The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-01 00:00:00

THE A 123117.

Instructions have been issued by his Royal
Highness the Commander-in-Chief, through the
Deputy-Adjutant-General, Royal Artillery, to the
officer commanding Royal Artillery of the Chatham
district, directing that the Half-Moon battery, at
the entrance to the Medway, be handed over to
the commanding Royal Engineer, in order that
the contractors may immediately commence
to build the new casemated bomb-proof
battery which is about to be erected on
its site. The Half-moon battery has been
entirely dismantled by the men of the Royal Artil-
lery, and the 8 inch guns with which it was armed,
together with the platforms and carriages, have
been removed and handed over to the Ordnance
Department. The whole of the ammunition, shot,
shell, and other stores belonging to this battery
have likewise been removed, and deposited in the
extensive magazines attached to the other works of
defence. On Saturday the Royal Artillery com-
pleted the dismantlement of the Cavalier battery,
adjoining the Half-moon battery, and the 8 inch
56 pounders and 32 pounder guns with which it
was armed, together with the hollow and solid shot,
shell, and other ammunition, have been removed to
convenient and secure places of deposit preparatory
to this battery also being demolished. During the
time the new batteries are in progress 15 of the 100
pounder Armstrong guns, each of 81 cwt., are to be
mounted on the sea defence line of fortifications
commanding the approaches to the Medway, in lieu
of the 68 pounders and 10 inch guns, and these will
be mounted on the fortifications as soon as they
have been received from the gun factory at Wool-
wich. Cupolas for melting the iron for Martin's
shells have been supplied to all the principal bat-
teries of the Chatham district.

Major-Gen. Sir R. Dacres, K.C.13., having re.
turned from leave of absence, will resume the duties
of command of Woolwich garrison this morning.
The command of the garrison has been carried out
during the General's absence by Col. Teesdale, R.A.,
the senior officer in succession.

The steamer Avon arrived yesterday from Bar-
badoes, whence she sailed on the 11th June. She
brings Major-General Sir A. Cloete, Lady Cloete
and child, Captain Bruce, Major Baizell and wife,
Surgeon Bnin and family, Capt. Peddle, Lieut.
Sherwood and wife and child, all of the 21st Re-
giment; Lieutenant Bradshaw, 14th Regiment;
Mrs. Strickland and daughter, Mrs. Major and two
children,4s 'military invalids for discharge, 6 women,
and 5 children.

The following vessels have been chartered by the
Hon. Council of India for the conveyance of rein-
forcements to India, and will embark the under-
mentioned troops at Gravesend on the dates named,
—the Clarence, 295 men, July 2 ; the Middlesex,
350 men, .11:61y 10 ; the Holmesdale, 300 men, July
11; the Cos-patrick, 314 men, July 13. The follow-
ing vessels will embark reinforcements for the In-
dian Artille?:y and Engineers at Woolwich on the
undermentioned dates,—the St. Lawrence, 100 men,
July 10; th! Sydenham, 400 men, July 12; the
Adamant, 800 men, July 12 ; and the Hydaspes,
330 men, July 13.
eIIATTIAR, June 29.—The annual inspection of
the Chathara division of the Royal Marines, by
Major-General S. R. Wesley, deputy adjutant-gene-
ral, took place to-day. General Wesley arrived at
the barracks about 10 o'clock. The men and their
kits were first inspected, and gave satisfaction. A
party were then taken to the gun-shed for gun drill.
The general expressed an opinion that the drill was
too stringent, and might be somewhat relaxed, as it

was calculated to harass the men to an unnecessary
extent. The non-commissioned officers of the divi-
sion were examined in the sword exercise. About
half-past one o'clock the general took lunch with
Col. Rea, the commandant of the division, the band
playing in the square during the repast. About one-
third of the men of the division were drilled on the
square, about half-past two o'clock.