The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-20 00:00:00

firm.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.

The passage of the Warrior, iron frigate, out of
Portsmouth harbour on the 9th instant to join the
Channel fleet, then lying at Spithead, afforded a
clnclusive priof of the present efficient depth of
, water in the harbour's channel of entrance.
The frigate, drawing over 27 feet of water,
crossed the " bar" in the harbour channel on
that day half an hour before high water, the
tides being the dead of the neaps, and flowing
that afternoon to 636 p.m. This a fact of the
most important character, when considered jointly
with the question of the intended extension to Ports-
mouth dockyard, and the erection thereof new docks
for the accommodation of our irun fleets.

THE ARMY.
A new code of regulations to be adopted in all
future trials of rifled ordnance h Is been received at
the Ordnance Department, Chatham, from the War
Department, and, under the orders of the Secretary
of State for War, is to be strictly adhered to. The
regulations hitherto in force are abolished, and in
future all rifled guns are to be proved by firing two
rounds with the service charge of powder and
cylinder, equal in weight to two service shots; and
and three rounds with a service shot, and a charge
of one-sixth the weight of the service projectile, as
at present, for those guns the service charge for
which is one-eighth, and in the same proportion
for guns having a larger charge. The following
alteration in the system of proof of brass ordnance,
which has been recently approved in India, ha,
been ordered to be adopted in this country :—The
piece to be proved when .08 inch below the true
calibre, and afterwards finished. This alteration
has been adopted in consequence of its having been
observed that the effect of the proof charge upon
brass ordnance, when fired with the usual windage,
is in almost all cases to leave serious indentations
near the seat of the shot. Indentations so caused
will, by this system, be removed in finishing the
gun.

The 22d company of Royal Engineers, which has
been placed 'inner orders to proceed to China, being
considerably below its proper strength, a number of
Sappers and Miners have been selected from the
depot companies at Chatham to augment the com-
pany prior to its embarkation on the 23d inst.

Tne new church of St. George, erected at Alder-
shott, opposite the Centre-road Permanent Bar-
racks, will be consecrated o❑ Thursday, the 20th
inst., by the Bishop of Winchester. The Secretary
of Sate for War and other high personages have
expressed their intentio❑ of being present on the
occasion. A public luncheon will be provided in the
riding-school of the 13th Hussars.

To-day commences a gala with the troops sta-
tioned at Aldershott. The annual divisional athletic
sports and foot races, under the patronage of Lieut.-
Gen. Sir J. L. Pennefather, 1C.C.8., commanding,
will take place on the Royal Pavil ion Cricket ground.
The sports are open to both officers and men, and
nearly 500 competitors have entered their names to
contend for the various prizes. On Tuesday the
great annual military rifle match will commence at
Cas3ar's Camp, and be continued on the two follow-
ing days. On Friday the divisional races will take
place on the ground between the North and South
Camps. Among the eight events to be decided are
the A.:dershott Town Plate, the Farnborough Cup,
the Canteen Occupants' Cup, and the South-Western
Railway Plate. A commodious grand stand has
been erected, a portion of which is fitted with crim-
son cloth, in anticipation of the presence of some
distinguished visitors. At night a grand ball will
be given in the clubhouse by the officers of the divi-
sion, who are already making every arrangement
for the purpose.
The St. Lawrence and Newcastle East Indiamen
have arrived at Spit head from the Thames to em-
bark troops for Calcutta, under the supervision of
Capt. Loch, embarkation offiJer to the Hon. Council
for India. The St. Lawrence will embark to day a
detachment of the 2d battalion 20th Foot, a second
detachment of the same regiment embarking in the
Cur.flict East Indianian on the 24th, and the head
quarters of the repmentin the Blenheim on the 25th.
The Newcastle embarks a detachment of the sth
Lancers (dismounted), and the head quarters will
also embark from Portsmouth in the Herefordshire
East Indiaman on the 23d inst.

The 22d C .mpauy of Royal Engineers will embark
on board the Louisa, hired transport, on the 23d or
24th inst. at Portsmouth, for conveyance to China.

THE RIDICULOUS WILL OF AN ECCENTRIC
ACTOR.—As quoted by Mr. Toni Taylor in the
Victoria Magazine.—l, Thomas Weston, comedian, hat-
ing all form and ceremony, shall use none in my will, but
proceed immediately to the explaining my intentions. Im-
primis As from Hr. Foote I derived all my consequence
in life, and as it is the bast thing I am in possession of, I
would, in gratitude at my decease, leave it to the said Mr.
Foote ; but I know he neither stands in need of it as an
author, actor, nor as a man; the public have fully 'moved
it in the two first, and his good nature and humanity have
secured it to him in the last. Item : I owe some obliga-
tions to Mr. Garrick; I therefore bequeath him all the
money I die possessed of, as there is nothing on earth
he is so very fond of. Item : Though I owe no obliga-
tions to Mr. Harris, yet his having shown a sincere re-
gard for the performers of his theatre (by assisting
them in their necessities, and yet taking nc advantage
thereof, by driving a Jew bargain at their signing fresh
articles), demands from me, as an actor, some acknow-
ledgment ; I theretore leave him the entire possession of
that satisfaction which must aaturally result on reflecting
that, during his management, he has never done anything
base or mean to sully his character as an honest man, or a
e entleman. Item-1 leaving played under the management
of Mr. Jefferson, at Richmond, and received from him every
politeness; I therefore leave him all my stock of prudence,
it being the only good quality I think he stands in need of.
Item—l give to Mr. Reddish a grain of honesty ; 'tis indeed
a small legacy, but being a rarity to him, I think he will
not refuse to accept it. Item—l leave Mr. Yates all my
spiril. Item I leave Mrs. Yates my humility.
Item Uton reflection I think it wrong to give
separate legacies to a man and his wife; therefore I revoke
the above bequests, and leave to be enjoyed by them
jointly, peace, harmony, and good nature. Item—
Notwithstanding my illness, I think I shall outlive Ned
Shuter ; if I should not, I had thoughts of leaving him
my example how to live, but that I am afraid would
be of little use to him. I therefore leave him my example
how to die. Item : I leave Mr. Brereton a small portion
of modesty. Too touch of one thing is good for nothing.
Item : As Mr. Jacob has been a long while eagerly waiting
for dead men's shoes, I leave him two or three pair (the
worst I have), they being good enough in all couseiezioeo
r„
him. Item : Though the want of vanity be a proof of
utnderstanding, yet I would recommend to my old
Bad-
deley, to make use of a little of the first, thoughiir:letcost
increasehi m
more than ho would willingly pay for it. lt will
his salary
'
not only his consequence with the
Pulti;jhlis stomach turn
with the managers ; but, however,
against it as nauseous, he may use fOlriasuccedaneuna a small
quantity of opinion, and it will anewa should
the people as well.
Item : Mr. Quick has long laboured to
.obtain the applause
of the public ; the method he has taken ze a vague one ; the
is 0 copy nature— E
surest method to obtaia his endhas had some xljeri-
entia docet. Item: Miss Youngshe r tail,
u te disputesreciuwi
requisite
the manager about dressing
gms to be an absrl complaining
of the
want
ni. fringe ; as fringe ,sefeails, and I always loved to see
Bltcloeaa.veinher, theretore, the fringe
which I
in the ornamenting rod
bi ladies'
usually played
them as they
about the flaps of my L
Jerry Steak.
PENSIONS. finance accounts
which have just been issued,ar give, as usual, a
year,
rather serious
list of pensions charged upon the consolidated
fund, and therefore no otherwise stated than in these ac-
counte. Among the larger entries are five ex• Chancellors
or England receiving £5,000 a year each, two ex-Chancellors
of Ireland with £3,692, four retired English judges with
£3,500, two Irish with £2,400, and five County Court judges
dividing £4,600 between them. But these are pensions
earned by personal service; perhaps not so much can be said
of some others. The Earl of Ellenbm ough has a compensa-
tion annuity of
£7,700 as chief clerk of the Court of Queen's
Bench ; the Rev. T. Thurlow, £4,028 as clerk of the hanaper,
in
addition to £7.352 as patentee of bankrupts. Viscount
A.vonmore receives £4,199 as late registrar of the Irish
Court of Chancery ; the Earl of Roden Pe2,698 as late audi-
tor-general of the Irish Exchequer. But these pensions
will come to an end ; even that cannot be said of some
others. There is above £23,000 a year paid in perpetual
pensions, payable as long at least as there shall be an Earl
Amherst or Nelson, a Lord Rodney, a Viscount Exmouth,
an heir of William Penn, or of the Duke of Schomberg, and
so forth. Of the limited number of first-class pensions of
£2,000 a year to statesmen who have been in high office,
and who ceiim the pensions, only two are now, payable—
viz., to Lord Glenelg and Mr. Disraeli; Sir a. Grey's is
suspended, he being again in office. Several pensions ceased
in the course of the year—among them that to the family
of George Canning and that to the doorkeeper of the Irish
House of Lords but the housekeeper still lives to receive her
annual compensation for loss of emoluments by the Union.