The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-07 00:00:00

THE .A'A VY.

DEPARTURE OF THE CHANNEL FLEET FROM THE
CLYDE.—Six of the magnificent ships which have for
the last few days been lying at the tail of the Bank
proceeded to sea on Thursday afternoon.. Shortly
after 1 o'clock the Trafalgar unfurled her sails and
weighed anchor—the first one of each ship having
been lifted at an earlier part of the day—followed
almost immediately by the Donegal; both ships ,
standing towards the Roseneath shore, and then
beat down the Frith. In consequence of the adverse
wind, being from the south-west, in the starting of
each vessel after the other a longer interval was
allowed to elapse than would otherwise have been
the case. The next in order to get under way, as
the ships could be brought about, were the Hero,
the Centurion, the Edgar, the Conqueror, the
Aboukir, and the Revenge. The last two ships left
their anchorage about half-past 3 o'clock ; but by
that time the wind had nearly died away, and both
vessels have since brought up upon the same
ground. The spectacle of so many large ships,
and so near each other, spreading their ample*
wings to invite the breeze, and passing onwards
so majestically under a press of canvas, was
highly impressive, as well as the skill and dex-
terity evinced by those on board in handling the
vessels when staying. The sight became some-
what tedious, however, as the light basing winds
almost lulled and left the heavy ships no alterna-
tive, at least the last two, than to drop their anchors
again in the meantime. The departure of the fleet
was witnessed by large numbers of people from the
shore between the harbour and the battery, and a
good many went out in the several steamers which
sailed on purpose to afford passengers a nearer
view of their getting them under way. Additional
tains were run to and from the coast, but probably
in consequence of the uncertainty with the public
as to the movements of the fleet, there were much
fewer than might have been expected who went to
see the ships go off.

The Pylades, 21,400-horse power, attached to I he
third division of the steam reserve at Chatham, is to
be prepared for the second division at that port, to
replace the Barossa, 21, 400-horse power, transfer-
red to the first class steam rL serve.

Orders have been received at Woolwich directing
100 of the large 100-pouuder Armstrong guns to be
immediately commenced at that establishment for
distribution among tue forts and batteries in the
Chatham district, as well as among the principal
fortifications of the eastern and south-eastern coasts.
These guns will be mounted on the batteries of the
coast defences, in positions commanding the navi
gable approaches. It is intended that the 100-
pounder Armstrongs shall eventually supplant the
present smooth-bored ordnance, with the exception
of the 95cwt. 68 pounder guns, which for the pur
poses of land defences are considered highly effvc-
tive weapons. The old 98cwt. 56 pounder gun will
shortly become obsolete, as that description of ord-
nance is not considered to be so efficient as guns of
lighter calibre. _ _

The Orpheus, 21, 400-horse power, having been
rigged and completed fitting for the first class steam
reserve, was put out of the third dock at Chatham
yesterday afternoon. Preparations will be immedi-
ately commenced for the reception in the same dock
of the iron frigate Defence, 22, which, according to
present arrangements, will leave the Tyne to day for
Chatham, there to be fitted and made ready for sea.
The Defence will have her iron lower masts
put in some distance down the river, before reach-
ing the dockyard, in order to prevent any accident
arising from a want of sufficient water during that
operation.
In answer to various petitions from the dock-
yards to the Board of Admiralty, regarding a half-
holiday on Saturdays, a reply was yesterday re-
ceived at Woolwich, stating that, commencing with
Saturday, the 14th inst., the week's work will in
future terminate at 4 p.m. The regulation refers to
Deptford, Woolwich, Chatham, Sheerness, Ports-
mouth, and Devonport only.

The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Lieut. Arthur R. 0 wen and
Lieut. Arthur A. Smith, to the Hawke ; Lieut. Lord
Arthur Pelhem Clinton, to the Orestes ; Francis
Taylor, master, to the Colossus; C. R. Cole Hamil-
ton, midshipman, to the Hero; J. Sy der, promoted
to the rank of acting chief engineer, in the Rinaldo;
William Wiliamson, first-class assist.-engineer, to
the Revenge, for the Porpoise; William Edwards,
acting second-class assist-engineer, to the Cumber-
land, as supernumerary ; F. H. Rose, assist. surgeon,
to the Meander; W. A. Brown, assist-paymaster in

charge, to the Seringapatam ; W. H. P. Gillham,

assist.-paymaster, to the Donegal; F. B. Moore,
assist.-paymaster to the Blenheim; and E. Q. Ellis,
clerk, to the Marlborough.
Messrs. Eustace Maude, W. H. Piggott, and N.
C. Fitzgerald Uniacke have been nominated to naval
cadetships.

3 irnett. On the Prrival of 7lic sixth 17,!.;;;at1e
Portt4nouth tht_ 701, i)-ti teri, of
tenth brigade, commanded by Major Childs and
M'Crea and Capt. Robinson, will proceed to Wool-
wich.

We have to record the death of Lieut.-Co?. H.
Nooth, at 8, Albemarle•villas, Stoke, Devonport.
The deceased officer entered the army as lieutenant
July 27, 1799, and became captain August 22,
1804, He served with the 7th Fusileers in the
expedition against Copenhagen in 1807 ; with
the 2d battalion of the 14th, under Sir David
Baird, and was in the retreat of Sir John Moore's
army, and at the battle of Corunna, for which he
has received the war medal with one clasp. He
also accompanied the battalion at Walcheren,
and was present at the siege of Flushing.
He became major June 4, 1814, and lieut.-coi. Jan.
10, 1837. He had reached the advanced age or sI.
Major Johnson's 1) battery, Royal Horse Artil-
lery, and Major Talbot's No. 1 battery, I 3th Brigade
Field Artillery, from Bombay, landed yesterday
morning at the Royal Arsenal T pier from a couple
of river steamers from Gravesend. The men ap-
peared in a healthy and robust condition.
Last evening the Himalaya troopship arrived at
Spithead from the Mediterranean, with the 6th
Brigade of the Royal Artillery ; she sailed from
Malta on the 29th of August, at 3 30 p.m.
The chartered East India troopship General Ca in-
field, 646 tons, Capt. W. Richards, belonging to
Messrs. T. and W. Smith, London, the arrival of
which at Gravesend has been reported in The Sun,
landed her British and East India troops at the Go-
vernment quay yesterday, under the superintend-
ence of the Staff officers from Chatham, to which
garrison the troops were forwarded. The General
Caulfield sailed from Madras on the 26th of May,
rounded the Cape of Good Hope on the 7th of July,
anchored at St. Helena on the 21st of July, and
sailed thence two days after, passed Ascension on
the 27th of July, and first sighted Star-point on the
2d inst. The voyage to Gravesend, including deten-
tions, occupied 102 days. Violent squalls were ex-
perienced near the Cape, but since then light
westerly winds have prevailed. The General Caul-
field brings home 64 non-commissioned officers and
men belonging to her Majesty's British regiments,
consisting of the Royal Artillery, Ist (the King's)
Dragoon Guards, Ist Royals, 18th Royal Irish, 43J
Light Infantry, 60th Rifles, 68th Light Infantry,
69th, and 74 Highlanders; together with 34 men
of all ranks of the Madras Artillery, and 14 melt
of the 2d Madras European Infantry, 5 women and
6 children. The officers in command of the troops
were Capt. W. T. Waldy and Lieut. A. R. Close,
43d Light Infantry, and Assist.-Surg. S. Sam, 60th
Rifles, in medical charge. Capt. May, 11th Madras
Native Infantry, also arrived home invalided, and
Conductor Potter, of the Ordnance Department,
came home as passenger. One birth and one death
occurred on board during the passage. The whole
of the troops have been sent to England to be dis-
charged on the completion of tt.e period for which
they enlisted, The troops will remain at St. Mary's
barracks, Chatham, until their discharge papers.
have arrived from the Horse Guards.