The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-13 00:00:00

TILE NAVT.

The following circular, numbered "306," has been
issued, and is dated Admiralty, Dec• 10 :
"The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty,
being desirous of revising the regulations respect-
ing punishments in her Majesty's navy, are pleased
to direct as follow

"I. All seamen and royal marines belonging to
the fleet shall be divided into two classes, herein-
after referred to as the Ist and 2d class.
"11. All men now serving in the fleet whose cha-
racter is marked good' shall be in the Ist class.
"111. All men on first entering the navy or re-
serves, and all men re entering the navy with certi-
ficates marked good,' shall be also in the Ist class.
" IV. No man in the Ist class shall be subject to
corporal punishment, except by sentence of a court-
martial.

" V. Men in the Ist class committing any grave
offence against discipline, or guilty of repeated mis-
conduct, will be removed by warrant into the 2d
class. They will not be liable to corporal punishment
at the time when they are so removed, but, in addi-
tion to degradation to the 2d class, other punishment
may be inflicted, according to the degree of the
offence.

" VI. The 2d class will consist of all men whose
conduct has not entitled them to certificates marked
' good.'
" VII. No man in the 2d class shall be subject to
corporal punishment without court-martial, except
for the following offences :

" 1. Mutinous or highly insubordinate or riotous
conduct.
" 2. Desertion.

" 3. Repeated drunkenness.
"4. Smuggling liquor into the ship.
" 5. Theft.

" 6. Repeated disobedience of orders.
" 7. Deserting his post.
" 8, Indecent assaults.

" VIII. Men in the 2d class, by a continued course
of good conduct for a period of not less than 12
months, will be entitled to be restored to the Ist
class.

"The above rules are Rot intended to relate to
cases of open mutiny, where immediate punishment
may be necessaty to check a disposition of the part
of others to join in so flagrant a crime.
" Future punishment returns are to contain the
number of men in the Ist and 2d class respectively.
" This circular is to be read to the crews of her
Majesty's ships on each occasion of the Articles of
War being read."

The Queen, SG, screw, Capt. Charles F. Hillyar,
has been undocked at Portsmouth, and berthed
alongside the north wall of the steam basin.
The launch of the Duncan, 101, screw, took
place this morning shortly before high water
at Portsmouth dockyard. Sir B. W. Walker, the
Surveyor of the Navy, and Admiral the Hon. F.
Pelham, both visited the Duncan yesterday.
The first portion of the keel of the Royal Alfred,
91, screw, was yesterday laid on the blocks, in the
same slip from which the Victoria was lately
launched.

The Urgent screw troopship, Commander Hire,
steamed out to Spithead from Portsmouth yester-
day for trial of her engines, &c. Every part con-
tinued to work in the most satisfactory manner.
Her speed was not tried at the measured mile,
owing to the thick weather. On her return to the
harbour she berthed alongside the dockyard to
complete for sea.

The new screw steamship Hood, of 90 guns and
600 horse-power (nominal), at Sheerness, now in
the fitting basin, has had her masts and bowsprit
stepped, and. the seamen riggers of the yard, with
the supernumeraries from the steam ordinary and
steam reserve, are busily engaged rigging her, to
get her ready for immediate sell ice.
The first division of the steam despatch vessels
and gunboats at Sheerness are fully equipped and
ready for immediate service.
The new screw steam frigate Ariadne, 26, of 800
horse-power, nominal, Capt. Vansittart (now at
moorings off Folly Point, in the Medway), is or-
dered to get her armament, ammunition, and sea-

going stores on board with all possible despatch ;
her compasses will be adjusted at Sheerness, and
she is to proceed on a trial trip when fully equipped
for sea.