The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-16 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.

Deputy-Inspector of Hospitals.—James Wingate John-
ston, M.D. (1847), to Deal Hospital.
Lieutenants.—George H. Mansell (1848), from the
Vulture paddle-wheel steam-frigate, at Devonport, to the
Pique, 40 ; John E. Commerell (1848), to the Vulture,
vice Mansell.
Surgeon•Superintendent.—Charles Smith (1843), to
the Amazon hired convict-ship.
Paymaster.—Joseph Martin (1843), to the Blenheim,
60, screw steam-ship, at Portsmouth.
Assistant Surgeons. —Charles Roberts (1845), from
the Excellent gunnery-ship, at Portsmouth, 'to Deal
Hospital ; George C. Wilson (1853), to the Majestic, 80,
screw steam-ship, at Sheerness.
Acting Assistant-Surgeons.—George E. Young, to the
Caesar, 91, screw steam-ship, at Portsmouth : William
J. Shone, to the Vulcan, screw steam troop-ship ;
Francis Hardinge, to the James Watt, 91, screw steam-
ship, at Devonport ; Richard Eustace, to the Monarch,
84, at Sheerness.
Captain Herriot, with 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, and 65
privates of the Woolwich division of Royal Marines, has
been placed under orders to proceed to Sheerness for
service in the Majestic.

PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 15.

The first instalment of the Baltic fleet from this por
went to Spithead to-day—the Princess Royal, 91, Cap-
tain Lord Clarence Paz,et, and the Dauntless, 33, Cap.
tain A. P. Ryder, both screw-ships. As may be readily
imagined, their leaving the harbour at such a juncture
was witnessed by an immense concourse of spectators.
The Princess Royal is a new ship, ably manned and
heavily armed, and as this is the class which will form
the most conspicuous feature in the fleet about to con-
gregate in these waters, we will recapitulate her arma-
ment-28 eight-inch, 62 32 pounders, and 1 68-pounder
pivot gun—a tremendous battery when compared with
the guns in vogue during the last war. The Dauntless
has been greatly improved since she was last employed,
and such precautions taken as will prevent, we trust,
the recurrence of any such fatality as that which so de-
populated her decks when on the West India station.
She ran the measured mile at Stoke's Bay, and made,
we are informed, nearly 10 knots per hour. The Prin-
cess Royal did not run the mile, but stretched as far as
\Osborne, and then up to the Nab Light, when it be-
came apparent something was wrong with her machinery,
though to what extent we do not yet know. The Daunt-
less was ordered to her assistance, but we believe the
Princess Royal moored without her.
Medical officers are much wanted for the navy, and
Dr. Sir John Richardson, C. 8., Medical Inspector of
Haslar Hospital, left that establishment a day or two
since to hold an examination in London of candidates
for entry into the navy as assistant-surgeons.
There seems to be some sort of cross purposes at work
in making arrangements about the pensioners, whose
muster we reported on Monday, as an order has been
promulgated to-day to discharge all seamen and marine
pensioners who were selected yesterday and Monday for
duty, except those employed in the rigging-house. and
these are to be sent on board the Edinburgh, 58, Rear-
Admiral Chad's flag-ship. This ship has been moved
from dock to-day to the fitting basin, to complete her
refit. She embarked marine artillery and marines this
afternoon, under the command of C tiatain Dala,court,
and is fitting as fast as possible.
The Sitnoom and Vulcan troop-ships have a powerful
force employed upon them, and will be ready to embark
their respective apportionments of troops by the 24th.
The Cwsar, 91, Captain Robb, has been placed in the
steam factory basin dock, to be coppered, and completed
in other respects for sea.
Rear-Admiral Superintendent Martin is recovering
from his late indisposition, and will be able to attend to
his duties again in a day or two.
The Mercury cutter, Lieutenant Freeland, came in
to-day from the Channel Islands with volunteers for the
fleet.
Captain Wilson, the commanding staff officer of pen-
sioners, is still engaged in making his return of the out-
pensioners fit for duty, which body will make a goodly
muster. Volunteers continue to come in hourly from
all quarters.

PLYMOUTH, FEB. 15.

Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam-sloop Bulldog goes
out of harbour to-day. It is reported that she will con-
vey troops, probably the 93d Highlanders, to Malta.
The Wizard, apprentices' brig, having had a thorough
refit, left this port for Queenstown yesterday.
The screw steam-ship Algiers, 91, will be taken out
of the dockyard to-day, and o❑ the removal of the St.
George will be placed in the dock at Keyhain to receive
her machinery.
Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, from Portsmouth, ar-
rived here yesterday, when a board of inspection was
held, to consider some proposed alterations in the maga-
zines of the screw ships of war, the object of which ap-
pears to be to afford increased facilities for supplying
powder to the decks when the ships are in-action.
Two thousand hammocks have been ordered to be
sent from the Devonport dockyard to Liverpool for the
use of troops to be embarked there for the Mediterra-
nean. Riggers are to work on them until 9, instead of
5 p.m., to get them slung.

SHEERNESS, FEB. 14
The Rhadamanthus, paddle-wheel steam-transport,
Master Commander John Belem, arrived here from
Devonport at 6 p.m. yesterday, and has this day been
taken into the fitting basin for the purpose of discharging
victualling stores, brought round by her from the Royal
William Victualling-yard at Plymouth. These stores
are intended as a reserve in case of need at this port, in
compliance with the Admiralty order recently ito
provide and at all times keep victualling storesssued at this
yard for 1,000 men.
The Horatio. 24 guns, screw steam guard-ship, Com-
mander Robert Jenner, at 10 a.m. yesterday proceeded
from her moorings for the usual four-monthly trial of
her engines. Her engines worked very well and effi-
ciently, giving an average speed of 7i knots per hour.
During the cruise the gunners were employed in clearing
the shell-room and fitting fuse caps to the shells, with
prickers, according to a recent general order from the
Lords of the Admiralty. Several shells were fired to
ascertain whether dampness had occurred, hut they all
acted admirably well. The Horatio returned into har-
bour at 3.30 p.m.
A. number of fine lads are being entered on board this
ship as naval apprentices,who, in a very short time, are
perfected in their gun exercise, knotting, splicing, &c.
There are at present onboard about 180 volunteer
lands-
men and apprentices ; 30 of the apprentices will, in a
day or two, be draughted on board the Monarch, com-
missioned here for active service. Great credit is due
to Commander Robert Jenner and the officers and sea-
men gunners, who all seem to vie with each other in
instructing the apprentices and the landsmen in the
various duties which are to be required of them here-
after.

The Majestic, 80 guns, new screw steam-ship, hasbeen
commissioned here by Captain Hope. An increased
number of engineers 'have been set on to forward the
completion of her engines and machinery, and she will
be taken fairly in hand by the dockyard department on
the completion of the Cressy.
The Cressy, 8') guns, screw steam-ship, Capt. Richard.
L. Warren, has been supplied with a number of first-
rate seamen, draughted from various coast-guard'stations,
all of whom are fully instructed in their gunnery exer- '
cise, and quite efficient as A.B.'s from former service
afloat in the navy.
The Lords of the Admiralty have stopped all leave of
absence to officers of every description in commission at
the different ports, admirals leave not now being granted
beyond 24 hours to the officers of any ships fitting for
commission.