victoria and Albert Rol al steam yacht, Capt. the
Hon. J. Denman, left Cowes and returned to Portsmouth

larbour on Tuesday evening. She will not be again used
his season.

The Wye steam-vessel, whose distilling capabilities ,e
en amply reported on Mond iv. was yesteeelev inspected
by Vice-Admiral Sir Themes Cochrane, K.C.B • at Spit-
head, prior to her depar'nre for the Black Sea. Mr.
Davies, R.N., Master-Attendant of the Royal C.arence-
yard. accompanied the Corn nailer-in-Chief t' explain
the internal economy of the vesQe', with which S;r
Toemae was much pleased. The Wye takes out all the
parcels in store at Portsmouth dockyard up to yesterday
for the Black Sea fleet and army in the Crimea.
The Perseverance steam troop-ship, Capt. Harris, left
Spithead nil Tuesday afternoon for the East.
The Fox, old 42-gun frigate, late the flagship of Rear-
Admiral Lambert in the Burmese ear, is ordered to he
placed in dock at Portsmouth this day to undergo con-
version to a screw vessel, to serve as a transport for
" particular service."
Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.8., Com-
mander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, was to leave that port
last night or this mornir'e in his yacht the Fanny, ac-
' cumpanied by the brigs Sea,laele and Rolla for the Chan-
nel Islands, to make his annual inspection. During his
absence Rear-Admiral Martin, superintendent of the
dockyard, shifts his flag from the St. Vincent into the
Victory, and commands in chiefpro tens.
The Lively, navy lighter, Mr. Jones, master, sailed
from Portsmouth yesterday afternoon from Pembroke
with riggers, masts, and jury rigging to rig the Repulse,
90. gun ship, and navigate her to Portsmouth.
The Talbot, for some months past lying off the dock-
yard at Woolwich, is to be moored off the Arsenal to
serve as a store-ship for pow ler.
The Earl of Durham, screw-transport went down to
Woolwich, from London, yesterday, and has taken her
Position off the Arsenal, to embark stores for Balaklava.
The Prince Arthur and the Melbourne are being laden at
Deptford fur the same destination.
The John Masterman and the Germania sailed on Tues-
day from Woolwich for the Black See, calling at North-
fleet, for the adjustment of their compasses. The Cam-
perdown, being of much heavier tonnage, has gone to
Purfleet to receive her complement of heavy materiel.
These three vessels have taken a considerable number of
huts and winter clothing. The Hamburg having cleared
the greater portion of her Baltic et ires, is shipping 1,200
tons of powder and an additional 50 tons of shot. She is
likewise to make up her cargo in huts and .warm clothing.
The Hamburg has been specially appropriated for this
purpose in consequence of her speed.
The numerous barges which lie about the arsenal
wharves at Woolwich to convey the transport cargoes
have now assumed the appearance of a floating timber
yard, and every exertion seems to be made to provide
the troops in the Crimea with an abundance of hut ac-
commodation for the winter's campaign. The builders
(Messrs. Kirk and Parry) have been instructed to engage
120 additional workmen for the more speedy perform-
anee of their contract.

Yesterday morning the officers of the ordnance at the
Tower were engaged in shipping for the use of the army
in the Crimea various articles of clothing as well as iron
bedsteads and blankets.
The detachment of marines paid off at Woolwich from
the Vixen—consisting of 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, 1 hem
hardier, and 16 privates—have proceeded to the Ports-
mouth barracks, to which division they below?...
S mie very interesting practice took place on Tuesday
in the presence of the Commander-in-Chief Vice-Admiral
the llon. W. Gordon, C donel-Commandant P. V. Eng-
land, and several distinguished officers and scientific gen-
tlemen. Trial was made of Thxer's patent Shrapnel
shells, with his improved patent friction fuses, adapted
for the S inch hollow shot guns, and one of the seaward
batteries was made use of. The target was fixed at
1,200 yards, and the practice was under the direction of
Acting-Adjutant W. H R. Simpson, recently returned
from the trenches, and Lieutenant Carey, who is under
orders for the Crimea. Each shell contained 400 bullets
of the common musket size. The guns were elevated at
a little more than 3 degrees, and each shell fell close to
the target either bursting a few yards above it or imme-
diately before immersion. The contents spread over
space of at least 100 yards. The friction fuses did
not miss in any one instance.
The following appointments were made yesterday at
two Ldmirsity ;--J. W. Lowe) muter, to the 44gee:

[PRICE 4D. STAMPED SD•

car ; J. E. Pollard,. second master, to the Dee ; and E.
T. Ryan, acting assistant-surgeon, to the Bloodhound.
Ninety gunxers and drivers, with non-commissioned
officers, have been sent from Sheerness garrison to Shoe-
buryness for heavy gun'and mortar practice there. The
west wing of the new Artillery barracks at Sheerness is
being rapidly proceeded with by the contractor, Mr.
Josiah Hall.
Large quantities of hay have recently been purchased
by Government agents in various parts of Somerset, and
have been sent off to Bristol Tor shipment in the Crimea.

During the past week a detachment of the 13th Light
Dragoons, consisting of 51 non-commissioned officers and
privates, under the command cf Lieutenant M`Neal,
left Dorchester for Liverpool, to embark for the East.
Major the Hon. W. Evans Freke has returned from
the Crimea, and is now on a visit to the Hon. and Rev.
Charles Bernard, at Kdbrogan, county of Cork.
Draughts of the following regiments are expected in
Cork from Limerick, to arrive within a few days :-17th,
9th, and 39th. The following officers accompany the
draughts :-17th—Lieut. Travers, Ensigns Houghton,
Presgrave, and Maycock. 9th—Lieuts. Taylor, Cum-
ming, Elmhirst, and Grubbe. 39th—Major Herbert,
Lieuts. Daunt and Arbuckle.
A Kilkenny paper states that Col. Wemyss has re-
ceived orders to proceed forthwith to Limerick, and re-
sume the command of the Kilkenny Fusiliers.
On Monday a party of the 16th Lancers, consisting
of two offici-rs, a sergeant-major, two sergeants, and 42
men, with 57 horses, arrived at Kilkenny, en route from
Cahir to Dublin. The officers were Capt. Barclay com-
manding, and Lieut. Stewart.