The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-04 00:00:00

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR

THE ARMY AT MALTA.

VALETTA, Menai 24.
The inspection of the brigade of Guards, of the 33d
Regiment, of the 93d Regiment, and of the Rifles, which
took place to-day on theFloriana at 12 o'clock, was in
reality a very imposing review. General Canrobert,
General Bosquet, General Martimprey, and a number
of other officers attached to the French expeditionary
columns, were present, and expressed to General Fer-
gusson and to Brigadier-General Bentinck their com-
plete satisfaction and delight at the splendid appearance
of the men, their steadiness in marching, and the perfect
discipline of the force. Several French non-commis-
sioned officers and privates were on the ground, and
most of them seemed particularly struck by the costume
of the 93d Highlanders. The most perfect good feeling
pervades the allies. The most sensitive of Frenchmen
could see nothing in our covered ensigns to revive the
least feeling of bitterness or international hatred. It
was pleasant to witness the meeting of two armies which
have never yet had a friendly reucontre. On the soil of
Malta, French and English troops here stood for the first
time without preparing for the shock of battle, and the
cheers which are now ringing from shore to .sea, till the
rocks re-echo, are no longer ominous of conflict. When
the Christophe Colomb and the Mistral came in last
night the cheering never ceased as long as there was the
smallest pretence for it. Our bands played " Portant
pour la Syrie" and several French airs, and the bands
of our allies returned the compliment with " God Save
the Queen."
_ _

The Africaine screw came in from Marseilles at half-
past 12 this day, and is now lying off the Lazaretto.
She anchored just as the Guards were marching into
their quarters, and the interchange of civilities at once
commenced, and is now being busily proceeded with.
The allies seemed insatiable at gazing on each other,
wondering perhaps why they were ever such enemies,
or what their forefathers fought for so rancorously.
A large French transport is in sight. The French
Generals are at the Palace. The enthusiasm is
so great that the men of the Ripon, Peninsular and
Oriental steamer, stokers and all, cheer the French as
loudly as their military friends on shore.

During the present week upwards of 4,000 men will be
despatched from England direct to Turkey, without stop-
ping at Malta. They will be conveyed to their destina-
tion in five steamers, which are now waiting at different
ports ready to embark them.
Yesterday Brigadier-General Sir Colin Campbell and
a portion of Lord Raglan's staff took their departure for
the East.

The 88th Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers), at
present lying at Preston, will embark at Liverpool on
board the Cunard steam-ship Niagara (Leitch, comman-
der) to-day, and she will sail to-morrow for the East.
A troop of the Royal Horse Artillery passed through
Liverpool yesterday, and proceeded on board the Dub-
lin steam-packet, bound for that city.
There are now fitting out at Liverpool no less than
15 packet ships, which have been chartered by Govern-
ment to convey troops to the seat of war. The united
burden of these ships is upwards of 16,000 tons.
Of this large fleet of merchantmen the one first ap-
pointed to leave the Mersey is the Courier. This fine
ship (which is to take out the 39th Regiment, now lying
at Cork) went into the river on Thursday last, and is
expected to sail on Wednesday or Thursday next.
As the Courier may be regarded as the pioneer of the
fleet, a few particulars as to the ship and her arrange-
ments may not be uninteresting. She was built at St.
John's, New Brunswick. She is an exceedingly strong
vessel, and may be designated a semi-clipper. Her bur-
den is 1,090 tons register, her length 165 feet, breadth
of beam 35 feet, and depth 23 feet. She is a first-class
vessel, very highly coppered for foreign service, and has
just been in the graving-dock, where she has been
thoroughly overhauled. Every part of the vessel has
been so altered as to adapt her to the conveyance of
troops. The 'tween decks, which has been fitted out for
the accommodation of about 800 soldiers, is thoroughly
open from stern to stern. It is 8 feet 10 inches in height,
and the most perfect light and ventilation are secured
by three hatchways—main, fore, and aft—in addition to
which there are 24 small windows, constructed for ven-
tilating purposes, and running along the sides of the
vessel at a distance of two and a half yards apart ; also
three iron deck ventilators on a new principle. On
each side of the area forming the 'tween decks cross-
tables two yards and a half long, and 2 feet 10 inches
in width, have been fixed for the general use of the men.
These tables run on each side, the entire length of the
ship, leaving a considerable space between as a kind of
promenade. They are calculated to accommodate eight
men each, four on either side. Substantial seats are
placed alongside these tables, and the space between
each is about 18 inches. At an elevation of about a
yard above the level of the tables, and 10 inches apart,
a row of wooden pegs has been placed around the sides
of the ship for the purpose of hanging the soldiers' hats,
&c,, and at the inner end of each table "canteens" have
been affixed for the general use of the men, in victual-
ling, &c. In addition to the two cross-tables, two long
tables, running parrallel with each other, and 36 feet
in length, are placed in the centre, between the aft and
main hatchways, and two other tables, 8 feet long each,
similarly placed, between the aft hatchway and the stern
of the vessel. Around the stern there are about 30
berths of a large size, which are intended for the ex-
clusive use of women and married men and children.
Near the main hatchway the hospital has been formed,
and at the extreme end of the ship forward a rack has
been constructed for the soldiers' muskets; while near
this, again, there is a general storeroom for the ac-
coutrements, baggage of the men, &c. Along the en-
tire length of the roof hammocks, nine feet in length
and 15 inches in width, are hung from hooks, and above
these hammocks skeleton shelving has been constructed
about 10 inches from the extreme height overhead,
for the reception of the knapsacks of the soldiers.
Thus, the entire arrangements for the accommodation
and general convenience of the men, so far as a large
body can be comfortably provided for under such cir-
cumstances, are all that could be desired, and reflect
much credit on Commander Bevis, the Admiralty agent
at this port, under whose directions (assisted by Com-
mander Boys, and other naval officers sent from Dept-
ford
by Government) they have been made.
The saloon, which is on deck, is appropriated to the
officers. It has been entirely rearranged for the pur-
pose, and is elegantly decorated. The ordinary officers
berths are arranged on each side of the saloon, while
that of the commanding officer is at the extreme end on
the right, and is very spacious. In addition to a berth,
it has attached to it a private room. Adjoining the
commanding officer's berth there are cabins for those
ladies who may accompany their relatives.
On deck a number of stables for horses have been built,
as also stalls for cows. The ship is well armed. She
carries four large carronades, one heavy long gun, and
two arm chests, containing swords, boarding pikes, and
muskets for the crew, in case of need.

,
As a proof of the great rapidity with which the ope-
rations of Commander Bevis and his assistants have
been carried on at this port, we may state that within
the last fortnight seven ships have been fitted out for the
Government service, and are now ready for sea. The
vessels which have been thus chartered are :

Tons.
The Courier . 1,090
The Star of the South
The Timander
These are for infantry.
_ _ _

The Echunga
The Medora
The Mary Ann
The Pararnatta

1,018
642
957
661

For cavalry.
All the above vessels are ready for sea.
FITTING-UP.

The Shooting Star 1,362
The Wilson Kennard 1,129
The Gertrude 1,361
The Glendalough
The War Cloud BOO
The Tyrone 1,197
Tho Asia

Total 14,398
The Albatross, screw-steamer, of 600 tons, has also
been chartered.

To show the general anxiety at Liverpool to forward
the operations of Government, we may state that the
Dock Committee have given directions to the local dock
authorities that vessels chartered for the conveyance of
troops shall in all cases take precedence of other ships in
the graving docks, so as to afford facilities for their being
fitted out without the slightest delay.
From Portsmouth we learn that Spithead is now
without a pennant, and in the harbour and docks there
are only the St. Vincent, 101 ; the Penelope, 16 ; the
Resistance, 10 ; and the Megwra, 6, fitting for war ser-
vice. .

The 23d Royal Welsh Fusiliers, ordered to embark to-
day at Southampton i n th e Tren t snail steam-packet, for th e
East, were inspected yesterday in the Governor's parade-
field within the garrison, in field service order, by their
own Colonel-in-Chiet, Lieutenant-General Sir George
D'Agudar, K.C.B. The gallant general briefly harangued
the men after inspection, and highly complimented them
on their soldier-like appearance and general good con-
duct, concluding by a prayer to God to nerve them in
the hour of battle and preserve their lives, that they
might return with honour to their country, their wives,
children, and friends.
Two officers and 50 men, • with the baggage, left the
Landport station, Portsmouth, at 8 a.m. yesterday, for
Southampton, to embark in the Trent ; the remainder of
the regiment will follow, by rail, at 8 a.m. to-day.
The 95th Regiment will arrive at Portsmouth to-day,
and embark in the Medway about Thursday.
The Termagant, 24, screw-frigate, is ordered to be
fitted out for re-commission.
The Tyne store-ship, Master-Commander J. 13. Tucker,
came into harbour yesterday morning from Spithead to
discharge stores.
The Pigmy steam-tug, Mr. Senger, second master, in
charge, has been docked to be fitted for service as a tug
to tliciTiatrifleet, and the Lucifer steam-vessel is ordered
-to take her place here. •
The Echo towing-vessel, Mr. litartlag, muter,- va,,4

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