The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-16 00:00:00

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENC.

Two battalions of Royal Marines, under the command of
Lieut.-Col. Fleming, as well as the Oxford Militia Regi-
ment, in command of Lieut.-Col. Fans, were yesterday
morning drawn out on Woolwich common and were put
through battalion exercises. A number of Artillery recruits,
who have passed certain stages of gun and position drill,
were likewise mustered on the parade-ground for the in-
spection of Col. Bloomfield (in temporary command of
the garrison), and having performed various evolutions
they marched past in well-disciplined order and regularity.
The freight ship Cordelia has commenced shipping war
stores from Woolwich arsenal for Halifax; and the Flying
Foam, laden with war materials for Hong Kong, is under
orders to sail for her destination to-day.
The launch of the large line of battle screw steamer
Hero, 91, took place at Chatham dockyard yesterday after-
noon in the presence of several thousand spectators. The
Hero has been on the stocks nearly four years, having been
laid down on the Bth of June, 1851, and was built from
the designs of Admiral Sir Baldwin W. Walker, K.C.8.,
Surveyor of the Navy, under the direction of Mr. F. J.
',lire, the master shipwright at Chatham dockyard, and
his assistants. She is one of the finest vessels of her class
evt.r constructed for the British navy. Precisely at 25
minutes after 1 o'clock Mr. F. J. Laird conducted Miss
Jones, daughter of Mr. 11. T. Jones, storekeeper at Chat-
ham, to the bows of the vessel, and she performed the cere•
mony of " christening" the Hero. The supports having
been knocked away the slender rope which held the ship
was severed, and the Hero glided into the Medway amid
the cheering of the spectators, the band of the Royal
Marine Light Infantry playing "Rule Britannia." The
following are the proportions of this splendid vessel:—
As ordered. As built.
Feet. In. Feet. lrs
Length between perpendiculars 234 3 231 4
Length of keel for tonnage 199 1 199 34
Exti erne breath 55 4 55 4
Breadth for tonnage.. 54 6 51 6
Breadth moulded •" 53 8 53 8
Depth in hold
Burthen in tons
She is to be supplied with the following powerfu
armament :

Guns. Weight Cwt. Feet. In.
Lower deck 3l 8-inch 65 9 0
Main deck
22 32 ~ 15 8 6
Upper deck
Ditto (pivot)
the
fAtef tr.itclrnlaanuty cLhi,z?red Hasstee
arom
ewrftoorwtei e to
purpose
oSheerness f
beingby
taken into dock to be supplied with her machinery, which
will be of GOO-horse power. Captain G. Goldsmith, C. 8.,
the superintendent of the dockyard, entertained a dis-
till;nished party at his official residence after the launch,
and the whole of the workmen were granted a half-day's
holiday.
The next vessel to be launched at Chatham dockyard is
the large screw steam-frigate Mersey, 40, which is very
nearly completed.
Her Majesty's steam block-ship Blenheim, 60, Capt. F.
Scott, having been completely refitted for her new
coast service, went to Spithea.l on Weduesd ty, where she
was inspected officially yesterday by Admiral Sir George
e
Inc
ch.: o.
ntur,hai. ()we
afterwards nee yesterday e'v.rn4llnaey:
r-iojesl')ut;utbei
et. haoi theneietgitl .rgAyi
unit
,St Arrogant, hoeogerahat:anym.
rat
b,sawoc fol-
loweduliht7r
Se- nlotuor ,t K.C.L. Ca .1
Captaairuldllspeaetehd:
The Impel louse, 51, screw-frigate,
h
all despatch for commission. The Vulcan, 6, troop-frigate,
Commander John Seccombe, will embark her troops for
Malta this day.
31, Capt. Moorsom, C. 8., made another
7th Fusi
battalionßay
S
er visited the Crystal Palace.
th
that they appreciatedln
he
bowing by their conduct
ltereiYTra Yesterday
Diadem,te deareysdpafeubero.ddu ytM:esoltioetri menda
yu niondfuSrtth°tekhe2e comm and of Major
sii
InH'ebigebBbioleifie' ttni aociliordnoimeu
ccaetPortds. themselvesetg in a most orderly manner,