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

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.
VALETTA, Dec. B.—The Vice-Admiral Comman-
a • in..2llit-i, with a portion of the fleet under his
#.;..a.e wand, returned last week from Athens, and it is
ilia intention to remain here several months, if not
call ed away by unexpected political events. The
'Tra faigar, 70, Capt. T. Mason, was the first to ar-
xive, having been despatched a day earlier, in con-
sequence of having on board several cases 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
Sat urday morning flying the yellow flag, but after
entering harbour and removing the sick to hospital,
she was admitted to free pratique. She brought
dorsn val 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, Capt. C. Fellowes, followed
by the St. George, 80, Capt. the Hon. F. Egerton,
entered port. The latest dates from Athens is the
4th inst, 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
Ecglish ships are to winter at the Pirmus, and no
doubt their presence will afford a significant moral
support to the new Government, and enable it to
organise and establish iteelf 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.
Yelver ton, C.B ), Capt. the Hon. T. A. Foley ; the
Gibral tar, 81, Capt. I. Prevost ; the Meeanee, 60,
Capt. G. Wodehouse ; with the paddlewheel
sloop Trident, 3, Commander C. J. Balfour, and
the tender Boxer, are the ships of our fleet that
are to pass the winter at Athens. The Fox-
hound, 4, Commander W. H. Anderson, was also
there, but it was not kno own if she would be retained
on the it occasion. The Orlando, 46, Capt. G. G. Ran-
dolet is still at Corfu ; and the Wanderer, 4, Corn.
mans ler M. C. Seymour, and the Surprise, 4, Coin.
roan, der W. H. Whyte, have not yet been removed
fror n -the west coast of Greece. The Firefly, 5, Gm.
mat ider A. Mansell, which has been employed on
surreaying service in the Corfu channel, returned to
Mai to at 2 a.m. on Sunday, to take up her :
'winter
qua rters, and to undergo such repairs as may be
nec essery. The Hydra, Capt. T. A. 13. Sprat, was
to leave Tripoli in a day or two, on return to
alts; and the Growler, staff-Commander J.
Sc okes, which was repairing boilers at Marsala,
wa sto leave to-day for this island. The Cossack
20, Capt. W. R. Rolland, came in on Monday from
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 Liffey, 35, C3pt. G. Parker,
and the Pelican, 17, Commander Comber. The
Psyche, 2e despatch vessel, Lieut.-Commander
• Sterne, is expecting orders to convey to Alex-
andria Si:r J. Lawrence, who is to succeed Lord
Eigin 48 Governor-General of India. The har-
bour of Malta is at present crowded with fine ships
of war. They consist of the following :—The
Maribol-ottgb, 121 (bearing the flag of the Vice-
Admirak Commander-in. Chief); the Hibernia, re-
ceiving ship. (bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral
H. T. ,Austin, C. 8.) ; the Trafalgar, 70; the St.
George, 80; the Pbcebe, 35; the Cossack, 20;
the Magicienne, 16 ; the Chanticleer, 17 ; the
Icarus, 11 ; the Firefly, 5 ; and the Peyche, 2.
There is also a Turkish frigate here—the Taiff, 22,
Capt. Selina Bey,—which arrived on Saturday in
two days from Tripoli. While riding there with
four anchors down, she was compelled to put to
sea, owing to a violent gale springing up from
tha 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 gar-
risons of Corfu and the other islands."

The iron screw steamship Warrior, 40, Capt. the
lionL 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 Spithcad on Saturday afternoon for
Plymouth Sound.

Vice-Admiral Sir M. Seymour, G.C.8., Naval
co
mrnander-in-Ch:ef at Portsmouth, hoisted his
flag on iatnrday morning on board the paddle-
wheel fAeam yacht Fire Queen, Staff-Commander
Paul, whieh conveyed the gallant Admiral out to
SPit.Uead, where he officially inspected the Wasp,
17
uns, screw corvette, Capt. W. Bowden, pre-
payory to her leaving for foreign service.
The Monarch target ship has been removed from
'alongside Portsmouth dockyard to the practice
mooringspiates Porchester Creek. To-day armour
wilt
iron shot frenl e tested in the usual manner with cast-
the 68'pouuder gun. The plates are
from the fnhowing
Sheffield firms:—Messrs. John Brown and
Co., Atlas work
Messrs. Beale, Park-
gate Works, Yorkshire
the shire; the Mersey Iron Works,
huild in
liverpoolg
; an
com d Ship-
party, Iron Works and
tlaclkwall. As the plates vary
in thickness from go 5
theme
inches, it appears contrary
to all reason to test
ehlx:ralike with the same gna,
weight of shot, and
Powers test their armour charges of powder. Foreign
calibres according to the tVit,es with guns of various
'lluess of the plate under
trial.
The old sailing frigate Americaived at Ports-
mouth from Plymouth on
Saturday,
Geyser, 6, paddle sloop, Commander in
ptow of thee!hell and
was taken into harbour to
cleared out and
ti
prepared for a target ship to take the Platte
Monarch. The America was built of the
in 1809 as a line-of- battle ship from the pia:eakwall
f
the
then Surveyor of the Navy. She was allbge
Uto utly
rozeed to a frigate of 1,758 tons.
The Fawn, 17, screw steam sloop, 751 tone, loos
horse power, which has been brought forward tor
the first division of the Sheerness Steam Reserve,
and fitted with a topgallant forecastle, is now ready
to be taken out of the hands of the dockard officials
and removed to moorings in the harbour. All the
necessary repairs have been completed, and the
vessel is quite ready for commission.
The Wizard gunboat, 60-horse power, belonging
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
from
Lords of the Admiralty the Caledonian Steam
y Towing Company, and for harbour service
"124vonport, has been delivered to the authorities
at Sheernesm,aih d ntthoroughly inspected by them,in
accordance with Admiralty orders, previously to
departing for
her destination. The inspection
prayed quite satisfactory, and the vessel will sail
thi'sadea7
(tiday),
the iine7.:t.b4tsattyleards, and other gear belonging to
screw steamer Irresistible, 500-
horse power, ordered to be fitted for the Coast guard
ciee, are
vessel at Chatha irnm d W
n'e'latel3' prepared for that
ock
Yesterday e„pt. Yard.
rd at Chatham H. Stewart, C. 8., in com-
ma,
training
nrVncial visit of inspection
to the Welleslty,
harbour. After inspecting the
ship in Chatham
and the various portions of theeseamen and marines
aitenclea the usual Sunr',aybivinshiP, Capt. Stewart
:et the termination of which the Whole
on board,
and lads were mustered on the main Of the boys
Stewart then preser.ted the prizes 4ideeck. ono.
r.warded by the Adnairulty to the lads foh had been
conduct and proficie.ocy in their studit: With half-
a-crowu each from his own purse.

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