The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-19 00:00:00

. .
' —. ••• - • - - ..,
. .
. .
e
, . , •:;%i.,rt.:-..: -,ii 1-- 4
.. --4 -1-•%-‘
. ,
ial.
, ,44
•
•
.• . • Lgc,
,„ • -,..4 A!
tf 04, 1 ew 1. 70
. .
. t • ,- \*,
...-.
1 •,‘• -•- - ..i.,, • ; ---iy16111111Wai: . ,04) •,,,,,,1111' C 8
(
," A- •
...:'„
v,7j-,
I 1,..
~•. ~,..
.0. ,4,..:::..,.A.„N.... ilk ~,. . ---; 7 14:f
7,..,
it,,,, . ~,
.„,_,,,,--e
...It:N4l,4_,..hialt,
79.."
:t..4i,,,...tit0,
,4.. •
.47,4,0 `♦~~~,_ 4 ..
, - .
.. . w.
~,,i,T..2*1;: ii:,-;,,,,Ei,.5,0,' iii,i, ~.....; , , pig;;., ''• °74:- (iilliCazami—':\ 49iti f.--4.'3'-' .."
-: -.--- -
/-''",
is +
- e
...,.,....

ENV

717-7 F.
c 4.1.17„,
ta*t:
4 .scr,s4i.tAq).-.
•
la stands Fort Monckton, ltßr ;kr' •1
Stokes Bay ; and, with its 47 hay 4e,,-rA Az
with those of its earthen auxiliarfisatteir
a strong point on which leans the ex*Nme e
point of the new line of defensive works being
erected on the western side of the harbour of Ports-
mouth, and extending by Fort Gomer to Fort Elson
—a distance of upwards of four miles—and may be
said almost to represent two sides of a square. On
the sea face, from Fort Monckton, a plateau rises
abruptly from the low ground beneath to a height
averaging about 18 feet, and extending to Lord Ash-
) burton's marine residence at the end of this portion
of the line near Fort Gomer. On this plateau stands
Anglesea-terrace, Alver Cliff, the residence of Mr.
Bingham, the well-known London police magistrate,
Alver-bank, the late residence of his Royal Highness
Prince Alfred, while studying on board her Ma-
jesty's ship Britannia, and the beautiful marine re-
sidence of Lord Ashburton, to which we have already
referred. '1 he whole of these, with the exception of
Anglesea-terraee,will be pulled down to makeroom
for the forts, &c., about to be erected ; as on this
plateau will be concentrated the main strength of
this part of the position. Commencing from the
eastern end, there will be there formed a strong
battery of 11 guns, firing over all, and sweepingthe
ground in front, the line of railway, and the rear of
the auxiliary batteries on the right flank of Fort
Monckton. In the rear of this latter work is a
quantity of swamp through which a wide trench
has been dug, and in connexion with this trench
along the low ground at the foot of the plateau on
which the chief forts will be erected runs a wide
deep trench and rampart at an obtuse angle, the
apex inclined inward towards the centre of Angle-
sea;terrace, and the western arm extending to op-
posite Alver Cliff. In the centre, or gorge of this
work, runs out an immense work of rampart and
moat, which, to describe plainly, may be called the
two sides of a triangle with the apex cut off; this
will be joined to the main line by drawbridges, &c.,
and the intended Stokes Bay Railway will pass over
its eastern parapet. On the main line, in the rear
and centre of this work, wili„_biaEcc.;A:ja smaller
work, with guns sweeping-its interior and the line
of moats in all directions. At Alver Cliff, moat and
rampart form a sharp angle for sufficient distance to
mount a battery of guns to sweep the continuance
of the moat and the ground in front, while in the
rear of this will be erected one of the heavy forts,
mounting about 30 guns, which, as we have before
stated, will form the really defensive works of the
position. The line continues its course to AlVer-
bank, and thence to its extreme western point,
opposite Fort Gomel., where it will end in a strong
casemated square work, surrounded by ditch and
morass, and under the guns of Fort Gomer.
The works at Alver-bank will be of a most ex-
tensive character, including an entrance to the
country inside the works by a public roadway
from the new road to be formed outside the line of
works ; rolling wooden drawbridges over the moats,
and a culvert for the admission and retention of
water, &c. In the rear of this, on the elevated
ground or plateau, will be erected another of the
large forts, and at the extreme rear of the line a
batt:::ry, or redan, mounting 11 guns, similar to the
one at the eastern extremity. In advance of and on
the right of the whole line are the two auxiliary
batteries of 21 8-inch guns (the Brown Down bat-
teries). The File of defences from this point form a
right angle from Fort Gomer, with its 32 pieces of
the heaviest eflibre, to Fort Elson, at Prater.lake,
on the western siee of Portsmouth harbour, and
comprising five detached forts, hereafter to be con-
nected by ditch and para/Net, Forts Gomer, Grange,
liowner, Broekhurst, and Elson; the first and last
named completed, and the other three in course of
construction. StamEng on the parapet at Fort El-
son we see on the opposite or eastern side of Ports-
mouth harbour the y.-oiks of Hilsea, the point
whence we started, and have visited the entire cor-
don of defensive fortifiec.tions already in existence,
and tho:e new in course of construction at an enor-
mous expense, for the protection of Portsmouth
.harbour, its shipping, dockyard, and arsenal. Ex-
tensive as they are, and will be when completed, we
are still told by military men that the plan must re-
main incomplete, and Portsmouth harbour still vul-
nerable to the attacks of a powerful and enterpris-
ing enemy, until the two sea forts on the Noman
and Dean shoals arc built and armed, and Ports-
down-hill regularly fortified.

211 E NAVY.

Rear-Admiral Sir A. Milne, K.C.8., arrived on
Monday at De fonport. On Tuesday morning the
Admiral hoisted his flag temporarily on board the
screw steam frigate Emerald, 51, Captain Arthur
Cuming. The usual salutes were given. During
the day, accompanied by Capt. Barnard, he inspected
his flagship the Nile. 90, repairing in Koyham
steamyard. It is understood that in about 10 days
Admiral Milne will leave Plymouth in the Emerald
for the West Indies, and that he will in her make
a complete survey of the station, preparatory to the
arrival of the Nile with his family two months
after.

The screw line-of-battle ships in Portland har-
bour are the Edgar, 91, flagship of Rear-Admiral
Erskine, second in command of the Channel fleet ;
Donegal, 101 ; Hero, 91 ; Algiers, 91; Trafalgar,
91 ; Aboukir, 91 ; and the Mars, 80. The screw
frigate Diadem, 32 ; the screw corvette Mutine, 18 ;
and the gunboats Flying Fish, 6, and the Partridge,
2. The paddlewheel steam frigate Prometheus, 6,
and the Coastguard ship Blenheim are alto at
anchor. The Royal Albert, 121, is daily expected
from Plymouth.
Her Majesty's paddlewheel steam-vessel Weser,
Commander Henry J. Raby, formerly belonging to
the Prussian navy, fitted out for service in the river
Plate in October last at Woolwich and despatched
for her destination on the 14th of that month,
after having returned to Woolwich from
Greenbithe in a disabled condition from the effects
of her inappropriate and ponderous machinery and
heavy cargo of stores, and having proceeded a
second timeon her destined voyage, under the escort
of the steam-sloop Mutine, yesterday returned to
Woolwich under sail, her extreme depth of water
and constant immersion rendering it impossible to
supply the engines, so as to keep up steam. On
the official visit of Admiral Bowles and Capt. Far-
quhar, who were commissioned by the Lords of the
Admiralty to inspect the Weser at Portsmouth,
and to report faithfully their impression, Capt.
Farquhar stated that he had no hesitation in pro-
nouncing her totally unfit for the voyage, and that
he must belie his conscience in forwarding a diffe-
rent opinion. A version of the above report having
been forwarded to the Admiralty, their lord-
ships immediately transmitted a telegram to Com-
mander Raby to proceed to Woolwich with the
least possible delay. The Weser consequently
sailed from Portsmouth on Monday at half-
past three p.m., and arrived in the river at
Woolwich yesterday at 10 a.m. The expense of fuel
alone during the three months' fruitless attempt
to despatch the Weser on her destined voyage,
for which she has been thus tardily pronounced
incurably unfit, is stated to exceed £1,500. The
accommodation for both officers and crew is on the
scantiest possible scale, the bunks for the petty
officers being four feet three inches high, and six
feet square, and doomed to satisfy the exigencies of
four adults, both for sleeping and messing quarters.
The unhealthy condition of the officers' berths may
be imagined when we state that the gold lace of
the caps and other portions of tho uniforms is lite-
rally blackened by the continued soaking and inun-
dation of every particle of their clothing during the
voyage to and from Portsmouth and Woolwich. It
is expected that the officers and crew will be trans-
ferred to the Hecate or the Alecto, the former vessel
being the most desirable and first for commission.
The Wanderer, 4, screw despatch gunvessel, Com-
mander M. R. Pechell, arrived in harbour.t at
Chatham on Tuesday evening, from the Medi er-
her
ran
bulkheadsto be
poaridotoliffe; She is nfiotttitt;shda
George A. Phayre, from North America and
Woolwich,the
Her Majesty's steam sloop Basilisk, Commander
d
disturbed.
uarnbye do.f
in excellent condition as regards the whole of her
West Indies, was paid off yesterday at_ _
officers and crew, the latter consisting of a total of
165 men and boys. The payment of the crew com-
menced at 12 o clock, in the presence of Commo-
dore the Superintendent of the Dockyard the Hon.
James Drummond, and terminated at 1.15, some
of the men having received, an arrear of pay amount-
inc, to between £BO to i
The 0 aggregate sum ex-
ceeding9i tlie
commodore's
inspection of
' £3,000, exclusive of the officers' pay,who
aro 18 in number.
the ship was stated to be extremely satisfactory.
The B to be taken into dock to be
repaired recommission.
She will require a new
set of
ba) rderailisk is ordered
thorough overhaul of machinery,
(s
having been four years iecommission.
Ilis Netherlands Majesty's screw steam-frigate
Adrwral Van Wassenaar, Capt. B. Van Voss, from
Cherbourg. for Lisbon, arrived on Tuesday in Ply-
mouth Sound, and was received by the custamary
salutes from the citadel and the flagship Impregna-
ble, 104, Capt.. Stewart..
The 101 l cw g appoint meats were trade yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Lieut. George Poole to the
Chesapeake, and Richard L. B. Head, Assistant-
Surgeon to the Impregnable, for the Nautilus.
The funeral of Paymaster Monkhouse Graham
Taylor, of the third battalion, at Chatham garrison.
took place yester .!a2- of erno( n, with all the military
honours usually accorded to an officer of the de-
ceased's rank.
Lieut. J. C. Cox, Ist battalion 20th' Regiment,
has received orders to proceed from his depot at
Chatham, and embark for Calcutta; to join his re-
giment, to which he has been appointed instructor
In musketry.