The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-02 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

VALETTA, Feb. 23.—There is as yet no satis-
factory news to report of the Malta and Alexan-
dria telegraph, which, in all probability, will con-
tinue out of working order for some time. The
Fanny Lambert returnedon the morning of the 18th
inst., from Benghazi, for the perpose of refitting and
recoaling, after having experienced, with little in-
termission since the 10th January, perhaps the most
stormy weather that has been felt on the coast of
Barbary for nearly 30 years. Benghazi has suffered
much from the storm, the sea having washed down
several buildings. The Pasha's palace has been 5.0
undermined that he has been obliged to remove his
harem to the convent, the ladies inhabiting one end
and the brothers the other. Notwithstanding the ut-
most exertions used by therepairing staff, few oppor-
tunities were afforded for touching the cable, which
was found to be very weak near the fault, that is,
about 30 miles to the eastward of Benghazi. One of
the ends was attached to a buoy, but it has since been
broken away by the high waves. The Fanny Lam-
bert, having been made ready for sea, will again leave
as soon as the weather moderates, in order to repair
a slight interruption near Tripoli, on the Benghazi
side. The only section now remaining perfect is that
between Tripoli and Malta. If successful she will
resume operations on the Benghazi and Alexandria
section ; but new cable will be required from England
to re-establish telegraphic communication with
Alexandria. Her Majesty's steam corvette Pelican
has been ordered back to Malta, but has not yet ap-
peared, doubtless owing to a heavy contrary gale
which has prevailed for several days. She communi-
cated with Benghazi on the 16th inst., which is the
latest news that has been received of her. The fol-
lowing are the movements of the ships of war on
this station during this week :—The Hydra, 1, pad-
dlewheel surveying ship, Capt. A. L. Mansell, left
Malta Harbour on the 16th inst. for Cephalonia.
The Cockatrice, 2, Lieut.-Commander R. M. Gib-
son, left port the same day for Constantinople and
the Danube. The Caradoc, 2, paddlewheel despatch
vessel, Lieut.-Commander E. H. Wilkinson, left on
Saturday for Alexandria to be placed at the
disposal of Sir Henry Bulwer. The iron-cased
frigate, Royal Oak, 35, Capt. F. C. Campbell, the
iron frigate Resistance, 16, Capt. W. Chamberlain,
and the iron-cased ship, Enterprise, 4, Cammander
Rowley, left port this morning for general exercise.
The Enterprise re-entered port this afternoon. The
Cossack, 20, Capt. W. R. Rolland (on leave), is at
present in Malta Harbour, being fitted with Orde's
apparatus for raising the screw. The Gibraltar, 81,
Capt. R. Coote, is undergoing a general refit. There
are also in port the Victoria, 101 (flagship of the
Commander-in-Chief), Captain J. G. Good-
enough ; the Hibernia, receiving ship (flagship of
Rear-Admiral Kellett, C. 8.), Commander Harvey ;
the Racer, 11, Commander J. N. T. Saulez, leaves
for Tunis to-morrow ; the Firefly, 5, surveying ship,
Commander G. R. Wilkinson ; the Psyche, 2, pad-
dlewheel despatch vessel, Lieut.-Com. Sterne ; the
Wizard, 2, gun vessel ; and tug Hearty. The Swe-
dish corvette Gaffe, 8, Capt. R. Pettersen, put into
this port on the 18th inst. On her voyagefrom Gib-
raltar to Smyrna she, in the vicinity of Galita, fell
in with the Venezuelan schooner Jupiter, C. H.
Ramrn, master, which had been dismasted and dis-
abled during the late gales, and towed her into Malta
harbour for safety. After performing this act of
humanity the corvette resumed her voyage on the
following. A court martial was held on Tuesday last
on board H.M.S. Hibernia, to try Mr. Thos. Stead,
assist.-engineer second class, of H.M.S. Victoria, for
drunkenness. Capt. R. Coote, commanding the Gib-
raltar, presided, and Mr. F. J. Fegen, R.N., secre-
tary to Vice-Admiral Smart, officiated as judge-ad-
vocate. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sen-
tenced to forfeit all seniority, and to be severely
reprimanded. Mr. James, master's-assistant of the
Cossack, has been appointed to the Caradoc. A

private telegram from Gibraltar announces the ar•
rival there of the Liffey, 35, screw frigate, Capt. G
Parker, on her way to the West Indies. Two ma.
Tines belonging to this ship were accidentally drowned
at the Mole on the night of the 14th inst. Mr. Gray,
second master and assist.-surveyor of H.M.S. Fire-
fly, has been appointed acting master, vice Mr.
Christian, who has been superseded at his own re-
quest. We are shortly expecting Prince Arthur here
on his Mediterranean tour. His Royal Highness,
attended by Major Elphinstone, will embark at
Marseilles on board the Enchantress, royal yacht,
and is expected to arrive at Naples about the 7th
inst. The Revenge, 74, bearing the flag of Rear-
Admiral Yelverton, C. 8., has received orders to
come up from Baia, -to her old moorings at St.
Lucia, to be in readiness to receive the Prince.
The Supply, 2, screw iron storeship, Staff Com-
mander C. Bawden, arrived at Spithead on Tuesday
morning from the Mediterranean, with condemned
and returned naval ordnance stores, and a few super-
numeraries and passengers from Malta and Gibral-
tar. She sailed from Malta on Feb. 9, and from
Gibraltar on the 21st. Between Malta and Gibraltar
very heavy weather was experienced, the Supply
having to be kept partially hove to from the 9th to
the 12th Feb. From Gibraltar to the Channel strong
head winds prevailed. The Liffey, screw frigate,
Capt. G. Parker, was at Gibraltar at the time the
Supply left undergoing repairs. Soon after the Sup-
ply's arrival at Spithead yesterday, she received
orders to proceed to Woolwich, and sailed at 2 p.m.
An Admiralty order was received at Woolwich to
hold the Vivid in readiness to sail for Dover yester-
day, to embark Prince Arthur and suite for Calais.
The departure of the Vivid was ultimately postponed.
The Prince will proceed through the Continent, and
join the Enchantress, now at Marseilles, for the pur-
pose of cruising along the coasts of the Mediterra-
nean. He intends prosecuting his favourite amuse-
ment of rowing, as opportunity may occur, during
his tour, and takes with him a little skiff built for
his use last summer at Cowes, with which he has
been in the habit of practising on the river at Wool-
wich. The skiff is on board the Enchantress.
Her Majesty's screw steam corvette Scout, 21
guns, 1,462 tons, 400-horse power, Master in charge
A. J. Burniston, which was removed from the large
basin in Sheerness dockyard to moorings in the har-
bour on Friday last, after having been thoroughly
repaired, both in machinery and hull, and fitted
with a new forcastle and poop, has been since taken
to the measured mile off Maplin Sands to test her
speed and steaming qualities. During the trial the
vessel was in charge of Capt. W. K. Hall, C. 8., of
her Majesty's ship Cumberland, guardship of the
steam reserve at Sheerness, the machinery being un-
der the supervision of Mr. J. Urquhart, senior chief
engineer at Sheerness. The Scout made six runs at
full boiler power, and full speed on the measured
mile, with the following results : Average
speed, 10.568 knots per hour ; revolutions of en-
gines, 58 ; pressure of steam, 201 b. Two runs were
made at half-boiler power with an average speed of
7.804 knots per hour. The vessel was also tested on
the circle at full and half power—at full speed, with
helm 26i deg. to port ; time of turning the circl, 4
rain. 50 sec. ; at half power, with helm 28 deg. to
starboard, time smin. 18 secs. She is fitted with
Smith's propeller, with the leading corners cut off.
Diameter, 16ft ; pitch, 23ft 6in. The ventilation is
very. good, and the distilling apparatus, which was
aisof
steamo tried, worked most satisfactorily. Full pressure
could not be maintained during the whole of
the trial, in consequence of the boilers priming. Not-
withstanding this, however, the trial
was considered
satisfactory, and the ship has been reported as ready
for sea.

The screw steamship Ajax, 60, has been removed
from her moorings in Ilamoaze into Keyham-lbasin,
for the purpose of being broken U. She wilpro-
bably be followed by the Hogue, 60.
The depot 17th Lancers arrived at Colchester
yes-
terday from Maidstone. The depot is to be quartered
in the new cavalry barracks at Colchester, with the
exception of about 40 married and single men, who
will be accommodated in the lines of the 9th depot
battalion.

The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty :—Staff Commander P. Loney, to
command the Isis, vice Leethem, superseded at his
Own request ; Lieut. George T. Morrell, to the
Meander ; Lieut. Basil E. Cochrane to the Torch ;
Valentine F. Johnson, master, to the Hydra ; John
T: Gowlland, master, to the Curacoa for surveying
duties ; Henry P. Ward to the Cumberland for the