The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-16 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

On Tuesday a party of officers of the several ser-
vices—viz., the navy, army, Royal Artillery, and
Royal Engineers assembled on board the gunboat
Redwing, tender to the gunnery-ship Cambridge,
Capt. Jerningham, in Hamoaze, for the purpose of
inspecting the sea defences and firtificatinns of the
inner harbour and of Plymouth Sound. They con-
sisted of Capt. N. Spencer Robinson, commanding
the steam reserve ; Col. Wright, commanding Royal
Engineers; Capt. Jerningham, Col. Dixon, Royal
Artillery.; Capt. Stace, R.E. ; Capt. Stewart, R.N. ;
Capt. Pitman, R.M.A., Cambridge ; Capt. Cox,
R.N., on the Admiralty survey ; Mr. Thompson,
Queen's Harbour Master; Lieut. Dawson, Gunnery
Lieut. of the Cambridge, and Major White, Royal
Engineers. The party proceeded first to Drake's
Island in the Sound, and then to the Eastern de-
fences at Bovisand and on Staddon-heights. The
Redwing then crossed the Sound from east to west,
and the officers landed in Cawsand-bay, which was
closely surveyed. An examination of Mount Edge-
cumbe and the fort on Picklecombe-point closed the
day's labour, which, it is stated, was not under•
taken through instructions from headquarters, but
purely with the view of obtaining information so
as to be prepared for any contingency.
Major-Gen. Sir R. Dacres, K.C.8., recently ap-
pointed Commandant at Woolwich, has been granted
14 days' leave of absence. The principal command
of the garrison yesterday devolved on Col. Teesdale
senior officer in succession, Major-Gen. Bloomfield,
lately 2d Commandant, having taken up his new
appointment as inspector-General of Artillery at
the Horse Guards.
Every available spot in the Arsenal at Woolwich
is now ordered to be taken up by the Laboratory
Department, so as to extend the facilities for the
manufacture of shot and shell by accommodating
as many additional hands as may be requisite to
meet the unprecedented demands now on hand.
The present factories have been considerably en-
larged by the erection of large sheds of corrugated
iron, raised against the outer walls, which
afford much convenience and space to the factories,
crowded to excess and danger. With an establish-
ment far outnumbering that of any previous date,
the
works are briskly carried on by relays of men,
without intermission, day and night.
Yesterday the following draught left Colchester
camp and embarked at Gravesend to join the service
companies of their regiment, now in Bengal :—Two
sergeants and 60 privates of the 38th Regiment and
50 privates of the 97th Regiment, under the com-
mand of Lieut. Walker, of the 38th, who was ac-
companied by Ensigns N. W. D. Pringle, J. B.
Brady, and W. H. Miller, all of the same regiment.
A draught of 400 men has also marched from War.
ley Barracks forthe same destination, and embarked
os board the Kirkham. •
The annual inspection of the Portsmouth division
of Royal Marines took place at Forton yesterday,
by Major-Gen. Wesley, the deputy-adjutant-gene-
ral of the corps. The inspection commenced at half-
past 10 a.m., and concluded at three P.m. A more
minute inspection of the men, their kits, accounts,
barrack quarters, and accommodation was probably
never known by the Portsmouth division. No one
escaped, from the officer down to the smallest bugler
who was made to sound a call. After the men had
been inspected the non-commissioned officers fell in,
with company sergeants on the right, when the
Major-General addressed them in encouraging
terms, and complimented them upon the general
appearance of the men, who are mostly recruits or
militia volunteers, no less than 250 men having
been received at this division from various sources
within the last fortnight. The barrack rooms were
afterwards visitedl and the men, who were at din-
ner, were asked the usual questions as to their food,
and gave perfectly satisfactory answers. The rooms,
bedding, &c.,were remarkably clean, although only
a day's notice had been given of the inspection. The
Major-General expressed himself highly pleased
with his first day's inspection, which was closed by
his visiting the schools, offices, &c. To-day the men
will be formed for battalion drill, and the artillery
companies at Gosport inspected. The men will also
be inspected at ship gun drill in the Forton battery,
and at rifle shooting on Brown-down. A bombar-
dier, who had only come out of Haslar Hospital
thew day previous, fell from one o'f the first-storey
mdows while the men were marcNing round dur-
ing the inspection, and was so muc.li injured that
he was not expected to reach the hosp.;tal alive.
Tlvoofficers and 50 non-commissioned officers
and men of the Royal Limerick County Militia
will proceed this
rison for Portlandmorning from Portsmo.nth Gar-
The Royal Perthsire Rifles will assemble at
Perth, under the command of Lieut.-Col. H. M-
Drummond, on Tuesday,
the 12th of July, for 21
days' training.
The Royal South Glocester Militia, under the
command of Lieut.-Col. Commandant H. W. New-
man, assembled on Tuesday last for 21 days' train-
ing. The regiment is in excellent order, and there
is an unusually strung muster.
Lieut.-Col. the Duke of Wellington inspected the