The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-25 00:00:00

THE WAR.

THE FRENCH FLEET.

PLYMOUTH, Monday Evening.—The squadron seen off
this port on Sunday afternoon included six sail of the
line, two frigates, and a steamer.
By electric telegraph from Torquay we learn that the
Brunswick steam packet, Captain Russell, which left
Plymouth at 1.15 this afternoon, saw the French squad-
ron off the Bolt. It consisted of seven ships and a
steamer, sailing on a wind under reefed topsails. The
wind dropping light the head ship would not stay, and
therefore wore round: All the others followed in line,
then loosed topgallant sails, and stood away to the south-
ward with a very light breeze. The British and Irish
Steam Company's packet Nile, Captain Moppett, which
arrived here this evening at 9 o'clock, reports that at
half-past 5, the Start bearing north-west, distant 12
miles, she saw eight sail of the line and a paddlewheel
frigate. The sailing vessels were under topgallant sails
and royals, the steamer under easy steam and fore and
aft canvas. They were all reaching off in a south-east
direction. Wind E.N.E., very light.

MELANCHOLY DEATH OF CAPTAIN FOOTE
AND FOUR SEAMEN OF H.M.S. CONFLICT.

A letter from Memel of the 19th inst. reports the
melancholy death of Captain J. Foote, of the corvette
Conflict, a most meritorious officer. Captain Foote
came on shore on the morning of the 19th, with another
officer, on business connected with the prizes. About
five in the afternoon he wished to return on board. A
fresh north-wester had been blowing for some time,
right against the stream of the Haf, where it debouches.
There was a heavy surf, especially between the moles.
The head pilot at Memel strongly advised Captain Foote
to take a larger boat for his return, but in vain. The
captain, with his lieutenant, got into a long narrow gig
that was manned with five sailors. In less than ten
minutes after the boat suddenly disappeared. In an
instant the life-boat was launched and manned with
pilots, but it came too late to save all ; the lieutenant
and one of the men were still alive and clinging to the
thwart-straps of the boat, but half frozen ; the captain,
with four of his men, had already found a watery grave.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
The screw-frigate Termagant, 24, was placed in the
steam-factory dock of Portsmouth yesterday, to be pre-
pared for commission. Having no machinery on board,
this will take some time.
The Pigmy steam-vessel, 100-horse power, is ordered
to be commissioned at Portsmouth as a tug and gun
boat, to attend on the Baltic fleet. She will have a
crew of 35, and will carry one long 32 and two long 18-
pounder swivel guns.
The Rosamond, 0 guns, paddle-wheel steam-sloop,
Commander George Wodehouse, got up steam yester-
day, and left Sheerness at noon for the Downs, on her
passage to the Baltic.
The Majestic, 91 guns, new screw steam-ship, Captain
James Hope, has proceeded through the Queen's Chan-
nel for the Downs, on her way to the Baltic. The Ma-
jestic will wait in the Downs the arrival of the French
squadron from Brest, and keep them company.
Her Majesty's brig Frolic left Gibraltar on the 12th
iust. for the westward.
The following appointments have been made :
Paymaster James C. Pinhorn (1852), serving in the
Comus, 14, sloop, on the East India station, is appointed
secretary to Commodore John Adams, who is to succeed
Commodore Lambert on the Madras station.
Paymaster John Retallick (1853) from the St. Vincent
guardship of ordinary at Portsmouth, to the Comus, vice
Pinhorn.

Master's Assistant James R. Harris, to the Amphion.
34, screw steam-frigate, in the Baltic Sea.
Clerk's-Assistant W. F. Simmonds, to the Miranda,
14, screw steam-sloop, refitting at Sheerness.
Mr. Martin, treasurer of Portsmouth dockyard, has
been promoted to be foreman of shipwrights at Chatham
vice Blessley, appointed from Chatham to Portsmouth.
By the arrival of the Peninsular and Oriental Com-
pany's steam-ship Tagus at Southampton yesterday, we
have accounts from Gibraltar to the 14th inst. The royal
mail steamer Orinoco, with the 7th Fusiliers, reached
Gibraltar on the 10th inst., in five days from Southamp•
on. The Trent, with the 23d Fusiliers, arrived the fol-
lowing day, in six days from Southampton. The steamer
Tonning, 4fl days from Deptford, having on board
Brigadiers Sir Colin Campbell, K.C.8., J. L. Penne-
father, C. 8., and R. Airey, with a detachment of the
19th Foot and a number of horses, arrived on the 11th.
The steam-ship City of London, six days from Woolwich,
having on board a part of Lord Raglan's staff, including
General Sir de Lacy Evans and a company of Sappers
and Miners to form the pontoon train, arrived on the
13th. The Medway, seven days from Portsmouth, with
the 95th Foot, arrived on the 13th. All these steamers,
after coaling, proceeded at once to Gallipoli, the Tonning
am.' Trent to call at Malta ea route. The royal mail
steamers Medway and Trent, after landing their respec-
tive regiments at Gallipoli, were under orders to return
to Gibraltar to embark the 30 As and 50th Regiments
from that garrison for the scene of war. The Cunard
steam-ship Niagara, with the SBth (Connaught Rangers)
on board, passed through the Straits at 11 a.m. on the
10th. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's screw
steamer Colombo, four days from Southampton, had ar-
rived at Gibraltar, on her way to Malta and Alexan-
dria. She took out orders for Staff-Surgeon R. J.
O'Flaherty to join the expedition under Lord Raglan.
The Edmundsbury, hired transport, embarked the
fourth portion of the 17th Lancers at Portsmouth dock-
yard yesterday morning, consisting of Capt. Morgan,
Lieut. Musgrove, Dr. Powell, and 40 men and horses,
and sailed with them in the afternoon for Turkey. The
headquarters and last troop will embark this morning
in the Eveline.
The Rodsley, No. 37, the Rubicon, No. 3S, and the
Harkaway, No. 39, horse troop transpoi is under the
charge of Lieut. James H. M'K. Robertson, R.N.,
agent for transports, arrived at Woolwich from Dept-
ford yesterday, and were all taken into the basin. At
2 o'clock Capt. Maude's troop of Royal Horse Artillery
and a portion of Capt. Swinton's Field Battery arrived
at the dockyard and embarked their horses and guns.
The following six sailing vessels, which have been for
sonic tuee past at Liverpool, fitting up for the accom-
modation of horses, are expected at Kingstown :—The
Glendalough, the Tyrone, the Asia, the Warcloud, the
Panola, and the Paramatta. Immediately on their
arrival the 11th Hussars, who are under marching
orders, will embark for Malta, cn route to Gallipoli and
the seat of war.
Seventy-two large guns, of 9 and 11 inch calibre,
cast by Walker and Co., of the Low Moor Ironworks,
for the Turkish Government, have been proved at the
Royal Arsenal, and sent up to the dockyard, that a few
of each may be sent out in the transport ships for their
destination. These fine pieces of ordnance are different
in the calibre from the 8, 10, and 13 inch guns used in
the British service. They appear to be cast on Monk's
principle, or closely resembling it, with a great solidity
of metal at the breach, and are well adapted for defensive
operations,
The companies of the 3Sth Regiment, doing duty for
some time past at Woolwich, have been placed under
orders to march from the garrison at 5 o'clock a.m. to.
day for New-cross, and proceed thence by railway to
Portsmouth, where they are to embark in the Alegrera
iron screw steam-ship for conveyance to Gallipoli, there
to join the head-quarters, which embarked at Chatham
in the Melbourne.
Lieutenant-Colsnel Dacres and Captain E. B. Hawley,of the Royal Artillery, embarked from Gibraltar on the
7th inst., by the steamer Sultan, for the East. The
British transports Earl of Shaftesbury, the Mercia, No.
2, and the Alipere are reported to have passed ,the
Straits of Gibraltar.
A detachment of the 6th Enniskillen Dragoon Guards
arrived in Exeter on Saturday evening.
They con-
sisted entirely of the dismounted portion of the regi-
ment, and travelled the whole distance from Birming-
ham by railway. They proceeded at once to the Artil-
lery Barracks, which are situated about two miles from
the city. The remainder of the regiment, who are
mounted, are on their way. On Saturday they arrived
at Cheltenham. They are not expected. to arrive at
Exeter until Saturday week.
A detachment of the Bth Hussars left Exeter yester-
day morning en route for Plymouth, whence they will
almost immediately embark for the East. The men
mustered early in the Artillery Barracks, Topsham-road ;
and, on passing through the city, were received with
antliusia.stic cheers by the inhabitants. They were ac-
companied some distance out of the town by the band
of the 3d Light Dragoons.
Two companies of .the 90th Light Infantry are under
orders to proceed on Thursday next to Carlow and Mary.
borough respeotively, under the command of Captains
O'Gorman and Meredith, replacing detachments of the
46th Regiment, ordered to England. It is said that
seven companies of the 90th Regiment are to be sent
out on detachments, in addition to the one now at Tel-
lamore, leaving at the head quarters in Dublin two
companies only, with just a sufficient number of duty-
men to furnish the Castle guard once a week.
The second or last division of the 14th Regiment,
under the command of Major James Watson, arrived in
I Cprii or, Friday, by vial, and took up tioir quacirti iii