The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-22 00:00:00

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THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 22, 1859.

THE NA Tl'

gular daily pay, together with many other advan-
tages. It is expected that the Royal Engineers
will complete their portion of the factory in . about
14 days from the present time.
The following 'vessels have been chartered by' the
Hon. Council for India for the conveyance of the
reinforcements to Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras—
viz.,
,Octavia, Minden, Walmer Castle, Alfred,
AliqUis; Hanover, Surrey, Barham, Gosforth, and
Tiptree. The reinforcements are to embark at
Gravesend between the 6th and 7th,Septenaber, the
following bei7.lg the number proceeding to each pre-
sidency :--Caleutta, 2,300 men ; Bombay, 4GO men;
Madras, 370 men ; and.Kurrachee,• 260 men.
The Himalaya, screw stroopshir, Commander I.
SeecoMbe, arrived at Spithead early on Saturday
morning from Gravesend with the following offi-.
cerS and men .of the 86th (Royal County Down)
Regiment, on board, who have recently returned
from service in India :—Lieut.-Col. R. H. Louth,
C.B. Major W. K. Stuart, Capts. J. J. Gordon and
G. H. Adams, Lieuts. W. Knip, A. It. Ord, and
C. Keane, Ensign W.. Saunders, Assistant-Surgeon
T. S. Barry, 30 sergeants, 13 drummers, 30 cor-
porals, 440 privates, 21 women, and 31 children.
The Himalaya steamed into Portsmouth harbour,
from Spithead yesterday at high water, when the;
troops were disembarked and marched into the new
barracks at _Gosport.

Eight out of the 11 vessels forming that portion
of the Channel fleet at Spithead left that anchorage
under steam on Saturday. Early in the morning
indications were given of their approaching depar-
ture ; Royal yards were crossed, funnels raised,
and fires lit. At noon Rear-Admiral Sir C. H.
Fremantle, K.C.8., embarked on board his barge
from the sallyport stairs, and proceeded on board
the Royal Albert, which, with the remainder of the
squadron, had steam up, and was hove short. It
was three p.m. before the fleet was fairly under way,
the Royal Albert leading as far as the Nab Light,
when the Flying Fish; 6, screw, Commander C. W.
Hope, was sent a-head of the Royal Albert, and
took up her position as look-out vessel to the squa-
dron. Scarcely a ripple was on the water, and a
more magnificent sight could not beimagined than
the ships presented as they steamed round the east
end of the Wight in the order named :—The Flying
Fish, screw, 6, Commander G. W. Hope l the Royal
Albert, 131, screw, Capt. E. B. Rice, bearing the flag
(red at the mizen) of Rear-Admiral Sir C. H. Fre-
mantle, K.C.B. ; the Algiers, 91, screw, Capt. G.
W. D. O'Callaghan ; the James Watt, 91, screw,
Capt. E. Codd ; the Agamemnon, 91, screw, Capt.
T. Hope ; the Hero, 91, screw, Captain G. H. Sey-
mour; the Diadem, 32, screw, Capt. W. Moorsom,
C. 8.; and the Emerald, 51, screw, Captain A. Cum-
ming. The Mersey was detained at Spithead on
her experimental screw trials, her third attempt at
the measured mile on Saturday again proving a
failure, owing to the continued priming of her
boilers. Theships at present arSpitlead -comprise
the Trafalgar, 91, screw, Captain E. G. Fanshawe;
the Mersey, 40, screw, Capt. H. Cal lwell, C. 8.;
and the Scout, 21, screw, Captain J. Corbett, the
above three vessels belonging to the Channel fleet ;
the Sidon, 22, paddle, Captain R. B. Crawford, and
the Pioneer, 6,.'screw, Commander H, Riley, both
ordered on foreign service, and the Gorgon, 6, pad-
dle, Commander B. C. Pim.
The Trafalgar, 91, screw, Capt. E. G. Fanshawe,
arrived at Spithead on Saturday morning from the
Nore, and exchanged the customary salutes with
the Commander-in-Chief.
The Arrogant, 47, screw, Capt. L. G. Heath,
C. 8., steamed into harbour from Spithead on Sa-
turday.
The Victoria and Albert, Royal yacht, Capt. the
Hon. J. Denman, arrived in Portsmouth harbour
from her moorings off Cowes on Saturday.
The Russian screw corvette, Baian, 16 guns, Capt.
Istomin, arrived at the Motherbank early on Satur-
day morning from Cherbourg, bound to the Baltic.
At 8 a.m. she exchanged the usual salutes with the
military and naval authorities at Portsmouth.
It is expected that the Mersey, 40, screw frigate,
at Spithead, will shortly receive several of Sir W.
Armstrong's guns, in addition to her present ar-
mament.
A Russian steam frigate was steaming towards
Spithead by the Western Channel at 6 p.m. yes-
terday.
The new screw steam frigate Orlando, 50, was
docked at Keyham on Friday, and undocked on Sa-
turday, preparatory to her making an experimental
trip outside Plymouth to try her engines and speed.
The iron steam tender Lizard, Lieut. E. E. Maun-
sell commanding, left Plymouth on Saturday with
supernumeraries for Portsmouth and Sheerness.

About 300 of the Donegal Militia are now lying
at Great. Yarmouth, having succeeded the Louth'
Rifles, removed to-Carlisle and Bury. Another
sion of the Donegal regiment is now lying at Dept-
ford. The companies at Great Yarmouth are under
the command of Lieut-C6l. Lord ClaiidilTainilton.

STAFF COLLEGE EXAMINATION.

GENERAL ORDER.

Horse Guards, S.W., Aug.l9, 1859.
0
The following regulations regarding the exami•
nation of candidates for admission to the junior
division of the Staff College, for one year only, under
paragraph 13 of the memorandum from this de-
partment, dated 17th December, 1857, are published
for the information of the army.

The application of any officers desiring to com•
pete at that examination will be forwarded to this
office with the necessary certificates, in conformity
with paragraphs 3 and 4 of the memorandum above,
referred to, not later than the 31st October.

On their application being sanctioned, candidates
will pre ent themselves at the (lollege on the 24th
November next, at 10 o'clock, a.m., with the view.
to their being tested in field sketching, previous to
attending the annual examination of the junior
division of students on the Ist December.
There will be five vacancies in that division, for
which officers of the cavalry, guards, or line will
be eligible; and one vacancy for which officers of
the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers may
compete.

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION.
OBLIGATORY. Arithmetic, Algebra, Euclid,
Plane Trigonometry, and Mensuration—According
to the Syllabus of Mathematical Studies at the
College, which will be forwarded by the
Council of Military Education to any candidate
on application. Fortification.—The principles,
construction, and application of Field Works. The
principles and constructiou of Perm-anent Works,
as exemplified in the first system of Vauban,
and the modern French system. The defence
and attack of field and permanent works. Military
Topography—A sketch done on the ground with
pocket sextant or compass will be required from
each candidate, with one or more finished
plans (should he have them in his pos-
session), certified to be his own work.
Military Law.—Military Art and History—The
principles of tactics and strategy, with a critical,
abstract of one or more campaigns, and of one or
more battles, as evidence of the candidate's know-
ledge of those subjects.—French.
VOLUNTARY.—German, Hindustani, Chemistry,
Geology.
The following will be the marks allotted to each
subject, viz

His Netherland Majesty's steam screw frigate
Admiral Van Wassenaar 44, Capt. do Vaynes van
Brakel, arrived in Plymouth Sound on Saturday, and
exchanged the customary s elutes with the Citadel
and the Port Admiral. She left the Texel on Tues-
day, and after coaling will proceed to Lisbon with
175 troops for conveyance to *Batavia, in a Dutch'
transport which put into the Tagus wanting repair.
The Victor, 6, screw gun vessel, has been towed
from Chatham by the Adder and African steamers,
for the purpose of being attached to the second
division of the steam reserve, at Sheerness.

A large number of shipwrights have within the
last few days been placed on the Bulwark, 91, and
the Undaunted, 51, screw steamers, building at
Chatham, in order to hasten the completion of those
vessels.

The Benbow, 74, which has been some time in
hand at Chatham Dockyard, fitting for a coal de-
pot at Sheerness, is now completed.
The advices of our Malta correspondent, reaching
down to the 16th of August, contain nothing be-
yond the arrival under canvas, on the evening of
the 15th, of the long looked-for frigate Liffey, Capt.
Preedie, after a long passage of 15 days from Gib-
raltar.

_ -
Mathematics 6OO French
Fortification
Military Art, History, Hindustani
and Geography 6OO Chemistry l5O
Military Law
Military Drawing and
Surveying
In the obligatory subjects a candidate will be
expected to gain one-third of the marks allotted to
each subject as a proof that he is qualified to enter
upon the course of the senior class of the college.
By command of His Royal Highness the General
Commanding-in-Chief, _ _ ,

Commodore the Hon. J. R. Drummond and the
officers of her Mak sty's Dockyard, Woolwich, were
on Saturday night engaged in testing a newly-dis-
covered light, denominated "the photophore," in-
tended for lighthouses and all the purposes of lights
at sea. The paddlewheel steam-vessel Bustler, in
charge of Mr. Thomas, master-commanding the
Fisgard, having on board Mr. Ferdinand Silas, a
native of Holland (the inventor of the photophore),
left the dockyard jetty at half-past 8 o'clock, and,
having hoisted one of the new lights at the mast•
head, proceeded slowly 'down the river for a .short
distance, while a number of the instruments placed
along the banks were lighted up, the pale red glare
of which was easily distinguished from that of all
other lights, and was also pronounced to be more
brilliant. Commodore Drummond remaining sta-
tioned on the jetty directed a course of signals
by the constant lighting and extinguishing of
the photophore, which was similarly, replied to by
the inventor on board the Bustler. One of the in-
struments attached to a line was thrown into the
water, without being previously lighted, and on
rising to the surface it shot forth a phosphoric blaze
which, according to the inventor's statement, would
keep alive for 10 or 12 hours. It was repeatedly
trailed under water, when the light of course dis-
appeared, but on regaining the surface, it seemed to
struggle as it were into life, and in an instant shone
out with renewed brilliancy. The light, although
of a peculiarly strong description for the purpose of
attracting observation, possesses, nevertheless, no
destructive or incendiary character. One of the
most important uses for which it is suggested to be
employed is the life buoy, as on being attached to
one of these it cannot fail of pointing out the suc-
cour at hand. .

W. F. FORSTER,
Deputy Adjutant General.

THE DEPOTS AT JVEEDON, WOOL-

WICH, AND THE TOWER.

The report, of the commission appointed to inquire
into the state of the store and clothing depots at
Weedon, Woolwich, and tle Tower, together with
the minutes of evidence, was issued on Saturday.
The commissioners first treat of the depot at Wee-
don, giving a narrative of the circumstances attend-
ing the formation of that establishment, and sket:h-
ing the state of affairs as revealed by their inquiry.
They coincide with their accountants when they
say :—" We have great satisfaction in expressing to
your Majesty our belief that, whatever suspicions
may have been naturally excited, there has been,
as regards the stores at Weedon, no dishonest deal-
ing whatever. Everything which has been paid for
has been received, and no defalcation has taken
place. To have arrived at this conclusion makes us
regret, less than we should otherwise regret, the
time, labour, and money spent in this inquiry.
Nothing, indeed, can be a greater proof of the con-
fusion and arrears into which the store accounts had
fallen than the fact that it has taken Messrs. Quit-
ter, Ball, and Jay eight months at least to complete
the ledgers, and to arrive at the judgment on them
above expressed."

The actual loss in cash occasioned by Mr. El
liot's deficiencies is reduced to £4B 10s. 6d., a
guarantee association having paid £2,000. Upon a
review of the whole evidence,the commissioners find
it impossible to express any other opinion than that
the general mode in which the business of the Wee-
don establishment was conducted was far from sa-
tisfactory. In their opinion the main defects in the
establishment are chargeable to the War Depart-
ment. The following extract will show the cha-
racter of the defects as viewed by the commis-
sioners :

Capt. G. A. Halsted, R.N., secretary at Lloyd's,
attended on Saturday at the Underwriters'-offices,
in the Royal Exchange, and witnessed a trial of
Mr. Ward's ocean marine telegraph, recently tested
at Woolwich dockyard, and ordered to be adopted
in the royal navy. The experiments, which were
highly satisfactory, were terminated by the inven-
tor announcing to the meeting his having received
the satisfactory information from America, since his
-arrival in this country, that the ocean signal tele-
graph, as then exhibited, had been approved by the
New York Chamber of Commerce, and, consequently,
adopted by the American navy exclusively.
The following appointments were made on Satur-
day at the Admiralty :—R. H. Byron, naval cadet,
to the Neptune ; D. Bayne, clerk, to the Brisk ; 0
L. Wynne, assistant-clerk, to the Cossack ' • R. F.
W. Loady, assistant-clerk, to the Sidon ; A. A. Lyne,
assistant clerk, to the Fisgard ; G. S. Goddard and
R. Oliver, assistant-clerks, to the Amphion ; C. L.
J. Underwood, assistant-clerk, to the Neptune; W.
Clay, assistant- clerk, to the ImpErieuse ; T. E. Lem-
mans, assistant-clerk, to the Caesar; H. Langworthy,
assistant-clerk, to the Impregnable; E. G. Ellis, as-
sistant-clerk, to the Eagle ; W. B. Jenins, assistant
clerk, to the Dauntless ; and Thos. Mitchell, assist-
ant clerk, to the Cornwallis.

" 1. It was a mistake to fix the clothing depot so
far from London; beyond the opportunity of imme-
diate and frequent personal surveillance by the
director and assistant director of clothing, and
separated from the important branch establishment
in Mark-lane. This mistake is now remedied by
the abandonment of Weedon as a depot for clothing,
and the removal of the establishment to Pimlico.

"2. It was a mistake to appoint the first head of
the establishment without specific instructions as to
its organisation.
" 3. It was a great mistake to supply him at the
outset of the undertaking with a small and inexpe-
rienced staff. The inspection staff in particular
ought to have been organised from the commence-
ment upon the plan adopted at the Tower, and
better salaries should have been given to the various
inspectors.
" 4. It was a continuing mistake not to increase
the staff in proportion to the increase of the work,
in accordance with Mr. Elliott's frequently re-
peated requests.
_ _

- " 5. It Was a mistake, notwithstanding the dis-
tance of Weedon from London, that more frequent
visits were not paid there by the directors of
clothing, and a more rigid supervision exercised
over the books and the stores.

" 6. It was a mistake not to have had a more
considerable store in hand before commencing the
issues, so as to have been prepared for the emer-
gencies which arose.
"7. It was, we think, a most serious mistake to
have separate contracts for the cloth required, and
for the making that cloth into garments ; a course
involving double contracts, double correspondence,
double inspection, double carriage, double keeping
of accounts. This defect has been cured, the con-
tracts being now in the first instance entered into
for the clothing completely made up."
The system pursued at Woolwich and the Tower
is substantially the same, and the commissioners
thus sum up together their remarks upon the points
on which her Majesty required their opinion.
"1. Upon a review of the system upon which
the books have been kept, we find it to be in ac-
cordance with that prescribed by the ordinance re-
gulations. If that system be rigidly adhered to in
practice, as it appears to have been at Woolwich,
we think it a good and efficient system for the pur-
pose of ascertaining the amount of stores received,
expended, issued, and remaining in hand. If it be
i
departed from, and arrears permitted, such as n
the case of the Tower we have animadverted on,
the system seems to us to furnish no materials by
which the irregularities and confusion resulting
from such neglect can be remedied.
" 2. As regards the system upon which the

//‘

I-d‘ IC P. 4P. STAMPED, . SD,

stores at Woolwich and the Tower have been kept,
it appears to us that at the last-named depot, pre-
vious to 1856, When Mr. Godley's regulations - came
into force, no reg•Ulai system of classifying the stores
was adopted, partly in consequence of. the defective
organisation of the establiShment, and partly in con-
sequence of the 'insufficient space •available for
stores, which latter defect was aggravated by
the enormous amount of stores received at . this
depot ddr:ng the war. At Woolwich, frbm the
larger :space at' command, this inconvenience has
been avoided.
"The general mode .in which the business of
these establishments has been Conduced has been
in the main satisfactory, as regards the system upon
which supplies have been obtained. •We have no
reason to suppose that favouritism has been exer-
cised, or that the contracts entered' into haVe been
aribtrary, or (as was the case. at Weedon) contra-
dictory in their conditions. Neither do we think
that those conditiOns have been unfairly 'enforced
on the one hand, or evaded with impunity on the
other. But, as alfeady stated, we are 'of opinion
that until, the staff was reorganised in 1856, the
inspection at the To wer was loose and unsatisfac-
tory, having been up to that period not unfrequently
conducted by examiners not duly qualified for their
task. We consider 'the arrears in the Tower ac-
counts to which we have drawn attention to be
quite inexcusable, and indeed' disgraceful to' those
who were then intrusted with the control and su-
pervision of .the department.. Since Mr. Eaton
became storekeeper in July, 1855, and the staff of
inspectors has been organised; the mode ,of conduct-
ing business has greatly improved, both as regards
the inspection and classification of stores, and the
keeping of the accounts relating to thin:
"As ther- business is at present conducted, we
believe it excludes--as far as • any system that
could be devised can exclude—the , opportunity
of improperly - influencing the officials employed.
No system can extirpate corrupt motives,
nor can we imagine any so perfectly ad-
ministered as absolutely to prevent the possibility
of a bribe being occasionally offered' and received.
Neither can any system, however uprightly ad-
ministered, shield honest men from imputations of
venality =imputations too often made in the first
instance maliciously, hinted at obscurely, magnified
and multiplied by careless repetition, and too
readily believed by many who would shrink from
an act of more deliberate but not of greater injus-
tice. We feel bound to declare our conviction that
the vague general charges of corruption and venality
which have, as we are aware, been freely circulate(
againSt the present inspectors and viewers at Wool
with and the rower are without substantial foul

dation.
"We have already intimated our opinion that
the result of the mode of conducting the business
at Woolwich is satisfactory. We think the public
interests have been well served by the vigour, in-
telligence, and accuracy of the officers at that sta-
tion. And We, are inclined to believe that the result
of the arrears and, discrepancies in the Tower ac-
counts prior to 1856, however discreditable, has
been less detrimental to the public service than
might have been feared. Although complete cer-
tainty on the point is unattainable, we think there
has been no dishonesty, no defalcation in the stores,
no substantial. losS to the public, and that the errors
in question are errors of account only, which we
have every reason to believe will not again
occur if the - more frequent and rigid super-
vision we have recommended be adopted,
• and the storekeeper be at all.timn provided with
a sufficient staff of competent clerks. •
"5. Finally, we have the satisfaction of certify-
ing to your Majesty our opinion that the present •
state of the books and stock of stores at both these
depots appears to us unexceptionable, and that the
mode in which they have been kept since 1856 is
creditable:to those who have been charged with the
responsibility of organising and superintending
these important establishments." •