The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-28 00:00:00

astern, the half-circle was made in 46sec., and the
full circle in lmin. 26sec. With port engine going
ahead and the starboard astern the half-circle was
made in 42sec., and the full circle in lmin. 18sec.

Her Majesty's screw gunboat Sepoy, 2, 60-horse
power, Lieut. Commander 11. J. Dyke, left Chatham
early yesterday morning for the west coast of Ire-
land, conveying to Queenstown a quantity of Royal
Marine and other naval stores. She shipped her
powder and shell at Upnor Castle, and, after ad-
justing compasses at the Nore, proceeded to her des-
tination yesterday afternoon.
Her Majesty's sloop• corvette Reindeer, 7, 200
horse power, Commander E. Nares, left the Nore at
6 a.m. yesterday for the Pacific, calling in at Spit-
head. Prior to the departure of the Reindeer she
was inspected on Monday by Vice-Admiral Sir B.
W. Walker, K. C , Naval Commander-in -Chief,
the appearance of the vessel being in all respects
satisfactory.
The screw steamer Rodney, 78, 2,770 tons, 500
horse power, belonging to the Medway Steam Re-
serve, is directed, by Admiralty order, to be ready
for being commissioned by Jan. 1. A. number of
shipwrights, joiners, riggers, and other hands are
busily at work on her in the steam basin, so that
she may be completed by the date ordered. Her
destination is China.

The drawings and plans for another powerful
ironclad, to be constructed at Chatham, are in
course of preparation at the Admiralty.
On no former occasion has there been more activity
at the naval establishments at Chatham than is now
observable in the shipbuilding department at the
dockyard. The chief interest is centred in the two
ironclad ships Hercules and Monarch, both of which
are being as rapidly brought forward as the resources
of the establishment will permit. The former vessel,
although only commenced at the latter part of June
last, is now about one-third complete, and from the
progress already made there is little doubt she will
be afloat and equipping for sea within 12 months.
Already a considerable portion of the 9-inch and 6-
inch plates have been fixed to her port and starboard
broadsides, one tier of the 6-inch plates along the
central battery, as well as the second tier, consist-
ing of plates of 9 inches in thickness, being com-
pleted and bolted in the ship's sides. Yesterday the
first of the third tier of of 6-inch plates was fixed
in its place, to be followedby a tier of 8-inch plates,
and the remainder of 6 inches inthickness. Already
some 300 tons of ermour-plates have been fitted
and fastened to the broadsides of the Hercules, the
plates being laid on a backing of 10 inches of
teak, inside of which will be a double skin
plating, 11 inch in thickness, with the ordinary
inner finch plates, giving a total thickness
of iron of 11i inches. The deck beams, which
are of rolled iron, and manufactured at the Butter-
fly Works, have been fixed in their places, and, in-
cluding the upper deck of the battery, are in readi-
ness for receiving the iron deck-plates. Although
the Hercules is built on the double-bottom prin-
ciple, now adopted in the construction of iron ships
for the navy, she is nevertheless, rendered still fur-
ther secure from all chances of injury by being built
with a few water-tight bulkheads separating the
central battery from the other portions of the main
deck.

The screw steam frigate Liffey, 31, having had a
thorough repair, was removed on Saturday from
No. 4 dock at Devonport.
The forem Ist of the iron armour-plated screw
steamship Achilles, 26, Capt. Edward W. Vansit-
tart, at Devonport, is stripped preparatory Lfor re-
moval. The alterations and repairs of this ship
will occupy some time.
The paddlewheel steam surveying vessel Sylvia,
5, left Plymouth on Monday evening for China.
A lighted candle, incautiously stuck on Monday
against the side of the screw steam frigate Bristol,
31, under repair in Keyham steamyard, charred one
of her beams. Serious consequences might have
ensued had it not been discovered in time.

The paddlewheel steam sloop Gladiator, Com-
mander Aplin, shipped her powder on Moiday
morning, embarked a draught of Royal Marines
yesterday morning, and was appointed to sail in the
afternoon for Ireland.

The paddlewheel steamsloop Buzzard, 6, Com-
mander C. G. Lindsay, was hauled alongside the
sheer hulk in Hamoaze on Saturday, and had her
masts taken out. She was then placed alongside the
dockyard at Devonport, where her crew were paid
off on Monday. The Buzzard is ordered to beplaced
in the fourth division of the Steam Reserve ; but, if
found not worth repairing, she will be cleared out
and sold for the purpose Of being broken up.

The armour-plated screw steamship
.Zealous, 20,
Capt. Richard Dawkins, is expected to leave Ply-
mouth early iu December.

The armour-plated screw steamship Lord Clyde,
24, flag of Admiral Warren, will probably go into
No. 2 dock at I)evonport, on Friday, to receive a
screw with two blades in place of one with four.

The armour-plated screw steamship Caledonia,
30, flag of Admiral Yelverton, was placed on Friday
in No. :.; dock at Devonport, where her bottom has
been cleaned._ Several sheets of Muntz's metal, near
the fore foot, have been renewed, iu consequence
partly of damage done by the swinging of the anchor
when in a sea way. Some of Betteley's sheathing,
placed on her two years since, appears in compara-
tively good order, and will not be removed until her
commission is concluded. There is on her false keel
some appearance of her having touched the ground.
The Caledonia will be undocked to-morrow.

The Lords of the Admiralty have appointed Dr.
Charles A. Anderson Deputy-Inspector-Gen. of
Hospitals and Fleets, to the Chatham division, vice
Dr. Armstrong, promoted,

Au Admiral's good service pension is at the dis-
posal of the First Lord of Admiralty by Admiral
Sir Phipps Hornby, G.C.8., becoming Rear-Ad-
miral of the United Kingdom.
The telegraphic order from the Admiralty on
Monday to coal and prepare the troopships, Capt.
Sullivan, and Orontes, Capt. H. W. Hire, for the
embrkation of troops at Portsmouth was further
extended yesterday—they are to fill up with coal, and
ship provisions and stores for 30 days' service. 'I he
Tamar will embark the 28th (North Glocester)
Regiment, under command of Col. Mentor, C. 8.,
this morning from Aldershott, and proceed imme-
diately to Ireland, returning to Portsmouth with the
39th Regiment, to replace the 54th Regiment, the
latter being under orders to remove to Manchester,
instead of the 28th, as originally intended. The
Orontes will embark the 52d (Oxfordshire) Light
Infantry, under the command of Lieut. Col. L.
Peel, from Aldershott to-morrow, and leave imme-
diately with them for Queenstown, after which she
will proceed to Liverpool and there embark a regi•-
ment for Belfast, consequently her time of paying
off (which was fixed for the 3d proximo) is post-
poned. The Orontes has had her stores returned,
cabins entirely cleared out, and every preparation
made for paying off, so that in the short space of 24
hours she has been coaled, and, by great exertions,
shipped her provisions and stores, had her cabins
temporarily fitted up, and been ready for the em-
barkation of her troops.
An order has been received at headquarters,
Chatham, directing Captain R. F. Tayler, Royal
Marines Light Infantry, to embark on board the
screw frigate Galatea, 26, 800 horse power, fitting
at Devonport, preparatory to her being commis-
sioned, it is understood, by Capt. the Duke of Edin-
burgh. Capt. J. W. V. Arbuckle has proceeded from
headquarters to Liverpool, for service on board her
Majesty's ship Donegal, 81, 800 horse power, Capt.
J. A. Paynter, there to relieve Lieut.-Col. J.W. A.
Kennedy, who has been appointed to the Woolwich
division, for duty at headquarters.
It was yesterday stated at Chatham that the Go-
vernment will shortly despatch a considerable force
of Royal Artillery from the three depot brigades for
service in Ireland. Each of the brigades is now very
strong, and could together furnish a force of 1,000
men, with their field equipment, for service. It was
also stated to be probable that one or two companies
of Royal Engineers will be despatched from Chatham
to Ireland.

Capt. 0413. Brackenbury, 7th battery, sth Bri-
gade Garrison Artillery, who has been attached to
the Austrian army as military correspondent of the
Times during the late war, yesterday returned to his
duties at Woolwich.

Information was yesterday received at the Wool-