The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-05 00:00:00

THE LORDS OF 71-1 E 11DM1RALTY A 7
CHA7HA2II.

At the termination of the inspection of Chatham
dockyard on Thursday afternoon the Lords of the
Admiralty were engaged with the Captain Superin-
tendent and the principal heads of departments in
the examination of the establishment estimates for
the forthcoming year. Yesterday morning their
Lordships landed at the Qaeen's-stairs from the
Enchantress, and were again occupied for some time
at the office of the Captain-Superintendent in con-
sidering and examining the proposed estimates for
the approaching year, and in other matters of detail
connected with the several departments. From
what transpired there is little doubt that some addi-
tional sums beyond those usually appearing on the
estimates will be applied for to carry out the works
in progress as well as those contemplated, which
the practical knowledge possessed by the First Lord
deems to be absolutely requisite at an establishment
which has become the principal yard in the country
for the construction and repair of the vessels com-
posing our ironclad fleet. Leaving the dockyard at
11 a.m. their Lordships visited Melville Royal Naval
llospital, over which they were conducted by the
medical staff at that establishment. Mr. Corry and his
colleagues went through the several wards in which
the patients are under treatment, every portion visited
being a model of cleanliness, good order, and com-
fort. After leaving Melville Hospital they proceeded
to the gun battery, where the officers and men of the
Royal Marines Light Infantry undergo their course
of training and instruction in working heavy naval
ordnance. A party of officers and men, under the
command of Capt. A. 11. Nepean, the divisional in-
structor of gunnery, were put through a course of
gunnery exercise at the battery in loading, training,
and firing the heavy ordnance, in which they ac-
quitted themselves very satisfactorily.
The large block of buildings recently constructed
on a portion of the waste :ground of the dockyard,
as well as the works connected with the enlarge-
ment of the Royal Marine barracks, next occupied
their Lordships' attention, a brief t visit having pre-
viously been paid to the Soldiers' Institute, the ad-
vantages offered by which are shared in by the
men of the Royal Marines as well as the troops of
the line in garrison. The new range of buildings
just completed by Messrs. Foord and Sons, Roches-
ter, for officers'quarters, over which their Lordships
were conducted, have been erected at a cost of about
£20,000, exclusive of the site. The buildings have
a frontage of 260 ft. by 41ft. in depth, and provide
quarters for 5 field officers, 12 captains, and 24 sub-
alterns, besides a residence in the centre for the
colonel second commandant of the division. In ad-
dition to the officers' quarters the Royal Marine
barracks have been enlarged to about double their
original size, at a total outlay of upwards of £50,000.
Thi additional buildings, which afford accommoda-
tion for 784 non-commissionel officers and men, are
now completed, the Lords of the Admiralty devot-
ing a considerable period yesterday to their inspec-
tion. The principal left wing has a frontage of 190 ft.
and extends back to frontsoft. It contains2B rooms,
giving accommodation for 4G3 men, while a number
of oflle3s hitherto used as quartermaster's stores have
been connected with the left wing, giving additional
accommodation for 144 men. At the back of the
new wing a range of buildings of 127 ft. frontage,
con taining offices and storerooms for the barrackmas-
ter and quartermaster, with tailor's shop, adjoining
which is a large canteen, with a frontage of 78ft.
The open space between the rear buildings and theold

1 portion of the barracks has been covered in with a
wrought-iron roof 340 ft. in length by 51ft. in width,
supported on cast-iron columns. This is intended to
be used as a drill-shed, and has been erected at the
suggestion of Col. Clarke, R.E., Admiralty Direc-
tor of Works, although very much opposed at the
time by the resident officers, who objected to the
proposed site, although the old arcade previously
used for drilling contained nothing like the required
accommodation. During their tour of inspection
their lordships visited the newly-erected reading
and recreation room for the men of the Royal Ma-
rines, erected on the site of the late hall and fives-
court. The building contains a reading-room 45ft.
in length, with quarters for the librarian. Refresh-
ments in the way of tea, coffee, &c., can be ob-
tained by the men at prime cost, no attempt at profit
being made. From inquiries made by their lordships
yesterday it appeared that there are at present 622
members, each paying 21 per month. The library
contains 2,390 volumes, and the tables are well
supplied with mast of the daily papers and the
leading serials. At right angles to the new building
is erected the south wing, with a frontage of 149 ft.
and a depth of 51ft., containing paymaster's offices,
court martial room, orderly room, day room,. cells
and rooms providing accommodation for 172 men.
The desirability of removing the block of buildings
adjoining the public road, used as offices and resi-
dences for some of the officers, as well as the old
buildings at the south end of the barrack-square,
was brought under the consideration of the mem-
bers of the Board, and it is probable that this will
be carried into effect. On the completion of the
works in progress, as well as those intended, the
Royal Marine barracks at Chatham will not be in-
ferior to any in this country. The whole of the
works have been carried out by Messrs. Foord and
Sons, Rochester, from the Admiralty designs, under
the direction of Col. Pasley, R.E., and Mr. H. T.
Rivers, Mr. Davis being the resident clerk of works
specially appointed.
The Lords of the Admiralty were joined at the
Royal Marine barracks at 12 o'clock by Admiral
Farragut and the officers of the United States' war
steamer Franklin, and were received at the en-
trance to the barrack-square by Major-Gen. J. 0.
Travers, C. 8., Inspector-General of the Royal
Marines ; Colonel G. Lambric, aide-de-camp to the
Queen, commandant of the division ; Colonel S. IV .
Lowder, C. 8., aide-de-camp to the Queen, and other
officers, the corps of Royal Marine Light Infantry,
numbering nearly 1,000 bayonets, giving a general
salute, and bands paying " Rule, Britannia." The
members of the Board, accompanied by Admiral
Farragut and the other officers, then inspected the
corps, which was formed in two battalions, after
which the battalions broke into companies and
marched past at slow time, followed by the battalions
marching past in close order at quick time. A
general salute was then given to Admiral Farragut,
the bands playing " Hail, Columbia," followed by
the customary Royal salute, with cclours drooped.
Mr. Cony then advanced to the centre of the bar-
rack-square, and in a few words expressed the satis-
faction of their Lordships at the appearance and
movements of the officers and men. The members
of the Board and the other distinguished visitors
were afterwards entertained at luncheon in the offi-
cers' mess-room.
At 2 o'clock their Lordships embarked on board
the Enchantress, which immediately steamed out of
harbour to Sheerness, where the Board will inspect
the dockyard, the vessels of war in harbour, and
the naval establishments. Last evening Sir Baldwin
W. Walker, Naval Commander-in-Chief, enter-
tained the First Lord and other members of the
Board of Admiralty, together with Admiral Far-
ragut and the officers attached to his suite, at dinner,
at his official residence, Sheerness.
The customary holiday to the workmen of Chat-
ham dockyard, on the occasion of the Admiralty
inspection, will take place to-day, the establish-
ment closing at 11 a.m.