The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-24 00:00:00

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR

The steam-ships Orinoco, Ripon, and Manilla, with
the battalions of Grenadier and Coldstream Guards on
board, which embarked on Wednesday at Southampton
docks, got under way immediately after daybreak yester-
day morning, and sailed for their destination. The
wind, which on Wednesday night blew in heavy gusts
from the south-west, had veered round to the north-
west, and these fine ships, therefore, started under most
favourable auspices, with a fair wind down Channel.
Much discomfort and inconvenience have been avoided
by the ships having anchored in the river .for the night.
The Ripon and Manilla will call at Gibraltar for coals
on their way to Malta. but the Orinoco will proceed to
that island direct, and, after landing the Coldstreams
there, is under engagement to go to Gibraltar, to take
on board the 44th Regiment, destined to form a portion
of the auxiliary army.

A company of Sappers and Miners and some of the
Rifle Brigade are to embark on board the Himalaya
to-day, and that steamer leaves this evening for Ply-
mouth. During the prevailing excitement on Wednesday
the sum of GM 6s. was collected on board, for the benefit
of the South Hants Infirmary, from persons who gladly
paid an admission fee for the privilege of witnessing the
departure of the troops from her decks.
The new steam-ship Atrato, belonging to the West
India Mail Company, will not be ready for sea so soon
as was anticipated, and, we are informed, is not likely
to arrive at Southampton from the Clyde before the 6th
or 7th of March. Under these circumstances, the di-
rectors of the company have offered to place at the dis-
posal of the Government their steamer Magdalena (a
sister ship to the Orinoco), expected to arrive from the
West Indies about the 3d or 4th proximo. This ship
might be prepared for the transport service sooner than
the Atrato, and would be a most efficient and useful
vessel for this particular duty. The Orinoco is an excel-
lent steam troop-ship, and her arrangements were yester-
day greatly approved. The Magdalena is of precisely
similar size, and is arranged and fitted in the same
manner.

The Government have chartered. the Australasian
Pacific Mail Company's new screw steamer Kangaroo
for the conveyance of troops to the East. The Kan-
garoo is of 1,600 tons' burden, and will shortly be ready
for sea.

PLYMOUTH, FEB. 23.

An order unprecedented in extent has been received
this week at the Royal William victualling•yard ;
15,000 bags of biscuit (100 lb. in each bag), 100,000ib.
of flour, and 100 bushels of peas are to be prepared forth-
with for transmission to Gosport. The steam-sloop
Vulture, 6, Captain Glasse, was yesterday morning
moored off the yard, and, commencing at 11 o'clock,
1,000 bags of biscuit were conveyed to her, by three boys,
before 6 in the evening. She leaves this morning for
the eastward. The Devon lighter is taking in provi-
sions, and, in all probability, the screw steam-ship
Hogue, 60, Captain Ramsey, now in the Sound, will
take a portion with her to-morrow, when she is ap-
pointed to sail for Portsmouth. Inquiries from head-
quarters have been made in reference to the store of
horse-boxes. There were in the yard only 12, which, it
is said, were sent on by the Vulture, and a further
supply is to be made, if necessary, by private workmen.
Eighty-two volunteers from the 42d and 70 from the
79th:Regiments arrived here,by the South Devon Railway,
yesterday afternoon. The former were under command
of Captain Taylor, and the latter in charge of Lieuten-
ants Graham and Jervois. The major part left Ports-
mouth on Monday morning, slept at Cerne Abbas,
marched on Tuesday to Yeovil, and left on Wednesday
by Bristol mail train. 24 of the 42d left Weymouth on
Monday and joined their comrades at Cerne Abbas in
the evening. On arrival at the station a considerable
number of people cheered the gallant fellows, who,
escorted by the band of the 93d, playing the " Highland
Laddie," marched for the citadel. On passing through
the town the drums and fifes struck up " Duncan
M'Queen," and were followed by the bagpipes with a
Gaelic air. The band played " Auld Lang Syne" as
they entered the citadel, where they were received by a
guard of honour and all the men off duty, whose lusty
cheers were responded to most heartily by their new
companions in arms. The volunteers were then drawn
up in line and inspected by Colonel Ainslie and Cap-
tain Gordon, who with the entire regiment appeared
highly gratified with this valuable addition to their
force in the hour of need. Six others who are to
come will make the total number of kilted volunteers

158. The eighteen who joined on Monday were from
the 24th, 51st, 71st, and 88th depots at Chatham. The
93d has received orders to be ready on Monday for
embarkation at the Royal William victualling-yard.
To-morrow (Friday) the entire regiment will be publicly
inspected on the Hoe by Major-General Sir Harry
Smith, G.C.8., Commander of Forces in the western
district,

ROYAL SAPPERS AND MINERS.
WOOLWICH, FED. 2;3.

Orders have been received at bead-quarters here to
augment this branch of the Ordnance service one ser•
geant, one corporal, one second corporal, and 17 pri-
vates to each company, making a total of 440 men.
The companies were out on the common yesterday,
and went through the operations of a field-day, under
Brigade-Major Walpole.
The 7th company, under the command of Captain C.
J. Gibb, Royal Engineers. and the 11th company, under
the command of Captain F. C. Hassard, assembled at a
quarter before nine o'clock a.m. to-day, in route-
marching order, on the parade of their barracks, and
had with them their field equipment complete, for the
inspection of Lieutenant-Colonel Victor, Royal Engi-
neers, who is to command the Royal Sappers and Miners
ordered to the Mediterranean.

The 11th company, under Captain Hassard, Royal
Engineers, will leave Woolwich at an early hour to-
morrow, so as to arrive at the Waterloo station in Lon-
don, to proceed with the train which leaves that station
for Southampton at 9 o'clock a.m., where they are to
embark on board the Himalaya.
The 7th company, under Captain Gibb, Royal En-
gineers, expect to embark early next week.
The 10th company, under the command of Captain
George Bent, Royal Engineers, have also been placed
under orders to be in readiness to embark on the shortest
notice.

Tools of every description have been forwarded to-day
from the Royal Arsenal for the use of the Royal Sappers
and Miners, and the men appear in the highest spirits.

LIVERPOOL FEB. 23.

The Cunard paddle-wheel steamer Niagara took her
departure hence for Malta to-day at 6.30 a.m., having
on boar I the troops (the 28th Regiment) which were
embarked yesterday.
The new battery at the north end of the Huskisson
dock will be completed in a short time, the fire of which
will cross that of the Rock battery, on the Cheshire side
of the Mersey, and range down the Rock and Victoria
channels, so that vessels entering the river would be
exposed to the fire of 30 guns of large calibre.

SHIELDS, Feb. 23.—Russian shipmasters and owners
who have vessels in the northern coal ports seem to be
in the greatest alarm with regard to the prospect of a
war with this country. Those who cannot get their
vessels to sea are selling them. The Hoppet, a good-
looking Finnish bark, has been sold to Mr. Day and
Mr. James Turpie, of this place, for 2,7001. Three
or four other Russian vessels in the Tyne have
been transferred to London owners within the past
few days. The crew of the Hoppet (Fins) have
determined to continue with the vessel, and will sail,
under the British flag, in the American lumber trade.
Lieutenant Blaokett, of the Cressy, is down here, beat-
ing up ~for volunteers. Notwithstanding the Present
high rate of wages in the merchant service he has done
exceedingly well. Last week, above 50 young men
joined at Newcastle ; 28 have joined at Sunderland.
The rendezvous at Shields has been opened but a
couple of days, and there have been numerous appli-
cations from young men, of from 20 to 25 years, to have
their names enrolled. Ten young men were sent off to the
vessel yesterday. Captain Broadhead has enrolled above
100 young men at Newcastle for the Naval Coast-guard
volunteers. A considerable number of young men have
also volunteered into the same corps at Tyne►nouth. A
communication from the Admiralty, which has been re-
ceived by Mr. James Mather, of South Shields, in
answer to a letter written by that gentleman to the First
Lord of the Admiralty, has given great satisfaction to
the north country seamen. Sir James Graham intimates
that the Government have no intention of adopting the
ballot or to call out the press-gang, to make up the com-
plement of men for the fleet, but will trust entirely to
volunteers to do so.