The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-06 00:00:00

THE NAVY

The preparation of the ironwork for the Achilles,
50, which has been in progress for several weeks
past, having considerably advanced, a commence-
ment has at length been made in the construction of
that vessel in the second dock at Chatham, where
the first portion of the keel was successfully laid
down yesterday afternoon. Although a great deal
of apparent delay in building the Achilles has taken
place, this has arisen solely in consequence of this
having been the first iron ship to be built at Chat-
ham, which necessitated the building of large addi•
tional workshops and factories, together with the
erection of powerful engines and machinery, none
of which were required in the ordinary shipbuilding
operations at that establishment. All the prelimi-
nary operations have at length been got over. The
work will now be carried on uninterruptedly until
the

vessel is qompleted, which it is anticipated will
be in less than two years. As many as 1,000 hands
are to be employed •on her, and as fast as good
mechanics offer themselves at the doekyard they are
engaged.
The screw gunboats Rose, Traveller, Escort,
Raven, Amelia, Blazer, and Grinder, comprising
the first division of the reserve at Portsmouth, have
commenced landing their smooth bore guns along-
side the gunwharf, each receiving in return, as her
permanent armament, one 100-pounder and one 40-
pounder Armstrongs. The horse-power (nominal)
of their engines is 60 each vessel.
The Vigilant, 6, screw despatch vessel, is ordered

to be advanced from the second to the first class re-
serve at Portsmouth, to fill up the vacancy caused
by the commission of the Pelican, 17, screw.
The War Department transport Petrel landed at

the Ordnance-wharf, Chatham, yesterday, 250 cases
of the 100-pounder Armstrong shells, together with
other stores, from Woolwich. The Petrel after-
wards commenced shipping a 100-pounder Arm-
strong gun and 20 8-inch 60cwt. cast iron guns for

the Orpheus, 21.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at tne Admiralty :—Lieut. R. Sterne, to the Royal
Adelaide; Sub-Lieuts. B. Moore and A. J. Erring-
ton, to the Malacca; J. L. Heare and M. R. M.
Griffiths, midshipmen, to the Malacca ; G. 0. Moore,
H. Bridger, and G. C E. Lockhart, midshipmen, to
the Pelican ; A. R. Kerr, midshipman, to the Doris;
F. H. Haygarth, naval cadet, to the Orestes ; T.
Bowen, master, to the Cumberland, for the Phaeton;
J. Richards, second master, promoted to master ;
T.
e Fkin.s
Martin,masstesrsis-assist., to the Pelican ; E. J.
Jackson, to the Malacca ; E. Lewis,
g
the Cumberland, for the Rosario; S.
engineer,
eon r„
master's-assist.,
atostee-a
Matthews, engineer, to the Pelican, in lieu of chief

engineer; J. Fielden, first-class assist-engineer, to
the Pelican ; W. Ash, first-class assist.-engineer, to
the Asia, for the Blazer; S. Judd, second-class
assist.-engineer, to the Geyser, vice Fielden ; G.
Yth;e Pe!ican ; IV. B. Rock,
eFero,sttoert,heselcmonpd: e
Duncan, second class assist.-le%nr.g
J.
rcileausssea,ssaisst. s-aunpgeir: areuemr,etro
IV. J. Robinson, J. Flintoff, and W. H. Keats,
acting second-class assist.-engineers, to the Impe-
and J. Adamson, act-
to the Pelican.
irniogussee,conasd-csluapsesrassist.-engineer,