The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-16 00:00:00

THE ADMIRAL'S SERVICE PENSION.

The service pension of 1501. per annum, which lapsed
by the death of Admiral Hodgson, has been conferred on
Vice-Admiral of the Blue William Fitzallan Owen, who
consequently retires from the active list. This officer,
brother of the late Sir Edward Owen, we believe counts
more active service afloat than any other living flag-
officer. There is no officer more deserving an additional
pecuniary acknowledgment for services than the vener-
able acceptor of the distinction awarded to him. Most
briefly we may state that the gallant admiral was midship-
man of the Culloden in Howe's action, and in the Ruby at
the capture of the Dutch squadron in Saldanha Bay, in
1796 ; lieutenant commanding Seaflower at the destruc-
tion of Dutch shipping in Batavia roads, is 1806 ; and
commander of Barracouta at the capture of Java, and
in close engagement with the enemy's gun-boats and
artillery ; and served on shore at the capture of Batavia,
in 1811 ; captain of Cornelia, and with a squadron under
his orders took the island of Palembang, in 1812 ; has
conducted important surveys on the lakes of Canada
and coasts of Asia and Africa, from Cape Comorin along
the coasts of Surat and Malabar, the whole sea coast of
Persia and Arabia, east side of Africa, including the
Seychelles, &c., and the Atlantic shores of that conti-
nent to the Gambia.

We learn from Plymouth that the Nankin, 50, Capt.
tho Hon. Keith Stewart, from Portsmouth, arrived at
Plymouth at two o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The Sprightly, steam tender, Master-Commander
Allen, returned to Portsmouth yesterday from Plymouth
with supernumeraries. _

At the same port (Portsmouth) the Centaur, 6, paddle-
frigate, Captain Clifford, hauled out of the factory basin
into the fitting basin to be masted and rigged ; the Arro-
gant, 46, Captain Yelverton, got steam up yesterday to
pro her engines, and went alongside the coaling depot
to fill in ; the Edinburgh, 60, Captain Hewlett, will go
into fhe steam-basin to-morrow to commence her refit ;
the Oberon paddle steam-vessel has been commissioned
by Lieut. Freeland for despatch service—it is reported in
the Baltic ; the Rhadamanthus steam transport hauled
into the steam-basin yesterday to land boilers for the
Victoria and Al bort ; the Falcon, 17, Commander Pullen,
is rattling down lower awl topmast rigging, and will
haul out of the fitting basin to-morrow to lave her con:i-
lium adjusted, The Retribution, 28, had her mast

taken out yesterday, and will go into the steam basin
to-day or to-morrow to commeLee her refit.

THE TRANSPORT SERVICE.

Yesterday the screw steamer Hecla left Gravesend
with railway plant and a party of experienced divers for
Balaklavd.

Her Majest3's steam-sloop Phoenix, fitting at Wool-
wich, has been commissioned by Commander Montagu
Hay, late of the Champion. Her destination is the
White Sea.

The screw steamer Hollander has been taken up by
the Admiralty to convey stores to the Crimea.

PEMBROKE DOCKYARD.

The greatest activity provails at the dockyard at Pem-
broke, an.l all the works are being pu,hed forward with
vigour. Several large men-of-war will be launched this
summer, but the programme of the vessels required has
not yet been settled. The launch of the Royal yacht has
liberated a large number of men, who are now vigorously
engaged on the other vessels. The various defences down
the haven are, as soon as completed, to be garrisoned
with detachments of the. Royal Artillery. It is said that
the County Artillery Militia will ultimately be engaged
in this duty.