The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-31 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

We find in some of our contemporaries the following,
dated Devonport, May 29 :
" Nine p.m.—(By Electric Telegraph).—A telegraphic
dispatch was received here this afternoon from the Adm-
iralty, summoning Admiral Sir John Ommanney to proceed
to London with the utmost haste, in consequence of which
the Sprightly steamer was ordered to be got ready imme-
diately to take him to Portsmouth. Sir John struck his
flag on board the Impregnable, and left at six o'clock."

This is absurd on the face of it. Sir John Ommanney,
it is pretended, was summoned to London " with the
utmost haste," and yet, instead of leaving by the half
past six o'clock mail train from Plymouth, by which he
would arrive in London yesterday morning, he is said to
have gone in the six-knot an hour steamer the Sprightly
" to Portsmouth."— Morning Herald.
Captain the Hon. G. C. B. Elliott takes the Sybille,
40, to the East Indies, as soon as she can scrape up a
crew of 350, about which we fancy there will be some
difficulty, if we may judge from the fact that the Queen,
116, in Plymouth Sound, is at least 300 blue jackets
short, with her men cutting away at every opportunity ;
that the St. Jean d'Acre wants some 700 blue jackets ;
the Duke of Wellington about 280 ; whilst almost every
other ship at home is short of men, and there are not a
few vacancies in. Rear-Admiral Corry's squadron. The
Sybille was commissioned on Sunday.

PORTSMOUTH, MAY 30.

The orders for the Banshee, steam dispatch-vessel,
Lieut. Commander Hosken, that came down yesterday,
were for her to be ready for sea—and ready she is—to
go to Lisbon to pick up Roar-Admiral Corry, if required.
That gallant officer is not gone to the Mediterranean,
but for a six weeks' cruise, touching most likely at
Lisbon, where he will find the Agamemnon, 91, screw,
Captain Sir T. Maitland.
The Duke of Wellington, 131, screw three-decker,
Captain H. B. Martin, C. 8., bent sails this morning,
and crossed topgallant and royal yards.
The Vulcan steam troop-ship, Commander Von Donop,
hauled alongside the dockyard and jetty to-day. She is
expected to embark troops to-morrow.
The Rhadamanthus steam-vessel, Master-Commander
Belano, arrived in harbour this morning from the eastern
ports, with stores, which having discharged, she left in
the evening for Devonport, also with stores.
Captain W. H. Henderson, C. 8., of the Blenheim,
60, screw two-decker, returns from leave on the 10th
proximo. The Blenheim came out of harbour to Spit-
head at a quarter to 6 this evening.

The Dauntless, 32, screw-frigate, is under the charge
of a guard from the steam-reserve force.

The Gorgon, 6, paddle-frigate, finished her external
painting last week, has new fittings for her pivot guns,
and will probably be taken out to Stokes'-bay for trial
this week.

The Conflict, 9, screw corvette, will make another ex-
perimental trial in a few days with the ordinary and the
boomerang propeller in turn. She has the appearance
of a crank vessel, but is, nevertheless, improved since
last in commission.

The Stromboli, 6, and Bulldog, 6, paddle•sloops, are
reported ready for service.

The Ilecla, 6, and Gorgon, 6, paddle-vessels, when
ready, are reported to be under orders to join the steam
squadron in reserve at Devonport, but we doubt the
report. tor
The Plumper, ilk screw-corvette, is progressing with
her rigging, untle-Athe superintendence of Lieut. Rey-
nolds and draught from the Blenheim. She was not
reported ready in the shipwrights' department, as has
been elsewhere stated, and the seamen have to wait for
every block and deadeye to be made and fitted as they
go on.
The fine frigate Indiaman Blenheim, Captain Close,
passed this port yesterday from India. She left Cal-
cutta on the 12th of February, and St. Helena on the
21st of April. She has a full list of passengers. The
Harlequin, 12, Commander Wilmot, was at St. Helena,
when she left.

SHEERNESS, MAY 30.

The Horatio, 24, screw steam guard-ship, is ordered to
leave here on Wednesday morning next, under charge of
Captain the Hon. S. T. Carnegie, for Devonport. Her
orders are to join the steam squadron at Spithead, which
has also orders to proceed to Devonport, to be present
at the opening of her Majesty's new steam-basin at Key-
ham-lake, near New Passage. It is currently reported
that her Majesty, with his Royal Highness Prince Albert
and the senior Princes and Princess Royal, will be pre-
sent at the opening of this magnificent new steam-basin
for the use of her Majesty's Dockyard at Devonport.
The Horatio is fully manned and equipped, victualled
and stored, ready for any service that occasion may re-
quire, and always ready to leave port as soon as steam
can be raised to propel her machinery.

WOOLWICH, MAY 30.
APPOINTMENTS.

Captain John Kingcome (1838), at present in com-
mand of the Simoom, 18, iron-screw steam troop-ship, to
command the St. George, 120, guard-ship of ordinary at
Devonport ; Captain Henry Smith, b. (1846), to the
Simoom, at Portsmouth, vice Kingcome.
Chaplain—The Rev. Josiah Thompson, B.A. (1843),
to the St. Jean d'Acre, 101, screw steam-ship, at
Devon port.
Naval Instructor—Charles Osbourne (1838), to the
St. Jean d'Acre.

Midshipmen—The Hon. Charles Crofton, G. H.
Wilkinson, and G. R. S. Lampeer to the St Jean
d'Acre. _ _

Clerk—Edward Faulkner (1847), to the St. Jeaa
d'Acre.

DEATH OF VICE-ADMIRAL SIR FRANCIS

MASON, K.C.B.
The death of this gallant officer, Vice-Admiral of the I
Red, has been reported, in the 75th year of his age. He
entered the navy in 1793, and served afloat during a
distinguished career of 24 years. He was in the glorious
Ist of June action—was in many of Sidney Smith's
dashing affairs—was posted in 1806 ; commanded the
Daphne, 20, at the capture of Monte Video ; com-
manded the Fisgard, 38, under Sir R. Strachan, at
Walcheren ; and was subsequently senior officer in
the Scheldt ; commanded the President, 38, and
was at the storming of San Sebastian ; commanded
the Blanche, 46, and the Blonde, 46 ; was commo-
dore in the West Indies, and succeeded to the
command-in-chief on the death of Sir M. Seymour • at-
tained his flag rank in 1838, was appointed second in
command in the Mediterranean, with his flag in the Im-
pregnable, and for some time was Commander-in-chief,
with 12 sail of the line, until the arrival of Sir Edward
Owen, in 1843. This gallant and distinguished officer
married in 1805, Selina, youngest daughter of Viscount
Hood, by whom he had 12 children. As a captain, he
held the good.73ervice pension, and was A.D.C. to the
Queen. He became a Vice-Admiral in May, 1849.
By the death of Sir F. Mason the following promotions
take place :—The Hon. Sir Fleetwood B. R. Pellew,
C. 8., K.C.H., Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies,
becomes Vice-Admiral of the Blue.
By the removal of Vice-Admiral Brian Hodgson to
the reserved half-pay list with a service pension, vice Sir
T. Fellowes, deceased, Sir Charles Napier, K.C.8., there-
fore now becomes Vice-Admiral a the Blue ; vice Sir
E. Tucker, K.C.8., Vice-Admiral of the White; vice
John Ayscough, Vice-Admiral of the Red.
Captain James Ryder Burton, K.H. (February 23,
1824), becomes Rear-Admiral, but not having served his
time as a captain in consequence of a severe wound, he
is placed on the reserved half-pay list, and Captain Wm.
Fanshawe Martia (June 5, 1824) becomes Rear-Ad-
miral of the Blue, vice Sir John Hill, who becomes
Rear-Admiral of the White, vice Sir Joshua F. Rowley,
Bart., to te Rear-Admiral of the Red.
On the reserved half-pay list Rear Admiral William
Ward becomes Vice-Admiral, being senior as captain to
Sir Charles Napier.
02e
(February,
,ut
abbreeycr,oemlt iBer2er4de)
retired ddße Captainsa
Richard
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of pay, being senior as captains to 'Rear-Admiral W.
F. Martin.

A captain's good-service pension and an appointment
of A.D.C. to the •Queen is relinquished by the above
promotions. Captains C. Wyvill, A.D.C. (1832), and
C. H. Williams (1832), become senior captains ; and
Captains J. J. Stopford and W. J. Williams (1841),
come within the 12s. 6d. half-pay list.
The Commander-in-Chief at Queenstown, Rear-Admi-
ral Purvis, is now the senior of his grade, and one of the
Lords of the Admiralty ; the Hon. R. S. Dundas, C. 8.,
is the senior captain on the active list.
It is due to Rear-Admiral Ryder Burton to say, that
it is to him the country is mainly indebted for the con-
struction of the maximum rates of our ships of war—
such as the Duke of Wellington; 131 ; the Agamemnon,
90 ; and the Imperieuse, 51.