The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-02 00:00:00

on the West Coast of Africa to aid in the suppres-
sion of the slave trade is 22, under the orders of
Commodore A. P. E. Wilmot, C.B. The Pacific
squadron, under the command of Rear-Admiral J.
Kingcombe, flagship Sutlej, 35, 500 horse power,
Capt. M. Connolly, numbers 13 vessels, and that on
the south-east coast of America 11 ships, under the
command of Rear-Admiral R. L. Warren, of the
Forte, 39, 400 horse power. There are eight line-
of-battle and other ships stationed at the Cape of
Good Hope, the flag officer commanding at which
station is Rear-Admiral Sir B. W. Walker, K.C.B.
Seven vessels compose the squadron in Australia,
under the command of Commodore Sir W. S. Wise-
man. The following vessels compose the Channel
squadron, viz :—The Edgar, 71, 3,091 tons, 600
horse power, Capt. G. T. P. Hornby, bearing the
flag of Rear-Admiral S. C. Dacres, C.B. ; the War-
rior, 40, 6,109 tons, 1,250 horse power, Captain the
Hon. A. Cochrane ; the Royal Oak, 35, 4,056 tons,
800 horse power, Capt. F. A. Campbell ; the Black
Prince, 41, 6,109 tons, 1,250 horse power, Capt. J.
F. B. Wainwright ; the Defence, 16, 3,720 tons,
600 horse power, Capt. A. Phillimore ; and the Trin-
culo, 2, 60 horse power, screw gunboat.
Yesterday Mr. J. Stansfeld, M.P., continued his
investigation at Chatham dockyard into the system
of management and other matters connected with
that establishment.

Commodore Hugh Dunlop, C. 8., the newly ap-
pointed superintendent of Woolwich dockyard, yes-
terday hoisted his flag (a blue bargee) on board
the Fisgard, and assumed the duties of his office.
Her Majesty's iron screw troopship Dromedary,
Master-Commander Alexander Brown, arrived at
Woolwich yesterday morning with returned stores
from Rio di Janeiro, and having landed her powder
at the Royal Arsenal buoy, she proceeded to the
dockyard to discharge her cargo.
A couple of huge condensers for the iron steam-
ship Achilles at Chatham, were yesterday received
at Woolwich from Messrs. Penn's factory at Green-
wich. The weight of each condenser is 23 tons 10
cwt. 3 qrs 121 b.
Orders from the Admiralty have been received at
Sheerness to the effect that the Bellerophon target,
which has recently been subjected to a severe test
from the monster Armstrong gun at Shoeburynoss,
is not to be removed to Chatham and there repaired,
but will be taken to pieces at Shoeburyness by
workmen hired for the purpose.

The Salamander, 6, paddlewheel sloop, 818 tons,
220-horse power, Commander the Hon. J. Carnegie,
which has been fitted at Sheerness for surveying
services, was taken out to the measured mile off
Maplin Sands for the final trial, preparatory to de-
parting to sea on Thursday, and was inspected yes-
terday by Capt. J. Fulford, of her Majesty's ship
Formidable, 84, fl4gship at Sheerness, Admiral Sir
G. R. Lambert, R C. 8., the Commander-in-Chief,
being on leave. The vessel is expected to sail for
Plymouth this day, where she will embark a num-
ber of Royal Marines intended to form a new
military colony at Port Albany, Cape York, Aus-
tralia.

A memorandum has been issued by the Lords of
the Admiralty announcing that, with the view of
distinguishing the several branches of the naval
service from each other, her Majesty has been
pleased to sanction the introduction of distinctive
colours between the gold lace stripes at present worn
on the sleeves of uniform coats. The military
branches are to remain as at present, except that
the staff-captains, staff•commanders, and masters
are to wear stripes of light blue velvet alternate
with the gAd lace now worn. The officers of the
medical department are to wear alternate stripes of
scarlet velvet; officers of the Paymaster's depart-
ment to wear alternate stripes of white velvet ;
officers of the Engineers' department to wear alter-
nate stripes of purple velvet. The Queen's naval
Aides-de-Camp are in future to be distinguished by
a gold and scarlet shoulder sash, as at present worn
by military aides-de-camp.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—William L. Inch, pay.
master, to be secretary to Admiral Sir Charles
Fremantle, at Devonport ; F. W. S. Ponsonby,
paymaster, to be secretary to Commodore Dunlop,
at Woolwich; Thomas S. Chanter, assist.-paymas-
ter, to the Victory ; Russell Osborn, assist.-cierk,
to the Boscawen ; Chidley O'Molony, assist.- clerk,
to the Implacable ; and Alexander R. Hood, nomi-
nated to a naval cadetship.