Glasgow Courier. — 1864-10-20 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

NAVAL AND MILITARY.  The Royal Sovereign was paid out of commission on Friday. An iron-clad frigate, built for the Spanish Government by the Messrs Green, of Poplar, was launched on Monday. Col. Smyth O'Connor, C. 8., has been selected to perform the duty of inspecting the military stations on the west coast of Africa. _ _  _ The new frigate the Royal Alfred was launched on Saturday morning at Portsmouth, in the presence of a large number of spectators. We understand that Sir John Hay, formerly chairman of the iron Plate Committee, has accepted the chairmanship of the Millwall Iron Works Company. By despatches received at the Admimlty,her Majesty's ship Bulldog appears to have been at Jamaica on the 22d September. The report of her being- wrecked is therefore untrue.  The Army and Navy Gazette says the statements as to proposed large reductions in the army, both in India and in the Imperial establishments, are at least premature—no decision has yet been come to. Henceforth lucifer and congreve matches, or any similar means of obtaining fire, also smoking, are absolutely interdicted on board all Government vessels taking in or delivering gunpowder to any of the national magazines.  the Gazette contains a long listiof military appointments, among which are the following :—LientenantGeneral Sir C. R. O'Donnell to be Colonel of *he 18th Hussars; and Major-General MacDowall to be Colonel of the 3d foot.  We understand that General de Todleben, whose work is now the subject of so much attention among military men, is about to pay England a visit, and th during the principal part of his stay he will be the guest of Captain Blakely. Major-General Meade' commanding the second division of the army of the Potomac, has issued an order forbidding three regiments of his command to carry colours, in consequence of their having lost their colours through misconduct in battle. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Sir Edward Fitzgerald Campbell, Bart., of the . Ist battalion 60th Rifles, has been appointed Assistant Inspector of Volunteers for the Birmingham district, in the room of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Dick, who resigns from illhealth. A letter from Milan of the 18th inst states that the construction of a monument on the field of battle of Magenta, in honour of the French generals, officers, and soldiers killed on the memorable day of the 4th June, 1859, is being completed with all possible despatch. We understand that the following five firms have been each recommended to build a transport, under Admiralty supervision, for the Council of India, viz.:—Messrs Napier, the Thames Shipbuilding Company, Mr Lungley, Messrs Laird Brothers, and Messrs Palmer.—Army and Navy Gazette.  Captain John Salter, formerly a naval commander, committed suicide at his residence, at Clifton, on Monday week. The recent death of the wife of the deceased appeared to have greatly affected his mind. The unfortunate gentleman was seventy-five 'years of age, and had been blind for thirty-three years. The iron-plated frigate Lord Clyde, the first of the new iron-eased vessels of war of the largest size and dimensions designed by and constructed under the immediate superintendence of Mr E. J. Reed. the present chief constructor of the navy, was launched from the Pembroke Dockyard on Thursday afternoon. Sergeant Major Allan, drill instructor to the Gloucester Dock Rifle Company, committed suicide on Tuesday. A slight quarrel with one of his comrades appears to have been the motive for this unfortunate act. He was found dead in the guard-room by one of the sergeants, having shot himself through the brain with aloaded rifle.  Mr Burn and Mr Boddington midshipmen of H.M.S. Gibraltar, were tried by court-martial at Malta, on the sth inst., on the ceiarges of desertion, and feloniously taking away a sailing boat and .a skiff. Boddington was adjudged dismissal from the service with disgrace; and Burn, dismissal from the service, and a year's imprisonment in Winchester Jail. _ _  Let the Admirality lnok to it. We are credibly informed that if they were to commission the Victoria, the Octavia,the Constance,aml Arethusa, that although they might find officers and marines, and possibly by paying off numerous other ships, continuous-service men, they would not be able to lay their hands upon a sufficient number of stokers.--Anny and Navy Gazette. We re3ret to announce the death of Major Darroch, of Gourock, which occurred at his mansion house, about four o'clock on Thursday afternoon. The deceased was born in the first year of the present century, and was consequently in his 64th year. The cause of death is attributable, we believe, to derangement of the action of the heart. He leaves a widow and family to mourn his loss.  20,517 applications had been received and 17,769 volunteers enrolled in the royal naval reserve up to the 38th ult. Of that number, .47 possess certificates of competency as masters, 647 possess certificates of competency as mates, 19 possess certificates of service as masters, and 60 possess certificates of service as mates; total, 773. The force also includes 2635 petty officers in the merchant service.  On Saturdays,there tame off, on Scotstown Range, a return match between eight sergeants of the 92d (Gordon Highlanders) and eight members of the F Cbmpany Ist L.R.V. On the former occasion the gallant 92d were victorious, but on summing up on this occasion the Volunteers were found to be successful. The two previous matches being so closely contested, it is anticipated a third meeting will take place shortly to finally decide the trial of skill