The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-11 00:00:00

Naval and Military intelligence.

Recruiting for the several infantry regiments haying
been for the pre=ent suspended, it has been determined
that those corps on the Indian establishment in wart
of me❑ t complete their strength shall be augmented
from regiments which arc above their prescribed
establishment.

A great deal of activity prevails among the troor s at
Chatham garrison, where there are at present about 500
men, belonging to the various branches of the service,
daily undergoing a course of rifle instruction. As the
season is approaching when nearly 2,000 young soldiers
will leave Chatham to join the headquarters of their
respective regiments in India, great pains ars taken to
have each man instructed in the use of the Enfield rifle
previously t his landing in that country.
Her Majesty's steam frigate Arrogant, 47, Capta!n
Lyster, was officially inspected and the crew mustered
at Spithead yesterday by Vice-Admiral Sir George Sey-
mour, K.C.8., the Commander-in-Chief, after whici►
she went into Portsmouth harbour to be paid eff.
The Transit iron steam troopship, having been re-
fitted, was taken out of Portsmouth harbour yesterday
to prove her machinery, before being reported ready,
for troop service. It is possible she may take the 90th
or 82d to Madras.

The Sharpshooter, 9, iron steam-sloop, was taken into
dock at Portsmouth yesterday to be refitted.
The Vesuvius, 6 guns, paddlewheel steam-sloop, ar-
rived at Sheerness yesterday morning from Woolwich, to
be placed in the steam squadron of reserve there, under
the command of Captain Edward P. Halsted of the Edin-
burgh, 60 guns, screw steamship.
The Cyclops, 6 guns, paddlewheel steam-frigate, of
320 horse power, had her engines tried in the fitting
basin at Sheerness yesterday, after having been under
repairs. The trial was satiefactory.
It is reported that the Nimrod, g guns, screw steam
despatch vessel, now being fitted and stored i❑ the basin
at Sheerness, is to be commissioned and proceed to
China, to relieve the Barracouta, 6 guns, paddlewheel
steam-sloop, Commander Thomas D. A. Fortescue.
A large supply of Enfield rifle muskets has arrived at
Chatham from the Tower for the use of the troops at-
tached to the Provisional Battalion.

The Renown, 91, screw steamer, having been com-
pleted at Chatham dockyard, preparations are being
made for launching her, which event is expected to take
place during the ensuing month.
A L feboat intended for presentation by Government
to the Government of Claii, in consideration of succour
rendered by the Chilians to British mariners in distress,
is lying in the boathouse wharf at Woolwich, awaiting
an Opportunity for conveyance to her destination. This
boat is built on the principle of a design produced by
m
r. J. Peake, assistant master shipwright of Woolwich
Dockyard. Her length is 30 feet ; width, 8 feet beam ;
leptli amidships, 3 feet 4 inches, exalusive of keel ; ditto,
fromwith bl2oat's floor to deck, 1 foot 3 inches ; ditto, from
deckun to thwarts, 1 foot 3 inches ; ditto, from thwarts to
14,4,af.:17dae1e, 10 inches ; length of end cases, 4 feet ; width
cases extreme, 1 foot 6 inches. She is provided
~.,,i 'at rs, aod is extremely light ; is double banked,
water.t,
„rgh•ts about two tone, She is furnished with a
rbicg,abrtdin,agrohnigAcdhte:;cr:keeantdaetrthe 1. iad water line, detached air-
bAres ll'
from large end sides, and water-ti4ht air-cases within
the boat ,übniergib!e and self-
amount of extra buoyancy is derived
3air-casesfeet built across the bow and stern,
occupying from
and sternpo,it to gunwtol 41 feet in length, from the stern
these cases are chiefl
published by the R„aatell,l'eight. Accordine to extracts
e,coetn
of
fed to provide self-righting
power ; but in the
the boat being stove in,
.Yjtentdeactkional Lifeboat Institution,
acting
and the space below
they alone have sufficient be(,vybaaelnire)yg filled with water,
a l l 0 w asnhvyeae ve'l:traarwsti eaehiixins;hheirpioi
to float her. She
possesses likewise "if_
oppreediii
ftdro_oiliw,nanessB-
- only, so that they
downwards, while none beyond
their,
of the boat to which
eak.ge.can
affi pastx upwardsedro
und t through r oeungthi r
e l
persons in the water might cling until they could be got
ito the boat, as well as two central life-lines lower than
the others to be used as stirrups to assist persons i
9,
Lifeboat
ntlie
water to enter the boat. The design w, gratuitously
furnished by Mr. Peake to the Royal National
Institution in 1855. He has since devoted much time
and attention to the subject of improvements which
have from time to time` been suggested. The boat was
built at Lirnehouse by essrs. Forrestt..
The freight-ship Northfleet, engaged in shipping war
stores :it Woolwich pier f)r China, is expected to sail
~
ou the 22d inst. Her upper deck is to be set apart for
the use of Lieut. Anderson and a detachment f the
Royal Artillery, under orders to embark on the 21st for
passage to Hong Kong.
,Reid er des
to be agent in charge of mails ; ntion is
The steam-sloop Vixen, Cornmauder G.
ti
J-- Meacham,
is to leave Woolwich basin to-day. n
reported to be the Pacific.
' to the RoyalWill;am
The following appointments have been made at the
Admiralty :—Lieutenant Richard Hoops,
Lie te.
rant E. A. ,
for service in Devon port orninary ; Lieutenant
Douglss
Porcher, to the Hibernia ; Thomas Dobbin.
Acting Second Master, to the Iris ; Charles A. Lees,
Barkers
Assistant-Surgeon, to the Victory ; Stephen
J.
, Acting Assistant-Surgeon, to the Impregnable ;
Wa°r37 ; Charles S.
Victoryl
t
e
r
P.
J.
Purveg, Acting Assistant-Surgeon, to the
burgh. Giles, Paymaster, to the Edin-