The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-25 00:00:00

PROMOTIONS DATED DEC. 20.

Owen Owen and CharlesMoOre to be assistant en-
gineers of the first class ; James William German to be
acting assistant engineer of the second class.

PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 24.
Echo, steam-tug, towed the old Talbot (now fitted as
a hulk), to the Motherbank, at 9 a.m. this day.
Medea, 6, paddle-wheel steam-corvette, went out of
harbour at 10.30, to try her speed at the measured mile
at Stoke Bay. She returned at 2 p.m., her performance
having given great satisfaction.
Bull Deg, 6, steam-sloop, hauled out of the steam-
basin to let Simoom, iron screw-transport, in. She is
now landing the machinery for the screw fine-of-battio
ship Duke of Wellington.
Blenheim, 60, screw guard-ship, Captain Henderson,
C. 8., having completed coppering her bows, and caulked
and payed over the after-part of her run, will go out of
the Angle Dock on Monday, to make room for the Lon-
don, 92, line-of-battle ship.
Fairy, screw-tender, has been put in the steam-basin,
her masts taken out, and housed for the season.

Duke of Wellington, 131, screw-steam line-of-battle
ship, will go into dry dock about Tuesday next, to have
her shaft fitted.

A fine Austrian screw-steamer brought up at Spit-
head this morning, and came into harbour at four a.m.
At Spithead.—Her Majesty's ship Arrogant, En-
counter,
,and Leander.
Wind N.N.W. glass looking up.
The Talbot, 26, has been towed down to Sconce
Point to-day, for the use of Mr. Edmund Smith, the
contractor for the erection of the defence battery there.

The Heck, 6, paddle-sloop, is being masted in the
steam basin, to be fitted out as an advance steamer.

DEVONPORT, DEC. 23.

Captain Chambers and Commander Purvis arrived
this morning, and took up their commissions for the
Desperate and Argus. The Argus was commissioned
yesterday afternoon by the master—they are entering a
few good men, but men are not plenty at this port. The
Vulture is well manned, and the Magicienne has some
very good hands, but the other three—Valorous, Des-
perate, and Argus—must wait for men from other ports.
Avon returned from Portsmouth this morning ; and
the Duck, lighter (Savage), arrived this morning with
stores from Chatham.

Edward, convict-ship, arrived this morning, and will
fill up her complement from Dartmoor.
Adelaide, mail steamer, is now fairly under the hands
of the officers of the dockyard, who will take good care
she shall not leave theil hands except in a seaworthy
state. Her rudder has been unhung to-day. It is im-
possible to state when she will be complete.
Mr. Henry L. Peake, master-shipwright's-assistant,
who has been employed on a committee on merchant
steamers, returned this day, and will resume his duty in
the dockyard.
SAILORS' HomE, DEVONPORT.—We are much grati-
fied to learn that a memorial from the committee of the
Sailors' Home at Devonport having been laid before the
Queen, her Majesty, in graciously consenting to become
patroness of the institution, has transmitted, through
Admiral Sir John Ommaney, the Commander-in-chief,
the munificent donation of 1001., and expressed her
opinion that such establishments are for the benefit of
the seamen of the Royal Navy as well as those in the
mercantile service.

SHEERNESS, DEC. 23.

Commander G. Parker, lately appointed to the Bar-
racouta, 6, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, has this day taken
up his commission. Mr. Frederick C. Dusautoy, pay-
master of the Barracouta, has also taken up his commis-
sion under the new regulations. Commander G. Parker
has obtained leave of absence for 10 days, by permission
of the Commander-in-Chief here, the Hon. Josceline
Percy, Vice-Admiral of the White.
The Chatham yacht, Second-Master J. Grandy, ar-
rived here this morning from Chatham with the Treasury
clerks, to pay the seamen of the Monarch, 84, guard-
ship of ordinary here, Captain Charles Hope, wages to
the 30th of September last. The crew were paid wages
under the superintendence of Captain the Hon. Montagu
Stopford, of her Majesty's ship Waterloo, acting captain
superintendent in the absence of Captain Charles Hope.
The crew of the Monarch come under the new regula-
tions from this payment—that is, that one month's pay
only is to be kept in hand, and in future all ships in port
will, at the expiration of every two months, pay their
crews up to one month's pay due.
The London, 90 guns, Captain George Rodney-Mun-
dy, has agreeably surprised the port officers here, who
were apprehensive as to her sailing qualities, with her
copper foul from lying so long in harbour here. On her
leaving the Downs in tow of thelsteam-frigate Cyclops,
Lieutenant John Seccombe in command pro tem., under
her courses and topsails, it was found necessary to clew
up her courses in order to prevent her overrunning the
Cyclops ; shortly after which the Cyclops was cast off,
and the London, under her three topsails with single
reefs and jib close hauled, upon a wind, gave them 10i
knots off the reel, acting admirably in her steerage. It
may, not be generally known that the London, when in
dock here, had her foremast placed about four feet fur-
ther aft, and her mainmast and mizenmasts both raked
from the steps to the deck, thereby casing the pressure
on the displacement of the water on the fore body of the
ship by the lifting power of her canvas.
By the recent Admiralty regulation boys of the first
class who are fine, growing, healthy lads, between the
ages of 16 and 18, and have been at sea in boats or
small craft for not less than 12 months, can be entered
free in the navy, and it is only second-class boys of the
above description who are required to provide them-
selves with 408. for their outfit of clothes, &c.

THE ADELAIDE STEAM-SHIP.

PLYMOUTH, Dza. 24.

The Australian Royal Mail Steam-Shipping Company
have recently engaged the services of Captain James
Henderson, R.N., for several years Master-Attendant at
Devonport dockyard, a gentleman well qualified by skill
and experience to perform the duties of his new appoint-
ment. He is now here assisting Captain Jackson and
his officers in the dispatch of the Adelaide. Aided by
the advice of Captain Low, R.N., her Majesty's ship
Impregnable, Government inspector of mail packets, and
Lieutenant Everest, R.N., mail agent of the Adelaide,
they have determined to unship the newly-invented rud-
der. The head of this rudder is hung on the short outer
stern post in the ordinary way, and the heel is supported
by a metal spur, which springs horizontally from the
keel, in the end of which the rudder works on a pivot.
The new, invention, which is, we believe, by Mr. I. K.
Brunel, consists in having about two-thirds of the rudder
behind a line drawn from its head to the heel, and one-
third of it before that line.
It is contended by naval men that the one-third in
front, instead of increasing the power of the rudder,
absolutely counteracts it, and it is therefore intended to
cut off all the fore part land increase the back, or, in
other words, to make it like those in ordinary use. The
position in which, perhaps, more is required from a
rudder than at any other time is, when the tiller is put
hard a-port or hard a-starboard, to bring the ship about.
In this position the new invention exposes a large pro-
portion of the surface of the rudder to the action of the
disturbed water of the fans of the propeller, and by this
means, in P,ll probability, it retards the ship's way,
without effecting much change in her position to the
right or left. It is to be hoped that, having secured
the services of Captain Henderson, RN., as marine
superintendent, the directors will not again readily
give consent to any questionable experiment in a
large and valuable ship proceeding for the. first time
on such a lengthened and important voyage. Besides
the alteration of the rudder, the hawse pipes are to be
caulked round, and the stem immediately inside is to be
fitted with solid timber, the water ways and decks are
it be caulked, and the ports, which are now only 1 inch
thick, are to be made 3 inches thick ; and, in compliance
with the recommendation of Captain Low, preventer
shrouds are to be attached to the fore, main, and wizen
masts. Four divisions of caulkers and a party
oof sohirp.
wrights were sent yesterday from the dockyard n board
the Adelaide to make good defects with all possible dis-
patch. Eighty labourers were also sent to take out and
restow her coal and cargo. They are victualled in the
ship to prevent loss of time.
Her ports are of teak and will only require additional
fastenings. The Great Western, Bristol and Exeter, and
South Devon Railway Companies have arranged liberally
for transmitting additional freightage. Some of the pas-
sengers and part of the freight of the W. S. Lindsay go
out in the Adelaide to Australia.
The dockyard artisans have received orders to work'on
the Adelaide on Christmas-day and Sunday. She is to
be relieved of 150 tons of coal, and to be docked on
Tuesday to receive her rudder, which is now in the yard.
Before proceeding to Australia she takes an experimental
trip under the inspection of Captain Low, of the Impreg-
nable.

The steam-ship Forerunner, Captain Atkins, sailed
this afternoon with mails for the coast of Africa.

FUNERALS OF THE POOR IN PARIS.—In 1842,
M. Pector became contractor, and his contract
still continues. On the 24th of the present
month a new contract was entered into. The
contractor is bound to abide by a fixed scale of charges,
imposed upon him by the municipal administration, and
graduated in such a manner that it is at the option of an
executor to provide for the dead a funeral fairly proportion-
ed to the means available for such a purpose. These are the
ordinary and the extraordinary services. The ordina iy
service is for the poor. It must consist of a carriage of a
certain form, drawn by two horses, and driven by a man in
mourning. The coffin must be covered with a black pal
without fringe, and the accompanying mourners are to
guided by a director of the ceremony, and attended by fo
bearers. In payment for this service, an inhuman tax
sixteen shillings and eightpence for an adult, and eight an
four-pence for a child, is levied on the house, and the town
adds an allowance of five shillings and Wpm:* for eacla
body.—,Didenis lioun4l4 Word.