The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-31 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.

Commander George Hancock (1850), late of the Lon-
don, is to commission the Espiegle, 12, at Sheerness.
This fine brig the best of the experimental squadron,
was, it will be remembered, designed by the committee
of the School of Naval Architecture, Messrs. Read, Chat-
field, and Creuze.
Paymaster—John Doyle (1851), to the Espiegle.
Clerks—F. J. N. Kenyon (1849), to the Espiegle ;
Robert Bone (1849), to the Hogue, 58, screw guard-
ship, Plymouth.
Assistant Engineer--Charles Beal, to the Blenheim,
58, screw guardship, Portsmouth.

PROMOTIONS.
'TO .be Chief Engineers.—Assistant Engineers John
Bozwell, of the Simoom, screw troop-frigate ; James
Urquhart, of the Scourge, 6, steam-sloop; Robert Jago,
of the Sampson, 6, steam-frigate, Gibraltar ; Thomas
Truscott, of the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 29.

Duke of Wellington, 130, screw line-of-battle ship,
hailed out of the new dock into the steam basin, and is
placed under the shears, preparatory to her being mast-
ed. Every exertion is being used to get this noble ship
ready for commission.
Leopard, 16, steam-frigate, Captain George Giffard,
hauled from .the steam basin into the dock vacated by
the Duke of Wellington. She will have her copper
cleaned and examined, after which she will go to Spit-
head, and wait further orders.
Medea, 6, steam-sloop, Commander John C. Bailey,
received on board her powder and shells at Spithead,
and is ready for instant service.
Bull Dog, 6, steam-sloop, was brought down this
morning, and placed alongside the south jetty. Report
says she will be commissioned, and be made available to
receive troops on board for foreign service. She will be
engaged in the first instance to convey the depot of the
85th to the Isle of Wight, and in bringing troops from
thence to this garrison.
JAN. 30.
Tyne, 4, store-ship, Master-Commander Peter Wel-
lington, got under weigh this morning early for Wool-
wich. The wind at starting was dead in her teeth, be-
ing about E.N.E., but at noon it came round to the
well-known quarter, and is now S.S.W. ; and if it so
continues, will take her to the river in about 24 hours.
Barracouta, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Geo. Parker,
arrived this day at noon from the westward. She is at
present at Spithead, but in all probability will proceed
to Sheerness to-morrow.

PLYMOUTH, JAN. 2D.
The Swift, 6, Commander Aldham, was paid off this
day.
The Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir John A. Om-
rnanney, inspected the Vulture, Magicienne, and Argus,
steam-vessels, to-day.
The Castor, 36, Commander Wyvill, sailed yesterday
for Chatham, to be paid off.
The Barracouta, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Parker,
arrived here yesterday, bringing the men paid off from
the Phaeton at the eastward, but who belonged to this
port.
The Goodwill, lighter, arrived yesterday with stores
from Sheerness.
The Sinbad lighter, sailed for Portsmouth with stores
this afternoon.
The Brisk, screw steam-sloop, will be fitted with
Grant's distilling apparatus. She will be ready for sea
about the middle of the coming month. Her topmasts
are fidded, and the rigging rapidly progressing. •
The Commodore-Superintendent's broad pendant was
re-hoisted on board the St. George yesterday, Captain
Seymour having returned from an official visit to
Somerset-house.
The launches for the St. Jean D'Acre are being laid
down, and she will go off the stocks about the middle of
the month of March.

The new dock in the royal yard at this port will very
soon be applicable to the public service. The entrance
gates, which have been manufactured at the establish-
ment of Mr. Mare, M.P., Blackwall, have been receiv-
ed, and are being fitted.
It is rumoured that the works at the new steam-yard
are to be so hastened as to be ready on the Ist of April
next to receive five line-of-battle ships.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.