The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-24 00:00:00

NA VA.

,ENCE.

Although it has been " confirmed" by the Ministerial
journals that "Rear-Admiral Houston Stewart, C. 8., for-
merly one of the Lords of the Admiralty, and late member
for the borough of Greenwich, has been appointed secre-
tary to Lieutenant-General Lord Raglan, G.C.8., Master-
General of the Ordnance," we cannot help believing that
there is some mistake in the announcement. It cannot
surely be that a flag officer of the navy has accepted the
subordinate office of secretary to a general officer of the
army, and that flag officer an ex-Lord of the Admiralty,
and very likely again to be a member of the board. It
must be the son of Admiral Stewart, Commander Houston
Stewart, who has resigned the command of the Virago,
steam-sloop, in the Pacific, and now on his way home, who
has, through the- interest of his uncle, the Duke of Somer-
set, been appointed secretary to the Master-General of the
Ordnance. The death vacancy of the command of the
Highflyer, 24, screw-corvette, poor Captain Matson's ship,
has been given to Commander Heathcote (1849), of the
Cumberland, 70, flag-ship, in the West Indies ; and the
commander's vacancy has been given to Sir George Sey-
mour's flag lieutenant, now Commander Kynaston (1842.)
Mr. Edward Stubbs, who is too young an officer to have
his name on the Navy List, having passed in seamanship
only a few weeks, has been promoted to the lieutenant's
vacancy. The Board of Admiralty, as usual for many
years past, transact business at Somerset-house weekly.—
Herald.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 22

The Archer, 14, screw steam-sloop, Commander James
N. Strange, arrived at Spithead this day at one p.m., from
Falmouth and Plymouth. A few days prior to her leaving
the first-named port she had been successful in picking up
between 40 and 50 blue-jackets ; and on touching at Ply-
mouth she obtained an additional number from the Queen.
The Agamemnon, 91, screw Dine-of-battle ship, Captain Sir
Thomas Maitland, at Sheerness, being short of her com-
plement, the Archer was signalled this evening to proceed
to that port. We may expect her return about Tuesday,
when she will in all probability come into harbour for re-
pairs, her engine department being somewhat troublesome,
and out of order.

The Rodney, 92, Captain Charles Graham, has taken out
her shot and shells, and will come into the Angle Dock, on
Tuesday, to have her bottom cleaned and examined.
The Leopard, 16, steam-frigate, Captain Giffard, was
brought down from her berth off Hardway this evening by
the Echo, steam-tug, and placed alongside the Campordown,
receiving-hulk. She will go into dock to have her bottom
cleaned.

The Fairy, Royal yacht, screw-tender, Master Comman-
der Welch, has been hauled into the south dock to do some
trifling repairs to her valves, and to receive another coating
of Mr. Hay's composition on her bottom preparatory to her
fit out for the season.

The Medina, 4, steam-racket, Lieutenant Commander
Reynolds, left on Friday night for Woolwich to be paid off.
The Basilisk, 6, steam-sloop, Commander the Hon. F.
7.4erion, at Spithead, is_ reported to return to the West
India station. If this be correct, we trust a survey will be
held upon her, as we are informed the heat in her engine-
room is intolerable, notwithstanding additional scuttles
have been cut.

The freight ships Andromache, Lady Clark, and Anna
Maria have been taken up to convey the 57th Regiment
from Cork to Corfu.

It is reported that accommodation for 4,000 additional
troops is to be provided in this 'garrison and Gosport, and
that a troop of Royal Horse Artillery is to be quartered at
Chichester.

The Swift, 6, Commander Aldha.m, sailed from Spithead
last night for Devonport, to be paid off.
Two very fine ships of 800 or 900 tons, called the Roman
Emperor and Marion, chartered by the Government, are
expected shortly at this port to convey the 85th Regiment
to the Mauritius. They will embark the troops from the
dockyard. We shall much regret the departure of this
highly-disciplined and well-conducted body of men, as well
as their most splendid and unequalled band.
Upwards of 100 merchant vessels have again left the
Mo therbank to try and get out of the Channel. The wind
is well up to the northward, and quite keen enough for a
fall of snow.

PLYMOUTH, JAN. 23.
A British two-decked ship-of-war was reported to the
west of the Eddystone, two leagues outside, at 10.40 this
morning, going up Channel, with a fine northerly breeze,
under all royals, topgallant-sails and topsaP.s, and square
mainsail, with a white ensign at her peak.
St. Jean D'Acre, screw line-of-battle ship, is rapidly
progressing. There are at present above 450 artificers at
work' n her. She will be launched early in March. The
following is to be her armament
Guns. Cwt. Ft.
Lower deck 2O ... 8-inch 65 ... 9 0 long.
Ditto l6 ... 32-pounder 56 9 6 „
Main ditto 8 ... 8-inch 65 ... 9 0 „
Ditto 2B ... . 32-pounder 56 ... 9 6 „
Upper ditto 2B ... 8-inch 65 ... 9 0 „
Ditto pivot 1 ... 95 ... 10 0 „
Total 100 guns and 1 pivot.

SHEERNESS, JAN. 23,
The Agamemnon, 91, screw steam-ship, Captain Sir T.
Maitland. The two new glands for the hydraulic lifts of
the screw-propeller have been substituted for the original
ones of lighter construction, and on trial have proved to be
perfectly satisfactory. The ship is expected to proceed to
the Nore on Thursday next.
The Amphion, 34, screw steam-frigate, Captain Charles
G. E. Patey.—The master of this ship, Mr. William J. B.
Hilliard, has been sent round to Devonport to obtain vo-
lunteer petty officers and able-seamen. Several petty
officers and able-seamen have volunteered for this ship
from the Phaeton.
The Barracouta, 6, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, Commander
George Parker.—Mr. Samuel W. K. Freeman, the master
of this sloop, has been sent to Devonport to enter petty
officers and able-seamen. About 25 smart petty officers
and able-seamen have volunteered from the Phaeton, with
the understanding that their leave would be extended to
two months if required, as in the case of the Amphion.
The Rhadamanthus, 4, paddle-wheel steam-transport,
Master-Commander John Belam, arrived here on Friday
afternoon last, front Woolwich, for Portsmouth and Devon-
port yards. She brought three able seamen for the Rattle-
snake (which completes her complement), and after com-
municating with the port authorities, the Rhadamanthus
left immediately. She is expected to return here with
stores and volunteers from Devonport and Portsmouth.
The Rattlesnake, Commander Henry Trollopo.—Stores,
provision, &c., principally consisting of beef, pork, and
Hogartles, preserved meats, and bread, have arrived here
from Deptford for this vessel. She will go out of dock on
the 27th inst., and remain in the basin to complete her
loading afloat, in order to ascertain her draught, it being
doubtful whether she will be able to stow all the stores
intended for her. The entire lower deck is appro-
priated for stowage. Captain Trollops and all the officers
appear to vie with each other in superintending the inter-
nal fitment of this vessel for for the permanent comfort of
the ship's company. The officers, having had such nume-
rous applications for entry, have had the opportunity of
selecting the men, and she has a very smart; crow, and
bids fair to be a happy ship.
The Phaeton, 50, Captain George Elliot.—There has not
been an instance here; in the memory of the oldest rigger,
of a frigate having in so shor;: a time been carefully
stripped and all her stores returned to the yard. The
crew, strictly speaking, have only been engaged for that
purpose three consecutive days, working nine hours per
day, making a total of 27 hours actual working. The
work ltas been carried on under the directions of First
Lieutenant Matthew Conelly, Lieutenant Cooper P. Coles,
and Mr. John Kellock, the master, carrying on the duties of
returning stores to their respective departments in the yard.
The ship's crew were all ready as far as return of stores,
&c., yesterday morning, for paying off. It is currently
reported that the Nankin, 50 guns, now lying at Chat-
ham, will shortly be commissioned by Captain George
Elliot ; if such be the case, very few of the blue jackets
would volunteer for any other ship. The sailing qualities
of the Phaeton during the commission have been tested on
39 trials of sailing by the wind and 20 running free, and in
all these trials she was unquestionably the best sailer on all
points. The Pl. aeton has always been the first ship of the
squadron, the Arethusa invariably the second on a wind.
The speed of the former has been by far the greater. The
Phaeton weathered on the Arethusa, with a little sea on,
2,410 fathoms, in three hours 20minutes ; in smooth water
2,420 fathoms in 4 hours 20 minutes ; in a little swell,
3,420 fathoms, in 5 hours 45 minutes ' • in a moderate sea,
1,420 fathoms in 4 hours. The chisesttrial of sailing with
these two ships was a trial off th° wind and little swell.
The trial lasted 6 lours and 30 minutes, when the Phae-
ton boat by 50 fat'ioms. We hope shortly to see this
splendid frigate again commissioned, and as smartly
manned as at present. No difficulty would be found in
getting her manned in a few days, either here or at any
other port, such is the opinion of her, although most of her
crew say, " Give us our old officers, and we would fear
nothing afloat."
Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, of the Agamemnon, mus-
tered the officers and crew of the ships in commission yes-
terday, except the Waterloo and Monarch, they being
mustered by their respective officers in command.

WOOLWICH, JAN. 22.

Sir James Graham, First Lord, and several of the mem-
bers of the Board of Admiralty from Whitehall, attended
at Somerset-house to-day, and wore occupied to a late hour
in going through the navy estimates for 1853-54. The re-
port of the committee which recently assembled at the Ad-
miralty, to take evidence and report on the best means of
managing the navy, is still in the hands of the secretary to
the committee, and it will occupy him for some time before
it is completed. While the decision of the committee is
unknown as regards the future allowances and comforts
which are expected by seamen, that class have a great re-
luctance to enter into any of the new vessels now in com-
mission. On the contrary, numerous instances have
occurred, within the last few weeks, of able seamen
paying their passages to Australia, for the sole purpose
of engaging at the high rate of wages now offered by
many of the vessels in the mercantile navy to navigate
them home or to foreign ports—a proof that the deamen of
the present day are more calculating than the thoughtless
and generally improvident seamen of former periods of
naval service. Under these changed circumstances in the
character of sailors it will be requisite to adopt some effi-
cient means to induce them to enter and remain in the
Royal Navy.
The Hastings, 72, formerly flag-ship of the late Rear-
Admiral Austen, on the East India station, and at present
commanded by Captain Francis W. Austen, was to leave
Trincomalee on the 18th of November, 1852, for England
that

ship having been in commission since April, 1848.
The Winchester, 50, Captain Granville G. Loch, C. 8.,
sent out to relieve the Hastings, will be the flag-ship of
Rear-Admiral Sir Fleetwood renew, IC.C.H., appointed
commander-in-Chief of the naval forces in the East Indies
station. It is not correct, as has been stated in some
quarters, that Captain Fitzgerald is to be Flag Captain
to Sir F. B. R. Pellew, as the latter officer is not allowed
the privilege of appointing the captain of his flag-ship.
He will on his arrival in India hoist his flag, red at the
mizen, on board the Winchester, and, unless he be per-
mitted to continue in the command at that station as a
vice-admiral, being only three from that list, Sir Fleet-
wood
Pellew's command will be of short duration.

The Prometheus, 5, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, of 200-
horse power, Commander Henry R. Foote, arrived at
Woolwich to-day, after two years and eight months' ser-
vice on the west coast of Africa station. Previous to her
arrival at Woolwich she had called at Portsmouth to de-
liver her dispatches, and remained only about two hours to
take a sufficient supply of coals to bring her•round to this
port. At an early hour this morning she landed her pow-
der at Purfleet, and on coming up the river landed her
shells at the Royal Arsenal At the dockyard, Mr. Taplin,
second assistant to the chief engineer, went on board, and
she then ran down the river again as fax as Long-reach,
that ho might be able to report on the state of her engines,
which are said to be in a very good condition. She has
brought home a quantity of ivory and gold dust, valued at
10,000/.
Captain Frederick Bullock has been acting as Superin.