The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-09 00:00:00

2HE NAVY.

The Rodney, 91, line-of-battle screw steamer, is
now entirely completed at Chatham Dockyard, and
is waiting to be undocked, when she will proceed to
join the second division of the steam reserve in the
Medway, under the command of Capt. Schomberg,
superintendent of the reserve. According to pre-
sent arrangements, the sailing frigate Arethusa, 50,
will go into the dock vacated by the Rodney, the
Admiralty having ordered her to be lengthened and
converted into a 51-gun steam frigate.
The Phcebe, 50, under conversion to a screw
frigate, is complete in the shipwrights' depart-
ment, and will be undocked early next week.
The Constance, 50, is about:to be lengthened and
converted into a screw steam frigate.
The Wrangler, 4, screw gun vessel, of 160-
horse power, at Sheerness, is to be commissioned
immediately with a complement of 65 officers and
men. Commander Anthony Riley Hoskins, who
has been appointed to her command, obtained his
commission as lieutenant in March, 1849, and after
serving three years in the Castor, 36, at the Cape
of Good Hope, was appointed to the Philomel, 8,
on the west coast of Africa station in September,
1853 ; and was re-appointed in March, 1855, to the
Britomart, 8, on the sarnd -station. He was ap-
pointed
to the command of the Slaney, steam gun
boat, in April, 1857, and 'served in China until pro-
moted to commander, Feb. 26, 1858.
The Prussian screw-frigate Arcona, Commodore
Sundswall, anchored at Spithead, from Southamp-
ton, yesterday morning.
The iron screw troopship Megwra, Corn. Hender-
son, fitting at Portsmouth for foreign service, has
crossed her topsail yards fitted with the Cunning-
ham patent, and is otherwise fast progressing in
her outfit.
The Vulture, 6, paddle, recently paid off at Ports-
mouth, has been removed from alongside the dock
yard to a berth up the harbour.
On Thursday last the crew of the new screw
steam-frigate Forte, 51, bearing the flag of Rear-
Admiral of the White the Hon. Sir H. Keppel,
K.C.8., were paid their advance at Sheerness. On
Saturday, at 1.10 p.m., she saluted the flag of the
Commander-in-Chief, and left for Portsmouth. The
Admiral's salute was returned by the Formidable
guardship of ordinary, Capt.-Superintendent R. B.
Watson.
The paddlewheel steam frigate Terrible, 21, Capt.
F. H. C. Glasse, C. 8., from Malta March 25, and
Gibraltar March 31, arrived in Plymouth Sound on
Friday evening. She brings 130 invalids from the
hospital at Malta and from the fleet in the Medi-
terranean ; they are in charge of Dr. G. Willes,
R.N., Lieut. Thompson, Dr. Wilson, Mr. Wilson,
naval cadet ; Mr, Elliot, assist.-engineer ; and Mr.
Robert, assist.-engineer, are among the number of
the sick. The Terrible left at Malta the Marlbo-
rough, Cressy, St. Jean d'Acre, Neptune, Victor
Emmanuel, Cresar, Alacrity, and Medina; and at
Gibraltar the Hannibal, Renown, Agamemnon,
James Watt, Doris, Scylla, Lapwing, and Quail.
The Ansphion left for Malta on the Ist April. From
Malta to Gibraltar the Terrible experienced strong
westerly winds, since which the weather has been
variable.
The paddlewheel steam vessel Pigmy, 3, William
Johnson master, from Portsmouth, arrived at Ply-
mouth on Friday, with men paid off from the pad-
dlewheel steam frigate Vulture, 6, just returned
from the Mediterranean. On Saturday the Pigmy
embarked supernumeraries, and returned to Ports-
mouth.
The training ship Implacable, at Plymouth, is to
be commissioned, with a commander, a lieutenant,
and 40 men.
The screw steamship Nile, 90, Capt. K. Barnard,
got up steam on Saturday, and proceeded from Ply-
mouth Sound round the Eddystone, to try her en-
gines after repair ; she made about 81 knots, which
is an improvement on her previous rate. Commander
Mackenzie rejoined on Saturday, the 31st ult. She
will probably sail for the West Indies on Thursday.
A letter received at Plymouth from the screw
steamship Caesar, 90, Capt. Thos. H. Mason, dated
Malta, March 30, states that she was on the point
of departure for Naples, where she would probably
stay a month or six weeks.
The screw steamship Howe, 121, just completed
at Pembroke, arrived in Plymouth sound on Fri-
day night, in charge of Commander Paul, Second
Master-Attendant of Devonport Dockyard, and in
tow of the paddlewheel steamsloop Virago, 6, Com-
mander M. B. Dunn. The steam tender Confiance
was sent out from Devonport in the afternoon to
render assistance, if necessary. On Saturday morn-
ing the Howe was towed into Hamoaze by the Con-
fiance and Zephyr, and placed alongside the dock-
yard to be dismantled ; sails were unbent the same
day. The Howe is 15 feet longer and one foot
broader than the Duke of Wellington.
Yesterday (Sunday) morning the ship Indus, 78,
Capt. W. K. Hall, bearing the flag of Sir Houston
Stewart, K.C.B. late in command of the North
American and West India station, arrived in Ply-
mouth Sound. She left Bermuda March the 21st,
and brings a few naval and military invalids, in-
cluding Mr. Yule, paymaster, and Mr. Kent, chief
engineer, of the Hydra. Lady Stewart, whose
health is much improved, has returned in the Indus
with the Admiral, and his secretary, Paymaster
Arthur Jones, is also on board. Dr. Beith, R.N.,
late staff surgeon at the Royal Naval Hospital,
Ireland Island, Bermuda, has come home
passenger, having exchanged with Dr. Domville,
late of the Indus. The screw steam frigate Emerald,
51, Capt. A. Cumming, bearing the flag of Rear-
Admiral Sir A. Milne, K.C.B. (successor to Admi-
ral Stewart), which left Plymouth Feb. 16, arrived
at Bermuda on Tuesday, March 6, one of the quick-
est passages on record. She used canvass only until
within 500 miles of the island; the exact time occu-
pied was 19 days and 6 hours. The Admiral left
Bermuda on March 19 for Barbadoes. The paddle-
wheel screw steamer Hydra, 6, Commander R. V.
Hamilton, from St. Thomas's, arrived at Bermuda
on March 19, and left on the 21st for Antigua. The
hired schooner Excelsior, Capt. Talbot, with 80
convicts in medical charge of Dr. Foggo, was ap-
pointed to leave Bermuda on March 22 for Cork
and Portsmouth. The mail steamer Delta, with the
English mail of the 25th Feb. did not reach Ber-
muda until March 17. She left Halifax on March
12, having been detained there by the prolonged
passage cf the America from Liverpool to Halifax.
The Indus spoke, April 4, in lat 48.48 N, long 8.49
W, the ship Windsor Castle, from Bombay for Lon-
don ; April 6, in lat 49.16 N, long 9.9 W, a ship
showing thitd divinguishing pennant No. 5,718 ;
April 7, in lat 49.21 N, long 5.59 W, the ship Alice
and the steamer Prince Albert, from London for
Mogador. From the 21st to the 30th of March
strong gales were experienced from N.W. to S.W.;
and on the 30th, in lat 46.48 N, long 28.46 W, it
amounted to almost a hurricane, the force of wind
being from 9to 11. Soundings were struck on the
3d inst., since which strong easterly winds prevailed
until Saturday last. The Indus was commissioned
in Nov., 1856, and will probably go to Hamoaze to
be stripped. Her crew are to be paid off at Plymouth.
The nsaster attendant, Mr. Tonkin, and assistant
master attendant, both of Portsmouth dockyard,
and as Queen's harbour masters, have recei red
their commissions appointing them as permanent
commanders to any one of her Majesty's ships of
war. This is a step in which we can offer our
hearty congratulotions, and we could but wish
that the masters afloat had a " life worthy their
long, arduous, and faithful services. They are,
without exception, the hardest worked and most
neglected class of officers in her Majesty's service.
Notwithstanding the large reduction ordered to
be made at Chatham Dockyard by the discharge
of upwards of 600 of the shipwrights, mechanics,
and labourers who were taken on at that es-
tablishment during last year, it is intended that
about 1,000 of the hands then hired shall still
be retained, and notice has been given to that effect.
In the meantime a certain number of hands will be
discharged every Saturday afternoon, until the en-
tire number ordered by the Admiralty shall have
left the establishment. On Saturday afternoon 75
of the hired mechanics, shipwrights, and labourers
received their discharge at the dockyard gates.
Eighty-four artisans and others were discharged
from the dockyard at Devonport on Saturday.
An attempt will be made to-morrow (Tuesday)
evening 17 Mr. W. Orchard, of the rigging de-
partment in her Majesty's dockyard, Devonport, to
raise and float off from Batten Reef, in Plymouth
Sound, the stranded transport Havering. She went
ashore on Saturday, March 31, ever since which
time her cargo has been discharging. It consists of
shot, shell, gunpowder, provisions, preserved meats,
ale, porter, bread, medical stores, clothing, bedding,
tents, &c., and about 150 tons British merchandise
on private freight. A very large portion has been
removed, and there are not more than 150 tons
deadweight left, exclusive of 30 tons of gunpowder,
the rest being what is termed " floatable. ' ;The
Havering registers 912 tons and draws, when laden,
nearly 20 feet ; site lies stern on to the Batten, her
bow being nearly due west. Early last week, the
tide being quarter ebb, the depth of water alongside
at midships was 22 feet, and astern 21 feet. The
Admiralty will lend four brig hulks from Devon-
port of about 400 tons each, which will be provided
with powerful purchases in the shape of three-fold
blacks. The lifting power is calculated at 600 tons
Altogether 200 fathoms of 21. inch cable chain will
be used, and eight jewel rings of 41 inches for
slinging. The appliances are furnished with the
understanding that all damages are to be repaired.
Should Mr. Orchard be successful in floating her
off, two merchant tugs will be in attendance to
convey her to some pace convenient for repair,
possibly near the commercial wharf.
The steam floating battery Trusty, 14, which has
been towed into Chatham Harbour, is intended to

be taken into the first dock, recently vacated by the
screw frigate Galatea, 26, in order to be carefully
overhauled and put into a thorough state of repair,
preparatory to a further series of experiments being
tried upon her at Shoeburyness with the Whit-
worth and Armstrong long range guns, under the
direction of Colonel J. W. Mitchell, R.A., and the
Ordnance Select Committee, consisting of Csl. J.
St. George, C. 8., R.A., president; Capt. Sir W. S.
Wiseman, R.N. ; Colonel E. H. Greathed, C. 8.,
D.C.L., R.A. ; Colonel W. J. Smythe, R.A. ; and
Colonel W. Robinson, RE. Since the Trusty has
arrived at Chatham she has been carefully surveyed
by the principal officers of the dockyard, in order to
ascertain the extent of the injuries she sustained on
the occasion of the former experiments made on her
with the Armstrong gun at Shoeburyness. The
result ascertained is that her hull is very much
in-
jured in several places, the elongated shots fire."
from the Armstrong gun being so terrific in thelr
effects as to shatter in pieces several of the massive
wrought-iron plates with which the battery 16
coated, and in some instances passing completely
through the 'vessel. The whole of the iron plates
in the slightest degree injured are to be removed,
and replaced by new ones of equal thickness ; the
timbers are also to be repaired, and the recent daol-
ages made good with the least possible delay, when
the battery will be again towed down to Shoebury-
ness, and placed some miles out at sea, the Govern-
ment being desirous of having a complete trial mail°
of the rival Armstrong and Whitworth guns, when
the latter especially will be thoroughly tested.
A court-martial, comprising Rear-Admiral J. D.
Erskine, commanding the Port Division of the
Channel Fleet at Spithead (President), Capts. G. T.
Gordon, G. D. O'Callaghan, R. Harris, R. S. Het'
lett, C. 8., C. F. Hillyar, W. Tarleten, C. 8.,
Wilson, H. Caldwell, C. 8., J. H. Strange, R. Coote,
I. Katon, and J. E. Vansittart, with Mr. W. F.
Hellyer, Deputy Judge-Advocate, assembled on
board her Majesty's ship Victory, on Saturday, I,a
Portsmouth harbour, for the trial of Lieut. G. S.
Graves, late senior lieut. of her Majesty's brig
Siren, on the following charges, preferred by Coln.
G. M. Balfour, commanding the Siren :
‘, 1. That on or about the 18th of June, 1859, he,
Lieut. Graves, did behave with contempt on the
quarter-deck of the Siren, and use reproachful lan-
guage to Corn. Balfour, his superior officer. 2. That
he did on various occasions excite certain officers of
the ship to act in opposition and behave with con-
tempt to Com. Balfour, particularly in two instances
—saying to Mr. F. E. Eversfield, paymaster,
would not stand it, Eversfield, if I was you ;
would write to the Commander-in-Chief,' &c. ; also
saying to Lieut. Lewis, who had made a very pro'
per explanation to Coro. Balfour, ' You have eaten
dirt,' or words to that effect. 3. That he did induce
several seamen to desert from the Siren by saying,
' Why don't you run away ?' and that he did on one
occasion say to a seaman of the Siren, Why the
d— don't you run away ?' and that the said inen
did run away on the following day or thereabout'
4. That he did behave in a cruel and oppressiya
manner, and directly violate the Admiralty Or
cular, No. 131, by causing two petty officers to he
lashed to spars or gratings on board the Siren
during the absence of Cora. Balfour. 5. That he
did. in a letter dated on board the Siren at Sea, cll
the 16th of July, 1859, and addressed to Rear-Ad"
miral Sir S. Lushington, K.C.8., the Commander
in-Chief, bring false and frivolous charges again"
Commander Balfour."

At the commencement of the proceedings Cour
mander Balfour, the prosecutor, handed in a letter
to the Court, which was read, and in which he with'
drew the sth charge, in consequence of the princl:
pal witnesses being absent from England. The prl"
soner then objected to the 2d, 3d, and 4th charge°
on account of their being contrary to the Queen 0
Regulations, which required the charges to be sub;
stantialy set forth. The charges gave no dates, sll.°
he had in consequence been unable to prepare hi°
defence to meet them. The Court then cleared to
consider the prisoner's objections, and on its being
re-opened announced that they had decided that the
evidence on all the charges preferred by the prose;
cutor, with the exception of the sth, which he ho'
withdrawn, should be received. The whole of the
witnesses for the prosecution were examined during
the day. A condition was imposed on the reporter!,
present, by the president of the Court, that no 45.11
dente should be published until after the conclusil
of the case, one seriously affeeting the discipline
her Majesty's ships. At the conclusion of the cot
i
deuce for the prosecution the Court was adjourned
until 9 a.m. this day to enable the prisoner to pre'
pare his defence.
The following appointments wen made on Satur"
day at the Admiralty :—Lieut. C. G. Stanley to th°
Trafalgar; Lieut. P. J. Parry, to the Cambridgei;
James W. Husbands, chief engineer, to the Wei;
lington, for charge of the machinery of the Roy'
William ; Richard Harris, promoted to the rant
of first-class assistant engineer, and appointed
to the Adventure ; George Barnes, paymaster
additional, to the Wellesley ; Charles W. Sturgesor
paymaster additional to the Cornwallis; F. Mi.;
Wright, assistant paymaster in charge to the
Wrangler ; and W. E. Chown, assistant paymast.',
to the Implacable.