The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-26 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

By direction of the Admiralty the Warrior target, con-
structed under the superintendence of Mr. Bakcosabe, of
Chatham dockyard, and subsequently removed from Shoe-
burynesa to Sheerness, has been inspected by the dockyard
officials, and a report on its general condition. The in-
juries inflicted on the target with the 300 pounder Arm-
strong gun are such that it is believed the target is ren-
dered almost entirely useless for experimental purposes.
Notwithstanding the enormous strength and solidity with
which it was constructed, and the parts bolted and riveted
together, the plates of the target are so torn and rent, and
the timber backing so much shivered, that no repairs will
ever render it fit to be again experimental upon, and it is,
therefore, probable that an order will be received from tha
Admiralty for an entirely new target.

The paddlewheel gun vessel Otter, 3, 120 horse power,
employed on harbour service between Chatham and Sheer-
ness, is to undergo a series of trials with Lumley's patent
steering apparatus, which the Lords of the Admiralty have
directed to be fitted in that vessel.

The non-commissioned officers and men attached to the
depot of the second battalion of the 12th Regiment, at
Chatham garrison, have been making preparations for some
time past to contribute various descriptions of articles to
the industrial exhibition connoted with the 12th Regiment,
which will open at Dublin, where the 12th Regiment is
quartered, early in the ensuing year, the day fixed, accord-
ing to existing arrangements, being the 12th of Jan. The
proposition for the proposed novel exhibition—one of the
first of :the kind ever attempted—emanated from Col. A.
E. S. Ponsonby, in command of the 19th, and permission
having been readily accorded by the Commander-in-Chief
in-Ireland, the proposal has received the warmest support
from the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of
the regiment. The exhibition will consist exclusively of
articles produced by the members of the 12th Regiment.
Besides various articles of handicraft, some exceed-
ingly beautiful specimens of photography will be
exhibited. All the printing connected with the exhibition
will be undertaken by the troops, while the men of various
trades and occupations now in the regiment will show speci-
mens of their skill. Not the least interesting portion of the
exhibition will be the display of the lime-light system of
military telegraphy recently introduced into the army by
one of the eiticers of the 12th. It is probable that the Vice-
roy, Lord Carlisle, will open the exhibition, on which occa-
sion a march, composed in the regiment, will be performed
by the band.
An order has been received at the camp at Colchester
directing the following detachment to proceed for rifle in-
struction to the Hythe School of Musketry on the Ist Janu-
ary:—Capt. and Adjutant Reid and six sergeants of the 4th
depot battalion, five sergeants of the 9th depot battalion,
and Capt. and Adjutant Clarkson and six sergeants of the
10th depot battalion.
The contract for the erection of a double range of build-
ings at Chatham, to be used as quarters for the married
non-commissioned officers and men of the infantry regi-
ments stationed at that garrison, has been taken by Mr. K.
Spicer. the Government contractor, of Rochester, and the
works will be forthwith commenced. The site of the pro-
posed building adjoins the plantation, near the main en-
trance to the infantry barracks, the buildings when erected
being close below the fortifications surmounted by the
Cornwallis battery. The erection of the new buildings will
involve an outlay of from £12,000 to £15,000, and the quar-
ters are to be completed, in readiness for occupation, within
nine months from the date of the works being commenced.

The Prussian Chamber of Nobles has voted an
address relative to the Schleswig-lialstein question. The
document completely approves of the Government policy,
and, encroaching on the rights of the other Chamber,
prejudge in some measure the question of the
loan, which the latter, as is well known, re-
fuses to the Government. An amendment, tending to
satisfy the national feeling by calling for the withdrawal
of the Protocol of London, has not met with any sup•
port in the Upper Chamber, which was above all anxious
to make a counter •clemonstration to the address of the
Chamber of Deputies.—A rather curious incident arose
on the occasion of the amendment which the minority
proposed. Count de Bisniark, while admitting the right
of the authors of the amendment top resent it, disputed their
ability to properly discuss matters of State policy. This
observation attracted the mere notice that among the
persons to whom it was applied was M. Zellkampff, the
eminent professor of political sciences in the University of
Breslau,