The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-20 00:00:00

PORTSMOUTH, AUG. 19.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia paid a
visit this morning privately to her Majesty's ship Excel-
lent, in this harbour, and witnessed the gunnery prac-
tice.

It is rumoured —and we doubt not the truth of it—
that the vacant Grand Cross of the Bath, which reverted
to the gift of the Queen on the death of the late Admiral
Bullen, will be conferred on Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas
Cochrane, K.C.B.
The Prussian frigate Gefion, 48, Commodore Schro-
eder, was towed into harbour this morning to refit.
The Fire Queen steam-yacht, Master Commander
Paul, embarked her Majesty's Ministers this morning
from the Royal Clarence-yard for Osborne, and returned
with them this afternoon.
The Tribune, 30, Captain the Hon. S. T. Carnegie,
hauled out of the south dock this morning, and the Con-•
flict experimental screw-sloop has hauled into the vacant
dock to have her bottom examined after grounding in
Stokes'-bay.
The following are a few particulars connected with
the Queen's second visit to the Duke of Wellington
screw three-decker yesterday :—Early in the morning,
her Majesty's servants came on board from the
Fairy, with preparations for luncheon for the Court.
At eight a.m. Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane,
with his Flag-Lieutenant, Mr. Hankey, arrived on
board from the Sprightly steam-tender, Master Com-
mander G. Allen, and hoisted his flag at the fore.
Signal was then made for the squadron intended for
sea to prepare to weigh. At 10 30 the Royal party
was steered from the Victoria and Albert by Lord
Adolphus Fitzclarence to the Duke of Wellington. The
Royal visitors were received at the head of the accom-
modation ladder leading to the entering port of the
Duke by Sir Thomas Cochrane, Captain Martin, and
Commander Preedy, two midshipmen and four naval
cadets doing duty as "side boys." A guard of honour
of Royal Marine Artillery, under the command of First
Lieutenant Poore, of that corps, received the Royal
party on the middle deck. Her Majesty and the Royal
circle then proceeded to the upper deck, where they
were received by the officers of the ship and a guard of
honour of the divisional companies of the Royal Marines,
commanded by Captain W. C. P. Elliott, First Lieu-
tenant Naylor, and Second Lieutenant Lean. Her Ma-
jesty passed on and proceeded to the poop, where sofas
and chairs were placed for herself and suite, and whence
she witnessed all the evolutions of the day. On the re-
turn to Spithead her Majesty expressed a desire to the
Admiral that the Duke of Wellington's ship's company
should go to general quarters, and her Majesty descended
with the Royal circle and inspected all the decks, and
saw the whole exercise performed under the command
of the various lieutenants of the main, middle, and lower
decks, witnessing also the dismounting of a gun, and
its removal from one side of the deck to the other.
With this exercise between decks both the Queen and
Prince Consort expressed their high gratification, and
also their admiration to Captain Martin at the state and
efficiency of his ship, before leaving.

PLYMOUTH, AUG. 19.
Her Imperial Highness Marie, Grand Duchess of
Russia, with her sister Olga, Princess of Wurtemburg,
and the Prince, are expected here during the day from
Torquay, on a visit to the Right Hon. the Earl of
Mount-Edgcumbe.
Her Majesty's screw steam-ship Ajax, 58, Captain M.
Quin, arrived yesterday from Portsmouth. She will go
up harbour to-day, her crew will be paid off, and she
will be re-commissioned.
The James Watt screw steam blockship, which was
taken out of dock in the early part of the week, was
placed therein again yesterday, for the purpose of re-
ceiving an additional false keel.
The merchant-ship Tamarac, Captain Thompson, which
arrived here yesterday from Prince Edward Island, re-
ports—July 9, lat. 46 N., long. 48 W. the bark Hope,
of Limerick, 42 days from Cardiff, making water very
fast ; supplied her with provisions. Aug. 2, lat. 47
50 N., long. 26 30 W., the Marina, of Belfast, from
Bombay, for Harnburgh ; all well. Aug. 9, lat. 49 30
N., long. 14 40 W., the bark Mohanna. of Glaegow,
for Quebec. Aug. 14, lat. 50 12 N., long. 10 45 W.,
the ship Prince Albert, for Philadelphia.

SHEERNESS, Aim. 19.

The Dolphin brigantine, Lieutenant-Commander
Webber.—The only officers who have at present joined
this ves3el are the Commander and Mr. William Dore.
the gunner. She has at present only eight boys
draughted from the flag-ship, and two A.B's. It is
now commonly remarked that few seamen join ships
commissioned before they find the ship they intend to
enter for is so far advanced in her rigging as to be
ready for rattling down ; and, on many occasions, seve-
ral of our men-of-war sailors have been much disap-
pointed in being a day too late, and having to wait a
little longer. Commander Webber has left on Port-
Admiral's leave.

The Wildfire, steam-tender to the Waterloo, Second
Master (additional) George Brockman, left here at 4
a.m. this day for Gravesend, where the Master-General
of the Ordnance and surveying officers are to embark,
and will proceed on a tour of inspection of all the forts
at the entrances to the Thames and Medway. She will
return this evening, and Vice-Admiral the Hon. J °sca-
t line Percy will entertain the Master-General of the Ord-
.

WOOLWICH, AUG. 19.
APPOINTMENTS.

nance and a select party to dinner at the Admiralty-
house here. It is reported that the eastern end of this
island and.the sea approaches to the East Swale will be
brought before them for their consideration, as it has
been suggested that a 50-gun screw steam frigate,
moored off the eastern end of the island in convenient
water would be far more desirable and available at all
times ; in addition to which it is stated, A the latter
suggestion is carried out, many valuable lives and a
considerable amount of property may also be saved to
every maritime nation.
The Cyclops paddle-wheel steam-frigate, Master Com-
mander (pro tem. ) Charles Pope, will go out of the
fitting basin to day and proceed to Woolwich for the
remainder of the heavy machinery of the Crescy, 80,
screw steam-ship, fitting for commission here.
The Miranda, 14, screw steam-sloop.—Grant's patent
cooking and distilling apparatus has arrived here for
this ship, and will be put on board as soon as practicable.
The Royal George, 120, screw steam-ship—Prepara-
tions are making here to-day to place the mainmast of
this ship under the masting sheers.
The Bremen bark, Leidnitz, Captain Weeting, from
the Cape of Good Hope, passed here at 10 p.m. yester-
day, with invalids, in charge of Captain Nott, 74th
Highlanders, Lord George Hay, of the 2d Queen's Own,
and Dr. Frazer, of the 74th, the latter having been out
15 years. The widow of the late Adjutant Gordon, and
her four children, also came home as passengers. The
invalids were all landed at Chatham, and sent to hospi-
tal. On the Leidnitz arriving opposite the Royal dock-
yard, an attempt was made to bring her up by her anchor,
which failed, and she swung round and grounded on the
Gravelstone Shelf, at the entrance at
..Chatham Reach ;
it being high water at the time, she remained during the
ebb tide taking a very heavy list to port. On the
flowing tide she righted, and left Chatham at 10 p.m.
yesterday, passing the Garrison Point at 12 at midnight,
in charge of a Trinity pilot. It is right to state she was
assisted from the Nore to Chatham by a boatman, hired
to act as a pilot, in consequence of no pilot offering his
services. During the time the boatriaan was in charge
the aforesaid accident occurred.