The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-10 00:00:00

711 E NA N.

A telegram was received at Portsmouth on Satur-
day from the Admiralty directing that Monday (to-
day) should be observed as a close holiday in all the
public naval establishments at the port in honour of
the birthday and coming of age of his Royal High-
ness the Prince of Wales.

A letter dated Valetta, Oct. 2, says :—" The Prince
of Wales and the Prince and Princess of Prussia
proceeded on their tour to Sicily and Naples last
night in the Royal yacht Osborne. The yacht will
work one paddle only, having broken the shaft of
the other in her passage from Tunis; but, as in this
crippled condition she can steam nine knots, and a
favourable change has occurred in the weather, she
is likely to make a fair passage. Her Majesty's
frigate Boris will escort her and take her in tow, in
case such assistance is required. Yesterday morn-
ing their Royal Highnesses witnessed from the
Palace tower the repulse of a feigned attack on the
fortress from the seaward, and in the afternoon were
present on the Floriana parade ground to see a line
regiment put through its bayonet exercise. At half-
past 9 o'clock they took their departure from the
Great Harbour. As they ere travelling incognito
no salutes were fired. Their Royal Highnesses ex-
pressed themselves much pleased with the attention
received during their brief sojourn. They purpose
calling at Syraeuse and Messina en route to Naples,
where it is their present intention to remain till
after the birthday of the Prince of Wales, the yacht
returning to Malta for repair. Her Majesty's ship
Neptune, 86, Capt. G. T. Hornby, arrived from
Naples yesterday morning, on her way to England,
to be paid off, and the Algiers, 89, Capt. E. B. Rice,
now in port, is also under orders to return hame.
The Amphion, 36, Capt. A. C. Gordon, left for Eng-
land last
_night, and took with her as passengers
Deputy-Assist.- Commissary-G en. Turnbull, five
non-commissioned officers, and 31 privates. The
Foxhound, 4, Commander the Hon. A. Hobart, also
left last night with a mail for Admiral Martin.
Lieut. Luck, 9th Regiment, who lately arrived from
England, proceeded in her to join his regiment at
Corfu."

The dockyard, Ordnance, and other Government
establishments at Chatham will be closed to-day,
and the whole of the workmen granted a holiday,
in honour of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
attaining his majority. At 12 o'clock a Royal
salute will be fired from the guns mounted on the
Cornwallis battery. _ .

The Admiralty have given directions for the
broadside Armstrong guns of the Royal Oak, iron
plated steam frigate, fitting at Chatham, to be
placed, four of the number aft in the cabins and
four forward, in addition to the heavy Armstrong
pivot guns mounted on the upper deck. A similar
arrangement is to be carried out on beard the other
ships of her class under construction at the several
ports.
The line-of-battle serew steamer Hero, 89, 600-
horse power, Capt. A. P. Ryder, which is ordered
to be put out of commission at Sheerness, will, as
soon the crew have been pai' off, be placed in the
second division of the Chatham steam reserve in
the Medway.
The following appointment has been made in the
Royal Naval Reserve :—To be Lieut., David Robert
Comyn.