The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-11 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

MA JAN. 2.
In naval matters there is but little news.LTA, Two of the
steamers lately employed in the packet-service are or-
dered home —the Medina, Lieutenant Reynolds, and
the Banshee, Lieutenant Hoskin. The former will
leave on Wednesday morning, with invalids ; and Lady
Dundas proceeds by her to join her husband at Gibraltar.
The departure of the Banshee is not fixed.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Ripon arrived here on the afternoon of Thursday last,
and moored to her buoy at half-past 4 p.m. In proof of
' the rapidity of her dispatch for Alexandria, we need but
observe that she left port at a quarter past 11 o'clock,
having remained here only six hours ind three quarters.
During this period she discharged her mails and 180
p.ackages, comprising carriages, bale goods, cases, &c.
She also received on board the Indian mails brought by
the Banshee from Marseilles, as well as the local bags,
177 tons of coal, 35 tons of water, 325 chests of opium.
watches, &c., 86 packages of treasure, and her sea stock
of provisions.

The Indus, on a former occasion, received dispatch in
six hours after her arrival, and at night-time, she having
got in at 8 o'clock and left at 2 o'clock a.m.

The Tiger left port on Thursday last for Tunis.
The Artesian (Austrian schooner) arrived on the 31s
ult. from Tunis.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 10.
Capt. George Bohun Martin, C. 8., late of her Ma-
jesty's ship Victory, is appointed to succeed Captain the
Hon. R. S. Dundas, C. 8., as Superintendent of her Ma-
jesty's Dockyard at Deptford. This intelligence has na-
turally created th% most lively satisfaction in this port,
as during the time Captain Martin fulfilled the duties of
Flag-Captain to the late Commander-in-Chief he endeared
himself by his kindness, courtesy, and hospitality to all
who enjoyed his acquaintance. His premature removal
was a subject of the deepest regret.
Fearfully foul weather has again set in upon us. At
10 a.m. half a gale got up from the southward, accom-
panied by a soaking rain, which continued till sunset.
There has been but little communication with the
squadron at Spithead.
Phaeton and Simoom have not got under weigh, nor
could it answer any purpose to do so ; in fact, nothing
short of the most urgent necessity could warrant their
putting out to sea in such frightful weather.
Dragon, 6, paddle-wheel steam-frigate, having cop-
pered up to the 14-foot mark, hauled out of the north
dock and into the steam basin.
Every preparation is being made for the early launch-
ing of the after body of the Marlborough. The iron
stringing was cut through this day.
A court-martial, consisting of Rear-Admiral A. L.
Corry, commanding the Channel Squadron, president ;
Captains Graham, C. 8., of the Rodney ; Lord Edward
Russell, of the Vengeance ; Mundy, of the London ; E.
H. Scott, of the Neptune ; Henderson, C. 8., of the
Bleheim ; Kingcomo of the Simoom ; Elliot, of the
Phaeton ; Sheppard, of the Victory ; King, of the
Leander ; Fremantle, of the Arrogant ; Goldsmith, of
the Sidon ; Hutton, of the Prince Regent ; and Mr.
George L. Greetham, Deputy-Judge-Advocate of the
Fleet, assembled this morning on board the Victory, to
try Patrick Brady, aged 27, a private of Marines belong-
ing to the Woolwich division, forming one of the detach-
ment serving on board the Leander, 50-gun frigate, for
highly mutinous and insubordinate conduct, in having
threatened the life of his superior officer, Sergeant
Saunders of the Royal Marine corps, serving also in the
detachment (on board the Leander. It appeared from
the evidence that the prisoner (who has only been in the
Marine corps five years, having enlisted on the 23d of
July, 1847) has been a troublesome and mutinous cha-
racter, and that just before the date of the present charge
he had been guilty of grossly insolent and insubordinate
conduct, which was officially "reported" by Sergeant
Saunders, upon which report the prisoner received three
dozen lashes. This punishment seems to have formed the
groundwork in the prisoner's mind for the expressed in-
tention of murdering the author of it, as will be seen by
the following testimony : Sergeant James James de-
posed, that on the morning of the 3d of January inst.,
he was standing at the bottom of the main ladder on
board of the Leander ; the prisoner was there washing
himself ; he stood up, and pointing towards Sergeant
Saunders (who was on the port side of the deck), and
then pointing towards his pouch, said "The first ammu-
nition I get int) my pouch, I'll blow your brains
out." Witness again saw prisoner, while receiving cor-
poral punishment, turn round, and, looking towards
Sergeant Saunders (who was then sergeant of the guard)
heard him say, "The that brought me to this—
I'll send him to his grave before sunset.' Prisoner was
placed in irons after that. This evidence was corrobo-
rated by several other witnesses. The prisoner asked
none of the witnesses any questions, and had no defence
to offer, except that from the time they took him out of
irons till they placed him in again he did not know
what he was about. The Court was then cleared for the
members to deliberate. It remained closed for upwards
of an hour. On re-admission, the Judge-Advocate
pronounced the charge fully proved, and recited the sen-
tence of the Court, which was "That the prisoner
receive 48 lashes on his bare back, and be imprisone
for 18 months in the county gaol of Hampshire, at I'
cheater "

The Vengeance, 84, Captain Lord Edward Russell, is
to proceed to Plymouth, instead of coming into this
harbour to refit.

PLYMOUTH, JAN 9.
We have a favorable change in the weather ; the wind
is now a point to the north of west, and the sea has gone
down considerably.
Vulture, steamer, Captain Glasse, has drawn her charts
for the Channel. She went.out of harbour on Saturday,
and is now in the Sound.
An alarm of fire was raised this morning on board the
barque Duncan, unloading timber in Stonehouse Pool.
It appears on lighting the fire proper precaution was not
taken, and the funnel took fire, which being very foul,
the flame rose to a great height, and was also communi-
cating with the woodwork near it. Boats were soon on
the move, but as there was assistance from the other
ships moored in the tier, the fire was extinguished before
their arrival.

WOOLWICH, JAN. 10.
The Imperieuse, 50, screw steam-frigate, Captain R. B.
Watson, C. 8., having been reported ready for trial,
and to go round to Chatham to be masted, rigged, and
made ready for sea at that port, the detachment of
Royal Marines of the Woolwich division ordered for
service in her march from their barracks to the dock-
yard, headed by the fine band of the division, and
under the command of Brevet-Major Stransham, with
Lieutenant Tomlin, the officers of the Royal Marines
appointed to the Imperieuse. The band continued
playing on the wharf wall of the basin while the
Royal Marines embarked on board the frigate. Colonel
Ellis, C.B.' Commandant of the Woolwich division, ac-
companied Major Stransham and the detachment to the
place of embarkation, and subsequently went on bob.rd
the Imperieuse, and was present while Captain Watson
inspected the men selected for service on board the
frigate. After the inspection, Capt. Watson expressed
to the Colonel-Commandant his approbation of the ex-
cellent appearance of the detachment, the men having
arrived in heavy marching order ; and they were imme-
diately placed for duty on board the ship.
At 10 minutes before 2 o'clock p.m., the Imperieuse,
having previously her steam up, steamed out of the
basin by back turns of her screw, and on entering the
river immediately started for her trial trip, the screw
almost getting up to full speed at starting, and on pro-
ceeding down the river the engines worked remarkably
well, making up to 68 revolutions per minute with the
greatest ease, and causing the Imperieuse to leave the
Monkey and African steam-ships, sent to attend her,
far behind. Captain Watson, with all the officers, was
on board, and Capt. Hood, R.N., Lieut. Robertson, of
the steam department afloat at Woolwich ; Mr. Dinnen,
inspector of steam machinery afloat • Mr. Taplin, second
assistant to the chief engineer at Woolwich dockyard ;
Mr. John Penn, Mr. Mathew, and Mr. Hartroes, of the
firm ofJohn Penn and Son, the constructors of her engines
of 360-horse power, on the patented trunk principle by
that firm, and so successful in the Arrogant steam-
frigate ; and Mr. F. P. Smith, long connected with the,
introduction of the screw-propellor into the naval ser-
vice. The Imperieuse went down the river in fine style,
and ultimately left the Monkey and African far out of
sight, and, on testing the speed of the Imperieuse at the
measured mile, it was found to be upwards of 10i
knots per hour, the engines working most satisfactorily,
without the slightest symptom of heating or anything
going wrong. On casting anchor below Gravesend this
afternoon all on board were much gratified with the
manner in which she was brought up, as, notwithstand-
her size, she appears as manageable as a small boat ;
but a look on board would at once afford evidence that
she is a most powerful vessel, with ample room to mount
and work with freedom guns of theas he
largest rnh_gi ae
thess
ot
nf cohalildsibopbrueebas.;
Her armament will 'consist of 8 guns, each 9 feet in
length, and weighing 65 cwt., with an 8-inch bore,
and 22 32-pounders of 56 cwt., and 9 feet 6 inches
long each. On the upper deck she will have one pivot
gun of 95 cwt., and 10 feet in length, for 68-pound
shot, or 10-inch shell (already mounted) ; two
prBme-ivnaenc:
guns of 65 cwt. each, and 18 32-pounders of 45 cwt.
each, and 8 feet 6 inches long each. Captain Watson
very popular in the service, and has had the offer of n IvB
grt :test ease
men, but he has declined them, so atsheno
othero f
being
his
s theirsh i
p withcrews,
ll numberjoi
leay.e Gravesend at
by the time she is ready for seeaa.nwdilwiAl.
hcahnadtistawme,refoorn
which
he
ptoo-rdtaysh,
the Med-
daylight to-morrow ;but, previous to going up
way, she will be tried several runs between the Nore
and Mouse Lights, to test her speed in deep water.
The Resistance troop-ship, er Commander Brad-
Itshaw, will not be ready at this :ot.'hrt to receive troops on
ayr board
preventf o r at letrasootll3sohdeainygs fhr
umn. P
kdiant
r,Tahni
ds
whosenotice
other places under orders to Termedm
balsio. n from Dublin and
commanding officers may be misled by the notice which
appeared in some of the naval and military papers that
she would be ready for their reception on the 13th inst.
Assistant-Engi APPOINTMENT.
screw steam
neer William Pilcher to the Hogue
guard-ship at Plymonth.
PROMOTIONS.
Second Master William H. Harris (1845), acting mas-
ter of the Waterwitch 8, sloop, on the West Coast of
Africa station, is confirmed in the rank of Master ;
Alfred Balliston (1847), acting master, born
books of the Royal Victoria and Albert steam; aon
cht for
service in the Fairy steam-yacht, is confirmed in the
rank of Master.

THE WEST INDIA SQUADRON.
We have letters this afternoon from the above squad-
ron. The following were the latest movements :
The Cumberland, 70, tlag of Vice-Admiral Sir George