The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-28 00:00:00

Naval and Military intelligence.

The death of Lieutenant-General Alexander Thomson,
C. 8., announced in The Sun of yesterday, renders an-
other colone!cy vacant, that of the 74th Highlanders.
General Thomson entered the service in 1803, and ac-
companied the 74th throughout the greater portion of
the Peninsular war. He was at Busaco, the retreat to
Torres Vedras, Fuentes de Onor (wounded), Cuidad
Rodrigo, for which, he was made a brevet-major. At
Badajoz he was also wounded while leading one of the
storming parties of 300 men. He also shared in the
victories of Salamanca, Vittoria, St. Sebastian, Nivelle,
Orthes. and various skirmishes, for which he had a gold
medal and the silver war medal with tine clasps.

Yesterday 336 sick and woueided troops were dis-
charged from the army at St. Mary's Barracks, Chatham,
being the greatest number discharged from that garrison
at any one period since the termination, of the war.
Each man was presented with ten days' pay, and also
received any arrears of pay due to him.
The medical staff corps stationed at Chatham garrison
is to be augmented by the addition of a large number of
troops, volunteers from the various line regiments now
attached to the home station. With this view a -circular
has been issued by the authorities at the Horse Guards
to the commanding officers of regiments and depots,
directing them to forward a list of those men under their
command who are desirous of volunteering into the
medical staff corps. Each of the volunteers must have
been less than two years in the service, of good character,
and able to read and write correctly. A number of
troops have already offered themselves as volunteers.
Colonel Jervis, commandant of the Provisional Bat-
talion, Chatham, has selected a number of men from the
depots under his command to be placed under the in-
struction of Captain W. Nutt, of the 83d Regiment, the
instructor in musketry. A selection of 23 of the most
experienced troops in-rifle practice has also been made
from those depots which have completed their course of
instruction, out of which number 12 men will be ap-
pointed assistant instructors in musketry at Chatham.
An exchange of divisions has been effected by Brevet.
Major G. B. Payne, of the Chatham, division, Royal
Marine Light Infantry, and Captain F. H. Naott, of the
Plymouth division.

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in the East. The 33 Dragoon Guards returned from the
Peninsula in the year 1813, and have been consequently
43 years on home service. In appearance and discipline
they are not second to any heavy cavalry regiment in the
British army.
Her Majesty's steamer Shannon, 51, Captain Peel,
C. 8., having been docked and had her copper overhauled,
will go out of harbour again to-day and try her speed at
Stoke's-bay..lr Emmanuel, new 91-
tneera,mwarsundocked yesterday at Ports-
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mouth and will to-day make a trial of her speed in
Stoke'e-bay.
Rear-Admiral Sir Houston Stewart, K.C.8., hoisted
his flag (red at the wizen) on Wednesday at Portsmouth,
on, board her Majesty's ship Excellent. His flagship,
the Indus, 78, is fitting out at Plymouth, but it is most
probable the Admiral will not wait until she is ready to
carry him to his station (the West India and North
American), but will go out by the mail packet and re-
lieve Rear-Admiral Fanshawe.
The freight-ship Catnperdown has completed her ship-
ment from Woolwich Arsenal of 1,000 tons of Ordnance
stores, which consist of shot, guns, carriages, &c., form-
ing a complete equipment for two 9-pounder field bat-
teries, for conveyance to Sydney. The Camperdown is
ready for sea, and will leave the docks to-day for her
destination, _

The Apoßine has been chartered by Government for
the transport of Ordnance stores to Bermuda, and is
ordered to commence embarking from Woolwich pier,
whither she is to proceed to-day.
Tbe screw-steam factory Chasseur is ordered out of
Woolwich basin to-day for the purpose of being des-
patched to Chatham, and retained there for the use of
the steam reserve squadron at that station. The two
gun-vessels Porpoise and Pheasant, of 60-horse power
each, have entered the fitting basin at Woolwich to go
through the hands of the riggers.
The iron steamer Trident has had her masts hoisted on
board in Woolwich basin, and is in a forward state for

service.
The convict hulk Warrior, lying in the river at Wool-
wich, is ordered by the Admiralty to be sold by public
auction. The smaller hulk, Sulphur, appropriated for
some time past as an adjunct to the Warrior, is to be
conveyed to Shoeburyness, to be employed as a target in
experimental firing practice.
The following appointments have been made at the
Admiralty :
• C,,mmander Charles Wake, to the Indus ; Lieutenant
the Hon. E. G. L. Cochrane and Lieutenant F. D.
Rich, to the Indus ; Arthur Jones, secretary to Rear-
Admiral Sir Houston Stewart, Commander-in-Chief of
the North American and West India station ; F. W.
S. Ponsonby and G•.-W.•W: Muir, secretary's clerk, to
the Indus ; P. M. Shanks, paymaster, to the Sphinx ;
Thomas Robertson, master's-assistant, to the Edinburgh.