The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-05 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.
The Chinese expeditionary force, fitting out under
the command of Capt. Sherard Osborn, R.N., to aid
the Imperial Government against the Taepings, is
progressing rapidly in its equipment. All the offi-
cers have been most carefully chosen, and the high
pay and nature of the service secure to the naval
portion of the force an absolute choice among the
best able seamen. It has been decided that all the
best marksmen of the expedition are to be armed
with the Enfields, fitted with Storm's American

breach-loading chamber.
Her Majesty's screw corvette Racoon, 22, Count
Victor F. F. E. G. A. C. F. Gleichen, yesterday
sailed from Greenhithe (after adjusting her com-
passes) for Gravesend, to join the Emerald, Capt.
Arthur Cumming, ordered to be dressed for the re-

ception of the Royal squadron.
The Spiteful, Commander Wilson, was yesterday
hauled into the outer basin at Woolwich, and com-
menced stripping in readiness to be paid off.
Rear-Admiral Robinson, Controller of the Navy,
yesterday inspected Mr. Gisborne's iatest improve-
ment in ships' steering and engine-room signals,
now ready to be fitted, by order of the Board of
Admiralty, on the three decks of the Royal Oak.
The instruments bare been constructed with great

cost and labour, under the inspection of Mr. Large
and Mr. Abetiaell, assistant constructors of the
navy. They are pronounced to be simple in con-
struction and perfect in action, and have been
thoroughly tested under their own observation.
The Royal Oak will be the second of her Majesty's
ships thus fisted with Mr. Gisborne's electric ap-
paratus.
The line-of-battle-ship Formidable, 84, Capt. W.
G. Luard, flagship of Vice-Admiral of the Red Sir
W. J. H. Johnstone, K.C.13., Commander-in-Chief
at the Nore; the Cumberland, 70, Capt. T. P.
Thompson, guardship of the Chatham steam re-
serve ; and the Leander, 51, 500-horse power,
attached to the first division of the steam reserve,
proceeded yesterday to the Thames, in readiness to
receive the Princess Alexandra on her arrival on
Friday. The squadron will be moored off Southend
pier, and will salute the Royal vessels as they pass
up the river. All the vessels have been painted and
put in good order, the Leander especially,the latter
being one of the handsomest frigates of her class in
the service. The squadron of gunboats will, after em-
barking the officers and men of the Naval Reserve,
return down the river to meet the Princess below
I . Gravesend, and accompany the Royal squadron up

the river.
The mechanics employed in the factory, black-
smiths' shop, and the engineer department at Chat-
ham dockyard are now working extra hours, the
Lords of the Admiralty having consented to their
having a holiday on Saturday and Monday, as well
as on Tuesday next, provided that the time thus lost
may be made up—an arrangement which the hands
have very readily agreed to.
The Cossack, 20, 1,296 tons, 250 horse power,
attached to the Chatham steam reserve, is being
brought forward as rapidly as possible for commis-
sion. She is to be ready by June 1 next.
The firm employed by the Admiralty to forge the
trudder for the iron frigate Achilles, 50, building at
i Chatham, is that of Westwood, Baillie, and Camp-
bell, at Poplar.
The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty :—Commander A. E. Scott, to the
Fisgard ; Lieut. George N. Smallpieee, to the
Sutlej ; George S. Da Costa, midshipman, to the
Victory ; George N. Eden, nominated to a naval
cadetship ; James Niven, surgeon, to the Pembroke;
and Herbert B. Williams, assist.-paymaster, to the
Cornwallis.