The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-06 00:00:00

the monstrous design, she will instantly interfere to stop
its further progress. No. To suppose the Court even
cogrii-ant of such a design is a groundless calumny. But
whilst we acquit the Court, what shall we say of the right
hon. the member for Marylebone ? for he is the resrn-
sible Minister. Is it, as we have conjectured, that his
sudden rise has confused his wits ? Is it that the habit
of thought engendered by a too zealous contemplation
of sewers and main-pipes has obliterated from his mind
the distinction between a cesspool and an ornamental
piece of water, a garden and a dung heap '? Or does he
expect, because a step in office and the blessings con-
ferred by a Sunday band will enable him to act as he
pleases—does the right hon. baronet suppose that his
shrewd fellow-citizens will submit to be played out of
St." James's-park, as the Russian garrison, after they
capitulated, were played out of Bomarsund ? Or, act-
ing on the mistaken supposition that a calumnious
rumour is correct, and that the Court is seriously deter-
mined to keep the drive in St. James's-park private. is
it possible that this incorruptible, but withal ambitious
Minister has determined to humour the Court by a com-
promise—a compromise, forsooth, by which not only
the drives round the Park will be kept private, but by
which the Park itself will be utterly destroyed ? Let
not Sir Benjamin suppose that courtierahip so indiscreet
as this will advanoe him one step towards that coronet
which has so long glittered before his restless imagina-
tion.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The Sanspareil, 70 guns, screw steam4ip, Captain
Woodford, J. Williams, arrived at the Great Nore yes-
terday at 9 a.m. frem the Baltic. She left Elsinore on
the 31st ult. She brings back the 16 sea-service mor-
tars shipped here, and remains in harbour waiting orders
as to her future movements.
The Basilisk, 6 guns, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, Com-
mander Robert Jenner, arrived at Sheerness yesterday
with the mortar-vessels Pickle, Rsi'breast, Growler, and
Mastiff, which she has towed from Elsinore. The fol-
lowing Royal Marine Artillery officers have taken pas-
sage home here in the Basilisk :—Capt. Lawrence, Lieu-
tenants Horsey, Ansell, Wriford, and Searle. The
Basilisk has captured and destroyed 30 Russian mer-
chant vessels laden with grain and salt. In addition to
the above, two vessels were destroyed by her after cap-
ture in the Gulf of Riga, laden with fire billet wood for
burning in the tot;' steamers at Riga, which vessels are
attached to the Russian gun-boats. The Basilisk, in
company with the Desperate, exchanged shots with the
Russian batteries at Riga, and with the Russian gun-
boats, all of which kept under the protection of the bat-
teries, and never once attempted to come nut. Their
range its certainly quite equal to our own. The Basilisk
tired a 681 b. shot from her 95 cwt. gun, at an elevation
of 16 degrees!. The range obtained was over 3,000 yards,
and the shot fell some distance within the Russian bat-
tery. The Russians bad six gun-boats ; each of them
were attended by a tug steam-vessel. The demonstra-
tion was made by the Basilisk and Desperate to ascer-
tein the true position of the enemy's batteries and range.
The Russians had laid down buoys at the extreme range
of their heaviest suns, and apparently withheld their fire,
in the expect Orion that the Basilisk and Desperate would
pass within these buoys. This, however, the comman-
der of each ssel judiciously declined doing, having pro-
cured the desired information.
Tin mortars on board the Pickle, Mastiff, and Grow-
ler burst during the bombardment of Sweaborg. The
tree former vessels were fitted on the old principle ; the
latter, the Growler, was fitted with the swinging sea-
service mortar designed by Captain Julius Robert=, of
the Royal Marine Artillery. No less than 355 rounds
were fired from the Growler's mortar—considerably
moils than were fired by any other mortar-vessel. Dur-
ing this firing, until the last round, there was no serious
derangement ; but at the 355th round the mortar was
split from end to end in a perpendicular lined with the
touchhole. The heavy cheek framing protected the
men working the mortar, not one of whom was hurt.
At. the time of the bursting they were firing at the rate
of from 7to 10 rounds per hour. The time was about
nine p.m., when the firing had slackenei for the night.
The mortar is to remain in its present position for the
inspection of a scientific committee of officers, who are to
report thereon to the Lords of the Admiralty.
The mortar-vessels hereafter named, arrived at Sheer-
ness as follows, unassisted by steam :—The Carron, at
3.30 a.m. ; the Rocket, at 4 a.m., and the Grappler, at
6.15 a.rn. yesterday, the Desperate clearing them past
the Scaw ; they have all experienced very heavy wea-
ther, across the North Sea, as also in the Baltic.
The Siren, 16-gun-sloop, fitting in the basin at Sheer-
ness, has taken in her provisions ; she is taking in her
armament, shot, &c , and will shortly be ready to leave
the basis.
The Urgent iron screw steam store-ship, Commander
Phillips, at Sheerness, is having the patent felt stripped
off her boilers, pipes, tubes, &c., and Sir Wm. Burnett's
solution is to be put on instead.
The transport No. 22, George Hawkins, arrived at
Sheerness yesterday afternoon from the River Thames,
to take on board stores, pabkages, parcels, and de-
spatches for the Baltic fleet.
The Wildfire steam-vessel, Master-Commander Brock-
man, left Sheerness yesterday afternoon, and proceeded
to the Nor, to accompany the Sanspareil into harbour.
The Castor, 36-sun frigate, remains at Blackstakes,
waiting orders. Her crew are to be paid advance pre-
vious to her departure from Sheerness for the Cape of
Good Hope.
Her Majesty's steam yacht Fairy, Captain the Hon.
Joseph Denman, embarked the Queen and Court at
Cowes yesterday morning about 11 o'clock, and conveyed
them to Gosport, en mule to London. The usual digni-
taries of the port and garrison were in attendance at the
Royal Carence-yard. The fleet and garrison at Ports-
mouth salute-1, and the Royal train left the port at 10
minutes past 12. After disembarking the Court the
Fairy was taken into dock to have her bottom cleaned.
A. rumour is very current that a new Fairy is about to
he built ; but, as we never heard of any fault being
found with the present one, we doubt the accuracy of
such a report.
The Vin'oria and Albert Royal steam yacht, Capt. the
Hon. J. Denman, left Cowes and returned to Portsmouth
harbour on Tuesday evening. She will not be again used

this season.
The Wye steam-vessel, whose distilling capabilities we
so amply reported on Mond iv, was yestenlay inspected
by Vice-Admiral Sir Themes Cochrane. K.C.8., at Spit-
head, prior to her deparnre for the Black Sea. Mr.
Davies, it N., Masser-Attendant of tha Royal Clarence-
yard. aceompanied the Comnander-in-Chief ta explain
the internal economy of the vevel, with which Sir
Taernaa wa., much pleased. The Wye takes out all the
parcels in store at. Portsmouth dockyard up to yesterday
for the Black Sea fleet and army in the Crimea.
The Persev..rance steam troop-ship, Cs pt. Harris, left
Spt.head on Tuesday afternoon for the East.
The Fox, old 42-cue fricate, late the flagship of Rear-
Admiral Lambert in the Burmese war, is ordered to lie
placed in dock at Portsmouth this day to undergo con-
version to a screw vessel, to serve as a transport fir
" particular service."
Vice-Admiral. Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.8., Cern-
mander-in-Cliief at Portsmouth, was to leave that port
last night or this morning in his yacht the Fanny, ac-
camnanied by the brigs SeaLtrk and Rolla for the Chan-
nel Islands, to make his annual inspection. Miring his
absence Rear-Admiral Martin, superintendent of the
dockyard, shifts his flag from the St. Vincant into the
Victory, and commands in chiefpro tens.
The Lively, navy lighter, Mr. Jones, master, sailed
from Portsmouth yesterday afternoon from Pembroke
with riggers, masts, and jury rigging to rig the Repulse,
90 gun ship, and navigate her to Portsmouth.
The Talbot, for some months past lying off the dock-
yard at Woolwich, is to be moored off the Arsenal to
serve as a store-ship for powder.
The Earl of Durham, screw-transport went down to
Woolwich, from London, yesterday, and has taken her
position off the Ata=enal, to embark stores for Balaklava.
The Prince Arthur and the Melbourne are being laden at
Deptford for the same destination.
TheJobn Masterman and the Germania sailed on Tues.
day from Woolwich for the Black Sea, calling at North-
fleet, for the adjustment of their compasses. The Cam-
' perdown, being of much heavier tonnage, has gone to
Purfleet to receive her complement of heavy materiel.
These three vessels have taken a considerable number of
huts and winter clothing. The Hamburg having cleared
the greater portion of her Baltic stares, is shipping 1,200
tons of powder and an additional 50 tons of shot. She is
likewise to make up her cargo in huts and warm clothing.
The Hamburg has been specially appropriated for this
purpose in consequence of her speed.
The numerous barges which lie about the arsenal
wharves at Woolwich to convey the transport cargoes
have now assumed the appearance of a floating timber
yard, and every exertion seems to lie made to provide
the troops in the Crimea with an abundance of hut ac-
commodation for the winter's campaign. The lauPders
(Messrs. Kirk and Parry) have been instructed to engage
1.20 additional workmen for the more speedy perform-
anee of their contract.
Yesterday morning the officers of the ordnance at the
Tower were engaged in shipping for the use of the army
in the Crimea various articles of clothing as well as iron
bedsteads and blankets.
The detachment of marines paid off at Woolwich from
the Vixen—consisting of 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, 1 horn
bardier, and 16 privates—have proceeded to the Ports-
mouth barracks, to which division they belong.
Same very interesting practice took place on Tuesday
in the presence of the Commander-in-Chief Vice-Admiral
the Hon. W. Gordon, Colonel-Commandant P. V. Eng-
land, and several distinguished officers and scientific gen-
tlemen. Trial was made of Boxer's patent Shrapnel
shells, with his improved patent friction fuses, adapted
for the 8 inch hollow shot guns, and one of the seaward
batteries was made use of. The target was fixed at
1,200 yards, and the practice was under the direction of
Acting-Adjutant W. H. R. Simpson, recently returned
trona the trenches, and Lieutenant arey, who is under
orders for the Crimea. Each shell contained 400 bullets
of the common musket size. The guns were elevated at
a little more than 3 degrees, and each shell fell close to
the target either bursting a few yards above it or imme-
diately before immersion. The contents spread over a
space of at least 100 yards. The friction fuses did
not miss in any one instance.
The following appointments were made yesterday at
the Admiralty W. Lowy, motor, to tiao Ataclezak
.