The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-28 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

The most searching investigation has been made by the
Lords of the Admiralty into all the circumstances attending
the Confederate privateer Rappahannock, formerly her
Majesty's screw gunvessel Victor, 6, 350-horse power, at-
tached to the Chatham Steam Reserve squadron. The cor-
respondence which has taken place between the officials of
the dockyards and the Board of Admiralty has been con-
ducted, and is still being carried on, with the greatest possible
secrecy, but during the last few days some important cir•
cumstances have become known with respect to the
transaction. The result of the investigation which has
taken place has been to entirely exonerate the officials at
Chatham Dockyard fromohaving, in the remotest degree,
been connected with the illegal proceedings, as their respon-
sibility ceased the moment that vessel was sold out of the
Steam Reserve, and the order was received from the Admi-
ralty for her to pass into the hands of the parties by whom
she was purchased. From inquiries since instituted, it
would seem that the Victor was purchased by a London firm,
trading, as would now appear, under as assumed name, and
that several of the Government mechanics, if not under
the express orders, at all events with the cognisance, of cer-
tain of the officials, were illegally allowed to be employed in
assisting to equip the vessel, several of the number, con-
nected, it is asserted, chiefly with the engineer department,
proceeded from Sheerness dockyard to Calais on board the
Victor when she escaped from the Nore. The whole of the
hands who were proved to have taken any part in the breach
of the neutrality laws by assisting in the equipment of the
Rappahannock, as well as the men who proceeded to Calais
with that vessel, have been dismissed from Sheerness dock-
yard, estensibly for being absent from their duty without
leave, but in reality for the part they were proved to have
taken in the matter. The conduct of certain of the dockyard
officials, who, there is reason to believe, allowed themselves
to become implicated in the fitting out of the Victor after
she had ceased to be a Government vessel, is now under the
consideration of the Admiralty, and a rumour was current
at Chatham yesterday that two of the number, both of whom
hold responsible offices in Sheerness dockyard,would be called
on to resign their appointments to avoid their dismissal from
her Majesty's service. With iegard to the other vessele
attached to the Chatham Steam Reserve which are ordered
to be sold out of the service, such precautions are directed
to be taken that no apprehension need be entertained of any
of the number falling into hands of persons who will use
them so as to again violate the neutrality laws.
In addition to the wooden screw steamers the names of
which have been ordered to be struck off the list of vessels
to be constructed at Chatham dockyard, Admiralty directions
have been received for the name of the Pomona, 61-gun
frigate, to be removed from the list of new ships to be built
of Chatham.
Her Majesty's 17-gun steam sloop Mutine, Commander
William Graham, arrived at Woolwich on Saturday from
the South Pacific, to be stripped and paid out of commission.
The Mutine has been six months on the passage home, and
touched at Mazatlan, San Bias, Panama, Valparaiso, rounded
Cape Horn, touched at Rio, and thence proceeded to Spit-
head, where she arrived on the 24th instant, She landed a
aluable freight of specie and bars of silver from Valparaiso
at Rio. The Mutine was fitted out and commissioned at
Woolwich by Commander Graham in October, 1859, and
has tu filled her full term of commission. The ship has been
remarkably healthy. The whale of ner officers, with the
exception of Second Lieut. Peard, who died in crossing the
Line, and one assistant-surgeon who was removed, have all
returned to Woolwich. On account of the peculiarly high
state of discipline and cleanliness which the ship displayed
on her arrival, two-thirds of the officers and crew have teen
granted three days' leave of absence, a moat unusual cir-
cumstance, as in ordinary cases no one is permitted to leave
the ship while under orders to pay off. Commander Lysaght,
in the unavoidable absence of Rear-Admiral bir F. Nicol-
son, who is suffering from t severe attack of erysipelas, will
inspect the ship and muster the crew under arms, prepara-
tory to her discharging stores and dismantling.
A circular memorandum addressed to the army has been
promulgated by the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-`hith f,
in concurrence with the Secretary of State for War,
instructions for sergeant-cooks.
The Ordnance steam storeship Lord Panmure, Master
Commander Harry Moore, has arrived at Woolw
will reload
Devonport, laden with returned war stores, and
from the Tower with 1,200 arm-chests for neVoDpOrt and
Portsmouth.
The command of the Chatha district will shortly be-
m
1 H. Lyre,
come vacant by the retirement of 1%1 sj
penru-dGioefilse:vice. tis
on the completion ofthis five years'
rumoured in military circles at Chatham
Aithaajttrh-eGenoemramlatuhde
of that irnportant,station will be given
lion. A. Gordon, C. 8., at present command
ing the second
h
ewrahleGreord' holds the rantsolas;rvedonth
Infantry brigade at themCouorrr.aGghen,
of brigadier-general.
Quartermaster-General's staff throughout the Crimean war
and subsequently held the command of the camp at col.
cheater,

WARLIKE RELIC OF THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH,.
A curious and richly-ornamented sword, through
the kindness of the Rev. Mr. Whately and Mr. Alloop of
Cheltenham, has been recently exhibited before the Society
of Arehmologists., The sword, which is an Andrea Ferrara
blade, was said to have belonged to the Duke of Monmouth,
by whom it was left at Sedgmoor.