The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-20 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

A letter from Malta under the date of the 14th
Sept. says :—" The Peninsular and Oriental Com-
pany's steamer Pera, with the heaNy poi lion of the
Ch;na and Calcutta mails, arrived here on the 9th

inst. at 3 a.m., from Alexandria, and left the same
day, at 10 a.m., for Gibraltar and Southampton.
Among the passengers from Malta she took the
following officers from the gaarison and fleet :
Capt. Dumaresq., R.E. ; Commander Buckle, R.N.;
Commander Nares, R N. ; and Paymaster Sec-
rarnbe, R.N. The Ceylon came into port on the
13th, at 6 a.m., with the heavy portion of the out-
ward Calcutta and China mails, and left at 8 p.m.
the same day for Alexandria. The Ellora, with
the heavy portion of the homeward Bombay mail,
and the mail for Malta, arrived at 9 p.m. on the
I:3th, and left on the following day at 8 a.m., for
Gibraltar and Southampton. She left Alexandria
at 5 p.m. on the 10th inst. Her Majesty's frigate
Liffey had been there for some days, and was then
leaving for Syria. M. Beclard, the French Com-
missioner, was to proceed to Beyrout in the French
brig Sentinelle, from Alexandria, after the arrival
of the Marseilles mail. The Viceroy is said to be
very indignant at Lord Palmerston's notice of
Egyptian affairs, as reported in the papers. The
first instalment of the French loan was expected to
arrive at Alexandria on the 11th inst. The French
troops (700 in number), who arrived there some 12
days before the date of the letter we quote from
(10th inst.), were still in port, waiting for a trans-
port to convey them to China. The Peninsular and
Oriental Company's steamer Vectis had not arrived
at Aiexandria when the Ellora left, nor had she
been met with on the passage. The Peninsular
and Oriental Company's steamer Alhambra, char-
tered by the French Government for the convey-
ance of troops to Alexandria (en route to China),
arrived last night at 11 p.m., with the second de-
tachment, consisting of 171 officers and men. Her
Majesty's ship St. Jean d'Acre, Capt. T. P. Thomp-
son, came into port on the afternoon of the 10th
inst., after cruising for some days in the Malta
channel, and the Orion, to day, also from a cruise
off the island. The St. Jean d'Acre left port again
to-day. Capt. Thompson proceeded home in the
Ellora this morning. The Caesar is under orders
for Syria, and is expected to sail in a day or two.
The receiving ship Hibernia, line-of-battle ships
.Tames Watt and Orion, despatch-boat Caradoc,
and gun-boat Boxer are the only men-of-war
in port. The Messageries Imperial's steamer
Amerique arrived on the 11th instant from
Marseilles, with provisions for the French expe-
ditionary force in Syria. She left the same day
for Beyrout. The steamer Gange, of the same com-
pany, which broke down on her way from Malta
to Beyrout, with French troops on board, and put
into Navarin, made her appearance on the morning
of the 14th inst. (to-day), in tow of the steamer
Indus, also of the Messageries Imperiale Company.
The troops by her had arrived in Syria. The Gange,
in tow of the Indus, left this evening for Marseilles.
The following English screw steamers have arrived
here during the past week ; Brena, on the 9th inst.,
from Odessa and Constantinople, with grain, &c.,
for London ; Laconia, 10th inst., from Liverpool
and Gibraltar, with a general cargo, for Syria and
Constantinople; Scotia, 11th inst., from London,
with coals for Malta (to load fruit at Patras);
Smyrna, 12th inst., from Smyrna, with fruit, &c.,
for London ; Araxes, 12th inst., from Liverpool and
Gibraltar, with a general cargo, for Alexandria;
Tiber, 13th inst:, from Liverpool and Gibraltar,
with a general cargo, for Alexandria; Colocotronis,
13th inst., from Newcastle and Plymouth, with
coals for Patras. All the above vessels left for their
respective destinations a few hours after their arri-
val. The Russian screw steamer Boug left on the
9th for Havre and London.
Another letter, dated Valetta, Sept. 15, 2 30 p.m.,
says :—" Since despatching my letter last night,
and before the Vectis left with the mail for Mar-
seilles, the Peninsular and Oriental Company's
steamer Euxine came into port with the outward
overland portion of the Calcutta and China mails,
and London dates to the 10th list. She left, after
replenishing her coal, for Alexandria. Among the
passengers by her for Malta, were—Mr. Scamp,
Civil Engineer (who has been despatched hero by
her Majesty's Government, with reference to the
extension of the harbour scheme) Major Colville,
R. 8., Capt. Millet, 23d Regiment, Ensign Hon. J.
Abercromby, R. 8., Lieutenant Glynn, R.B. The
French Messageries Impel iales Company's steamer
Simois, f-em Beyrout, and the English screw
steamier Agia Sofia, with Indian corn, Sce., from
Smyrna, arrived last night or eerly this morn-
ing. The Simois leaves at 4 p.m., with a mail
for England, via Marseilles. The Belgian screw
steamer Gustaf Pastor, from Constantinople, and
her Majesty's steam troopship Himalaya, from
Corfu, have just entered port. Her Majesty's line-
of-battle ship St. Jean d'Acre is still in sight, sail-
ing off the island."
A Board of Admiralty, consisting of the Duke of
Somerset, Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir R. S. Dundas,
K.C.8., Rear-Admiral the Hon. F. T. Pelham, C. 8.,
Rear-Admiral the Right Hon. Lord Clarence
Paget, C. 8., M.P., Mr. Whitbread, M.P., Rear-
Admiral Sir Baldwin. W. Walker, K.C.8., Con-
troller of the Navy ; Col. G. T. Green, Director
of Engineering and Agricultural Works, and Capt.
J. Moore, C. 8., private secretary to the First Lord,
yesterday paid an official visit to the departments
of Woolwich dockyard. They were received on
their entrance within the gates in their official
capacity, by an Admiralty salute from the guns of
the flagship Fisgard ; a guard of honour, formed by
a company of Royal Me-ine Light Infantry, with
the regimental band, under Col. Stransham, Cern_
mandent. The Commodore Superintendent, Hon.
J. R. Drummond,
and b is staff of officials, were like-
wise in attendance, consisting of Commander 11. E.
8. Hawker, RN. ; Mr. Thomas and Mr. Hall,
'l asters of the Fisgard ; Mr. Philip Thornton, acting
master shipwright, and corneae edant of the dock-
yard brigade of Artillery; Mr. Piers and Mr. Henry
Johnstone, storekeeper and assistant storekeeper of
the yard ; together with the commanding officers of
the ships in commission. Their Lordships arrived
at a quarter before 12 o'clock, and left at 3 o'clock,
during which time every person unconnected with
the department was rigidly excluded. The;* Lord-
ships, after transacting business w ith the commodore
at his office, proceeded to inspect the smithery, in
which great improvements are in progress to pre•
vent the smoke, of -which the workmen and the
vicinity have made constant complaints. They
then proceeded to the saw mills, visited the Repulse,
of 91 guns under construction on No. 5 slip, and
the Wolverine, of 21 guns, on slip No. 6, the latter
ship being in a very advanced state.whar The boat
house was next inpected, and the fs, az,.
Arriving opposite the testing-house, their
Lordships went on board the Steamboat Lucy,
belonging to the East and West India Dock Com-
pany, on board of which vessel one of Robert's
powerful patent twin pumps is fitted for the service
of the fire brigade of the docks. Their Lordships
stood on the paddle-box and witnessed the working
of the pump, which was expressly put into opera-
tion by the patentee, throwing a volume of five tons
of water per minute a distance of 200 yards. The
engine is !similar to, and of the same construction
as, the ship's pump p fitted on board H.M.S. Indus-
try. Their Lordships then returned by the sea wall,
examining the Devastation and Driver paddlewheel
repairing in docks Nos. 2 and 3, pass-
ing!tea
by
vseisispNo,
4, from which the Anson, 91 guns,
successfully launched on
was sucSaturday, and exa-
mining of the Caledoniaof 91
the frame , guns, about
to be built on the same slip. The now gun vessel,
,
British frigate, of 51 guns
of 6 guns, and the on
slips Nos. 1 and 2, were next examined, after which
they proceeded on board the new gun vessel Land-
rail, Commander Martin, now fitting out in basin
for the Coast of Africa, and inspected the general
arrangements for the ventilation and comfort of the
crew. After visiting the Spiteful, also fitting for sea,
and the new gun vessels just received from the con-
tractors, the Board proceeded to inspect the factory,
the several works on hand being explained by Mr.
Atherton, chief engineer. The inspection of the
dockyard gave great satisfaction to the Board, who
1,1".0 to express their
great pleasure at
f,to order and regularity which appeared to pre.val

in all parts of the establishment. After partaking of
luncheon with the Commodore they repaired to the
Royal Marine batracks, and were received by the
entire division, who afterwards marched past,
formed into columns of companies, reformed in line,
faced about, wheeled into divisions of companies,
saluted the colours, and retired to quarters. His
Grace expressed himself satisfied with their appear-
ance and movements, which he informed the Com-
mandant were " very fair," and then proceeded
to the ship gun-drill battery under the com-
mand of Captain Clavell, Royal Marines. On
their Lordships' entrance into the battery, which
strongly resembles the quarterdeck of a ship of the
line, they were received with a general salute from
the men, who consist entirely of young recruits,
and who have only undergone nine days' drill.
Notwithstanding their short experience, they went
through a succession of great-gun drill with extra-
ordinary proficiency, manned the starboard and lar-
board sides with admirable expedition and a cool
obedience to orders which called forth their Lord-
ships' constant approbation. The heavy guns were
cast loose, lowered, pointed, and fired with the judg-
ment and experience of men long in the service, and
sponged and reloaded without confusion. Their
Lordships, on leaving the battery, desired Captain
Clavell to inform his drill instructors, the non-com-
missioned officers under his charge, that they had
remarked with much satisfaction the result of their
energy and attention, and the aptness of their men,
which conferred great credit on the establishment.
The inspection of the barracks, library, &c., occupy-
ing an hour, the board proceeded to the Royal Ar-
senal, where they visited the Armstrong gun fac-
tory, through the whole of which department they
were conducted by Mr. Anderson, the resident
superintendent, and left for London at 6 o'clock.
The screw steamship Donegal, 101, Capt. Broad-
head, was appointed to 'go up Hamoaze from the
Sound yesterday (Wednesday) to have her defects
made good.
The screw steam gun vessel Espoir, 5, Comman-
der Douglas, was towed by the steamer Zephyr,
Bond, master, into Ply mouth Sound on Tuesday,
and placed off the Devonport Dockyard to have
defects made good.

The Trusty, 14, iron-plated floating battery, is
still in dock at Chatham undergoing examination
by the officers connected with the dockyard. The
result of the survey up to the present time has been
to discover that her timbers are in an exceedingly
rotten state, and her bottom greatly damaged by
the ravages of the marine insect. It has also been
discovered that the interior has been very much
injured by the great shaking she underwent
from the concussion of the shot fired from the Arm-
strong guns during the recent experiments made
upon her. It is not yet decided what will be done
to her in the way of alterations and repairs until
she has been inspected by the Lords of the Admi-
ralty at their visit to the dockyard this day.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—R. R. Hopkins, S. H. Scroggs,
W. J. Mayne, G. A. F. C. Seebles, W. B. Inman,
and R. J. M. Macleod, assist.-clerks, to the Marl-
borough, as supernumeraries ; T. A. Miller and J. J.
Gormally, assist.-clerks, to the Impregnable.