The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-29 00:00:00

APPOINTHENTS.

Captain—Cospatrick B. Hamilton (1817), formerly in
command of the Vestal, 26, on the West India station, is
appointed to the Ceylon, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral
Houston Stewart, C. 8., at Malta.
Master—Thomas Huss (1818), to the Harrier, screw
steam-sloop, at Portsmouth.

Second Master—Thomas Pounds (1854), to the Arrow,
screw steam despatch gun-boat.

THE GUN-BOATS.

The screw despatch gun-boat Arrow, 6, Lieut. Jolliffe,
is alongside the dockyard, having alterations and repairs
effected. She will not be out of the hands of the ship-
wrights till Thursday next, a period of a week from her
coming into harbour. The alterations include some im-
provements to the windlass for lifting her anchor (which
took an hour and a quarter to get up at the conclusion of
the trial of her La.ncasterian guns at the Needles, on Tues-
day last), the increasing the width of her hammock berth-
ings, &c. These defects did not arise from any strain or
damage received at the trial at the Needles, but appear to
attach to the original construction of the vessel. She was
built by contract in a private yard in the River, but it is
to be presumed in accordance with the plans of the Admi-
ralty officials. An order has come clown to the gun-wharf
to-day for her to receive six of Lancaster's shells, in lieu
of the six she expended at the Needles trials.
The steam despatch gun-vessel Viper, commissioned by
Lieutenant Lodder, was yesterday towed from Blackwall
to Woolwich.

ADMIRALTY INSPECTION.--THE NEW DOCKS
AND STEAM WORKS AT KEYHAM.

The attention of their lordships during their present
visit appear to have been especially directed to the com-
pletion of the new docks at Keyham, which it is evident
they are desirous of having completed by the time of the
return of the Baltic fleet.

At 5 p.m., on Friday, Sir J. Graham, Mr. Secretary
O'Brien, and Colonel Greene, were received at the works
of the chief engineer, Mr. Townsend, and the contractor,
Mr. Baker, with whom they went round the establish.
ment, and closely inspected the docks and basin, work
sheds, factory, the offices, dwellings, Fairbairn's great
crane, &c.
Within the last 12 months considerable progress has
been made, and, of the Government grant of 60,0001.,
obtained o❑ the let of April, about 40,0J0/. has been ex-
pended. The south wing of the great quadrangle, contain-
ing the turning, fitting, and erecting shops, is nearly com-
plete, and the zinc roofing will he over in the course of
two or more weeks. All the machinery is ordered, and
almost ready for delivery. On the eastern side the engine
and boiler-house, for the engine of 50-horse power, and the
iron store and copper and brass foundries are ready for
roofing. The block plan for the foundry is laid down, and
2,000,000 bricks with a proportion of limestone and granite
and the iron work for the roofing, are on the spot. The
west front of the quadrangle, which is to contain the gene-
ral storehouses, has the foundation laid and walls partly
up. The steam-kiln at the head of No. 1 dock is roofed in
and completed. The dwelling-houses for the officers are
being roofed, and arrangements with the Board of Ord-
nance are nearly completed, by which the authorities will
be able to let the contract for the construction of the tun-
nel to the dockyard. The use of stone from the Govern-
ment convict-works at Portland has lately been introduced
for building purposes at Keyham.

Colonel Ward and Colonel Nelson, of the Boyal Engi-
neers, met their lordships at Plymouth by appointment,
iu relation to the speedy completion of the new powder
magazine, at Bull Point, in order that the old magazine,
which lies on the northern portion of the Keyham site,
may be removed for the completion of the steam-yard.
Mr. Trickett, the recently-appointed engineer under tho
dockyard authorities, has his staff established, and has
commenced duty at Keyham. This officer will have the
charge of the machinery and boilers belonging to the men-
of-war.