The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-02 00:00:00

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HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Jan. 1.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Christian,
drove in the grounds yesterday afternoon ; and
her Majesty drove out this morning, accompanied
by their Royal Highnesses Princess Louise, Prince
Arthur, and Prince Leopold.

The Equerry in Waiting was in attendance upon
horseback.

Princess Beatrice, Prince Christian, and Princess
Henriette of Schleswig-Ilolstoin walked in the
grounds.

NATIONAL CHORAL SOCIETY.

Last evening Haydn's magnificent oratorio, "The
Creation," was splendidly performed at Exeter Hall
by the National Choral Society, directed by G. IV.
Martin. The soloists were Miss Banks, Mr. Kerr
Gcdge, and Mr. Santley. Miss Banks was in ex-
cellent voice, and sang " 'With Verdure Clad" char-
mingly. Mr. Gedge's rendering of "In native
worth" was a skilful execution of the air. Mr.
Santley sang with his accustomed power and musi-
cal excellence, and he well merited the encore which
greeted his execution of the recitative and air, " And
God," "Now Heav'n in fullest glory shone." He
was equally effective in his rendering of the air,
" Rolling in foaming billows ;" and indeed the vo-
calisation throughout was unexceptionable. The
choruses were admirable, the greatest success being
" The Heavens are telling," and " Achieved is the
glorious work." The large room was well filled,
notwithstanding the existence of great counter at-
tractions.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE,

The guard of Royal Marine Light Infantry, in
command of Lieut. Edward B. Byrch, on duty yes-
terday in the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, were re-
inforced at 6 o'clock in the evening, and continued
their watch in pickets until 7 o'clock a.m., when
they were to be relieved by a detachment of the
Royal Artillery. Additional precautions were ob-
served on the river during the night by the ap-
pointment of a steam launch, which has been equip.
ped for special duty in the river fronting the dock-
yard and arsenal and the floating and land powder
magazines along the river bank. The launch con-
tains a resolute and well-trained crew armed with
Colt's revolvers, and carries in her bow a 12-
pounder Armstrong rifled gun, charged and shotted
for immediate service, if required. Opposite the
eastern gun store containing the coveted 9-
pounder guns is nightly stationed, alternately, on e
of the steam tenders—the Bustler, Master-Comman-
der Draper, and the Monkey, Master-Commander
Smithers, the crews of which are similarly ac-
coutrred to take an active part in the defence of the
garrison, in the event of the foolhardy threats of
the Fenians being put into execution. The whole
of the garrison police undergo a course of pistol
exercise with Colt's and other revolvers daily, under
the direction of Capt. Browne, R.A., Royal Labo-
ratory, Instructor, and Sergeant Greg, RA., one
of the most practised instructors in the service.
The course is so arranged that each inspector, ser-
geant, and constable of the force shall receive one
hour's instruction every day. A number of the
War Department store ships are at present engaged
in taking in cargoes of value, consisting of ammuni-
tion and cases of converted arms on the new prin-
ciple, for distribution for the western and other sta-
tions from Woolwich, for the preservation of which
and for their own protection in case of an attack at
sea it is said to be the intention of the War Depart-
ment to issue the necessary amount of revolvers and
rifles, so that each ship may possess its independent
means of defence. The Lord Vivian has sailed
from Woolwich, laden with 95 tons of ammunition
and other war stores for Ireland. The swearing in
of the officials, artificers, and, labourers constitut-
ing the entire establishment of Woolwich Arsenal
as special constables for the preservation of the
peace in the division of Blackheath commenced yes-
terday morning soon after 11 o'clock a.m., and oc-
cupied the greater portion of the day. The county
magistrates appointed for that purpose were as
follows :—Col. Sir Thos. Maryon Wilson, who took
the oaths of the men employed in the Royal gun-
factories in the Mechanics' Institute ; Capt. Robert.
son, R.N., and Mr. Brownlow Poulter, of Lee-park,
Blackheath, administered in a similar manner in the
pattern-room of the Royal Laboratory to the mem-
bers of that department ; Lieut.-Gen. B. H. V.
Arbuckle, of Little-heath, Charlton, officiated in
the spacious mounting ground of the carriage de-
partment ; and Mr. George Parker took the oaths
of the ships' crews and the men of the Military
Store Department. It was computed that the
aggregate number of specials thus added to the
Woolwich force amounts to little short of 9,000,
by which Woolwich town of itself can muster fully
13,000 new constables. The 26th Kent battalion
of Rifle Volunteers, belonging to the Royal Gun
Factories, marched up to the Mechanics' Institute,
headed by their band, and took the oaths from
Colonel Sir Thomas M. Wilson. They were com-
manded by the following officers :—Lieutenant-
Colonel Baker, Majors Davidson and Elliott, Cap-
tain and Adjutant William H. Kebel, and other
officers ; and the Volunteer Artillery, principally
composed of men of the Royal Laboratory and Car-
riage Departments, in command of Lieut.-Col. °rain ,
Major Thorpe, and others, took the oaths in succes•
sion from Capt. Robertson and Mr. Poulter. At the
conclusion permission was requested, by telegraph
to the Secretary of State for War, to accord leave
of absence until the following morning for the en-
tire detachment.

The hired steam transport Venetia, No. 18, with
military stores and passengers from Alexandria and
Malta, having discharged at the T pier, Woolwich,
yesterday, proceeded up the river to Deptford to
re-embark stores for the Abyssinian Expedition,
which will include a number of the M'klahon ex-
panding pack saddles, made by contract at Dept-
ford, and specially ordered by his Royal Highness
the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief. The
Venetia has been engaged in the transport of pack
mules in the following manner:—On her arrival
at Alexandria she was despatched to Alicante,
where she shipped 114 animals, and landed them
at Alexandria, in charge of Major Shervinton and
the officers of the Military Train there on this
duty. She was then ordered off to Beyrout,
Smyrna, and Gibraltar successively, returning
from each voyage and discharging at Alexandria
the various shipments of about 150 each. She then
took in war stores and passengers, and returned to
Plymouth and Woolwich, and is again taken up by
the War Department for the East.

The troop-ship Himalaya, with the Marines, left
Plymouth Sound for the westward yesterday at
noon.

Two sub-lieutenants were tried at Plymouth by
court-martial yesterday for drunkenness on board
their ship, the Prince Consort, on the 25th of
December. Capt. Vansittart, C. 8., of the Achilles,
presided. The charge against George Thomas Bolton
not being proved he was acquitted. Alfred Oliver
Tottenham pleaded " Guilty," and was adjudged to
be dismissed the service.

Col. Tidy, C. 8., commandant of the troops at
Colchester, has this week granted one-third extra
allowance of fuel to the troops at that station, in
consideration of the cold weather. Dr. Leslie, Bth
depot battalion, is under orders to proceed to Ber-
muda, in medical charge of the draughts proceeding
to that colony.

The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Staff-Commander William F.
Mains, additional, to the Fisguard ; Lieut. F. S.
Vanderkenbin, to the Royal Oak; William H.
Clarke, surg., to the Royal Oak ; Richard C. P.
Lawrence, Burg., to the Royal Alfred, additional,
in lieu of an assist.-surg. ; Richard V. MacCarthy,
William Fetherstonhaugh, and Dr. William A.
O'Connor, acting assist.-surgs„ additional, to the
Rodney.