The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-14 00:00:00

11"a' ial and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.
VAL ,ETTei Dec. B.—The Vice-Admiral Comman-
der-in -Chief, with a portion of the fleet under his
cema land, returned last week from Athens, and it la
his ia tention to remain here several months, if not
cailee, away by unexpected political events. The
Trafalgar, 70, Capt. T. Mason, was the firs,'‘ to at.:
rive, having been despatched a day earl'.er, in con-
sequence of having on board several eases of scarla-
tina, which were at first reported to be smallpox, a
disease that has been rather prevalent in Greece for
some time past. She appeared off the port on
Saturday morning fly leg the yellow flag, but after
entering harbour arid removing the sick to hospital,
she was admitted to free pratique. She brought
down naval supernumeraries. The Magicienue, 16,
Capt. W. Army tage, came in on the following even-
ing, and the next evening the Vice-Admiral's ship,
the Marlborough, 121, Cept. C. Fellowes, followed
by the St. George, 80, Capt. the Hon. F. Egerton,
entered, port. The latest dates from Athens is the
4th lest, Great excitement prevailed in Greece and
the lonian Islands in consequence of the determina-
tion of England to demolish the fortifications of
Corfu, and it is said that the Greek Government
has intimated that it will only accept of the lonian
Islands on condition the fortifications be left intact.
According to present arrangements some of the
English ships are to winter at the Piraeus, and no
doubt their presence will afford a significant moral
support to the new Government, and enable it to
organise and establish itself firmly. A few of the
foreign ships of war are also to remain. The Re-
venge, 73 (bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral H. R.
Yelverton, C.B ), Capt. the Hon. T. A. Foley ; the
Gibraltar, 81, Capt. J. Prevost ; the Meeanee, 60,
Caret. G. •Wodehouse ; with the paddlewheel
sloop Trident, 3, Commander C. J. Balfour, and
thc, tender Boxer, are the ships of our fleet that
are to pass the winter at Athens. The Fox.
Found, 4, Commander W. H. Anderson, was also
there, but it was not known if she would be retained
on that occasion. The Orlando, 46, Capt. G. G. Ran-
dolph, is still at Corfu ; and the Wanderer, 4, Com-
mander M. C. Seymour, and the Surprise, 4, Com.
mender W. H. Whyte, have not yet been removed
Com-
mander
from the west coast of Greece. The Firefly,
meander A. Mansell, which has been employed on
surveying service in the Corfu channel, returned to
Malta at 2 a.m. on Sunday, to take up her winter
quarters, and to undergo such repairs as may be
necessary. The Hydra, Capt. T. A. B. Sprat, was
to leave Tripoli in a day or two,
on return to
Malta; and the Growler, Staff-Commander J.
Stokes, which was repairing boilers at Marsala,.
was to leave to-day for this island. The Cossack,
20, Capt. W. R. Rolland, came in on Monday from y
the coast of Syria. She will be taken into dock
to have her bottom examined, having touched the
ground while on that station.
She left on the
coast of Syria the Lffey. 3:5, Capt. G. Parker,
sod the Pelican, 17, Commander Comb.. The
P syche, 2, despatch vessel, Lieur.-Commander
terne,, is expecting orders to convey to Alex-
andrta Sir J. Lawrence, who is to succeed Lord
Eig:n as Governor-General of India. The har-
bour of Malta is at present crowded with fine ships
of War. They consist of the following :—The
Marlborough, 121 (bearing the flag of the Vice-
Admiral Commander-in- Chief); the Hibernia, re-
ceiving ship (bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral
H. T. Austin, C. 8.) ; the Trafalgar, 70; the Sr.
George, 80; the Pncebe, 35; the Cossack, 20;
the Megicienee, 16; the Ch-eatieleer, 17 ; the
Icarus, 11 ; the Firefly, 5 ; and the Psyche, 2.
There is also a Turkish frigate here—the Teiff, 22,
Capt. Selim Bey,—which arrived on Saturday in
two days from Tripoli. While riding there with
four anchors down, she was compelled to put to
see., owing to a violent gale springing up from
the northward and westward. She was engaged
when the gale came on in shipping the baggage
of relieved Turkish troops for Salonica. She will
return to Tripoli, when the weather moderates.
There is a rumour of several changes being in
contemplation of the troops in garrison, in con-
sequence of the anticipated removal of the gas-
rieons of Corfu and the other islands."

The iron. screw steamship Warrior, 40, Capt. the
lion. Arthur A. Cochrane, and the Resistance, 16,
Capt. William C. Chamberlain, both from Ports-
mouth, arrived yesterday in Plymouth Sound, where
there are also the Black Prince, Defence, and
Aurora, and the troopship Tamar.
The eastern division of the Channel Fleet, con-
sisting of the Edgar, 71, Capt. G. C. Hornby, bear-
ing the flag of Rear-Admiral of the Red S. C.
Dacres, C.B. ; the Warrior, 40, iron screw frigate,
Capt. the Hon. A. A. Cochrane ; and the Resistance,
16, iron screw frigate, Captain W. C. Chamberlain,
sailed from Spithead on Saturday afternoon for
Plymouth Sound.

Vice-Admiral Sir M. Seymour, G.C.8., Naval
Commaneher-in-Chief at Portsmouth, hoisted his
flag on Saturday morning on board the paddle-
wheel steam yacht Fire Queen, Staff-Commander
Paul, which conveyed the gallant Admiral out to
SPiti'.ead, where he officially inspected the Wasp,
17 guns, screw corvette, Capt. AV. Bowden, pre-
paratory to her leaving for foreign service.
The Monarch target ship has been removed from
alongside Portsmouth dockyard to the praeice
moorings in Porchester Creek. To-day armour
Prates will be tested in the usual manner with cast-

4°ll shot from the 6S pounder gun. The plates are
tl.e following firms :—Messrs. John Brown and
Atlas Works, Snot ffield ; Messrs. Beale, Park-
:gate Works, Yorkshire; the Mersey Iron Works,
Liverpool; and the Thames Iron Works and Ship-
building Company, Black wall. As the plates vary
In tuickcess from 3 to 51 inches, it appears contrary
to all reason to test them alike with the same gun,
'weight of shot, and charges of powder. Foreign
Towers teat their armour plates with guns of various
calibres according to the thickness of the plate under

The old sailing Eric m 6 Am
erica arrived at Ports-
mouth from on
Saturday,
in tow of the
Geyser, 6, paddle
commander Pechell, and
was
taken into harbour to
prepared for a target ship toe cleared out and
was built
place of the
Monarch. Tile America
in 1809 as a line-of. battle bilitruorailt at Blackwall
then Surveyor of the Navy. She
wits he plans of the
razeed to a frigate of 1,758 tone. subsequently
The Fawn, 17, screw steam Sloop, 15,
Itosi 100.
horse power, which has been brought forward
for
the first division cf the Sheerness Steam iaja B
rve,
and fitted with a topgallant forecastle, iS now
reed
to be taken out of Inc hands of the dockardoti:?"
and removed to moorings in the harbour. An
the
necessary repairs have been completed, and the
vessel is quite ready for commission.
The Wizard gunboat, 60-horse power, belonging
5 to the first division of the Sheerness Steam Reserve,
has completed fittings in the dockyard at Sheerness,
and will leave the basin this day (Monday) waiting
commission. It is reported that her destination
will be the West Coast of Africa.
The Scotia steamtug, recently purchased by the
Lords of the Admiralty from the Caledonian Steam
Towing Company, and intended for harbour service
at Devonport, has been delivered to the authorities
at Sheerness, and thoroughly inspected by them, in
accordance with Admiralty orders, previously to
departing for her destination. The inspection
proved quite satisfactory, and the vessel will sail
this day (Monday).

_ .
The masts, yards, and other gear belonging to
thilei,lina-of-hattle screw steamer Irresistible, 500-
2_r,e.ePeower, ordered to be fitted for the Coastguard
service,
atarce to be immediately prepared for that
Yesterde:athuth dockyard.
ra„,d at tjt_.•'lit. W. H. Stewart, C. 8., in coin-
to the w4etullt. In,paid an official vihit of inspection
harbour. Art:l-;.YI 72, training ship in Chatham
the seamen end marines
and the variou%.-:1-.61),ee'-ing
attonded th 2 usirequons of the ship, C ipt. Sty wa .t
at the termination ot .11:11.51)ivihe service on board,
the whole of the boys
slid lads were mustere4d'eell
stewart then prcsented th'ela the main deck. Capt.
3,
t 0 the
which had been
in theirth
by the Admirals
ads for exemplary
awqrded
proficiency
conduct and
n each from his 0 mil pur,studies, with half-
a-crow
..................—____ie•

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