The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-26 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

In consequence of the activity now observable in
the shipbuilding department at Chatham dock-
yard, and the exertions which are bring made for
the completion of those vessels now on the stocks
which are ordered to be brought forward for launch-
ing, orders have been issued for the whole of the
mechanics and labourers employed in the steam
sawing mills at the dockyard to work extra hours,
both morning and evening, in order that no delay
may be occasioned in furnishing the timber re-
quired in the shipwright department. The follow-
ing line-of-battle and other screw steamers are now
building in the dockyard, several of which are in
a forward stag i and will be ready for launching—
soon—the Bulwark 91, 800-horse power, about half
completed; the Royal Oak, 91, 800-horse power,
only recently commenced, but already making con-
siderable progress ; the Undaunted, 51, 600-horse
power, completed, and waiting to be launched on
the Ist of January ; the Belvedere, 51, 600-horse
poWer, a sister frigate to the Undaunted, commenced
a few months since ; the Rattlesnake, 20, 400-
horse-power, one of the improved screw corvettes
designed by Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker, the late
Surveyor of the Navy, and about one-half finished ;
the Reindeer, 17, 200-horse power, one of the last
vessels commenced at this dockyard; and the Myr-
midon, 4, 200-horse power, just put in frame.
In addition to above, the line-of-battle ship Bom-
bay, 91. built in the East Indies, is in dock, being
lengthened and converted into a screw steamer,
and the large sailing frigate Arethusa, 51, is in the
adjoining dock undergoing the same process. The
Isis, 40, sailing ship, is lying alongside the
dockyard wall being fitted for a coal ship for the
African coast ; end the Trincomalee, 26, under-
going the necessary alterations to adapt her for a
training ship for the Naval Coast Volunteers, at
Sunderland. Pl'he Linnet, 5, 200-horse power, is
being complete afloat for the second-class steam
reserve.

The paddlewheel steam sloop Styx, 6, Comman-
der John. Cave, four days from Halifax, arrived at
Bermuda, November 24. She is under orders for
the West Indies, to relieve the screw steam cor-
vette Cossack, 20, Captain Richard Moorman,
which vessel, according to the Bernzuda Royal
Gazette, is ordered home. The Cossack was com-
missioned June 15, 1859, when she went to her
present station. The screw steam gunvessel Lan-
drail, 5, Commander Thomas IL M. Martin, from
England, was expected at Bermuda about the
Ist inst.

The paddlewheel steam sloop Spiteful, 6, Com-
mander Wilson, from Sheerness and Portsmouth,
arrived at Plymouth on Monday morning with
supernumeraries and with seamen and marines
Paid off from the Amethyst, 26, at Sheerness. She
went up Hamoaze in the afternoon. and should the
weather continue fine, will tow to Pembroke the
coal depot Alarm, which will be in charge of
Assist-Master-Attendant Commander Paul and a
party of riggers from the Devonpart dockyard.
Rear-Admiral Stopford struck his flag on Satur-
day evening on board the Royal Albert, 121, Capt.
Henry Lacon, in Hamoaze, and is gone on leave of
absence.

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

The following correspOndence has been sent us
for publication :

St. James's-place, Dec. 13,

My Lord,—Some of the officers commanding volunteer
corps in the metropolis met at the Volunteer Service
on Monday, Dec. 3, to considrr the question of the admis-
sion of.members of the Society of Foresters into their re-
spective corps.
Having reason to believe that the Government wei e
opposed to the admission of members of secret societies into
the volunteer force as separate bodies, whether small or
large, end agre&ng with this view, we passed the following
resolution :

" That the commanding officers present do all in their
power io give t ffect to the views of the Governmnt, as
,bove stated, and pledge themselves not to admit into their
respective corps members of secret societies in separate
bodies, small or large."
Since then my attention has been drawn to the enclosed
paragraph, headed " Foresters Rifles," which appeared in
the Volunteer Service Gazette of Saturday last. From this
it would seem that Lord Radstock had communicated to a
body of metropolitan Foresters what passed at the meeting
to which I have referred, and had likewise expressed to
them the views which the Government are believed to
entertain with reference to the admission of Foresters as
sepal ate bodies into the volunteer force. Nevertheless they
resolved :

" That this meeting is of opinion that ono or more com-
panies of Forester Volunteers should forthwith be orga-
nised in this (the west) district, and pledges itself to co-
operate in the movement now being made for that purpose,
notwithstanding the communication from Lord Radstock."

This resolution can, I imagine, only have been adopted
by the Foresters in the belief that the views of the Govern-
ment, as expressed to them in Lord Radstock's letter; would
not be enforced; and as this question of the admission of
members of I lie Society of Foresters, or of other secret socie-
ties, into the Volunteer force, as separate bodies, is one the
importance of which cannot, I think, be exaggerated, I
would venture to suggest to your Lordship the propriety of
some public official announcement being made of the views
and intentions of the Government upon this subject which
may serve as a guide to officers commanding Volunteer
corps.—l remain
,your lordship's obedient servant,

ELMO.

War-office, Dec. 20.

My Lord, —I am directed by Mr. Secretary Herbert to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th instant,
relative to the admission of members of the Society of
Foresters into Volunteer corps.

In reply, I am to inform you that while Mr. Herbert is
fully sensible of the public spirit displayed by the Foresters
who desire to form separate corps or exclusive companies in
the ♦arious metropolitan corps, he is absolutely precluded
from sanctioning their proposal, as the regulations of the
service do not allow the members of any secret society, as
such, to constitute corps, or portions of corps, in the Volun-
teer force.—l have the honour to be, my Lord,
Your Lordship's obedient, servant,
DE GREY AND lttroN.
Lord Etch°, St. James's-place.

The presentation of a silver cup to Captain Basil
Sparrow, of the 12th .Efex Volunteers, was made
the occasion of some interesting proceeding; and
speeches. The cup was presented at a puFlic din-
ner in the Corn Exchange, Braintree, Mr. Onley
Savill Onley presiding ; and Mr. C. Du Cane,
m.p Mr. T. S. Western, M.P,, the Rev. Sir J.
Page Wood, and several of the leading local
country gentlemen heingUmong the guests.
The Rev. Sir J. P. WOOD, in responding to the
to.tst of "The Bishop and Clergy," said :
"Although my
coat is biack arid my neckcloth is
white, yet I am a Volunteer to-night as well as your-