The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-14 00:00:00

SALT BEEF FOR THE NAVY FOR 1835.

The Admiralty have accepted tenders for a quantity
equal to 22,500 tierces of pork and 20,500 tierces of beef, of
which 6,500 pork and 7,000 beef is of Hamburgh cure, and
the remainder of Irish cure, at an average price for pork
of 101. ss. per tierce, and for beef Si. 10s. per tierce.
The quantity accepted is less than was advertised for by
26,500 tierces of pork and 10,500 tierces of beef. This may
be attributed to the circumstance of many contractors not
tendering, they being fearful of not being able to comply
with one of the conditions—viz., the delivery of one-third
of the quantity before the 31st December next.
_ . _ _

. _
The contract is the largest since 1813, when Sir Charles
Flower contracted for 60,000 tierces of pork at an average
of ill. 13s. 2d. per tierce, and for 40,000 tierces of beef,
at about 101.10 s. per tierce.

THE REINFORCEMENT TO THE WEST INDIA
SQUADRON.

We have announced the departure of the Termagant, 24,
screw, from Spithead for the West Indies, and yesterday
we stated that the Colossus, 80, screw, Captain R. S.
Robinson, was ordered to proceed to that station to re-
inforce the squadron. It was believed that the Colossus
would receive part of the crew of the Ajax, on her return
from the Baltic, but an Admiralty order turned over
yesterday afternoon about 120 blue jackets of the Daunt-
less. They were addressed by their esteemed captain,
Ryder, on the quarter-deck of the Victorious hulk, who in
the most feeling manner pointed out to them the exigen-
cies of the service, and said, however much he regretted
parting with them, yet they must all obey orders. The
petty officers and men are much attached to their officers ;
and on leaving the Victorious hulk in the Echo steam-tug
they cheered again and again, and went down to Spithead
to shake down in a ship where their services will be equally
appreciated and their comforts cared for.

- The Colossus is expected to sail on Tueiday next.
The Termagant put into Plymouth on Thursday after-
noon, and anchored in the Sound.

THE SCREW DESPATCH-CRUISERS AND THE

WAR.

Three of the formidable screw despatch cruisers are by
this time in the Black Sea. The Arrow, 4, Lieut. Com-
mander Jolliffe, it has been already reported, has tried the
range of her great Lancasters on Sebastopol, but with
what effect has not transpired. The Beagle, 4, Lieut.
Commander lore, is also off Sebastopol. The Lynx, 4,
Lieut. Commander Reed, by last advices, had left Malta
for Constantinople en, route, and the Vesper, 4, Lieut.
Commander Loddar, left Lisbon on the 4th, for the Black
Sea. Oue of these half-dozen screw despatch-boats, the
Wrangler, 4, Lieut. Commander Risk, is in the Baltic ;
the other, Snake, 4, Lieut. Commander Maillop, is now
ready for sea. It is, we believe, scarcely seven months
since the designs of these -vessels were given out (470 tons
and 160-horse power); not a timber was then converted,
nor was an atom of the machinery put in hand, and now,
thanks to the firms of Messrs. Mare and Co., and Messrs.
Green, of Blackwall, who built the vessels; and Messrs.
Penn and Co., Mandalay and Field, and Humphrey and
Co., we have five of the six actually at sea, and engaged
with the enemy, and a sixth ready to start. We believe
every other kind of work was set aside to turn these
ships out of hand ; but the despatch with which they were
designed by the Surveyor of the Navy, and built by the
persons above-named, is unparalleled in the history of
steam-ship building.

We hear that the contractors of these vessels—engineers
as well as shipbuilders—have lost money by the work, and
this is not to be wondered at, when the high rate of wages
is considered ; and to have accomplished their task they
must have worked " double tides."