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

THE NA T/ Y.

The following new ships are ordered to be laid
down for construction in Woolwich Dockyard :
On No. 1 slip, after the launch of the screw steam
frigate Dartmouth, a 36-gun frigate, to be named
the Blonde ; after the launch of the gunboat Sylvia,
a 4-gun screw steam sloop to be commenced on that
slip, No. 2 ; and on the competion of the Wolverine,
on No. 6 slip, a new steam screw corvette of 22
guns to be laid down, called the Ontario. The
building of the Repulse, 91, screw steamship com-
menced on the 7th June, 1859, on No. 5 slip, has
been for some time suspended. The Caledonia,
iron-cased ship, laid down on slip No. 4 is progress-
ing rapidly. A screw steam corvette, to carry an
armament of 22 guns, is also ordered to be laid down
on a vacancy occurring.

The fitting of the Trusty, floating battery, with
Capt. Coles' shot-proof shield for experimental pur-
poses, at Shoeburyness, is now nearly completed.
The shield consists of iron plates 12 inches thick,
and the total weight, including the timber work,
will be 60 tons.

Theshipwrights of Woolwich Dockyard have been
engaged for some days in preparing the timbers
from a model for the erection of a rifle tower on the
upper deck of the Warrior. The preparations hav-
ing been completed they will proceed this morning
to carry their work into execution. The tower will
consist of an oval kind of gallery containing 12
loopholes for rifle-firing, and 4 ditto of larger cir-
cumference, one to be placed at each angle, for
swivel guns. The height of the building, which
will be visible about a foot above the bulwarks on
the quarter-deck, will be 7 feet, length 15 feet, and
width 9 feet. It will be built of blocks teak 12in.
thick, and will be cased with iron slabs of 4in. thick.
There will be an extra casing three-eighths of an
inch thick to cover the inside. The work will be
commenced this morning.

Commodore-Superintendent the Hon. J. R. Drum-
mond, C. 8., terminated his duties at the dockyard
this day, on his appointment as one of the Lords
of the Admiralty, and will be succeeded to-morrow
by Captain Sir W. F. C. Nicholson, Bart., C. 8.,
formerly commander of the Pique.
In a general memorandum issued from the Admi-
ralty it is specially ordered that in the future entry
of men for the navy petty officers and able seamen
only are to be received, with such first class ordinary
seamen as may have previously served in the navy
and as may be considered desirable men for the ser-
vice. Great care is to be taken in the selection of
boys, so that none may be received who are not
physically fit, and likely hereafter to prove valuable
seamen ; and in whatever ships boys may be entered
ther lordships trust that every exertion may be
made for their training.

The Marlborough, 131, screw, Capt. W. H.
Stewart, C. 8., preparing at Portsmouth for renewed
service in the Mediterranean, is expected to sail
from Spithead about the 15th inst. This ship, for a
probable c ommission of not exceeding two years,
has received one of the most extensive refits ever
given to a vessel even in a Royal dockyard. The
alterations that have been carried out on board of
her more than bear out the truth of the remarks
made in an article which appeared in this journal.
Brickmaking on St. Mary's Island, to supply the
demand which will be created for the new works,
walls, &c.. when Chatham Dockyard is enlarged, is
proceeding vigorously. Capital brick earth has
been found on the island, and nearly 200 of the
convicts are now busy making bricks. It is com-
puted that, up to this day, 100,000 bricks have been
made by the various gangs of convicts engaged in
the labour. None of the bricks have yet been
burnt. An enormous quantity of bricks will be
needed for the new works. No strictly accurate esti-
mate can be formed of the total number which will
be needed ; but it is thought probable that no fewer
than 100,000,000 will be required.

The following appointments were made on Satur-
day at the Admiralty :—Capt. Sir F. W. E. Nicol-
son, C. 8., to be Commodore-Superintendent of
Woolwich Dockyard; R. C. Allen, master, addi-
tional to the Asia, for the Duncan ; Wm. T.
Wilson, surgeon, to the Himalaya; R. Purves,
assist.-surg., to the Blenheim ; Benjamin H.
M'Curdy, acting assist.-surg., to the St. George;
H. B. W ynter, acting assist.-surg. ,to the Himalaya;
C. Mullar, acting assistrengiuecr, to the Fisgard,
as supernumerary ; J. Bowker, acting assist.-engi-
neer, to the Cumberland, as supernumerary; C. J.
Bigley, second master, to the Griffon ; W. F. Greet,
master's assist., to the Griffon ; F. F. Eversfield,
paymaster, additional, to the Britannia; C. H. Stone,
assist.-paymaster, to the imalaya ;W. H. Gribbell,
assist.-paymaster, to the Majestic ; E. C. Knevitt,
assist.-paymaster, to the Hogue ; V. Leigh, assist.-
paymaster, in charge, to the Griffon ; and D. W.
Wise, clerk, to the Formidable.