The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-03 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

VALETTA, Sept. 28.—The cholera returns for the
last four days are as follows :—On the 25th, 11
attacks and 5 deaths ; on the 26th, 8 attacks and 7
deaths; on the 27th, 19 attacks and 13 deaths;
and on the 28th (up to eight o'clock this morning),
11 attacks and 10 deaths. A change of weather
took place on the 27th, when the island was
visited by a thunderstorm and rain, and since then
we have had more heavy showers, and a good
deal of thunder and lightning. The temperature
now is pleasantly cool ; but it is curious to remark,
as has often before been noticed, that the number of
cholera cases rose immediately after the rain and
sudden change of weather. On the 25th the Board
of Health reduced the quarantine by one half on all
infected places, except Sicily, on arrivals from which
a quarantine of 30 days is still maintained, and
abolished all quarantine on places issuing clean bills
of health. The squadron will consequently be able
to return to Malta as soon as the health of the island
does not present any obstacle. The English steamer
Lancefield, having been chartered by the Admiral
Superintendent, left yesterday heavily laden with
stores for the squadron, which was still at Spezzia
up to yesterday morning. The telegraph steamer
Hawk returned to Malta yesterday from the Coast
of North Africa, where she has been engaged for
some time past in operations connected with the
Malta and Alexandria Telegraph.

The Lords of the Admiralty will arrive at Chatham
this morning, for the purpose of making their official
annual inspection of the dockyard, &c.
Lieut. Fuller, and the detachment of Royal Ma-
rines Light Infantry serving on board her Majesty's
Coastguard service screw steamship Donegal, Capt.
J. A. Punter, 3,245 tons and 800 horse power,
having completed their term of two years, have been
relieved from Woolwich by a detachment in com-
mand of Lieut. Macey.

The unarmoured screw gunvessel Myrmidon, 4,
695 tons, 200 horse power (nominal), fitted with
engines by Messrs. Humphreys and Co., having re-
ceived on board a supply of coal, got up steam yes-
terday, at her moorings in Chatham harbour, for the
first time, for the purpose of testing the working of
her machinery previous to making her first official
trial of speed, at light draught, at the measured mile.
The Franklin, United States' war frigate, repre-
sented to be between 4,000 and 5,000 tons burden,
commanded by Admiral Farragut, is now lying in the
Thames, off the Town-pier, Gravesend, and excites
considerable interest in consequence of her enormous
size. She arrived on Saturday last from Cronstadt,
attended by her tender, the Tropic, of about 800
tons, a Glasgow-built steamer, captured in attempt-
ing to run the blockade during the Southern war.
The armament of the Franklin consists of 60 guns,
and her full cotnplement of hands is 760, but she is
said to be considerably short of that number, there
not being more than 500 on board. Soon after her
arrival she was visited by Commodore Edtnonston,
C. 8., Superintendent of her Majesty's dockyard,
Woolwich, accompanied by Commander Jackson,
of the Fis,guard (guardship), who came down in
the Government steamer Bustler. They were re-
ceived with the usual honours—a salute of 9 guns,

which had a startling effect on the inhabitants of
Gravesend. The officers of the Franklin are to be
entertained' to-morrow at the new Falcon Hotel
by the Masonic brethren of Gravesend, as the ship
is expected to quit the river early next week.
Major-Gen. J. 0. Travers, C. 8., Inspector-Gen.
of Royal Marines, yesterday resumed his half-yearly
inspection of the Woolwich Division Royal Marine
Light Infantry. The Division was drawn up on
Woolwich-common, in command of Colonel R. G.
Connolly, Commandant, and included excess of
employed, rifle practice men, and gun drill, servants,

&c. They were formed in a brigade of three bat-
talions, and, after receiving the inspector-General
with the customary salute, they marched past in
grand divisions and in line of contiguous columns
in quick time. The brigade was then deployed into
line, and the Ist battalion performed the manual
exercise under Capt. Parry, musketry instructor to
the division. The 2nd battalion went through the
platoon exercises under Lieut.-Col Stewart, and the
3d battalion were put through the bayonet-exercise
under Lieut.-Col. Kennedy. The Commandant
then, resuming the command, put the brigade
through a series of rapid and brilliant manoeuvres,
most of them executed at the double, and covered
by skirmishers. Although the day was exceedingly
unfavourable, the wind blowing in gusts and driv-
ing the sand and gravel in the men's faces, the
various manoeuvres were performed with celerity
and precision. The file and volley firing was, as
usual with the Royal Marines, admirable. We re-
gret to state that Col. Suther, C. 8., 2d Command-
ant, sustained a severe accident by falling from his
horse when marching past, at the head of the Ist
battalion, owing to the animal shying at the
saluting colour, which was blown out suddenly by a
gust of wind. The brigade returned to barracks at
the dinner-hour-1 o'clock. At 2 o'clock General
Travers resumed his inspection of the office depart-
ments in the barracks, examining the accounts, lists,
&c. ; and unless—as may probably be the case—his
presence may be required at the Admiralty visita-
tion at Chatham, he will complete his inspection at
Woolwich to-day.
A rintiAnation has been received at Chatham that
the service companies of the Ist Battalion of the
10th (North Lincoln) Regiment, now doing duty at
the Cape of Good Hope, will shortly proceed to
Japan to relieve one of the regiments now under
orders to return home. A detachment of 25 non-
commissioned officers and men from the depot at
Chatham garrison has been placed under orders to
proceed to the Cape of Good Hope to join the head-
quarters of the regiment. The draught will embark
in one of the new Indian steam transports which
will shortly be despatched to India via the Cape of
Good Hope. The Ist battalion of the 10th Regt. em-
barked for the Cape of Good Hope in Sept., 1864.

ASSAULT BY FENlANS.—Sergeant Murphy (late of
the 6th Regiment,) now on the recruiting service,
and who for some time has been stationed at Sheffield, met
with a strange adventure on Saturday evening. While
standing in Westbar, near the ruins of the Surrey Theatre.
talking to a recruit, he was accosted by four rough-looking
Irishmen, one of whom asked him whether he was a Fenian
Surprised at hearing even a hint of his loyalty being called
in question, the old soldier replied that " if he thought he
had a drop of Fenian blood in him he would cut it out.'
lie was then asked if he would not " give something to-
wards the widows," by which he understood that the
" strangers" were on a canvassing expedition on behalf of
the Fenians who are at present in prison at Manchester,
and their wives and families. Sergeant Murphy declined
to contribute, and a hint was given that if he did not "aid
the cause" voluntarily he would be made to do something.
Tie again gave thorn to understand that they must expect
no aid from him, whereupon one of the ruffi•ins struck him
a violent blow on the left eye, inflicting a wound from which
the blood flowed copiously. Another fellow took hold of
his stock, and he was then seized by the back of the collar
and thrown down. The recruit to whom he had been talk-
ing appears to have thought discretion the better part of
valour, and left the sergeant to the mercy of his four
assailants. 'rho scuftl,, however, soon attracted a crowd
of people, and the cowardly ruffians then decamped. For-
tunately the wound which the sergeant received is not a
serious. one, but the circumstance discloses a state of
things not very assuring to nervous people.—Sheffield
Daily Telegraph.