The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-13 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

VALETTA, Nov. 7.—Since I last wrote I have re-
ceived a few particulars as to the cruise of the squa-
t dron, the return of which 1 have already an-
nounced. Since its departure from Malta on the
25th June the squadron has visited Patras, whence
the Commander-in-Chief detached himself in the
Psyche, to call at Constantinople and various places
li in the Levant. The squadron left Patras on the
27th August, arrived at Syracuse and Augusta on
the 9th Sept., left those ports on the 24th, arrived
at Cagliari on the 28th, left that port on the 30th,
and arrived at Port Mahon on the 2d Oct., where
it had to perform 10 days quarantine, the Balearic
islands having placed that term on arrivals from all
ports out of Spain. After remaining at Port Mahon
till the 23d of October, the squadron weighed
anchor and sailed for the coast of Sicily (Lord
Clarence Paget having in the meantime been joined
by Lady Clarence Paget and family), and anchored
. off the island of Favignana on the 26th of Octo-
ber, leaving that anchorage on the 31st for
I Malta. Many other places were in the original
programme, but the Admiral was prevented visiting
them ou account of the obstructions of quarantine.
While cruising for a fortnightin the
neighbourhood
of the lonian Islands, the time there, as well as sub-
sequently on passage from port to port, was usefully
employed in experimental sailing, steaming, and
gunnery exercises, in all of which the various ships
are in a high state of efficiency, thanks in a great
measure for this to the Commander-in-Chiefs dis-
creet regulations in respect to avoiding excessive
exercise in the midday sun, and substituting the
cool hours of morning and evening for this purpose
a forbearance fully appreciated by the crews, and
has tended to produce an excellent spirit of emula-
tion among all on board. It may be observed that
Lord Clarence Paget appears to have made himself
very popular with both officers and men without
having relaxed in the slightest degree that strict dis-
cipline so essential in a fleet. Clean bills of health
have been issued from Marseilles since the 4th inst.,
and it is consequently expected that the quarantine
here on arrivals will be reduced from 15 to seven
days, and soon probably taken off entirely. The
cholera has also ceased at Genoa and Naples, but
continues to spread in Sicily. By the mail arrived
yesterday we learn that it was increasing at Catania,
and is committing great ravages in Palermo and the
neighbouring country. Strict local quarantines are
enforced in such towns as have as yet escaped.
Letters from Constantinople of the 31st ult. say
that all quarantine has been abolished there 'on ar-
rivals from ports in the Black Sea, but that ar-
rivals from England are still subject to 24 hours
detention in the Dardanelles. The following no-
tice has been promulgated by the Malta Govern-
ment :—" Information having been received that
cattle murrain existed in the district of Bona, the
Malta Government has directed that the importa-
tion of cattle from Algeria be prohibited from the
22d inst. until further orders ; and the introduc-
tion of wool, hides, skins, horns, bones, and
hoofs from Algeria shall not be permitted until sub-
jected to the usual sanitary measures under the di-
rection of the physician of the Lazaretto."
Her Majesty's surveying vessel Sylvia, 5 guns,
commissioned on the 12th ult. by Commander E.
W. Brooker at Woolwich, sailed from Greenhithe •
after the adjustment of compasses yesterday, under