The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-18 00:00:00

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Her Majesty's iron paddle-Ntlieel -riteanaessel
Harpy, Lieutenant Commander George A. Brine,
was yesterday inspected at Woolwich by Commodore
Shepherd, preparatory to being paid off. The Harpy
was commissioned at Portsmouth in May, 1854,: by
Lieut. Commander Lindsay, who exchanged with
her present commander from the Hannibal in
August, 1855. She sailed from Portsmouth with
Admiral Boxer for the Bosphorus, where she
hoisted the Admiral's flag, and was subsequently. •
employed with the fleet and transports in convey.,
ing the army to the Crimea, and during the war
was incessantly engaged in conveying despatches,l
removing invalids, prisoners and supernumeraries
and in laying down buoys and anchors for moor- ,
ings for the fleet, assisting wrecks and ships on
shore, towing distressed vessels, and cruising in
search of pirates. On the 4th of last month the
Harpy hoisted the flag of Admiral Stopford at
Malta, and having been inspected by Lord F. Ken.,
she sailed on the 19th of that month for England,
calling at Algiers, Gibraltar, and Vigo.
The statement which appeared in The Sun a few
days since, relative to the condition of the river
Medway in the vicinity of Chatham dockyard and
the Gun-wharf, where the channel of the river is
becoming fast filled up, owing to the washing away
of the banks and the :deposits of mud which have
been allowed to accumulate, has had the effect of
directing the attention of the authorities to this
important subject. The local authorities have also
been aroused, and a numerously signed requisition
has been presented to Mr. Badden, the high con-
stable of the borough of Chatham, calling u.)on
the inhabitants to take into consideration the ex-
pediency of immediately adopting such measures -
as may be deemed advisable with the view of
arresting the further filling up of the bed of the
river. In obedience to the requisionists the high
constable has convened a meeting which is to be held
in the largestpublic room in the borough. The protec-
tion and control of the Medway devolve upon the
corporation of Rochester (who claim jurisdiction
over the river) and the Lord Mayor, who is the
conservator ; the Board of Admiralty also exercise
their authority over it, but notwithstanding the
interest of each and all these bodies the Medway
has been left uncared for until it is now in its pre-
sent alarming state.
Seven 9-pounder brass-guns, cast at the foundry
in Woolwich Arsenal, were yesterday proved at
the butt, six of which were found defective, and
were ordered to be restored to the foundry to be
recast.

The dockyard authorities have as many men em-
plo3•ed as can work upon the undermentioned ships
at Portsmouth, with the object of getting them out
of hand with all despatch :—The Victoria, 121 guns
1,000 horse power ; the Prince of Wales, 131 guns,
800 horse power (both on the stocks) ; and the Nep-
tune, 120, sailing ship, under conversion to a 91
gun screw two-decker, with 600 horse power.
The following appointment were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Commander.C. G. Grylls, to be
Inspecting-Commander of the Coastguard, vice
Hobart; A. G. S. Pasley, acting mate, to the Liffey ;
Wm. J. Hamilton, surgeon, to the Conflict ; George
Be Beale, acting assistant-surgeon, to the Victory ;
Percevall, acting assistant-purgeon, to the
Impregnable ; and Charles W. King, clerk, to the
Liffey.