The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-27 00:00:00

THE NA TI.

A letter from Malta, dated July 21, says :
" Her Majesty's steam gun-vessel Lapwing, Com-
mander O'Reilly, left this port on the evening of
the 16th inst. for Constantinople, calling at Athens
on her way ; and the steam frigate Terrible, Cap-
tain Glasse, C. 8., took her departure on the follow-
ing day for Zante, to join the Commander-in-Chief,
Vice-Admiral Fanshawe Martin. I hear that the
Racoon, steam corvette, will sail shortly also to
join the Admiral, who, by the last accounts re-
ceived yesterday morning by the Peninsular and
Oriental steamer Alhambra, from Corfu, was
cruising on the 17th inst. 20 miles to the south-
ward and eastward of Paxo. The only men-of-
war in Malta harbour now are the Hibernia, re-
ceiving ship; the Lapwing and Assurance, gun-
boats, the Caradoc, despatch boat ; and the Kertch,
sailing tender. The splendid steam yacht of the
Pasha of Egypt, the Faid Gihaid, which touched
here on the 15th inst., en her way from England to
Egypt, left port on the 17th, after replenishing her
coal, for Alexandria. The Peninsular and Oriental
Company's steamer Indus came into port on the
morning of the 16th from Alexandria, with the
heavy portion of the homeward Bombay mail, and
left after coaling for Gibraltar and Southampton.
The Valetta, of the same company, left Malta at
midnight of the 15th for Marseilles, with the over-
land portion. Sir M. O'Shaughnessy, who has
been staying here with his family a few days on his
return to England from India, took passage by
this vessel. It may be interesting to some of your
readers to learn that of late considerable sums of
money have been expended in strengthening the
almost impregnable fortifications of this island; by
erecting new works and arming the forts with
guns of much heavier metal than they had before.
Tigne, on the right hand side in entering the har-
bour, has had its guns replaced by larger ones, and
others of the principal forts have been strengthened
in like manner. Strong casemated batteries, open
behind, have been Constructed on Forts Ricasoli and
St. Elmo, for the additional protection of the mouth
of the Great Harbour ; and in the case of Ricasoli
to prevent the possibility of its guns being enfiladed
from the sea, which could easily have been done as
the battery stood before. The barracks for 1,000
men at St. George's Bay, commenced a few
weeks ago, are making wonderful progress,
under the able and indefatigable direction of
Capt. Bland, of tke Royal Engineers, and if the work
continues to be carried on in the rapid manner it is
at present it will not be many months before they
are completed. Captain Brett, secretary to the
Governor, Sir John Gaspard Le Marchant, is ex-
pected back from England to-morow, by the English
steamer from Marseilles. After his arrival the
investiture of Mr. Houlton, Chief Secretary, Judge
Micallef, C.M.G., and Dr. Dingli, Crown-Advocate,
C.M.CT., C. 8., with the crosses of Knight-Comman-
der of the most distinguished Order of St. Michael
and St. George, will take place. The Chief Secre-
tary will then proceed on two months' leave of
absence. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's
steamer Massilia has come in with the heavy por-
tion of the Indian mails from Southampton and
Gibraltar, and will leave tonight for Alexandria."
Commander J. Dayman was
yesterday appointed
an additional commander to the Fisgard, and Lieut.
Frederick Harvey was appointed to the Gorgon.