The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-17 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

SHEEENESS, SEPT. 15.—The Duke of Wellington,
accompanied by the Marquis of Anglesey, Lord Cla-
rence Edward Paget, Captain Whitmore, and several
officers of the Royal Engineers. arrived here about 12
o'clock to-day in the Black Eagle steam-vessel from
Woolwich, on a visit of 'inspection of the fortifications.
His Grace and party were received very privately, there
being not above a dozen spectators besides the Com-
mander-in-Chief of the station, Vice-Admiral Sir
Edward King, KOJI., Major Walpole of the Rifle
Brigade, Captain Gould of the Ocean, and one or two
ether naval and military officers, who were in waiting to
receive them. No guard of honour was in attendance,
nor was there any salute from the flag-ship: all went off
as quietly as though the visit had been from the hum-
blest individual in the War-office. Having disappointed
the denizens yesterday by their non-arrival, few were
looking out for them to-day. His Grace and party landed
at the Ordnance stairs about a quarter past 12 o'clock,
and immediately proceeded to view the neighbouring
fortifications, ascending the steps near Admiralty-house,
and going over all the works surrounding the garrison,
where entering the Admiral's carriage and one or two
post-chaises which had been in attendance since
yesterday, they drove along the dockyard wall,
taking a cursory view of the new battery and mnsketry
walls now in course of erection opposite. In crossing
the drawbridge to Mile-town his Grace was enabled to
view the land defences in that situation, and now in
course of enlargement and repair. Driving rapidly
through Mile-town, they soon reached the Telegraph-
bill, about two or three miles distance, which they in-
spected minutely, with a view, it is said, of recommend-
ing a fort to be erected thereon, it being considered the
strongest position in the island. In returning from the
hill they had an excellent view of the dockyard, the
harbour, and the several defences, and we understand
that his Grace, as well as the Marquis, expressed their
entire approbation of the plan of them. On the return
to the garrison about two o'clock they were again re-
ceived by the Vice-Admiral, Sir Edward King, who in-
vited them to partake of luncheon at Admiralty-house,
but this was declined, and his Grace and party imme-
diately proceeded to the Ordnance wharf, where, enter-
ing the barge of the Commander-in-Chief, they were,
with him, conveyed on board the Black Eagle, which
soon afterwards sailed for Chatham. His Grace is to
inspect the fortifications there this afternoon, and after-
wards to proceed to Walmer Castle, vid Maidstone.
Captain Arthur, C. 8., the superintendent of the dock-
yard, and Colonel Thomson, Royal Engineers, were
prevented waiting on his Grace from indisposition.
APPOINTMENTS.

William Wood, Lieutenant, America ; Henry Harvey,
Mate, ditto • Thomas Weston, Midshipman, Sidon ;
Frederick V. Nundi, Naval Cadet, Victory ; Richard
Batchelor, Clerk, Sidon ; Edward Deely, 2d Engineer,
Bulldog ; George Kaye, Ist Engineer, ditto.
PORTSMOUTH, SEPT. 16.—The Fairy steam yacht has
been to Cowes this day to attend on her Majesty. The
Victoria and Albert yacht is preparing to return her
stores, &c., and to be laid up for the winter, as it is
understood her Majesty and the Royal Family will not
use her again this year. Her Majesty will leave Osborne
House for Windsor on Saturday or Monday.
When the Duke of Wellington visited this port a few
days since, in company with the Marquis of Anglesey,
the Master-General of the Ordnance, brief as was his
visit, his Grace did not fail to observe the extremely ex-
posed situation of the Government establishments on the
Gosport side of this harbour, which have fewer defences
than any other establishments along the coast.
It would be utterly useless to arm the entrance to the
harbour for the protection of the establishments on either
side of it, as such defences as now exist, and are daily
receiving increased strength, are, notwithstanding their
apparently impregnable character, wholly inadequate to
the protection of the most important establishments—
viz., the Royal Clarence Victualling Establishment,
arid the dockyard opposite. These establishments,
than which there are none other of so much import-
ance in the kingdom, or so essential to its efficient
defence, are at present greatly in want of defences ;
.for, although on one side the harbour we have
the Platform. battery, Southsea Castle, and the
King's Bastion, all well mounted with heavy ordnance,
and on the other side Blockhouse and Moncton Forts,
also heavily mounted, and although other strong works
are progressing at the harbour's mouth, yet no defence
whatever exists at the most accessible poiut of the coast
between Fort Moncton and Calihot Castle, Stoke's Bay,
where, supposing for argument's sake, an enemy suc-
cet,ded in making a landing, they might collect unop.
posed, and march without fear of disturbance to the
rear of the Clarence-yard, and commit irreparable
damage to that national storehouse and the dockyard
opposite before any effectual force could cross the water
or-assemble in the vicinity for their defence. Thus, al-
though the front door of this important arsenal is
sarongly guarded, the back door is left open and without
a watchman. It is to provide against so glaring an
oversight in the erection of efficient works of defence for
this most important station that the works at the maga-
zinea at Priddy's Hard are being strengthened, and new
f)iti6cations thrown up, and that a battery for long guns
of the heaviest metal is immediately to be erected in a
suitable situation, to sweep the approach to Stoke's Bay
east and west. This we aro assured has been ordered,
and we sincerely trust it is correct, as, whatever tends to
strengthen our insular position, removes the chance of
hostilities with others.
The Board of Admiralty are to leave Devonport this
day, and proceed to Pembroke Dockyard, to inspect the
new docks, building-slips, marine barracks, and the for-
tifications constructing on the redommendation of the
committee of officers, viz., the late Colonel Sir G. poste,
R. E., Colonel Mercer, and Captain Sir T. Hastings,
who have been appointed by the Master-General
aaf the Ordnance to examine into the state of the de-
finices of and near the several dockyards, and who
Stsoecially called attention to the defenceless and ex-
posed condition of Pembroke-yard, where the greater
part of the ground is occupied in building-slips, and also
than the troops • employed for the protection of the
arsens,l have not any barracks, but are accommodated
in an aid hulk, the Dragon ; and particularly that there
was an entire want of artillery fortification. Since
this report has been mode, measures have been
taken to erect batteries, and to place the walls of
the dockyard in a proper state of defence. The
Board of A dmiralty expect to conclude their official du-
ties at the on tports this week, and resume their places at
the Admiralt.,v on Monday next. Their Lordships have
signified to neveral captains and commanders, who
hare solicited appointments to ships and sloops, that not
any vessels wit be put in commission at present, as the
late Government left office with about two thousand
snore seamen employed than the number voted in the
estimates. Hence, until the Castor, Samarang, Tyne,
Wasp, and a few others, aro paid off, nothing of any
importance will be brought forward. The Amphitrite,
Trincomalee, Cambrian, Java, and Alfred, at this port,
are all nearly ready for officers and men.
Her Majesty's steamer Bulldog his been prevented
going to sea by the want of engineers, both those be-
, longing to her being sick ; and, also, in consequence of
er engines being, at noon this day, discovered to be out
of order. On gesting her steam up, and preparing to
go out of harbour, it was found that a vacuum could not
be formed, and it is suspected that the screws of the
pipes have been meddled with. Workmen from the
metal-mills have been sent off 'to endeavour to rectify
the injury. Engineers from Woolwich were to have
been down this afternoon, but, should they arrive, the
-vessel cannot go to sett this evening.
The verdict of the coroner's jury on the marine
-celery soldier, who destroyed himself on Sunday
Irning while on sentry, was " Temporary insanity.'
The Aid lighter, with stores, sailed for Deyonport and
I'ol nbroke yesterday.
T. 'he Falmouth lighter sailed to-day for Woolwich with

at Thee
Drake lighter sailed today for Chatham, with a
nu Tof artisans, from the copper foundry in this yard,
to be et iiploxed at that place, where a new foundry is
°so, tlisth ed, intended to supersede the one at this yard,