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

PROMOTIONS.

(From the Morning Herald.)
On Saturday last the following promotions and appoint-
ments—some of which will be deemed most extraordinary,
if not unprecedented—were made by the Admiralty
Commander Hyde Parker (1847), son of Vico-Admiral
Parker, the senior naval Lord of the Admiralty, has been
promoted from the command of the Cruiser, 12, screw-
sloop, at Woolwich, which ship he commanded a fortnight
since, to the rank of Captain, and has been appointed, with
the officers and crow of the Cruiser, to the Firebrand, 6,
steam-frigate, just paid off, and under repair. Captain
Parker entered the service, we believe, in 1833, was made
a Lieutenant in 1844, served his time, and was made Com-
mander in 1817, commanded the Pantaloon, 8, at the Cape
for three years, and is now not only made a Captain, but
has got a ship immediately.
Commander Geoffrey T. B. Hornby (1850), has been pro-
moted to the rank of Captain. He is son of Rear-Admiral
Sir Phipps Hornby, K.C.8., the second senior Lord of the
Admiralty. He was a Lieutenant of 1814.
Lieutenant John M. Cooke (1841), first of the Queen,
116, at Devonport, has been promoted to the rank of Com-
mander.

Lieutenant William Burdon (1848), first of the Hastings,
72, flag-ship, in the East Indies, has also been promoted to
the rank of Commander.

Mates.—Robert Mansel (April 15,1850), late of the Fire-
brand ; and Francis Methuen Noel (October 1850), have
been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

APPOINTMENTS.

Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.8., has been
appointed to be Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, vice
Sir Thomas Briggs, deceased. Paymaster Ozzard, it is
said, will be the new secretary.
Captain William Willis Chambers (1840), has been
appointed to command the Desperate, screw-sloop, at
Devonport. . .

Captain Francis Scott (1848) has been appointed to com-
mand. the Odin, 12, steam-frigate, at Portsmouth.
Captain Chares G. E. Patey, just promoted, has been
appointed to command the Amphion, 33, screw-frigate,
Sheerness.

Commander the Hon. George H. Douglas (1851) has been
appointed to command the Cruiser, screw-sloop, vice
Parker, promoted.
Commander G. T. M. Purvis (1842), now secretary to the
Commander-in-Chief at Queenstown, has been appointed to
command the Argus, 6, steam-sloop, 300-horse power,
Devonport.
Commander John C. Bailey, lately promoted, has been
appointed to the command of the Medea, 4, steam-sloop,
Portsmouth.

Commander George Parker (1849), who has just paid off
the Spiteful, 6, steam-sloop, has been appointed to the com-
mand of the Barracouta, 6, steam-sloop, at Sheerness.
Lieutenant William Mould (1842) to the Odin.
Master Daniel M. D. Jago (1846) to the Odin.
Chaplain Thomas W. Bennett to the St. George, 120,
Dovonport.

Paymaster G. H. L. Wise (1849) to the Megmra, screw
troop-ship.
Assistant-Surgeon Edward 31`Sorley to the Cruiser.
Gunner S. J. Cameron, to the Imperiouse, 50, screw-
frigate, Woolwich.

Boatswain Edward Langley to the Imperieuse.
Carpenter Thomas Coughlin to the Imperieuse.
In consequence of the retirement of Mr. Charles Pearce,
secord-class clerk in Deptford Victualling-yard, Mr. Pem-
broke, senior of the third-class, has been promoted to the
second-class. Mr. Armstrong, extra clerk, placed on the
establishment, and Mr. Miller appointed as extra.

THE LONDON, 92.—The London; 92, Captain Mundy,
passed off Dover, down Channel, at 10.20 on Saturday
morning. She had a leading wind, and was under courses,
topsails, and topgallantsails, bowling away at the rate of
between nine and ten knots an hour. The Cyclops, steam-
sloop, was about half a mile astern, under steam and sail,
apparently doing her best to keep near the two-decker.
Between 200 and 300 sail of merchantmen were running
down Channel at the same time, but they seemed to have
no chance with the London. The wind must have subse-
quently headed her, for, in tow of the Cyclops, she arrived
in St. Helen's Roads at one o'clock yesterday morning, and
went up to Spithead at nine a.m. The London saluted the
flag of Rear-Admiral Fanshawe, which the Neptune re-
turned ; and the Cyclops went into harbour in the after-
noon for a supply of coals, to enable her to return to
Woolwich.

WOOLWICH, DEC. 18.

It is now decided that Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas John
Cochrane, K.C.8., is to have the command at Portsmouth,
vacant by the decease of Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs,
G.C.M.G., and will hoist his flag as Vice-Admiral of the
White on board the Victory, 101, flag-ship at that port.
Captain George Rodney Mundy (1837), formerly flag cap-
tain on board the Waterloo, 120, flag-ship at the Nore, and
at present in command of the London, 92, is to be flag cap-
tain to Vico-Admiral Sir Thomas John Cochrane.

PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 18.

The Vostock, Russian screw schooner, got up her steam
yesterday morning at 10 o'clock, and, having embarked his
Excellency Admiral Putiaitine, General Aide-de-Camp to
the Emperor of Russia; Captain Untowski, Aide-de.Camp
Imperial ; Col. Schwabe, Imperial Engineer ; Commander
Teorsokoff, Baron Sleipenberg, Mr. Humphreys, and Mr.
Dykes, the engineers (of the firm of Humphreys, Tennant,
and Dykes), left harbour to try her speed at the measured
mile in Stokes'-bay. She averaged 7i knots, the engines
making 112 revolutions with 101 b. steam, as many as pre-
viously to her alterations she had attained with 231 b. steam.
The trial altogether was deemed highly satisfactory, and
on her return she was formally delivered over to the Russian
Government. She is intended as a tender to the 50-gun
frigate Pallas.
A new scale of purser's instructions for victualling the
fleet has just been issued by the Admiralty. They are more
voluminous than the Great Exhibition catalogue, and so
complicated that of half-a-dozen paymasters of the most
extended experience to whom we have shown them (having
been favoured with a copy earlier than others) not one has
been able to comprehend them.

DEC. 19.

Leander, 50, Captain King, and the Arrogant, 46, screw
steam-frigate, Captain Fremantle, went out of harbour on
Saturday to Spithead. Both saluted the flag of Rear-
Admiral Arthur Fanshawe, C. 8., which the Neptune re-
turned.
Mercury, cutter, Lieut. Freland, went out of harbour
on Saturday, and ailed for the Channel Islands.
The Pacha's yacht, Kessia Kheer, sailed from St. Helen's
Roads on Saturday, for three or four days' cruise in the
Channel, for the purpose of testing her stability, before
taking her final departure.
The Fearless, Russian steam-vessel, went out of harbour
on Saturday, on her second trial, to test the working of her
engines, and to try her speed at the measured mile in
Stokes' Bay.
The Edward, convict-ship, sailed from Spithead on Sa-
turday, with prisoners for Bermuda, calling at Portland for
others. - - _ _ _ _

St. Vincent, convict-ship, Mr. John Young, master, ar-
rived at Spithead this morning from the Thames, to em-
bark prisoners for Gibraltar.
London, Captain Hubbard, and Margaret Evans, Capt,
Pratt, arrived at Spithead this morning from the Thames,
to embark passengers for New York.

steam-tender, Master-Commander G. Allen, is
ordered to return to this port from the Channel Islands.
A large number of outward-bound merchant vessels that
sailed from the Downs when the wind shifted on Saturday,have been compelled to take shelter at the quarantine
ground to-day, in consequence of the wind shifting again
to the SW.

PLYMOUTH, DEC. 17.
We have had a complete gale from the south-west, with
lightning all through last night, and rain all yesterday
afternoon and to-day, All the men of war have held on,
thanks to the breakwater. The Adelaide, mail steamer,
has held on in the Sound, very luckily ; had she put out it
is impossible she could have proceeded. It is said by old
men that they never knew such weather to continue for so
long a time. A few accidents among the merchant vessels
but nothing of consequence has been reported.
DEC. 19.

The Adelaide, which sailed for Australia at 4 p.m. on
Saturday, put back at 8.30 this morning, her hawse hole
pipes are defective and cause the ship to leak. The repairs
will detain her here at least until Tuesday morning.
Her Majesty's screw steam sloop Brisk, 14, having been
masted, was warped to the jetty on Friday, and will be
rigged by the seamen riggers of the yard previous to being
commissioned.
The Valorous steam frigate, which was commissioned on
Wednesday by Captain Buckle, is to have a complement of
22 officers and men.
A letter, dated her Majesty's ship Sans Pareil, Lisbon,
December 10, says :—" We arrived here on the 28th of
November, after a boisterous passage of 16 days from Ply-
mouth, I think I have never experienced worse weather
during the time I have been at sea. The wind favoured us
until we got clear off the Channel, but when in the Bay of
Biscay a severe trial of the ship's capabilities was made.
On the 20th the wind shifted to south-west, with fresh
breezes, gradually increasing until the 22d, when it blew a
perfect hurricane. The Sans Pareil does badly enough in
bad weather, and is certainly overmasted. I always thought
so, and at sea we fairly proved it, her angle of inclination at
times being 48 degrees, according to Edye's indicator. On
the evening of the 22d the wind shifted to north-west, light
breeze, and the rolling of the ship from the ,heavy
sea was excessive. This was followed the next day
by another gale from west-south-west. This was suc-
ceeded on the 24th by a calm, and we picked up a poor
little French brig named the Marie, of Fecamp, disraasted
—not a spar left, excepting a boat's mast, with a rag
of canvas flying as a signal of distress. We took her lost her.
until the 27th, when she parted the cable, and we n
The
The crew had previously been removed to our ship., I
rolling of the ship during the gales has caused 11
n
infu&oseavoocn
among the mess traps, chests, and nicknacks oofficer
board, including the doctor's medicine chests, that
himself being obliged to forsake his cabin in consequence
of a leak, and sling his hammock amongst the middies. The
leak originated in the bread-room, and has damaged above
10,0001 b. of bread. It did not arise from any defect of
caulking, but from the place provided for the run of the
chains abaft under the counter. The Prince Regent, Rod-
ney, and Termagant came in here a day or two after we
arrived, but the latter ship and ow s suffered most in the
gale, It is stated we are to remain here some months, but
having broken one of the cylinders, it may call us to
England before that period."
On Friday, at 10 a.m., at Penlee, a twodecker man-of-
war was observed inside the Eddystone, under doublereefed
topsails, fore and mizen topgallant-masts either lowered or
carried away. She was going up Channel with a gale of
wind from the south-west, and looked like a foreign ship—
probs:bly a Russian.

SHEERNESS, DEC. 17.
The Fearless paddle-wheel steam-vessel, of 76-horse
power, Captain Frederick Bullock, arrived here at four
a.m. this day, from Harwich.
The Wildfire paddle-wheel steam-vessel, of 75-horse
power, steam-tender to the Waterloo, Mr. George Bropk-
man, Second-Master, in command, returned from Wool-
wich last night, with Vice-Admiral the Hon. Josce e
Percy, Commander-in-Chief at the Nore, who left h re
yesterday with his secretary on official duties, as previo
reported. The Wildfire is to-day undergoing some t •

:-,•• i‘r
1

,fi=r
4d

repairs to machinery, and will be all ready for serve
morrow.
Tho Porcupine, 3, paddle-wheel steam-vessel, of
man
horse-power, Lieutenant-Commander George M. Jackson, .7"%41ru,
remains at the Little NO-•0, her sailing orders, not having
arrived. She will be inspected to-morrow, and the crew
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
3,11.4ter Themas Gill in conamand, returned from the Downs
this mornings - leaving the London,- 90, Captitin _George
Rodney Mundy, yesterday, riding at single anchor and full
scope of cable. On Tuesday night'the London brought up
about three miles north-oast of the North Sand Head. On
Wednesday morning, it blowing very heavityx 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. Great'diffi-
culty was experienced in towing the London froth 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.wea.
ther permits will proceed to Spithead.
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 a 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 on 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 were 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 afterguns only on
the lower deck have been put into the gunroom, in order
to enable the shipwrights and joiners to complete the
fittings of the gunroom. An alteration has been made in
the armament of the launches and the pinnaces, and they
will be fitted with 12-pound 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 mizonmast was
hoisted, put in, and stepped in the short space of six
minutes from the time it was taken from the masthouso.
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-
dington, 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 Corfn (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.

Biookes's Club, St. James',
Dec 18, 1852.

SIB, —ln 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 Government. 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.—ED. 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.-011 Saturday
afternoon, shortly after one o'clock, the British and North
American royal mail steam-ship Asia, Captain Lott, took
her departure from the Mersey, with the usual United
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 large quantity of quicksilver for the East
Indies. The 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 mails), 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 here early in January.
The Calcutta, which left Plymouth on the 18th, and arrived
at St. Vincent's on the 29th of October, had on board five
at their
annihilators, one of which exploded spontaneously
at 11 o'clock in the morning, shortly after her leaving
this port. Several persons were standing near, but
pploowsieorn,
no one was touching the maatinweereat tstahetiotnimede.
.miuutes hose were fix
diatepelryquthaertefirrse,
abuedlliuruntwge,
pro
on the ignited part.. H4asdo...thhoerseexed and
the consequences mig have been most
ht
watereeeurre was playing
ypluaiygihntg
fearful. The Royal Mail Steam Navigation
--'unapany's
2,000 tons,
Cscormewmasntedaemr ship Adelaide,
Jackson,delaide which left the /core 9 a.m. on
sundayithe 12th, arrived at Plymouth at 9 pan. Ott 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-class passengers
500 tons of merchandise, 1,000 tons of coal, and stores equa
to 400 tons. Mail bags sent on board on Wednesday :
Western Australia 6, Adelaide 31, Port Phillip 74, Van
Dimen's Land 22, Sydney 50, and New Zealand I—total
184. The crew have been mustered, and the ship inspected
by Captain Low, of her Majesty's ship Impregnable, who
minutely examined the berths, fittings, &c. The Adelaide
has large steam-power in
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 gots 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 Cockburn as At-
torney-General in the new Administration. The seat of
Sir Alexander Cockburn is not demanded for Mr. Bailie
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 tho
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.
A Durham citythis session settles the latter point,-.rObservcr.