The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-09 00:00:00

THE WAR

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
The Royal Albert, 121, screw, yesterday, at high water
hauled out of the graving dock at Sheerness, into the
basin, and is lying now under the sheers
in t e d
hockyard ;
her internal fittings are fast completing. We underst,nd
steam will be got up without delay, to ascertain how her
engines work. The machinery in all departments is nforow
nearly finished ; she will then proceed to Portsmouth
volunteers, and take in her stores ; her rudder will be
shipped to-day. It was unshipped in consequence of there
not being sufficient room for her to lie in the graving dock
with it hung.
The St. Vincent, 101, and Stromboli, 6, paddle, Comman-
der Hall, arrived yesterday morning at Spithead from Sheer-
ness. The St. Vincent is reported to have several cases of
cholera on board. She will dispose of her sick, and after-
wards go into harbour to resume her duties as ordinary
guard-ship. Stromboli had been ordered into harbour to
instantly refit for further service, but a telegraphic message
sent her off instantly to the eastward, as well as the Fire
Queen, Master Commander F. W. Paul, probably to help
the Royal William to Brest.
The Algiers, 91, screw, Captain Talbot, Sheerness.—The
dockyard authorities have visited this ship, and have
ascertained that there is room enough for her to go
into the graving dock. Her machinery appears to be
defective, and will require many repairs previous to
her being considered sea-wortby. The principal defects
appears to exist in the end of the screw-shaft con.
nectiug with the screw, and air-pump valves, together
with many minor deficiencies, that require immediately
being perfected before going to sea. The few invalids she
has brought home have been forwarded to the Chatham
Hospital. One marine died on the passage. This vessel,
notwithstanding the defects in machinery, has only five
engineers—that is, including the chief
the , Mr. Dencyownie, w
me -
ho
has used every exertion to make up defici of
chanics in that department.
The Inconstant, 36, fitted as an hospital ship for Cork,
was towed out of Devonport harbour on Thursday, by
)tire
Confiance and Pike, and sailed direct, in charge of .
Thomas, master of the Impregnable, and a party of seamen
from the Calcutta. She had a fine breeze and fair wind,
and may be expected at Cork by this time.
The Termagant, 24, Capt. the Hon. Keith Stewart, was
taken into the steam basin atPortsmouth yesterday to com-
plete a few repairs and adjustments of m
fr her machiSheernneess ry.
has
Tho screw steam storeship Supply, o ,
sailed with shot and shell for Varna.
The barque Fingal, Capt. Dankin, 141. days from Laun-
ceston, Van Diemen's Land, for London, passed off Ply-
mouth on Thursday morning.
The frigate Indefatigable entered Plymouth Sound yes-
terday morning.

APPOINTMENTS.
Vice-Admiral Dundas, C. 8., Commander-in-Chief of the
British Fleet in the Black Sea, has selected Lieut. J. 'V.
Douglas M‘Donald, at present serving as gunnery lieute-
nant of the Britannia, 120, flagship on the Black Sea sta-
tion, to be his flag lieutenant, vice Chambers, promoted.
Lieutenant George Durbin (1546), from the Coastguard
to the Cur:lva, 30, screw steam-frigate at Portsmouth.
Acting Assistant-Engineers of the third-class John
West, Edward Connor, John Birch Laud, Daniel M`Wil-
liam, John Henderson, and Henry Alphonse Henri have
been appointed to the fleet.
Acting Assistant-Surgeon—Thomas Roche (1851), to the
Curacoa.

THE GUNBOATS.
The Snake, the sixth launched of the screw steam-de-
spatch gun-boats, immediately after being launched, was
taken to Johu Penn and Sons' wharf at Deptford to have
her engines put on board.
The Pelter, one of the light draught gun-boats, having
had her engines put on board, has been taken to Northfleet
to be made ready for service.

THE COLOSSUS—THE SCREW PROPELLER.
The Colossus, 81, screw, Captain Robinson, will receive
her crew from the hulk in Portsmouth Harbour on Monday.
She has been fitted with Mr. W. W. Bonney's patent
gutta-percha speaking tubes from the poop netting to
the engine-room, from the poop netting to the knight-
heads, from before the inizen, too, tubes are carried to
each deck at fore and aft quarters for gunnery orders.
These tubes have met the approval not only of the
captain and officers of the Colossus, but also of the
whole of the dockyard officers. They were officially tried
yesterday by the patentee and the official staff of the
dockyard, and they were found to transmit all orders
in a full natural tone, quite to the surprise, as well
as the gratification of all present, although some of
the tubes were above 200 feet long, with very tortuous
leads. The ships already fitted with this invention are the
Royal George, 120; James Watt, 91; Algiers, 91 ; Nile,
91; Exmouth, 91; Hannibal, 91; Malacca, 17 ; Royal
Albert, 121 (now fitting) ; the Cossack, 36 ; the Curlew,
8 ; the Curacoa, 31 ; the Harrier, 16 ; the Swallow, 8 ; and
the Termagant, 24, will most probably be fitted, their
commanders having requested to have the tubes applied to
their vessels.

THE RUSSIAN PRISONERS.
The Royal William, 120, Capt. Kingcome, arrived in the
Downs, from the Baltic, at nine o'clock on Thursday even-
ing, and remained there till yesterday morning, when she
proceeded down Channel with a fresh easterly wind,
having received orders to proceed to Brost with the Rus-