The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-11 00:00:00

expected to arrive at Portsmouth this morningfrom

the Admiralty.
A serious disturbance took place on board a line-
of-battle ship last evening (Tuesday) at Spithead
on the question of leave, and five men were sent on
board the Victory as prisoners. We are unable at
present to give further information, but the affair,
it is reported, must terminate in a court-martial.
The Pigmy paddle steamer, Master-Commander
Johnson, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday morn-
ing from Devonport, with supernumeraries, &c.
The Siren, 16, sailing sloop, Commander George
N. Balfour, her masts taken out under the
sheers alongside Portsmouth dockyard yesterday.
She is expected to pay off this day.
The Arcana, Prussian screw frigate, Commodore
Sundswall, is taking in her powder, shell, and other
stores at Spithead.
The first division of the steam reserve at Ports-
mouth was yesterday inspected by. Capt. George T.
Gordon. of her Majesty's ship Asia, and command-
in; the steam reserve at that port. The whole of
the vessels comprised in the first division were re-
ported in good order.
The portion of the Channel fleet anchored at
Spithead, under the command of Rear-Admiral
John E. Erskine, and consisting of the Edgar, the
Algiers, the Queen, the Mars, and the Mersey, has
been inspected by the officials of the steam and
shipwright departments, and their report of defects
of the different ships, and the repairs recommended
to be carried out, has been forwarded to the Admi-
ralty. The whole of the five vessels, as we before
stated, are in need of repairs to both hull and ma-
chinery. The Mersey's required repairs in the last-
named department are likely to prove of a very ex-
tensive character, and necessarily involve a large
outlay before she can be again pronounced fit for
foreign service. The Queen's repairs have been taken
in hand by the Steam Factory Department. The
Algiers, it is expected, will proceed to Keyham,
where she will be placed in dock to repair the de-
fects in her stern, See. It is rumoured that the Duke
of Wellington, 131, screw, in the first-class steam
reserve in , Portsmouth harbour, will be commis-
sioned to receive the flag of the Admiral command-
ing the Channel fleet, the Royal Albert's defects
requiring remedy. The Duke may be pronounced
fit for 18 mouths, or, perhaps, two years' service, if
worked carefully and no accident occurring; but at
the end of that tune she would require new boilers
and very extensive repairs to both hull and engines.
As she is not in a sufficiently healthy condition of
hull, boilers, and engines, to be sent on a foreign sta-
tion for a three years' cruise, it is very probable
that the rumour concerning her may be verified, and
that she may carry Admiral Fremantle's flag in the
Channel fleet.
The Indus, 78, Capt. Hall, which arrived in Ply-
mirth Sound on Sunday from the West India sta-
tion, has discharged her powder, and was towed
up Ilamoaze yesterday morning, and placed along-
side the Devonport dockyard. Her pay-books have
hcen sent to the Admiralty. The invalids were
transshipped to the Confiance on Sunday, and
landed in the afternoon.
The gunboat Hind, tender to the screw- steam-
ship Russell, GO, at Falmouth, arrived at Plymouth
on Monday. Capt. Wodehouse is on board, and is
making an official inspection of his district.
The screw steamship Conqueror, 101, now in dock
at Key ham, has bad the copper stripped off round
the screw ap(rture, which has been caulked and
reeoppercd. She will be undocked shortly.
The lIoWe, 121, at Devonport, is dismantled, and
the riggers have been transferred to the yard. Her
masts were to be removed yesterday.
The paddlewheel steam storeship Dee, Master
Commander T. Pullen, returned to Woolwich yes-
terday from Portsmouth, and will be hauled into
basin this morning to commence shipping machi-
nery for the Price Frederick William. The Sup-
ply will also go into basin to commence discharging
returned stores from Malta.
The new guuboat Landrail yesterday went into
No. 1 dock at Woolwich to be coppered and pre-
pared for service, and the iron paddlewheel steam-
vessel Antelope was undocked.
The hired transport Spartan, laden with ammu-
nition and military stores from Woolwich, has re-
turned to the buoy off Wool:viol' Arsenal, and has
commenced discharging her cargo, in consequence.
of injuries susteinedin the late gale.
The folio wing ships have been chartered by the
war department in the service of the military store
department of Woolwich—namely, the Ellen, Clara,
Anne, I'iteairne, Sharp, Glenshee, Gottenburg, and
the steamers Cadiz and Britannia. The Royalist
sailed from Woolwich yesterday.
Upwards of 300 skilled artificers and workmen
were yesterday added to the establishment of the
Royal gun factories in Woolwich Arsenal. They
were selected from an assembled crowd of more
than double that number, and, although a greater
number was required, those only were engaged who
were furnished with unexceptionable testimonials
for science and persevering application and indus-
try. A number of foremen and leading men were
also taken on, many of whom occueied subordinate
posts iii the department, and were promoted on ac-
count of the abilities and aptitude which they ex-
hibited under examination. A second selection
will take place this morning, the total number in-
tended to be added to the already vast establish-
ment for the purpose of accomplishing the works
stipulated for the ensuing year, being upwards of
2,000 men. Mr. Anderson, resident superintendent
of the establishment, has taken possession of the
official quarters of the late superintendent. Col.
E. Wilmot, and Mr. Fraser, manager of the fac-
tories, has been granted the late official residence
of Mr. Anderson, in the Royal Arsenal.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Commander Charles Stirling, to
the Weep, commissioned; F. S. D. Broughton, mate
to the Hero ; Stephen J. W. Moriarty, master to the
Donegal ; Alexander M. P. Mackey, master to the
Wellington, for the St. George; and 11. W. Moles-
worth, assistant-paymaster to the Castor.