The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-24 00:00:00

7HE NAVY.

The construction of the Caledonia, originally
commenced in Woolwich Th.ckyard as a 91-gun
screw steamship, but arrested by a special order
' from the Board of Admiralty, has been again or-
dered to proceed, and the framework, now formed,
presents the outlines of a 52-gun frigate, it having
been lengthened 21 feet amidships, and the intended
upper deck dispensed with. A proportionate num-
per of hands has been set on, and the construction
under the new form is ordered to be continued
without interruption. The orders relative to a
similar alteration in the building of the Repulse are
still pending, no reply
having been received in re-
ference to the specification some time ago demanded
by the Admiralty for that purpose.
The Orpheus, 21, 400-horse power, having been
completed at Chatham for the first-class steam re-
serve at Portsmouth, got up steam in Chatham
harbour yesterday, and proceeded down the river
to the Nore, in charge of Mr. S. Stephens, chief
engineer, attended by the paddlewheel steamer
Adder, Mr. Blakey, master commander.
Workmen were busy yesterday at Portsmouth in
cleaning the bottom of the Warrior, which, con-
trary to general anticipation, was found to be asto-
nishingly free from weeds or sediment. Another
gang of men were employed in paying the vicinity
of the water-line over with Hays' composition. The
proximity of the Himalaya to the Warrior enables
the looker-on to draw a comparison between the two
vessels, each the crack one of its class, and the result
is decidedly in the Himalaya's favour, whether as re-
gards the rig of the two vessels or their form of bow.
The paddlewheel steam sloop Firebrand, 6, from
North America and the West Indies, was yesterday
towed up to Woolwich dockyard, from the Royal
g
stores, &c., in pre-
parationwill require caulking
Arsenal pier,to
being a ft afterdocked,
a rsghi
en
and a thorough cleaning, after which she will re
sume her commission.

The Spitfire, in process of thorough repair at Wool-
wich, is ordered to be got ready for commission by
Nov. 22d. She was built at Deptford about 18 years
ago, and on her return to Woolwich in April last
she underwent a complete overhaul, when it was
discovered that her engines had suffered severely,
and that her bulwarks and many of her mainstays
and principal planks were decayed. The repairs are
now
w of herprogre
ssing rapidly, and her appearance by the
time intended commission will be that of a
totally new ship. The Devastation, Caradoc, and
Niger are undergoing a somewhat similar process
of repair, preparatory to being recommissioned at
Woolwich.

Directions have been received at Chatham for the
whole extent of No 1 dock, which has been floored
over, and used as workshpps and fitting shops by
the mechanics employed on the Achilles, 50, to be
roofed in, the cost of which will be nearly £3,000.
In order to make the land defences at Sheerness
at least equal in point of strength to those which
are now being erected on the Medway, it has been
decided to construct a deep and broad ditch at the
back of the fortifications, so formed that it may be
filled at spring tides. This ditch will extend from
the projection known as Cheyney Rock, on the
northern extremity of the Isle of Sheppey, to the
Medway, on the west. The approaches to the
town and garrison of Sheerness will be effected by
means of drawbridges over the present highways.
At each end of the ditch, at the points of its
junction with the sea, it is intended to erect a
'powerful casemated battery, of imposing dimen-
sions, mounting 10-inch and Armstrong guns of
the heaviest calibre, so as to enable the powerful
ordnance with which they will be armed to command
the land approaches, as well as to assist in the de-
fence of the sea. The fort at the northern entrance
to the fosse, which is intended more especially to
augment the existing and prospective sea defences,
will be most formidable, while the still more power-
ful line of defences in progress on the other side of
the harbour will render the passage to the Medway
nearly, if not altogether, impossible to a hostile
fleet, the range of batteries mounting, as they will
when the whole are completed, 200 of the heaviest
guns. The fort to be constructed at the western en-
trance is intended solely for the defence of the land-
works from an invading land force. All the batte-
ries will be casemated, and will be so constructed
that, should the occasion require it, they can accom-
modate a garrison of several hundred men, who will
be able to work the guns without being exposed to
the least danger, as the roof and walls will be bomb-
proof. The construction of the intended fosse will
be a work of somo time, but, when completed, the
garrison of Sheerness will be circumvented by a
broad sheet of deep water, forming a most imposing,
if not effectual barrier to the passage of an army.
With the exception of the drawbridges, all means
of communication will be cut off between.the upper
and lower divisions of the island. Within the last
few days the proposal to erect a battery on the
heights of the Minster, about two miles inland from
Sheerness, and the highest spot in the Isle of Shep •
pey, has been under consideration. The object of
this battery, which it is suggested should be of earth,
would be the protection of the shipping and the
security of the dockyard establishment. The site
has always been considered an excellent one for
such a purpose, even before the principle of rifling
was applied to heavy iron ordnance throughout the
service, and it is, therefore, evident that the impor-
tance
of the 'position has immensely increased now
that guns of the heaviest calibre are nearly all rifled,
and so constructed as to throw either solid shot,
shell, or molten iron distances which, only a few
years since, were considered fabulous.

The contract for the formation of the ar-
tesian well in connection with the new system "of
waterworks for the old and new camps at Colches-
ter has been taken by Mr. Clarke, of Tottenham,
and the works will be proceeded with immediately.
The plans for the new cavalry barracks have been
agreed upon, and the contracts for the work are
likely to be taken within a few weeks, it being the
determination of the War authorities to expedite
the erection of the barracks as much as possible
before the arrival of winter. There is no intention
of increasing the infantry accommodation, which
is now sufficient for 3,000 men. The new camp
will be constructed upon an elevated plot of ground
immediately adjoining the infantry barracks,
affording every facility for the most perfect drain-
age, and having, it has been contemplated, an
almost exhaustless supply of water.
The Himalaya, screw troopship, Capt. J. Seccombe,
sails this morning for Gibraltar, Malta, and Corfu.
She will call in at Queenstown for 8 officers, 157
men, 1 woman, and 10 children, of various corps.
She conveys to Gibraltar 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 6
sergeants, 2 drummers, 137 rank and file, 1 officer's
wife and servant, 10 soldiers' wives, and 16 children
of the Royal Engineers ; of the 2d battalion 6th
Foot, 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 ensign, 2 sergeants,
4 drummers, 60 rank and file, 3 soldiers' wives, and
3 children ; of the 2d battalion 7th Foot, 1 lieute-
nant, 1 ensign, 1 sergeant, 49 rank and file, 2 women
and 2 children ; and of the 100th Foot, 42 rank and
file, 2 women, and 2 children. To Malta—of the
Royal Engineers, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 6 ser-
geants, 4 drummers, 98 rank and file, 1 officer's
wife, 6 children, and 2 servants, 9 soldiers' wives,
and 19 children ; of the Royal Artillery, Col. Romer
and 9 rank and file; of the 2d battalion Ist Foot,
Capt. Weir; of the 2d battalion 3d Foot, Ensign
Openshaw ; of the 2d battalion Ist Foot, Ensign
Burnett ; of the Ist battalion 22d Foot, Capt. Norris,
wife, child, and servant, and 30 rank and file ; of
the 2d battalion 22d Foot, Lieut. Harrison, wife,
child, and servant, and Ensign Brakspear ; of the
4th battalion Rifle Brigade, 11 rank and file and
Staff Assist.-Sorg. Creasy. To Corfu—of the Royal
Engineers, 14 rank and file; the 2d battalion 2d
Foot, 1 sergeant, 12 rank and file ; the 2d battalion
4th Foot, 23 rank and file; the 2d battalion 9th
Foot, Ensign Clogstown, 1 man of the Royal Artil-
lery, and Staff Assist.-Surg. Roberts.
By direction of the Lords of the Admiralty, a
general parade of the officers and men composing
the companies of Royal Marines at headquarters,
Chatham, took place yesterday morning in the bar-
rack square, to witness the presentation of a silver
medal, which, together with a gratuity of £l5, had
been awarded by their lordships to Colour-Sergt.
John Cole, for long service and meritorious conduct.
Colour-Sergt. Cole has been, nearly 24 years in the
service, 18 of which he has beenanon-commissioned
officer. He is decorated with the Crimean, the Bal-
tic, and Turkish medals. His brother was a few
weeks since decorated with a medal at Chatham.