The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-21 00:00:00

711 E NAVY.

The screw steamship Adelaide, Commander Car-
ter, having been chartered by the War Department,
and numbered 5 transport, for tho conveyance of
military stores, &c., to China, yesterday steamed
down to Woolwich from the Victoria-docks to enter
upon her engagement. The accommodations of tho
Adelaide are on a most superior scale, and her
stowage room is immense. She was built for the
service of the Australian Royal Mail Company. A
great portion of her cabin room has been removed,
a new poop and forecastle built, and her engines
overhauled to make her complete for the voyage.
On her arrival at Hong Kong she will discharge
her cargo, and remain at the disposal of the ship-
Pink authorities for the conveyance of the troops to
various destinations.

Her Majesty's paddlewheel steamsloop Hecate
and the Princess Alice, on completion of repairs at
Woolwich, were yesterday hauled out of basin and
steamed down the river on an engineer's trial of
machinery. The steam storeship Supply yesterday
proceeded to Deptford to ship victualling stores, and
the Rhadamanthos entered the outer basin to em-
bark boilers and steam gear for the western yards.
The screw steamship Nile, 90, Captain Wilmot,
arrived at Plymouth on Sunday night. She left
Queenstown on Saturday last, at 9 a.m., with the
Haddlewheel steamship Hydra, 6, Commandar
amilton, and when off the Land's End the Hydra
took the Nile in tow, but cast her off again, and,
after a short interval, renewed the duty, and took
her into the Sound. After discharging her powder
the Nile will go into Hamoaze, where her crew will
be turned over to the screw steamship Sanspareil,
70. The Hydra is short of her complement.
The screw steamship Centurion, 80, Capt. Patey,
having had her copper repaired and cleaned and
valves overhauled, was taken out of No. 3 dock at
Keyham, Plymouth, on Monday. The screw steam-
ship Conqueror, 101, Capt. Wilcox, was in the
afternoon placed in the same dock, to have her
boilers cleaned, copper repaired, and valves over-
hauled.

The screw steamship Edgar, 91, Capt. James E.
katon, flag of Admiral Erskine, was appointed to
leave Plymouth yesterday for Portland. On arrival
the screw steamship Royal Albert,/ 121, Captain
Lacon, flag of Admiral Sir Charles Fremantle,
will probably leave for Plymouth.

VOLUNTEER COMPS.

DALSTON.

Last evening a numerously attended meeting was
held at Albion-hall, Albion-square, Dalston, for the
purpose of taking steps to promote the formation of
a volunteer rifle corps for Dalston and its vicinity.
Mr. Ayrton, M.P., presided.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings said,
often as' he had attended meetings in that institu-
tion, he had never attended a more important one.
For some years past we had believed in the naval
superiority of England, but at the present time a
totally new set of ideas had taken possession of the
public mind. He did not mention the subject of
rifle corps for the first time, as a few months back
he called attention to the state of our foreign rela-
tions. The Press had done an immense service to
the country by the interest it had exhibited in the
state of our national defences. While our navy was
suffered to go into decay, the French had year by
year been increasing theirs ; and it was with pro-
found astonishment that we learnt that the French
navy was superior to ours, and it was only then we
commenced to look upon France with doubt. Ho
did not believe that by writing to foreign Powers
we could ascertain their intentions, as assurances
given upon paper might be hollow. He considered
that we ought to have a commission to inquire into
the state of our defences. It was highly necessary
that we should take steps to put ourselves into a
proper state of defence, as instances hadbecn known
of the French taking advantage of an opportunity
and capturing our vessels in the Channel ; but at
present it was a great deal easier, for steam had
bridged the Channel over; it could be soon done
by small steamers sailing every hour or so, and if
an invading force once obtained a footing, on our
shores, no man could tell what army might be
landed, or what force it would take to oppose its
landing. Ile did not wish to create alarm, but it
was his firm opinion that our standing army was
not strong enough to defend our shores. He hoped
sincerely that this great movement would not
vanish with the excitement of the moment, but
would become a permanent institution of the coun-
try. With respect to the uniforms of rifle corps,
he was of opinion that they should be plain and
inexpensive. Volunteers did not require a gaudy
nniform. Time enough for the uniform when war
was about to commence. He concluded by observ-
ing that the working men of England had taken
very little notice of the great movement. This
was very unsatisfactory. A great deal of mischief
was being done to the movement by exclusive
corps. Ho should like to see the working men of
England join heartily in the movement. He would
advise them not to degrade their corps by electing
officers who had a little more money than others,
but to elect officers of military worth.
A letter was then read from Mr. Butler, M.P.,
stating that he was most anxious for the formation
of rifle corps in every parish in the Tower Hamlets.
He considered it better to avoid fancy names, such
as Albert, Wellington, Combermere, &c.
The following resolution was then moved by the
Rev. Mr. MvEns, seconded by Mr. AYSIIFORD, and
carried unanimously :
"That this meeting considers it desirable to form a Dal-
ston Rifle Corps, and pledges itself to promote the same."
A considerable number of names having been en-
rolled, and subscriptions announced, the proceed-
ings closed with a cordial vote of thanks to the
chairman.