The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-15 00:00:00

2HE NAVY.

No. 1 transport, the Thunder, sailed on Tuesday
from Greenhithe, laden with a heavy cargo of war
and Commissariat stores for China. No. 2, the
Powerful, yesterday completed her shipment at,
Woolwich Arsenal of 1,000 tons for the same desti-
nation, having stowed in an additional complement
to the cargo proposed of 250 tons of hospital stores
and comforts for invalids. She is under orders to
proceed to,the dockyard to coal. No. 3, the Mel-
bourne, also a fast sailing steamer of heavy tonnage,
at present alongside the coal hulk off the dockyard,
is under orders to take up the berth of the Power-
ful at the Arsenal pier, and ship also for China.
The Melbourne is extremely available as a store
transport, having been built for that express pur-
pose. She is the property of Mr. Furlong, and
has been a considerable time in the service of the
Government. No. 4, the Mauritius, yesterday left
dock at Deptford, commenced taking in Tower
stores, and will fill in with war and Commissariat
stores at Woolwich on the completion of the Mel-
bourne. The whole of the ships are fast steamers,
and are expected to perform the voyage to Hong
Kong in under 80 days. Each of the vessels, it is
stated, is hired for six months certain, at the rate
of £1,500 per month, the entire consumption of
fuel to be at the cost of Government.

Her Majesty's steam storeship Rhadamanthus,
Master Commander F. Sturdee, returned to Wool-
wich on Tuesday from Sheerness, having conveyed
boilers and steam gear for the Phaeton and Rod-
ney, shipped at Woolwich on the preceding
Saturday. •
The paddlewheel steam tender Avon, 3, G. Day,
second-master, commanding, from Portsmouth, re-
turned on Sunday to Plymouth with supernume-
raries.

The paddlewheel steam sloop Ardent, 3, at Ply-
mouth, is completed, and will shortly proceed to
her destination.

The screw steamship Edgar, 91, Capt. James A.
liaton, will be out or the hands of the dockyard
artisans at Devonport about the lith inst. She
took on board her powder on Tuesday.
The screw steamship Nile, 90, flag of Rear-Ad-
miral Charles Talbot, which sailed from Queens-
town for Plymouth to repair damages received in
the Atlantic, was obliged to put back, in conse-
quence of defects in her rudder.
The paddlewheel steam surveying vessel Porcu-
pine, 3, Capt. Henry C. Otter, from the West Coast
of Africa, arrived yesterday afternoon at Plymouth,
and went immediately up Hamoaze.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Lieut. T. H. Greer to the
Russell ; Lieut. l'. B. Collinson to the Cumberland ;
Lieut. C. R. Maberley to the Ariadne; S. Libby (a),
master, to the Russell ; C. E. Reade, midshipman,
to the Ariadne ; H. R. Kelly, midshipman, to the
Centurion ; R. C. Smith, midshipman, to the Grey-
hound; J. Turner, second-class assist-engineer, to
the Greyhound ; J. Slirivington, acting third-class
assist.-engineer, to the Greyhound ; M. Bond, act-
ing third-class assist-engineer, to the Wellington,
for the Charon ; W. Walker, acting third-class
assist-engineer, to the Wellington, for the St.
George; J. Robertson, acting third-class assist.-
engineer, to the Wellington, for the Royal George;
and D. Ferguson, acting third-class assist.-engineer,
to the Wellington, for the Orlando.