The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-23 00:00:00

THE ROYAL DOCKYARD BATTALION.

The boat brigade of this force, under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Davies, R.N. (Master-Attendant of
the Royal Clarence victualling establishment, at Gos-
port), went on board her Majesty's ship Excellent on Wed-
nesday and last night, to commence their annual prac-
tice with shot from the great guns on the lower deck of
that ship at the targets moored afloat, and a portion of
the brigade to exercise at the same time at the same
butts from their gunboats. The practice on the first
night was of a most extraordinary description, more
particularly from the gun-boats, 14 balls having pierced
their target and three of them were in the bull's-eye.
Last evening the practice was correspondingly good,
six shots having been fired through the target by the
gunboats, and six from the long guns, at 800 yards dis-
tance, from the heavy guns on the lower deck of the
Excellent.

WOOLWICH, JULY 22.
APPOINTMENTS

Lieutenant Richard Williams (1840), First Lieute-
nant of the Boscawen, 70, guard ship of ordinary, at
Chatham, to be Flag Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Sir
William Fairbrother Carroll, K.C.8., who has been ap-
pointed to succeed Vice-Admiral John B. Purvis, com-
manding the squadron at Cork since June 15, 1852.
Vice-Admiral Purvis is now the senior Vice-Admiral on
the service list.
Naval Cadets —H. F. Veatman, to the Hogue, 60,
screw steam guard-ship, at Portsmouth ; G. N. mall-
'piece, to the Hogue ; R. S. Crampton, to the Duke of
Wellington, on a cruise ; C. E. M‘Dougall, to the Sy-
bille, 40, at Devonport.
The Firefly, 4, paddle-wheel steam-vessel of 220 horse
power, Commander George A. Seymour, arrived at
Woolwich yesterday, from the West Coast of Africa,
and was inspected in the harbour to-day by Commodore
Henry Eden. The inspection of the crew was very
minute, and the piddle-box boats were lowered and
completely armed, as if for actual service. The Firefly
has been on the coast of Africa the full period of two
years and eight months, having been commissioned on
the 3d of September, 1850. She is to be taken into the
basin this afternoon.
The Dover iron steam-vessel, intended for service in
the river Gambia and the coast of Africa, is now ready
for sea, with the exception that her crew is not com-
plete. She will proceed to her station under the com-
mand of Second Master C. Mitchell, of the Fisgard flag-
ship at Woolwich.
The Pigmy paddle-wheel steam-vessel, of 100-horse
power, the Prospero paddlewheel steam-vessel of 144-
horse power, and the Jasper paddlewheel steam-vessel,
of 100 horse power, all recently taken down from Dept-
ford to Woolwich, have been taken into the basin to
have their boilers taken out, and they are to have new
boilers to render them serviceable as tug-vessels, or for
any other duty they may be found competent to per-
form.
A fine Prussian man-of-war-steamer went up the river
on Saturday last, under the command of Captain Inde-
betue, and is now at Deytford, where she is to take her
guns on board.
The laying of nearly the entire length of the keel of
the Edgar, 91, has been effected, and a considerable
number of the frame timbers have been converted at the
sawmills, and are now placed alongside, so as to be
ready for putting up when the entire laying of the keel
is completed.
The Lightning, Master Commander Allen, is in the
East Dock having her bottom repaired.

DR. BRADY, M.P. FOR LEITRIM.—We rejoice to find
that the independent electors of Leitrim justly appre-
ciate the zeal and integrity of their tenant-right repre-
sentative. Since the commencement of the session,
no Irish member has been more constant or more
earnest in the discharge of his duty than Dr.
Brady. Every pledge given by the honourable and
learned gentleman on the hustings has been ob-
served by him with the most scrupulous honour
in his place in Parliament. At a time when political
treachery is considered as a less than venial offence—
and when political perjurers obtain an easy and ready
absolution, it redounds not a little to the credit of a re-
presentative that may be truthfully said of him, which
we have been enabled to say of Dr. Brady. We are,
therefore, well pleased that the people of Leitrim have
resolved to entertain Dr. Brady at a public banquet.
We trust that the demonstration will be worthy the
hosts and the guest,— Midland Counties Gazette.

WOODCOCKS AT WINDERMERE.—Not only is the lake
district of England annually more and more abounding
with villa residences for her Majesty's well-to-do and
comfortable subjects, but, it seems, those feathered
bipeds, the woodcocks of Norway, are building their
nests in the neighbourhood of Windermere,