The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-14 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

In addition to the Bulwark, 91, and the Rein-
' deer, 16, screw steamers, which have just been
commenced at Chatham dockyard, the shipwrights
.have begun laying the blocks and trimming the
timbers for the Rattlesnake. 20, screw corvette,
which is also ordered to be immediately laid down.
The Agamemnon, 91, screw steamship, being
fitted in the steam basin at Portsmouth for the
first-class steam reserve, has got her anchors to her
bows, and received her foremast on Saturday.
The Havoc screw steam gunboat at Portsmouth,
being fitted for foreign service (reported for Van-
couver's Island) tried her machinery at the mea-
sured mile in Stokes Bay on Friday last.
The Mersey, 40, screw steam-frigate, Captain H.
Caldwell, C. 8., at Portsmouth, has shipped a num-
ber of good hands, who appear to be volunteering
for her freely.
The paddle-wheel steam-sloop Ardent, 5, Com-
mander John H. Cave, left Plymouth Sound on Fri-
day, for Woolwich, to be paid off.
The paddle-wheel steam-vessel Advice, Michael
C. Raymond, master, from Queenstown, with
supernumeraries, arrived at Plymouth on Friday.
The paddle-wheel steam-vessel, Avon, 3, tender
to the Impregnable, arrived at Plymouth, from
Portland, on Friday.
The screw steam-ship James Watt, 91, Captain
T. Fisher, at Devonport, will require six weeks to
get ready. A draught of marines from the Stone-
house division was embarked on Friday • the re-
mainder will be draughted from another division.
The London, 90, at Devonport, had her main-
mast, foremast, and bowsprit shipped on Friday.

The last boiler was removed from the screw
steamship, Nile, 90, Captain Arthur P. E. Wilmot,
at Devonport, on Friday. The Royal Albert's
boilers will be placed in her as soon as the platform
is ready. Steam may be got up in about 8 days.
The gunboat Shamrock and steam-tug Confiance
wrre taken out of the basin at Keyham on Satur-
day.
The following is an extract of a private letter
from her Majesty's ship Victor Emmanuel, at
Berehaven, dated the Bth of March :—_ . _

" Our ship and the Orion have this day received
orders per telegram from the Admiralty to proceed
at once to the Mediterranean. We start at daylight
to-morrow."

Great activity prevails at Sheerness Dockyard in
every department.
The Hero, 91 guns, is progressing with all pos-
sible despatch in her rigging and equipment for
sea. The workmen are on unlimited earnings,
working until eight o'clock at night.
The new screw steamship Edgar, 91 guns, is in
dry dock at Sheerness; she has had her screw pro-
peller fitted complete, and is ready for a trial as far
as her engines and machinery are concerned. As
soon as she is coppered and put out of dry dock she
will proceed on a trial of her engines.
The Queen, 116 guns, screw steamship, in dry
dock at Sheerness, is in a very forward state for
being undocked, and it is expected in 10 days will
be quite ready to receive her boilers and engines.
The new screw steam frigate Forte, 51 guns,
now in dry dock at Sheerness, will be put out of
dock on Thursday next (weather permitting). She
will proceed on a trial trip of her engines and
machinery, and for speed at the measured mile in
the West Swin, after which she is to be placed in
the second-class of the steam squadron of reserve
at Sheerness.

The despatch gunboats Reynard and Wrangler,
now at Sheerness, fitting for the pendant, will both
be ready for being commissioned in a short time.

The notices issued a short time ago for the dis-
missal of a number of artisans and labourers from
Woolwich Arsenal have since been cancelled, and
on. Saturday a demand was made for a large num-
ber of extra men, who were accordingly entered on
the books of the establishment, for temporary
employment, to hasten the completion of the heavy
shipments of war stores required for the colonies.
The shipwrights' department of Woolwich Dock-
yard having augmented to a very considerable
extent the working establishment, is hastening
with all possible despatch the completion of the
various ships under construction, as well as making
preparations for laying down the two screw steam-
ships Wolverine and Bristol. The timbers of the
Wolverine are cut out and ready for the stocks, and
the Bristol, intended to be built under the new
Crystal shed, is also commenced. The two appoint-
ments of assistant-master shipwrights, rendered va-
cant by the promotion of Mr. Large and Mr. Peake,
are still vacant. Mr. Alfred Sturdee, who has since
their departure performed the duties of the two
posts, was on Saturday confirmed to the rank
of assistant-master shipwright, and appointed to
Portsmouth yard, vice Craddock, promoted to mas-
ter shipwright of Pembroke yard.
On Saturday 37 additional shipwrights were en-
tered at Chatham dockyard, chiefly from northern
ports. The total number of extra shipwrights who
have been taken on at Chatham up to the present
time is only 140, although 300 are required.
Commander S. Hodge (1846), was on Saturday
promoted to be captain on the reser'red list, vice
Collier, deceased.