The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-13 00:00:00

TILE NAVY.

The following letter is dated Valletta, March 1 :
" Her Majesty's ship Exmouth, Captain J. A.
Paynter, which had taken in provisions for the
squadron at Naples, has since discharged them, in
consequence of the ships under the command of
Rear-Admiral Mundy on that station having re-
ceived orders to repair to Malta. The order was
received at Naples on the 24th of February from
London, and took the officers by surprise. The
squadron, with the exception of the Victor Em-
manuel, which was to remain until relieved by the
Exmouth, was to leave on the 27th or 28th ult. for
this island. The Exmouth left Malta on the 26th
ult. for Naples, and was to call at Messina to give
supplies to the Terrible, stationed at that port.
News has reached this of her having arrived at
Messina. There is a rumour here that Lord
Dufferin, the English Commissioner in Syria, has
asked for more ships, and that, in consequence, four
or five line of-battle ships are to be sent up there.
The Renown, Capt. A. Forbes, left for Beyrout
yesterday. Two or three large English merchant
vessels are taking in stores from this arsenal, it is
reported, also for Syria, and cargoes of coal are
likewise to be sent here immediately, A reinforce-
ment of French soldiers and sailors, 312 in all, for
Syria, arrived here on the 27th ult. from Toulon,
on board the French Government screw transport
Ariege, Capt. Allemand, and had left for its desti-
nation.

"Her Majesty's ship Mars, 80 guns, Capt. Strange,
arrived here on the 24th ult. from Corfu, under sail.
At the time of her departure, the 20th ult., there
were at Corfu her Majesty's ships Agamennon,
Queen, and Orion, and corvette Scourge. The
Orion arrived at Corfu from Gibraltar on the 19th
ult. It was expected that the squadron at Corfu
would leave for a cruise among the islands. The
London was still at Patras, and the Neptune at
Athens. There is some talk of the Neptune and
Orion coming down here.
" Her Majesty's steam frigate Liffey, 51 guns,
Capt. Preedy, C. 8., arrived here on the 25th ult.,
at 11 a m., from Ayas and Beyrout. She left Ayas
on the Bth of February, arrived at Beyrout on the
9th and sailed again on the 11th. The small-pox
in a mild form broke out ot board of her at
Beyrout ; and on her arrival here there were
eight of the crew on I oard recovering from this
disease. The persons having been landed at the
Bighi Naval Hospital, and the snip duly fumigated,
she was admitted to pratique at 2 45 p.m. the same
day. One death from pneumon;a occurred on board
on the 21st of February, and the effects of the
deceased were disposed of by sale. Tae Liffey
brought with her several supernumeraries.
"Her Majesty's steam surveying shin Medina,
Capt. T. Spratt, C. 8., returned into part to-day
from her surveying cruise, in connection with the
intended submersion of an electric cable between
Malta and Alexandria. Having exhausted her
supply of coal, she put in here for a fresh supply,
and will leave again shortly, it is expected to com-
plete the survey. Capt. Spratt has reported very
favourably as regards the depth of water along the
proposed route, and that in this respect there will
be no difficulty in laying the cable.
"Her Majesty's ship Algiers, Capt. Callaghan,
has just come is from Gibraltar and England.
" The Russia) steam corvette Sokol, Capt. Asian-
beyoff, left port on the 25th ult. for Algiers and the
coast of Spain, and other parts of the Mediterranean.
" The Arterican steam sloop Susquehanna, Capt.
G. N. Hollins, from Alexandria five days, and
Tripoli one day, came in yesterday. On entering
port the usual salutes were exchanged.
The contractor for dredging the Gieat Har-
bour, Mr. Gabrielli, having completed his prelimi-
nary arrangements, will commence his part of the
work on th 4th inst. Messrs. Tred well and Co.,
contractors for the construction of the wharfs, are
also about to proceed with their portion of the
undertaking, and the representative of this firm is
expected here by the next steamer from England.
Mr. Churchward, C.E., who has nearly completed
'be construction of the new city dock in her Ma-
jesty's Dockyard and other important works, under
the Admiralty, will, I understand, superintend the
carrying out of the harbour improvements. The
eight iron pontoons, built in England, by the re-
spective firms of Messrs. Eannerson and Co., of
Stockport, and Messrs. Campbell and Co., of Lon-
don, are being rapidly put together, and will be
shortly ready for launching. These pontoons are
for the reception of the mud raised by the steam
dredges, under Mr. Gabrielli's contract.
" Accounts from Messina, of the 26th ult., say
that the Neapolitan general in possession of the
citadel still refuses to surrender. A portion of the
Sardinian fleet, on board of which were Admiral
Persano and General Cialdini, had arrived. Great
preparations were being made for the attack, and
orders had been given to prepare for the reception
of 8,000 men, who were expected in a day or two.
Several merchant vessels hat, been chartered for a
month to keep by the fleet, and supply it with coal ;
and should their services be required after the ex-
piration of that time their engagement would be
renewed at periods of 10 days. Application had
also been made at Malta fel vessels for the same
purpose. During the week ended on the 26th ult.
three colonels, two majors, gelen or eight captains,
two priests, and a surgeon, besides many soldiers,
had deserted from the citad3l. They all are of
opinion that the fortress willhold out, and say that
General Fergola was hard at work putting it into
the most efficient state of defence possible."
The following young gentlemen have successfully
passed their examinations at the Royal Naval Col-
lege, Portsmouth, for naval cadets and masters'
assistants :—For Naval Cadets.—J. C. Paget, F. W.
O. Grant, J.W. Ramsay,P. K. Smythies,Hon. G.P.E.
Willoughby, M. L. Kelham, G. J. Lyall, C. B. K.
Smith, S. H. P. Dacres, A. B. Brooke, H. Croasdaile,
W J L Atkinson, E B Wallace, J B
Young, A Blennerhassett, C E Yates, C J Michael-
son, E P Hooker, E B Fletcher, E A Fryer, W
G Carrow, W E Black, V Knox, R C H Freeman,
C Massie, J M Macquiae, E Amphlett, Hon.
H U Shone, C Jones, F A Croker, G J Denni-
stoun, D M Forsyth, A \V L Cocksedge, C Lind-
say, W A Norman, R G Drew, L Fanshawe, J M
Laws, Hon. W B Phipps, A G H Ward, H K
Gregson, C Tufnell, J Masterton, H R H Wood,
E R Brietzcke, and EN A Pollard. For Masters'
Assistants.—J E Barber, H M Dearaly, S Smith,
E It Connor, W H Stephens, F Hire, J W Gor-
man, J H Whitelock, II C Tremayne, M Merrett,
W R Fox, C H S Douglas, T S Fenn, J Stocker
R E Acklom, and J R Veitch.
The Locust, paddle steamer, Lieut—Commander
Field, arrived at Portsmoath shortly after noon
yesterday from the eastward, with supernu-
meraries, &c.

The Bulldog, 6, paddle, Commander H. F.
M'Killop, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday morn•
ing from Devonport.

Her Majesty's Royal screw yacht Fairy, at
Portsmouth, had her masts taken out for examina-
tion, varnishing, &c. The Royal paddle yacht
Victoria and Albert was to have been removed yes-
terday from her berth in the steam basin at Ports-
mouth Dockyard to the harbour, but was prevented
by the weather. She will be removed to-days
should the weather moderate.

The Marlborough, 131, screw, Captain W. H.
Stewart, C. 8., is appointed to go into Portsmouth
harbour to-day from Spithead, should the weather
be sufficiently moderated.
The Princess Royal, 91, screw, Capt. T. Fellowes,
flag of Rear-Admiral R. Smart, commander-in-
chief of the Channel fleet, will, weather permitting,
go out of Portsmouth harbour to-day to Spithead.
She is ordered to proceed to sea as early as possible,
calling in at Devonport on her way down Channel
for the purpose of being docked.
The newly commissioned screw steam gunboat
Procris, 3, Lieut. the Hon. J. Carnegie, received her
complement of Royal Marines yesterday from the
barracks, Stonehouse.
The entire space between the fird and second

docks at Chatham Dockyard is now completely
covered with the sheds, workshops, forges, and other
buildings for the workmen who will be engaged
in the construction of the large iron war steamer
shortly to be commenced at that establishment.
The whole of the buildings are of corrugated gal-
vanized iron, and have been erected in a most
substantial manner by Messrs. Grissell and Co., of
the Regent Canal iron works, in an exceedingly
short space of time, under the superintendence of
Mr. Rivers, clerk of the works. The largest of the
sheds is a commodious workshop 320 feet in length
by about 50 feet in width at its largest end. This
building has an exceedingly light appearance, the
. roof being formed of iron and glass. At the extreme
end a large engine-house is now being erected by
Messrs. Foord and Sons, the contractors for this
portion of the undertaking, who are also preparing
the beds of concrete for the foundations of the
punching, drilling, stamping, and other powerful
machinery which is to be erected. The number
of mechanics and labourers who are to be em-
ployed exclusively on the new vessel will be
upwards of 1,000, and some idea may therefore
be formed of the extensive workshops required
to enable this large body of workmen to
carry on their operations. The second dock,
in which it is intended to build the iron steamer,
is at present occupied by the Hussar, which is under
alterations to adapt her for a target ship. This,
however, will only occupy a few weeks, at the ex-
piration of which period the whole of the prepara-
tions will have been completed for the commenc•-
ment of the new ship, Portions of the beams and
other parts of the vessel continue to arrive at
Chatham from the Low Moor, Bowling, Butterly,
and other iron-works which have entered into con-
tracts with the Admiralty for supplying them.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at, the Admiralty :—Nathaniel Stearn, pro-
moted to the rank of second-class assistant-engineer
in the Asia, for service in the Osborne ; James
A. France, promoted to the rank of second-class
assist.-engineer in the Trident ; William Giles,
promoted to the rank of second-class assist-engineer
in the Narcissus ; John Ker, promoted to the rank
of second-class assist-engineer in the Edinburgh ;
Henry Parry, promoted to the rank of acting
second-class assist.-engineer in the Styx; Peter
Robertson, promoted to the rank of acting second
class assist.-engineer in the Curacoa; Thomas G.
R. Knight, promoted to the rank of second-class
assist.-engineer in the Curacoa as supernumerary;
Thomas Marsden, promoted to the rank of second-
class assist.-engineer in the James Watt; and
James R Jackson and John Miller (c), acting third-
class assist-engineers to the Asia as supernumer-
aries.