The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-27 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

•
rifa understand that Charles A. Pritchard, Esq.,
RJ K., at present secretary to Rear Admiral Stop-
for el, in command of the Channel Fleet, will be the
ee, =tarp to Rear Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker,
th a newly-appointed commander in chief at the
C. Ape of Good Hope.
Hero, 90, screw, Commodore Seymour, at Fly-
lr south, will have made good defects by the Ist
February.
Spiteful, 6, paddle, Commander Wilson, arrived
4at Devonport on Monday from Portsmouth, with
• the detachment of marines from the Amethyst,
recently paid off. After disembarking the marines
she returns to Portsmouth to await orders.
SHIPS IN COMMISSION AT PLYMOUTH.—In
Harbour : Impregnable, Royal Adelaide, Cam-
bridge, Indus, Hero, Ariadne, Narcissus, Jason,
Implacable, Wellington, Geyser, Flying Fish,
Nautilus, Avon, Redwing, Clinker, Porpoise,
Sylph, Aboukir, Donegal, Conqueror, Emerald. In
the Sound a St. George.
The Phiriomel, 5, three-masted screw schooner,
has been commissioned atPortsmouth for service on
the Weak Coast of Africa. This is ene of the new
class of. vessels designed for service on the Coast of
Africa. for the more effectual suppression of the
slave, trade, and in her construction an equal regard
hail, been paid to her Balling and to her steaming
rkualifications. She is fitted with machinery of
80-horse power, nominal, by Messrs. Napier, of
Glasgow, and on her official trial of speed in Stokes
Bay, on the 31st July last, attained a speed of
nearly 11 knots, at light draught. She was built,
from designs furnished from the Surveyor's office,
by Messrs. White, Cowes, Isle of Wight.
In anticipation of the increased amount of
labour which will be thrown upon the smiths' de-
partment at Chatham dockyard, consequent on the
building of the large mail-clad iron steamer at that
establishment, several important alterations and
improvements have been for some time in progress
at the factory, the whole of which have been carried
oat under the direction of Mr. Cotsell, the chief of
that department. The number of men at present
employed in the smithery is about 300, but the num-
ber of additional workmen that will be required for
the new iron ship will be at least 1,000 ; and it is in
anticipation of this large influx of extra hands into
the factory that the extensive alterations have been '
effected. In order to obtain additional space in the
smith's shop, the whole of the old cumbrous brick
forges have been removed, and their places supplied
by neat and not inelegant structures of iron, with
light iron chimneys, giving to the interior of the
factory a considerable increase of space, while, at the
same time, additional light and ventilation are ob-
tained. The smithery has been fitted up with several
of the largest and most powerful of the Nasmyth
steam hammers, capable of forging the largest plates
of iron which may be required. The newly invented
system of stamping in dies, the invention of the
master smith, which has been recently introduced
into the factory, is effecting a complete revolution
in this department of shipbuilding, the old, tedious
process of forging the ironwork, which, besides tak-
ing hours to accomplish, was attended with other
disadvantages, being entirely superseded by the hot
iron being placed in the dies, when two or three
blows from the formidable steam hammers completes
the process, and the iron is almost instantaneously
turned out forged to the exact size and pattern
required. By this method a considerable portion of
the iron-work required in shipbuilding is turned out
of hand in the most rapid manner, the inventor
receiving the special thanks of the Board of Admi-
ralty for his invention. Besides the large factory,
additional workshops, forges and sheds are now in
course of construction, some of which have been
already erected and fitted up with every require-
ment. The additional workshops to be erected
between the first and second docks, in close proxi-
mity to the latter, are being built by Messrs.
Grissell and Co., and some progress has been already
made in that work.
A special trial was yesterday made at Woolwich,
on board the Fisgard, with Mr. Ward's coloured
flags, constituting the day signals of the " Ocean
Marine Telegraph." The Board of Admiralty hav-
ing approved the alterations carried out by the in-
ventor for the improvement of the night signals, in
reducing the lamps to one-fifth their former weight
and size, have supported the suggestion that the
white and blue should be excluded from the signals,
in consideration of the indistinctness of those shades
when displayed in front of white clouds or sails and
a clear blue horizon. The orange and black have
consequently been substituted in their place. The
flags are 27 in number, thereby furnishing a repre-
sentative for each letter of the alphabet, and are
likewise arranged for indicating the numerals. For
conciseness of correspondence long words, such as
"commander," aro abreviated thus—C'M"D'R, &c.
The black flag when hoisted alone signifies the
making of a signal by the numerical system ; the
red, orange, and black flag indicates a signal by
the cypher alphabet or commercial code of signals;
the orange flag alone gives an answer in the affir-
mative, the red flag alone forms a negative, the
black, orange, and black flag denotes a desire to
have the signal repeated, but if hoisted by the
receiver, intimates a desire to have the correspond-
ing signals repeated ; and the black and red flag,
when displayed alone, indicates distress. The flags
are made of registered bunting and are composed
of only three colours, with an equal division in each
flag, whereby the distance the signals can be seen
and clearly distinguished is much greater than it
would be if composed of many colours, and, from
their pennant shape, the shades are perceptible in
storm or calm. Yesterday's trials consisted of the
transmission of messages from ship to shore; a Corn
mitten of officers having been nominated for that

purpose, consisting of Mr. R. Thomas and Mr. II
Campion, of the Fisgard ; Mr. J. Petley and Mr. W,
Allen, commanding the Black Eagle and the Vivid.
The Hon. J. R. Drummond, Commodore-Superinten-
dent of Woolwich Dockyard, also watched the pro-
ceeding. The foggy state of the atmosphere and
other circumstances rendered the opportunity some
what disadvantageous, notwithstanding the trial
was pronounced satisfactory ; and a favourable
report, it is understood, will be forwarded for
their Lordships' consideration, in which they
express their conviction that the night and day sig-
nals may now be rendered in the most intelligible
and comprehensive form.

The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty:—Lieut. John G. G. M'Hardy to
the Narcissus, additional for service in the Penguin
tender ; R. F. Warren, D. M. Smith, and Hugh
St. C. Ham mill, midshipmen, to the Narcissus ;
John H. Hodgson, naval cadet, to the Narcissus ;
John Lester, second-class assistant engineer, pro-
moted in the Formidable for the Wildfire; James
Weatheri
,eY, acting third-class assistant engi-
neer, to the Indus for the Thais; and William M.
yucs, paymaster, to the Indus.

has issued a circular memorandum, addressed to the
army at home and abroad, wherein his Royal
Highness the General Commanding in. Chief re-
quests that officers commanding cava ry regiments
will attach to each of the month:y returns ren-
dered to the Horse Guards a statement of the num-
ber of chargers in the possession of officers, distin.
guishing which horses have been taken from the
re-mounts.

A circular memorandum, dated the 20th inst., has
been promulgated by the Adjutant-General, Sir
James Yorke Scarlett, addressed to service and
depot companies of regiments of infantry in India,
stating that the distribution of regiments of in-
fantry in India is to be as follows, until further
orders, viz. :-10 service companies, comprising 3
field officers, 10 captains, 12 lieutenants, 8 ensigns,
6 staff, 56 sergeants, (exclusive of schoolmasters),
21 drummers, 50 corporals, 950 privates ; 2 depots,
comprising 2 captains, 2 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, 10
sergeants, 4 drummers, 10 corporals, and 90
privates.

The Himalaya, screw steamship, Captain John
Seccombe, embarked yesterday at Portsmouth
supernumeraries for the Mediterranean squadron,
and a detachment of the 23d Regiment from Wal-
mer, also for conveyance to the Mediterranean.
The remainder of the troops ordered to proceed by
her will embark to-day, and the ship will proceed
on her voyage this evening or early to-morrow
morning.

TILE TTOLUNTEE_R MOVEMENT.

The Ist Middlesex Artillery Volunteers (the only
corps of volunteer artillery in the county) assembled
at its headquarters in Hanover-square on Monday
morning at 11 o'clock, and numbered nearly 150
men—a goodly muster, taking into consideration
that many of its members are away from town
enjoying themselves during this festive season with
their families and friends. The parade having been
completed, the corps started for a march to Hamp-
stead,-heath, headed by a band. The soldierlike
bearing and handsome uniform of the men excited
the admiration of numerous spectators, many of
whom accompanied the corps the whole way. On
arriving at Hampstead-heath the corps fell in with
the Queen's Westminster Rifle Volunteers, and re-
turned with them to Carlton Ride, where, after
giving many hearty and mutual cheers, and also
cheering their respective adjutants, they dispersed.
On Monday the members of the 39th Middlesex
(Finsbury) Rifles, accompanied by their brass band,
and under the command of Lieut.-Cola Colville,
mustered at headquarters, and proceeded thence to
Highwood-hill, Barnet, to compete for prizes.
Counting all ranks, about 210 were present. Dur-
ing the last four months the men have made great
progress in target practice, under the instruction
of Sergeant H. Hare, from the School of Musketry
at Hythe ; and on Monday, considering the ex-
treme severity of the weather, the firing was very
creditable. The ranges were at 300 and 500 yards,
five rounds each man at both ranges. The first
prize was won by Private T. Lawrence, who made
11 points—viz., six at 300 yards and five at 500 ;
the second by Private T. Strugnell, who made nine
points—five at 300 and four at 500 yards ; the
third by Private T. Cronghton, making five at 3'lo
and two at 500 yards ; and the fourth by Sergeant
Douglas, making three at 300 and three at 500
yards. Sergeant R. T. Smith and Privates C. Guy
and A. Shellcross scored three, two, and one re-
spectively at the 300 yards range, and one, two,
and two, at the 500 yards. After executing the
various military manoeuvres incident to a field day,
the corps was marched back to headquarters and
dismissed. The drill will be discontinued for the
ensuing fortnight. Early in the spring several
prizes will be competed for by the members of the
corps ; among others, a superior Enfield rifle, two
handsome silver cups, a silver medal, and a watch.
Yesterday some of the members of the 4th Mid-
dlesex (North London) Rifles marched out for about
nine miles through Tottenham. The attendance,
however, was not very numerous, there being only
about 40 present, including all ranks, During their
progress some of the members enlivened the march
by singing some of the most popular airs of the
day. The drill of the corps has been suspended
since the 22d inst., and will not be resumed until
about the first week in the new year.
About 100 of the East London Rifle Brigade (6th
Tower Hamlets) assembled at headquarters yester-
day morning, and, accompanied by their brass band,
under the command of Capt. Hemmings, the cap-
tain-commandant, marched to Snaresbrook, and
after halting there a short time for refreshment,
returned in the evening to headquarters, where
they were dismissed.
On Monday the members of the Ist Surrey Rifles,
under the command of Col. Macdonald and all the
officers, assembled at the Kennington-oval for
parade and a march out. At 11 o'clock the Volun-
teers, to the number of 500, headed by the band,
proceeded to march over Vauxhall-bridge to Buck-
ingham-palace, where the corps presented arms.
The men then marched to Hyde•park, and went
through a variety of military evolutions in a cre-
ditable manner. The drill lasted two hours, and
the corps marched back to ,their respective quar-
ters, via Oxford-street, Regent-street, the Strand,
and Waterloo-bridge.
Yesterday afternoon the members of the 19th
Surrey Rifle Corps assembled at their drillground,
South•place„Kennington, for parade, and at one
o'clock marched to the Crystal Palace, under the
command of Mr. Roupell, M.P.,Maj or-Comman den t,
Captains R. Roupell, John Sinithers, Davis,
Howard, &c. The corps mustered to the number
of about 450, and marched to their destination pre
ceded by their band and by the drum and fife band
of the Scots Fusileers. On arriving at the Palace
they partook of a cold collation of a substantial
character, provided at the entire cost of the officers
of the 19th. After the dinner the chairman, with
some appropriate remarks, dismissed the men to the
grounds, and at 6 o'clock they reassembled and
marched home.
Lord Wodehouse, Under-Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, who is now staying at his seat in
Norfolk, has made an inspection of the Wymond-
ham Volunteers during this present Christmas
week. The corps, which is upwards of 60 strong,
executed a variety of manoeuvres in a creditable
manner, and, after passing down the ranks, Lord
Wodehouse, addressing the commanding officer
(Captain Bellairs), said the movement was well
worth all the trouble which had been taken with
regard to it. Every one who took part in it was
actuated by a spirit of true patriotism. At first
there was considerable coolness about Volunteers,
and many persons seemed disposed to treat the
whole movement with ridicule. This feeling had,
however, passed away and now from one end of the
country to the other every man was grateful to
those who had qualified themselves by their own
exertions to be defenders of their native land.
In consequence of a requisition issued by Major
Brougham, a meeting of influential gentlemen con-
nected with the counties of Cumberland and West-
moreland, and of officers of the Volunteer and
other military bodies, was held at the George Hotel,
Penrith, on Friday last, Sir George Musgrave in
the chair. Major Brougham gave an explanation
of the mode which be considered would best effect
the objects of this association, and it was resolved
unanimously, " That it is expedient to form a Rifle
Association for Cumberland and Westmoreland, to
embrace the Militia, Yeomanry, Artillery, and Rifle
Volunteers," A committee was appointed to carry
out the above resolution, with an estimate of the
probable cost of the scheme, and to circulate the
same through Cumberland and Westmoreland.
Another
company of Edinburgh Artillery Volun-
teers has been
formed within the last two or three
ihonths, thus completing the regiment. No. 9
company is an artisan Company,
with all the rules and re • but have complied
regulations of the regiment,
and area fine set of in en,atitt coining forward with
their drill in a very creditabie
directives and three
manner. Their roll
ohifiaseetrh:, a fnudl
deuormi
npgl e nheenita,
ta',
week au instalment of
the new carbine with sword has bees served out to
them.

Christmastide was duly kept by-the Portsmouth
:Volunteers. The 2d Hants Artillery, under the
command of Major S. Hall, late 73d Regiment,
marched out on Monday to (Joshua, at the foot of