The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-17 00:00:00

PROMOTION.

Deputy-Inspector of Hospitals Edward Ililditch, at
present stationed at Bermuda, is promoted to be Inspec-
tor of Hospitals, and appointed in that rank to continue
his services at that station.

Deal Hospital, to which Deputy-Inspector of Hospitals
James W. Johnston, M.D., and Assistant-Surgeon C.
Roberts were appointed yesterday, has not been in use
since the end of last war, with the exception of a short
period, when the cholera prevailed in 1832. It is a very
commodious building, and capable of making up about
400 beds for patients with every convenience for sick
quarters.

PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 16.

Notwithstanding that nothing has officially transpired
even to the party most interested, yet it is strongly
reported that Sir Charles Napier, will be appointed as
Commander-in-Chief of the Baltic fleet. It is also be-
lieved that this appointment will be made public within
24 hours, and when such is made public, it will be tanta-
mount to a declaration of war. Such appointment, it
is further rumoured, has been made by the Admiralty
Board for many days. Why such matter should have
been kept as a secret we are at a loss to divine, unless
for the reasons we have stated—that such appointment
will amount to a declaration of war, and all discretion
will be ignored. Sir Charles was in the dockyard this
day. The Duke of Wellington will be the flag-ship.—
Herald.

Her Majesty's ship Neptune, 120, we believe, will be
a reserve ship. 54 petty officers have been draughted
from her to serve in the Blenheim, 80, Princess Royal,
91, and Dauntless, 33, and this day 402 seamen, chiefly
Coastguard levies, were draughted for service on board
the same ships. This corps has been found most effi-
cient in their great gunnery practice, which shows the
effective character of their recent training at their seve-
ral stations, by Capt. Jerningham, who is now in Ire-
land raising volunteers for the fleet.
Mr. John Ward, chief-engineer of the first class, serv-
ing in her Majesty's ship Blenheim, has this day been
promoted to the rank of inspector of machinery of the
Royal Navy afloat, and appointed to the flag-ship Duke
of Wellington, for service in the Baltic fleet. Mr. Ward
is an able naval engineer, as may justly be surmised
from this distinguishing mark of Admiralty appreciation,
and was chief engineer of the Sidon, under Captain
Henderson (now Comptroller-General), of the Coast-
guard.
The ships already noticed are being expedited as fast
as human skill can do so, and we shall have a large and
heavy proportion of the North Sea fleet at Spithead in a
few days.
We are happy to say that the accident to the ma-
chinery of the Princess Royal, 91, yesterday, was only
of a trivial nature, and will be repaired by to-morrow.
The weather continues most propitiously fine, and the
officers are indefatigable in aiding the exertions of the
men both afloat and ashore.

Rear-Admiral Fanshawe, C. 8., the newly-appointed
Commander-in-Chief of the West India squadron, went
out to Spithead to-day to visit the ship the Boscawen,
but we believe the Admiral goes out overland to take
command of the station.

The Basilisk, 6, paddle-wheel sloop, Commander the
Hon. F. Egerton, went to Spithead to-day, where there
are now the Princess Royal, 91 ; Boscawen, 70 ; Juno,
26 ; Leopard, 18; Dauntless, 33; and Basilisk, 6.

PLYMOUTH, FEB. 16.
The greatest exertions are being made at this arsenal
to expedite the fitting out of the several ships in com-
mission at this port, which are intended to form part of
the Baltic fleet. The millwrights and joiners are work-
ing till nine o'clock at night.
The Duke of Wellington, 131, screw, Commodore
Martin, and the Desperate, 8, screw, Captain W. Cham-
bers, are expected hourly at this port to be docked at
Keyham. The latter will be fitted with a new mast.
Four thousand hammocks and sets of dews to corre-
spond were shipped on board the Jasper steam-vessel
from this dockyard yesterday morning, for Liverpool,
to be used for the conveyance of troops from that port
to the Mediterranean. The Jasper sailed with her cargo
in the afternoon for her destination.
The St. George, 120, is appointed to form one of the
Baltic or North Sea fleet, which is appointed to ren-
dezvous in the Downs on the 6th March.
Her Majesty? steam-sloop Bulldog, Capt. Hall, went
from Hamoaze into the Sound yesterday.
The steam-vessel Confiance sailed on Wednesday with
beds and bedding for Liverpool.
The General Screw Steam Company's ship Argo,
Hyde, sailed last evening with mails for the CapeCa of
pt
Good Hope, Mauritius, and Calcutta.

DEPTFORD, FEB. 16.
The whole of the pensioners of the Woolwich, Dept-
ford, and Greenwich districts, not serving afloat, as-
sembled at Deptford dockyard this morning, and Rear-
Admiral M. T. F. Berkeley, C. 8., with Capt. Hender-
son, C. 8., Controller of the Coast Guard ; Colonel Tul-
loh, staff officer, commanding the out-pensioners of the
London district ; and Major Forbes, staff officer of the
pensioners of the Woolwich division, arrived about 10
o'cloek and made a minute inspection of the pensioners
in the Deptford division, and afterwards of the Wool-
wich division. The men found unfit received a card. to
that effect, and were to be permitted to return to their
work in the dockyard, or in any place where they were
employed. The men found capable of service are to hold
themselves in readiness to serve in the room of the men
of the coast guard who have been draughted for aotive
service at sea.
The Talbot, 22, was taken into the east dock to-day
to be made ready for proceeding with the Phonix screw