The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-13 00:00:00

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR

SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 11.

The Royal mail steam-ship Magdalena is now ready
for sea, and is shortly to embark a regiment for the
Mediterranean. The company has concluded an ar-
rangement with the Admiralty for the hire of tins fine
ship for two or three months, to be employed in the
conveyance of troops to Malta, the Bosphorus, or the
Black Sea. As other of the company's ships become
disengaged by the bringing forward of the new steamers
Tamar and Tyne, expected shortly at this port, or by
the completion of the Parana, Tay, and Medway, now
❑nder alterations or repair, the services of some of the
steamers at present employed in the packet service will
be transferred to the transport board, if required.

PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 12.

The Neptune, 120, Captain Hutton, flag of Rear-
Admiral Corry, received her powder and shell yesterday
at Spithead.
The Caesar, 91, screw, Captain Robb, bent sails yes-
terday afternoon. She is far from ready to join the fleet
yet, and hands are employed upon her even to-day in
hundreds preparing her for service. She has stowed her
provisions, shot, stores, &c., but not her guns yet.
Getting her to Spithead by Tuesday is talked of, but
this we think impossible.
The Dauntless, 33, Captain Ryder, steamed out of
harbour this morning for Spithead, and left at 11 20 to
join the Baltic fleet in the Downs.
The freight-ship Egmont, with draughts of the 58th
and 65th Regiments, &c., sailed this day from Spithead
for New Zealand.

The Gorgon, 6, paddle steam-sloop, Commander Cum-
ming, came down the harbour yesterday ready for dock-
ing to-morrow.

PLYMOUTH, MARCH 11.
The crew of her Majesty's ship St. George, 121, Cap-
tain Eyres, bent sails and stowed boats on Thursday.
She was towed from Hamoaze into the Sound yesterday,
and to-morrow (Monday) advance wages will be paid.
The screw steam-ship James Watt, 90, Captain
George Elliot, completed coaling on Friday. The Pallas
coal depot was removed from her moorings, and placed
alongside the ship for greater despatch.
A colour•sergeant, and 20 gunners, volunteers from
four different companies of artillerymen in this garrison,
left by express train on Saturday morning, for Wool.
wich, to go into active service.

MARCH 12.

The screw steam-ship Golden Fleece, Commander
Stewart, with the 4th Regiment (King's Own), arrived
here at 1 o'clock this afternoon. She left Leith at 4 p.m.
on Thursday, and for four hours, having a favourable
wind, made 131 knots under canvas. During the re-
mainder of the passage head winds were experienced,
but she was not stopped once on account of her ma-
chinery, which is in capital order. She was off Yar-
mouth roads on Friday morning, and in the Downs on
Saturday. At 11 she slowed engine, and exchanged
cheers with a screw-twodezker man-of-war, showing a
white ensign. The Isle of Wight was passed at 2 a.m.
on Sunday. She has commenced taking in fuel, water,
and provisions, and if complete will leave the Sound for
Malta on Monday at noon, The troops are all well, and
in excellent spirits.

SHEERNESS, MARCH 11.

A draught of fine young men, volunteers, belonging
to the Royal Artillery corps doing garrison duty here,
have this morning proceeded en route for Woolwich, to
fill up the companies of the 11th battalion, whose ser-
vices are likely to be required in the East. They have
been selected from Captain Dalston's Ist battalion and
Captain Adye's 9th battalion, all of whom have served
five years and upwards, and are perfectly efficient artil-
lerymen, and of exemplary character. A number of
recruits are constantly being sent from Woolwich here
for drill, on account of the efficient state of the ranges of
batteries in garrison for exercising at, and to perfect
them in their various duties as artillerymen.
George J. Whitehouse, Second Master, Nov. 19, 1847,
has this day taken up Lis commission and joined the
Monarch, 84, guns, Captain John E. Erskine. Mr.'
Alexander C. Archdeacon, acting clerk, from the Impe-
rieuse, has this day joined this ship by Admiralty order.
The Monarch has bent sails to-day, and active prepara-
tions are being made- for -her departure from here on
Tuesday next.
The Cuckoo, 2, paddle-wheel steam-vessel, arrived
here yesterday from Cromer, with 35 Coast-guardmen,
taken from different stations on the Cromer district ;
they were immediately draughted on board the Monarch.
The Cuckoo passed the Miranda in the lower part of the
East Swin yesterday morning, downward bound. These
vessels exchanged numbers on passing. _

MARCH 12.

The Euryalus, 50 guns, screw steam-ship, Captain
Geo,ge .Ramsay, slipped from her moorings at
,p
this day, saluted the flag of Vice-Admiral of the White
the Hon. Joceline Percy, Commander-in-Chief, and took
her departure under steam power for the downs. The
Myrtle steam-vessel proceeded out of harbour with her.
The Euryalus overhauled her quickly, and before she
had steamed down to the Little Nore, the Myrtle was
more than a mile astern of her. The Euryalus steamed
out against a strong flood tide, and the wind was blow-
ing a fresh breeze from S.S.E. broad on the starboard
bow. Her rate of speed taken by time and distance run
(as calculated on shore) could not be under 10 knots per
hour.

The Driver, 6 guns, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, Com-
mander the Hon. A. Cochrane, yesterday completed
taking in her ammunition, shell, &c., ready for sea.
The Horatio, 24 guns, screw steam guard-ship, Com-
mander Robert Jenner, is daily expected to be ordezed
to proceed to Leith, to remain there as a school-ship for
teaching the volunteer landsmen and boys entering the
service their duties.

WOOLWICH, MARCH 11.
ROYAL ARTILLERY.

The Master-General has been pleased to appoint Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Fox Strangways to the command of the
Royal Horse Artillery and Rockets attached to the Ar-
tillery force about to embark for the Mediterranean.
_.

Lieutenant-Colonel Fox Strangways is an old and dis-
tinguished officer, having commanded the Rocket Bri-
gade at the battle of Leipsic, where he received the
thanks of the allied Sovereigns an the field of battle, and
several foreign orders. He also served in the north of
Germany in the same year, and was severely wounded
at Waterloo.

The second division of the Royal Artillery, now placed
under orders for foreign service, consists of Capt. Maude's
troop of Royal Horse Artillery, from Dublin ; Capt.
Swinton's company, 11th battalion, recently returned
from Dover ; Capt. John Turner's company, 11th bat-
talion, at Woolwich ; Capt. Wodehouse s company, 11th
battalion, at Woolwich ; Capt. D'Aguilar's company,
11th battalion, at Woolwich ; Capt. J. Travers' com-
pany; 11th battalion, at Chatham.