The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-14 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

ADMIRALTY CIRCULAR.
The following circular has been promulgated by
the Admiralty, and is dated the Ist instant :
"My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
having lad under their consideration the subject of
superannuation of the officers, clerks, artificers, and
workmen of her Majesty's dockyards and other
naval establishments, are pleased to direct that all
officers, clerks, artificers, workmen, and others,
shall be henceforth superannuated on their attain-
ing the age of 70 years as a maximum, but you are
still as heretofore to report to their lordships the
names of all officers, clerks, artificers, workmen, and
others, under that age who may be found incapable
from infirmity or disability to perform their duties
with due efficiency.
" You are therefore to furnish lists forthwith con-
taining the names, services, &e., of all officers,
clerks, artificers, workmen, and others, under your
superintendence, of 70 years of age and upwards,
and until the Ist of November next you are to send
up similar separate lists, along with the usual
superannuation returns, informing all such persons
under your orders as may be immediately affected
by their lordships' decision that their superannua-
tion will date from Ist November 1858, until which
period they are to continue to discharge the duties
of their respective stations.
"After the Ist November, 1858, you are to for-
ward the names, services, &c., of all officers and
clerks on their attaining the age of 70 years, on
the usual forms, with a view to their being super-
annuated. And you are to include the names of all
artificers, workmen, and others, on their attaining
that age, in the customary form, forwarding the
names of men who are found unfit for service for
the grant of superannuation allowance.
"By command of their Lordships,
(signect) "W. G. ROMAINE."

The following ships have been ordered home from
the coast of Africa :—The Hecla, 6, Commander
Aplin ; Alecto, 3, Commander Hunt ; and Childers,
12, Commander Swinburn. 'nese ships have all
been three years in commission.

From a retrun which has just been made it ap-
pears that the following line-of-battle ships and
other vessels are now at Chatham attached to the
reserve, viz. :-51ine-of-battle ships, from 80 to 120
guns each ; 19 frigates, of from 20 to 51 guns each ;
17 lesser frigates, of from 8 to 18 guns ; and 3
floating batteries, The whole of these vessels can
be brought forward for immediate service whenever
they may be required.
A line-of-battle screw steamer, of 91 guns, is
ordered to be laid down on the slip from which the
Mersey, 40, steam frigate, was recently launched.
An Admiralty order has arrived at Sheerness for
the following ships to make snug for the winter,
viz. :—The Royal George, 102 guns ; the Colossus,
80 guns ; the Emerald, 51 guns ; and the Scout, 21
guns ; all screw steam ships, which arc to remain
as first-class advanced ships in the steam reserve.
Preparations are being made at No. 1 building-
slip at Sheerness to build a new screw steam cor-
vette of 21 guns, of heavy calibre, to be called the
Stirke.

The following vessels are at Devonport :—ln the
Sound, Valorous and Nautilus. In Harbour—lm-
pregnable, Royal William, Exmouth, Porcupine,
Cambridge' Ilawke, Cumberland, Royal 'Albert,
Himalaya, Quail, Growler, Skipjack, Badger, Mag-
pie, Virago, Sylph, Avon, Diligence (transport),
ethic. (Turk), and Lark (Liberian).
The Victor Emmanuel, 91, Capt. J. Wilcox, C. 8.,
arrived in Portland harbour on Friday evening,
where she was to remain for a day or two.
The Biter, steam gunboat, Lieut. Commander
Rose, put in at Hartlepool on Saturday, and pro-
ceeded- again.
The Devon, lighter, is now at Looe, by orders
from the Admiralty, overhauling the moorings buoy
in the roadstead.
The Formidable, 84, Capt. Fitzgerald, is now
rigged all ataut, and her lower and topmast rigging
is being rattlined down.
The Industry, storeship, Master Commander
Hodges, sailed foom Devoßport on Saturday, for
Queenstown.

The Leveret, steam gunboat, Lieut. Commander
Denham, arrived at Dover on Sunday, from a cruise.
_ The Spanker, steam gunboat, Lieut. Commander
Chatfield, arrived at Berwick on Saturday, from a
cruise.

The St. Jean d'Acre, 101, screw, being in it for-
ward state with her rigging and stowage of her
stores, has been taken from the Devonport Dock-
yard and placed at her moorings.
The Valorous, 16, paddle, Capt. Aldham, arrived
-at Devonport on Sunday at noon, from Portsmouth.
The Dee, 4, store vessel, Master Commander
Thomas C. Pullen, arrived at Portsmouth yester-
day morning from Woolwich, with machinery be-
longing to the Mersey, 40, screw ; Bacchante, 51,
screw ; and Immortalite, 51, screw, nearly complete
in building at Pembroke ; also a propeller for the
Mersey. Mr. Pullen reports that he passed a
Prussian squadron in the Downs becalmed, at 9
a.m. on Sunday, which he believed to be the Thetis,
Gefion, and a yacht, which are on their way to
Brest ; they may put in at Spithead. The wind,
however, is very light and shuffling.
The Fairy, royal tender, Master Commander D.
N. Welch, after having repaired defects to her hull
and having been coated with Hay's composition,
hauled out of No. 1 Dock, at Portsmouth, yester-
day, and was placed at her moorings up the har-
bour. . ,
The ciallenger, 21, screw corvette, recently
launched at, Woolwich, and now in a forward etate,
has been undocked for removal to Sheerness, where
she will be completed, and placed on the steam re-
serve list. The Unicorn, powder hulk, is ordered
to be removed to the d previously occupied by
the Challenger, for repairs.ock