The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-25 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

The steam storeships Dee and Rhadamanthus yesterda3r
commenced shipping boilers and machinery for ships build-
ing at Portsmouth and Devonport. The wharfs and land-
ing-places are completely choked with long rows of huge
boilers and steam gear, required for the many ships under
construction and fitment in the western yards.
On Wednesday a court-martial assembled on board the
Formidable, guard-ship of ordinary at Sheerness, to try
Commander John H. Cave, and Mr. George P. Heather,
master of the paddlewheel steam-sloop Ardent, in conse-
quence of the said paddlewheel steam-sloop having, on the
24th of December, 1858, been run on shore on the Main,
off Great Poko, on the West Coast of Africa, while in chars.°
of Lieutenant Neal, D. F. Lillingstone, as: officer of the
morning watch. The Court sentenced them to be repri-
manded and admonished to be more careful for the future.
The Trafalgar, lately converted into a screw line-of-
battle-ship at Chatham, has arrived at Sheerness, and has
been taken into the fitting basin. She is ordered to be
taken into No. 3 dry dock, to be immediately made ready
for being commissioned.
Stork, 2, screw gunboat (tender to Excellent) has re-
paired defects to her hull, and will haul out of No. 2 dock
at Portsmouth to resume her official duties.

Sutlej, 50, sailing frigate, in No. 9 dock, at Portsmouth,
has had moulds placed to lengthen her some 80 feet, for the
purpose of converting her to a screw.
The Urgent, 6, iron screw troop frigate, will take her first
trip to Berehaven, after which she makes short voyages in
succession with exchanges of troops, finishing at the West
Indies.
A great number of bluejackets arrived at Portsmouth
yesterday afternoon by railway, to enter on board the
Mersey, 40, screw, Captain Caldwell.
Admiral Bowles returned from Osborne to Portsmouth
yesterday in the Fire Queen.
THE NAVAL FORCE IN COMMISSION.—The following is
a resume of thl present position of our naval force in com-
mission at home and abroad .—On home stations there are
135 ships, tenders, &c., carrying 2,315 guns, and with a
complement of 19,767 officers and men; on foreign stations
there are 135 ships, tenders, &c., mounting 1,715 guns, and
with a complement of 20,427 officers and men; on particu-
lar service, surveying service, ordered home, and paying
off, there are 34 ships, tenders, &c., with 432 guns, and
5,453 officers and men. In addition to the above there are
232 flag officers and retinues, 1,813 supernumerary marines
in China, &c. ; 1,932 supernumerary engineers, warrant
officers, &c. in ordinaries ; 49 supernumeraries in flag ships
abroad; and 419 Kroomen, making a total of 60,092 officers
and men.
The steam transport Peninsula yesterday completed her
shipment of guns and war stores for Gibraltar—namely, 47
guns of 95 cwt. each, and 100 tons of shot and shell. The
Wensleydale, also laden with guns and war stores, has
sailed from Woolwich for Malta, and the Jessie Annandale
yesterday left the pier with a cargo of guns, shot, and shell
' for gribraltar.
The following appointments were made yesterday at the
Admiralty :—Commander F. S. M'Gregor, to be inspecting
commander of the Coastguard, vice Harrison, whose period
of service has expired ; Commander T. P. Coode, to the
James Watt; and Lieut. G. W. E. Lloyd, to the Tartarus.