The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-18 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The Virago, 6, paddlewheel sloop, 1,059 tons,
300-horse power, now being dismantled in Sheer-
ness dockyard, preparatory to being paid out of
commixsion on the 25th inst., is to be repaired and
placed in the third division of the steam reserve, in-
stead of the first division, as originally intended,
the state of the vessel having been found worse than
was anticipated.

The Scout, 21, screw steam corvette, 1,462 tons,
400-horse power, which has been thoroughly re-
paired both in hull and machinery and fitted with a
new forecastle and poop in Sheerness dockyard, is
now ready for commission. She got up steam in
the large basin this day to test her machinery and
boilers preparatory to being taken to the measured
mile off Maplin Sands. Both boilers and machinery
acted most satisfactorily.
The Himalaya, screw transport, Capt. E. Lacy,
was taken alongside Portsmouth dockyard yester-
day to receive her new crank shaft preparatory for
further troop service.
The Urgent, screw troopship, Capt. S. H. Hender-
son, refitting at Portsmouth, will be ready for trial
and further troop service by Wednesday next. She
has about two months' trooping before her on the
home, or Channel station.

The Edgar, 70, screw liner, Capt. G. P. Hornby,
flagship of Rear-Admiral S. C. Dacres, C. 8., is
fitting in the Warrior dock at Portsmouth for her
Lisbon voyage with the Earl of Sefton and suite.
She will not be undocked before the 25th inst., her
after-shaft tubing requiring a new metal lining.
In accordance with orders :received at Chatham
from the Horse Guards, the three Depot Battalions
at that garrison are to be made up of the following
corps on the breaking up of several of the Depot
Battalions at the close of the financial year :-Ist
Battalion-Ist and 2d battalions of the 4th King's
Own Regiment, Ist and 2d battalions of the 15th
Regiment, the 35th Regiment, the 77th Regi-
ment, and the 94th Regiment ; 2d battalion of
the Queen's Royals, Ist and 2d battalions of the
12th Regiment, Ist and 2d battalions of the 20th
Regiment, 29th Regiment, and the 52d Light
Infantry Regiment; 3d battalion-Ist and 2d bat-
talions of the 10th Regiment, Ist and 2d battalions
19th Regiment, 65th Regiment, 80th Regiment,
81st Regiment, and 102 d Royal Madras Fusiliers.

The examination of candidates for commissions in
the medical department of the army will commence
at Chelsea Hospital on Monday, the 20th inst., be-
fore Major-Gen. F. W. Hamilton, C. 8., Vice-Pre-
sident, and the other members of the Council of
Education. The examination will occupy the entire
week.

The following engineer officers have obtained 2d
class certificates from the Director-General of Edu-
cation to the Admiralty at Portsmouth dockyard :
Messrs. W. F. Capps, G. Wilson, J. Roberts, J. G.
Shearman, and W. Smiley, acting chief engineers ;
F. H. Herrman, W. Laird, E. Lewis, W. Maxwell,
H. W. Tregilgas, G. Mills; D. P. Steddy, G. J.
Hunt, W. Ironmonger, J. Marwood, M. Murray,
J. Stiven, W. Harvey, J. Martin, L. Backler, E.
Miles, T. H. Morgan, F. Ines, G. Booth, W. Skeen,
P. T. Gruchy, J. Hefferman, and G. Hostey, engi-
neers ; and J. Cleverly, second assist. engineers.
Chas. Welch, George J. Fraser, H. M. G. Pillew,
and F. Hooper, engineer students in the factory at
Sheerness, have received certificates of efficiency as
the result of Dr. Woolley's half-yearly examination
on Dec. 13 and 14, 1864.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty--Capt. C. A. Campbell, to the
Royal Adelaide, for service in the Narcissus, when
the books of the Bombay are closed ; the Rev. J. C.
Hordern, chaplain, to the St. George, vice Picton,
whose period of three years' home service has ex-
pired ; the Rev. R. Picton, chaplain, to the Edgar,
vice Hordern ; H. S. Smart, assist. surg., to the Ar-
tillery division of the Royal Marines ; S. Sweet-
man, assist. surg., to Greenwich Hospital ; John
Simpson, assist. Burg., to the Edgar ; R. Ferguson,
assist. surg., to the St. Vincent, for the Sealark ; R.
F. Bridgford, assist.-surg., to Plymouth Hospital ;
Robert Nelson and John S. Lewis, assist. -surgs., to
Haslar Hospital; N. J. Aaron, assist.-paymaster, to
the Fisgard ; Wm. Smiley, confirmed as chief engi-
neer; John P. Shearman, confirmed as chief engi-
neer, and appointed to the Asia for the Ringdove ;
and W. T. Beaton, engineer, to the Procris for
Gibraltar-yard.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

411-

THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER.

Last evening a meeting of the electors of the city
of Westminster was held in St. Martin's-hall, Long-
acre, on the invitation of the Hon. Capt. R. W.
Grosvenor, to hear " a statement of his political
opinions, and the principles upon which he seeks the
honour of representing them in Parliament."
Mr. Roger Eykyn presided, and introduced the
candidate, who was supported by many well-known
electors.

Capt. GROSVENOR, who was received with warm
applause, adverted to the loss which the City of
Westminster would sustain in the retirement of Sir
de Lacy Evans, and paid a tribute of respect to that
gallant officer. With respect to his own political
opinions, he said he might refer to his published ad-
dress, which had appeared, it seemed, to the preju-
dice of " peculiar trousers" and the adorable Men-
kin on the sacred pillars of the Marble Arch. The
first claims which he had upon the electors of West-
minster were that he had spent his life among them,
and that the name he bore was to them as a "house-
hold word"—(cheers)—a name connected with them
by the social tie of property, and by its champion-
ship on behalf of social and religious liberty. This
was a time of great difficulty to political men in the
quietude which reigned in political circles, but he
did not regret this quietude, as it gave time for the
consideration of great social questions, as the work-
ing of the poor laws, the extension of education, the
displacement of the working classes by railways
and public improvements, questions which public
men would be foolish indeed if they did not '
Legislature, and
to questions
perhaps
wish to decide. These were all important matters,
which
but publicebhad at
beent e n t io n
beforew as
tgbeenLere
generally
ylatu
his audience would like to hear his views on these.
With respect to ecclesiastical matters, he • might say
that the question of church-rates was practically ex-
tinct in Westminster; but it was not so elsewhere,
and though he had a great desire to support the
Established Church, as he saw an extension of
liberal views which would eventually bring into its
communion many who were now outside its pale, yet
he should vote for the abolition of church-rate's, as
there was neither sense nor justice in attempting to
levy a rate upon a large portion of the public for the
support of that in which they did not participate.
(Cheers.) With respect to the ballot, though he did
not look upon it as the panacea for all the ills under
which voters laboured, he should vote for protection
to be given to the voter. He should support a revi-
sion of the Poor-law, and he expressed himself as
against legislative enactments for making the people
sober. In regard to convent inspection, he said he
should hope that the Roman Catholics themselves
would not object to such a supervision, if only to
relieve themselves from the charges which had been
made against them. On the subject of Parliamen-
tary reform, which he characterised as the toast of
the evening, he said that
these were quiet times
enough, but history showed that it was not wise to
stand quite still, and he was of opinion that reform
should not wait until the feelings of the people grew
so strong that it could wring from the Legislature
that reform which it should offer. He thought that
a inederate reform, as household suffrage in boroughs,
and 40s. freeholds in counties, would meet all views.
He then passed on to America and pointed to the war
now raging as the collapse of democracy (a remark
which called forth expressions of approval and dissent)
and said that though he approved of the neutrality
now maintained by Government, yet he should expect
if John Bull's patience got exhausted under the in-
sults he received from the Northern States, and he
turned round and knocked Brother Jonathan into
verdict would
the " middle of next week," that the v
be " Sarve him right." (Cheers and dissent.) He
advocated non-intervention and non-interference in
the affairs of other States, and after other remarks
fod inde-
proceeded to say that he had come
and ifrwar elected
pendent of all parties or sections, , ,

would not be the delegate of any, but the repre-
sentative of all.

An ELECTOR, amid some laughter, asked the hon.
gentleman if he was " real staunch for the Protes-
tant interests," and would do all he could " against
the Roman Catholic interests."

Captain GROSVENOR replied that he was warmly
attached to the Established Church.

Mr. BID GOOD spoke on the question of church-
rates, and expressed himself, as a Nonconformist,
in favour of the candidate's views.
Mr. WEST moved a resolution pledging the meet-
ing to support the hon. candidate, which motion Dr.
Griffin seconded.

Mr. WORLEY moved an amendment, amid some
confusion and laughter, to the effect that no candi-
date for Westminster was worthy of support who
was not in favour of manhood suffrage.
Mr. J. B. LENO seconded the amendment ; and
after speeches by Mr. Truelove, Mr. Acland, Mr.
Oakey, and others, a vote was taken, when the
amendment was lost, and the original motion carried
by a very large majority.