The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-27 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

A circular memorandum, addressed to the Infan-
try at home and abroad, has been issued from the
Horse Guards, directing the attention of captains of
companies to the form of arm-chest used in packing
the interchangeable arms made in the Government
factory. These chests can, with a few cleats properly
fixed by an armourer sergeant, be made to hold with
perfect security and freedom from the slightest in-
jury any of the various arms now in the possession
of a regiment—viz., the Enfield rifle, pattern '53,
both long and short butt, and the short rifle with
sword bayonet.
. _ .

The 23d company of Royal Engineers, under the
command of Lieut.-Col. G. Graham, V.C., marched
into Chatham garrison on Saturday afternoon, from
China, and went into the quarters prepared for
them at Brompton barracks. Among the objects of
interest brought home by the Royal Engineers are
the Emperor's throne, taken from the Summer Pa-
lace at Pekin before it was burnt, and also a valu-
able bell from one of the joss houses. The throne
will be deposited in the officers' new mess room.
The additional batteries and fortifications which
the Government has resolved upon erecting for the
further protection of Chatham and Sheerness are to
be at once proceeded with, orders having been re-
ceived on Saturday from the War Department to
that effect. The south side of the entrance to the
River Medway will he protected by a casemated
battery, on which will be mounted the most power-
ful ordnance now in use, consisting of 100 pounder
Armstrong guns, 68-pounders throwing hollow
and solid shot, and 10-inch guns for either
shot or shell. This new battery will be entirely
bomb-proof, and it is intended to erect it on the site
of the old works at Garrison Point, which now
mount only 28 8-inch guns. The demolition of this
portion of the defences at the mouth of the Medway
will entail the destruction of the store rooms and
magazines at present filled with shot, shell, and
other armament, ammunition, and stores, the whole
of which will be removed to the expense magazines,
situate in the interior of the existing fortifications.
The whole of the guns now planted on the half-
moon and cavalier batteries will be commenced to
be dismounted to-day, in order that the armament
may be removed to allow the process of reconstruct-
ing that portion of the works to be at once pro-
ceeded with. It is intended that the batteries on
the lines adjoining the works ordered to be demo-
lished shall not be disturbed for the present, as it is
deemed inexpedient to weaken the defences at the
river's entrance by commencing the dismantling of
the fortifications on anything like an extended scale.
The new casemated batteries will therefore be reared
with all possible despatch, and be thoroughly armed
and equipped with projectiles of every description
before any of the remaining defences will be dis-
mantled. The tenders for the construction of the

largest casemated battery will be received at the
War-office to-morrow. Orders have also been re-
ceived at Chatham for two batteries to be planted on
each side of the River Medway at Folly Point and
Bishop's-march, about mid-distance between Sheer-
ness and Chatham, for the protection of the latter
dockyard and the extensive stores of ammunition
accumulated at Upnor Castle. The works connected
with the erection of the two batteries mentioned
will be executed by the firm of Myers and Co., Lon-
don, who have taken the contract for the completion
of those defences.