The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-20 00:00:00

THE NAVY,

--
The Duke of Somerset and the Lords of the
Admiralty leave town to-morrow morning to
make an official inspection at the Royal Dock-
yard at Sheerness.
Captain John Fulford and Captain William C.
Aldharn, C. 8., have been granted the good ser-
vice pensions placed at the disposal of the First
Lord of the Admiralty by the promotion to flag
rank of Rear-Admirals Talavera Vernon Anson
and Augustus Leopold Kuper, C.B.
Mr. Thomas Stratton has been appointed staff-
surgeon to H.M.S. London.
we understand that the Britannia, naval cadet
training ship, Captain Robert Harris, at Ports-
mouth, will be continued in her present service,
the idea of erecting a Naval College on shore
for the training of the cadets having for the present
been abandoned.

The Geyser, 6, paddle, Commander Jackson, sailed
from Spithead yesterday morning for the westward.
Her Majesty's yacht Victoria and Albert, Capt.
the Hon. Joseph Denman, and the Osborne, Master-
Commander George K. Bower, sailed from Ports-
mouth yesterday morning for Holyhead to convey
her Majesty, the Prince Consort, and Royal Family
thence to Ireland.

The Chameleon, 17, screw, Commander Harding,
shipped her ammunition yesterday at Spithead, and
expected to proceed to-day to the Pacific.
The screw steamship Sanspareil, 70, Capt. Bow-
Tear, left Plymouth Sound on Sunday, at noon, for
the Mediterranean, but put back again at 6 o'clock,
and struck topgallant-masts in consequence of
heavy weather from the southward and westward.
The Sanspareil is deeply laden ; she has over 300
supernumeraries for the fleet in the Mediterranean,
several Armstrong guns, and a quantity of solid
shot, shells, &c. _ _

It is expected at Plymouth that after Admiral
Smart has escorted her Majesty across the Irish
Sea both the starboard and port divisions of the
Channel Fleet—eight or nine ships—will anchor in
the Sound.

The gunboat Hind left Plymouth yesterday, to
join the Russell, 60, at Falmouth.
A detachment of the 61st Regiment was under
orders to embark yesterday afternoon on board the
troopship Megmra, in Hamoaze, Plymouth, for con-
veyance to Portsmouth. She would, probably,
leave about 5 o'clock.
An order has been issued that the steel vent pieces
of the 100-pounder Armstrong guns are to be at
once changed for others made of wrought iron.
Several of the steel 'vent-pieces have broken lately
on the gun being discharged, and hence the issuing
of the present order, which will be first carried out
with respect to all guns issued to the fleet. All
Armstrong guns in future will not be issued from
store in cases, but in the ordinary way. The fittings
of each gun will, however, be placed in a case, which
will be issued with the gun when served out of
store for service. Thirty 100-pounder Armstrongs
have been received at Portsmouth from Woolwich
by the Vigo hired steamer. The Balaklava ordnance
transport has also arrived at Portsmouth from

Woolwich, with a cargo of Armstrong guns,fittings,
and stores, including nine 100-pounders and 15 40-
pounders. Another large cargo of the same descrip-
tion of weapon is also on its way from Woolwich
to Portsmouth, Many of these guns are intended
for service on board the iron-cased ships, but 100
a the 100-pounders are apportioned for service on
the salient points of the sea face of Portsmouth
fortifications, the original order for 40 of these guns
for the purpose having now been increased to the
larger number.
The contractors' staff have commenced their
preliminary operations on the Horse Sand, for the
construction of the foundations of the marine
forts for the defence of Spithead. With the
season so far advanced, but little can be done before
the summer of 1862. A significant rumour is in
circulation that the authorities do not expect to pro-
ceed any further in the matter than the construc-
tion of the foundations.