The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-25 00:00:00

7HE NAVY.

The Spithead fort question having been disposed
of for the present year, the consideration of the
official reports and plans now before the Admiralty
for the extension of Portsmouth Dockyard and for
the improvement of its harbour and channel of en-
trance will follow as a matter of course. The report
presented to the Admiralty on the examination of
the bar of the harbour channel during the past
month by Messrs. Taylor and Davis, masters of the
Royal Navy, is a most important document. Forty
cross sections have been taken over the bar in a space
of 700 yards, at 17 yards apart, and the same depth
has been found that existed in May, 1861, the date
of the previous survey. In the Fairway Channel
there is a depth of 17ft. at low-water spring tides,
of 27ft. at high-water neap tides, and of 30ft. at
high-water spring tides. The report also states
that there are no indications of travelling shingle,
that the sides of the cut have not caved in, and that
there are no symptoms to render it prudent to
desist from dredging a still deeper channel. On
the contrary, there is every encouragement to dredge
at once for a depth of 20ft. at low water at spring
tides, or 30ft. at high-water neaps. To effect this,
the shingle forming the bar will have to be removed
at an average depth of 2ft. 4in., which gives about
41,000 yards (cubic) for dredging, the estimated
cost of which would be about £3,500. The Ord,
nance authorities have intimated their readiness to
receive the stuff dredged up for the purpose of
levelling Southsea-common with it, and would in
return bear a part of the dredging expenses, which
would thus render the cost of deepening the harbour
channel a mere trifle. The report concludes by
stating that, judging from past experience, the pro-
posed excavation would confine flood and ebb tides
to the channel proper, and that the scour of the tide
would maintain the depth of the excavation. The
great difficulty in the execution of large works in
Portsmouth harbour has hitherto been the bar which
existed in the Channel off Southsea-beach, to which
the present report refers. It will be seen, however,
that this report of the survey which has taken place
by order of the Admiralty effectually disposes of
this difficulty, and the next important question is
what accommodation can the harbour of Portsmouth
afford for our future iron fleets P In the great scheme
now before the Admiralty this question is, we un-
derstand, fully answered, and the capabilities of the
place are developed on a grand yet economical scale.
In the extension of Chatham yard 90 acres of addi-
tional basin space will be provided, and the work is
now being carried on by convicts. The proposed
extension of Portsmouth yard is on a much more
extensive scale than at Chatham, and it is now
worthy of consideration whether convict labour
might not be largely employed in the extension of
the former as in the latter yard in the event of the
proposed scheme being adopted and carried into
effect. It has of late years been a reproach to Eng-
land that she possessed no naval establishment com-
parable to Cherbourg, notwithstanding her posi-
tion as the first maritime Power of the world. If
the Admiralty carry out this scheme in its integrity,
it is asserted that this reproach will be removed.
It has been decided by the authorities at the Horse
Guards to erect at Portsmouth a soldiers' institute
and gymnasium for the use of the troops. Major-
General Lord W. Paulet, C. 8., commanding the
garrison and district, has recommended a site for
their erection in the enclosed field on the south side
of the milldam, on the rise near the fortifications,
inland of the town of Portsmouth, This site will
afford a tolerably large space for athletic and out-
door exercises, and will be within five minutes'
walk of each barrack in the garrison. The Old Sol-
diers' Institute was held in a prison-looking build-
ing in one of the back streets of Portsmouth. Its
object was to entice the soldiers from the haunts of
drunkenness and crime. Cheap tea and coffee, the
distribution of tracts, and the ministrations of
Scripture readers have not, however, had the effect
of attracting the men, and the institute has ceased
to exist. We trust the new establishment will offer
such inducements to the soldiers as shall ensure
their ready attendance and its permanent success.

Two battalions of Royal Marine Light Infantry,
in command of Lieut.-Col. Marriott ; four batteries
of Royal Horse Artillery, in command of Sir D. E.
Wood, K.C.B. ; four batteries of the 15th Brigade
Garrison Artillery, in command of Col. Francklyn,
C.B, ; and two battalions of the depot, in command
of Col. Kennedy, yesterday went through various
field day movements at Woolwich. General Sir
Richard ]acres, K.C.8., and the Garrison Staff were
in attendance. The garrison orders issued in the
evening announced that his Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief of the
Forces, after having distributed the prizes to the
successful candidates of the Royal Military Academy
will review the troops on Woolwich-common, com-
mencing at 330 this day. There will be assembled
for his Royal Highness's inspection and review four
battalions of infantry and eight batteries of mounted
artillery, armed with a force of 48 guns ; 20 rounds
of blank ammunition will be distributed for each
gun, and the manceuvres of a grand field-day will
be performed in full detail. His Royal Highness
will be accompanied to Woolwich by the Under-
Secretary of State for War, the Earl de Grey and
Ripen, and some other distinguished members of
her Majesty's Government.
The left wing of the 37th Regiment (four com-
panies) embarked on ..Nlonday at Plymouth on board
the Megrera troopship, and she left in the evening
for Portsmouth. The troops will proceed to Alder-
shot, where they will be joined by the right wing,
to be conveyed from Plymouth to Portsmouth by
the Megvera.
The Megtera, screw troopship, Commander Hen-
derson, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday, from Ply-
mouth, with a wing of the 37th Regiment on board.
The troops disembarked at the dockyard and were
forwarded by special train to Farnborough Station,
on the London and South-Western Railway, whence
they were marched into camp at Aldershot.
The Adventure, screw troopship, Commander
Lethbridge, at Portsmouth, is ordered to embark, for
conveyance to Canada, 40 men from the depots of
various regiments, and 328 women and 500 children,
the families of soldiers belonging to the regiments
last sent out.
The hired East India transport Lauderdale, 850
tons, Capt. Bowers, which arrived at Gravesend
from N. arrachee with
upwards of 300 non-commis-
sioned officers and men on hoard, after a passage of
110 days, landed her detachments at Government '
quay, Gravesend, on Monday. The
troops, with
the exception of those whose periods of service have
expired, were forwarded to their respective depots.
The Lauderdale embarked her troops at Rurrachee
on the Ist of March last, and sailed the following
day; she reached the Cape of Good Hope on the
10th
of April, and sailed thence on the 24th of the sue, \
month; she put in at St. Helena on the 10th May,
and left the same day. The voyage was rather
protracted, owing to the frequent calms encoun-
tered and the light winds which prevailed for a
considerable portion of the voyage. The line was
crossed for the first time on the 17th of March,
and again 63 days afterwards. The number of
troops brough33 t home amounts to 319 men of all
ranks, with women and children, belong-
ing to the 7th Hussars, 3d European Light
Cavalry, sth European Light Cavalry, Royal,
Bombay, and Bengal Artillery, 4th (King's Own),
7th (Royal Fusilecrs),46th, 51st (King's Own Light
Infantry), 79th (Highlanders), 81st, 89th, 92d
(Highlanders), 93d (Highlanders), and 98th Regi-
ments, 109th Regiment (late 3d Bombay Regiment),
and the 2d Battalion Rifle Brigade. The following
officers returned in the ship :—Major S. M. Brown,
93d Highlanders; Capt. N. C. Chichester, 7th Dra-
goon Guards ; Lieut. F. Beauchamp, 7th Fusileers;
Lieut. E. Everett, 79th Highlanders ; Lieut. C. D.
Broadbent and Lieut. C. W. Robinson, Rifle
Bri
gade ; and Staff-Assist.-Surgeon T. S. Teevan. The
total number of deaths on board during the passage
was four soldiers and two women. After the troops
had been medically inspected at Gravesend, the
Artillery were forwarded to Woolwich, and the re-
mainder of the detachments to their respective de-
pots at Chatham, Walmer, Winchester, Fermoy,
Stirling, and Aberdeen. At the date when the Lau-
derdale was at the Cape of Good Hope, the Dread-
nought had arrived from Calcutta with ft portion of
the 75th Regt. on board, on its return to England.
Alecto, Commander Itaby,
Her Majesty's ship

V.C., will be paid off this morning at Woolwich,
and will be put out of commission for repairs. The
Alecto was commissioned at Woolwich on the 27th
Jan., 1860, and proceeded to the West Coast of
Africa, where she was actively e,pployed for a
period of 14 months. She afterwarc s proceeded to
the South Coast, where she had the misfortune to
break her intermediate shaft, in spite of which she
was rendered so efficient as to continue the duties
of the station for 10 months longer, and ultimately
to tow H.M.S. Prometheus a distance of 650 miles
on her way from Lagos to Ascension The Alecto
has been remarkably healthy during her commis-
and she has lost neither boy nor man by disease or
accident. She took two valuable prizes in slavers—
namely, the Constantia, and another, name un-
known, by which the crew realised a considerable
amount of prize money.
The screw steam gunvessel Intrepid, 6, Comman-
der Marryat, at Plymouth, will be put out of com-
mission to-day and placed in the third division of
the steam reserve.

Her Majesty's ship Rapid, Commander Jago,
yesterday left Woolwich, in charge of Master Com-
mander Hall, on a trial of her machinery, and sub-
sequently sailed for Portsmouth, on her way to the
Cape station for service.
The paddlewheel surveying vessel Porcupine,
Master Commander Hoskyn, has left Plymouth for
the West Coast of Ireland, where she will be em-
ployed taking soundings, on the application of the
Atlantic Telegraph Company.
The screw steam gunvessel Cormorant, 4, Com-
mander Buckle, left Plymouth on Monday evening
for China.

Capt. the Hon. G. F. Hastings, C. 8., is to receive
the good service pension vacant by the promotion
of Capt. Kellett, C. 8., to be a Rear-Admiral. The
following Commanders have been promoted to be
Captains :—H. W. Hire, W. A. R. Pearse, J. H.
Marryat, T. P. Coode, C. M. Aynsley, M. F.
O'Reilly, E. Lacy, M. B. Dunn, J. Edye, Sir M.
M'Gregor, and J. R. Veitch ; and the following
Lieuts. to be Commanders :—H. Hawkes, T. E.
Smith, T. H. B. Fellowes, R. H. Roe, G. Palmer,
H. C.. Burleigh, R. Carter, W. N. Cornewall, H. L.
A. L. Maitland, L. Baine, T. Barnardiston, and the
Hon. G. Fitzclarence.

M. it C. S. D. Lowe, Mr. Henry J. Wodehouse,
and Mr. Octavins Greig have been nominated to
naval cadetships.

The following appointments and promotions have
been made at the Admiralty :—Commander F. W.
Sullivan to the Harrier, vice Sir M. M'Gregor, pro-
moted; Lieut. the Hon. J. B. Vivian to command
the Procris, vice Palmer, promoted ; Lieut. R. 0.
Leach to the Shannon ; Lieut. R. E. Tracy, Lieut.
R. H. Harington, Lieut. R. T. Clark, Lieut. A.
Jephson, and Lieut. A. M. Norman, to the Eurya-
lus, additional, for disposal ; Lieutenant Arthur
Cowburn to the Rosario ; John F. Loney, master,
to the Victory; Richard Sturgess, master, to
the Narcissus ; William S. Luke, master, to the
Fisgard ; John Scott, master, to the Colossus; R.
B. Batt, master, to the Indus; George W. Under-
hill, assistant paymaster, as secretary's clerk, to
the Hawke; H. T. Gunson, master's assistant, to
the Shannon ; E. H, Cunningham, master's assist-
ant, to the Euryalus, as supernumerary ; Richard
Oliver in the Devastation, John Brown (a) and
Henry Hollingsworth in the Trafalgar, promoted
to the rank of first-class assistant-engineers; A. G.
A. Billowes in the Clio, Thomas Haywood in the
Melpomene, John B. Stevens in the Liffey, Thos.
Clark in the Cumberland, William Inglis (b) in the
Mersey, and Thomas Sumners in the Melpomene,
promoted to the rank of acting first-class assistant-
engineers ; G. E. M. Keeg and S. Chantler, in the
Euryalus, confirmed as second-class assistant-engi-
neers.