The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-20 00:00:00

repairs to machinery, and will be all ready for service to-

The Porcupine, 3, paddle-wheel steam-vessel, of 140-
horse-power, Lieutenant-Commander George M. Jackson,
remains at the Little Nore, her sailing orders not having
arrived. She will be inspected to-morrow, and the crow
mustered, by Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, in command
of the Agamemnon, 91 guns ; after which she will leave
here for Jersey.
The steam-tug vessel African, of 90-horse power, Second
Master Thomas Gill. n command, returned from the Downs
this morning, leaving the Loudon, 90, Captain George
Rodney Mundy, yesterday, riding at single anchor and full
scope of cable. On Tuesday night the London brought up
about three miles north-east of the North Sand Head. On
Wednesday morning, it blowing very heavily, the London
laid all fast ; the wind increasing, she remained at anchor
until Thursday, 9 a.m., when she got her anchor, and was
taken in tow by the steam frigate Cyclops, and shortly after
was assisted by the African steam tug. The London
anchored in the Downs at 12 o'clock at noon. Groat diffi-
culty was experienced in towing the London from the
North Sand to the Downs, as there were from 350 to 400
sail vessels riding, and a great number under weigh. On
the Leaden bringing up in the Downs there were not less
than 700 sail of vessels there. The steam frigate Cyclops
remains in attendance on the London, and when the wes
ther permits will proceed to Spithoad.
On the 15th, when off the North Foreland, Mr. Thomas
Gill, second master of the African, saw a large sloop appa-
rently in a sinking state, having 4_ signal of distress flying
in her rigging (an ensign union down) ; steam was imme-
diately got up, and on proceeding to her she proved to be
the Dolphin, of Portsmouth, Edward Pearce, master, from
Jersey for London, laden with stone. The master of the
Dolphin reported to Mr. Gill that the mate had been
washed overboard twice and was got ou board again. As-
sistance was immediately given by Mr. Gill and his crew,
and the Dolphin was taken in tow with four feet water in
her hold. They succeeded that tide in towing her into Mar-
gate Roads, and on the following flood tide they towed her
to the entrance of Margate Harbour, when the African's
boats wore manned and the Dolphin was assisted into
Margate Harbour, and berthed in safety in the inside
harbour.
The Cuckoo, 2, paddle-wheel steam-vessel of 100-horse
power, and the Lizard, iron paddle-wheel steam-vessel of
150-horse power, are ordered to be immediately fitted with
their armament complete in every respect, and to be placed
under the direction of Captain the Hon. S. Carnegie, of
the steam-frigate Horatio, as steam-vessels of the steam
reserve squadron at this port.
The Ebenezer Ordnance gun-hoy arrived here this day
from Woolwich with the remainder of the guns, gun car-
riages, &c., to complete the number required for the main,
not lower, deck of the Agamemnon ; six after,guns. only on
thn 'e-1- 'he-se-been- PutAnto the gunroom, in order_
to enable the shipwrights an joiners -tercomprett fifer
fittings of the g-anroom. An alteration has been made in
the armament of the launches and the pinnaces, and they
will be fitted with 12-pos'nd howitzers, with portable cases
of shrapnell, shell, and hollow shot.
The Longboat cutter, Reuben Harvey second master in
command, arrived here this day from 'Woolwich with stores
for the Agamemnon.
The naval transport Diligence, from Woolwich, passed
up the Medway for Chatham yard in tow of the steam-tug
vessel Monkey, of 130-horse power, second master Robert
Sallenger (acting), this day.

DEC. 18.

The Myrtle paddle-wheel steam-vessel, of 50-horse power,
Master Commander William S. Bourchier' left here this
morning for Chatham, with Mr. Henry Morgan, treasury
clerk here, and returned again this afternoon with money
for yard and port service.
The African steam-tug vessel of 90-horse power, second
master Thomas Gill, left here this morning for Chatham
to convey a labourer named James Way to Melville Hos-
pital, in consequence of his having received severe injuries
by falling into the hold of the Fortitude, coal depot riding
in Salt-pan Reach. Way was brought on shore and con-
veyed to the surgery, where he was promptly attended to
by Mr. James Wilson (b), surgeon, and Mr. John Jeff-
cott, assistant-surgeon. Mr. Jeffcott accompanied the
unfortunate man to Melville Hospital, and the African re-
turned here again this evening.
The Porcupine, 3, paddle-wheel steam-vessel of 140-horse
power, Lieutenant-Commander George M. Jackson, has
this day been inspected, her officers and crew mustered
and put through their gun exercise, target practice, &c„
by Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, in command of the Aga-
memnon, 91 guns. Sir Thomas Maitland proceeded to
the Nore in the Hart cutter yacht, second master Green,
tender to Vice-Admiral the Hon. Josceline Percy, Com-
mander-in-Chief at the Nore, and, after mustering the
crew and inspecting the Porcupine, returned on shore,
shortly after which the Porcupine got up steam and left
for Jersey.
The Rattlesnake, 8, has this day been taken into the
north dock, and the seamen riggers are engaged in rigging
her. Her rigging having been fully prepared for her arrival
here, she will shortly be completed in that department. It
is worthy of notice that while she was being masted yester-
day under the shears, under the superintendence of Mr.
Jonathan Aylen, the master-attendant, the mizenmast was
hoisted, put in, and stepped in the short space of six
minutes from the time it was taken from the masthouse.
From 25 to 30 days will be required to fit the pipes through.
out for the conveyance of hot air in this vessel ; her spar
deck is being shut in flush, and the seams thereof to be paid
with Jefferies' marine glue.
The Amphion, 34, screw steam-frigate of 300-horse power,
chief engineer George Elcock, is ordered to be commissioned
and to have a complement of 300 men.
The Rattlesnake, 8, is ordered to be commissioned and
to have a complement of 160 men.

MALTA, DEC. 13.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Had-
ngton, with the bulk of the India mails, arrived to-day.
It is now announced that Admiral Dundas does not re-
turn to Malta. The announcement has caused general
regret.
The Sampson steam-frigate will leave this place to-night,
to convey dispatches to the Admiral, on the arrival of the
Caradoc with the outward Indian mail.
The Banshee leaves port for Marseilles at 4 p.m. to-day,
with that portion of the homeward India mail sent through
France.
The Spitfire screw-steamer, from Candia, arrived yester-
day early, and obtained pratique this morning, after a qua-
rantine of 24 hours' duration.
The Triton steam-packet, from Corfu (with mails) ; the
Genoese steam-frigate Calcutta, from London ; the Arabian
screw-steamer, from Liverpool; and the Egyptian steam-
frigate Muhbiri Sarur, from London and Gibraltar, seve-
rally arrived during the night of Saturday.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Br— 's Club, St. James',
Dec. 18, 1852.

SIR,—In The Sun paper of Friday I observe my name
inserted in the minority in the division "On Ways and
Means—the House Tax." I beg to say I voted with
the majority against the Goverhment. The correction
of the mistake will oblige your obedient servant,
FRANCIS PIGOTT,
M.P. for Reading.
[By inadvertence, the name of the member for Bridg-
north was unfortunately misplaced for that of the mem.
ber for Reading.—En. SuN.]

SERIOUS FALL OF CLIFF IN SNARGATE-STREET, DOVER,
—On Friday, about noon, the inhabitants of the central
portion of Snargate-street, and more particularly those in
the neighbourhood of Mr. Olding Butler's shoe establish-
ment, were seriously alarmed by the fall of about 40 or 50
tons of chalk, immediately at the back of those premises,
inflicting considerable damage on that property. Two
bed-rooms, the lower kitchen with all its culinary appa-
ratus and crockery ware, and some other buildings formerly
used as a bakehouse, &c., were totally crushed by the ca-
tastrophe.
DEPARTURE OF THE AMERICAN MAILS.—On Saturday
afternoon, shortly after one o'clock, the British and North
American royal mail steam-ship Asia, Captain Lot United
t, took
her departure from the Mersey, with the usual
States and Canadian mails (which were placed under charge
of Lieut. J. Grant Raymond, R.N., Admiralty agent).
In addition to a large general cargo on freight the Asia
took out 60 passengers.
THE CAPE, MAURITIUS, AND AUSTRALIAN MAILS.—
PLYMOUTH, Sunday.—The General Screw Steam-Shipping
Company's mail packet Bosphorus, Captain Benson, sailed
yesterday afternoon for Calcutta and Madras, taking mails
to the Cape of Good Hope and the Mauritius. She has
a most valuable cargo, including a considerable amount of
specie and a largo quantity of quicksilver for the East
Indies. Tho Bosphorus registers 600 tons, while the average
tonnage of the company's ships trading beyond the Cape, is
1,500 tons. Since returning from her last trip her engines
have been repaired and boilers altered so as to accelerate
her speed. Mr. Benson, her commander (who takes Ad-
miralty charge of the mailsl, has passed examination in steam;
he has had some experience in the East India trade, and
during his 18 months' engagement with the General Screw
Company has made four successful voyages to the Cape of
Good Hope. The next packet from Calcutta and the Cape,
the Harbinger, Captain Lane, is due hero early inJanu!itybut.
The Calcutta, which left Plymouth on the 18th, and arrived.
at St. Vincent's on the 29th of October, had on board five
patent annihilators, one of which exploded spontaneously
at 11 o'clock in the morning, shortly after her leaving
this port. Several persons were standing near,
no one was touching the machine at the time. Imme-
diately the fire bell rung, all were stationed at their
proper quarters, and in two minutes hose were fixed and
water was playing on the ignited part. Had the explosion.
occurred by night the consequences might have been most
fearful. The Royal Mail Steam Navigation Company',
screw steam-ship Adelaide, 2,000 tons, 450-horse power,
Commander G. W. Jackson, which left the Nore 9 a.m. on
Sundayithe 12th, arrived at Plymouth at 9 p.m. on Monday.
She encountered heavy weather, and strong south-west
winds, but acquitted herself to the satisfaction of her
officers and of her constructor Mr. Scott Russell, who, with
a party of scientific gentlemen, came in her from the Thames.
The Adelaide was appointed to sail on Tuesday, but was
detained by Admiralty order and bad weather until last
evening. She has 40 first and 101 second-des
500 tons of merchandise, 1,000 tons of coal, ands passengersate resequa
to 400 tons. Mail bags sent on board on Wednesday
Western Australia 6, Adelaide 31, Pertphillip 74 :
Van
Diemen's Land 22, Sydney 50, and
by Captain Low, of her Majesty's ship
184. The crew have been mustered,
minutely examined the berths, fittings,
New Zealand I—total
and the ship inspected
has large steam-power in duclm.prelhneabAled,elwaihdoe
proportion to her tonnage, and
will, it is stated, prove unprecedented in this trade in re-
gard to speed.
ELECTION LAW.--A paragraph has appeared, to the
effect that a. member who is petitioned against cannot
accept office so long as the petition is pending against his
valid election. This is true so far as the asking for the
Chiltern Hundreds—the usual mode of resigning a seat—is
concerned. In that case the member asks for the office,
which he gets as a matter of course, unless in the case of a
pending petition, when it has been latterly refused by Go-
vernment. The paragraph in the Post in reference to the
probable appointment of Sir Alexander
ioCockburn
seat as At-
torney-General in the new Adminisatn. The of
Sir Alexander Cockburn is not demanded for Mr. Baillie
Cochrane. The petition only prays that the election
may be declared null and void.
'But it would be
in law null and void by the acceptance of the attorney-
generalship—which is conferred by the Crown, and not
solicited by the member. The Crown will not give the
Chiltern Hundreds while any doubt exists as to the legality
of the return, if the legal return be claimed for another.
If the seat be not claimed the office may be granted, as in
Harwich last session. But the acceptance of office given
by the Crown is different to the solicitation for office like the
Chiltern Hundreds—the one is a public office, the other a
Parliamentary fiction. The 6th of Anne, c. 7, makes the
acceptance of office an avoidance of the return as if the
party were dead, and the member is perfectly free to stand
for any. other place, and is quit from all liability as to the
return impeached, but no new writ can issue for the place
the return for which is petitioned against, and the seat
claimed for another until that petition be disposed of.
Durham oitythis session settles tha latter poiasaktifervcr.