The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-30 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.
THE NAVY.
The armottr plates tested at Portsmouth on the 13th inst ,
a report of which appeared in 1he61411 of the following day,
have been taken off the side of the Monarch target ship and
landed at Portsmouth dockyard in order that their reverse
sides might be examined by the members of the Iron-plate
Committee and further reported upon. Two of these plates,
sent by Messrs. Cammell and Co., of the Cyclops Works,
Sheffield, have attracted much attention by their excellence
of material and manufacture, coupled with the fact of the'
being the first essay,of their makers in the production 1
armour plates, and it is stated the only instance in wb eh•
any firm have succeeded in passing the Admiralty standard
with so high a figure of Merit on a first trial. One of these
plates was of sjin., and the other of 41in. in thickness. An
examination of the reverse side of both discloses very little
damage; and what openitigs there are In the metal run in
the direction of the fibre, both plates being remarkable for
the absence of vertical cracks or openings, and of any cone
nection between what opening exist and the portholes. The
welding of both plates was found to be perfect. The 51in.
plate 4 on the day of trial received shot in a space measuring
in
On examining tho reverse of this space the
dame. by 18.
damage found to have been inflicted by the six shots was
considerably less than had been expected, no part of the iron
being separated from the main body,cracks on
and the
surface of the metal being very slight. During the past week
a few steel and cast iron spherical shot have been fired at
one of the Millwall plates, that had been tested some time
since, from the Armstrong 100-pounder smoothbore lately
forwarded from Woolwich to H.M.S. Excellent. As, how-
I ever, the firing was limited, the results were comparatively
I unimportant.
Tbo-Queen, 7414enalrficitirliner, ettesie*Cielrifftrial
arrived at Spithead yesterday morning from the biedite=
nean, and awaits orders from the Admiralty relative to her
paying out of commission. She has brought to England
1'27 naval and military invalids and time-expired men,
with a number of soldiers' wives and children. Two deaths
and one birth occurred after leaving Malta. The Queen
sailed from Athens on the 31st of October, arrived at
Corfu on the 3d of November, and sailed again on the sth,
arriving at Malta on the Bth. She sailed again the follow-
ing day for Gibraltar, where she anchored on the 21st; and
having completed her number of invalids, &c., from the
garrison, left again on the 22d for Spithead. On the 27th
the Queen signalled the French man-of-war screw steam-
ship Menagerie.
The Supply, screw storeship, Master Commander
M a Chaltas.
Bawden, arrived at Spithead yesterday morning from
and Gibraltar with stores and a few invalids. She will
proceed to Woolwich.
The transport Caroline Coventry, Capt. Overberry, be.
longing to the Hon. Mr. Coventry, of London, which sailed
from Shanghai on the 12th of July, arrived in Plymouth
Sound yesterday evening. She brings the headquarters of
the 31st Regiment of Infantry, 326 non• commissioned offi-
cers and men, under command of Lieut.-Col. Eager, Capts.
Cassidy and Hamilton, Lieuts. Deane, Dayall, Wood, Jebb,
Gow, and Butler, and Ensigns Stannier, Majendie, and
Deverell, and in medical charge of Assist.-Surg. Grant and
Staff-Assist.-Surg. Ginaud. Nine soldiers died on the pas-
sage before reaching the Cape The headquarters will pro-
bably disembark to-day (Monday), and join the left wing
in the Raglan Barracks, Devonport. The Caroline Coven-
try brings over 400 tons of tea for London. She touched
at Angier on the 27th August, and at the Cape of Good
Hope on the 15th October, crossed the Line on the 2d No-
vember, and spoke on the sth, in lat. 4 46 N, long. 27 50
W, the ship Edith Moore, from Liverpool for Bombay ; on
the 9th, in lat. 12 30 N, and long. 28 W, the ship William
Oswald, from Cape Town for Falmouth ; and on the 28th,
cif Plymouth, the ship Conway, 24 days from Leghorn, for
London.
At the termination of the trial trip of the screw frigate
Arethusa, 35, 500 horse power, at the Malpin Sands, near
Chatham, on Wednesday, the particulars of which were
given in Tke SU2t on Friday, an accident happened to
some portion of her machinery, which will probably lead to
the detention of that vessel in harbour for several weeks
longer, and prevent her being commissioned. On the Are.
thusa coming to another at her moorings in the harbour she
broke her large condensing cover, a piece of metal weighing
about two tons. The accident is supposed to have arisen
through the sudden contraction of the metal, the bolts in
which had not sufficient play. The new cover is to be con-
structed under the superintendence of the dockyard officials
and will probably occupy a month before it is completed.
But for this accident the Arethu, a would have been forth-
with commissioned.
The iron screw steamer Tamar, 2,512 tons, 500 horse
power, Capt. F. H. Stirling, being in all respects ready for
sea, was inspected at the Nore oy Friday by Capt. the lion.
J.R.

Ilii-CA:droTitity, :yea .
transports, who arrived trove the Tames in the Admiralty
steam yacht, and were occupied for some time in the in-
spection of every portion of the vessel. The fittings and
arrangements on board are of the most complete description.
At the termination of the inspection Captain Drummond
steamed up the harbour to Chatham, and inspected the iron
frigate Achilles, 1,250-horse power, which is nearly ready
for launching at that dockyard. After transacting some
official business with Capt. W. R. Stewart, C. 8., the super-
intendent at Chatham dockyard, Capt. Drummond left the
establishment and returned to the Admiralty,
The screw gun vessel Victor, recently purchased from
the Admiralty, has, as had been expected, passed into
the hands of the agents for the Confederate Govern-
ment. The Victor was formerly attached to the Chat-
ham steam reserve, and, on being sold by the Ad-
miralty, was permitted to undergo some repairs under
the superintendence of the dockyard officials. It was
stated that she was intended for the China trade, and she
was ostensibly fitted with that view, while her name was
changed to the Scylla, of London. Several suspicious cir-
cumstances, however, occurred, and the dockyard officials
felt it their duty to make a report to the Admiralty. The
result was, the receipt of an order at Sheerness directing her
to be stopped. The order, however, arrived a few hours too
late, those in charge of the vessel evidently suspected the
intention of the Government, and had her taken out of the
harbour a few nights since. She immediately afterwards
hoisted the Confederate flag, and she now sails under the
name of the Rappahannock. Her burden is 859 tons, and
she is pierced to carry six guns. She is of 350 horse power,
but owing to some defects in the construction of her engines
and machinery her rate of steaming was never very high,
which was the principal reason for the Admiralty directing
her to be sold. On leaving the Nore the Rappahannock
sailed direct for Calais harbour, which she entered as a Con-
federate privateer, as stated in The Sun of Saturday. A
special report has been made to the Lords of the Admiralty
of the circumstances under which she left Sheerness dock-
yard. The Customs' authorities at Calais have received in-
structions to allow the Rappahannock to leave whenever her
captain pleases.
Various officials belonging to the Russian Embassy in
London have been in attendance during the past week at
Woolwich for the purpose of witnessing the performances
.
of Bray's traction steam engine, which is employecteLiLt
manent service in the dockyard. The Russian Citeevd,
for the
have purchased a number of the en
contract with
transmission of heavy ordnance fromgiSnte.sr"etesrtasburg for the
number for service
defence of their coast stations, and are under
transmitted
the company for the delivery of a large
on an extensive scale.
The following is an Admiooralttoy rtheteurntroroetcieonntleyngine
The
from Woolwich referen
engine has been at work in Whoooonlyrich dockyard during the
The cost
as well as day. The macilhsli
past twelvemonth, continuously
as
fay:tenant° and repairs, is under 20s.
the time, sometimes hanigvinht
when it was delivered,
horses
now in as good repaigr
of working,
per day, whit thilideiwnorinkadone is equal to
Since the engine has been team of
of horses have been disposed of polfoyweidthina
and 25 labourers.
the yard two teams
Y
Tewhe a.ppointmenti,were made on Saturday at the
view to
Admiralty :—Thomas N. Underwood to the Duke of wei.
ington ; Lieut. Henry S. Hamilton to the Formidable ;
James S. Hill, engineer, to the Zebra ; G. F. Ball, engineer,
to the Edinburgh, for the Tender ; W Hardie, engineer, to
the Hogue ; J. Battison, acting engineer, to the Hastings,
for the Advice ; J. Meiklejihn, assist.-engineer, to the
Ajax, for the Tender ; J. Forrest
T. Coombes, Edward L.
(a), T. Bramley, J. Hans-
ford, 1). Leitch, W. A. Batts,
Carte, and J. Shiel, assist.-engineers,
to the Rattlesnake,
as supernumeraries.

THE VOLUNTEERS.

--
A large number of ladies and gentlemen assembled hr.
Westminster Hall on Saturday evening to witness the winter
inspection of the London Scottish Rifles by their indefati-
gable adjutant, Captain Flood Page, and the distribution o
the company and regimental prizes to the successful cora-
petitots at rifle shooting this year by Lady Bich'', the wife
Olxbe noble colonel of the corps. The steps leading from
te great hall to the vestibule of thn House of Lords were,

the accommodation Fitted up with seats for of the numerous
rifles, clocks, dressing-cases, vis.tors, the prizes, conisa
dtiospolvayerlloot,waondhaTveoebeen contributed by
0 fdimrkosn,eyt:Lokaridusg,
tables on each side. The
style, were drawn up in
aprinizoesstatulinantetd
the nuatereui friends of the corps.to the num-
ber of 300,. having gone through van ;us company
rps,
talion manoeuvres in very creditable company and bat-.
conducted
Lady ao square, the
front of the steps, and formed throe sides oil,'
prize-holders occupy jog the central position.
grd
Elcho arrived about 8 (Mock. His lordklip,havin
Lady Filch° to a seat provided for hero in the mid the
dais, amid loud applaine, opened theceedings by co f
tulating the corps most warmly on its present position bortalt—
as to numbers and efficiency. There were now 593 members
on the books, the number of efficient:, the number
bein g 322 ,
last year being only 180. This fact showed the wisdom of
g the Volunteer movement by the
the Government in assistin
capitation grant and by reducing the number of drills to be
gone through by effectives. lie had to inform them that
the War-office had decided that the eireotives of 1864 r
band
should
wear a distinguishing badge, in the form of a silve
around the left wrist. For his part, he.would rather see it
placed round the arm above the dii.W, for he could not

very much like Policeman .Es -71 : -w—h -----e n 0 ---n -d u i :t7 :
then alluded to the loss the regiment had sustained by the
aid passed a
death of their honorary colonel, Lord Clyde, His lordship
high eulogium on that hero. It had been,
to the
the wish of the regiment to contribute as a body'
monument about to be raised to the memory of that great
be ml.cl erstood,
man, and he had put matters in train for effecting this .ea-
man,
His lordship then announced that Gem Sir WV
Grant had been requested to act as their honorary colonel..
and that he had consented to do so. He then conducted:
na theliwtyaf
yoo following otmwr
truly
Lady Elche to the front of the dais, and her ladyship pro-
ceeded to address the corps, in clear and ringing tones, to
Londe,' Scottish Volunteers—I am.
me great pleasugryeatuo yodu well know, to have an opportu-
s,praensenlt
thu:seedphraizrdlesythsiasyevtehnaitnigt
to
aiavures
successful competitors. We have not quite so grand a dia.•
play as is sometimes seen in this hall on similar occasions,
but our prizes, thougahupdeirhaps not individually of great
elaytgi
ueff glad,e t
a: t t
the winning of the prize, and not sure
value, are numerous,
that it is the real source ofpsroavfluf satisfaction all
le
fteeruletrihafttemitvais.
the value of the prize won,
It is, perhaps, hardly my
shooting details—but I must be all
province to enter much into the
wed to call your atten-
tion to a few facts, and to congratulateo the corps on tho
opreehrilosd4s,Erd
good eyidence of progress afforded by sehooting returns
of this year. (Hear, hear.) In 1862 thaerr
who fired in their classes, 71 who fired the
etnhrwweehe
25 marksmen. This year we have 249 m
in their classes, as against 154wh0 fired thavee fired
periods, as against 71; and 50 marksmen, as againstth2rese
Last year the London Scottish did not appear at all in the
Wimbledon prize lists. This year two of our men were in.
the first sixty for the Queen's Prize—Mackenzie and Cree ;
the former, in the first thirty, winning a Whitworth rifle,
£5, and a badge; and the latter, in the first sixty, winning
£5 and a badge. Mackenzie also won the Alexandra Prize,
given in honour of the Princess of Wales, being perhaps the
most important Enfield prize of the meeting, and he like-
wise carried off £5 in the Enfield all corners. Captain Maortc-
gregor won £l5, the first of the prizes given for competiti
among the Volunteers who marked at Wimbledon
in the
Lieut. Sutherland won £lO, being the second prize
same competition. The London Scottish have also distin-
guished themselves at some of the country meetings, Capt.
Macgregor pinning an all comers' prize at Ealin
Brg, and
Lieut. Scott winning prizes in open competition at
ton, Ealing, Gloucester, and Margate. What 1 have Just
said is certainly most satisfactory, but we must not rest sa-
tisfied till we have succeeded in carrying off the Queen's
Prize at Wimbledon--(cheers)—till we have helped bettor
than our representative did this year to win for Scotland
the Elcho Challenge Shield. (Hear.) It is hardly pos-
sible to overrate the importance of rifil shooting as a means
of keeping up the force and inducing men to join, and I
earnestly trust that the numi,cr of our shooting mambors
will annually continue to i., crease, and that many even now
may be induced to come forward and shoot, not only from
the attraction of the butts(and of all butts curs at Wimble-
, _den are, from theirrsituation, the most-Attractip)? but b '-
.t'
,
or

they will thereby be helping to lamas ) the tunas of the
corps. I inthst not detain you any longer, for I have a great
deal to get through yet—but I cannot retrain from saying
in my own narne,as I am sure I may in that of my country-
wornen,how deeply grateful we feel for the unwearying zeal
and earnestness of purpose you have developed in the good
cause during these years—a zeal end earnestness which have
convinced even those who were once doubtful as to the per-
manence of the force that it may now be looked upon as one
of the most valuable and enduring of our country's safe-
guards. I have only now to conclude by heartily wishing
you "a merry Christmas, and every happiness in tho
coming year, and let me add, for my husband and myself,
a long continuance of our connection with you all as
members of the London Scottish." (Loud applause.) Her
ladyship then distributed the various prizes, addressing a
kind word of congratulation to each recipient. When all
had been distributed three cheers were given for her Ma-
jestry and three for Lady Bioko, which terminated the pro-
ceedings.
___________-
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