The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-12 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

In consequence of the great draught of the iron-
plated frigate Defence, 22, it is found necessary to
remove a portion of the stonework in the third dock
at Chatham, in which she is to be placed, in order
that depth enough may be obtained to float her.
The Defence will remain lashed to the floating
shears in Chatham harbour until her masts are put
in. This, however, will be delayed for about a week,
as although her topmasts, yards, and other gear
have been some time ready at Chatham, these can-
not be fitted until the arrival of her lower masts,
which are of iron, from the Thames Ironworks.
Her Majesty's screw steamship Collingwood, 84,
got np steam yesterday for the second time, for the
purpose of testing her machinery, in the steam
basin at Sheerness, after being subjected to water-
pressure. Her engines' were found to work in a
most satisfactory manner, no defect whatever being
observable. By those who witnessed the trial, the
machinery, which is of a novel description, is con-
sidered to be the most perfect and compact that has
been introduced into use.

The Niger, Capt. Cracroft, from the Australian
station, has dismantled in Woolwich basin, and
will be paid off to-morrow morning. Capt. Cra-
croft, before leaving New Zealand, was presented
with a testimonial by the people of Auckland, in
acknowledgment of their estimation of the high
and valuable services which he and his ship's com-
pany had rendered to the colony. The Niger's
crew, since their return to Woolwich, and especially
yesterday, when they were allowed to receive their
friends on board, have conducted themselves ex-
tremely well, it heing remarked on all hands that
a better disciplined ship has never entered Wool-
wich basin.

Directions have been received at Chatham for 15
of the large 100-pounder Armstrong guns to be im-
mediately mounted on the centre and No. 1 bastions
at the entrance to the Medway, in lieu of the smooth
bored guns of lighter calibre with which those de-
fences are at present armed. The Armstrong gnns
to be mounted on the centre bastion will command
the Channel approaches to the Thames and Medway
as far as the light placed at the Groat Nore, a dis-
tance of rather more than three miles. The 100-
pounders ordered to be mounted on No. 1 bastion
will flank the fire of those in the centre bastion, and
sweep the face of the fortifications to a considerable
distance. As soon as the Armstrong guns have all
been placed in position, they will add materially to
the already very imposing and heavily armed line of
defences existing at the entrance to the Medway,
which, taking into account its difficult navigation,
will be rendered almost impassable to hostile vessels.
In addition, however, to the present defences, the
projection known as Cheyney Rock has been se-
lected by the Government as the site of a powerful
casemated battery. This rock is situate at a distance
of little over 2,000 yards from the right of the pre-
sent works, and by position is admirably adapted for
the purposes to which it will be applied. As soon as
the works in progress are completed, the sea de-
fences on the eastern shore will consist of an almost
impregnable stronghold, mounting rather more
than 150 guns. All of these will eventually be
Armstrongs, crossing each other's fire at varying
angles of elevation and depression, the whole having
a complete command of the narrow channel, and
bearing on every point at which a fleet could an-
chor or take up a threatening position. In addi-

tion to the fortifications which defend the eastern
shore of the channel, the passage of the Medway
will be rendered still more secure by the casemated
batteries which are now in course of erection at
Garrison-point, the armament of which will consist
of guns of the heaviest calibre. Extensive fortifi-
catious are also in course of construction on the op-
posire shore of the Medway at the Isle of Grain,
which will add still further to the security of the
dockyard and other naval establishments at Chat-
ham.

The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Lieut. J. F. Prowse, to the
Malacca ; Lieut. N. B. Smith, to the Nile ; A. Gillies,
supernumerary in the Asia, promoted to engineer ;
William A, Houghton, in the Dee, promoted to
first-class assist.-engineer ; George Quick, addi-
tional in the Asia, for the Bullfinch, confirmed as
second-class assistant-engineer. Edward Phillips
Statham has been nominated to a naval cadetship.