The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-25 00:00:00

TERRIFIC THUNDER-STORM.

PORTS MOUTH, Friday.—A dreadful storm' of thunder,
lightning. hail, and rain burst over Portsmouth and its
neighbourhood last night, commencing about 10upic'mki;
and lasted for three hours. The torrents oflain q
choked nu the. drains and flooded the main road and
principal streets for a mile out of Portsmouth. Thou-
sands of pounds' worth of goods were ruined. We fear
the damatfe has been great amongst the cut corn.
CHATHAM, Friday.--A most violent thunder-storni
burst over this part of the county of Ktint about mid.
s
plight of Thursday. About ,lo'cloCk in the morning the
lightning became most vivid. The rain fell in torrents,
and continued to do so for nearly one hour. About a.,
quarter before 2 o'clock there was a rapid increase of the
water, which came rushing down like sheets of waterent
falling. The main street of Chatham, towards the lower
part, was about a foot and a half deep, and
the
front of the street
ile
to whiastkchnmeeasn;
had to wade through th e stream of water up
and many of the cellars of the houses i
were partly filled. The general military parade ground
at Chatham Barracks is completely. tarn
up, and
t loadslen . of
Suchthe
agrsatvoerlmahraes wnwashedot hed away from
the waggon
feunda.
been witnessed in this part
for many years. The ban,ei-t, has
not been much damaged,
and
a 4 the wheat has been cut
and the corn-fields have be carried in many places ;
e,esent there is no report or ill
prime condition. . At
incurred during the storm any serious damage having

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A letter from Ba ee 11th inst., gives the
following movements of the flset:—"ln Harbour—the
Leander, 50, !lig of llear-Adimral Fremantle ; the Dia=
rno`t,d, 23. Wasp,' 14, and the Triton, 3. Lieut.: Joliffe,
Aqyal Marine Artillery, 40irg duty with the Marin.
Brigade, has been sent to Therapia Hospital. Lieut
Pike, of the St. Je'm d'Acre, has been appointed to the
chitin-land of the Bsnshee, vice Rea holds. The mama.
Fatitiriiiiceilige between the commanders of - the- Wasp
anciPrornetheus steam-donna (mentioned in a former
letter) hai been . refused to be granted by Sir E. Lyons;l it is 0(711104 on the,ground of those vessels being so lois•
tant from each other ; and an exchange between the
'surgeons
rre oir.
cf!he,TrT3ut. o .xth
t7enandtpeoFe, doing duty with the
ryhhasheen refused foe
the
Naval• Brigade, died of elm/era, 10 hours al er seizure,
Capt. Hamilton, of the Tharnond. has returned from hij
cruise in the Dauntless to' he eciait of Circassia. It is
reported that-Ili-if-Tsai-0 will-iiRaTY leave for Corfu, to be
stationed there."
The Clyde, steam-transport, No. 145, left Sp:thea.l oa
Thursday afternoon for the Thames. The Blenheim,
Capt: John Atkinson, with troops' for Calcutta and a full
complement of passengers, left Spithead on Teursday
rnornieg. The War .Cloud, No. 56. sail
Railing
is
gtrraeufistptioDrgt:
m went into Port,outh harbour on Wednesdap evening.
Cnlktg, and
Fi•lieSiaiidanll c ,tnle
allo.p2ot9ing
,sailig transport,
with wa'er, in readiness ter
take in troops at Pertamouth.. The Perseverance steam.
transport is completing coaling in Portsmouth harbour.
The Rokert Small sailing transport, No. 123, arrived
at Portsmouth yester fay morning from the Hist to be
paid off. She brought no news or invalids, but a few
mule fittings and a few Gjvern'nent stores.
The William M. Rogers, American freight-ship, Com-
mander Thompson, arrived at Soil:lead yesterday alter-
frien Halifax, which she lett on the Bth of Angus?,
with a detachment of invalids, &c., from her Majesty's
7613 112.eirrient, 357 recruits; for the British Foreign Le-
gion, 33 Royal Artillery vole steers for the Crimea, and
4 Royal Sappers; and Miners.
Tin. Sir William Pn'tericy, of Aberdeen, freightship,
receiving a cargo of shot firm Woolwich Arsenal, for
Southampton, and is expected to sail this day.
The steam-Aloop Vixen, 6, which arrived at Plymouth
from South America ore Thursday, has been in commie.
4i ru three Tat's and eight months, during which time
she was principally employed in the River Plate. Oa
her first arrival she lost four seamen by fever, but no
deal hs have occurred from sickness for three years. On
the 26th of August, 1854, 10 of her crew were drowned
iirc.msequence of the caresid:ng, of her paddle-box boat
when in'tow of a steamer in the river. Three of her
offi,-terg have been promoted, viz.--Lientenant Alfred
Lucraft, to command the brigantine Spy, 3, vice Cr.tia-
__

mancier chLkalay.,_.inv_alided-- home ; Mr. Abercrombie-,
mate, to the flagship Indefatigable ; and Mr. Lennon, to
the screw steam gun-vessel, Rifleman. ,
In addition t 9 the vessels tinted yesterday, the Vixen
spoke August 4, in lat. 9,55 N , long. 23.30 W., an
English .-hip, 2d disingui-hing pennant 3,524. Aug. 11,
in lat. 22.40 N., long. 22 10 W.; an English brig, 2d
distinguishirg pennar,t 2.014., steering S.W. Aug. 15,
in lat. 32.13 motif., long. 18 W., an English ship, 2d dis-
tinguishing pennant, 5.629, and an English barque, 2d
distinguishing pennant 1,420, steering S.W. Aug. 16,
in lat. 43.15 N., long. 33.19 W., an English ship, 24
distinguishing pennant 4,315, steering S.W. Aug. -18,
in ht. 38.54. N., long. 14.8 \V., an English ship,
tingnist.ing pennant 8,254, steering 3.W. Aug. 21, in
lat. 45.6 N., long. 9.9 W. the ships Burmah and Kate,
steering S.W. in lat. 45.40 N , 1 mg. 8.40 W. ; the
schooner Grasshopper, steering S.W. in lat. 47.46 N.,
long. 7.23 W., French brig Alma from Havre-de-Geace,'
steering S. W; The Vixen during the after part of her
voyage experienced continued north-east winds, which
will probably retard homeward bound ships.
The invalid officers and crew of the Spy, who returned
from Rio Janeiro in the Vixen, speak in eery grateful
terms of the attention and kindness exhibited towards
them by the Spanish unedicatofficers in the Fever Hos-
pital at Jura Juba, where they left 12 of their fAlow.
Buff rers. •

Thy
.bark Frowning Beauty, of London, Captain
Smith,.arrived at Plymouth from Liverpool. yeateiday,,
bound to the Falkland Isles, to embark the ne•Vly-ap-
pointed Governor, Captain Moore, R N., family, and
mutt,.

The vaious shipbuilders of Northfleet, Blackwall.
Liniehou,e..and Cowes are engaged in the construction
of 48 cun-boatl and 18 despatch gun-vessels, which are
to be built for immediate screice by Messrs. Pitcher,
Mare, Green, WigrAm, Young., Fletcher, and White.
24 of the number arc to be fitted in the dockyard at
Woolwich.
Orders have been received at the quarters of the Royal
Sappers at Woolwich t, is-ue inetruciion. forthwith for
:he tiugmentatio❑ of that eorpF. Volunteers are per-
witted to join from any the regiments, and it
is anticipated that the call to enter the ranks of this, fine
servietilble body of men will be most readily responded
to. A detachment will he sent, to Alderahott. under
LLe instillation of Lieutenant Genera.' S r Frederick
Smith.
Lieutenant• Colonel Payne, of the Royal Marines, new
stationed at Woolwich, hag received orders to hold hint•
self in r6adines for immediate departure for the seat of
war.

Upwards of-100 fine young men arrived: at Belli-.
land on the 20th inst.. froM the north of Germany, and
\
yesterday another batch (136) landed on the island and.
reported themselves to the commanding officer. Colon&
von Steinbach is quite adored' by the troops, who wpeak
of him with the warmest enthusiasm. On the whole,
the number of recruits sent to England amounts to
1,750, so that. the second thousand will now be corn
i itte• The-
, first division of the German Legion, ferm-
,ing the Rifle Battalion, numbering upwards of 1,000,
'are under.orders of readiness for the Crimea, and, no.
I
corilitig to the present arrangements, will leave Shorn-
Icliffe about the 28th in-t. for embarkation. The first
division of the Swiss Legion is also expected to leave
Dover for the seat of war in the ensuing week.
4 The coast of South Wales has been surveyed by the
;Board of Ordnance for the purpose of selecting sites on
'which to erect batteries of heavy guns and other perina-
nent defences, for the better protection of this portion
of the eJast. The attention of the authorities has long
!been drawn to this matter, the shore being perfectly de- ,
enceless ; fur from Milford Haven up the entire
length of the
.British Channel there is not a'. Biagio
ttery of guns. The harbour of Swanseii.is tO. be
rovided with heavy metal, and the important road-
teucla under Penarth are also to be on duty guarded
by a bee oily-armed fort or 'lottery on the heighte. Se-
eral other defences are also spoken of, and it is el-
ected that they will be used fur practice by the several
egituents of artillery mails which have been raised,.
articularly the Glatnergatiehire New Artillery Militia.
Thirty-seven carriages arrived on Thursday, from Brie-
ii, at the Plymouth station of the South Devon Rail.
ay, containing a portion of Captain Calder's company
if Artillery—viz., four officers, Dr. Holahan, Lieu-
enatite Wilson and Niel, and Veterinary-Surgeon Har-
ison, 139 men, 84 horses, and all the equipage, einept-
ng the guns, which are waiting at Constantinople. Cap-
ain Calder, was under orders to embark for the Crimea
esterdav, on board the steam-ship Indiab)lying along-
ide the Devonport dockyitrd.
The following aPptiintments were made yesterday at
he Admiralty :—Mr. James Browne, surgeon, to the
ilustrious ; Mr. Charles W. White, surgeon, to the St.
incen: ; Mr. John A. Corbett, •surgeon, to the St;
tan d'Acre ; Mr. H. Trevor, stirger,n, to the Miranda.
Oil ‘NI-cluepiday his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam•
ridge presented odours to the British Swiss Legion at
over, on which occasion the officers ei.tertaiued a en-
erotis party at a dejeuner, and at a ball in the evening.
n acknowledging the "reetption of the colours Major
afelin said—" The ao;diere of the lst.Regiceent of
be British Swiss Legion are overcome with pride and
elicity at receiving from your Royal Highness's hands
hese beautiful colours, the honoured gift of her Majesty
Pie Queen. No one present who is familiar with the
ast history of the Swiss nation, and its high military
past history of the Swiss ration, arid its high military
haracter, will for a moment doubt the entbuziasin with
hich they receive these symbols, which we shall always
eel it'our greatest happiness to be considered worthy of
oaring awl displaying in the fief i of victory, for victory,
feel assured, will ever attend her Majesty's arms. I
tand here in the name of the Swiss soldiers present to
ay that their fidelity to the British Crown shall never
e open to question, and that their attachment to. the
o
overnment of her Majesty is as strong-and as (mt
_.
eiaetic as that which trave men ever inr,ertaie for their.,
ir
overeign and their home. The siget of theiT.eßY..vb_i_!:
laspit es the Swiss soldiers, indiviiivally arid.eiVill
that he
with the greatest ardour, aid eve!), man iew'Welt they
Will defend them and the glorious cause i
We bcefmvey these send-
Lrheicsoh. circulates
Highness will do us the honobrottioto yourof Royalblood
her most gracious
latit3esbeinuhnifsurbleeadawith the lastthadtnrop
and I
Withthis setae o f her
aeasnettyeo'rst
ments of the British Swiss Legeir Majesty
our gratefu
Majesty, . and to express towil: ivi
which she has this day con
thanks for the high honoor
o, the confidence which has thu
erred upon
.u,
teen reposeu in ue. fidelity, we now hand over these
rust in our honour and
g „„t, the heart of .every .
our withrie
y'au 1 that
soldiers.prid e whichTbat is
Godt he,
may
bless
Majesty's cause 15 the ardent-
prayer .
pur sem
Swiss soldier present
upon this ever-me bl
bf every
~,
more e
and happy occasion
ll 1 t:
: hi
: :ccu I'o7l ibertea;:vsse hits: gehhde r

Late
advices . from Victoria state that the English
:;$ they get there is 90 days old. This is
peculiarly •
„,-,yine, on account of the interest the. colonists take
in the War with Russ;a. The colonists are about to Send
their mails themselves
to Point de Galls.
; SALE OF THE WESTMINSTER-BRIDGE EsTai'Es•
—Yes-
and Trist, the auctioneers, offered to, public
terdav, at the Auction Mart, Messrs. Norton, HoglaPtv•
auction the
third portion of tuese estates, consisting of
ground rents
with revert:loos to the freehold property on theexpiratton
of the present leases. These freehold estates are situated
at Charing-cross, Spring-gardens Parliament-street,
Ab4lgdon-,treet, Cannon-row, King-street, Cbarlee-
street, Lridge-street, and Westminster-bridge-road. The_
.... __ ..

Property wa-s originally purchased out of the residue of •
the moneys raised for building the present Westminster.
hridge after the cost of its construction ixaci defrayed, .
and are now sold by direction of the Board of Public
Works and Buildings under the authority bf the aot
passed in 1853 fcr building the new bridge ip order to
defray the cost of its construction. - The rent of the
property under the original leases now aanounts to about
7,5001. The portion offered to public auction yesterday
was Nos, 91 to 94, Bridge-road, on the Surrey side of
Westminster-bridge, let on lease for an unexpired term of
31 years, at a groundrent of 701. knocledlown at 2,3001.;
Nos. 95 to 98, in the same road, for an -unexpired term
of 286 years, at a ground rent of 150/., mold for 3,9801.;
Nos. 99 to 102, in the same road, let don lease for an •
unexpired term of 81 years, at a ground. rent of 241. Per
Annum, sold for 3,150/. ; a ground rent. of 201.yer ,
num, with reversion
in 1891, an, the p.reiniataVr;l_ o •
Bridge-road, occupied by the Royal Bititish Bank,Bold
or 6001. Total produce of the_sale, 110,4391.

NEWS

itt iirrA7).!-
/4tval and- Military Intelligence.'