The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-28 00:00:00

2HE NAVY.

The seamen who were committed to gaol by sen-
tence of court-martial, in connexion with the dis-
turbance on board the Princess Royal, and the re-
mainder of whose sentences has been remitted on
the recommendation of the Admiralty by the exer-
cise of her Majesty's gracious pardon, arrived at
Portsmouth from the gaols of Lewes, Salisbury,
Southampton, Winchester, and Dorchester yester-
day, at different periods of time, and all those who
arrived in time were at once paid their wages in
the dockyard; and the remainder of the men who
arrived after dockyard hours will be paid this
morning: Considerable excitement was manifested
on the first appearance of the men in passing
through the town.
The Urgent screw troopship, Commander Hire,
which sailed from Spithead on Monday morning,
for Kingstown, the Cape, and Hong Kong, put back
to Spithead yesterday morning, with a portion of
her expansion gear damaged. She was expected to
have the necessary repairs completed, and sail again
for her destination early this morning. From the
Cape of Good Hope the Urgent conveys the Ist
battalion, 2d Queen's, to Hong Kong.
The Firebrand, 6, paddle steamer, at Spithead,
requires considerable repairs to her hull, having
been several times in contact with the iron steam
dredging vessel, when having the latter in tow on
her voyage out from Spithead to the Mediterranean.
The Mutine, 17, screw, Commander W. Graham/
got up her steam yesterday, and proceeded out of
Portsmouth harbour to Spithead to test her machi-
nery and the improvements which have been intro-
duced at the suggestion of Mr. John Dinnin, Ad-
miralty Inspector of Machinery Afloat, for the
purpose of giving a more free ventilation to her
stokehole. They answered perfectly.
The Charybdis, 21, screw corvette, was undockea
at Chatham yesterday afternoon, having completed
her rigging and fitments, and made ready for the
steam reserve. The Galatea, 26, screw frigate, 800
horse power, is to be docked in the same ba.sinf
is
order to be brought forward for the steam reserve.•
The new building which has been erected within
the Royal Marine Barracks at Chatham for
theatrical performances by the officers and min
of the division and those of the garrison
now completed, and only awaits the erection
of the scenery, which is being painted in London.Th,
e
for the opening performance to take place'
building has been erected by the express sanction
of the Lords of the Admiralty, under the direction
of the commandant of the division, Colonel Rea,
who has shown himself most anxious to provide
for the amusement of the non-commissioned officer°
and men under his command. The interior of 01:
building consists of a commodious stage, as lar-fh
as that in many provincial theatres, together _
an orchestra, the dress-mg-rooms being beneath the
stage. There is a raised " pit," capable of seating
about 400 persons, and at the extreme end of tn°
building, and directly facing the stage isl
gallery, which will be fitted up asarge
d, ;Late for th.,!.
officers and visitors of distinction desirous of wg_
nessing the amateur performances. The interior
is brilliantly lighted and warmed. The building
will not only be used as a theatre, but it is also in-
tended to provide occasional concerts for the nril
during the winter months, together with popular
exhibitions, to all of which the troops will
of
gratuitous admission, it being the great On Of t
military authorities connected with Chatham gar-
risen to provide healthful amusement and haral-
less recreation for the troops.