The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-11 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

Sir C. Fremantle, K.C.8., Commander-in-Chief
of the Channel Fleet, who left the Royal Albert,
121, Captain H. Lacon, a few days since at Port -
land, to have an interview with the Lords of the
Admiralty in London, rejoined his ship in Plymouth
Sound on Tuesday. While on shore Sir Charles has
been promoted from Rear Admiral to Vice Admi-
ral, and his new flag, blue at the fore, hoisted on
Tuesday, was duly honoured by a salute of 15 guns,
which was responded to by the flagship Impreg-
nable, 104.:Captain the Hon. F. Kerr, in Hamoaze.
It is understood at Plymouth that Sir Charles will
shortly strike his flag again. The Royal Albert is
completing with fuel ; her capstan has been sent to
the Devonport Dockyard to be repaired. A portion
of the Channel Fleet will, it is expected, be de-
spatched to meet the Prince of Wales on his return
from the United States. His Royal Highness will
not, as first intended, visit the Island of Bermuda,
but sail for England direct from New York. The
17th of November has been named as tile day of
departure.

Lieut. Eugene C. Batty, who ruptured a blood-
vessel in the execution of his duty, and was obliged
to go into the Naval Hospital at Plymouth, is suffi-
ciently recovered to resume the command of the gun
boat Violet (tender to the Blenheim, 60), which is
now in the Gloucester Canal engaged in raising men
and boys for her Majesty's service.
The Geyser, 6, paddle steam sloop, 280 horse
power, Commander George M. Jackson, arrived at
Sheerness on Tuesday, having the Philomel brig in
tow, which is to be converted into a Coastguard
station at Sheerness. The Geyser subsequently
sEtiled for Devonport.
The steam storeship Rhadamanthus, 4, Master:
Commander F. R. Sturdee, was appointed to sail
to-day from Plymouth for Woolwich.
The gunboats Spider and Delight, which were
hauled into the lock at Keyham steam-yard on
Wednesday, were appointed to be put into the basin
yesterday to be repaired.
The screw steamship Aboukir, 90, Capt. Douglas
Curry, was appointed to be removed yesterday from
Hamoaze into Keyham steam-yard to be repaired.
The War Department screw steamer Lord Pan-
mure, Mr. H. T. Moore commander, yesterday com-
menced shipping a heavy cargo of Armstrong shot
and shell from Woolwich Arsenal.

Mr. J. Dunn, one of the staff of draughtsmen at
Chatham dockyard, has proceeded to the Admiralty
for the purpose of being employed in the depart-
ment of the Controller of the Navy in assisting
preparing the drawings and plans for the new steel
plated large iron steamer about being constructed
at Chatham. The second dock, in which the new
vessel is to be built, is now undergoing the neces-
sary preparation ; but, as the dock has to be tempe •
rarily lengthened by the removal of the present
entrance, and the construction of a dam in its place,
some little time must necessarily elapse before the
large ship can be commeneed. This, however, is
being taken advantage of by the heads of depart-
ments to whom the superintendence of the constr ac-
tion of the vessel will be intrusted, in order that the
whole of the preliminary arrangements connected
with the laying down of an iron vessel of such
gigantic proportions, the first of the kind attempted
at any of the royal dockyards, may be finished be-
fore the ship is commenced, the Government being
desirous that nothing should be allowed to intervene
to delay the completion of the first of this descrip-
tion of vessel after the work has once been taken in
hand.

An officer selected from each of the royal dock-
yards has been ordered to proceed to Portsmouth in
order to observe the method adopted in the fitting
and equipment of the d;fferent classes of vessels of
war at that dockyard, with the N iew of its being
carried out at the other naval establishments.

The Orpheus,2l, screw corvette, 400-horse power,
and the gunboats Linnet and Pigcon, fitting at
Chatham for the steam reserve, are still in the
hands of the contract engineers, being fitted with
their engines, but are expected to be completed in
the course of a fortnight.
A naval court-martial assembled yesterday on
board the Victory in Portsmouth harbour, for the
trial of George Ballard, a private Royal Marine,
serving on board her Majesty's ship Trafalgar, on a
charge of having, on the 21st ult., refused to obey
the orders of'Commander Reed, of that ship, to at-
tend at gun drill. The Court was composed of Rear
Admiral J. E. Erskine, president; Captains G. T.
Gordon, G. D. O'Callaghan, R. Harris, R. S. Hew
lett, C. 8., T. Wilson, R. Cook, J. M. Hayes, and
J. Katon. Mr. W. J. Hellyer officiated as Deputy
Judge-Advocate. The evidence for the prosecution
having been adduced, the prisoner was called upon
for his defence, which was to the effect that he had
refused to attend the gun drill in order that he might
obtain a little rest before going on guard at 4 o'clock,
having already been on guard during the forenoon,
and received extra drill in the afternoon. The
Conrt, after some consideration of the evidence
adduced for the prosecution, and also what the
prisoner had to say in his defence, adjudged the
prisoner to be reduced to the second class, to receive
50 lashes on board her Majesty's ship Trafalgar,
and afterwards to be imprisoned three months with
hard labour in Winchester gaol.
The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty :—Lieut. J. B. Crisp, additional, to
the Royal Albert ; Lieut. S. W. H. Thompson, to
the Diadem ; Lieut. H. Dunlop to the Trafalgar ;
A. J. W. Musgrave, midshipman, to the Miranda ;
Dr. L. C. Urquhart, surgeon, to the Conqueror ; J.
Snell, first-class assist-engineer, to the Asia, for
service in the Blazer; J. Ross, first-class assist-
engineer, to the Indus, as supernumerary; A.
M'Leod, first-class assist-engineer, to the Curlew ;
T. Brown, second-class assist-engineer, to the Co-
lossus ; E. W. M. Millman, paymaster, to the Doris;
W. H. Hill, paymaster, additional, to the St. Vin-
cent ; G. R. Johnson, assist-clerk, to the Victory.