The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-21 00:00:00

THE REVIEW OF' THE FLEET.

THE OFFICIAL PROGRAMME.
PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY MORNING.
The following official, programme of the grand naval
revie 7V has been finally determined on by the authorities
of the Admiralty:—

PROGRAMME.—No. I.
On the occasion of her Majesty reviewing the fleet
the ships will be anchored at Spithead in two columns,
at three cables' distance ; the ships of the line at one
and a half cables apart ; smaller ships at one cable. The
ships of the line will anchor to the eastward, then the
serew frigates, screw corvettes, and paddle-wheel
steamers. The divisions of gun-boats will continue the
line to the westward, two divisions in each line, formed
each into two subdivisional columns (half a cable apart)
to the west of its divisional leader.
The Meander, Bslleisle; floating battetiei,. exercising
brigs, and the mortar vessels, will anchor and form a
stationary line fron► the Spit Buoy to the western end
of Stokes Bay.
The London and the Rodney will take up a position
as pivot ships to the E.N. E. of the Nab Light, at four
cables apart. Two other pivot vessels will be similarly
placed at one mile west of Cowes.
A royal salute will be fired by the feet on her Ma-
jesty's yacht reaching the Spit Buoy, and the same on
her Majesty's returning into harbour after the review,
hut not until the Royal yacht shall have reached the
aiside of the Spit Buoy. No other salute is to he fired.
The Meander and floating batteries will not salute, nor
auy ves,el under the number of guns prescribed by the
Admiralty order.
All the ships, while at anchor, are to be dressed in
colours, and, o❑ the Royal yacht passing, each ship is to
man the rigging, and the crews are to cheer. The
Meander and stationary ships are to man yards and
cheer.
If the weather is tolerably fine, and there is not much
swell in the ofl,ng►, the fleet will have steam ready (but
with the fires banked), and be hove short by 11 o'clock
in the forenoon.
Her 'Majesty's yacht, on leaving Portsmouth harbour,
will probably steam past Gilkicker Point, and, entering
.netween the columns at the western or Cowes end, will
proceed through their whole extent. As soon as her
Majesty shall have passed the eastern vessels of the
flotilla, the flotilla will weigh, and will follow the Queen's
yacht between the lines in the same order in which they
were anchored, preceded by the officer in command of
the division in one of the larger gun-vessels.
On reaching the flag-ships, the van and rear squadrons
of the flotilla will return in succession to port round the
Duke of Wellington. The van squadron (White) will
take up a position, at anchor, for attacking the Meander
and stationary line, their right opposite to the floating.
batteries near the Spit Buoy, extending to the westward
in line. The rear squadron (Blue) will place itself to the
eastward of the Bogue Buoy, opposite to Southsea Castle,
the centre and light squadron of the flotilla will turn ill
succession to starboard round the Royal George, and,
pa-sing to the southward of the south column of the line of
ships, will cross the westward of both columns. The
centre squadron (Red) will take up a position, and an-
chor their left opposite to the Meander and Belieisle, in
Stokes Bay, and extending thence to the east, and oppo-
site to the mortar-vessels. The light squadron (White
and Red) will follow the centre division, and will place
itself in opposition between the centre and van squadrons.
Gun-boats ordered to attack are not to fire more than
six rounds.
Tke whole flotilla will be prepared to open fire on a
signal from the RiSial yacht or Commander-in-Chief.
As soon as the flotilla shall have passed the flag-ships in
Vie van of the columns, the whole fleet will weigh on
the signal being made by the Commander-in-Chief,
lowering their flags simultaneously with the flag-ship,
and will proceed in close order of "sailing towards the
pivot ships, at such a rate as will allow the prescribed
order to be maintained, closing the columns to a cable's
Length apart.
On reaching the pivot ships to the E.N.E. of the Nab,
each column, after passing between them, will turn out
wards round these ships, the starboard turning to star-
board, and the port column to port. Manning the
rigging, ani cheering the Royal yacht as they pass, they
will then return to Spithead hi the same order—closing
their columns after the ships returning westward shall
have passed the rear of the fleet, and thus regain their
anchorage at Spithead, unless otherwise directed by

PLAN TO BE ADOPTED IN CASE A SIGNAL SHALL BE
MADE FOR THE PURPOSE.
No. 11.
The position of the fleet at anchor as in No. 1, and
prepare to weigh; but should the signal be made for the
flotilla alone to weigh, accompanied by the signal which
will. refer to this plan, the gun-boats, atter passing
round the flag-ship, as in No. 1, instead of proceeding
at once to the points of attack, will return to the west-
ward outside the columns ; having passed beyond
which they will close the squadrons, each of which
will remain in their original order of formation, and
passing between the pivot vessels off Cowes, the White
and Blue squadrons will turn in succession to starboard
and the Red and Light squadrons to port, and return to
the eastward. When the whole have passed the pivot
vessels, the flotilla will form into single columns of
squadrons—White leading, Blue second, Red third, and
Light fourth—and will pass on north of the fleet (which
will have remained at anchor), to their respective
Cons of attack in the order prescribed, and be ready to
open their fire on the signal being given for the
purpose, I .

PORTSMOUTH, APRIL 19.
The C)mmander-in-Chief, Vice• Admiral Sir George
Seymour, signalled all the captains of the fleet to attend
the Admiralty House, this morning, when the move-
ments to be executed at the review, by her Majesty, on
Wednesday next, were finally arranged.
The Queen is expected to arrive at the Clarence-yard,
from London, about 10-o'clock.
Some idea may be formed of the extent of the fleet
when it is stated that it already occupies an unbroken
line of anchorage of five aides in length. In the centre,
as it may be called, at Spithead, in a double column, are
the line-of-battle ships, frigates, steamers, corvettes, &c,,
numbering more than 70 ; the divisions of gun and
mortar boats, also in double line, being moored at each
end. The list of the fleet made up to this morning is as
follows :