The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-25 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

Various officers at Chatham garrison, under
orders to embark for India, have been granted
leave of absence from their respective regiments
until the 14th of June.

The proceedings of a district court-martial which
recently assembled at Sheerness for the trial of
gunner Patrick Roach, of the Royal Artillery de-
pot brigade, were promulgated to the troops of
that garrison yesterday. The prisoner, who, dur-
ing the time he has been in the service, has shown
himself to be a man of the most depraved character,
was arraigned before the Court for having been
guilty of gross insubordination. When a prisoner
in the guardroom he struck Sergeant H. Hickson,
his superior officer, a violent blow in the face with
his fist, and when afterwards brought before Lieut.-
Col. Talbot, R.A., for the offence, he used highly
offensive anguage to that officer. He said, " What
the -- have you to do with it ? You have no more
to do with it than any other gunner of the regi-
ment." He was also further tried for destroying
his accoutrements. The Court found him guilty of
all the charges, and in consideration of his former
bad character sentenced him to undergo five years'
imprisonment with hard labour. On the sentence
being submitted to the Major-General commanding
the district, however, that officer, in consideration
of the prisoner's short experience, and with the hope
that he would never again commit so grave an
offence, ordered four years of his imprisonment to
be remitted.

The First Devon Yeomanry Cavalry, under the
command of Lieut.-Col. Buller, M.P., were in-
spected at Sidrcouth on Wednesday by Col. Doug-
las, who expressed high satisfaction with their effi-
ciency.

The DeNbigh Militia, 440 strong, assembled at
Wrexham on Monday, the 20th inst., for 27 days'
training.

The Royal Ayrshire and Wigtown Rifles, 916
strong, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Sir James
Fergusson, M.P., were inspected on the 21st inst.
by Col. Sir John Douglas, who expressed his high
approval of their appearance and training.
Yesterday the West Essex Militia were officially
inspected by Col. Gordon on the drill-ground at
Chelmsford.

RELATIVE RANKS OF OFFICERS OF THE
ARMY AND NAVY.
The following circular (No. 472) has been promulgated
and distributed among the various ships of war at Ports-
mouth and Spithead. It has been received with much dis-
satisfaction by the lieutenants, masters, paymasters, and
engineers :
Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to direct, by her
order in council, dated April 16, 1861, that the relative rank
of officers of the army and navy shall in future be as fol-
lows :

MILITARY BRANCH. To rank with-
1. Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal ) o
2. Admiral General t' 3. Vice Admiral Lieutenant-General I l'' 4
0
o 'FA
4. Rear Admiral Major- General ... .
. ._•,..,
5. Captain of the Fleet Brigadier General ). 'N a
6. Commodore, Ist and 2d Ditto ' :;.., a
class
7. Captain of 3 years Colonel It 8
0
Q
0 u..
8. Captain under 3 years Lieutenant-Colonel )
9. Commander Lieut.-Colonel, but junior of
that rank
10. Master of the Fleet Ditto
11. Lieutenant aboveB years' Major, but
standing rank
12. Master above 8 years' Ditto
standing
13. LieutenantunderByears' Captain
standing
14. Master under 8 years' Ditto
standing
15. Sub-Lieutenant* Lieutenant
16. Second Master Ditto
17. Midshipman Ensign
18. Masters A ssistant,above Ditto
17 years of age, and 2
years at sea ,
CIVIL BRANCH. To rank with-
1. Inspector General of Major-General, according to
Hospitals and Fleets, the date of the completion
after three years' service of the said three years'
on full pay as such service
2. Ditto under three years' Brigadier General, according
service on full pay as to date of commission
such
3.

iunior of that

According to
date of
commission
or order.

Secretary to Admiral of Colonel, according tc date of
the Fleet commission
Paymaster in Chief Ditto
Deputy Inspector Gen. Colonel, according to thedate
of Hospitals and Fleets, of the completion of the
after five years' service said five years' service
on full pay as such
Inspector of Machinery Ditto
Afloat, after eight years'
service on full pay as
such

7. Secretary to a Com- Lieutenant Colonel, accord -
mander-in-Chief ing to time served ar• Se-
cretary to a Commander in
Chief
8. Deputy Inspector Gen. Lieutenant Colonel, accord
of Hospitals and Fleets, ing to date of commission
under 5 years' service on
full pay as such
9: Inspector of Machinery Ditto
Afloat, under 8 years'
service on full pay as
such
10. Staff Surgeon

Lieut.-Colonel, but junior o
that rank
11. Paymaster of, and above Ditto
15 years' seniority:

12. Chief Engineer, ditto Ditto
13. Secretary to a jtuaiorFlag Major, according to date of
Officer, Commodore of commission
the Ist class, or Captain
of the Fleet.
14. Surgeons Ditto
15. Surgeons, promoted on Major, but junior of that
and after March 28, rank
1861
16. Paymasterofeightyears' Ditto
and under 15 years'
seniority
17. Chief Engineer, ditto Ditto
18. Secretary to a Commo- Captain, according to dato of
dore, second class commission
19. Paymaster under eight Ditto
years' seniority
20. Chief Engineer, ditto Ditto
21. Naval Instructor Ditto
22. Assistant Surgeon, after Captain according to the date
six years' service on full of the completion of the said
pay as such six years' service
23. Assistant Surgeon,under Lieutenant, according to date
six years' service on full of commission
ay. as such
24. Assistant Paymaster Ditto
25. Engineert Ditto
26. Assistant Engineeit Ensign, according to senio-
rity in their ranks
Ditto