The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-19 00:00:00

TIII? NAVY.

The Perseverance screw troopship, Com. E. R.
Power, was taken out of the steam basin at Ports-
mouth yesterday, and steamed outside the harbour
to test her boilers and machinery. On reaching
St. Helen's roads the piston of her after engine gave
out, and a steam tug was despatched to her assist-
ance, by which she was towed again into harbour
in the evening.
The Dauntless, screw, 31, Capt. L. G. Heath,
C,8., arrived at Spithe,ad, on Tuesday evening, from
Southampton water. On coming to anchor she
saluted the flag of the Commander-in-Chief, Admi-
ral W. H. Bruce, which was duly returned by the
Victory. She weighed her anchor again early yes-
terday morning, and left by the Western Channel.

The Sirius has been undocked from No. 1 dock at
Portsmouth and berthed alongside the sheer jetty,
where she will be completed in her preparations
and fitment as a target ship. _ .

The Sprightly, paddle, Master Commander Allen,
has been placed in dock at Portsmouth to clean
copper, &c.
The Prince of Wales, 131, screw three-decker at
Portsmouth, is nearly complete in the fitting of her
valves and coppering, in No. 7 dock. In No. 8
dock the Cygnet, 5, screw, having passed her sur-
vey by the master builder and his staff, has been
taken in hand for the fitment of her valves and

for coppering.
The pay-books of the screw steam sloop Grey-
hound, 17, Commander Sullivan, at Devonport,
have arrived there, and it is probable that the crew
will be paid wages to-day (Thursday).
Sir William Snow Harris, P.R.S., a member of
the Royal Western Yacht Club, was on the 14th
inst. eltcted an honorary member of the Royal
Yacht Squadron. The noblemen and gentlemen of
the squadron consider that Sir William has by his
scientific exertions rendered important services to
the naval interests of the country.
In the account of the launch of the after part of
the frigate Constance, 50, at Devonport, which ap-
peared in The Sun of Monday it should have been
stated that the entire operation was under the
supervision of Mr. James Peake, the master builder
of that establishment.

The artisans at Keyham steamyard are cutting
off the fore corners of the propeller of the screw
steam frigate Emerald, 50, Captain A. Cumming,
now in No. 1 dock.

The building of the screw steam sloop Pantaloon,
11, at Devonport, is nearly completed ; and the ways
are being laid down for launching her.
The screw steamship Orion, 91, Captain J. B. E.
Frere, in Plymouth Sound, took on board her pow-
der yesterday. _ _

Her Majesty's sailing corvette Havannab, 19, re-
cently given to the Ragged School Committee, at
Cardiff, is to be furnished by the Government with
two guns-18-pounders, and gear, complete.
The third annual visitation of the Marine So-
ciety's Benevolent Institution, the Earl of Romney
president, took place yesterday on board the so-
ciety's ship Venus, moored off Woolwich dockyard,
Lieut.-Commander T. D. Sulivan, R.N., superin-
tendent. The great advantages accruing to the pub-
lic from this society in every view of its policy,
humanity, and charity, and its importance to the
country at large, as well as to the forlorn destitute
boys who are the objects for whom the institution
was promoted, have obtained for it a considerable
degree of public sympathy and support. A large
assembly of ladies and gentlemen yesterday accom-
panied his lordship and the committee on board,
and a number of visitors interested in the institu-
tion attended the examination, and were extremely
gratified with the aptitude and proficiency of the
boys, 140 in number, about 50 of whom were called
up in to give proof'of the progress which they had
made since the last visitation, which was exces-
sively gratifying. They were also put through a
course of exercise in the rigging, working the great
guns, small arms exercise, rowing in the boats, &c..
and acquitted themselves with perfect satisfaction.
Five of the lads, after having passed through the
necessary course of instruction, are transferrgd
weekly to the flagship Fisgard, and are enrolled
in the service of the Royal Navy ; others are
apprenticed to the Mercantile Marine, and are
thus rendered capable of becoming useful
members of society, and are removed from
the scenes of vice and penury in which they were

found.
The officers of the steam reserve and the factory
department at Woolwich yesterday proceeded to
Greenhithe, and went on board her Majesty's ship
Bloodhound, after the adjustment of her compasses,
and accompanied her down the measured mile on a
trial of her engines. She subsequently continued
her voyage for the West Coast of Africa, calling at
Portsmouth and Plymouth.
The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty :—J. R. Anderson. assist.-surg., ad-
ditional, to the Fisgard ; J. Colwell, promoted to
the rank of paymaster-in-chief ; J. Lewis, paymas-
ter, additional, to the Britannia ; W. H. Hills, pay-
master, additional, to the Impregnable ; H. H.
Burmiston, paymaster, additional, to the Cam-
bridge ; A. P. Freeman, clerk to the Sanspareil ;
T. W. Thorne, assist.-clerk, to the Emerald.
The Committee of Military Organisation, of
which Sir James Graham is the president, have re-
commended the reappointment of a Director-Gene-
ral of Artillery, formerly held by General Cator,
the duties of which have recently been carried out
by Colonel Tulloh, at Woolwich, in the capacity
of Inspector of Artillery, simply. The committee
have also recommended the appointment of a Direc-
tor-General of the manufacturing departments of
the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich. It is at present
undecided whether the new Director-General will
be a civil or military officer.

OPENING OF TILE EXETER AND YEOVIL RAIL-
WAY.—EXETER, Wednesday.—The line from this city to
Yeovil, which is an extension of the London and South-
Western Railway, was opened by the chairman and direc-
tors this afternoon. The line from Exeter to Yeovil is 49
miles in length, and the terminus is in Queen-street,
Exeter, from whence it is intended to carry on the line to
the St. David's station of the Bristol and Exeter Rail-
way, and ultimately a mixed gauge will be laid down
from this station to Crediton and on to Bideford. An
unbroken gauge from London to Exeter and the North of
Devon will thus be laid down. The citizens of Exeter cele-
brated the opening by pullic rejoicings. Bands of music
paraded the streets, tradesmen closed their shops, and dis-
played flags and bunting of a varied character. A similar
festive spirit prevailed in the various towns along the line,
and at Yeovil, Axminster, Colyton, and nOrlitoll, congratu-
latory addresses were presented to the chairman and directors
of the line as they passed by the stations. At Exeter, the
mayor, Mr. Drake, presented an address to the directors, in
which th were heartily conratulated on the opening of a
line which would be the meangs of re-opening to the citizens
the communication with the metropolis by a direct road
through a populous district for connexionears ast almost un-
' approachable, and which led to the of our great
national arsenals, by which a great public benefit was con-
ferred. On the arrival of the directors at the Queen-street
to
station, early in the afternoon, the Mayor invited them in
the name of his fellow citizens, a grand banquet, which
took place on Northernhay.

TI-1111 I) EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, Seco' o'clock.

IMPERIAL PARLI AMEN T.

HOUSE OF LDRDS—(THis EVENING.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Macclesfield Gas and the Horsham and Guildford
Direct Railway Bills were read a third time and passed.
LABOURERS' COTTLGES (SCOTLAND) BILL.
On the motion that the house go into committee on this
bill,
The Earl of AIRLIE took the opportunity of explaining,
certain misunderstandings, and directed the attention of
their lordships to the state of agricultural labour in Scot-
land, and said when the bill was in committee he should
move an amendment to the effect that the cost of improve-
ments for cottages should not be made a permanent charge
on the estate.

After a short discussion in which the Marquis of Bath,
Lord Redesdale, and the Earl of Galloway took part,
The house went into committee, and the amondment
alluded to having been made, the bill was reported.
CRIMINAL LUNATICS ASYLUM BILL
(AMENDMENT).
This bill was read a third time and passed.
LANDS CLAUSES CONSOLIDATION ACT
I(AMENDMENT) BILL.

Earl DE GREY moved the second reading of this bill,
and said one of the clauses en.powered the Secretary at
War to take land for the defence of the realm. The bill
did not increase the power given to the Secretary at War
under the Defence Act, but it enabled him to avail himself
of the machinery of the present measure.
The Duke of SOMERSET said the bill did not give any
new power to the War department ; it only gave improved
machinery. With respect to the Admiralty the alterations,
he wished could be better discussed in committee.
Lord CHELMSFORD thought the bill conferred sue
new powers on the Lords of Admiralty, and therefore it
ought to be most carefully considered.
After a few words from Earl DE GREY, the bill was
read a second time.

COLEWORT BARRACKS (PORTSMOUTH) BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
ANNUITY TAX ABOLITION BILL.

The house went int* committee on this bill, which was
reported without amendment.

LEITH HARBOUR BILL.

This bill was read a third time and passed.
REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH ACT (AMEND-

MENT) BILL.
This bill was also read a second time.
CENSUS (ENGLAND) BILL.

Earl GRAN VIL LE 'said, in moving the second reading
of this bill, he need not make any observations, as its ob-
jects were so well known.
The bill was read a second time.

CENSUS (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was also read a third time.
STATE OF THE PUBLIC BUSINESS.
The Earl of DERBY then rose to call the attention of
the house to the mode of conducting the business of that
house.