The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-01 00:00:00

Naval and lalitary Intelligence.

The Board of Admiralty, consisting of the
Duke of Somerset, K.G., Rear-Admiral Eden,
C. 8., Rear-Admiral Drummond, C. 8., and Mr.
Hugh Culling Eardley Childers, M.P., accompanied
by Rear-Admiral Robinson, Controller of the Navy,
Captain Clarke, Director of Admiralty Engineering
and Architectural Works, Sir Richard Mayne,
K.C.8., and Mr. F. M. Mallalieu, Chief Commis-
sioner and inspecting Superintendent of the Metro-
politan Police, made their annual visit to Woolwich
ou Saturday last. The Admiralty steam yacht
Encountress containing the above named officials
with the Admiralty colours flying, was observed
coming up the river at the early hour of 9 o'clock
on Saturday morning, and was soon after made
fast alongside the dockyard. Notice of their Lord-
ships' approach was hastily given to the Commo-
dore-Superintendent Dunlop, and also to Col. Max-
well, Commandant Royal Marines, who assembled
a guard of honour of 100 men, commanded by Capt.
I)clacombe, Royal Marine Light Infantry, and pro-
ceeded to the dockyard with the band and colours,
and gave them an official reception on their land-
ing. After breakfast on board the Enchantress,
the entire party entered the dockyard at half-past
10, and the yacht returned under orders for Ports-
mouth. Their Lordships commenced their inspec-
tion by a careful survey of Mr. Reed's ironclad
steam ram Pallas, as well as the various building
slips and sheds at the east end of the yard, and en-
tered into the question proposed for the extension
of the smithies and workshops there. They then
proceeded along the wharf, and inspected the gun
vessel Sylvia, partially completed, but for some
time not in progress, and they went over the iron-
clad cupola ship Prince Albert, in the inner basin,
which is approaching completion. Thence they
' entered the factory, and witnessedjhe working of
Commander Scott's new wrought-iron carriage and
slide, mounted with a 300-pounder ship's gun,
weighing 1.2 - tons, intended for the Pallas. After
leaving the factory their Lordships and party in-
spected Mr. Richardson's process for using
petroleum in the place of coal and other
fuel for steam engines. A consultation was
then held as to the expediency of obtaining
a more copious supply of water to the yard, as
it was stated that the supply had recently decreased.
It was suggested that a well should be sunk to the
depth of 600 ft., which their lordships took into con-
sideration. The board then proceeded to the Com-
modore's offices and received the various deputations
who were desirous of memorialising their lordships
for an increase of pay. The deputations consisted
of representative smiths, shipwrights, joiners, saw-
yers, plumbers, hosemakers, painters, and labourers
—the latter of whom are divided into three classes
and are paid at the rate of 138., 13s. 6d., and 14s. per
week only. They were all favourably received, and
those who were not provided with written memorials
were ordered to prepare and forward them to the
Admiralty through the medium of the Commodore.
The inspection having been brought to a close at 2
o'clock, their lordships and party partook of lun-
cheon with Commodore Dunlop, and proceeded to the
Royal Marine barracks, where the entire division
was drain up and brigaded in two battalions in
command of Col. Maxwell and Col. Lambrick, First
and Second Commandants, Capt. Bunco, Brigade-
Major. The members of the board were received by
Major-Gen. Stransharn, Inspector-General, and his
Aide-de-Camp, Capt. Travers ; Col. Langley, De-
puty-Adj t.-Gen. ; Dr. Salmon, Superintendent of the
Infirmary ; Major Watson, paymaster ; Captain
M. Carthy, barrack-master ; the Rev. J. C. Connolly,
8.A., and the entire staff of the division. After the
usual formalities of reception the battalions marched
past in divisions. Their clean and soldiery appearance
and the remarkable efficiency of theirmoventent were
specially commented on by the various members of
the board, and the Duke of Somerset remarked to
General Stransharn that " their marching past was
superior to anything be had yet seen." After perform-
ing the National Anthem by the full band the men
were dismissed. The board then proceeded to an
inspection of the new recreation rooms, erected in
rear of the barrack quarters, the largest of which is
roft. in length, 35ft. wide, and 16ft. high. _The
building. in addition to its containing numerous
offices or the mews ttttt proviaed
with a musketry instructor's and lecture room.
Their lordships next visit was to the gun drill bat-
tery, in command of Capt. Carrington, where on
their entrance the men immediately beat to quar-
ters, and began to load and run out the guns ready
for action. The port side of the battery is manned
with the old 32 pounder smoothbore guns, and the
starboard side with 40 pounder Armstrong shell
gun. These were manoeuvred with great facility,
exhibiting a high state of drill on the part of the
gunners. After witnessing various other perform-
ances, such as handspike drill, removing trucks,
and practising the providing of new ones, which may
be required in the case of their being shot away, &c.,
their lordships entered the hospital for seamen and
marines, which they inspected throughout. They
found that the division was exceedingly healthy.
The wards are adapted to accommodate 350 patients,
and in case of emergency a still greater number.
At the present moment out of 1,700 marines only
are in the infirmary, which was remarked by the
Board as a most favourable proof of the wellbeing
and sanitary state of the division. Their lordships
were informed that as regards the discipline of the
corps and the breach of military duties there were
no complaints, and that the cells were without an
inmate. Their lordships having congratulated Col.
Maxwell and his officers, and thanked them for their
attention, left by rail at 4.15 for London. At 7
o'clock, after the departure of the Board, the Artil-
lery Volunteer Brigade assembled in marching order
in the dockyard, in command of Major Piers, com-
mandant, and went through their annual inspec-
tion by Col. Evan Maberley, C. 8., Royal Artillery.
After the inspection they were joined by a corps of
rifles, in command of Major Thorpe, from the Royal
Arsenal, and a storming and defence of the battery
wall defending the dockyard from the river front
was carried out with considerable efficiency and
spirit. The storming party in pinnaces on the river
were aided by the blue jackets and the broadside
guns on board the Fisgard. At the conclusion o.

the proceedings Col. Maberley complimented the
corps, and told them that he had seldom seen
manoeuvres better carried out. Before their dis-

missal Mrs. Piers presented the corps with a valu-
able silver challenge vase, value, 25 guineas.

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

- - - -
The week opened with a showery and dull day,
and in some near localities rain fell heavily in the
afternoon and also at night. Monday was a close,
warm day, after the rain in the previous night.
Wind ranged from N.E. to W. ; thermometer 72
degrees, barometer 30.20 inches. Tuesday was a
hot, forcing day ; wind N.E. to E. ; thermometer
75 degrees ; barometer rising, already 30.30 inches;
with early barley, oats, and Talavera wheat going
on cutting in all forward districts. Our advices
from the West Riding of Yorkshire of that date
state :—" Since Friday the weather has been close
and sultry, with but little rain in this neighbourhood.
The crops generally continue to advance favourably
towards maturity, and the cutting of oats will be
soon commenced among the poor, thin soils, for
which the showers came too late. Barley, too, on
the hilly ground, is changing colour in patches.
Beans continue to look well, and if corned in pro-
portion to early peas will prove a fair crop in this
district." Another account says :—" Since I wrote
you on Friday night, the weather has been very close
and forcing, with plenty of sun, and now and then
a few showers. Several fields of oats are now cut-
ting round us, and some fields of barley will be
ready on Monday. Wheat is not so forward, and
will not be ready for the reapers before Monday week,
and then only in the early districts." From Norfolk
—" The weather to-day is hot and forcing ; on Sa-
turday we had a heavy rain. Harvest will be gene-
ral in from seven to ten days." From Lancashire it
was remarked—" With fine hot, forcing weather, in
succession to the rains of last week, grain crops press
on to an immediate maturity. In many districts par-
tial cutting of oats and barley has commenced, and
ten days or a fortnight hence will probably see us in
the midst of wheat harvest.. There are complaints
of the hying of wheat a.nd barley by heavy rains