The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-30 00:00:00

„,„......_
Naval and Military Intelligence. 1 Arsenal at Woolwich, under the superintendence of
__ _.e.. _--- Lieut.-Col. Freeth, Assistant-Superintendent of the
The headquarters of the 31st Regt., consisting of Royal gun factories. These guns were formerly
1.9 officers, 401 non-commissioned officers and men, ' cast-iron 32-pounders and 24-pounders, and have
4i; women, and 60 children, under the command of been converted into 64-pounders and 56-pounders
Lienat-Col. Eagar, embarked yesterday at noon on by the firm of Sir W. Armstrong and Co., at Elswick.
board the screw steamship Avoca (on her ordinary Twenty more of these guns arrived the same day at
passenger and goods traffic between London, Ply- Woolwich, and will at once be sent to proof. A 64-
mouth, Falmouth, and Dublin) from Portsmouth pounder Palliser gun has also undergone a most
Dockyard, for conveyance to Ireland. The left wing I severe test of endurance. This was a 32-pounder,
of the regiment will follow the headquarters to Ire-
weighing only 58 cwt. The test was as follows :
land on Thursday next. The 31st has been rather Two rounds, with charges of 161 b. of powder and
a popular regiment during its stay in Portsmouth
1501 b. cylinders ; 10 rounds, with charges of 201 b.
,
garrison, and the embarkation and departure of the
i rounds, with 161 b. of powder and 641 b. shells. The
i of powder and 100 lb. cylinders; and, finally, 10
I shells were loaded with their fuze holes towards the
headquarters yesterday was witnessed by a large
number of friends of the officers of the regiment.
Admirals Sir T. Pasley and G. G. Wellesley were
powder, and, as the fuzes had been taken out, the
also present at the sailing of the Avoca. It is a I flash of the discharge set fire to the powder in the
1
somewhat remarkable fact that not a man of the re-
shells and burst them in the gun. It was generally
'
giment was on the sick list at the time of the head-
expected that this test would have burst the gun,
quarters' embarkation.or that it would have blown off the muzzle or other-
The remainder of the 56th Regiment embarked on wise hare rendered it unserviceable ; but beyond
Saturday at Portsmouth on board the merchant
the one fact of the bore being scratched by the
steamship Preussischer Adler, which the same after-
splinters of the shells no injury was perceptible, and
noon sailed for Portland and Weymouth. After
the gun was loaded with the same facility and fired
disembarking there the 56th the Preussischer Adler as before. It appeared from a subsequent examina-
will receive on board the remainder of the 67th Re-
tion that some of the shells had burst before they
giment, for conveyance to Queenstown, sailing for
had moved, and that others had burst close to the
that port from Portland this morning. muzzle of the gun. A number of 641 b. shot were
then fired with 161 b. charges, but, instead of the
Letters received on Thursday by our Chatham
shot being rammed home, they were only pushed i
correspondent announces the arrival at Quebec on down to certain positions in the gun, so as to leave
the 12th inst. of her Majesty's steam transport
vacant spaces between the powder and the shot. To
Orontes, 500 horse power, Capt. W. Hire, with the the astonishment of every one present the gun had
2d battalion of the 23d Royal Welsh Fusileers, from not sustained the slightest injury. It was therefore
Gibraltar, on board. The regiment, on disembark-
decided by the Ordnance Select Committee to put
ing, was to proceed to Montreal. Tho i'a battalion the gun through a supplementary trial to ascertain
of the 17th Regt., which Lad recently arrived at its maximum or highest power of endurance. Major
Montreal from Halifax, had been forwarded by Palliser has expressed great confidence in its
steal-109 r 40 Toronto to strengthen the garrison at strength, and states that he has no fear of the re-
that station. The 47th Regt., which had been sta- suit of any reasonable amount of proof, even beyond
tioned. at Toronto, had received orders to proceed what is absolutely necessary. The trial, it is ad-
down the country, and embark on board the
mitted, has already borne out the anticipations of
Orontes, for conveyance to Halifax, Nova Scotia. the inventor and manufacturers, and has fully justi-
The order for the return of the Ist battalion of the fled the recommendation of the Ordnance Select
25th (King's Own) Borderers to England had Committee and their introduction of these guns for
been countermanded, and at the despatch of the the consideration of the War Department, to use up
mail the regiment was encamped at St. Helen's' the heavy stock of guns on hand. On account of
Island, where it was to remain during the summer. their weight, their service charges will be only 61b
The departure of the 30th Regiment from Canada or 81b of powder. Sufficient evidence, it is stated,
had also been countermanded, and instead of that has already been obtained to prove that we have thus
corps proceeding to Jamaica to relieve the 2d Bat- a most efficient and reliable addition to our stock
talion of the 6th Foot, orders had arrived out direct- of rifled ordnance—a fact which, amidst the present
ing its detention in Canada. The whole of the offi- difficulties which the Government is embarrassed for
cers and men were to be employed, in conjunction want of serviceable guns, will be hailed with much
with the Royal Engineers, in the construction of satisfaction, more especially as the two new guns
additional defences and in strengthening the fortifi- now pronounced successful—those of Major Palliser
tions at Point Levi, opposite Quebec. and Mr. Fraser—will be produced at a cost far
The Star of India, hired troopship, having been below that of the present guns, in which the coun-
inspected by Major-Gen. Sir R. Walpole, K.C.8., try have long since ceased to have any confidence.
embarked the following officers and troops at Grave- We have to record the death of Capt. F. E. Sey-
mour, R.N., which took place at Southsea, Hants,
send on Saturday, under the superintendence of
Brigade-Major W. W. Lynch and the officers of the on the 26th inst. The deceased entered the navy in
1801, and in 1805, in the Leander, took part in the
Quartermaster-General's staff at Chatham, for con-
capture of Le Ville de Milan, French frigate of 46
veyance to Bombay, to augment the various corps
serving in that Presidency—viz., 7 men and 2 women guns, and the recapture of her prize, the Cleopatra,
of the 3d (Prince of Wales's) Dragoon Guards, from 32. In the Centaur he was engaged in the capture
Canterbury; 51 non-commissioned officers and men, of four heavy French frigates from Rochfort after
7 women, and 7 children of the Royal Horse Artil- 7
an action in which Sir Samuel Hood lost an arm,
lery, from Maidstone; 108 non-commissioned officers ,
accompanied the expedition to Copenhagen, and
and gunners, 12 women, and 15 children of the Royal witnessed the surrender of Madeira. As acting-
Artillery, depot brigade, from Woolwich ; 78 non- lieutenant in the Centaur, in August, 1808, he
commissioned officers and privates, 10 women, and shared in
, conjunction with the Implacable,
2 children of the Ist battalion Ist Royals, and one -
master tailor, one man, and 10 women of the 45th in the capture of the Russian ship
' Sewolod, 74, in the sight of the Russian
Regiment, from Chatham; 15 men of the 103 d fleet near Rogerswick, after a furious conflict, in
Royal Bombay Fusileers from Shorncliffe ; and 3
men of the 108th Madras Infantry, from Gosport. which the Centaur lost three killed and 27 wounded,
and the Sewolod 180 killed and wounded. He
The following are the officers who embarked with afterwards served as lieutenant, chiefly on survey-
the above troops :—Cornet G. Watson, and Cornet ing duties. Lieutenant Seymour was appointed
J. Stuart, and wife, 18th Hussars ; Capt. C. E. New- Flag-Lieutenant to his Royal Highness the Duke
port, wife and child, Lieut. W. C. Black, and Lieut. of Clarence, under whom he accompanied Louis
J. Rudford, Royal Artillery; Capt. C. B. Steer, XVIII. to alais. Capt. Seymour was son of Lieut.
Lieut. J. B. Keith, and Ensign B. G. Booth, Ist Francis Compton Seymour, grandson of Lord F.
battalion Ist Foot ; Capt. R. A. Taylor, 103 d Fusi- Seymour, Dean of Wells, and great grandson of
leers; and Staff-Assist. Surg. Robertson, M.D., in I Edward, eighth Duke of Somerset.
medical charge ; giving a total of 10 officers, two The following appointments have been made at
officers' wives, and one child, 268 non-commissioned the Admiralty :—Capt. C. S. S. Stanhope, to the
officers and men, 33 women, and 52 children. The Ocean, commissioned ; Lieut. E. B. Wadlow, to
Star of India left the Thames yesterday. the Gladiator ; Lieut. F. Rougemont and Lieut. R.
The following officers and men of the 11th (Prince H. W. Cornwall, to the Ocean ; Lieut. J. W. Gam-
Albert's Own) Hussars, have embarked on board bier, to the Cruiser; Clement Ilirtzel, master, to
the chartered troopship Agamemnon, at Gravesend the Wyvern ; Sub-Lieuts. E. S. Nuthall and James
for conveyance to India—viz., Major Annesley, in Bedingtield, to the Cruiser ; Sub-Lieut. W. 11. Jol-
command ; Capts. E. Harnett, A. P. Garnett, R. J. liffe and Sub-Lieut. T. H. Leventhorpe, to the
Somers, Lieuts. R. 11. Verschoyle, G. C. Cheape, L. Ocean ; S. S. H. Dickens, C. W. Wright, L. W.
B. Cole, Cornets C. 11. Currey, F. Shuttleworth,
Lord C. G. A. Hamilton, G. W. W. Richardson, vile, midshipmen, to the Bristol ; A. C. Hawkins,
Paymaster J. A. Dyer, Adjt. St. John S. Taylor, naval cadet, nominated ; J. K. Laughton, naval
Ridingmaster E. Corbett, Quartermaster Teenan, •
instructor, to the Excellent, additional, for service
at the Royal Naval College ; Drservice. A. Fisher, surg.,
Surg. G. Pain, Assist.-Surg. 0. Barnett, and Vet.-
to the Fisgard, additional, for ser.vice in the Royal
Surg. C. Percivall, together with 11 staff-sergeants,
R. Cur enMarine Infirmary, Woolwich ;
26 sergeants, 7 trumpeters, 5 farriers, 25 corporals,
cean ; M. O'N. W. g
pay-
-349 men, 6 officers' wives and 7 children 59 women master, to the 0 A. ven,
.G. ANlarHkhar
assist.-paymaster, to the Cambridae
and 63 children. Col. Fraser, V.C., Capt. Cuning-
assist.-paymaster, to the Ocean •4'll'. ER.
W.hitleyY,
hame, Capt. Tempest, Lieut. Delacour, and Lieut.
clerk, to the Ocean ; C. W. Jago', assist..-clerk, to
Preston all proceed to India overland. The follow-
the Dasher ; and J. S. Darling, assist.-clerk, to the
ing officers of the 11th Hussars have proceeded with
a portion of the regiment in the Renown :—Lieut. Ocean.
M'Loughlin and Cornet Apperley.
The statement in the Naval Intelligence of Wed-
A circular has been issued from the Admiralty, nesday that the Antelope was the only vessel of her
dated July 20, stating thattheLords Commissioners, size in the navy under the command of a lieutenant
having had under their consideration the pay and was an error, the Oberon, paddle steamer, on the
position of inspectors of machinery afloat, and of en- Coast of Africa, a vessel of similar tonnage and
gincers in the Royal Navy, have been pleased, under engine power, being under the command of Lieut.
the authority of her Majesty's Order in Council of
II Hand.
July 6, 1866, to create a new rank of chief inspector .
of machinery afloat ; such officers to rank with pay-
masters in chief and secretaries to admirals of the
fleet ; and to be paid full at the rate of £1 7s. sd.
a day, or £5OO 7s. ld. a year. These appointments
will be held by the three inspectors of machinery
afloat for the steam reserve, whose pay will be in-
creased to £5OO 7s. ld. a year accordingly ; and by
the two assistants to chief engineers in the steam
factories, whose salary of £4OO a year will be in-
creased to £5OO. The full pay of other inspectors
of machinery afloat will be increased to £1 4s. Bd.
a day, or £450 3s. 4d. a year. Their Lordships have
also, under the authority of the same Order in Coun-
cil, granted ordinary pensions of £4O a year to the
widows of engineers in the event of their not being
entitled to the special rates of pension established
for those whose husbands have been slain in action,
drowned, or killed on duty, or have died from the
effects of any injury or disease caused by extraordi-
nary exposure or exertion on service within six
months after being first certified to be ill, and also
compassionate allowances according to the follow-
inw scale for the children of engineers :—.£s to £lO
a year, ordinary compassionate allowance ; £6 to
£l2 a year if the father was drowned or killed on
duty, or died from injury or disease caused by ex-
traordinary exposure or exertion on service, within
six months after being first certified to be ill ; £8 to
£l4 a year if the father was killed in action, or died
within six months of wounds received in action. The
same regulations are to be followed in awarding
these pensions and compassionate allowances as in
the cases of widows and children of other officers.
A naval court-martial assembled on Thursday on
board her Majesty's ship Victory, at Portsmouth,
under the presidency of Capt. E. Tatham, her Ma-
jesty's ship Bellerophon, for the trial of Second-
Lieut. M. It. M. Griffith on charges preferred by
Capt. D'O. D'A. Aplin for disobedience of orders
given him by Capt. Aplin, the commanding officer
of the ship. The Court found the charges proved,
Griffiths
and sentenced Lieut
vice and to be dismissed from the Gladiator.
The iron screw steamship Achilles, 26, Captain i
Edward W. Vansittart, which was removed from
the long dock at Devonport on Wednesday, is now
lying at Moorings on the west shore at ll'amoaze.
When the Achilles was placed in dock it was stated
that one of her cylinders was split. This was
notes
the fact. One or two of the ribs, or division pieces,
in the side-valve ports were cracked through con'
traction, a casualty which is usual with all large
castings. These cracks were soon repaired, and the
Achilles is now waiting orders.
The screw steam frigate Galatea, 26, at Devon-
port, was removed from Dock No. 2 at Keyham
steamyard on Friday, and is under orders to be got
reedy for active service. it is reported that Prince
Alfred, will be appointed to command her. The
Galatea had a burden of 3,227 tons, and has engines
of 800-horse power,
Four Palliser guns were on Saturday tested with
perfect success at the proof butt in the Royal

Miscellaneous American News.

Portland, in the State of Maine, has been almost
destroyed by fire. Two thousand buildings, com-
prising one-third of the city, are in ruins. Every
bank and every newspaper-office has been devoured
by the flames. Thousands of people were rendered
homeless, and two millions sterling of property has
been destroyed. The fire commenced a little below
the end of High-street, in a boot shop. Upham's
mill and Brown's sugar house were soon in flames
—then Staples and Sons, and Richardson's foun-
dries. It next swept Graham's corner, then it
burned up as far as the old Varnham House and
Pleasant-street, Temple-street, Union-street, and
Exchange-street were all consumed. It swept
'owe'', on the northerly side of Fore-street to India-
street on the east, while on the west it moved along
diagonally across Middle-street and down to Cum-
berland-street, taking the Elm House, but sparing
the first parish church ; then from Chesnut-street
it made a clean sweep on the southerly side of
Cumberland-street, as far east as Garden-street.
The Custom House, being fire-proof, escaped,
though greatly damaged. The City and County
Buildings in Congress-street were considered safe,
being nearly fire-proof, and the neighbouring resi-
dents there piled their furniture, but the whole was
consumed by the flames. Some fifty buildings were
blown up, but the wind was blowing a gale from
the south, and the sheets of flame flew along in
spite of every exertion. The lines of streets can
now hardly be:traced, and a space one-and-a-half
miles long by a quarter of a mile wide, appears like
a forest of chimneys with fragments of walls attached
to them. The homeless are accommodated in tents,
in churches, and other public buildings, and efforts
are being made throughout the States to furnish re-
lief to the sufferers.

It is gratifying to see how prompt the steps
have been throughout the Northern States to
afford relief to the sufferers by the Portland
fire. At Bangor, Boston, Biddeford, Albany,
and Providence, meetings were at once held, and
large sums subscribed ; and Mayor Stevens, of
Portland, directed the operations of these
cities into the most useful channels to aid the
inhabitants of his municipality ; but this only
formed a small part of the assistance rendered.
Food, clothing, bedding, and building material were
forwarded in large quantities. The property of the
Five Cents Savings Bank is all safe, as well as the
Casco Bank. On opening the Merchants' Bank's
vault the contents were found uninjured. All the
records and files of the United States Circuit and
District Courts are also uninjured, as well as Lowell
and Senator's jewellery vault. In strange contrast
with the good actions of a Christian and civilised
people are the proceedings of a set of thieves and
" roughs," who have made Portland under these
cruel circumstances the scene of their operations.
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raging sea, no sooner
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