The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-09 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

We have received advices from our correspondent at
Malta to the 30th November, at which date the squadron
under Rear-Admiral Sir R. S. Dundas, reinforced on the
25th by her Majesty's steam frigate Centaur, from Sy-
racuse, continued at its anchorage in Valetta harbour,
but the Admiral received orders on the 29th from the
Admiralty, pursuant to which he contemplated leaving
on the Ist December for Lisbon in the screw steam ship
of th 3 line Duke of Wellington ; the rest of the ships
were to remain for the present at Malta, to which port
the Wanderer steam-sloop retdrned on the 27th from
Naples and Messina. Her Majesty's screw steam line-
of-battle ship Princess Royal arrived o❑ the 24th from
England and Gibraltar.
The United Service Gazette states that Brevet-Major
Knollys, 75th Regiment, is to act during his leave of
absence, as aide-de-camp to his father, General Knollys,
at Aldershot.

With the view of making the officers who are sent to
the provisional battalion at Chatham garrison thoroughly
proficient in their duties, the whole of them are exam
fined, one in every week, by Lieut.-Col. R. N. Phillips,
as to their knowledge of the more important duties
required to be performed by them. The captains in
command of the several depot companies have already
received directions to instruct the young officers under
their command in everything pertaining to the regimen-
tal duties—the daily payment of the troops, the autho-
rity of courts-martial, and generally with the interior
economy of the depot companies. Commanding officers
are likewise to make the young officers thoroughly
acquainted with the provisions of the good conduct
warrants.
An order has been received at Chatham, authorising
Col. 11. Jervis, commandant of the provisional battalion,
to permit the troops belonging to the depots under his
command, to volunteer into the Medical Staff Corps,
which is to be considerably augmented. The men who
may volunteer are required to be under two years'
service, of good character, and able to read and write
correctly.
In consequence of an application made by certain
shipowners of Dundee to the Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty, an order was sent to Sheerness to victual
and store the Bulldog, 6 guns, paddlewheel steamship,
Commander A. C. Gordon, and the Salamander, G guns,
paddlewheel steamsloop Commander G. T. Mecham, to
proceed immediately towards Archangel in search of 5
merchant ships belonging to the port of Dundee. They
were from Archangel, homeward hound, and have now
been missing for two months. The Bulldog and Sala-
mander left Sheerness yesterday. The commanders, on
their arrival in the River Tay, will pnt themselves into
early communication with the owners of the missing
vessels at Dundee, where it is expected some experienced
ships masters, old traders to Archangel, will be ready to
proceed on board. Both ships will then proceed north
until they make the Shetland Islands. Thence they
will steer north-west, and proceed as far north as let. 64,
provided they are not prevented by float or fixed ice.
Their orders are to cruise for 14 days, and then proceed
to Cromarty and report the result of their search.
It is reported at Sheerness that on paying off the Wa-
terloo, 120 gun flagship, Capt. Lord F. Kerr, on the 31st
.of the present month, the gallant Commander-in-Chief
Vice-Admiral of the White the Hon. W. Gordon will
retire from his command in consequnce of the continu-
ance of severe indisposition under which he has for
some time been suffering.
The Adner steam-vessel, Mr. Murcham eecondanaster

in command, -11;s arrived at Sheerness from Chatham
with a number of supernumerary seamen returning from
leave of absence and for general service.