The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-12 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

For several days two French steam ships of war
have been lying-to outside Plymouth, and it is re-
ported that there are two others outside Falmouth.
Yesterday a corvette of about 18 guns, with painted
ports, and a schooner of 12 guns, all black, were
observed for five hours four miles S.S.E. of the
Eddystone, in the run of the homeward. bound ships.
The schooner when hailed by a pilot boat declared
her nation, but declined answering any other
questions.
Admiral Bowles, commander-in-chief at Ports-
mouth, has officially. inspected Sir Thomas Grant's
cooking and distilling .galley, while under full
operation in baking, boiling, stewing, and provid-
ing hot water for sick bay purposes, and distilling
pure water for the use of a crew comprising 450
officers and men. The admiral complimented Mr.
J. Miller, the conductor. Ten such steam gallies
would amply supply an army of 20,000 men.
The Aboukir was taken into dock yesterday.
The Asia, 84, sailing two-decker, was taken down
the harbour of Portsmouth yesterday, and placed
alongside the Bellerophon, hulk.
The Bloodhound and Prometheus steam vessels
are ordered to be got ready at Woolwich for com-
mission with all possible dispatch.
The Cadmus, 20, screw corvette, Capt. H. S.
Hillyar, C. 8., is reported to be ready for sea. She
proceeds for Sheerness to-morrow; it is expected
that she will take part in the review at Spithead.
The Cressy, 80, screw, Captain Hon. C. G. J. B.
Elliott, C. 8., was inspected yesterday by the admi-
ral of the port at Sheerness ; she leaves to-day.
Her complement of men is 830.
The Doris. Captain Heathcote, is alongside the
Portsmouth Dockyard jetty to receive her altered
screw for further experiments.
The Eurydice, 26, which has been fitted for a
seagoing ship
for training naval cadets, is com-
pleted ; she is waiting. for orders to proceed to
Portsmouth : now she is rigged, she is a splendid
frigate ; she is moored alongside the Tartar frigate
opposite Chatham dockyard.
Her Majesty's paddlewheel steam sloop Gorgon,
Corn. Pim, recently commissioned, was to sail from
Woolwich this morning for Shields, to embark a
large number of volunteers (500), already enrolled
as men-of-war's men. About 200 applicants pre-
sented themselves at the Fisgard's office at Wool-
wich yesterday, a great number of whom, rising 5
ft. 4 in., and exhibiting the appearance of robust
growing lads, were rejected as under the standard
required.
The steam transport Dee, Master-Com. Pullen,
yesterday left Woolwich, laden with steam gear,
for Portsmouth.

The Etna, screw transport, Cart. Hockley, em-
barked yesterday alongside her Majesty's dockyard,
Portsmouth, the following officers and troops for
conveyance to Malta :-2d battalion 22d Foot, Lieut-
Col. Anderson (in military command) Majors Bow-
den and Neville, Capts. Molony, L'Estrange, Couch,
Walker, Davern, Little, De Laney, and Lutman ;
Lieuts. Proctor, Chichester, Watkins, Armstrong,
Gardiner, Mather, Hardinge, Busfield, Plunkett,
and Dolmage ; Ensigns Dillon,- French, Carey, Foll,
Neville, Oliver, Pilsworth, and Thomas ; Paymaster
Davidson, Instructor of Musketry Turner, Adjt.
Patton, Quartermaster Wohlman, Surg. Fairburn,
Assist.-Surgs. Preston and Clarke, 5 officers' wives,
6 officers' children, 4 female servants, 794 non-com-
missioned officers and men, 51 women, 61 children,
and 3 horses ; Royal Engineers, Capt. Bland, Lieuts.
Lewin and Lambert, 2 officers' wives, 7 children,
and 2 female servants, 134 non-commissioned officers
and men, 8 women, 16 children ; Royal Artillery,
Major Boothby, Capt. Joyce, Lieuts. Cruikshank
and Sladen, 1 lady, 2 children, 1 female servant,
127 non-commissioned officers and (men, 9 women,
21 children; 4th battalion Rifle Brigade, Ensign
Boyle, 101 non-commissioned officers and men, 1
woman ; 2d battalion 15th Foot, Capt. Smythe, 40
non-commissioned officers and men, 4 women, 4
children. In addition to the above the Etna had
previously embarked at Liverpool-1 battalion 21st
Regiment, 5 officers, 32 non-commissioned officers
and men, and 4 women ; 2d battalion 3d Foot, 3
officers and 21 non •commissioned officers and men ;
forming a grand total of 53 officers, 8 officers'
wives, 15 children, and 7 female servants, 1,249
non-commissioned officers and men, 77 soldiers'
wives, 148 children, and 3 horses. The Etna will
sail from Portsmouth for Malta at daylight this
morning.

The Falcon, 17, screw steam corvette, was-yester-
day taken out of Portsmouth harbour to Spithead
to test her machinery, &c., Captain G. T. Gordon,
commanding steam reserve, and Mr. Murdoch, in-
spector of machinery, superintending the trial. At
the conclusion she was turned over from the steam
reserve department to Commander Fitzroy,
The Leveret, screw steam gunboat, sailed from
Portsmouth yesterday for Southampton water, with
the Arrogant's spare sails.
The Avon, paddlewheel steam storeship, arrived
at Portsmouth yesterday from Devonport.
Tke Doris, 32, screw steam frigate, shipped her
screw yesterday at Portsmouth, and afterwards
proceeded to Spithead.
The Serpent, target vessel to the Excellent, gun-
nery ship in Portsmouth harbour, has had a quan-
tity of 4-inch oak plank bolted on her side for the
purpose of testing a new system in the making up
of grapeshot.
_ _

The Undaunted is also preparing in the ship basin
to have a huge target fixed to her side, to be like-
wise experimentalised upon by the Excellent.
The screw steamship Royal George, 102, Mr. H.
G. Baynes, master in charge, from Sheerness,
arrived. on Tuesday morning at Plymouth, where
she will be fitted and stored for the first-class steam
service, The crew are men from the Cressy and
steam reserve ; they will be sent back in the Virago.
The screw steamship Revenge, 91, from Milford,
in charge of Mr. Biddlecombe, Master Attendant
at Keyham, and in tow of the paddlewheel steam-
sloop Virago, 6, Commander 31. B. Dunn, arrived
in Plymouth Sound on Tuesday afternoon, and was
immediately placed in tow of two tugs to go up
harbour for the purpose of being stripped.
The mortar steam vessel Forth was undocked at
Devonport on Tuesday afternoon, and placed at her
moorings. The gunboats Seagull and Porcupine
were docked the same day.
The screw steam frigate Orlando, 50, shipped her
propeller at Keyham on Tuesday.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :
Commander—Thomas Lysaght to the Formidable, vice
Wilson, to the Athol].

Master—H. N. Thomas (alditional) to the Fisgard.
Paymaster—Timothy T. Jennings to the Cadmus.
Assistant-Paymaster—James Moore t 6 the Cadmus.
Assistant-Surgeon—Samuel Grose (acting) to the Cad.
mus.