The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-27 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence,

IHer Majesty's screw steam sloop Racer, now in commis.
sion at Woolwich, was on Saturday hauled out of the inner
basin and received her complement of 130 men and boys,
and a detachment of the Royal Marine Light .Infantry, in
readiness for sea. The following officers have joined :
Commander Isaac N. T. Saulez (November 13th, 1854),
Lieut. W. E. Darwall, lately of the flagship Nile, on the
North American and West India stations'; Surgeon Andrew
M'Clure, M.A., from the Royal Marine Artillery at Fort
Cumberland. Mr George W. Muir, paymaster, promoted,
on paying off the Ardent ; Mr Samuel M. Spry, master ;
Mr Hogg, Mr Jenner, and Mr Hoar have also joined.
The Admiralty yacht Black Eagle, Staff Commander
Whillier, recently returned from the Danish waters, having
laid in stores for a three months' cruise, got up steam, and
sailed from Woolwich on Saturday morning for Norway.
Her Majesty's steam storesbip Supply, Staff Commander
Bawden, has arrived at Woolwich, laden with a cargo com-
pleting the residue of the garrison stores left at Corfu after
the departure of the troops. Capt. Bawden, who has been
suffering from severe rheumatic fever, was on Saturday re-
moved in a cot from his ship to the Royal Naval Infirmary
at Woolwich, and is progressing favourably.
The War Department steamer Lord Panmure, Master
Commander Moore, returned to Woolwich on Saturday
laden with platforms, shot, and general stores, from Ports-
mouth, whither she sailed on the previous Sunday with a
full cargo of heavy balks of timber to supply the new labo •
ratory, under the superintendence of Capt. Bailey. Thus
the two shipments, discharges, and double voyage were
completed in about 140 hours.

The Caspar, the first of the fleet of vessels taken up this
year by the Admiralty for the conveyance of Russian hemp
to Chatham Dockyard, has arrived at that establishment
from St. Petersburg, and has commenced discharging her
cargo alongside the dockyard.

The Racoon, 22, screw corvette, Capt. Count Gleichen,
sailed from Spithead, on her northern cruise, on Saturday,
Lieut. Prince Alfred rejoining from leave previous to the
corvette weighing her aachor. The Prince, accompanied
by the Prince of Wales and Prince Louis of Hesse, arrived
at the Queen's private station in the Royal Clarence-yard,
Gosport, from Windsor, at 10 45 axi., where, on alighting,
the Royal Princes were received by Major-Gen. Lord Wm.
Paulet, C. 8., Admiral Sir M. Seymour, G.C.B , Rear-Ad-
miral Harry Edgell, C. 8., Capt Scott, C.B. (aide-de-camp
to the Queen), Col. Thackwell (Assist. Adjutant-General'
and other officers. Their Royal Highnesses imr-
embarked on board the Fire Queen steam v-
mender Paul, which conveyed the'
transferred them to the Rac•

.4ediately
„sent, Staff. Corn-
ea out to Spithead, and
lying at anchor with the
.e steam up in readiness to start on
~on afterwards a signal vas made from the
" one Edgar, flagship of the Admiral commanding
.snannel squadron, that " the Prince of Wales would be
glad to ace Admiral Dacres on board tie Racoon." The
Admiral at once went on board the corvette. At 3 p.m. the
Racoon weighed her anchor, and, after steaming about the
Channel fleet for some little time, stood out to see by the
eastern channel, with the Fire Queen in attendance. Off the
Warner light-ship the engines were stop)ed, and the Prince
of Wales and Prince Louis of Hesse, takng leave of Prince
Alfred, left her, re-embarked on board tie Fire Queen, and
returned to Portsmouth harbour, lancing at the Royal
Clarence Victualling-yard, and thence Foceeding by spe-
cial South Western train for Windsor, via Basingstoke, at
430 p.m. In accordance with the wisi expressed by the
Prince of Wales, no public honours of say kind were paid
him beyond the attendance of the ciief military and
naval authorities at the Royal Clarence-yard. The
inhabitants of Portsmouth, however, consilering themselves
free from any official trammels or etiquette, decked out their
Victoria Pier, at the entrance to the harbour, gaily with
flags, and cheered moat lustily as the Fite Queen steamed
in and out of the harbour, the Prince of Wales lifting his
hat repeatedly in answer to the crowd assembled on the pier.
The Channel fleet remains at Spithead, awaiting orders
from the Admiralty. The experimental squadron, consisting
of the Research, 4, 1,253 tons, 200 horse power, the En-
terprise, 4, 990 tons, 160 horse power, Pon cased frigates,
and the Wolverine, 21, 1,703 tons, 400 horse power, arrived
at the Nore on Friday evening from their cruise in the
North Sea, in order to be joined by the Fawn, 17, 750 tons,
100 horse power, and the paddlewheel steamer Salamis, 855
tons, 250 horse power, before proceeding on particular ser-
vice. On Saturday evening, in accordance with orders re
ceived at Chatham by telegraph from the Admiralty, the
Wolverine and Salamis proceeded to the Down, where they
will be joined by the remainder of the squadron. The Enter-
prise was occup'ed nearly the whole of Saturday in coaling.
The Fawn has shipped the whole of her guns, shot, shell,
and powder, and the officers recently appointed to her have
joined and taken up their commissions, and she will be ready
to take her departure during the present week. The whole
of the vessels will rendezvous at the Downs, where they will
join the ships composing the Channel fleet, under the orders
of Admiral Dacres, C,8,, and await the final instructions of
the Admiralty.
The contractors' trial,of the engines of the screw steam
frigate Ocean took place outside Plymouth breakwater
on Saturday last. Her keel was laid at Devonport in Aug.
1860, for a wooden line-of-battle ship, to carry 100 guns,
but on the 30th of June, 1861, she was ordered to be "con-
verted" into an iron-cased frigate, mounting 34 guns.
The Ocean was accordingly lengthened 20 feet amidships;
her stern and stern were altered. She was launched on the
9th of March, 1863, and has since been protected with iron
plates and fitted with bilge pieces at Keyham. This frigate
is now classed with the Caledonia, Royal Alfred, Royal Oak,
and Prince Consort, all of about 4,000 tons, and her engines
and machinery, built, by Messrs Maudslay, Sons, and Field,
are precisely like those of the last named vessels, with the
exception only that the pitch of the Ocean's screw is 221 t
6in, while that of the Prince Consort is 25ft. The trials of
the Prince Consort's engines took place on the 23d, 24th,
and 25th of September last year, and were reported at the
time. The Ocean left Hann,aze at 9in the morning, in
charge of Capt. William Earoonstone, C. 8., chief of the
steam reserve. There was a numerous company on board,
including Rear-Admiral Thomas M. C. Symonds, C. 8.,
Mr. 111auds;ay, and Mr.
Herbertsuperintendent
3iaud oi
at
yt. h e
Thedoc ktyrai
arld
was superintended on the
part
of the Government by Mr James Steil, assistant-
engineer at Keyham, and Mr William A, Dinnen, inspector
of machinery afloat; and for the contractors by Mr War-
rener. The weather was fine, wind being from the .N. W.,
with a force of from 4to 5. The sea was moderately
smooth. The temperature in the stoke-hole was about 10e,
and on deck 65. Under full boiler power the mean of six
runs at the measured mile gave 12.895 knots; revolutions,
58 per minute; vacuum, 251. Under half boiler power the
mean of four runs was 10.691 knots; revolutions, 471 ;
vacuum, 26k. These results are considered sufficiently
satisfactory to prevent the necessity of any further trial.
There were no hot bearings, and all the machinery appears
to be in perfect order. The speed attained does not equal
that of the Prince Consort's in September last, being 215
less, but that frigate was not then fitted with bilge pieces,
the Ocean,
and, not being so deeply laden, drew 51 inches less aft than

Channel &et, but wir,-
her voyage. Sr .

Racoon to

The screw steam -sloop Cordelia, 11, was placed in com-
mission at Devonport on Friday with a complement of 130
men, She will receive draughts of seamen, marines, and
boys to-day, and be stored forthwith for the home station
temporarily. The sloop is now in the Prince's dock, where
her valves will bo overhauled and bottom cleaned.
The whole of the troops at Aldershott turned out for a
field-day on Friday, under the command of Lieut.-General
Sir John Pennefather, K.C.8., and proceeded to the com-
mon, near the Royal Favilion. After marching past the
division took ground to the westward, and formed in order
of battle on the high ground south of the common to attack
an advancing enemy, supposed to be occupying the village
of Cove, with his right resting on Pyestock and his left on
Cove-common. The heavy brigade of cavalry, under com.
mend of Col. Darby Griffith, consisting of the Carabineers,
the Royal Dragoons, and the Scots Greys, commenced the
fight. They advanced in line Of contiguous columns in close
order at a trot, followed by the light brigade, under the
command of Col. Soame Jenyns, and consisting of the 13th
and 14th Hussars. The heavy brigade was accompanied by
a half battery of Royal Horse Artillery on either flank, and
the light brigade by a half battery similarly disposed. The
heavy brigade deployed into line on the right squadron of
the Royals, the batteries of this brigade taking up position
in advance of the right and left fronts, and opening fire.
Having aroused the enemy, the artillery limbered up, and
the brigade advanced at a gallop, accompanied by the guns.
Tne Hussar brigade, which had deployed into line during
the above movements, advanced at a
gallop and halted.
The heavy brigade then retired by sections of threes from
the right of regiments, and reformed line in rear of the
Hussars. The heavy brigade next advanced, and the light
retired by open column of troops from the left of the line.
The heavy brigade halted, and the arttillery again threw iu
several rounds. The heavy brigade then retired by open
column of troops from the right at a trot, thus clearing the
front of the infantry and artillery, who were in position,
forming three lines, The Royal Artillery commenced a
heavy cannonade, supported by file firing, from General
Taylor's brigade. General Russell's brigade advanced in
line, and halted close to General Taylor's, thus forming
fem. ranks, the latter kneeling, and both throwing in a
tremendous file fire, while the artillery pounded away
without intermission. The enemy fell back; a few more
combined and well -executed movements completed
his disorder; and soon he was beating a hasty retreat
to the westward, hotly pursued by the victorious troops
until they were lost to the sight of the visitors. The whole
of the manoeuvres were rapidly and skilfully executed.
The division returned to quarters about 1 o'clock.
By direct'on of tb.e authorities at the War Department,
a series of experiments will be carried out at Chatham dur-
ing the present summer by the officers and men attached to
the Royal engineer establishment in order to test the merits
of the new description of pontoon, similar to that in use in
the Austrian army, which it le proposed to introduce into the
English bervico. The superiority claimed for the Austrian
pontoon is its increased strength and buoyancy. It is found
to be far more portable than the ordinary Blanshard pentcon
which has been adoptedin the corps of Royal Engineers. It
can, besides, be turned to use by an army when on the
march and in the field—an advantage not possessed by the
Blanchard pontoon, which, from its size and unwieldy train
and proportions, causes the transport of the pontoon train
to be attended with considerable difficulty, The experi-