The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-25 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

Yesterday steam was got up in the new factory
erectel at Chatham dockyard for preparing the iron-
work required in the construction of the Achilles,
60, under the direction of Mr. Baker, the chief en-
gineer, for the purpose of testing the new machi-
nery. The various machines, including those for
punching, drilling, boring, planing, and otherwise
preparing the large iron slabs, were all set in mo-
tion for the first time, when they were all found to
vorkin a very satisfactory manner.
Her Majesty's screw steam-frigate Bristol, con-
structed at Woolwich, is ordered to leave this morn-
ing for Sheerness, to be admitted into the steam re-
serve at that station.

The Ordnance steam storeship Balaklava, laden
with Armstrong shot and shell, and leaden bullets
(about 400 tons), sailed this morning from Wool-
wich for Portsmouth.

The Iris, 26, sailing frigate, Commodore W. Lo-
ring, C. 8., arrived at Spithead early yesterday
morning from Australia and New Zealand, having
sailed from Auckland on April 6th. She touched at
St. Helena on June 7th. She left that island next
day, as did also H.M. steamer Assaye, coming to
England under canvas, with a portion of the Ennis-
killen Dragoons on board ; the Sirocco, hired troop-
ship, with part of the 24th Regiment on board,
bound to Spithead ; and the ship George Kendall,
also homeward bound. The Iris has experienced
generally fine weather during the passage home,
with the exception of a heavy gale on the 21st inst.
In lat. 55 20 S., long 120 W., a large iceberg was
passed, breaking rapidly up.
A naval court-martial assembled yesterday on
board H.M. ship Victory, in Portsmouth harbour,
for the trial of Mr. James Hunter, late assist.-surg.
of H.M. ship Illustrious, on the charges-Ist, of ab-
senting himself from duty without leave ; and, 2dly,
of disobeying lawful commands communicated to
him. The prisoner was acquitted on the first charge
and found guilty on thesecond. Thecourt sentenced
him to lose two years, and to be severely repri-

manded.
The whole of the batteries of Royal Artillery
having been supplied with Armstrong guns, and
the old guns returned to store at Woolwich, the
Rifled Ordnance Department has been engaged for
some months past in the exclusive manufacture of
armaments for the fleet. A large number, princi-
pally 100-pounders, has been stacked under the
open sheds along the shipping wharf in Woolwich
Arsenal, in readiness for embarkation for arming
the squadron at Portsmouth, Devonport, &c., and
also for ships at Chatham. Guns for the Warrior
are likewise ready for conveyance down the river on
her quitting the Victoria Dock, on the 6th proximo,
when she is expected to be moored at Greenhithe or
Erith. The small double-action steam-engine, of
30-horse power, in course of manufacture in the
dockyard, Woolwich, and intended for the internal
use of the Warrior, as already stated in The Sun,
having been completed, yesterday got up steam out-
side the factory to test her working capabilities,
which were satisfactory. This engine will be fitted
in the space between the ship's boilers and engines,
and will be employed in cleansing out the vessel,
blowing off the smoke after the fire of the broadside
guns, pumping water, &c., and will be used in case
of need as a fire engine, for which it is well adapted.
Last evening the transport Sirocco, of Liverpool,
with troops from the East Indies, anchored in Ply-
mouth Sound. The Akbar, sailing transport, sailed
from St. Helen's Roads yesterday morning, with
detachments of troops, for the Mauritius and Cey-
lon, calling in at Queenstown.
At the trial trip made by the Black Prince on the
Clyde yesterday the speed realised was nearly 15
knots.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Lieut. H. St. J. de Robeck, to
the Ajax ; Lieut. H. B. Phillimore, to the Fisgard,
additional, for service in the Warrior; and A. W.
Massy, naval cadet, to the St. Jean d'Acre.