The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-27 00:00:00

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

It was not expected on Friday that Lord Raglan could
spare the time requisite for going over to Paris and com-
municating personally with the chiefs of the French
auxiliary army on the plan of operations to be pursued
in the East. The importance, however, of the object
induced him to set other matters aside for this mission,
and he started on Saturday. He was accompanied by
Lord de Ros, who, as Lord Raglan can make but a short
stay, will remain behind him. Sir Baldwin Walker has
also proceeded to Paris at the same time, in order to
secure perfect concert in the naval operations of the allies.
The destitute condition of the wires and children left
behind by soldiers ordered to the East is exciting much
benevolent sympathy. If the efforts to relieve them
could be concentrated, effectual good might be done.
The association formed at the Army and Navy Club
seems most likely to act with due knowledge of what
the circumstances require. It was set on foot from the
example of a lady and true woman, the wife of a captain
of Engineers, who, on her husband's departure for the
Mediterranean, applied herself to finding employment
for all ithe married women of his company left behind,
and never relaxed her exertions until they were provided
with situations. The Duke of Sutherland has set an
example, by sending 2001. for the relief of the wives of
the 93d, or Sutherland Highlanders, just embarked at
Plymouth.

SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 25.

The steam-ship Himalaya sailed early this morning
for Plymouth and Malta. The Australasian Pacific
Steam Company's steamer Emu, Captain Edward Stamp,
also took her departure about noon for Dublin, to em-
bark the 33d Regiment for conveyance to Malta.
The beautiful new steam-ship Golden Fleece, of 2,500
tons, belonging to the General Screw Steam-shipping
Company, is now ready for sea, and we learn is to leave
the East India Docks on Tuesday to proceed to Green-
babe, whence, after adjusting her compasses and com-
pleting her stock of coals, she will sail on the morning
of 4th March for Leith, to take on board the 4th Regi-
ment from that port. The Golden Fleece has been
arranged to accommodate 37 officers, a few ladies, 917
rank and file, 54 women, 75 children, and 12 horses.
After leaving Leith she is ordered to touch at Plymouth
to fill up coal, water, and provisions, and to await sail-
in orders from the Government. Ten daysago it was
' e•
thbought almost impossible to prepare this steamer, then
unfinished, in so short a time, but, under the energetic
direction of Captain Ford, the superintendent of the
.Izompany, who employed nearly 500 men and artisans of
different classes, the task has been accomplished, and
"no delay in embarking the troops will take place. This
steam-ship is the second of the new Australian line
undertaken by the General Screw Company,

PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 25.

The Vulcan did not get out of harbour last night, but
went to Spithead at 8 o'clock this morning with the 2d
battalion of the Rifle Brigade on board. On leaving harbour
they were vociferously cheered all along the, shore to the
King's Ravelin by the inhabitants of the garrison. The
young wife, who managed to get on board in the uniform
of her husband, was of course detected, but we believe
the Countess of Errol interceded in her behalf, and she
consequently went to sea in the ship. Her husband went
with the draught by the Himalaya. We believe about
200 of the wives and children of this gallant corps are
left destitute in this borough by the departure of the
battalion, and the subject has caused a deep impression
on the inhabitants. Many of the wives of the Rifles
being Canadians, they have no parish to be sent to here,
and must all become chargeable to the local union, or
starve. With a view to devise some plan for meeting
the difficulty, which is every day increasing by the em-
barkation of troops from the district for foreign service,
the Mayor of Portsmouth, at the request of some 200 of
the most respectable inhabitants of the borough, has
called a public meeting. Another battalion of Guards
will embark at this dockyard on Tuesday, in her Ma-
jesty's screw-ship Simoom, which went out to Stokes
Bay to-day to test her engines and speed after her refit.
She made eight knots an hour. Two officers of the
Scots Fusilier Guerds inspected her this afternoon, to
ascertain the nature of her troop acoommodation. The
Gorgon and Sprightly steam-vessels went over to Cowes
on Friday night, and this morning embarked the
remainder of the 23d Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and
landed them at this dockyard to form the head-
quarters. This regiment is also under orders to pre-
pare for foreign service, as we stated yesterday, and they
will embark on the 12th proximo. There are no signs of
Rear-Admiral Corry's squadron yet. They are looked
for anxiously, although the Admiral had permission to
cruise until the Ist, making good his appearance at
Spithead by that day. Rear-Admiral Chads' flag-ship
Edinburgh, 58, Captain Hewlett, repaired the slight de-
rangement in her screw, at Spithead, and,w3s fully sup-
plied with coals to-day .hy-tho .Orestes floating. depot.
It is rumoured that Captain Richards will be appointed
Captain of the Fleet under Sir. Charles Napier, so the
Admiral's flag-ship will carry.two captains. His secre-
tary is Mr. Ozzard, paymaster, R.N., a gentleman who
served with Sir Charles in a similar capacity when he
last had his flag up ' • Mr. Biddlecombe, at present master
of the St. George, 121, who was also with Sir Charles
in the St. Vincent, will be Master of the Fleet, or
master of this flag-ship ; Mr. Ward is already appointed
Sir Charles's inspector of machinery in the fleet. The
Flag-Captain Commander and Flag-Lieutenant we have
not yet ;heard named. Sir Charles has beet guest for
a day or two this week with the Commander-in-Chief at
this ;port, Sir Thomas Cochrane, who has also enter-
tained the Duchess of Sutherland, the Dowager Lady
Napier, the Earl and Countess of Errol, Lord H. Len-
nox, the Marquis and Marchioness of Stafford, the Mar-
quis and Marchioness of Kildare, the Hon. Lady Cuffe,
the Earl and Countess Grosvenor Marquis and
Marchioness Camden, Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence,
Lord Francis Conyngharn, Lady Elizabeth Douglas,
Sir John Maxwell, the Honourable Joseph Denman,
&e. Sir T. Cochrane went to Spithead this morning
to see that all was comfortable on board the Vul-
can before she started, which she did about noon,
and as she steered through the anchorage for the
Solent the crews of the ships at Spithead—the Prin-
cess Royal, 91, Captain Lord Clarence Paget; the Bos-
cawen, 70, Captain Glanville ; the Edinburgh, 58, Cap-
tain Hewlett ; the Leopard, 18, Captain Giffard ; the
Dragon, 6, Captain Willcox ; and the Frolic, 16, Com-
mander Nolloth —manned bulwarks and rigging, and
gave them loud cheers at parting. These were as
heartily acknowledged.
This fine weather is peculiarly advantageous for the
outfit of ships, and those in progress at this port are
getting on wonderfully. The Neptune, 120, Captain
Smith, C. 8., is well advanced, and manning fast. We
believe she has shipped 400 coast-guardmen to-day to
make up her complement. The St. Vincent, 101, is
being equipped to take her place. The Omar, 91, Cap-
tain Robb, has still the large force we have before men-
tioned employed upon her, and will be ready to join the
fleet in a fortnight or less. The Blenheim, 60, screw,
Captain the Hon. F. T. Pelham, will be out of hand,
we expect to-morrow, and will join the others at Spit-
head in a day or two after. The Excellent gunnery-
ship, Captain Sir T. Maitland, C. 8., exhibits some smart
drill and gunnery daily in training her crews. At no
period have the value and importance of this establish.
ment been so apparent as at the present moment. The
gun drill batteries of the Royal Marine Artillery corps
on Southsea-common, and at their head-quarters, are
also daily used to train the men to ship gunnery.

SUNDAY, FEB. 26.
The Rhadamanthus steam-vessel arrived this morning
from the Thames with a propeller for the Caesar, 91, and
four boilers for the Colossus, 80. Haring discharged
these, she will proceed to Devonport 'with machinery
and a funnel for the Algiers, 91. The Diligence naval
transport arrived at Spithead this morning ; the Argus
revenue (screw) cruiser, with coastguardmm, this after-
noon ; and the Hogue, 60, Captain Ramsay, from Ply-
mouth, this evening.
The Centaur, 5, steam-frigate, flagship of Rear-Ad-
miral Henderson, C. 8., Commander-in-Clief on the
Brazils station, is immediately ordered home, we are in-
formed by the United Service Gazette. We hope the
report is correct, and that a heavier armed ship will be
forthwith sent out to relieve her, for, at the present mo-
ment, the single Russian frigate at Rio carries more
guns by about 18 than the whole of the vessels of the
British squadron on that station put together!

PLYMOCTTH, FEB. 25.

His Grace the Duke of Sutherland has sent a donation
of 2001. to aid the wives and families of the soldiers of
the 93d regiment, and Mr. R. Morris, of the Branch
Bank of England, is taking subscriptions for the same
worthy object. We understand that, through the good
offices of the Commander of the Forces for the Western
District, some arrangement will be made for organizing
the distribution of these moneys, so that the object of
the humane donors shall be fully attained.
After the 93d have left the Citadel the Ist Royals are
expected to occupy their quarters, preparatory to em-
barking for the East ; and the Bth Hussars will leave
route to this
.
Dorchester on the 28th inst. for Exeter, en ?
port.
Captain Henderson, Controller-General of the Coast-
guard, who left Plymouth on Wednesday, accompanied
by Colonel Tulloh, Superintendent of Pensioners, and
Captain W. 111 Kennedy, R.N., proceeded to Exeter,
where they examined the seamen and marine pensioners;
and then went on to Taunton, Bristol, and Bath, ap-
pointing the pensioners to Coastguard or ordinary duty,
according to qualification. Every alacrity was evinced
by the men to serve the Queen in their new capacities.
Captain Henderson returned to London on Thursday.
At the Royal William Victualling-yard 12 ovens will
be set to work on Monday, the 27th inst. The number
in ordinary use is four, and they were doubled about a
fortnight since. The bakers will make nine days every
week until further orders.

FEB. 26.
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company's new
ship Himalaya, Captain Kellock, arrived here last even-
ing, after making a passage in keeping with her previ-
ous character for rapidity. The Needles were passed
against a flood tide at a quarter to 10, and she steamed
thence to abreast of Portland, 34 miles, by a quarter to
12, making 57 miles from Southampton, in 31 hours.
From Portland to the Start, 49 miles, two-thirds of the