HMS Renown 1861

[elva]

does anyone know why 7 of the 21 bandsmens serving in HM Navy on the HMS Renown in 1861 came from Palermo-Sicily? 

[Octavius]

Since the early 1800's, Italian and Maltese musicians largely made up the complements of Naval Bands.  Continuous-service bandsmen, following a basic musical tuition in one of the Boys' Training Ships supplemented these foreign musicians in manning the bands of the Fleet from about 1870.

[dothawkes]

And where was HMS Renown moared for the 1861 Census elva?

[Skids]

Its HM Naval Service, not HM Navy.  The Naval Service being made up of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines.

HMS Renown was moored in Beirut for the 1861 census, dothawkes.