The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-11 00:00:00

PREPARATIONS . FOR WAR

REVIEW OF THE BALTIC FLEET.
PORTSMOUTH, FRIDAY NIGHT.

To-day at noon her Majesty, attended by the Court,
arrived here from London, and, proceeding on board the
Fairy yacht, passed through the Baltic fleet at Spithead
on her way to Osborne. The weather was rather wet
and disagreeable at the time, and the crowds of strangers
at present collected in Portsmouth had not a very fa-
vourable opportunity of seeing what took place. They
were obliged for the most part to content themselves
with what through a hazy atmosphere they could make
out from the shore. A few small boats and one or two
steamers enabled their occupants to have a nearer view
of the style in which the Royal salute was fired and the
ships manned yards ; but we are not sure that proxi-
mity adds much to the effect of this spectacle, which,
for the short time it lasts, is certainly one of the most
imposing that can be imagined. The fleet assembled at
Spithead last summer had somewhat detracted from the
absolute novelty of such a sight, but the magnitude of
those events to which the present naval force owes
its origin, and the universal interest which they ex-
cite, will not permit of the Queen's reception by her fleet
to-day being sunk to the level of an ordinary ceremonial
observance. To see those stupendous vessels of war
with that expression of rec3rved strength about them,
which gives to their huge hulls and uncanvassed rig a
certain air of solemnity and mystery, is alone worth a
trip to Portsmouth. Then, it is something to be present
when, from porthole to porthole and ship to ship, the
grand music of a Royal salute is prolonged ; but above
all other considerations is the desire which must be felt
in every patriotic breast to behold before it starts upon
its mission that mighty fleet which carries with it into
the Baltic the highest interests of western civilisation.
Such thoughts must be at the bottom of that remark-
able anxiety which the public are manifesting about the
naval force now anchored at Spithead. Without any
precise information as to a review, and with a mere ru-
mour to go upon, that the Queen will pay a formal visit
to the fleet before it puts to sea, they have for the last
few days been flocking into Portsmouth by thousands.
The town is consequently in a state of extraordinary
bustle, and the cost of the preparations for war are not
likely for the present, at least, to be closely counted by
the inhabitants, whatever may be the case elsewhere.
The fleet lies under the shore of the Isle of Wight,
anchored in less extended order than that of last sum-
mer, but presenting a much more formidable appearance,
from the greater number of ships and their greater size.
The huge frame of the Duke of Wellington, though still
unmatched, no longer enjoys that decided pre-emi-
nence which she then commanded over all around, for
the Royal George, of 121 guns, and the St. Jean d'Acre,
of 101 guns, now attract the eye almost as much, and
worthily share with her the general admiration.
A few minutes before the guns of the Victory an-
nounced the arrival of the Royal train the signal to dress
ship was made from the St. Jean d'Acre, in which Sir
Charles Napier had his flag flying, and immediately the
order was obeyed. The fleet, however, made no holiday
display of bunting, but was decked soberly with flags,
as became a naval force with rough work before it
and the honour of the country in its keeping. The
salute from the Victory had hardly died away, when
through the haze every ship could be seen with her
yards manned, while in one or two the crew swarmed
like bees upon the rigging. Then, after a short pause,
the Fairy, with the Royal standard flaunting from her
mainmast, came gliding out of the harbour, and in-
stantly the crowds assembled on shore raised their loyal
cheers for the Queen. Bending her course past the Plat-
form Battery, the guns of which poured forth their wel-
come, the yacht steered at once for the head of the fleet,
where the flagship lay. The salute then began, and was
volleyed forth in grand style. Hardly had the flash of
the first gun blazed from the side of the St. Jean d'Acre
when all the other ships were following her example,
and for about a minute there was a roar of artillery
which must have made all on the shore thank Heaven
most devoutly that they were not Russians. The Queen
must have smelt more gunpowder while receiving this
acknowledgment of her Royal presence than she ever
did in her life before, for the smoke, borne by the west
wind, soon enveloped the tiny form of the Fairy, and
even the fleet itself was so completely shrouded that
nothing of the mighty ships composing it could be seen,
except here and there, high up in the air, the flags wav-
ing at their tallest mastheads. Through the dense cloud
the flash of the guns for a time penetrated, but even
that was at length lost in the mass of vapour, and
then, until all was silent, nothing could be distinguished
but the louder or fainter boom of each report as it came
from the port or starboard broadside. When the smoke
had passed away the Fairy, which looked at that distance,
and by contrast, very like a Thames wager-boat, was
steaming swiftly through the fleet, on her way to Os-
borne. Those on shore could not, of course, distinguish
the cheering taken up by ship after ship as they were
passed in succession, but it came from spar, rigging, and
deck with a heartiness and precision which were over-
whelming, and which must, under all the circumstances,
have found a deep response in the heart of the Sove-
reign. The Royal George and the Duke, the only
three-deckers in the fleet, and which, perhaps, on that
account hold an isolated position, bringing out their
size
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course with a distinguished company on board, among
whom, we are told, were the French and Prussian Am-
bassadors. These distinguished personages could hardly
fail to be impressed with the spectacle which they this
day witnessed. They will be able to convey to their
respective Governments some idea of the spirit in which
the crews of the fleet at Spithead take their departure
for the Baltic, and of the efficiency of that fleet, the
first division of which carries 1,047 guns, propelled by
a steam power of 6,970 horses, and a force of 10,251
men.

The Queen visits the fleet to-morrow, weather per-
mitting, and will probably be present at noon, when it
weighs anchor and puts to sea.

EMBARKATION OF TROOPS AT LIVERPOOL.
LIVERPOOL, MARCH 10.
The town to-day presented an exciting scene, conse-
quent on the arrival of the 77th Regiment from Preston,
and its embarkation on board the new screw-steamer
Kangaroo, Captain Johnson.

The 77th Regiment is about 900 strong, rank and file,
but, as one skeleton company has been left at Preston,
under the command of Captain Kennedy, to recruit and
to await the arrival of the 88th, the number embarked
to-day was about 800, composed mainly of volunteers.
At 20 minutes past 11 o'clock the rapid explosion of a
number of detonating fog-signals which had been placed
on the line, announced the approach of a long train,
composed of 53 carriages, and drawn by two engines.
The troops were quickly formed, and, after some delay,
they marched to the inspiriting strains of the band. At
this juncture the rain ceased, and the sun burst forth
with great brilliancy. The men appeared in excellent
condition, and, in answer to our inquiries, it was stated
that they were going out with the greatest cheerfulness.
They were first marched, amid the cheers of the assem-
bled thousands, to the Exchange area, where they re-
mained for a few minutes, the band playing " God save
the Queen."
The troops then proceeded to the Wellington Dock,
situate at the extreme north of the river, at a distance
from the Exchange of about two miles. On their arrival
at the dock they were drawn up under an extensive open
shed, where they remained for upwards of half an hour,
cleaning the locks of their rifles and muskets, which had
become rusty from exposure for five hours to the heavy
rain experienced in the morning at Preston. They em-
barked soon after two o'clock. The Kangaroo will re-
main in dock until to-morrow, at 8 o'clock, when she
will clear out and take her departure for Malta.
The Kangaroo is a splendid new Clyde-built screw
steamer, 1,874 tons, builders' measurement, and fitted
with oscillating geared engines of 300-horse power. She
belongs to the Australasian and Pacific line, in connec-
tion with the West India mail steamers, being intended
to run between Panama and Sydney. Her arrange.
ments for the transport of the troops are on a liberal
and commodious scale. The chief saloon, which is beau-
tifully fitted, and supplied with abundance of light and
ventilation, is allotted to the commissioned officers, 34
of whom will have the same accommodation as would
be provided for 52 first cabin passengers. The victual-
ling department is under the management of the direc-
tors of the company—a sufficient guarantee that it will
be well supplied. The Kangaroo has a flushed deck,
with cabins along the main deck, the state rooms, re-
served for the officers, being amidships. The open space
and corridors between the berths forward and the after-
part of the ship are slung with hammocks for the men,
while the women, of whom there are about twenty on
board, occupy berths usually placed at the disposal of
the subordinate officers of the ship.
Captain Johnson expects to make the run to Malta in
eight days.

DUBLIN, MARcn 10.

It is stated that orders have been just received here
for the following corps to hold themselves in readiness
to proceed to the seat of war :-4th Dragoon Guards,
11th Hussars, and Major Dupuis's brigade of Artillery.
An order, it appears, has been issued to the assistant-
surgeons of the depots serving in the United Kingdom,
notifying that they are to proceed instanter to Constan-
tinople, and that their duties in the meantime will be
discharged by civil medical practitioners. The 27th
Regiment is now concentrated in Dublin, previous to
immediate embarkation for foreign service.

[PRICE SD.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 10.
Rear-Admiral Berkeley and Sir Baldwin Walker arrived
in the dockyard yesterday and made a cursory inspection,
after which they embarked in the Fre Queen steam-yacht,
and went out to Spithead to inspect some of the ships.
The Duke of Wellington, 131, Captain of the Fleet
Michael Seymour, arrived at Spithead this morning from
Devonport, and joined the fleet.
The Valorous, 16, paddle-frigate, Captain Buckle, went
out of harbour to Spithead this afternoon and joined the
fleet.
The St. Jean d'Acre, 101, Captain the Hon. H. Keppel,
took Sir Charles Napier's flag last night at sunset from the
Princess Royal, and she continues to carry it, but the Duke
will take it to-morrow, or this evening at sunset.
The Neptune, 120, Captain Hutton, flag of Rear-Admi-
ral Corry, will go to Spithead to-morrow.

SHEERNESS, MARCH 9.
The Cressy, SO, screw steam-ship, Captain Richard L.
Warren, left here under steam at 7 a.m. this day,
and, on passing the garrison, saluted the Admiral's
flag, which was returned by the Waterloo, 121, Cap-
tain Lord Frederick Kerr. She left the harbour in
first-rate style, and in a very short space of time she
was hull down. Her rate of speed must have been (by the
distance rnn in the time) not less than 12 to 13 knots per
hour ; the wind at the time being abaft the beam and
blowing a fresh breeze, she made short miles of it. This
ship leaves here with as fine a ship's company as any
officer could desire to command, and the men generally
express themselves highly pleased with their officers. The
African steam-vessel did not go out of harbour with her ;
had she, it would have been very like the hare and the
tortoise as regarded speed, but not with the same result.
The Euryalns, 50, screw steam-ship, Captain George
Ramsay, completed taking in her ammunition and shells,
&c., at 1.15 p.m. this day, and immediately commenced
swinging ship for the adjustment of her compasses. This
splendid ship has an armament on her gundeck of shell-
guns of large calibre, and is in every respect a perfect
man-of-war.

The Miranda, 14 guns (exclusive of an 8-inch pivot gun
on her forecastle), sails this evening, with sealed orders, on
particular service ; various reports are in circulation here
as to her destination. She will not be absent from
this port more than four or five days. The African
has been in attendance conveying stores for her present
use from the victualling stores and dockyard ; she has been
visited to-day, previous to her departure, by Capt. Lord
Frederick Kerr, in command of the flag-ship Waterloo.
The following officers have proceeded in her pro tem., the
officers appointed to her not yet having joined :—Mr. John
C. Barlow, master ; Mr. Francis H. Blaxall, assistant-
surgeon (both from the Waterloo) ; Mr. John Turner,
engineer (from the Fearless); and Mr. Hall, engineer (from
the Myrtle.)
Lieut. Edward Shacklock (April 30, 1821), stationed at
Bridlington station, Yorkshire, arrived here last evening
with 50 Coast-guardmen, all A.B.'s, and thoroughly disci-
plined
men in seamanship and gunnery, also a number of i
smart young fellows, volunteers, the latter principally from
Hull. -They have this day been draughted into the differ-
ent ships for immediate active service.
It is currently reported here that the Chichester, 50-gun
ship, and the Worcester, 50-gun ship, are to be brought
forward for immediate commission; also that ten first-class
gun brigs and sloops are to be commissioned forth-
with. The Siren, 16-gun sloop, is the only vessel of the
class referred to in harbour here.

By an Admiralty order dated the Ist of March inst., it
is ordered that all paymasters doing duty as clerks are to
mess in the ward-room according to their rank in the ser-
vice, and are to bear the uniform of paymasters; and by
an order dated the Bth inst. all paymasters doing duty as
clerks of ships in the home ports ordered for sea are to re-
ceive pay as junior paymasters and sea time.
MARCH 10, 8 A.M.
The Miranda, 14 guns, screw steam-ship, Captain E. M.
Lyons, left here at 8 p.m. yesterday. At 6 p.m. the
Chatham pay yacht, with the Treasury clerks, arrived here
and immediately proceeded alongside, paid a portion of her
crew, and, on slipping from alongside the Miranda, took
her departure from here under sealed orders.
The Driver, 6, paddle-wheel steam-sloop.—We sincerely
regret to have to report a serious accident which happened
last evening on board this sloop. Mr. Cornelius Fox, Mas-
ter, while in the execution of duty, fell into the hold of
this sloop, by which he has received severe injuries and
broken his collar-bone. A steam-vessel was ordered im-
mediately to convey him to Melville Hospital for medical
treatment there, after being attended by the medical offi-
cers here.

The Afelampus store-ship is just entering our harbour,
assisted by a steam-tug vessel.
The Rosamond, 6 guns, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, Com-
mander George Wodehouse.—Nicholas Littleton, surgeon
(Nov. 11, 1851), has taken up his commission and joined
this sloop. It is worthy of remark that out of the nine
small ships lately commissioned there has not been one
assistant-surgeon appointed. All these vessels formerly,
carried assistant-surgeons, and it is a matter of serious con-
♦ersation among officers and men, in the event of anything
occurring to prevent the surgeon attending to his duties,
that there is no helping hand in the person of an assistant-
surgeon. In fact, it has resulted in many surgeons refus-
ing to servo ; and no wonder, seeing that the same class of
vessels in time of peace have always had two medical offi-
cers, and now it is more essentially necessary, as, in addi-
tion to the same chances of disease, there is every chance
of an increased number of accidents during the coming
service for which purpose those vessels are commissioned.

DEAL, MARCH 10.
Her Majesty's ship Cressy, Captain R. L. Warren,
arrived in the Downs yesterday evening. She left her
moorings at Sheerness early in the morning of Thursday,
and, on proceeding out of that port, saluted with 15 guns
the flag of Vice-Admiral the Hon. Joceline Percy, C. 8.,
Commander-in-Chief at the Nore. When off the Mouse
light-vessel the Cressy spoke her Majesty's ship Melampus,
bound to Sheerness with seamen for the Majestic, Monarch,
and the other ships fitting out at that port for service in
the Baltic. The Cressy was to have proceeded to Spithead
this morning, but, on her anchoring off Deal, telegraphic
despatches were received, ordering her to remain in the
Downs until the arrival of the Baltic fleet.

WOOLWICH, MARCH 10.
APPOINTMENTS.

Captain Edwin C. T. D'Eyncourt (1849), to study steam
at the factory at Woolwich dockyard.
Commander Augustus J. Burton (1853), to study steam
at the factory at Woolwich dockyard.
Surgeons.-James Jenkins, M.D. (1854), recently pro-
moted from Assistant-Surgeon of the Fisgard for service in
Woolwich dockyard, to be Surgeon at the Royal Marine
Infirmary at Woolwich ; Arthur Adams (1853), to the Vic-
tory, flag-ship at Portsmouth ; Evan Evans (1845), to the
Victory ; John C. Sabben (1851), to the Victory - Archibald
Elliott, M.D. (1851), to the Victory; Alexander Kilroy
(1838), to tho Ajax, for service with the Baltic fleet, vice
John Sloan ; John Sloan (1838), to the Conway, 26, at
Portsmouth, preparing for service as flag-ship at Cork, in
room of the Ajax, 58, screw steam flag-ship, at Cork ;
John F. Johnson (1853), to the Lightning steam-vessel at
Woolwich, preparing for surveying service.
Assistant-Surgeons.-Johnston Christie, M.D, (1846),
from the Royal Marine Infirmary at Woolwich, to the
Majestic, 81, screw steam-ship at Sheerness; Richard
King (1846), to the Duke of Wellington, 131, screw-steam
flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.8.,
Commander-in-Chief of the Baltic fleet ; John C. Ingles
(1847), to the Illustrious, 72, at Portsmouth ; James
Whieher (1816), from Greenwich Hospital, to the Edin-
burgh, 58, screw-steam flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Henry
D. Chads, of the Baltic fleet, at Portsmouth ; George
Everest, Y.D. (1844), from Greenwich Hospital, to the St.
George, 121, at Portsmouth; Owen Jefferies Llewellyn
(1851), borne on the books of the Poictiers, guard-ship of
ordinary at Chatham, for service in Melville Hospital, to
the Gorgon, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, at Portsmouth.
Acting Assistant-Surgeons.-J. W. Brown (1853), serv-
ing in a naval hospital, to the Dragon paddlewheel steam-
frigate at Portsmouth ; John Fisher (1854), to Greenwich
Hospital, in the room of James Whicher ; David Courte-
nay (1854), to Greenwich Hospital, in the room of
George Everest ; Peter W. Rolston (1854), to the Nile,
91, screw steam-ship ;
M`Neill M`Grath (1854), to the Pro-
metheus paddle-wheel steam-sloop at Devonport ; Augustus
R. Beed (1854), to the Conflict screw steam-sloop at Ports-
mouth.
Clerks.- Thomas Waterfield (1851), recently serving in
the Volcano steam-sloop on the West Coast of Africa sta-
tion, to the Driver paddle-wheel steam-sloop at Sheerness ;
Francis W. Cole (Paymaster of 1853), to the St. Vincent,
102, at Portsmouth ' • Thomas J. Woodward, to the St.
George, 121; Francis J. Rutter, to the Wellington, guard-
ship of ordinary at Sheerness ; Edward W. Gordon (1851),
from the Horatio screw steam-ship, to the Rosamond pad-
dle-wheel steam-sloop at Sheerness ; John R. Peirce, to the
Bulldog paddle-wheel steam-sloop at Portsmouth ; Frede-
rick Penfold (1851), to the St. Jean D'Acre, 101, screw
steam-ship at Portsmouth; E. Burmiston, to the Edin-
burgh screw steam-ship.
Clerk in Charge.-John Freshfield (1847), to the Alban
steam-sloop at Woolwich.
Clerks' Assistants.-J. Haslar, to the Horatio screw
steam-ship at Sheerness ; W. H. Whichelo, to the Arro-
gant, 47, screw steam-ship at Portsmouth ;B. B. French,
to the Victory flag-ship at Portsmouth ;W. H. Chambers
to the Leopard,)lB, paddle-wheel steam-frigate at
Ports-
mouth ; John Rivers, to the Euryalus, 50, screw steam-
frigate at Sheerness ; M. a Wilson, to the Excellent
gunnery-ship at Portsmouth.
The sailing transports have not yet come down from
Deptford to embark the horses of the Royal Artillery, and
consequently the days of embarkation have been post-