The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-07 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

VALETTA, I).C. I.—The following are the naval
movements of the week ;—Her AlajeAy's ship Cos-

sack, 22, Capt. W. R. Rolland, returned yesterday
from her long cruise on the COae of Syria and other

parts of the Levant. She left Beyrout on the 17th
of Nt)vemher, and experienced violent squalls and
calms.. The PLcebe, 35, Clpt. T. D. A. Fortescue,
and the Chanticleer, 17, Com. E. T. Risk, bosh
arrived at Beyrout on the 13th of November from
Malta, the Surprise, 4, Com. G. Tryon, arrived at
Beyrout on the 12th of November from Jaffa, and
left on the 18th for Patras. She was spoken by
the Cossack. Her Majesty's gunvessel Cockatrice,
2, Lieut.-Com. It. M. Gillson, arrived at Malta on
the 29th of November from Suds Bay. Another

Austrian man-o(-war, the Radeteky, 31, Capt. A.

1-3,srry, arrived on the 30th from Algiers.
Ytsterday the Lords of the Admirslty paid an
official visit to the dockyard nod naval estabiish-
ments at Chatham, arriving from Waitehall by the

morning express train. The members of the Board

present comprised the Duke of Somerset, K.G.,

'senior Lord, Vice Admiral the Hon. Sir F. AV.
Grey, K.C.8., Rear Admiral C. Eden, C. 8., Rear
Admiral R. S. Robinson, Controller of the Navy,

and Captain R. Hall, private secretary to the Firet

Lord. The visit was made in connection with the
Estimates which are now in course of preparation

for the ensuing year, and for this purpose it was
found requisite to inspect the works now in actual
progress at Chatham Dockyard as well as the works
contemplated, in order to decide on those which

will be carried out, together with the probable sum

necessary to be taken for the purpose in the Esti-
mates. After transacting scme official business

..-..1.-. ...t..- 1.-.4., of dPnartmpnta,

hole T

ships, accompanied by Capt. Stewart, C. 13., the

superintendent of the establishment, and the
leading officials, made a tour of the ships

building department of the dockyard. They

directed their exclusive attention to the ironclad

frigates Bellerophon, 14, 1,000-horse power, and
Lord Warden, 20, 1,000-horse power, which are the
only two ♦essels now in hand, the work on the
whole of the other ships having been suspended for
some years past. The Bellerophon is about one-

fourth completed, but, from the rate of progress
already made and the number of additional hands
placed on her, there is little doubt that she will be

finished and afloat before the close of the approach-
ing year. Their lordships were conducted over the
principal parts of the vessel by Mr Thornton, the
master shipbuilder, and they afterwards proceeded
to the other end of the dockyard to the shed under
which the Lord Warden ironclad ship is under con-

struction. The progress made in this vessel appears
to be more marked than in the Bellerophon, bat both
are expected to be completed about the same time.

Upwards of 2,000 hands are employed on the two
vessels, and provision will be made in the Eitimatcs
for that number to be continued until both frigates

are out of hand. After completing their inspection
of the shipbuilding department their lordships next
gave their attention to the department of works,
which, in consequence of the magnitude of the im-
provements for the enlargement and extension of
the dockyard, ab3orb3 a considerable portion of the
sum yearly voted for the Chatham naval establish•
m.,,nts, The principal of the works now in progress
are those in connection with the formation of the
new docks, basins, factories, workshops, and other
buildings at the eastern extremity of the present
dockyard, on the site of St. Mary's Island, the
whole extent of which, as well as some of the ad•

jicent land acquired by the Crown, has been ab
sorbed for that purpose, the entire new works ex.
tending over an area of 300 acres. The presen'
dockyard covers an area of only 100 ecres,so that the
additional spice will enlarge Chatham Dockyard to
four times its present size. Accompanied by Mr Ber•
nays, principal civil engineer at Chatham, under
whose direction the extension works are being
carried out, their Lordships traversed the greater
portion of the island, and spent some time in the
inspection of the various portions of the works on
which the hands engaged on the undertaking are
employed. Up to the present time the work has
been carried on by convicts, of whom there are from
800 to 1,000 daily employed on St. Mary's Island.
Already the first of the three basins, which will
cover, in the aggregate, a space of nearly 100 acres,
or more than double the whole of the existing
basin accommodation in England, is getting well
forward, although there is a considerable amount of
excavation to be made before the required depth is
reached. The principal factory is also under con.
struction, and here again the work is getting well
forward. The building will be 1,000 feet in length
by 500 in breadth, while the whole of the new
factory buildings and workshops will cover an
area of about 12 acres. The original estimate of
the entire works was £902,000, but only a compa-
ratively insignificant portion of that amount has
already been voted, and at the present rate of pro.
grass few persons of the present generation will see
the extension works at Chatham completed accord.
ing to the original design. Returning to the dock•
yard by the eastern entrance, the visitors proceeded
to the rope-making establishment, where some ex•
tensive alterations are in progress consequent on the
introduction of the new spinning and other machi-
nery for dispensing with hand labour in the manu-
facture of the largest description of cables. A por-
tion of the machinery has already been received at
the dockyard,but several of the largest machines are
now in course of manufacture by Messrs. Fairbairn,
of Leeds. It still undecided whether to employ
young women or lads to take charge of the new
machinery, but as a certain delicacy of touch as
well as nimble fingers are required, it is probable
the Admiralty will break through the rule hitherto
observed, and introduce girls for employment in
Chatham dockyard. On completing their inspec-
tion of the ropery their Lordships adjourned to the
official residence of Cep% Stewart in the dockyard,
where they partook of luncheon, and shortly after-
wards left for the Admiralty.
The iron screw steamship Dafence, 16, Captain
Augustus Phillimore, was removed yesterday
morning from Keyham steam yard and placed at
her moorings in Hamoaze.
The iron screw steamehip Achilles, 20, is pre-
vented from leaving Plymouth Sound for a cruise
in the Channel in consequence of Capt. Vansittart's
presence as a member of the Court Martial on Com.
Broad now sitting ou board the Royal Adelaide, in
Hamoaze, and which is not likely to be concluded
before to-day.
The iron cased screw steamship Research, 4,
Capt. Arthur Wilmshurst, was removed yesterday
from Keyham steam yard into Hamoaze.
The paddlewheel steamer Barracouta, 6, 300
horse power, recently paid off into the Chatham
steam reserve, is again to be brought forward for
Bea, and retitled for immediate commission.
An order has been received at the headquarters
of the Royal Engineer establishment directing de.
tachments of trained sappers, who have completed
their course of engineering instruction, to proceed
from Chatham to augment the Ist company of
It)yal Engineers at Devonport, the 7th at Dover,
the 3d at Portsmouth, the 20th at the Curragh
Camp, the 17th and 26th companies at Weymouth,
and the 29th at Aldershot. The whole of the men
selected have gone through their curriculum of in-
struction on the field works and in the various
schools, and will leave the garrison for their 'teepee-
tive routes at the latter end of the week.
Yesterday a detachment of 96 non-commissioned
officers and men of the Chatham Division of Royal
Marines Light Infantry, who have completed their
course of instruction at the Government rifle range
Milton, rejoined headquarters, under the command
of Capt. J. Taylor.
The screw corvette Scout, 21, 400-horse power,
which has been fitted for the first divibion of the
Chatham steam reserve, has received on board her
armament from the Ordnance wharf, Chatham, eon%
sitting of 16 of the 8-inch 60cwt. smooth bore cast-
iron guns, four 40 pounder Armstrongs, and one
110 pounder naval Armstrong, besides lighter guns
for field and boat service.
Ths following appointments have been made at
tho Admiralty :—Commander H. L. Round, to the
Argus, vice ~,sby, promoted, the appointment of
Commander J W.. Armstrong having been can.
celled ; Lieut. Henry F. Nicholson,:to the Magicienne ;
Lieut. Francis Durrant and Lieut. Herbert F.