The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-20 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 20, 1861.

11IE NA VY.

VALETTA, Dec. 13.—The French steereer which
leaves to-day for Marseilles affords me an opportu-
nity of sending you a few lines. The naval autho-
rities here continue busy in getting vessels ready
for sea, to proceed to Gibraltar, where a large naval
force has been ordered to assemble. Her Majesty's
frigate Melpomene, 51, Capt. C. J. F. Ewart, which
had been recalled by telegraph from the Piraeus,
arrived here on the 10th inst. Repairs being neces-
sary, she was admitted into dock, and the work was
continued all night, so that no time should be lost.
She left for Gibraltar yesterday. The Agamemnon,
89, Capt. Hope, followed for the same destination
to-day; and the James Watt, 89, Capt. Codd, fol-
lows in a day or two, when her repairs will be com-
plete. The Caesar, 89, Capt. T. Mason, will also
leave for the westward in about a week. The
Marlborough, 131 (flag of Vice-Admiral Sir W. F.
Martin, K,C.8., the commander in chief on this
station), is, I understand, to remain here for the
present. The Terrible, 21, Capt. F. H. H. Glasse,
C. 8., commissioned in 1858, left on the evening of
the 11th for Gibraltar and England. Her Majesty's
gunboat Foxhound, 4, Capt. the Hon. A. Hobart,
which had been ordered to Gibraltar, received
counter orders to proceed to Corfu. On the 10th
inst. fresh orders were received, in consequence of
instructions by telegraph from England, and she
proceeded the same day to Marseilles, conveying
Rear-Admiral Dacres, C. 8., who has been selected
to the second in command of the West India fleet.
A telegram has been received from Corfu an-
nouncing that the Megmra, steam troopship,
Commander Henderson, had broken down, and
that her arrival at Malta would be consequently
delayed. The Trident, 3, which arrived here a
few days ago from Gibraltar, proceeds to-day with
a mail to Corfu. Commander G. B. Nicolas, of
this vessel, was tried by court-martial on the
11th inst., on board her Majesty's receiving ship
Hibernia, for cruelty, in excessive punishment of
two boys of the crew for breaking their leave
at Gibraltar. He was found guilty, and sentenced
to be dismissed the service with disgrace. The sol-
dier Edwards, of the 3d Brigade, Royal Artillery,
who shot at the Adjutant, Captain Keate, was tried
last week by court martial. The court closed its sit-
tings the day before yesterday, but the sentence is
not yet known. The prisoner confessed his crime,
but could give no reason for it ; on the contrary, he
stated that he had no grounds of complaint against
any of his officers. Her Majesty's gunboat Lapwing,
4, Commander M. O'Reilly, has just come in from

Beyrout.
MALTA, DEC. 12.—Her Majesty's steam corvette
Firebrand, Commander S. M. Bruce, arrived on Sun-
day morning from England and Gibraltar, having on

board three naval officers. On arrival she was im-

mediately ordered to proceed to Gibraltar, and left

on the following day. The liners Algiers, Captain
E. B. Rice ; and Queen, Capt. C. F. Hillyar, sailed
for Gibraltar on Monday evening. The screw steam-
frigate Melpomene, Capt C. F. Y. E wart, arrived

on Tuesday morning from the Piraeus; having under-
gone some repairs in the dock, she leaves this even-

ing for Gibraltar. The liners Agamemnon and James
Watt are, it is said, also under orders to proceed to
Gibraltar. Her Majesty's screw gunboat Foxhound,

Commander the Hon. A. C. Hobart, took her de-
parture on Tuesday for Marseilles. The steam-
frigate Terrible, Capt. F. H. H. Glasse, C. 8., sailed
yesterday evening for Gibraltar and England, to

be paid off; ehe was commissioned in June, 1858,
by Capt. Glasse. Her Majesty's surveying steamer
Medina, Capt. T. A, B. Spratt, C. 8., arrived early
this morning from .Alexandria, where she was lately
employed on surveying duties. The liner Aboukir,
Captain Shadwell, which left Gibralter on the 28th
ult. for Malta, has not yet made her appearance ;
probably she is sailing under canvas. Her Majes-
ty's troop-ship Megmra is daily expected from
Corfu. The Marlborough (flag-ship), Caesar, Aga-
memnon, James Watt, Melpomene, Trident, Firefly,

Medina, and Boxer, are the only English ships of
war at present in port.--11falta Observer.
Rear-Admiral Sidney C. Dacres, C. 8., arrived at
Dent's George Hotel, Portsmouth, yesterday, from
London. At noon he hoisted his flag as second in
command on the North American and West Indian
station, on board the Edgar, 89, screw, Capt. Mends,
anchored at Spithead. The salute from theflagship's
guns, customary on such occasions, was omitted in
the present instance owing to the decease of H.R.H.
the Prince Consort. The Edgar has taken in an
extra 100 pounder Armstrong gun for conveyance
to the station. The Edgar is expected to leave on
Sunday for Lisbon, to meet that portion of the
fleet from the Mediterranean to be placed under his
command, and wait
.further orders consequent on
the reply from the American President. should
war be the result, Admiral Dacres will then pro-
ceed to join Admiral Milne, as second in command;
but should peace still be preserved, the ships from

the Mediterranean will return to that station, and
the Admiral to Spithead, in the Edgar, which will
immediately refit, and he will proceed to the Medi-
teri anean in her as his flag-ship, in the place of
Rear-Admiral Mundy, who has returned to Eng-
land in ill health.

The Shannon, screw steam-frigate, in the steam.
basin, commenced shipping guns yesterday. Her
external appearance is improved, not only aloft, but
her sides are being painted, and she looks more like
a man-of-war ready for sea. _ _ _

An attempt was made yesterday to dock the
Black Prince in No. 10, but as there was not suf-
ficient water, it was postponed until to-day. She
is to have her bottom coated over with Mr. Hay's
solution, as is also the Wallace, paddle-wheel
steamer, for which purpose she, is put into No. 6
dock.

The Stromboli, 6, paddle, Commander Lord El-
phinstone, and the Devastation, 6, paddle, the for•
mer fitting out at Portsmouth, and the latter at
Woolwich, are each ordered to take on board two
100 pounder Armstrong guns with their carriages,
equipment, and ammunition complete, to the North
American station, where they will be disembarked
for service in the shore batteries. The guns have
been selected from the ordnance stores at Ports-
mouth, and the Devastation will call in at Spithead
to receive her allotted number on her way down
Channel.

Her Majesty's screw steam corvette Rattlesnake,

21 guns, 1,705 tons, which has recently been built
at Chatham, was this day taken from Sheerness
harbour to Maplin Sands for the purpose of trying
her speed and machinery- at the measured mile, The
engines, which are of 400 nominal horse power,
are constructed by Messrs. Ravenhill and Co.
The vessel was in charge of Captain Schomberg,
R.N. Mr. Price, inspector of machinery afloat
at Sheerness, and Mr. Baker, chief engineer of the
Chatham Dockyard, attended on the part of the
Government. The contractors for the engines were
represented by Mr. Hodgson, the engines being in
the charge of their foreman, Mr. Elliott. At the
time the trial took place the vessel had to contend
against a very strong gale, notwithstanding which
the results were most satisfactory—viz., mean speed,
13.3 knots per hour; revolution of engines, 86;
pressure of steam, 20; vacuum, 25; with half-
boiler power, speed, 10.455 knots ; pitc'i (Griffiths's
screw), 23ft. 6in., variable from that to 28ft.;
diameter of screw, 16ft. ; force of wind, 7. The
vessel has accordingly proved herself to be one of
the fastest ships which has yet been tried in these
waters.

Her Majesty's steam sloop Devastation, Com-
mander 11/Peres, having embarked a portion of her
cargo, consisting of Armstrong guns and a p
purtenances, shot and ammunition, intended for the
flagship Bacchante and Clio, in the Pacific, yester-
day left the basin at Woolwich for Greenhithe to
adjust compasses for sea. She took charts for the
Pacific; and will find in her magazine and receive