The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-03 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

The Duke of Somerset, First Lord of the Admi-
ralty, held a levee at the Royal Naval College in
Portsmouth dockyard yesterday. Upwards of 80
names were entered for presentation. After the
levee their lordships embarked on board their barge
and went on board the Duke of Wellington, 131,
screw, lying at her harbour moorings in steam re-
serve. On returning from their visit to this noble
vessel their lordships entered carriages, which had
boen provided for the purpose, and proceeded to
Fort Cumberland, at the entrance of Langston har-
bc,ur, the head-quarters and practice ground of the
Royal Marine Artillery. A large main sewer for the
drainage of the buildings in the fort, with other
works, is in course of construction. But a small
proportion of the men belonging to the corps sleep
in the fort, which is only adapted for use as the
practice ground of the corps, and merely affords the
necessary accommodation to the men engaged at
practice. The erection of new barracks has been
under the consideration of the Lords of the Admi-
ralty for some time, but prior to the present visit of
their lordships the site for their erection had not
been determined on. It has been suggested by com-
petent authorities that the Royal Marines and the
Royal Marine Artillery should be amalgamated, and
the whole body become Royal Marine As tillery. At
the conclusion of their visit to Fort Cumberland
their lordships returned to Portsmouth. In the even-
ing their lordships gave their customary annual
dinner at Dent's Portland Hotel, Southsea, and
afterwards patronised the ball at Hollingsworth's-
rooms, Southsea, in aid of the funds of the Sea-
men's and Marines' Orphans' School and Female
Orphans' Home. Their lordships are expected to
leave Portsmouth this morning in the Osborne,
Master-Commander Bower, from the Channel
Islands, attended by the Black Eagle, Master-
Commander J. Petley.

The Mersey, 40, screw, Capt. H. Caldwell, C. 8.,
left Spithead yesterday morning under canvas for
the westward. It had been intended for this vessel
to have made a trial of her altered screw at the
measured mile before her departure, but the boiste-
rous state of the weather since she has been ready
for trial prevented it taking place.
The Vulcan, screw troopship, Commander Strode,
steamed out of harbour yesterday and made trial
of her speed at the trial ground in Stokes Bay.
The force of wind was 51, and the regulations are
that no vessel shall make trial of her speed with
new engines pith the wind at a greater force than
three. As, however, it was imperatively neces-
sary she should leave Portsmouth yesterday for
Gravesend, where she takes on board a regiment
for conveyance to Inverness, the trial was made.
The mean of four runs at the measured mile gave,
even under these unfavourAble circumstances, a
speed of 93 knots. The Vulcan is an old steam
troopship, and this is her first trip since receiving
her new engines by Maudslay and Co. Her old
boilers remain in her. After having made her runs
at the measured mile, the officials on board, who
had been conducting the trial, were transferred to
the Grinder, gunboat, and the Vulcan left for
Gravesend.

The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Lieut. W. T. W. Hambly, to
the Pearl ; E. P. Miles, Assist.•Surg., confirmed, to
the Quail ; F. H. Chown, to be secretary's clerk to
the Captain of the Fleet in the Channel; C. C.
Watson, clerk, to the Trafalgar ; and E. Tisdall,
clerk, to the Donegal.