The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-20 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

The non-commissioned officers and men of the
Royal Engineers who are to form the new expedi-
tion about to be despatched to British Columbia
have been selected from the Royal Sappers and
Miners at head-quarters, Chatham, and are now
ready to take their departure immediately the order
arrives for their embarkation. In addition to the
handicraftsmen several surveyors and draughtsmen
have also been selected to proceed to British Co-
lumbia, in order to prepare the designs and surveys
for the works about to be undertaken by the Go-
vernment. The expedition take out with them a
large assortment of sapping and mining tools, port-
able indiarubber pontoon boats for crossing the
rivers and streams, waterproof tents, indiarubber
sheets, surveying instruments, &c. Two experi-
enced photographers, from the Photographic School
of the Royal Engineers, at Chatham, will also ac-
company the expedition, and these will be provided
with the best apparatus that can be procured, to
enable them to take accurate copies of the works to
be undertaken and views in the colony. The ex-
pedition will embark at Southampton, and proceed
overland via Panama.

Yesterday afternoon the depots of the 61st and
84th Regiments, numbering about 400 men of all
ranks, were inspected on the general parade-ground
at Chatham, previously to taking their departure
from that garrison. The 61st has been encamped
within the Spur Battery during the whole of the
summer, and the 84th has been quartered in the
Hut barracks. At the conclusion of the inspection
each depot marched to the Strood station, preceded
by the fifes and drums, and proceeded by special
train to Pembroke, where they relieve the 31st and
91st depots, ordered to Chatham. The following are
the names of the officers who left Chatham yester-
day with their depots :—Brevet-Major A. W. Gor-
don, Capt. D. R. Croasdaile, Lieut. R. Hutton,
Lieut. C. J. Griffiths. Lieut. E. B. Andros, Ensign
F. J. Fane, Ensign J. R. Cockle, Ensign E. E. Bor-
ton, and Ensign J. D. Wedgwood, 61st Regiment ;
Capt. W. M'G. Keats, Ensign J. G. Wilson, and
Ensign W. C. Clayton, 84th Regiment.
The detachment of her Majesty's 29th Foot,
arrived in the Clasmerden troopship at Spithead,
from India, as reported in The Sun of yesterday,
will disembark this morning at Portsmouth, and
proceed by special train at 10 a.m. for Weedon.
The newly invented curvilinear hospital tent, the
invention of Major Rhodes, which was erected some
time hack in the grounds of the Garrison Hospital
at Chatham by order of the Duke of Cambridge, in
order that the advantages claimed for it by the in-
ventor might be put to a practical test, was yester-
-1 day taken down, after standing several weeks, dur-
ing which period it has been occupied by the pa-
tients from the hospital. The results of these trials
confirms in every respect the favourable report
made respecting it by the heads of the medical de-
partment at Chatham on the occasion of its first
' being erected. The number of patients accommo-
dated in it has varied from 15 to 20, the latter being
the greatest number it will conveniently hold. The
whole of the troops who have occupied it speak in
the highest terms of the hospital tent and of the
comforts they have experienced when quartered in
it as compared with the old hospital marquee. Not-
withstanding the frequent storms of rain which fell
during the summer not the least inconvenience was
experienced by any of the inmates, the interior of
the tent remaining perfectly dry and comfortable.
Even during the most violent rains no necessity was
experienced for the invalid inmates to turn out
during the night to " slack ropes," an operation
which hall frequently to be performed at the other
tents. The admirable system of ventilation employ-
ed kept the air in the interior at all times pure, and
even during days and nights of intense heat the in-
side of the tent was always much cooler than the
exterior atmosphere. During the time the hospital
has been erected it has been frequently visited by
Dr. J. R. Taylor, C. 8., principal medical officer at
Chatham, by Dr. Maclean, and the other medical
officers of the staff; all of whom are unanimous in
pronouncing the tent to be the most healthy and
at the same time in every respect the most conve-
nient of any invention of the kind which has been
brought under the notice of the authorities. A re-
port embodying the opinions of the medical officers
appointed to examine the invention has been laid
before the Commander-in-Chief. One of Major
Rhodes' 13 feet diameter field tents, which was also
erected near the hospital tent, was also removed
yesterday, the inmates having received orders to
take up their quarters in the hospital. An equally
favourable report is given of the field bell tent.
1 An Indian gun, one of the trophies taken from
the rebels at the final siege and capture of Luck-
now, has just been deposited in the museum at-
tached to the Royal Engineer establishment, Bromp-
ton barracks, Chatham. The gun, which appears to
be of very rude construction, was taken from one of
the forts in Lucknow, and, from its appearance, had
been put to severe use in the defence of that strong-
hold. It is mounted on a four-wheeled gun-carriage,
and although not so large as our light field-pieces,
is of great weight. Tbis trophy was deposited in
the museum by order of the Government.
The Ist Itafford Militia arrived at Portsmouth
yesterday from Aldershott Camp, to relieve the 2d
Cheshire Militia, ordered to Shorncliffe Camp.
The Royal Elthorne Light Infantry, stationed
at Richmond barracks, Dublin, has just completed
a quota of SO volunteers to the Marines, on which
occasion the commandant, Lieut.-Colonel Murray
Prior, has had a commission in the latter corps
placed at his disposal, and Lieutenant Hitchcock is
the officer who is recommended for it. This makes
11 commissions which have been given to officers of
the Elthorne Militia on account of volunteers who
have joined line regiments.
A valuable present of plate, consisting of a large
and elegant pair of silver candlesticks (forming a
candelabrum), together with a silver antique tea-
kettle, has been presented to Lieut. -Col. H. Musters,
of the Queen's Own Royal City of Dublin Militia,
by the officers of the Prince of Wales' Own Royal
Longford Rifles, as a token of their regard and
esteem for him as their late commanding officer,
together with an appropriate address, signed by the
senior officer present.

GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—Her Majesty's
Emigration Commissioners chartered yesterday afternoon,
the 19th inst., the Lancashire Witch, 1,386 tons belonging to
Mr. Duncan Dunbar, to sail from Gravesend on the 17th
proximo, for Bombay, at £l5 ls. 3d. per statute adult. The
commissioners have also given notice of their intention to
receive tenders on Thursday, the 29th inst., for ships to
proceed to Sydney, New South
.`Vales, and to Melbourne.
Victoria, to be ready for the reception of passengers on such
(lays as the commissioners, may appoint between the Ist and
Bth of November. The ships must be furnished with cots
or bed-places as the commissioners may direct, with Dible's
ventilating apparatus and with Dr. Normandy's fresh water
distilling apparatus.