The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-04 00:00:00

A general order, signed by Lieut.-Gen. Lord W.
Paulet, K.C.8., Adjut.-Gen., has been issued from
the Horse Guards, by command of his Royal High-
ness the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief,
directing that the commanding officer of each
corps is to form a mess for the sergeants, as one
of the means of supporting their consequence
and respectability ; and should any local circum-
stances render it impracticable, the reasons which
may have prevented its a loption are to be
explained at the half-yearly inspection. All
army schoolmasters (if unmarried), and military
bandmasters, staff, and other sergeants, whether
married or single, must be members of the mess
and the single members must always be dining mem-
bers. The management of the mess is to be con-
ducted by a committee, the president of which
should not be below the rank of colour-sergeant,
with two sergeants as members. The daily rate
of messing should not exceed is., and a serpant is
to be selected by the mess committee to act as a
caterer, subject to the approval of the commanding
officer, and he is to be exempt from all other duties.
Honorary members may be admitted, with the
sanction of the commanding offi:.er.
The troops at Chatham garrison have commenced
route marching for the winter, aui are employed
daily on that exercise as often as tha weather will
permit. Yesterday the troops comprising the 2d
depot battalion were taken out route marching in
the direction of Maidstone, under the command of
Major W. H. Kerr.
Col. C. R. Romer, commanding artillery in the
Westera Division, accompanied by his staff officer,
Capt. Cottingham, R.A., has concluded his annual
inspection of the various forts and batteries at
Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven, and the result
of the inspection was iu every respect satisfac-
tory. No 5 Battery 13th Brigade Royal Artillery,
stationed at Pembroke, under the command of
Major T. Picton Tubervill, was also inspected by
Colonel Romer, who expressed himself well pleased
with the appearance of the fine body of men form-
ing the battery.

An order has been received at Woolwich sus-
pending the proposed reorganization of the Ord-
nance Select Committee and other contemplated
alterations in connection with military reform un-
til the feeling of the new Parliament can be elicited
on the subject. It has been decided to convert
the clothing establishment at Woolwich into a
military store in connection with the Tower,
under the superintendence of the Principal Super-
intendent of Stores, Royal Arsenal. The work will
be performed by men belonging to the Military
Store Working Corps; so that for the 550 females
superseded and thrown out of employment by re-
moval of the clothing establishment,there will be no
compensative benefit accruing to the civil popula-
tion of the district. There will be no further dis-
charges or transfers of workmen from Deptford
Dockyard to other yards until after the launch, on
the 14th of March, of the Druid, which is the last
vessel on the stocks. The yard will be finally closed
on the 31st of March. No official intimation has
been received with regard to the future disposal of
the yard, but it is believed that the building slips
will be retained by the Admiralty, so as to be avail-
able for vessels in time of war, and that the yard,
or a large portion of it, will be closed in the same
way as prior to 1845.

The Warwick, chartered troopship, sailed from
the Thames yesterday with the remaining detach-
ments of the 71st Highlanders on board, from the
Curragh, for conveyance to Gibraltar, to join the
headquarters and service companies. The follow-
ing officers proceed to Gibraltar with the 71st High-
landers:—Capt. W. O'Malley, Capt. H. B. Wilson,
Lieut. A. W. Spens, Lieut. C. H. Bunbury, Lieut.
R. C. Singleton, and Assist.-Surgeon J. J. O'Reilly,
71st Regiment; and Assist-Sur& W. J. Wilson,
M.D., 28th Regiment. The Warwick also received
on board at the Nore a number of convicts from the
convict establishment, St. Mary's, Chatham, for re-
moval to Gibraltar.

The despatch vessel Helicon, Commander E.
Field, left liamoaza on Wednesday morning for
Plymouth Sound, preparatory to joining the Chan-
nel Squadron when the weather moderates.

The Spartan, recently launched at Deptford
Dockyard, has been removed to the Woolwich
yard, to be fitted and equipped for service.
Her Majesty's steam storeship Dee left Deptford
Dockyard at half-past three yesterday afternoon,
with timber and victualling stores for Portsmouth.

Two naval courts-martial were held at Devon-
port on Wednesday, under the presidency of Capt.
Willes, C. 8., of the Indus. William Wright and
William Hill, seaman, belonging to the Lion, were
charged with having left that ship's hulk on the
night of the 12th of November in the Lion's gig,
without leave ; and the charge being proved, they
were each sentenced to six mouths' imprisonment at
Lewes. Denis Donovan, A. 8., was charged with
having violently assaulted George Cornick, master-
at-arms, on board the Valiant ; and having pleaded
guilty, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment
at 14011,015.