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NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, JULY 13.
THE SPITHEAD FLEET.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

[l'll,lOE SD. •

I cope with an array of correspondents whose name is
legion. _

Captain Fitzroy, in defending the use of the cat,
contends that the infliction of corporal punishment is
the most painful part of the duty of a commanding
officer. Admitting it to be so in some instances,
it is nevertheless notorious that the wholesale use
of the cat for trivial offences aroused the feelings of
the people of this country ; and in consequence of
what took place in the House of Commons on several
occasions, the authorities were obliged to interfere.
One commanding officer thought it so painful a
part of his duty, that he declared every man should kiss
the grating before the ship was paid off ; and, with one
or two exceptions, be kept his word, flogging almost
under the admiral's nose, until ordered to cease punish-
ment and drop astern. May I ask Captain Fizroy what
assurances we have that the like shall not occur again ?
Try a captain for tyranny, and he is honourably ac-
quitted—in some instances followed by the honour of
knighthood.

The public have taken up the cause of our seamen, and
instructions of a more liberal tendency have been already
issued for the guidance of officers ; but until the infamous
Articles of War—that wretched specimen of injustice—
are remodelled, and punishment by the cat limited to
certain offences, and the law laid down in unambiguous
terms, there ever will be occasional abuse of power. The
diminution of this description of punishment is not a
proof that the officers are more humane than formerly.
I have already explained whence it is to be attributed.
The practice had become a matter of reproach to a na-
tion which boasted of free institutions, the country pro-
nounced its judgment, and the authorities, in conse-
quence, felt it their duty to discountenance it ; but, sir,
until we have a better guarantee for fair play and a
whole skin than mere circulars, and until -seamen have
the bona fide protection of the law, the greatest distrust
will continue to prevail as to the future.
I am ready to admit that considerable improvement
have taken place also in the temper and disposition of
officers generally, as compared with times gone by ; but
the human heart is prone to err, and it is ever difficult
to guard oneself against the use of unlimited power. As
a diseased sheep will infect a flock, even so will one
tyrannical officer and one unhappy ship affect the feel-
ings and disgust the minds of a whole squadron.
It is to guard against this, by far the greatest evil in
the naval service, that men are contending, that the
press issues her daily warnings and denunciations ; yes,
and with one common object in view—viz., the interests
and well-being of of the naval profession.
Methinks, the time of these gallant officers had been
better spent in turning their professional talents to the
compilation of a new naval code, suitable to the wants of
the times ; but, mark, on this subject the trio are all
but silent. No one, in fact, dares to defend them, and
yet they are suffered to remain in full force—possibly to
sleep for a time only.
The seamen are perfectly acquainted with everything
that takes place relating to themselves, and are well
qualified to judge of the advantage and disadvantage of
the navy, as compared with the merchant and foreign
services.

I am not contending for the total abolition of the
punishment of flogging in the navy. I believe, also,
that the seamen, as a body, do not desire it ; but they
do desire, and have a right to demand, that it shall be
applied only in extreme cases.

- What would be thought of a magistrate who sentenced
a man to receive 36 lashes, or 324 stripes, for a certain
offence for which another awarded a week's imprison-
ment only ! And yet the inequality of punishments
awarded to similar offences is even greater than this, as
" A Vice-Admiral" and as Captain Fitzroy well know.
Many men have been flogged for made crimes ; others
flogged to ensure their good behaviour on the morrow ;
at any rate, the majority of the officers and the entire
ship's company have been at a loss to ascertain the real
cause.

With the recollection of such instances fresh in the
minds of hundreds, it is necessary that some measure
should be introduced in which the men could place con-
fidence. Let this be done, and still further increase the
pay of A B's—Sir James's last being still too low—and
I for one shall be happy to congratulate "A Vice
Admiral"-on the condition of his then noble profession.
In the hope that you will find space in your excellent
paper for this, I fear, too long letter, permit me to
remain, sir, your obedient servant, B. N.

A great and well-grounded cause of complaint among
all classes in the fleet exists in the fact of there being n•
steam-tender attached to it to bring them to and fro
safely and free of expense, and this want has been more
keenly felt since two officers and two nen have lost their
lives in consequence of the inefficiency of the means em-
ployed to rejoin their ships in foul weather.
The Royal yacht Fairy, Master-Commander Welch,
returned from Holyhead at 8 o'clock last night. She
left Plymouth at 9 o'clock yesterday morning. It is
expected she will be required for the service of the Court
in a day or two.

The -Victoria and Albert, Captain Crispin, returned
from Holyhead this evening, and came into harbour.
The Sphynx, 6 steam-sloop, Captain Hillyar, was in-
spected and her crew mustered this morning by the
Port Admiral, and Captain Chads, C.B„ of the Excel-
lent, put the men through the great-gun drill, &c., after
which she discharged her powder, and came into 3iar-
hour to dismantle and be paid off. Her crew have been
in commission barely three years and a-half, and, :now
they have become efficient seamen, will be turned aarift.
The Queen Charlotte, 104, hauled out of the fitting
basin to-day ready to return to " ordinary."
The masts and spars of the Grampus, 50, have been
got out, and are to be sent to Pembroke for the pur-
pose of jury-rigging the Ciesar, 91, new screw lit to-of-
battle ship, which is to be brought to this port to be
fitted for commission.
The Sprightly steam-tender embarked a party of Go-
vernment officials this morning from the town sally port,
and left with them for the westward. We believe they
were an Ordnance party about to inspect the fort ifica-
tions on the Dorset coast.

WOOLWICH, JULY I. 3.
APPOINTMENTS.
Lieutenants.—Charles G. M‘Grigor (1846), additional
to the Victory flag-ship, at Portsmouth ; Henry B. lan-
key (1845), to the Victory ; Grenville M. Temple (1853),
recently promoted from Mate of the Excellent gunxlery-
ship, at Portsmouth, to the Edinburgh, 58, screw stieam-
ship, tender to the Excellent, at Portsmouth ; Hezrbert
P. De Kantzow (1849), to the Imperieuse, 50, screw
steam-frigate, at Portsmouth ; Henry Harvey (1847),
to the Terrible paddle-wheel steam-frigate, at Wool-
wich ; Patrick C. C. M'Dougall (1849), to the Duke of
Wellington, 131, screw steam-ship, at Portsmouth.:
Mate.—Thomas 0. Kidd (1851), from the Excellent
to the Highflyer, 12, screw steam-frigate, at forts=
mouth. •

Naval Cadet.—H. M. Hippesley, to the Winehivster,
50, flag-ship on the East India station.

GLOUCESTER, Wednesday.—This being the first imblie
exhibition day, an immense accession to the temporary,
population of Gloucester took place, and the thre.9 rail-
way companies having put on extra trains for thoe ac-
commodation of visitors, the stations were crowded, with
throngs of travellers throughout the day, and th.:l cab
i
and omnibus proprietors took the opportunity offered to
them of reaping a golden harvest. All the omnibuses
and cabs that could be secured from the adjacent Owns
were retained, and fares were doubled, the proprietors
having the conscience to demand five shillings for a cab
from the station to the exhibition—distance a milei and
a half.
The implement yard was opened to the public at H even
o'clock this morning, and many chose an early ho ii r for
visiting this department, in preference to waiting in3,til it
became more crowded. The number of stands ofimplea cents
was 121, occupying two-thirds of the exhibition space, and
presenting a magnifieent illustration of the spirit, energy,
skill, and enterprice of the present day. The gpeatest
admiration and surprise expressed generally by thei visi-
tors, and many Tersons who had attended these 'great
gatherings from the first period of their establish went,
pronounced that this was not one of the best, bift the
very best, collection of agricultural implements and
machines ever brought together. Among the most
prominent names of the exhibitors were Garrett and
Sons, of Liarstort Ironworks, near Saxmu nden,
Suffolk ; Huss ey, of Baltimore, the original inventor of
the American reaping machine • Smith, of Ketto ring,
Northamptonfibire ; Crosskill, of Beverley ; Ranioomes
and Sims, of Ipswich ; Dray and Co., of Swan-lane, 'Lon-
don-bridge ; BatYiey, of Northampton ; Rev. S. Smith of
Lois Weedo% Towcester, who exhibited a set of it ople-
ments for the purpose of illustrating the agriculture of
Lois Weedon • Winton, of Dove Mills, Birmingham ;
Smith and Ashby, of Stamford ; Vick, saddlesr, of
Gloucester, who. showed some improved gearing; and
fastenings, which were sent to the Great Exhibtion;
Hornsby and Sons, of Grantham, Lincolnshire ; N app-
lebat and Lowe' of Birmingham ; Cambridge, od the
Bristol Iron Werks ; Gillam, of Woodstock, who had a
remarkably cle ye r seed cleaner; Bell, of Scotland; Burgess
and Key, of 10:3, :Newgate-street, London; Samuelson, of
Banbury ; Barrett, Exall, and Andrews, of Banbury ;
Cartwright, of Shrewsbury; Fowler and Fry, of Brbs tol ;
Ferrubee, of the Phoenix Iron Works, Stroud ; Gar-
man, of Glouc, aster ; James, of Cheltenham • Hill, of the
Brierly-hill Iro n•-works, Tipton, near Dudley ; Paa's°ol.ll!
and Clyburn )1 West Lambourn, Somerset; Tax:
ofa
and Sons, Bo ston ; Webb, of Goucester ; Aclasnt
Oldbury, near . Birmingham ; Gibson, Ne
~ie on-
Tyne ; and, in . the seed departmnt, Chivers, of Ch
showed
the introduce c of the orange' jellyaster,
turnip,)anting,
and
samples of his famous turnip seed for late 11
securing a cr op after wheat harvest. His sheds are
occupied with . seeds, and some beautiful botanical
speci-
mens of grass are ranged in these sheds.
Catalogues al all the implements in the yard were
sold on the I.pC it, and the exhibitors were found very
ready to give in quirers every information relative to the
articles which t: hey exhibited at their stands.
About 3,00 0 persons had visited the exhibition up to
four o'clock. Ibe show yard was open until six in the
evening.