The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-10 00:00:00

TEE ARMY.

His Royal Highness the General Commanding-
in-Chief will hold a levee at the Horse Guards at 1
o'clock on Monday next, the 15th inst.
The contract for the erection of the two large
batteries which the Government has decided on
building at Shornmeade, on the Kentish coast,
and at Coalhouse Point, on the Essex shore, for the
protection of that part of the entrance to the river
Thames, in the place of the two small batteries for-
merly placed on those points, has been taken by
Messrs. Brassey and Betts, who are to commence
the works forthwith. A detachment of Royal Ar-
tillery, under the command of Lieut. Thurlow, has
accordingly been employed at Coalhouse Point in
dismounting the guns on that battery in order that
it may be taken down, but during the last few
days operations have been suspended in conse-
quence of the difficulties which have arisen respect-
ing the appropriation of the shot, shell, and
powder stored in the buildings. As there is no
building in the neighbourhood of the batteries in
which the powder can be stowed during the time
the new batteries are being erected, it has been pro-
posed to place it on board the floating batteries
/Etna and Thunderbolt, both of which will be sta-
tioned in the Thames until the new fortifications
are completed. Both those floating batteries are,
however, still at Chatham fitting, and consequently
the works at Coalhouse Point are at a complete
standstill until the two steam batteries have ar-
rived. Nothing has yet been commenced at the
Shormeade battery. In order to afford still greater
protection at Chatham dockyard and the vessels of
war lying in harbour at that port, Government has
decided on placing two powerful batteries on the
projections of land on both sides the Medway
known as Folly Point and Bishop's-marsh, in addi-
tion to the extensive chain of fortifications in-
tended to be erected around Chatham. The plan of
the defences to be built at Chatham has not yet been
finally decided upon, and nothing definitely has
been arranged respecting the system of fortifica-
tions to be adopted for the defence of that impor-
tant garrison and naval establishmeat. It seems
probable, however, that the recommendation of the
Commissioners on the National Defences will be
adopted, with some amendments, and that the gar-
rison and town will be encircled by seven large
batteries, each connected by a chain of works, in
order to protect the dockyard and garrison on all
sides. Any positive announcement on the subject,
however, would be premature, as the plans, even of
the proposed works, have not yet been prepared.
Mr. C. Naylar, the Government contractor at
Rochester, has entered into an arrangement with
the War Department for the erection of a large
range of buildings at Sheerness for married quar-
ters for the non-commissioned officers and men of
the Royal Engineers, at an expense of £lO,OOO.

THE WEATHER.

METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS.

This Day,
' etween 8 and! B. E. M. D. IF.C. L S.
9 a.m.
Nairn 130'24 50 j 46 S.S.W. 4 6 0. 2
Aberdeen 30.29 46 43 S.W. 5 1 b. 3
Leith,..
Berwick 3042 45 42 W S.W. 2 9 c. 2
Ardrcssan
Portr.,sh
Shields
Galway 30'43 18 47 6
Scarborough 30.55 42 39 W.S.W. 3 1 b. 3 Liverpool ..•
• '
L3O 58 44 40 5.E.2 7
0. 2
Valentia .... 30'46 47 46 4 9
w in. Queenston:.
Yarmouth 1 2
30.62 44 42 S.E. 2 2 2
b. London '3O 58 44 40 E.s.E. 2 2
b. 3
Lover 30'57 48 43 E.N.E. 8 1 b. 6
Portsmouth
Portland ' 30'57 41 38 N.E. 5 5 c. 6
Plymouth.. !30•54 46 45 E. 5 3c. 2
Penzance .. ::' 30'56 48 45 E.S.E. 2 6 b. 1
I

, .
EXPLANATION.—B. Barometer, corrected and reduced
to 32 deg at mean sea level ; each 10 feet of vertical rise
causing about 1-100th of an inch diminution, and each 10
deg above 32 deg causing nearly 3-100ths increase. B.
Exposed thermometer in shade. M. Moistened bulb (for
evaporation and dew-point). D. Direction of wind (trus—
t:Lot magnetic). F. Force (1 to 12—estimated). C. Cloud
(1 to 9). I. Initials :—b , blue sky; c., clouds (detached) ;
fog. ; h., hail ; 1., lightning ; m., misty (hazy), 0.,
•vercast ; r., rain; a., snow; t., thunder. A letter
repeated augments—thus, r.r., much rain. S. Sea disturb,-
‘nce (1 to 9).

COURSE OF EXCHANGE.—YESTBADAT.
‘lnsterdam
Ditto
+totterdam
12 0 12 0
intwerp
irusels —
25 57' 25 62
7i
iamturgh
58f 25 62f1
Paris
40 Ditto
',larseilles — 25 67f 25 72f
Frankfort on Maine — 119 119 f
Vienna
--1,5 65 15 70
Frieste
Petersburgh — 33±
Berlin —
Madrid
Cadiz —
Leghorn —
Milan —
Genoa —
Naples
Palermo —
Messina —
Lisbon
Oporto
Etio Janeiro —
New York — • • • •
Porpign (4,111 in Bar (stapy,i) .. rpr oz. £3 17 9
Mexican Dollars
~ 0 0 0
silver in Bars (Standard)
~ 0 0 0
South American Doublons

481 48/
48a 481
26 95 26 0
25 82/ 25 87/
25 824 25 87
39i S9j
117 117 k
117 117
52± 52!
52i 53