The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-23 00:00:00

PREPARA'

NAVAL APPOINTMENTS.

Lieutenants—John B. Balfour (1854), recently pro-
moted from mate of the Excellent, gunnery-ship, at
Portsmouth. to the Euryalus, 50, screw steam-frigate, at
Chatham ; Thomas L. Ward (1854), recently promoted
from mate of the Excellent, to the Blenheim, 60, screw
steam guard-ship, at Portsmouth ; Charles G. G. Per-
ceval, recently promoted from mate of the paddle-wheel
steam-sloop employed on particular service on the Me-
diterranean station, to the Majestic, 81, screw steam-
ship, at Sheerness.

PROMOTION. •
Lieutenant Edward H. G. Lambert (1846), acting
commander serving in the Serpent, 12, sloop, when on
the East Indies station, to be commander for rank.

WOOLWICH, FEE. 22.

- Lieutenant Colin C. A. Kane, whose appointment to
command the Janus, gunnery steam-vessel, at Sheerness,
was announced yesterday, arrived at Woolwich to-day,
to take up his commission, and proceed to Sheerness, to
take charge of the Janus, and superintend the instruc-
tion of the Royal Naval Coast Volunteers. The gallant
officer has no4ntention or orders to proceed in the Janus
to the Arctic regions, as stated by'a contemporary.
Workmen are actively employed HI completing the
ways for the launch of the Royal Albert, 131, screw
steam-ship, building at this port. The length of the ways
will be 337 feet 7. inches, or 223 feet 7 inches from the
fore end of the slip to the after part of the stern post,
and from the stern post_to, the after part 'of the slide 114
feet. • • •

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lt PLYMOUTH, FEB. 22.

OFFICIAL VISIT OT ADMIRAL BERKELEY TO THIS PORT.

Admiral Berkeley, accompanied by Captain Kennedy,
R.N., and Dr. Foulds, visited the dockyard yesterday
morning, and at 10 o'clock commenced inspecting the
naval pensioners employed on board ships in ordinary.
The gallant admiral informed them that the terms of
their service empowered the Government to send them
at once on board any man-of-war in commission ; the
Admiralty, however, gave them the choice of continu-
ing on board the St. George, or of volunteering on
board the James Watt, or any other ship, in which
case their pensions would continue,. and, • where they
were qualified to perform the, duty of petty officers,
equivalent berths would be kept open for them.
Commodore-Superintendent Seymour, Capt. Kingcombe,
of the Royal William, and Capt. Eyre, of the' St.
George, were present, and assisted Admiral Berkeley in
explaining the new terms to • the men, who seemed
anxious to go into active service, one of them ob-
serving with great sang froid that "although he had
lost a finger he could fight very well without it." Of
173 naval pensioners and 22 marine pensioners only 13
were rejected after medical inspection. The seamen
riggers, 46, are to remain in the yard until their services
are required afloat, when their riggers' pay will continue
two months.

From the dockyard Admiral Berkeley went to the
long-room, where the marine pensioners were examined
by him, while Captain Henderson, Controller of the
Coast-guard, assisted by Colonel Tulloh, examined the
enrolled pensioners, who were drawn up in companies
under command of Major Trevor. They number now
about 450, of whom about 60 were exempted through
long service or sickness from serving in the Coast-guard,
to which the others will be appointed. Of the 600 sea-
men pensioners examined by Admiral Berkeley about
150 were rejected. The best of those selected go on
board. ships in ordinary, the second best into the Coast-
guard.
The mainmast of the Desperate will be put on board
to-day, and she will be taken out of dock to-morrow.
The Avon sailed yesterday with seamen for ships fit-

ting at Portsmouth:
Yesterday the sergeants of the 20th Regiment, sta-
tioned at Devonport, entertained the sergeants of the
93d (Sutherland) Highlanders to a dinner at Millbay, on
the occasion of their early departure for the East.
About 80 of both regiments assembled. The room was
tastefully decorated in military style, and the utmost
harmony and loyalty prevailed throughout the evening.
The 93d expect to embark on Monday. The volunteers
from Portsmouth have not yet arrived. All the men
are exercised in the use of the Mini 6 rifle, only 25 of
which have as yet been served to each company of 100
strong.

PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 22.
Rear-Admiral Chad's flag-ship Edinburgh, 58, Cap-
tain Hewlett, got up steam this afternoon and went out
to Spithead.

The Princess Royal, 91 (screw), Captain Lord Clarence
Paget, completed the adjustment of her compasses to-
day, and will be paid wages on Friday.
The Boscawen, 70, Captain Glanville, exercised her
crew in great gunnery this morning, firing both shot
and shell at targets seawards.
The Juno, 26, Captain Freemantle, is ordered to sail
to-morrow for Australia. She has but a very mediocre
crew, anything but what such a frigate, going in the
track of heavily-armed Russians, should have.
The Frolic, 16, Commander olloth, returned to Spit-
head to-day after a fortnight's cruize.
The Nautilus and Wizard brigs were at Falmouth
looking up men on Sunday.
The Simoom troop-ship is so far completed as to be
enabled to commence shipping her provisions, &0., in
readiness for embarking troops on the 28th.
The Vulcan troop-ship, Commander Yon Donop, is
ready for the reception of troops.
The Illustrious, 72, Captain Harris, has been hauled
alongside a hulk in the harbour to complete her outfit.

THE PROPOSED FRENCH LOAN.—Nothing definite with
regard to the proposed French loan has yet been an-
nounced, but the prevailing impression in Paris on
Tuesday was, that its terms have been arranged with
Messrs. Rothschild. According to some statements, it
is to be for 8,000,0001., in a 3 per cent. stock, at 64f.
10c ; but this price seems high, considering the current
quotations on the Bourse, and the necessity in time of
war of leaving a margin against risks of depression he.
yond that which is usual at ordinary periods.
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.—The memorial to Lord
Aberdeen on the immediate necessity for a system of
agricultural statistics will be presented by a deputation
of merchants, bankers, 85c.,:at the end of the present
week. It is doubted if signatures representing a Laver
amount of wealth or influence than those obtained on
this occasion have ever been affixed to any doo
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