The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-12 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

In consequence of the great draught of the iron-
plated frigate Defence, 22, it is found necessary to
remove a portion of the stonework in the third dock
at Chatham, in which she is to be placed, in order
that depth enough may be obtained to float her.
The Defence will remain lashed to the floating
shears in Chatham harbour until her masts are put
in. This, however, will be delayed for about a week,
as although her topmasts, yards, and other gear
have been some time ready at Chatham, these can-
not be fitted until the arrival of her lower masts,
which are of iron, from the Thames Ironworks.
Her Majesty's screw steamship Collingwood, 84,
got up steam yesterday for the second time, for the
purpose of testing her machinery, in the steam
basin at Sheerness, after being subjected to water-
pressure. Her engines were found to workin a
most satisfactory manner, no defect whatever being
observable. By those who witnessed the trial, the
machinery, which is of a novel description, is con-
sidered to be the most perfect and compact that has
been introduced into use.

Tho Niger, Capt. Cracroft, from the Australian
station, has dismaritled in Woolwich basin, and
will be paid off to-morrow morning. Capt. Cra-
croft, before leaving New Zealand, was presented
with a testimonial by the people of Auckland, in
acknowledgment of their estimation of the high
and valuable services which he and his ship's com-
pany had rendered to the colony. The Niger's
crew, since their return to Woolwich, and especially
yesterday, when they were allowed to receive their
friends on board, have conducted themselves EX-
tremely well, it heing remarked on all hands that
a better disciplined ship has never entered Wool-
wich basin.

Directions have been received at Chatham for 15
of the large 100-pounder Armstrong guns to be im-
mediately mounted on the centre and No. 1 bastions
at the entrance to the Medway, in lieu of the smooth
bored guns of lighter calibre with which those de-
fences are at present armed. The Armstrong guns
to be mounted on the centre bastion. will command
the Channel approaches to the Thames and Medway
as far as the light placed at the Great Nore, a dis-
tance of rather more than three miles. The 100-
pounders ordered to be mounted on No. 1 bastion
will flank the fire of those in the centre bastion, and
sweep the face of the fortifications to a considerable
distance. As soon as the Armstrong guns have all
been placed in position, they will add materially to
the already very imposing and heavily armed line of
defences existing at the entrance to the Medway,
which, taking into account its difficult navigation,
will be rendered almost impassable to hostile vessels.
In addition, however, to the present defences, the
projection known as Cheyney Rock has been se-
lected by the Government as the site of a powerful
casemated battery. This rock is situate at a distance
of little over 2,000 yards from the right of the pre-
sent works, and by position is admirably adapted for
the purposes to which it will be applied. As soon as
the works in progress are completed, the sea de-
fences on the eastern shore will consist of an almost
impregnable stronghold, mounting rather more
than 150 guns. All of these will eventually be
Armstrongs, crossing each other's fire at varying
angles of elevation and depression, the whole having
a complete command of the narrow channel, and
bearing on every point at which a fleet could an-
chor or take up a threatening position. In addi-

tion to the fortifications which defend the eastern
shore of the channel, the passage of the Medway
will be rendered still more secure by the casemated
batteries which are now in course of erection at
Garrison-point, the armament of which will consist
of guns of the heaviest calibre. Extensive fortifi-
catious are also in course of construction on the op-
posire shore of the Medway at the Isle of Grain,
which will add still further to the security of the
dockyard and other naval establishments at Chat-
ham.

The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Lieut. J. F. Prowse, to the
Malacca ; Lieut. N. B. Smith, to the Nile ; A. Gillies,
supernumerary in the Asia, promoted to engineer;
William A. Houghton, in the Dee, promoted to
first-class assist.-engineer ; George Quick, addi-

tional in the Asia, for the Bullfinch, confirmed as
second-class assistant-engineer. Edward Phillips
Statham has been nominated to a naval cadetship.

THE ARMY.

A general regimental order of the Royal Artil-
lery, signed by Col. C. Bingham, Deputy Adjutant-
General, was received at Chatham garrison yester-
day from the Horse Guards, announcing that vari-
ous removals of the head-quarters of brigades have
been ordered to be carried out on the 171 h inst.:—
The 4th brigade is to be removed from Woolwich
to Aldershott, the Bth brigade from Aldershott to
Dublin, and the 9th brigade from Dublin to Shorn-
cliffe. The following removals of batteries have
been ordered :—A and B batteries, Royal Horse
Artillery, from Aldershott to Woolwich ; No. 11
battery, depot brigade, from Aldersbott to Wool-
wich; Nos. 2,6, and 7 batteries, Bth brigade, from
Aldershott to Ireland ; No. 4 battery, Bth brigade,
from Ireland to Chatham ; No. 7 battery, 9th bri-
gade, from Ireland to Canterbury ; No. 8 battery,
9th brigade, from Ireland to Walmer (detaching two
guns to Canterbury); and No. 2 battery,loth brigade,
fromWoolwich to Shoeburyness (on the arrival of the
head-quarters at Woolwich). The exchange of bat-
teries between Lieut. Parlby, 6th brigade, and Lieut.
Porter, 3d brigade, has been cancelled for a substi-
tution between Lieut. Porter, 3d brigade, and Lieut.
Strahan, 6th brigade. Lieut.-Col. Graydon, 15th
brigade, has been ordered from Ireland to Pem-
broke Dock to do duty with the headquarters of his
brigade. Lieut. J. E. Cockburn, 14th, brigade, has
been appointed aide-de-camp to Brigadier-General
Showers, C. 8., commanding the Calcutta division of
the Bengal Presidency.

The following notifications, in the shape of a
general regimental order, were also received at
Chatham yesterday :
" Her Majesty has been pleased to approve of Col. A.
Tulloh, Royal Artillery,' having the local rank of Major-
General, while holding the appointment of Director-Gene-
ral of Ordnance. Also of Col. G. Maclean being placed as
a Colonel on the Staff of the army while commanding the
Royal Artillery at Malta.
" A code of instructions for the working and management
of portable cupolas having been printed for the guidance of
the Royal Artillery, officers commanding are informed that
a copy, accompanied by two drawings, will be supplied for
each cupola by the principal superintendent of stores at
Woolwich; and, these being confidential documents, it is
directed that they be kept locked up. Whenever cupolas are
demanded in future, copies of the instructions and drawings,
in the proportion stated above, are also to be included.
A 100-pounder Armstrong gun having been approved, it
has been sealed as a pattern to govern supplies. Cartridges,
to hold the following quantities of powder have been ap-
proved as patterns to govern supplies-121b. for 100-poun-
dor Armstrong guns, and 51b. for 40-pounder ditto. The
following bursting charges for the shells named below have
also been approved, and are to be contained in any bags of
sufficient size to hold the specified quantities of L. G. pow-
der, it being considered unnecessary to seal patterns at pre-
sent :-100 pounder segment shell, 31b ; 100-pounder com-
mon shell, 81b. ; 40-pounder ditto, 2}lb. ; 25-pounder
ditto, 11b. The 121 b. cartridge for the 100-pounder Arm-
strong gun has been provisionally approved for use
with 100-pounder solid shot. A case having recently
occurred of a 100-pounder common shell bursting in the
gun in consequence of only 41b. of powder having been used
as the bursting charge, officers commanding Royal Artillery
are directed that under no circumstances are shells from
rifled guns to be fired with less than the authorised bursting
charges. The following solid shot have been provisionally
sealed as patterns to govern supplies :-100-pounder 10144