The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-20 00:00:00

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURN.

LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY.—
Traffic return for the week ending March 18,
1854 £10,648 6 9
Correspondinc, week last year 8,729 8 4
Total of the half-year to this date, 1851 106,281 9 9
Total of the half-year to this date, 1853 90,710 13 5

PREPAY CATIONS FOR WAR.

The telegraph de intelligence of Saturday has some-
what quickened. 'the active exertions of the authorities
to fit out the floet and to provide the means of trans-
port for the tro ops north and east.
The question, however, of the declaration of war de-
pends upon whether the ultimatissimum of the Czar is
a,ccompanied by any counter-propositions or not. The
Government, we believe, do not expect the reply to their
last note Tor three Or four days.
Should there be counter-propositions a suspension of
the warlike preparations may be expected.
Neither Lord Raglan nor the Duke of Cambridge
have as yet received orders to leave England on any
particular day.

PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 19.

The Neptune, 120, Captain Hutton, flag of Rear-Ad-
miral Corry, arrived in the Downs at 2 p.m. on Friday,
and tailed at midnight for Wingo Sound, accompanied
by the Monarch, 84, Captain Erskine, Vulture, 6, Cap-
tain Glasse, and Bulldog, 6, Captain W. K. Hall. As
this was the first commission of the Neptune, her sailing
qualities were most anxiously watched by all on board,
and we are happy to hear all feel gratified at her per-
formances. She sails fast, is very stiff, works remarkably
easy, and exhibits all the characteristics of a very supe-
rior ship, so far as an opinion can be formed from the
short service she has yet rendered at sea.
The St. George, 121, Captain Eyres, C. 8., arrived at
St. Helen's on Friday night from Devonport, and was
towed up to Spithead yesterday morning by the Desperate.
Every preparation was made yesterday for despatching
a squadron of four sail from Spithead to reinforce the
fleet of Sir Charles Napier this morning. The Odin, 16,
paddle-frigate, Captain Scott, steamed out of harbour to
Spithead yesterday afternoon to ship her powder and her
North Sea pilot. The Desperate, 8, Captain Chambers,
received a full stowage of coal from the floating depot.
The Cruiser, 41, screw-sloop, Commander the Hon. G.
H. Douglas, was paid wages ; and the Boscawen, 70,
Captain Glanville, was ordered to take in a spare screw
for the St. Jean d'Acre, and to secure her mainyard for
that purpose. But an accident in slinging the propeller,
we believe, caused the carrying away of about 20 feet of
the mainyard, and stopped the shipment of the metal
and the sailing of the ship. A new mainyard was sent
to the Boscawen at Spithead this morning, which she is
getting up: When fitted she will leave for the rendez-
vous, with the Desperate. The Odin and Cruiser weighed
and left for the rendezvous at half-past 7 and 9 o'clock.
The Penelope, 18, paddle-wheel steam-frigate, Captain
Lyster, just returned after a three years' commission from
the coast of Africa, is, we believe, to be paid off.
The steam-packet Duke of Cornwall arrived yesterday
morning from Ireland with 290 volunteers from the 72d,
90th, Ist, 2d, 3d, 40th, and Rifles, and landed them at
this dockyard. They have volunteered to complete the
42d and 79th Regiments. Captain Norman and Lieute-
nant Atkinson of the 72d came in charge of them.
The officers who have passed examinations qualifying
to command vessels this quarter, after the study of the
marine steam-engine and its practical working, are the
following :
At the Royal Naval College—Commander 0. J. Jones,
Second Lieutenant F. G. Halliday, R.M. ; Commander
G. T. M. Purvis, and Commander John 0. Bathurst.

At the steam-factory, Woolwich dockyard.—Captains
H. Caldwell and Wilson, and Commander E. D'O. D'A.
Aplin.
The Desperate, 8, screw-corvette, Captain Chambers,
arrived at Spithead on Friday morning from Devonport,
with Mr, Biddlecombe, the Master of the Fleet of Sir
Charles Napier, on board. After lying to until this
afternoon, when the Queen passed, she proceeded for the
rendezvous, Wingo Sound. Her Majesty, in the Fairy,
came through the squadron at three o'clock this afternoon
on her return to town, and was loudly cheered by the
seamen on the yards of the ships, each ship's band playing
the National Anthem, and a Royal salute being fired.
The Gorgon, 6, paddle steam-sloop, Commander Cum-
ming, has been completed for sea and placed in the harbour
ready for service. The St. Vincent, 101, Captain Scott,
has got her lower rigging over her mastheads, and her masts
and other gear have been got in readiness for her to ship.
She will make rapid progress in her equipment, every-
thing having been fitted by the dockyard riggers a year
or two ago, when she was prepared as if for commission,
but for some reason was unrigged, dismantled, and placed
in ordinary under bare poles. The Scourge, 6, paddle.
wheel sloop, has been repaired, having had new upper
works, &c. The Conway, 26, Captain Fulford, has got
her topmasts up, and her rigging nearly fitted. Captain
W. H. Hall has arrived, and commissioned the Hecla,
steam•sloop for service in the Baltic.
The Admiralty charts of the Baltic have just been
completed with the very latest soundings marked, and
they are this day out. Each ship of the Baltic fleet will
be supplied with three copies.
The Frolic, 16, first-class sailing sloop, Commander
Nolloth, commissioned for the South Australian station,
has had her destination changed. She sails this day for
Gibraltar, to await further orders for the Mediterranean.

PLYMOUTH, MARCH 19.

Orders were received at the dockyard yesterday after-
noon for the immediate construction of two flat-bottomed
boats, 27 feet long. These boats, it is supposed, are to
be used for the purpose of landing troops. A number
of horse-stretchers were ordered at the same time.
Orders were also received at the Royal William Vic-
tualling-yard for a portion of the establishment to be on
duty to-day (Sunday). All the clerks, messengers,
coopers, labourers, for shipping bread and pork, and a
portion of the women who are making beds have been
kept on in consequence. The bakers will not be wanted,
as there is a large stock of bread in hand. It is supposed
that they will shortly be divided into two parties, so as
Co work at the ovens night and day. ne coopers are
making as much time as they can during the week ; six
additional men are to be engaged on Monday. One of
the slaughter-houses is fully employed preparing meat
for immediate consumption and the other for salting.
Captain Superintendent Sandom has advertised for ten-
ders to be delivered in on. Thursday for supplying 1,100
quarters.of oats for horses, each bushel not to weigh less
than 3Clb.

The Royal William, 120, Captain John Kingcombe,
having her masts, bowsprit, and fore and mainyards on
board, will be warped to the jetty on Monday to be
rigged for ordinary guard-ship.
The Algiers, 90, ordered to be prepared for commis-
sion, will be rigged by the dockyard riggers. The tops
are over her mastheads.

The Belleisle, 24, was commissioned for an hospital-ship
by Commander James Hosken on Friday, and is to have
a complement of 240 officers and men. She has been
taken out of dock and placed alongside the sheer hulk
for =sting,.

The Conflict steam-vessel will go out of harbour on
Tuesday.

Captain Sheringham, RN., Superintendent Royal
Naval Coast Voluntosrs for the western district, is now
on duty at this port, and on Friday evening addressed a
number of seafaring people at the Hall of Commerce in
the Exchange. He explained the intentions of the act
of Parliament, which received the Royal assent on the
15th of August last, empowering the Government to
have recourse to impressment in case of emergency; and
also showed that, by a recent regulation, neither militia-
men nor volunteers were in consequence of,their enlist-
ment to be deprived of the advantages of any friendly
society or club to which they might belong. The gal-
lant captain's address was received with attention, and
at the close several men gave in their names. Very
considerable difficulty exists among the fishermen and
others in distinguishing the difference of the terms of
engagement between the Coast Volunteer service and
that of the Coast-guard. As the men belonging to the
latter join the fleet when called on, the fishermen erro-
neously conclude that they will also have to leave their
homes.

The merchant•vessel White Wave, from Liverpool, is
hourly expected at the Royal William Victualling-yard,
to ship 250,0001 b of bread and 10,000 gallons of rum for
the use of the forces at Malta.

PEMBROKE.

The 27th of next month is named as the probable day
for the launch of the Curacoa. She is a screw steam-
frigate of 30 guns, and is in an extremely forward state.
Her engines are of the nominal power of 350 horses, and,
have been contracted for by Messrs. Maudslay and Field.
This steam-frigate forms one of a class in which the navy
at present is rather deficient, being the medium between
the heavily armed 50-gun frigates—viz., Imperieuse,
Euryalus, &c., and the 16 and 18-gun steamers, such as
the Leopard, Odin, and Valorous.
The Harrier, screw, 16 guns, is to be sent afloat in
May.
The Victoria, 116 guns, and Brunswick, 80 guns, sail-
ing ships of the line, are complete ; but it is not ex-
pected that they will be launched until they have been
prepared for the screw. The general belief is, that the
Victoria will be lengthened for that purpose.
Seven screw ships are now in course of construction
at this building-yard.
The new clothing for the Royal dockyard corps will
soon be issued. The summer drills will commence next
month, when the men may be expected to underg9 a
regular practice at the great
guns. Upwards of 700 are
enrolled, the artillery companies being each armed with
six 9-pounder guns.

SHEERNESS, MARcif 18.

The Lords of the Admiralty have ordered notices to be
issued here, inviting able seamen to enter for the ships
which are to form the North Sea and Baltic fleet, with
the stipulation that they may, if they desire it, be dis-
charged at the end of the present year.
No second class ordinary seamen are to be entered
under this especial regulation, nor first class ordinary,
except of the very best description.
The Lords of the Admiralty have now ordered that
all paymasters appointed to her Majesty's ships, to do
duty as clerks, are to be allowed pay and sea time as
junior paymasters. This subject has been under their
lordships' consideration for some time, and the result
has been anxiously looked for by that class of officers at
all naval ports.
The Rosamond, 6 guns, paddle-wheel steam-sloop,
Commander George Wodehouse, has entered her com-
plement of seamen within a few petty officers. She has
a first-rate crew, and the officers have been under the
necessity of rejecting a number of ordinaries, who would
have volunteered for her had she not completed her
complement of that class.
The Horatio, 24 guns, screw steam guard-ship, Com-
mander Robert Jenner, has now more than 100 first
and second class ordinaries, most of whom are ready for
active service, when wanted.
Two boatswains, Mr. Gardener and Mr. Flintham,
both late serving in the Wellington, and one gunner,
Mr. Mogford, late serving in the Excellent, have been
appointed to de duty in this ship (and have joined), in
lieu of queater.deck petty officers. Mr. Ilentiersop,

third-class assistant engineer, is appointed to be borne
on the books of this ship for general service here.
We have recently had a number of fine lads from the
different unions in Mid Kent, brought here for entry in
the navy, all of whom have volunteered, and obtained
the consent of the respective. Boards of Guardians to
enter the navy, some of whom, growing boys, have
been much disappointed at not reaching the standard
height by from half an inch to an inch.

The Majestic, 80 guns, new screw steam-ship, Capt.
James Hope, is advancing very fast in the entry of her
blue jackets ; her topmast rigging is being ratlined
down. A trial of her machinery has taken place during
the past week, which has terminated very satisfactorily ;
she will shortly be out of the hands of the dockyard
authorities, and will be ready for sea in seven days
afterwards.

An order has this day been received here by tele-
graph to send off a draught of able seamen to join the
Lightning, 3, paddle-wheel steam-vessel, Master Com-
mander Edward K. Calver, now on the coast of Scot-
land. They will leave by rail to-morrow morning.

WOOLWIOII, MARCH 18.

An officer of the Royal Navy, who arrived this even-
ing at Woolwich, from Aberdeen, states that, when off
Aldborough at 9.30 this morning, the Aberdeen steam-
packet passed the Neptune, 120, flag-ship of Rear-
Admiral Corry, and the Monarch, 84, each towed by a
steamer, and steering N.E. with a fair wind, on their
way to the Baltic fleet.
The Archer, 14, screw steam-corvette, Capt. Heath-
cote, has completed all her hands, with the exception
of two petty officers, and, after she has been tried down
the river, will leave to join the Bahia fleet.
The Rhadamanthus paddle-wheel steam store-ship, at
present at Deptford, Master John Belam Commander, is
under orders to proceed to Portsmouth with 10,000 ham-
mocks for the use of the troops about to be embarked at
that port. She will at the same time take back the jury-
masts brought round to Deptford in the Talbot.
The embarkation of Captain Levinge's troop of Royal
Horse Artillery, and the half of the men and horses of
Captain Anderson's company, was effected to-day most
successfully.. The period of embarkation was kept a
secret until the last moment, the first intimation of the
intended movement being made' by the arrival of Capt.
Riddell, Depucy-Assistant-Quartermaster-General of
Artillery, at a quarter past 12 at night, at the dockyard,
to communicate to Commodore Superintendent John
Shepherd that the troops would embark in the horse
transport ships shortly after six a.m., and that several
waggons with stores would arrive at an earlier-hour, _

Vie men were awakened shortly after five o'clock
a.m., and told that they had to get up and embark im-
mediately. The intelligence surprised them ; but on
such occasions soldiers under the eye of their superiors
only know the term "duty," and by a quarter past six
they were all mounted in route order. The troops left
the garrison at a quarter before seven o'clock. The
band did not play, and the troops marched so quietly
that few of the inhabitants of Woolwich were aware of
their departure. On entering the dockyard at seven
o'clock the horses were unharnessed on the dockyard
parade ground, and the harness packed into casks for
each gun detachment. The embarkation of the horses
then commenced, and the whole of the guns and ammu-
nition waggons were put on board, and the six ships
taken out of the basin and towed to moorings at the
Royal Arsenal by half-past three o'clock p.m., without
the least inconvenience or accident whatever. One of
the horses slipped and fell into the basin between the
Pyrenees and her Majesty's horse transport-ships, but
was not injured.
Colonel E. C. Whinyates, C. 8., K.C.H., Commandant
of the garrison, Brigadier-General Cator, Lieutenant-
Colonel Fox Strangways, Lieutenant-Colonel Bloomfield,
Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, Brigade-Major Bingham,
Capt. Riddell, Deputy-Assistant Quartermaster-General
of Artillery, and Brigade-Major Adye, with a number
of officers of the Royal Artillery, were present to witness
the embarkation. The wives of the men were admitted
into the dockyard at 2 p.m. to bid their husbands adieu,
and seven women, but no children, are allowed to em-
bark with each troop or company.

LIVERPOOL, MARCH 18.

The new Mediterranean sere* steamer Taurus took
her departure from the Mersey this morning at 10 oclock
for Malta, having on board a detachment of 412 soldiers
and 16 officers belonging to the 41st and 47th Regi-
ments. The troops arrived yesterday from Dublin by
the City of Dublin steam-ship Royal William, whence
they were immediately trans-shipped to the Taurus,
which lay at anchor in the Sloyne.
The Cunard steam-ship Cambria, Miller commander,
arrived at this port at a late hour last night from Malta,
whither she had conveyed the 50th Regiment from
Kingstown. It is believed that she will be again de-
spatched in a short time, with other troops, for the same
destination.

The Cunard steamer Niagara, Leitch commander,
which arrived here on Wednesday, will again proceed to
Malta on Wednesday next, when she will, in all proba-
bility, take out the 88th Regiment (Connaught Rangers),
at present lying at Preston.
No less than 10 Liverpool vessels are now being fitted
by Messrs. Major and Co. for the conveyance of troops
to the East. They include the Star of the South (James
Alexander), Euchunga (James Johnson and Co.), Ti-
mandra (Edward Oliver), Mary Ann (Edward Oliver),
the Paramatta (Edward Oliver), and the Wilson Ken-
nedy (Edward Oliver). Commander Boys and other
officers from Deptford are superintending the alterations,
which are on an extensive scale, and will be in every
way calculated to promote the convenience and comfort
of the troops. The Wild Wave has been taken up by
Government for the conveyance of stores and provisions.
She proceeded hence this morning for Devonport, where
she will be fitted for her new service.

This morning a notice was posted in_the Underwriters'
rooms to the effect that tenders were required at So-
merset-house for the supply of transport ships, to he
chartered for four months certain, with power on the
part of the Government to discharge the ships in Eng-
land or at the. Mediterranean.

' DUBLIN, MAWR 18.
Captain Cleaveland's battery of Royal Artillery re-
ceived on Friday the route from Athlone, and almost
immediately proceeded to Dublin for Woolwich. The
fortifications at Athlone, the great central garrison of
Ireland, have been left in charge of a single gunner. A
detachment of 240 rank and file from the 55th depot
will leave Athlone on Tuesday next, to join the head-
quarters at Gibraltar. Thirty volunteers from the
2d, or Queen's, have left Athlone for Ports-
mouth to join the 42d Highlanders ; 30 from the
same regiment have joined the 21st North British
Fusiliers—they were escorted to the railway station by
the drums of the depot ; 33 have also joined the 33d,
being 93 volunteers for the seat of war in one month.
The Lieutenant-General has expressed himself highly
pleased with the gallant manner in which the men of
the Queen's have offered their services to the country.
250 rank and filo from the 41st depOt left Mullingar on
Thursday by special train for Dublin, en route to Malta,
to join the head-quarters of the regiment.
The head-quarters division of the 3d Dragoon Guards
marches from Longford on the 20th, and will arrive in
the Royal Barracks on the 24th inst., to replace the 2d
Dragoon Guards. The sick and dismounted men will
arrive on the 23d ; and the squadron at Athlone marches
on the 20th, and will arrive in the Royal Barracks on
the 24th.

One troop and bead-quarters of the 4th Dragoon
Guards march from Dundalk on the 21st, and will
arrive in New•bridge on the 25th instant, there to be
stationed.

380 horses from the artillery batteries in Ire!and will,
it is stated, be transferred to Woolwich forthwith, for
war service.

NAVAL APPOINTMENTS.
Captain Frederick William Grey, C.B. (1828), aide-
de-camp to the Queen, to command the Hannibal, 91,
screw steam-ship, commissioned on Saturday, at Wool-
wich. Captain Hon. F. W. Grey is third son of the late
Earl. Grey, and while serving as midshipman of the.
Naiad, 46, contributed, in the boats under Lieut. Michael
Quin, to the brilliant destruction, on the night of March
23, 1824, of a 16-gun brig, moored in a position of ex-
traordinary strength alongside the walls of the fortress
of Bona, in which was a garrison of 400 soldiers, who
from cannon and musket kept up a tremendous fire
almost perpendicularly on deck. For his services as
captain of the Endymion, 44, in China, where in the
attack upon Chin-Kiang-Foo on July 21, 1842, he
elicited the best thanks of Major-General Schosdde for
the manner in which he superintended the debarkation of
the troops under the orders of that officer, whom he ac-
companied as a volunteer throughout the day, and when
he paid off that vessel, towards the close of 1843, he was
nominated a C.B.
Master—George Moore (1843), recently serving in
the Thetis, 28, on the Pacific station, to the Hannibal,
91, screw steam-ship, at Woolwich.
Masters' Assistants—Henry Hosken, to the Belleisle
hospital ship, for the Baltic fleet ; John Johnston, to
the Victoria and Albert, Royal steam-yacht at Ports-
mouth.
Clerks—j. M. Jenkins (1854), to "the Archer, 14,
screw steam-corvette, at Woolwich ; W. H. Cyma, to
the Victory, flag-ship, at Portsmouth.
Clerks' Assistants—James B. Ray, to the St. George,
121, lat Devonport; Charles G. Nash, to the Royal
William, 120, at Devonport.