The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-24 00:00:00

7HB NAVY.

The following letter from Malta is dated Valetta,
Nov. 17 :—" The English screw steamer Elba, after
laying the electric cables across the two harbours
of Valetta, to connect the different forts with head-
quarters at the Palace, left yesterday on return to
Cagliari for orders. She has on board, I understand,
about 70 miles of the Bona cable, which she had
picked up before coming here, and a cable to lay
between Cagliari and Marsala, or between Cagliari
and Malta direct, dependent upon circumstances
and upon future arrangements."
A letter from Corfu of the 29th inst. contains the
following :—" Her Majesty's frigate Melpomene
has arrived here from Malta. The 2d battalion of
the 2d Regiment, under the command of Major
Rose, has come up from the Southern Islands, having
been relieved there by the 2d battalion of the 9th
Regiment. His Excellency Sir Henry Storke has
given a grand ball. Among the distinguished
guests were the Right Honourable Sir Edward
Bulwer Lytton (who has since left for Vienna,
via Trieste), Vice-Admiral Martin, Rear-Admi-
ral Dacres, and Major• General Sir George Buller.
Her Majesty's gunboat Alacrity left yesterday for
Corfu, carrying a mail for the squadron on that
station. Her Majesty's ships at present at Malta
are—Hibernia (flag of Rear-Admiral Codrington,
C. 8.), Victor Emmanuel, Casar, London, Amphion,
Scourge, Foxhound, and Boxer. Lieut.-Col. Halle-
well, D.Q.G., has returned from England, whither
he had proceeded on two months' leave of absence."
Her Majesty's screw steam tank vessel Wye,
with engines of 100 horse power, fitted out for ser-
vice during the Crimean war, yesterday arrived at
Woolwich from Chatham, under orders to be con-
verted into a storeship, similar to the Supply.
The paddlewheel steam transport Rhadamanthus,
4, Commander F. R. Sturdee, is loading provisions
from the Royal William Victualling Yard at Ply-
mouth for Deptford.

The repairs of the steam tug Zephyr having been.
completed, she was hauled out of Keyham Basin
yesterday and placed at her berth in Hamoaze.
The screw steam sloop Ariel, 9, Commander T.
R. Alexander, got up steam yesterday (Friday) and.
proceeded from Hamoaze outside Plymouth Sound
to try her engines and machinery and observe if
her leakage is renewed when at sea.
The coppering of the, screw steam sloop Petrel,
11, in Devonport Dockyard, is complete, and she is
ready to vacate dock No. 4.

The screw steam corvette Charybdis, 21, from
Sheerness and Portsmouth, which arrived at Ply-
mouth yesterday (Friday) morning, as already re-
ported in The Sun, saluted the flag of the Port
Admiral in the Sound, and then went up Hamoaze
to go into dock and have her fit out completed.
The screw steamship St. George, Capt. the Hon.
F. Egerton, made sail yesterday (Friday) morning
in Plymouth Sound, and proceeded to the eastward.
In accordance with Admiralty instructions the
Rapid screw steam vessel will be launched at
Deptford yard on Thursday next, the 29th inst.
The keel of a new 36-gun screw frigate, to be
named the Endymion, is now being laid down at
Deptford yard, on the slip from which the New-
castle was recently launched. The shipwrights are
also employed, on the ships vacated by the Rosario
and Zebra, in the construction of two screw steam
vessels, to be named the Favourite,and Rattler.
The troopship Norwood having embarked the
Armstrong battery of artillery, from Woolwich
Arsenal for New Zealand, on Wednesday, in readi-
ness to sail on the following morning by the first
tide, was detained at Woolwich pier, awaiting the
arrival of the pilot. She left Woolwich yesterday
morning at 9, and was towed down to Gravesend.
It was stated, however, that by reason of a super-
stitious objection, prevalent in bygone years, some
of the crew were unwilling to leave port on Friday,
and that in consequence the vessel would not sail
from Gravesend until this morning, or probably
Sunday.