The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-19 00:00:00

VICTORIA MILITA .Y HOSPITAL.

The whole of the foundations of the Victoria Military
Hospital, near Netley Abbey, in Hampshire, are now
laid, and the wails of the building are rising above the
ground, so that a notion of the size and figure of the
building can be formed. About 500 men are at present
employed on it, but next year the number will be in-
creased to upwards of 1,000. In consequence of the
distance of the hospital from any village, rows of wooden
huts or Australian shanties have been built for the
workmen on the grounds, wherein are bunks or beds
for the men to sleep in, arranged like berths on board
ship. There is also a wooden general store house and
club room, where the men get refreshment, purchase
necessaries, and meet for club purposes. No drunk-
enness is allowed on the grounds or works. Cot-
tages and farm-houses in the neighbourhood have
been acquired by the Government for their staff
of officers, who reside there to control the works. The
frontage of the hospital will be 1,400 feet, or more than
a quarter of a mile in length. The general depth will be
200 feet. In the centre, however, the depth will be
nearly 300 feet. The hospital will be 50 feet high, and
three towers of dome-like shape, which will grace the
centre block and two wings, will each be 100 feet in
height. Nearly 3,000,000 bricks have been used in
merely laying the foundations. The spot on which the
hospital is built is about 60 feet above Southampton
Water, and the drainage of the hospital has been
effected upon the most improved plan. The main sewer,
of great magnitude, and of an elliptic form, runs along
in the centre of the building, parallel with the front.
The stone dressings with the plinlis will be of Cornish
granite. The view from the towers will be magnificent,
overlooking as it will the New Forest, the Solent sea,
the Isle of Wight, and the British channel. Prince
Albert visits the works often, and takes the greatest in-
terest in them. The hospital will accommodate 1,000
patients, besides affording a residence for a large medical
and government staff. The centre block of the building,
projecting 90 feet from the frontage of the wings, will
contain the apartments of the staff. Behind this block,
in the rear of the building, will be the chapel. The
Government is buying up much land in the neighbour-
hood. The view of the hospital from the ships and steam-
ers going up and down Southampton Water will be ina
posing, owing to the immense proportions of the struc-
ture and its nearness to the shore. From Southampton,
and from Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, which are si-
tuated 12 miles apart, will be distinctly seen the largest
building in Europe. The hospital will, it is expected, be
completed in two years' time. It will cost upwards of a
quarter of a million sterling. Barracks will, it is expected,
ultimately be erected in the neighbourhood. Two piers
have been built out into Southampton Water for the
purpose of landing building materials, and a railroad has
been formed from one of the piers to convey the mate-
rials of the works. Some of the upper class of workmen
were employed in erecting a pier for the Royal West
India Company at Chagres, and their shanties are
adorned with ornithological and vegetable curiosities
from Central America. 1

ARRIVAL OF THE JOSEPH TARRATT.—Yesterday the
Joseph Tarratt, that sailed from Melhourne with the
mails of the 10th of June, was off the port of Liverpool,
By the arrival of the Kent, that sailed from Melbourne
the same day, and the Sardinian that sailed on the
26th of the month, her news has been anticipated. The
Joseph Tarratt has on board gold to the value of 88,0001.