The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-07 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

On Friday Vice-Admiral Sir Baldwin W.- Wal7
ker, K.C.8., took up his appointment as Com-
mander-in-Chief at Sheerness, vice Admiral Sir
Charles Talbot, K.C.8., who retires on promotion.
Vice-Admiral Walker's flag (white at the fore) was
hoisted on board the Cumberland, Capt. George

G. Randolph, guardship of steam reserve, and was
saluted by the Formidable flagship, Rear-Admiral
(late Capt.) John Fulford, and by the Cumberland,
Capt. Randolph. Admiral Sir Charles Talbot
struck his flag at sunset the same day, and the flag
of the new Commander-in-Chief will be hoisted on
board the flagship on Saturday.
The unarmoured screw corvette Pearl, 21, 1,469
tons, 400-horse power, made an official trial of her
speed at the measured mile in Stokes Bay, near
Portsmouth, on Thursday, after undergoing a tho-
rough repair to her hull and machinery, and being
also completed in her rig and armament for com-
mission. Her draught of water was—forward, l6ft.
sin. ; aft, 18ft. 3in. ; with 288 tons of coal in her
bunkers, requiring but her sea stores, ammunition,
and crew to make her ready to proceed to sea. The
wind was at a force from 3 to 4, with moderately
_ _

smooth water, and with the safety-valve of the
boilers loaded at 201 b. the full, and half boiler
power runs were made with the following results :

—At full boiler power in the first run she made
1.920 knots ; in the second, 10.619 knots ; in the

third, 12.162 knots ; in ;he fourth, 10.404 knots
in the fifth, 12.560 knots; and in the sixth, 9.91'

knots. The mean speed of the ship given by the
six runs was 11.265 knots ; steam pressure, 211 b. ;
vacuum, mean, 25in. The total number of revolu-
tions made by the engines during the time the ship was
running the six miles was 1,755. At half boiler
power she made in the first run 10.055 knots ; in the
second, 6.792 knots ; in the third, 10.000 knots ; in
the fourth, 7.571 knots. The mean speed of the ship
given by the four runs was 8.500 knots. The total num-
ber of revolutions made by the engines during the time
the ship was running the four miles was 1,165. The
engine, which was manufactured for the ship by
Messrs. John Penn and Son, worked to the entire
satisfaction of the Government officials, who super-
intended the trial, and the boilers furnished an
ample supply of steam. The Pearl returned to Ports-
mouth harbour after the trial, and is expected to be
immediately commissioned.
The first completed measure connected with the
great extension works of Portsmouth dockyard was
accomplished yesterday, in the formal handing over
by the resident superintending Admiralty engineer,
Mr. Woods, to the local authorities of the new inner
harbour-hard and landing-place on Flathouse-
beach, Landport. The legal proceedings connected
with the transfer of the landing-place to the local
authorities was the first official act of the new Re-
corder of Portsmouth, Mr. Poulden, Q.C.
A court-martial assembled yesterday on board
her Majesty's ship Formidable, flagship'of Admiral
Talbot, to try Mr. John Crutchly, first-class assist.-
engineer of her Majesty's ship Cumberland, doing
duty in the Griffin gun vessel in the Sheerness steam
reserve, on the following charges:-Ist, That he,
being a first-class assist.-engineer, in full pay in her
Majesty's service, was seen at 5 p.m. on March 28,
by Captain Connolly entering Sheerness dockyard
drunk ; 2d, That he was guilty of conduct unbe-
coming an officer and a gentleman in stating to
Captain Connolly, on March 29, that he did not
leave the dockyard till after 6 p.m. on the previous
day. The court consisted of Rear-Admiral Fulford,
of the Formidable, president ; Captain Crofton
(additional), of the Cumberland ; Commander
Thurburn, of the Barracouta ; Commander Urm-
ston, of the Wellesley ; and Commander Dolling,
of the Formidable. Mr. Knight, of the firm of
Essell, Knight, and Arnold, Admiralty solicitors,
Rochester, was Deputy-Judge-Advo'cate, Capt. M.
Connolly, of her ::Majesty's ship Pallas, prosecuted.
The prisoner pleaded guilty to the charges, but
handed in several certificates of good conduct ex-
tending over a period of 12 years, which were read
by the Court. He was sentenced to be dismissed
from the service, but in consequence of his many
and excellent certificates he was recommended to
the consideration of the Lords of the Admiralty.
Four good-service pensions are placed at the dis-
posal of the First Lord of the Admiralty by the pro-
motion of Capt. J. Fulford, Capt, C. T. D'Eyn-