The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-09 00:00:00

711 E NAVY.

An order has been received at Chatham for a de-
tachment of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, to
consist of one officer and 23 non-commissioned offi-
cers and men, to be selected to proceed to Japan, for
the performance of guard and escort duty at the
Japanese British Legation. The detachment will
proceed to Japan in the paddlewheel steamer
Argus, 6, 300-horse power, now attached to the
first division of the Chatham Steam Reserve, which
is to be immediately brought forward for commis-
sion, with a complement of 175 officers and men,in_
eluding Royal Marines. The Argus has undergone
some very extensive repairs, and has had
a com-
plete overhaul of her hull and machinery. She is
intended to be attached to the East India and China
station.
The Gentlemen Cadets of the Royal Military
Academy at Woolwich having reassembled at the
close at the Midsummer vacation, resumed studies
yesterday, and the business of the establishment re-
commenced as usual.

The target, which has been for some time under
construction at Chatham dockyard, will be com-
pleted in the course of a few days, when it will be
removed to Shoeburyness, where it will be erected,
in order to carry out the experiments with the large
13-inch Mersey gun. The target is constructed
exactly like a section of the side of the Warrior,
and will be covered with armour-plates of 41
inches in thickness placed on a backing of oak and
teak, The experiments to be made at Shoebury-
ness will be carried out under the direction of Col.
St, George, C. 8., and the members of the Ordnance
Select Committee.
Intelligence was yesterday received at Chatham
of the daring escape of a convict named Phillips,
under sentence of 20 years' penal servitude, from
the convict establishment at Portland. The pri-
soner occupied the portion of the prison set apart
for the infirmary, and has been placed in cross irons
for a recent attempt to escape. By some means he
obtained possession of a saw and chisel, with which
be removed his irons and also a portion of his cell.
The night, which was very rough and windy-,
favoured his escape, and his absence from his cell
was not discovered until 5 o'clock the following
morning. The prisoner made a "dummy," which
he platted in his bed to deceive the warders who
look through the slide of the cell door every hour.
About a week or two since the convict was placed
in the separate cells, and while there he managed
s
to obtain possession of a test key, which
would un-
lock any of the cells in the prison. He also obtained
a saw and file, and had arranged with
other convicts to release them on a
certainoine of
night
the
and overpower the warder on dut y
placed in
'Their i)lan
was, however, frustrated, and Phillips
was
irons, and removed to another part of the prison.
On the occasion referred to Phillips told the Gover-
nor that he should wish him ‘i Good bye some fine
day." On escaping from his cell he left his clothes
and also his irons behind. As soon as his escape
was discovered information was forwarded to Lon-
don and all
giving an accurate description of the convict, who,
the principal towns in the kingdom,
there is little doubt, will shortly be captured.