The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-08 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.

Lieuts. G. B. Williams (1840), to the Royal William,
120, at Plymouth ; and B. S. De R. Hall, to the Mo-
narch, 84, guard-ship of ordinary, at Plymouth.
Master J. T. Davis (1841), to the Melainpus, 42, at
Plymouth.
Paymasters J. L. Southey (1851), to the Perseverance,
troop-ship, at Woolwich ; W. P. Carrigan (1839), to the
Exmouth, 90, screw steam-ship, at Devonport; and E.
W. M. Miln►an (1847), to the Geyser, 6, paddle-wheel
steam-sloop, of 280• horse power, North America and.
West India station.
Clerks—W. T. Richards (1348),,t0 the Exmouth ; C.
L. Cartwright (1851), to the Tartar, 21, at Chatham ;
A. T. M. Roberts (1848), to the Wellesley, 72, at Chat-
ham ; aid W. Elliott (1848), to the Impregnable, 104,
flag-ship, at Devonport.
Masters Assistant H. Y. Slader to the Perseverance.
Clerk in Charge H. Callaway (1847), to the Rhada-
manthus, 4, paddle-wheel steam transport, of 220-horse
power, at Portsmouth.

THE MORTAR-VESSELS.
Yesterday morning the mortar-vessel,, Drake and Sin-
bad, proceeded out of Sheerness Harbour direct fee
Shoeburyness, in order to test the power and capabilities
of range of the Lancaster mortars, with which each of
these vessels is fitted. The admiral's tender conveyed
the following gentlemen to test them :—Captain Sir T.
Maitland, General Jones, Captain Roberts, R.M.A.,
Captain Jenner, two French officers, and several other
gentlemen. Tke cemmander•in chief, Vice Admiral W.
Gordon, was present merely, we Understand, as a spec-
tator, and the Myrtle and Wildfire steamers were in
attendance. The vessels had not returned when our
despatch was sent off, consequeritly we are unable to
state the result ; but our correspondent says, if he
might judge from the loud report and vibration of the
houses on the beach facing where they are going
(although eight or nine miles distant), they must
be guns of enormous calibre. We hear they are
expected to carry four miles, and ig.tey fire at an eleva-
tion of 45 degrees. These vessels are of light draught
of water ; when loaded will draw little more than nine
feet. They have hitherto been employed to convey stores
for the Government from one port to another ; they are
very strongly built, and will, no doubt, answer every
purpose.

FORTIFICATION AT MILFORD invnt.—This week thel
heavy guns, nine S inch long 68-pounders, weighing each
68 cwt., were unshipped from Pembroke-yard by means
of the Prospero steamer to the tower on Thorn Island.
To furnish this and the ether fortifications with troops
extensive barrack accommodation must be provided at
Pembroke. The magnificent fortified barracks there
at present are totally inadequate to that service, and to
prevent the inhabitants being saddled with billeted sol-
i diers, the new barracks already decided upon, and for
the construction of which all the preliminary arrange-
ments have been perfected, must be forthwith taken
in hand—a censumusation devoutly to be wished.—
Carmarthen Journal.

Extensive coast defences are uow in course of conqtruc-
tion at Shoreham, Eastbourne, Newhaven, and Fresh-
water, opposite the Needles, and other places on the
south coast.

Orders have been received at Davenport dockyard to
expedite the fittings of the Extuouth, 91, Capt. Pelham.
Owing to the great demand for provisions, 120 bul-
hMechanics
earrteotpomwaos
trsk
of from
einn
d 7. a.m. ter p.m. The riggers
leeks are slaughtered every week at the Royal William
victualling-yard, Plymouth. The bakers work in two
gangs—one from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., the other from 2 to
10 p.m.
Yesterday information was received at the Admiralty
that another Russian vessel, called the Ariel, had been
seized in the port of Liverpool, under simulated papers.
condemned
o ofwar.
the Russian
The Co
She came in under Danish colours, from Mir.onichi,
laden with deals. The master stoutly maintains her to
be Danish vessel, having been sold by the Russian
ship Atlantic, seized at Leith, and the Ernest Merk, at
Hull, under simulated papers, to be lawful prizes, and
tliN
yesterday the decrees of sale were issued.
owner
a wueretk elfe Admiraltyfi)re has declaration
Yesterday advices were received from Memel, under
date Dec. 4. On the previous day (Sunday) her Ma-
jesty's steamer Conflict was off the port with three ves-
sels, supposed to be prizes.
Yesterday advices were received that,the haired British
steam transports theEmeu and theCaudia left Marseilles
on the 2d of December inst., filled with French troops
for the Crimea.
The Adelaide screw steamer has been laden with nearly
2,000 tons of shot, shell, ammunition, and winter cloth-
ing for the Crimea. At Woolwich she embarks a com-
pany of artillery, and thence proceeds to Portsmouth to