The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-15 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The Channel Fleet, under the command of Rear-
Admiral Hastings R. Yelverton, consisting of the
armour-plated screw steamship Caledonia, 30 guns
(flagship), Capt. the Hon. Fitzgerald A. Foley ;
the Achilles, 26 guns (armour-plated), Capt. Ed-
ward W. Vansittart ; the Hector, 20 guns (armour-
plated), Capt. William G. Luard ; the Pallas, 6
guns (armour - plated screw corvette), Captain
Matthew Connolly ; the Lord Clyde, 24 guns (ar-
mour-plated), Capt. Roderick Dew, C.B. ; the
Liverpool, 35 guns (wooden screw frigate), Capt.
John Seccombe ; and the Helicon (paddle despatch
boat), Commander Morgan Singer, arrived in Port-
land harbour yesterday morning from the westward
shortly after 8 o'clock, under easy steam. The fleet
rounded the breakwater in two divisions, the Cale-
donia leading the port division and the Achilles the
starboard division, the Helicon bringing up the
rear. All the ships had anchored safely by nine
o'clock.

The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty landed
at Portsmouth dockyard yesterday morning at ten
o'clock from the Royal yacht Osborne, Staff-Com-
mander Petley, on board of which the Admiralty
flag was hoisted under salutes from the Victory,
flagship of the Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral
Sir Thomas Pasley, and also from the garrison bat-
tery. The whole of the Board were present—viz.,
Sir J. Pakington, M.P., First Lord ; Vice-Admiral
Sir A. Milne, K.C.B. ; Vice-Admiral Sir S. C.
Dacres, K.C.B. ; Rear-Admiral Sir J. C. D. Hay,
Rear-Admiral G. H. Seymour, C. 8., and Mr. Du
Secretary
of
the
Navy Cane, M.P. Their Lordships were accompanied by
ALord Ir -la l
R S. Robinson,
Lennox,G
Controller
M.P.,
First
;ilice;
Major Clarke, R.E., Director of Admiralty Engi-
neering Works ; and Mr. Pakington, private secre-
tary to the First Lord. They were received at the
King's-stairs by Vice-Admiral Sir T. C. Pasley,
Commander-in-Chief ; Rear-Admiral Wellesley,
Superintendent of the Dockyard ; Capts. A. C. Key,
Tatham, Chamberlain, Herbert, and Tumour ;
Commander Mainprice (master attendant), Mr.
Craddock (master shipwright), Mr. Burr (store-
keeper), Mr. Richards (cashier), Mr. Murray (chief
engineer and inspector of machinery), Mr. Wood
d Mayne Mr.
(assistant civil engineer), Sir Richer
th
Mallalieu (inspecting superintendentfh d o ofck ar de rpolice),
and Mr. Guy (superintendettoordshieps
firsy ),
t proceediceed
and other officials. Their Lo where
to the office of the Moll
engaged in examining plans
they were some time
eng
arrangements. Leaving
the
and making necessary
—1.,1 t the •
new coaling jetty to
office they pFocevs--- _
iron plates which had been for some
inspect some
two of which
time under water, were coated over
with zinc, and two with Muntz metal. Their
Lordships. then proceeded to the docks, visiting
3, which the Scorpion turret-ship is
undergoing repairs, and Nos. 4 and 5,
where the
Orestes and Harrier are stripped,
to ascertain the
state they are in for repairs. The next visit was to
the Bellerophon ironclad, Cap t. Tatham,
the Danac sloop, building in N thence to
which they proceeded to the o. 2 shed, leaving
the Royal Alfred and smithery, from there to
Minotaur ironclads in the
steam basin, on board the former of which Captain
rn Tuour had an
opportunity of submitting his plan
for illuminating the holds and spirit-rooms. by lamps
to prevent the use of open lights. Retiring through
the steam factory to the King's-stairs their Lord-
s
s_hi p embarked in their barge and proceeded on
board the Osborne to luncheon at 2 o'clock. At half
past 3 their Lordships landed again at the Anchor-
wharf, and accompanied by the heads of departments,
as in the forenoon, and by Mr. Smith, the Govern-
ment contractor of the works, made a minute survey
of the new works in course of construction for the
extension of the dockyard for docks, basins, &c.
after which their Lordships retired to the admiral-
superintendent's office, where they received deputa-
tions from the engineers, shipwrights, blacksmiths,
sawyers, and millwrights employed in the yard, at
the conclusion of which they returned on board the
Osborne, thus concluding the first day of their offi-
cial visit. Their Lordships dined with Vice-Admiral
Sir T. Pasley in the evening ; and afterwards at-
tended the ball in aid of the funds of the Royal Naval
and Marine Orphan Schools, which was held under
their immediate patronage.