The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-16 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The screw corvette Reindeer, 7,953 tons, 200
horse power (nominal), the first of the completed
improved class of sloop corvette description of ves-
sels now introduced into the navy, remains in deck
at Chatham, where under the operations of a large
body of shipwrights, joiners, painters, and other
workmen employed on ber, she is being rapidly
brought forward for her first commission. The
orders from the Admiralty direct her to be out of
hand and ready for the pennant by the 31st of the
present month, but although this may be the case
so far as the dockyard departments are concerned,
there is little prospect other being ready for sea by
anything like the time mentioned, as in the case of
the other vessels which just now form the diminu-
tive reserve, nothing has yet been definitely decided
upon by the officials at Whitehall as to the character
and description of the armament she will mount, and
consequently some time must elapse before her guns
can be placed on board. In the meantime, however,
all is bustle between decks in getting her ready in-
board, while aloft she is completed and sails bent.
Her machinery and engines have been fitted by
Messrs. G. Rennie and Sons, and she will be ready
for her first official trial of speed directly she is
floated out of dock. Her bunkers are fitted up with
a supply of Welsh coal, placed on board during the
time the Reindeer has been in dock.

The Blanche, 4, 1,268 tons, 350 horse power, one
of the new ships of the improved lengthened Ama-
zon class building at Chatham, having been inspected
by the Lords of the Admiralty on the recent occa-
sion of their visit to that dockyard, orders have since
been given by the Board that no alteration is to be
made in the bow cf the vessel, which is to be con-
structed exactly on the plan originally laid down by
Mr. E. J. Reed, the Chief Constructor of the Navy,
from whose designs the Blanche is being built. A
considerable number of shipwrights are employed on
this sloop, which is required to be ready for launch-
ing during the present year.
The iron armoured screw frigate Bellerophon,
Capt. E. Tatham, went out of Portsmouth yester-
day afternoon to Spithead, making a preliminary
trial of her machinery before anchoring preparatory
to her ordered trial of speed over the measured mile
in Stokes Bay.
The Helicon paddle despatch vessel, Commander
M. Singer, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday, with
invalids from the Channel fleet. It is understood
that Commander Singer is about to exchange the
command of the Helicon with Commander Field, of
the 60-horse power sloop Cruiser, for the command
of that vessel.

Yesterday morning a court-martial assembled on
board her Majesty's ship Formidable, flagship of
Vice-Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker, K.C.8., Com-
mander-in-Chief at the Nore, to try Mr. Walter
Charles Batty, second-class assistant-engineer, at-
tached to her Majesty's ship Cumberland for service
in her Majesty's ship Mars, for, having neglected on
the 3d of August to obey signals for him to come
on board the latter ship, and for being drunk on
board her Majesty's ship Mars on the 4th of August.
The Court consisted of Captain S. L. Crofton, addi-
tional to her Majesty's ship Cumberland, for service
in the naval barracks, President ; Captain D. M'L.
Mackenzie, of her Majesty's ship Formidable ; Com-
mander James P. Thurburn, of her Majesty's ship
Wellesley; Commander Henry E. Crozier, of her
Majesty's ship Cumberland, for service in the naval
barracks ; and Commander Henry W. Bingham, of
her Majesty's ship Formidable ; Mr. Henry Knight,
of the firm of Essell, Knight, and Arnold, Admi-
ralty solicitors, Rochester, was Deputy Judge-Ad-
vocate. No evidence was taken, the prisoner at once
pleaded guilty to the charge, and threw himself on
the mercy of the Court. Certificates, giving him a
good character during a period of eight years' ser-
vice, were read to the Court. After a short time
spent in deliberation, the Court sentenced the pri-
soner to be dismissed the service.
Yesterday the Lord Warden, 24, 1,000-horse
power, ironclad frigate, left Sheerness-harbour for
Devonport. The ship has been lying in Sheerness
harbour about two months, during which she has
been partially rigged, and her engines have been
completed. It was originally intended to finish her
in Sheerness dockyard, but it was feared that the
additional weight she would receive on board while.
in the basin would sink her so much deeper that
there would not be a sufficient draught of water to
get her out again ; and, under these circumstances,
it was thought advisable to take her to Devonport.
Staff-Commander G. J. Hodges, Assistant-master
Attendant in Sheerness dockyard, has charge of her
during the passage, and she is attended by the Me-
dusa paddle wheel vessel, which acts as a tender,
and will render- any assistance which may be re-
quired.
The Rodney, 78, screw wooden ship, 2,270 tons,
500 horse-power, has been taken into dock in Sheer-
ness yard, where she is to be brought forward for
commission and fitted up as the flagship of the
China station.

The A battery B Brigade Royal Horse Artillery
have received orders to hold themselves in readiness
to leave their barracks at Dorchester to-morrow.
The battery will leave Dorchester at 7 a.m., and
march to Yeovil, where they will be billeted, pro-
ceeding to Wells on the following day ; here they
will remain during the " halting-day," and proceed
on Monday morning to Bristol, the place of their
embarcation for Dublin. The women and baggage
of the detachment will be despatched to Bristol by
rail to-day. During the two years that this fine
body of men have been quartered at Dorchester
their conduct has been most exemplary, and their
demeanour has been generally steady and com-
mendable in every respect. The battery will be
succeeded by the D battery of the same brigade,
under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Mit-
chell, which is expected to arrive here in a week
OT SO.

Ye§terday- the B battery of the 4th Brigade Royal
Artillery, consisting of 140 officers and men, 6 gtms,
ambulance waggons, &c., arrived at Sheerness from
Brompton barracks to undergo their annual ball
practice.

The Ist battalion 17th (Leicestershire) Regiment,
which has for the past 14 months been stationed at
Aldershot, is under orders to move to Devonport.
The 17th Regiment arrived from Canada in June,
1865. The 65th Regiment, now at Devonport, will
probably relieve the 17th at Aldershot.
A detachment of Royal Engineers, selected from
the depot and other eoilipirieg at Chathani garri-