The Express.
London, England, 1848-01-24 00:00:00

NAVAL

Potersworrn, JAN. 23.—A squadron of armed steam-
valeta, to consist of 12 of various sines and power, is ordered
to be assembled at Portsmouth, and kept ready for service.
They are each to have two engineer., nix stokers, and ten
seamen, with the usual warrant officer., on board. An in.
Spector of steam machinery afloat is to be appointed to keep
the engines, &c., in order, and it is expected, says the Hants
Telegraph, that C.nn. Starmer, who brought the Hecla to
England from the Mediterranean, will be the naval officer
placed in charge of them, and wilt communicate with the
commander-in.chief and other °theist persons as to what
may be required to keep them in efficient order. It appears
these 12 steamers arc to be sent round from Woolwich and
Sheerness, and are in addition to the Centaur, Cyclops,
Gorgon, Retribution, and others now in the port.—The
Sappho and Orestes are to be got reedy for service. They
will be completed by the dock yard artificers in a few days, and
in the other experimental vessels to be commissioned in Feb.
Britannia, 120, was brought into the basin on Friday, to be
rigged immediately. It is underdood eke is intended for the
flu of the commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean.—The
Rev. W. H. Howley has been ordered by the Admiralty to
proceed to the respective dockyards to examine the qualifi-
cations of the apprentices, when the selection of those boys I
who, from their attainments, may be considered eligible for
the central school at Portsmouth, are to be made in the rev.
gentleman's presence.—A general survey has been held this
week at this and the other ports, on all " the sea service"
warrant officers of the ordinary, for the purpose of placing
those whose physical infirmities render them incapable of
going to sea on the " harbour-duty" list, or superannuated,
as the mu may be.—The complement of the irtfly, at., is
to be increased to 60, being an addition of five stokers.—
Fire Queen, st., west out of harbour yesterday to try her
engines.
DIVONDORT, JAN. 22.—Acheron, at., Capt. Stokes, and
Hydra, et., Corn. Skipwith, sailed this morning ; the former
for New Zealand, and latter with despatches for South Ame-
rica.
Wootwien, JAN. 22.—The Lew ell a new iron steam-
packet, intended for the Dublin and Holyhead line of
packets, was launched at high-water, this afternoon, from
the building- yard of Messrs. Miller and Ravenhill, at Black-
well. Her dimensions are as follows : length between per.
pendiculars, 190 feet; breadth, 26 feet 7 inches; depth.
15 feet; burden, 654 tons, old measurement. Her engines, of
350-horse power, will be fitted by tbe same firm. A singular
accident occurred during the progress of the launch. As the
Lewellyn was in the act of leaving the slip a brig named the
Rambler was being towed up the river. The steam-tug was
unable to get the brig out of the way, and the Lewellyn
came " stern on " to her with immense impetuosity. The
damage done to the steamer was very slight, but the brig
had her bulwarks carried away, and was so damaged as to
compel her to bring up to Blackwell at once.
ADMIRALTY, JAN. 22. ADPOINTMR.NTS. Clerk E.
Smith to Penelope.—Midshipman G. W. P. Edwards to
Ocean.—Naval Cadet A. W. Kortwright to Vindictive.—
Acting Gunner C. Hicks to Excellent.—Acting Boatswain
R. Davis to Blenheim.—Acting Carpenter 0. Hitcher to
Fisgard.