The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-05 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.

The Arethusa, 35, 3,141 tons, 500-horse power,
Mr. J. O. Jones, master in charge, which has been
fitted for the first division of the Chatham steam
reserve, is nearly ready for sea, and awaits orders
from the Admiralty. The rumour is current at
Chatham that she will be commissioned at the
same time with the Octavia, 39, 500-horse power, and
Constance, 39, 500-horse power, and all three ves-
sels despatched on an experimental cruise, to test
their sailing and steaming qualities. The Arethusa
is the last of the 50-gun sailing frigates converted
to a screw steamer, and since her alteration has not
been in commission.

The names of the following gunboats have been
removed from the official Navy List, published on
the Ist inst., the whole of them having been ordered
to be broken up—viz., the Carnation, the Dwarf,
the Fidget, the Manly, the Pelter, the Spey, the
Thistle, the Mastiff, and the Tickler, each of two
guns and 250 tons burden. The above were at-
tached to the Chatham steam reserve, and a recent
inspection of the gunboats belonging to the Ports-
mouth steam reserve has resulted in the discovery
that several of that class are unfitted for further
service.

The vacant dock at Chatham is being prepared
for the reception of the iron paddlewheel steamer
Recruit, 6, 150-horse power, of which the comman-
der, G. F. Cottram, as well as the officers and crew,
have been turned over to the screw gunvessel Speed-
well, 5, 800-horse power.
An order was issued on Saturday at Woolwich to
enter a number of hired men to assist in the con-
struction of Mr. Reed's experimental ship Pallas,
ordered to be laid down forthwith and to be in
frame within a month. The Pallas will ba armed
with four of the heaviest guns of the service, and
will carry chase guns at her bows. Special atten-
tion is to be directed to her buoyancy and rate of
speed. Her length will be 2251 t., breadth 45ft.,
and mean draught of water 20ft.
The Royal yacht Alberta, which has been built
expressly for her Majesty's convenience in crossing
between the mainland and her marine residence at
Osborne, Isle of Wight, was launched on Saturday
last at Pembroke dockyard, South Wales. The cere-
mony of " christening" her was performed by Miss
Fincham, daughter of the master shipbuilder.
The iron•cased sloop Research, having received
her masts and machinery at Hobb's Point, was
again taken into dock at Pembroke on Saturday to
receive the remainder of her armour.

The screw steamship Gibraltar, 81, Captain J. C.
Prevost, recently put in commission, made an expe-
rimental trip outside Plymouth Breakwater on Fri-
day, prior to departure for a foreign station. The
trial was under.the inspection of Capt. Edmonstone
and Mr. Diemen, Mr. Steel and Mr. Batt, of the
.Steam Reserve. Six runs at the measured mile,
under full boiler power, gave a mean speed of
10.897 knots per hour.

The training•ship Britannia, 8, Capt. Richard A.
Powell, removed from Portland to Dartmouth, is
now moored in the stream just above the ferry. She
has on board at present over 200 cadets.
The Scylla, 21, screw corvette, Capt. Richard W.
Courtenay, sailed from Spithead yesterday after-
noon for the East Indies and China station.

The Duke of Somerset has conferred the good
service rension, rendered vacant by Rear-Admiral
Warden's promotion, upon Captain Sir R. John le
Mesurier M'Clure, C. 13., of Arctic fame.
The official Navy List for the present quarter
contains the names of the clerical staff of the vari-
ous naval establishments, thus recognising the posi-
tion of a most important branch of the civil service.