The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-08 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

We understand that it is the intention of Sir John
Pakington, in distributing to distinguished naval
officers the few 'rewards of i nerit orions conduct
which are at the disposal of th e First Lord of the
Admiralty, to divide them as ecnally and fairly as
possible among the most deserving officers, and
therefore not hereafter to give good service pen-
sions to the superintendents of ack.k or victualling.
yards, or officers holding other profitable appoint-
ments, during the time of holding such positions.
A letter from Malta, dated the Ist of Jan., says :
—" Her Majesty's steam despatch vessel Caradoc
returned from Cagliari, on the 28th of Dec., with
Mr. Superintending Engineer Andrews, of the,lvle-
diterranean Extension Telegraph Company, the
operations of which at Malta continue suspended
from the breaking of the submarine cable. She re-
turned to Cagliari on the 30th, with India tele-
grams for Government, to be despatched thence for
London. Her Majesty's steam frigate Euryalus
left
Royal Malta for Tunis on the 30th, having.on board
his
Highness Prince Alfred. The Vectis,
Commander It. Roberts came into port the day-
before yesterday from Marseilles' with the overland
portion of the outward Indial mail and mer-
chandise. The Panther, Commander N. Rosk-
rell, arrived also from Alexandria, having on
board the overland portion of the home-
ward India mail and merchandise. The Sultan,
Commander N. Cook, arrived on the night of the
30th from Alexandria, having en board the heavy
portion of the homeward India mail, passengers,
and merchandise. She proceeded to Gibraltar and
Southampton a few hours after. The Indus arrived
on the 31st from Southampton and Gibraltar, with
the heavy portion of the outward India mail. She
left for Alexandria a few hours after."
The Trusty, 14, floating battery, has been towed
from Chatham to Shoeburyness by the African and
Adder steam vessels, for the purpose of being moored
several miles out at sea to serve as a floating target
for the guns from the long range practising battery
at Shoeburyness.
The -Enterprise, 4, one of the abandoned Arctic
discovery ships, which was given up to the British
Government and sent to Chatham, has had her
lcwer decks removed, and the whole of her internal
fittings taken out, and was yesterday navigated to
Sheerness, to be used as a coal depot for the vessels
of the steam reserve fleet at Chatham and Sheerness.
A court-martial was held yesterday morning on
board her Majesty's flagship Victory, at Portsmouth,
Captain G. H. Seymour, C. 8., to try the Assistant-
Engineer of the Second Class (Mr. Chas. Franks),
belonging to her Majesty's troopship Urgent, for
damage done to certain boilers during the time of
his being in charge on or about the 21st Dec., 1858,
and to inquire into his conduct on that occasion.
The Court comprised—President, Rear4dmiral the
Hon. G. Grey, Superintendent of her Majesty's
dockyard; Captains G. H. Seymour, C. 8., Victory;
It. Harris, Britannia ; T. H. Mason, Curaeoa ;
Commander H. C. Hurston, St. Vincent. The
Court, having heard the evidence of the several
witnesses, found that the charges were proved, and
reprimanded the said Chas. Franks, and admonished
him to be more careful for the future. The prisoner
submitted to the hon. Court, several excellent testi-
monials as to sobriety and general attention to his
duties.
The troop transport Cospatrick, appointed to
convey to India the detachments which embarked
in the Bombay, is daily expected at Plymouth.
Meanwhile, some of the gentry in the neighbour-
hood—including Mrs. Grylls, and Mr. Mills, for-
merly- of the East India Company's Service, have
been entertaining some of the non-commissioned
officers and men at Mannamead, near Plymouth.
The last of these entertainments took place on
Thursday, when about 30 assembled, and partook of
tea and refreshments .at the residence of Mr. Mills,
where several ladies, some clergymen, and others,
addressed them on religious and other topics, and
made them presents of bibles, prayer-books, &c.
This exhibition of a desire to contribute to their
social advancement is greatly esteemed by the
troops, especially on the eve of their departure.
Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam-sloop Alecto,
Commander James Hunt, from the west coast of
Africa, arrived at Woolwich yesterday, to return
stores, and prepare for being paid off.
The Jason, troop-ship, haling been supplied with
a new lifeboat to replace one lost by collision with
the brig Betsey, of Scarborough, sailed from Ports-
mouth on Thursday.