The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-28 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

consequence of some false and ridiculous
statements having been circulated respecting the
48th Middlesex Rifles, it appears that an idea has
got abroad that this corps is about to be broken
up, and, as this is not the case, I shall esteem it a
favour if you will allow me (on the authority of the
adjutant) to inform the public through the medium
of The Sun that this corps is in a sound and effi-
cient condition. The "muster roll" at this moment
is 540, allowing for a few who have resigned, and
who are in the employ of one of the dismissed
officers.

With respect to " Officers," I have sent, and am
now sending in, to the Lord-Lieutenant applications
for commissions from gentlemen who have served in
the army, and others who hold, or have held, com-
missions in the militia and volunteers ; and in a
very short time I expect the Lord-Lieutenant will
appoint " two majors," and that I shall have seven
captains, only leaving one vacancy for that post,
and a few vacancies for lieutenants and ensign's,
and that with the assistance of the officers now in
the corps, and the Lather gentlemen when ap-
pointed, I also fully expect that the number of
members in the corps:will increase under the com-
mand of—Sir, your obedient servant,
GEORGIE CRUIKSHANKS, Lieut.-Col.,

48th Middlesex " Havelock" Rifle Volunteers.
263, Hampstead-road, Jan. 24, 1868.
P.S. There is attached to this corps a company
of cadets amounting to about GO.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

An Admiralty circular order has been received at
Chatham, announcing some important alterations
in the system at present in force for carrying, con-
sequent, it is understood, on the recommendations
recently made by the naval committee appointed by
the Board of Admiralty. The order directs that,
when transports are engaged within the usual limits
of a naval command, they are to be under the sole
charge of such an officer as the Lords of the Admi-
ralty may think fit to appoint. The officer so ap-
pointed will have the title of " Principal Transport
Officer Afloat," or, if engaged on shore, he is to be
designated " Resident Transport Officer." The
officer so appointed is to be provided with a steam
vessel for the more efficiently carrying out his duties.
The order further states that, although the appoint-
ment thus created is to be considered as giving the
command of a separate squadron, the officer will be
under the orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the
station. The duties connected with this important
office will be the entire superintendence of every-
thing connected with the transport service, includ-
ing the loading and unloading of vessels, the em-
barkation and disembarkation of troops, sick, and
wounded ; the conveyance of provisions, water,
forage, &c. ; and all duties in connection with carry-
ing out the sanitary regulations for the crews of the
transport vessels.
Mr. W. B. Robinson, valuer and inspector of
dockyard work, and Mr. W. E. Seccombe, assistant
inspector from the department of the Controller of
the Navy, are engaged at Chatham Dockyard in
the examination and valuing of the accounts relating
to the stores of timber at that establishment.
The new class of twin-screw composite unar-
moured steamers of the Beacon class, a complete
squadron of which is either completed or building,
are to be officially designated as gun vessels of the
second class.

Advices received by our Southampton correspon-
dent from the West India station report that her
Majesty's steamer Urgent, 6 guns, Capt. Hender-
son, left Port Royal, Jamaica, on the 3d inst. for
Colon, with seamen and marines from England for
the Pacific squadron. The Urgent was to return
to Port Royal from Colon with invalids from the
Pacific squadron, on her way to England. The
Niger, 13 guns, Captain Bruce, from Vera Cruz and
Havannah, arrived at Port Royal on the 30th ult.,
and was placed in quarantine in consequence of the
reported prevalence of cholera at Elavannah. The
Fawn, 17 guns, Capt. Hall, from Tortola, arrived
at Port Royal on the 30th ult., and, this being the
first visit of her commander to that port, she saluted
the broad pendant of Commodore Sir Leopold
M'Clintock, which was returned by the guardship
Aboukir. The Cordelia, 11 guns, Commodore
Parry, left Port Royal for Vera Cruz on the 7th
inst. The ships at Port Royal when the mail left
were the Aboukir, 80 guns, Com. Snlititiheetto, mn'yitxh,
flag of Sir F. L. M'Clintock ; the Fawn, the Phoebe,
the Niger, the Barracouta, the Nettle, and
The Doris was at Barbadoes.

THE QUEEN'S BooK.—We are informed that her
Majesty has sent to Dr. Jenner a box filled with copies of
her "Journal in the Highlands,". to be distributed by him
among the several hospitals, so that the library of each
of
these institutions may possess a memorial which none of
them can fail to prize.
TILE EIGHT HON. J. R. MOWBRAY AT DURHAM.
—DURHAM, Jan. 27.—The Right Hon. J. R. Mowbray,
Judge Advocate General, addressed a crowded assemblage
of his constituents in the Town Hall this evening. He was
most cordially received, and a unanimous vote of confi-
donce iu him was passed.
IMPORTATION OF CATTLE FROM BELGIUM. —An
Order of Council has been issued to the effect that from and
aftor the let February next, all sheep, lambs, and goats
brought to Great Britain from Antwerp, or any other port
in Belgium, arc to be placed under the same restrictions as
to landing, movement, and slaughter as are applicable to
foreign cattle, under any orders of the Council, whether
general or relating to particular porte and places.