The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-15 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

The Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, Secretary of
State for War, accompanied by Mrs. Herbert and
their son, yesterday paid a visit to Woolwich
Arsenal. They were received by the heads of de-
partments, and, by special desire, they were simply
treated with the formalities due to visitors of dis-
tinction, and were conducted through the various
branches of the establishment, which they visited
throughout.

The Secretary of State for War, having had un-
der consideration the subject of the supply of coal
to the various troops in the several barracks,
whereby a considerable saving in that article is
likely to be effected, has determined on adopting a
new system, and accordingly a circular on the sub-
ject has been forwarded to the Generals in com-
mand at Chatham, Portsmouth, and Aldershot,
where the proposed system is to he first tried be-
fore it is introduced into the army generally. Dur-
ing the past summer the whole of the barrack-
rooms at Chatham have been furnished with new
grates which possess a considerable advantage over
those hitherto in use, each of the grates being much
smaller than the old pattern, but supplied with a
hot air shaft, whereby each room is better heated,
at a less consumption of coals. The new cooking
apparatus, fitted up in the garrison by Grant and
Bentham, has also been found to answer admirably,
and a considerable saving of coal effected by its
use. The circular issued by the Secretary of State
for War will abolish the present system of issuing
coals to each room, according to the number of men
occupying it, a certain quantity being supplied in
lieu thereof, while to each cooking apparatus there
will be issued a quantity proportioned to the num-
ber of men. As soon as the system has been tried
at Chatham, Portsmouth, and Aldershot, reports
are to be made to the Secretary of State for War,
after which the system will be adopted throughout
the army.
In consequence of the strength of the Royal
Marine Artillery having been very much reduced,
volunteering has been opened at each of the divi-
sions of Royal Marine Light Infantry, and a num-
ber of volunteers have been thus obtained. Yester-
day the names of 50 men who had volunteered from
the Chatham division were forwarded to the Deputy
Adjutant-General for approval, and, 17 of the num-
ber having been selected, the men left Chatham and
proceeded to Portsmouth to join head-quarters.
A number of the 40-pounder Armstrong guns,
manufactured according to the improved system
adapted to the heavy class of those guns, were yes-
terday proved at the Royal Arsenal butt at Wool-
wich, under an exceedingly severe test, and passed
with the most perfect satisfaction, the difficulties
which opposed the construction of the heavy cannon
at the outset having been successfully overcome.
The right wing of the Royal Artillery depot at
Woolwich, mustering about 900 men, were yester-
day assembled on parade, in command of Col. Ken-
nedy, for the purpose of selecting a sufficient num-
ber of gunners to be transferred to the new battery,
in command of Major G. Davis, V.C., intended to
replace Capt. Mercer's Battery, under orders for
New Zealand. The staff and drivers have already
been appointed, and accordingly the new battery
is now nearly complete.
Among the improvements of the establishment
of Woolwich Arsenal may be mentioned, as of con-
siderable importance, the roofing in of the entire
length of the landing wharf on either side of the
pier, usually crowded with cases and packages of
war stores, in preparation for removal, and which
are subject to damage from exposure to the weather.
This will now be effectually remedied, as the land-
ing berth from one extremity to the other is in
course of being sheltered by a galvanized iron shed,
which will protect the stores, as well as the men
employed in their removal, from the inclemency of
the seasons, and greatly facilitate the operations
and expedite the labour.
PEMBROKE DOCKYARD.--/-The board of Royal
Commissioners for investigating the system adopted
in the dockyard for keeping a correct account of
the expenditure, and the general working of the
yard, assembled on the 6th inst., at Pembroke
Yard. After closely inspecting the building slips,
workshops, sheds, &c., they commenced their
examination of the principal officers, and on Fri-
day left for Plymouth. On leaving they compli-
mented the officers for the assistance they had
afforded them in their labours, and the very
straightforward replies they had received to all
questions concerning the mode of carrying on the
different duties of the yard. From what we can
understand, the Commissioners find that in the case
of the yards it has been all "cry and little wool"
in the House of Commons ; and if they continue to
the end of their labours to be as well satisfied as
they are up to the present time, some difficulty
will be found to rake up sufficient matter to form
the contents of another useless blue book. The
public will be heartily sick of these Royal Com-
missions, when it is known the amount of money
they have cost the country during the present
year.—Plymouth Mail.

DETONPORT DOCKYARD.—The Royal Commis-
sioners of inquiry into the control and management
of the Royal dockyards arrived here on Saturday,
from Pembroke. On Monday, the Board, con-
sisting of Sir H. Willoughby (chairman), Earl
Gifford, Mr. R. Delglish, and Rear-Admiral
Spencer Robinson, with Mr. Arthur Price, RN.
(secretary), and Mr. Wise, sat at the office of Rear-
Admiral Superintendent Sir Thomas Pasley.
Several of the principal officers of the yard were
examined.