The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-15 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

PLYMOUTH, Friday Evening.

The Vernon, 891 tons, Capt. Edward Jones, be-
longing to Mr. F. Green, from Sydney, May 1, has
passed up Channel for London, having landed here
Mr. Patton, 14th Regiment, and wife, Mr., Mrs.,
and Master Simmonds. She brings 630 z. of gold,
a quAntity of shipbuilding timber, and a cargo con-
sisting of 1,179 bales of wool, 2,663 hides, 59 bales
of leather, 321 bags of gum, 90 bags of iron bark,
43 cases of sperm oil, and 7,125 trenails. Her pas-
sengers include 50 in the cabin, and 25 in the
steerage. Among the former are Meadames Bray-
brook, Maxwell, Austin, Howel, and Padden;
Lieut. and Mrs. Good, Mr. and Mrs. Ladbrook, Mr.
and Mrs. Peacock, and Mr and Mrs. Knabeuschal,
Mr. Bath and daughter, the Rev. G. F. 1). Priddle,
Mrs. R. Hankey, F. Lacey, M. A. Johnston, T.
Wallace, W. F. Emmens, W. Marshall, R. Snell,
J. Connan, J. Padden, B. Londres, F. Hermann,
A. Matthews, and J. Stewart, and Masters Austen
and Hudson.

On May 10, in lat. 53 37 S., long. 155 25 W., the
Vernon fell in with three large icebergs, and con-
stantly passed drift ice and bergs to long. 111 37
W. Large blocks of drift ice could be scarcely ob-
served at night until within a ship's length. Is
traversing 2,000 miles of ocean, 700 icebergs were
seen. Many were some miles long and 300 ft. high.
Those first met were the largest. Cape Horn was
rounded on June 6. On Sunday, June 28, lat. 25
S., long, 30 W,, she got the south-east trades at
3 a.m. The report of a gun was heard, and when
Captain Jones came on deck he observed a vessel
on the starboard quarter, Thinking she was in dis-
tress, he tacked, The stranger rapidly rounded
the Vernon, which then hove on to the port tack,
The stranger often approached within a mile, and
at length hove to, hoisted a light at her peak, and
lowered a boat which came alongside. A man re-
presenting himself as an officer of a United States'
cruiser jumped on board and demanded the Vernon's
papers, which were refused, as the man was not in
uniform; nor had he the appearauce of a naval
officer. He wore a short sword, bowie-knife, car-
ried a revolver, and had on a pair of cavalry boots.
On refusal he said his ship would fire into the Ver-
non. He was then told that if he did not wish his
boat towed under water he had better shove off.
On leaving he repeated his threat of firing ; when
informed that the Vernon hove to only because the
gun was thought to be a token of distress, he said
if she had not they would have fired into her. The
boat's crew stated that the American ship was the
Cato, from Valparaiso, four months in commission.
3 a t
Angra,Captain Jones considers that she
was a
anchoredprivateer.
The Vernonin iacrossedTerceira,
e ir thea,
Aug.line 2
The steamer Flora was at the island coaling. A
Federal cruiser was hourly expected there.

The Vernon spoke, June 19, lat. 42 37 S, long.
38 44 W., the bark Enid, 43 days from Caldera for
Liverpool; 28th, lat. 24 51 S., long, 29 30 W., the
French ship Ganges, from Gravelines ; July 8. lat.
17 37 N., long. 27 14 W., the ship Rajah of Sara-
wak, 94 days from Hongkong for Liverpool; 11th,
lat. 9 59 N., long. 26 15 W., the French bark Les
Bons Fils ; 12th, lat. 11 13 N., long. 26 49 W., a
bark showing third distinguishing pendant, 6,891,
70 days from Peru for Hamburg; 23d, lat. 29 33
N., long 40 42 W., the bark Shallet, 86 days from
Cochin for London ; 28tb, lat. 34 41 N., long.
36 56 W., the bark Landwistern ; 29th, lat. 37 4
N., long. 33 40 W., the Dutch ship Philip von
Marnix, 132 days from Akyab for Amsterdam ;
Aug. 11, lat. 47 58 N., long. 36 42 W., the ship
Fearnought, and off the Lizard the bark Caroline
Elizabeth for Port Phillip.
The bark Cheviot, Captain J. Henderson, belong-
ing to Messrs. Smith, of Newcastle, has passed up
Channel for London. Her cargo consists of 300
jaggery, 30 tons red wood, 9 bales blue cloth,
90 trunks handkerchiefs, 53 pieces horns, 2 cases
condiments, 6 cases shells, 1 case books,
160 bales tanned skins, 1,327 bales cotton, and 421
chests indigo. She left Madras, April 19 ; rounded
the Cape of Good Hope, June 12 ; crossed the line
July 6 ; and spoke, April 27, lat. 8 N., long. 85 8.,
the ship Empress, 9 days from 'Madras, and the
bark Chandernagore, 13 days from Madras, both for
London ; May 12, lat. 82 S., long. 88 E., the ship
Royal Stuart, with troops from Madras for London ;
July 15, lat 141 N., long. 291 W., the bark Thus.
nelda, 162 days from Rangoon for Bremen ; 18th,
lat. 17 N., long. 33 W., the American ship Inez,
120 days from Rangoon for Falmouth ; 19th, lat.
18 NT
long. 35 W., the French ship Cunandig, 59
days from Bourbon for Nantes ; 25th, lat. 32 N.,
long 36 \V., the bark Vorsetyn, 80 days from Peru
for Hamburg; 30th, lat. 34 N., long. 31 W., the
British bark Lavinia, 56 days from Algoa Bay for
Falmouth ; and August 12, lat. 48 N., long. 8 W.,
the British ship Star of Denmark, standing west-
ward.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

As stated in TherS NAVY.I2
of Thursday
'
jeet which received the first ob
the attention of the Duke 01
Somerset on his arrival
at Devonport was the con-
templated site for the new naval barracks. His
lordship was accom •
purled to the park by Capt. the
Hon. J. R. Drummond, 0* 13r Stansfeld, Mr.
Romaine, C. 8., and C " M *
Capt, Robert Hall, R.N. He
was met by Earl de Grey and Ripon, Under-Secre-
tary of War, and Mr. IV° 1 mbe town-clerk of
Devonport. In addition to thesites •
examined a waste piece of
the glacis westward of the road to Keyhari, and
which in some measure faces
Hamoaze. Accompa-
nied by Col. G. C. Langley, Deputy•
Adjutant-Gen.,
Royal Marines, they next inspected Plymouth
division the
division of Royal Marines. They were received by
Col.-Commandant Gascoig
ne, C. 8., who is in com-
mand. The division was formed
round the Barrack
square, and subsequently mar
time, in open and quarter distance
marched past in quick
column, &c.
Their lordships then inspected
the recruits,
men's barrack-rooms, arm the
now the
(capable of accommodating 70: north wing
men), which is
nearly complete.
The number
ranks pre",ent at the Plymouth efmarines of all
headquarters is
1 9::/, including 1'79 at Millbay, under command of
Capt. N. W. De Courcy. The average percentage
oa the sick list is seven. From the barracks his
grace and his colleagues proceeded to the Royal
Naval Hospital, where they were received by Capt.
Superintendent Curry, Inspector-General Dr. J. D.
Stewart, Mr. Grant, and the other officers. After
inspecting the various wards they visited the Royal
William Victualling-yard, and on passing through
the different departments, entered a barge at the
landing, and proceeded to the grounds of Mount
Edgcumbe. In the evening, on board the Enchan-
tress, they entertained Port-Admiral Sir Houston
Stewart and other official personages.
While the First Lord was at Stonehouse, in-
specting the Royal Marines, the Controller of
the
Navy, Admiral Robinson, accompanied by Captain
Edmonstone, of the Steam Reserve, Capt. Stewart,
R.N., and Mr. Edwards, assistant master ship
wright at Keyham, made a thorough inspection
of the screw steamship Gibraltar, 893,722 tons,
which is in the first division of the steam reserve
in Hamoaze. They were escorted round her by
Staff-Commander Renaud, the chief engineer, and
other officers, and expressed themselves well pleased
with her cleanlinesS and in efficiency. Some addi-
tions are to be made to her ventilation. The Con-
, troller next inspected the Princess Royal, 73 guns,
3,129 tons, and the first division of his gunboats.
Admiral Robinson, accompanied by Mr. Saun-
ders, Commander Biddlecombe, Master-Attendant,
and Mr. Batt„ of the Indus, visited also the iron-
c. iron-
cased ship
prince Consort, 35, 4,045 tons. She is
In the south basin of Keyham steamyard, nearly
ready for bending sails, and will soon be prepared
for rece:,,,- Her engines, of 1,000-
mg a commission.