The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-20 00:00:00

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE,

The arrangements in progress for the parade of
troops on Woolwich-common to-morrow were yes-
terday morning ordered to be slightly curtailed, in
consequence of an intimation having been received
by Major-General Sir W. F. Williams, Command-
ant of the Garrison, to the effect that the Queen
would not be present on the occasion. The orders
for the erection of a platform on the review ground,
as usual on the visit of her Majesty, were conse-
quently countermanded ; the Royal and illustrious
visitors will therefore retain their carriages on the
ground during the display. On their arrival at
Woolwich their first visit will be to the Arsenal,
whence, having visited the various departments,
which, it is expected will occupy from 10 to 12,
they will proceed to the common. A reduction of
one regiment of the Household troops from yester-
day's detail has been ordered, as well as the substi-
tution of some other infantry regiment for that of
the 96th originally intended.
Yesterday a board of officers assembled at
Chatham garrison for the purpose of preparing the
discharge documents of 130 non-commissioned offi-
cers and orderlies of the Medical Staff Corps, the
Secretary of State for War having decided on
making a considerable reduction in the strength of
the corps, with a view to subsequent reorganiza-
tion on a lower scale of pay for non-commissioned
officers and orderlies. The total strength of the
corps is now about 700, of whom 200 are attached
to the head-quarters at Chatham, and the remainder
employed in the various military hospitals at home
and abroad. The authorities have directed the dis-
charge of 30 orderlies at a time until the whole
number have left.
Since the authorities at the War Department
have abolished the system of receiving rent for the
canteens at Chatham garrison the troops have ex-
perienced the benefit of the new arrangement, by
having the several articles sold at those establish-
ments supplied to them at reduced prices. The
plan has been found to work so well
that a board of officers has been directed to
assemble at Chatham to make a still further reduction
in the price of articles sold to the troops. The
amount formerly received by the Government from
the several canteen-keepers was about 100,0001.
per annum, which sum has been voluntarily sur-
rendered in order that the non-commissioned officers
and troops may be supplied at a cheaper rate than
would have been otherwise practicable.
Yesterday the troops belonging to the Chatham
division of Royal Marines Light Infantry assembled
on their parade ground, under the command of
Lieut.-Col. J. H. Gascoigne, for the purpose of hear-
ing read the sentence of a district court-martial
which recently assembled at Chatham for the trial of
Privates Stephen Jordan and George Finch for de-
sertion and making away with their regimental ne-
cessaries. The prisoners, who bear a bad character,
were each sentenced to 42 days' imprisonment in
Fort Clarence.
The Curagoa, 31, screw frigate, Captain Mason,
has bent sails and swung for the adjustment of her
compasses in Portsmouth harbour, which she will
leave for Spithead this day. This vessel and the
Diadem, 32, Captain Moorsom, C. 8., are expected
to leave Spithead in a day or two, for the Thames,
to salute the Royal visitors invited to the
marriage of the Princess Royal of England with
the Prince Frederick William of Prussia.
The Sphinx, 6, paddle steam sloop, was taken
into the steam basin yesterday at Portsmouth for
repairs.
The Marlborough, new 131-gun screw 3-decker,
has been thoroughly caulked, and is now being re-
coppered in several places. It is believed she will
be the flagship for the Mediterranean, being in a
more advanced state for commission than the Royal
Sovereign. A man at work upon her fell off the
stage on which he was engaged yesterday morning
into the dry dock, a depth of about 50 feet, and sus-
tained injuries so severe that his life is despaired of.
The Otter, 3 guns, paddlewheel steam vessel,
Lieut. -Commander C. H. Simpson, and the Tra-
veller, 60-horse power gunboat, in command of Mr.
H. George, master, left Sheerness at 8 a in. yester-
day for PortswontVas tenders to the Blenheim, 60
guns, screw steam guardship at that port.
The Russell, 60 guns, screw steamship at Sheer-
ness, is being fitted with all despatch to be imme-
diately commissioned.
The new screw steamship Renown, 91 guns,
Captain A. Forbes, in the fitting basin at Sheerness,
is nearly completed. Brigadier-Major G. Elliott,
R.M., joined this ship on Saturday last, vice Cap-
tain Casey.
The new screw steam despatch gunvessel Snake,
in the fitting basin at Sheerness, will very shot tly
be ready for immediate service, under Admiralty
orders.

The following ships in the fitting basin at Sheer-1
iless and in dry docks are being fitted with all pos-
' sible despatch—viz., the Royal George, 102 guns,
screw steamship ; the Meanee, 80 guns, new screw
steamship ; the Terrible, 21 guns, paddlewheel
steam-frigate ; the Cressy, 80 guns, screw steam-
ship ; the Scout, 21 guns, screw steam corvette ;
and the Hydra, 6 guns, paddlewheel steam sloop.
The gunboats Herne and Sandfly, under repairs and
refitting in dry docks at Sheerness, are also being
got ready for actual service.
Moorings were yesterdaylaid down at Gravesend
for the reception of the Royal yacht, at which port
the Royal couple are to embark, after their mar-
riage, for Prussia. A special meeting of tho cor-
poration of Gravesend assembled in the Town-hall
Town-ball on Monday, when Mr. Troughton, the
Mayor gave an account of an interview with Co].
Phipps at Windsor, relative to the mode in which
it was the intention of their townsfolks to testify
their loyalty to their Sovereign by the reception
they had resolved on giving to the Princess Royal
and her husband on their embarkation from their
pier,
The freightship Mary Hardy and the Jane com-
menced shipping military stores from Woolwich
yesterday for Barbadoes and Corfu.
An interesting meeting of the Portsmouth Sol-
diers',lnstitute was held on Monday night on the
occasion of its second anniversary. The chair was
occupied by the governor of the garrison, Major-
General the Hon. Sir Jas. Yorke Scarlett, K.C.B ,
who in a short address stated his conviction of the
large amount of good it was calculated to effect.
Many of the commanding officers of the various
regiments were present ; there were also several
naval officers and clergymen, including the Rev.
J. P. M`Ghie, Vicar of Portsmouth, the Rev. W.
Carus Wilson, the Rev. T. Milner, the garrison
chaplain, &c. It appeared from the report, which
was read, that the institution is greatly appreciated
by the soldiers, and this was certainly borne out
by the numbers present at the meeting, which was
addressed by several officers and clergymen ; and
the Rev. Mr. Wilson gave a detailed account of
some of the beneficial results of the working of
these institutions, 12 other garrison towns having
followed the Portsmouth example in establishing
them.

On Friday evening last Col. Griffith, C. 8., com-
manding the Royal Scots Greys, at ?ortobello Bar-
racks, Dublin, gave a ball and supper to the ser-
geants of his regiment and to a number of sergeants
from the different corps in Ireland. The gallant
Colonel with his wife, accompanied by a number
of officers belonging to the regiment, entered
the ballroom during the evening, and took part
in the dance, after which the company adjourned
to the supper room, where a sumptuous repast
awaited them, under the immediate superintendence
of Lady Griffith.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :
C. H. Carpenter, mate, to the Alert ; Alex. G.
Young, clerk, to he Formidable ; and Owen L.
Wynne, assistant clerk, to the Royal William.