The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-04 00:00:00

SPATCHES.

Naital-a'nd Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.

r -
*AS./ \" 07;
Richmond, sought an introduction to me . -
chamber, and stated that he desired to obtain •-•
tain statistical information in regard 40 Texas. I asa hina S
that I did not then have the time to give him the desired
information, but if he would call at my room I would take
pleasum 'al any information which I possessed.
He prounsta evening, which he did, and has
just left my room. I deem it proper to give you the sub-
stance of the conversation between us, as it had a connexion
with the subject matter of the c rrespondence between the
Governor of Texas and the French consular agent at Gal-
veston, of which you advised Gen. Wigfall and myself a few
days since.
After I had furnished him with information in regard to
the area, population, debt, taxes, and agricultural productive
capacity of Texas, he remarked that the resources of the
State were magnificent, and capable of supporting a power-
ful and independent people, and then asked me whether I
thought it would not be to the interest of the State to as-
sume an independent nationality, I told him that the people
of Texas, being mostly emigrants from the old Southern
States, were strongly attached to those States and to our
federative system of Government, which I at some length
explained to him. I told him that they never could have
been induced to secede from the United States but to pro-
preserve that form of government, which was in danger of
being destroyed. I further stated to him that not only the
affections and sympathies, but also the interest of the
people of Texas, bound them to the States of the Confede-
racy; and that their institutions, pursuits, and agricultural
products were the same, and that mutual safety required
harmony among them, which could only be insured by a
Confederacy ; and as a separate and independent State Texas
would be weak and incapable of self-defence, that we were
sensible that we would be subject to be involved in collisions
with our sister Southern States; that the similarity of in-
stitutions and production, which are now bonds of union
and the cause of harmony, would become causes of rivalries,
jealousies, and perhaps wars between the States; and in
the Confederacy, we would not be a weak and dependent
people, incapable of resenting insult or repelling aggression.
The subject was then waived, and we talked of other matters.
I am, sir, respectfully your obedient servant,
W. S. OLDHAM.

Instructions have been given to Messrs. Allen
and Co. to fit their engine-room telegraphs on board
the Royal Oak at Chatham, similar to those fitted
on board the Warrior. The Recruit, iron paddle-
wheel steamer, at Chatham, is also to be fitted with
an engine-room telegraph, with one deck dial only.
Her Majesty's iron paddlewheel steam vessel
Caradoc, Lieut.-Commander Wilkinson, yesterday
went down the river from Woolwich on a trial of
her engines. The Caradoc has been thoroughly
repaired and refitted in every compartment, has
been supplied with new boilers, and her machinery
has been completely overhauled.
The Venus, lent to the Marine Society as a school-
ship and moored for some years past off Woolwich
dockyard, having been replaced by the Warspite, is
ordered by the Admiralty to be removed to Black-
wall, to serve as a receiving ship for the accommo-
dation of the officers and crew of the Russian cor-
vette Alma; about to go through extensive repairs.
M. Basil Macciff, an officer of the Almaz, and M.
Nicolas Waviloff, of the Gentschauk, now moored
at Greenhithe, were yesterday admitted to the
Naval Hospital, at Woolwich, for treatment under
the care of Dr. Salmon, at the solicitation of his
Excellency Baron Brunow, the Russian Ambassa-
dor in London.

The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Lieut. Henry A. Clavering, to
the Victory ; Lieut. James S. Twysden, Lieut. H.
Vaughan, Lieut. C. R. Gayer, and Lieut. R. M.
Blomfield, to the Indus, for service in the Cano-
pus ; Lieut. E. Kelly, Lieut. Viscount Kilcoursie,
Lieut. L. M. Mallet, and Lieut. W. Walsh, to the
Asia, for service in the Hannibal tender ; the
Rev. W. L. Onslow, chaplain and naval instruc-
tor, to the Racoon ; the Rev. J. Milner, chap-
lain and naval instructor to the St. George; Arch.
J. Little, staff surg., to the Colossus; William Craw-
ford, surg.-superintendent, to the Clyde convict
ship ; R. Ferguson, assist.-surg., to Hasler Hospital;
VV . B. Fletcher and W. Stables, acting assist.-sung.,
additional, to the Narcissus ; C. S. Pittis, assist.-
paymaster, to the St. Vincent ; Henry J. Stanley,
second master, to the Fox ; J. Lawson, engineer

qualified for charge, to the Racoon ; W. White,
supernumerary in the Cumberland, promoted to
first-class assist, 'engineer ; S. J. Bird and W. T.
Ray, second class assist..engineers, to the Racoon ;
and T. W. H. Ramsay, acting second class assist.-
engineer, to the Indus, as supernumerary.