The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-01 00:00:00

THE Itr.AVI.

Th e.regulations recently issued by the Lords of
the A ~.dmiralty for the amalgamation under one com-
viand, of the steam and sailing reserve fleets in the
Medway, at Chatham, have necessitated some im-
partamt alterations in the number and disposition of
the sh ips formerly composing the sailing ordinary
at that port. A survey has accordingly been
wade of tthe whole of the vessels in the Med-
way, sevoral of which have been found to be so
old that they are altogether unfit for further
service. Instead, however, of these being broken
up, as has hitherto been customary, the Lords of
the Ad xairalty have determined on selling them.
Orders NI /ere accordingly received at Chatham yes-
terday directing the following vessels to sold as
soon as •the necessary arrangements can be made—
wiz., the Cleopatra, 26 ; the Vestal, 26 ; the Daphne,
18 ; the, Frolic, 16 ; the Comus, 14 ; the Elk, 12;
the Kangaroo, 12 ; the Childers, 12 ; the Fantome,
12 ; the Arab, 12 ; the Daring, 12 ; the Mariner,
12 ; the Despatch, 12 ; the Tyne, 4; and the Volage,
4. A careful estimate of the value of each vessel
is to be made by the dockyard authorities, and for-
warded to the Lords of the Admiralty. The stores
and fittings which it is not desirable to sell are to be
removed and placed in store in the dockyard.
The President, 50, sailing frigate at Chatham, is
to be fitted for a training ship for the Naval Coast
Volunteers, and will be stationed in the Thames
near the West India Docks, where she will replace
the Brilliant, 20. The Winchester, 50, at Chatham,
is also to be fitted at that port to replace the Con-
way, 26, lent to the Mercantile Marine Associa-
tion at Liverpool for a training ship for lads des.
tined for the sea. The Winchester will be towed
round to the Mersey by the Geyser, 6, paddlewheel
steamer. The Brilliant and Conway both return to
Chatham.

The screw steam frigate Diadem, 32, Capt. Cock-
burn, was appointed to leave Plymouth Sound yes-
terday (Wednesday) for Halifax, and the Surprise,
4, Commander Whyte, for the Mediterranean.
The Valorous, 16, paddlewheel steamvessel, Capt.
W. C. Aldham, C 8., arrived at Spithead yesterday
from North America and the West Indies, with
prisoners from the fleet on that station, and some
military invalids. She left Halifax for England on
the 11th of July. She steamed into harbour at 3
p.m. yesterday, to be paid off.
By the mail packet Norman, which arrived at Ply-
mouth on Tuesday, we learn that the screw cor-
Tette Archer, 13, Capt. F. A. B. Craufield, left Ascen-
sion June 10, arrived at St. Helena June 25, and
departed the next day for Ascension, where she
was found by the Norman with the Arrogant,
Isis, and Meander. The paddlewheel steam frigate
Furious, 16, Capt. C. J. Jones, 10 days from Ichaboe,
left St. Helena July 1 for Ascension and England.
The transport Star of the South, Capt. Renner, with
304 men, women, and children belonging to the
64th Regiment, under command of Col. Chads, and
in medical charge of Dr. Parsonage, 71 days from
Kurrachee for Falmouth, left St. Helena June 22.
The Caroline Coventry, Capt. Overbury, 95 days
from Kurrachee, left the island the same day.
A new paddle wheel steamvessel is in progress at
Deptford dockyard, ordered to be completed with
all despatch for the service of Dr. Livingstone and
the party now engaged in exploring the interior of
Africa. Her dimensions are :—Length, 120 ft. ;
beam, 15ft. ; depth, 7ft. She will be constructed of
teak and oak, and, being intended for navigation in
shallow rivers, will not draw more than two feet of
water.