The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-27 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

Captain Goldsmith, C. 8., the superintendent of
Chatham dockyard, has received directions from
the Admiralty, authorising him to inform the heads
of the departments and officers connected with the
several establishments of the dockyard that under
no circumstances will they be permitted to be in
any way connected with any political patronage
committee that might be in existence in the neigh-
bourhood, and that dismissal from her Majesty's
service would follow any infrin crment of their
Lordships' order. The various officers have also
received orders, not to interfere in the slightest
degree with the votes of any of the artisans or
workmen.

Her Majesty's ship Centurion, 80, encountered a
frightful storm of thunder and lightning in October
last near Corfu. The ship, on the 29th, at 130
p.m., was taken all aback in a squall from north-
west, with thunder, lightning, and rain. A heavy
flash of lightning struck the ship and passed off by
the conductors, which are reported to have had the
paint stripped off in several places below. The
branch under the bowsprit appeared as if it had
been in the fire. No damage ensued. The flash was
so close that it seemed as if a broadside had been
discharged. A large waterspout appeared as if
coining towards the ship. It was dispersed by one
of the forecastle guns. Such was the force of the
electrical action on the state of the air at the time
the discharge struck the ship that a marine stand-
ing on the forcastle was for a time stunned by the
shock, but was not otherwise hurt. The lightning
conductors now common in the Royal Navy are said
to have saved the ship's masts.
The new screw steam-ship Doris, 32, which made
an experimental trip outside Plymouth Sound on
Monday, in charge of Captain Risk, of the Devon-
port Steam Reserve, and of Mr. Dinnen, inspector
afloat of steam machinery, is fitted with trunk
engines by Messrs. Penn, of 800-hors'e power.
She attained an average speed of 11.4 knots, under
a pressure of 201 b., with 52 revolutions. Consider-
ing the freshness of the breeze and the degree of
swell on the result of the trial was satisfactory. It
is expected that she will go out again. The Doris
ha . on board all her heavy armament, viz., on the
min deck, 2010-inch Paixhan guns, usually known
as 84-pounders, and on the ',upper deck 10 58 cwt.
32-pounders ; she will also carry two revolving
solid-shot 18. inch guns, weighing 95 cwt. each.
The ship is all ataut, and ready for the pendant.
The steam-vessel Locust, Lieut.-Commander J.
B. Field, now having damage repaired in the Basin
at Sheerness, is ordered to complete repairs with all
possible despatch, and proceed to Hull to take the
station of the Sandfly, Lieut. Moore, during her
repairs of damage, also by collision.
A letter dated 24th Nov. -last at the Mauritius,
from her Majesty's sloop Persia, says—" Thecap-
tain's steward died on 31st January last when off
Rio. Samuel Martin and Evans were invalided
home from Rio. Some merchant seamen have been
shipped since we have been out. We left the Cape
on the 18th March for the Mozambique, and have
only been favoured with one mail since. The
Persian got on shore just off the Island of Mazotte,
and the Admiral has scat her here to get her
damage repaired. When completed she is to go to
the !Cape, where all letters for the ship remain
waiting our arrival there. She is a very comfortable
ship ; Captain Chad and all the officers are first-
rate officers ; no laxity of discipline, every man
turns to with cheerfulness, and the ship's duty goes
on • admirably. The Admiral came up to the
Mozambique in the Boscawen. He had' no boat-
swain. There are only three officers now in the
gun•room viz., Kerr, Shott, and Linquest.
Nothing has been done in regard of captures up to
this date.

Orders were received by telegraph on Wednesday
at Devonport to commission the screw steam sloop
Gannet, 11, forthwith.
The troop ship Ramilies, 10 ail-vs from London
for Madras, put into Plymouth Sound windbouud
on Tuesday evening.
Mr. William &riven and Mr. William C. E.
Parker were yesterday appointed master's assistants
to the Boscawen.