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

THE NA VI.

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 rep tir 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. or 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 arc taking in stores from this arsenal, it is
reported, also fbr 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 alt. 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 exiiected 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 Ayes and Beyrout. She left Ayas
/a n t he Bth of February, arrived at Beyrout on the
9th and sailed again on the 11th. The small-pox
in a mild form broke out on board of her at
Beyrout ; and on her arrival here there were
eight of the crew on bard recovering from this
disease. Tne persons having been landed at the
Bighi Naval Hospital, and the ship duly fumigated,
she was admitted to pratique at 2 45 p.m. the same
day. One death from pneumonia occurred on board
on the 21st of February, and the effects of the
deceased were disposed of by sale. The Liffey
brought with her several supernumeraries.

" Her Majesty's steam surveying ship Medina,
Capt. T. Spratt, C. 8., returned into port to-day
from her surveying cruise, in connection with the
intended submersion of an electric cable between
Malta and Alexandria. Havinc, 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 in from Gibraltar and England.
"The Russian 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 American 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 Great Har-
bour, Mr. Gabrielli, having completed his prelimi-
nary arrangements, will commence his part of the
work on the 4th ina. Messrs. I'redwell 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
',he construction of the new dry 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. Emmerson 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 had 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 for vessels for the same
purpose. During the week ended on the 26th ult.
three colonels, two majors, seven or eight captains,

two priests, and a surgeon, besides many soldiers,
had deserted from the citadel. They all are of I
opinion that the fortress will hold 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. Gran t, J.W. Ramsa.y,P. K. Smythies,ilon. 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 Talbot, G 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,
R C Massie, J M 14facquhae, E Amphlett, Hon.
H U Shone, C Jones, F E A Croker, G J Denni.
stoun, D M Forsyth, A W L Cocksedge, C Lind-
say, W A Norman, R G Drew, L Fanshawe, 1M
Laws, lion. W B Phipps, A G H Ward, H K
Gregson, C Tufnell, J Masterton, H R H Wood,
Elt Brietzcke, and EN A Pollard. For Masters'
Assistants.—J E Barber, H M Dearsly, S Smith,
E R Connor, W H Stephens, F Hire, J W Gor-
man, J H Whitelock, H C Tremayne, M Merrett,
W it Fox, C H S Douglas, T S Fenn, J Stocker
R E Aeklom, and J R Veitch.
The Locust, paddle steamer, Lieut.-Commander
Field, arrived at Portsmouth shortly after noon
yesterday from the eastward, with supernu-
meraries, &c.

paddle, Commander 11. F.
The Bulldog, 6,
llop, 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, &e. 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.
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