The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-21 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS OF BALTIC

OFFICERS.

Captain Hon. Frederick T. Pelham (1840) who com-
manded the Blenheim, 60, screw steam-ship, during the
recent blockade in the Baltic, is appointed to command the
Exmouth, 90, screw steam-ship bf 400-horse power, com-
missioned at Davenport on Saturday last, the appointment
bearing date 18th inst.
Captain William H. Hall (1844), recently in command
of the Hecla, paddle-Wheel steam-sloop, when serving with
the Baltic fleet, was appointed on Saturday last to the com-
mand of the Blenheim, GO, screw steam-ship, vice Hon.
Frederick T. Pelham.

Second Master Edward M. Shacklock (1851), recently
serving in the Dee paddle-wheel steam troop-ship, to the
Royal Albert, 121, screw steam-ship.
Assistant-Engineer John Bettison, of the 3d class, to the
fleet.

Commander George G. Randolph (l 846), serving in the
Rodney, 9J, on the Mediterranean and Black Sea station,
to be captain, and his promotion to be dated 18th inst.
Commander Peter Cracroft (1846), recently in command
of the Gorgon, paddle-wheel steam sloop, when serving with
the Baltic fleet, is promoted to be captain, and his promo-
tion dated the 20th inst.

Second Master George Gilpin (1847), who had the charge
of the Volcano floating steam factory during her recent
voyage to the Baltic, and now at Woolwich, is promoted
to be master.

On the promotion of Captain Courtenay, superintendent
of the Royal Clarence Victualling Establishment, Gosport,
and Naval Hospital at Molar, to the rank of Rear-Admi-
ral, now daily expected, the appointments he vacates will
be conferred, we believe, upon Captain Henry Smith (a),
C. 8., now commanding her Majesty's ship Prince Regent,
90, at Spithoad, an officer in every way calculated to fill
with credit those important posts.
Mr. De Lancey H. M`Beau is appointed•Mastei's-Assis-
taut, R.N., to her Majesty's steam-frigate Curacoa, now
on her way to the seat of war in the Crimea.

THE SHIPSOF WAR BUILDING AT PORTSMOUTH.
The artisans at Portsmouth are at the present moment
planking in the largest ship ever built in the royal naval
yards, namely, the Marlborough, screw, 131 guns, of more
than 4,0U0 tens, and which will be ready for launching in
the spring of next year. For power and symmetry she is
unequalled. The Marlborough is stronger than the Aga-
memnon, with every possible modern improvement added ;
besides which her middle and lower decks will carry 64
and 84-pounders. Next we have pe Shannon, 50, screw-
frigate, some twenty feet longer than the line•of-battle ship
Princess Royal, built of the strongest and most seasoned
oak, with the sides prepared to resist the heaviest shot.
She is progressing in a manner t uly astonishing, and about
June next will make room for another on the same stocks.
We have also the screw guardships Hastings and Pembroke
converting rapidly, besides three first•rates, all of which
are to be fitted with the propeller prior to launching. The
immediate increase in the establioliment at Devouport will
be nearly 400 men and a proportionate number of officers.
Of the 400 about 150 are to be shipwrights.

ANOTHER 90-GUN SCREW-SHIP COMMISSIONED.

Another 90-gun screw-ship has been added to the list of
the screw fleet in commission—viz., Exmouth (Albion
class), converted into a screw, with 400-horse power en-
gines. The _Exmouth is fitting at Devonpork ; her ma-
chinery is nearly complete; she only awaits some blast
pipes from the contractor, which on arrival will be in place
in a few hours.

THE FLOATING BATTERIES FOR THE BALTIC.
The workmen at the Clyde Forgo aro at
present, and will
probably be for several months to come, employed in mak-
ing iron plates for the floating batteries destined for next
year's campaign in the Baltic. These vary from Bto 12
feet in length, and 21 to 36 inches in breadth, according to
the portion of the battery for which they are intended. The
thickness is 4 inches, and each plate will weigh from one to
three tons. They are made of scrap iron (the puttchings of
rivet holes, cuttings of iron, &c.), a number of pieces of
which are put into a furnace, and then hammered into a
homogeneous mass by the tilt hammer. A number of these
pieces are then laid on each other, according to the size of
the plate wanted, and then welded together under the
hammer. In the experiments made to ascertain the re-
sistance of iron to shot, the shot passed through 8 half inch
rolled boiler plates bolted together, while the heaviest shot
in use was shivered to pieces on a four-inch plate of inal-
leable iroa, like a snow ball on a stone wall. The plates
are to be bolted to the outside of the floating batteries,
which are at present being constructed by three English
ship-builbing firma. Two Glasgow firms are also engaged
in manufacturing similar plates. The fleet of steam floating
batteries building in
England and Franco amounts to no
fewer than 40, and the whole are to be launched by March.
They are to be armed with 12 of the largest Lancaster
guns. The 20 building in London are from designs sup-
plied by the French Government. They are nearly 2,030
tons burthen, flat bottomed, with round stem and stern,
180 feet extreme length, 56 feet in width, and 20 in depth,
each being propelled by horizontal engines of 200 horse-
power. They have two decks, the upper being bomb-
proof, and the lower the fighting deck. They are to be
encased with nearly 700 tons of wrought-iron slabs.

OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE LORDS OF THE
A
PORTSMOUTII, M
—"DMIRALTY.
"Y.—Early this morning the Sur-
veyor of the Navy, Sir Baldwin Walker, was in the dock-
yard, although it had been reported that Sir Baldwin was
coming round in the Royal Albert. Soon after the Senior
Lord, Rear-Admiral U. F. F. Berkeley, and the First
Lord, Sir James Graham, arrived, and the board visited
every ship under repairs to see howosoon each ship could
be available for may service. They also visited and in-
spected every part of the Drake which is now a mortar
vessel rigged as a " dandy." ,
The Admiralty Board expressed their great gratification
at the arrangements made by Captain Julius Roberts,
Royal Marine Artillery, by whom the suspension mortar
has been fitted, as well as the stowage for shells and pro-
visions. Captain Roberta has applied to the Admiralty
for ten marine artillerymen to be attached to the Drake
to wolk the mortar.
Their lordships went to Spithead in the Vivid and in-
spected the Dauntless.

IRE RUSSIAN STEAM-ENGINES.
The engines made by Napier, cf Greenock, it was said
for the Russian Covernment, but which he would not ad-
mit or give up to the Government of this country on that
plea, have become the property of the British Government
by fair purchase and consequently any further correspon-
dence on the subject is now at an end.

DEPARTURE OF TROOPS.
DUBLIN, Nov. —The abrupt and, after the disap-
pointment of the previous day, unexpected departure of
the 90th Regiment yesterday (Sunday) produced no little
excitement. The Europa, transport steamer, arrived at
Kingstown at an early hour yesterday morning, an[l„news
having been despatched to the barracks, orders were given
for the immediate assembling of the troops, and prepara-
tions to march made with the utmost expedition. Nearly
the entire regiment, including 56 sergeants, 21 buglers,
upwards of 800 rank and file, left the Royal Barracks
about half-past 11 o'clock, under the command of the fol-
lowing officers:—Lieutenant-Colonel Eld ; Majors Deveril
and Campbell ; Captains Duncan, Purnell, Bastard, Smith,
Barnston, O'Gorman, Crawfurd, Perrin, and Guise • Lieu-
tenants Vaughton, Denison, Crealock (Adjutant), *oleo-
ley, Wade, Magenis Preston, Parsee, Rattray, Phipps,
Roue, Daubeney, and Pennington ; and Ensigns Sir Charles
Pigott, Grahame, Evans, Irby, Jackson, Deverell, andNunn;
Paymaster Williams • Quartermaster Newland ; Surgeon
Anderson ; and Assistant-Surgeon Jackson. Theregiment
proceeded along the quays, which were crowded with
spectators, especially at the bridges, and was loudly cheered
in its progress, the soldiers responding most enthusias-
tically and waving their shakos on the ends of their mus-
kets. A special train was in readiness at Westland-row
station, consisting of thirty-one carriages, drawn by two
engines, in which the troops were conveyed' to Kingstown.
The steam transport was hauled alongside the Wolf hulk
in waiting to receive them, and a largo assemblage of spec-
tators was collected on the pier, and in the vicinity of the
railway station. The gallant regiment marched with band
playing to the pier opposite the hulk, and was there drawn
up in solid square, amid the farewell cheers of all ranks of
spectators, which had been enthusiastically raised at their
approach. They returned the greeting with fervour, giving
cheer for cheer, and waving their shakos. They wore their
groat coats, and several of the officers appeared in the new
uniform. The portion of the pier occupied in front of the
hulk was lined with a detachment of the 60th Rifles, and
order was preserved by the police. The embarkation of
the soldiers occupied about an hour and a half, after which
a quantity of military stores and provisions were put ou
bbeorasnelf
vwithsit
visitors,
friends, utmost
and celerity.
relatives I ue thef th e
effie
meantimeers crowdedon board, and the friends and relatives of the soldiers also
num
RYL 14 filed themselves to the utmost of the access to the vessel
which was allowed them. Everything being embarked,

the Europa was hauled off from the hulk to an anchor a
short distance out amid renewed, cheers mingled with the
lamentations of many poor women who could not restrain
their grief at parting with their husbands, wits. or brothers
in the ranks. It was then dark, notwithstanding which
crowds of spectators remained on the pier for more than an
hour afterwards. In the course of the evening the utmost
exertions were made to get on board remaining baggage,
&c., the intention being to leave the harbour as soon as
possible. A detachment of about 150 of the regiment re•
main in the barracks, under the command of Captains
Grove, Vaughan, Furlong, Lieutenant Close, and Ensign
Raitt.