The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-07 00:00:00

to search for seagulls' nests among the cliffs in the
vicinity of the lighthouse, end a cadet named Cox,
in stepping across a ledge to get at a nest, lost his
footing and fell to the bottom of the cliffs. The
height was from 150 to 20')ft. The other boys heard
him shriek as he fell, but could render no assistance.
A boat, however, which was lying off the shore at
no great distance from the spot, immediately pulled
in to the rocks. On reaching the spot the body of
the unfortunate young officer was found. Death
had been instantaneous. This sad accident illustrates

one of the greatest wants of the Britannia—a play •
ground on shore for the cadets when released from
their duties on board. Under present circumstances

they can only land from the ship and return at
hours convenient to the steamer engaged to convey
them backwards and forwards. When on shore
the cadets, who have five or six hours to spend,
will stroll among the quarries and cliffs of the island
of Portland, where natural love of adventure eon-

stantly exposes them to accident, or stroll through
the streets of Weymouth, where they are tempted
to spend money foolishly. Two projects were some
time ago entertained to remedy this want of means
of recreation. The Eurydice, sailing frigate, was
partly rigged and fitted as a seagoing training
_ _

tender to the Britannia; and the War Department
and the Admiralty were in treaty with each other
for the apportionment of the marine seat lately be-
longing to Lord Ashburton as a college for the
cadets. But both schemes have been abandoned.
Meanwhile the Britannia remains without the
means of supplying recreation for the cadets after
the hours of study possessed by the poorest school.
The vessel lies at an anchorage unusually distant,

and since her stay there has shown a sick list 20
per cent. greater than during any period since her
commission.

Notwithstanding the prevalence of very heavy
weather from the southward, the screw steamship
Warrior, 40, Capt. the Hon. A. A. Cochrane, went
yesterday morning from Hamoaze outside Ply-
mouth Breakwater, for a trial of her engines and
machinery, after which she returned to the Sound,
where she will receive her ammunition preparatory
to going to sea. The Warrior was assisted down
the harbour by the steamtugs Confiance, Prospero,
Zephyr, and Thais.
The Vindictive, old sailing frigate, fitted as a
coal and bread depot ship for service at Fernando
Po, is ordered to be despatched from Portsmouth at
as early a date as possible to her destination. She
is being fitted with accommodation fur a detach-
ment of Royal Marines, whom she will convey out
to Ascension.
The Danish ship Rapid, Capt. A. T. Bohn, hired
as a transport to convey English Government
stores from Hong Kong to England, arrived at
Spithead yesterday morning. She sailed from
Hang Kong on the 14th of Feb., Batavia the 21st,
Algoa Bay April 3, and crossed the line April 27.
The British ship Rubens sailed from Algoa Bay for
London on the same day as the Rapid. There were
spoken during the passage home from the Cape, on
April 27, on the line, and long. 20 48 W., the Eng-
lish bark Hotspur ; and on June 3, in lat. 48, the
English ship James Livesay and bark Vienna, both
outward bound, The Rapid is detained at Spit-
head for orders, which will most probably be to
proceed to Woolwich to discharge her freight.
In consequence of an application from the direc-
tors of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, the Lords
of the Admiralty have ordered the paddlewheel
steam surveying vessel Porcupine, 3, at Plymouth,
to be prepared for taking soundings in the Atlantic.
She will be commanded for this duty by Mr.
Richard Hoskyn and other officers borne on- the
books of the Fisgard, 42, at Woolwich, as addi-
tional officers for surveying service. The Porcupine
has been recently employed in surveying the coast
of Scotland, and was paid off at Devonport in
Dec. last, since which she has been thoroughly
repaired. She would have been employed in the
North Sea on a similar duty but for the applica-
tion from the Atlantic Telegraph Company. The
Porcupine will be ready in about ten days.
The crew of the screw steamship Sanspareil, 70,
Captain Le G. Bowyear, were paid off at Plymouth
yesterday. She will be re-commissioned to-day,
and be got ready for the conveyance of Royal
Marines to China.
Capt. Sherard Osborn, C. 8., 130 W commanding
the Donegal, 99, at Plymouth, the crew of which
will be paid off shortly, will command a flotilla of
gunboats for service in the China seas.
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