The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-16 00:00:00

PROMOTIONS.

Second Masters—Frederick Richard Child (1845),
serving in the Vulcan iron screw steam-ship, at present
at Portsmouth, with troops on board, on their return
from the West Indies ; George Hastings Inskip (1846),
serving as acting master to the Virago, 6, paddle-wheel
steam-sloop, on the Pacific station ; Frederick Burgoyne
Youel (1846), recently serving as second master of the
Banshee during her last employment as a mail packet on
the Mediterranean station ; Henry G.Thomsett (1847),
acting master of the Madagascar (store ship), at Rio de
Janeiro ; John Parsons (1847), acting master-comman-
der of the Scorpion (surveying vessel), at Devonport ;
Charles C. Scott (1847), recently serving in the Dmdalus,
20, when on the Pacific station; Arthur Thomas (1848),
serving in the Odin, 16, paddle-wheel steam-frigate, at-
tached to Rear-Admiral Corry's western squadron at
Lisbon, to the rank of masters ; Thomas Bourchier to be
acting ditto.

WOOLWICH, JAN. 14.

Mr. Benjamin W. Pidcoek, who served for upwards of
the last 3 years as secretary to Commodore Superinteln-
dent Henry Eden, late of her Majesty's dockyard, Wool-
wich, has been appointed secretary to Commodore Super-
intendent John Shepherd, now in charge of this dock-
yard, and his appointment has been confirmed by their
lordships.
The Medea steam-sloop, Commander Augustus Philli-

more, has been taken into the west dock, and on examin-
ing her bottom it was ascertained that she had entirely
lost her false keel, as not a vestige of it remained, and
the fore and aft parts of the keel were completely
destroyed. The gripe was gone, and the bottom of the
rudder reduced to fibres.

PORTSMOUTH, Jeri*. 15

We believe Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, C. 8., of
the flagship Victory, will succeed to the command of
the Excellent. Sir Thomas is admirably qualified for
the responsible post. He is an active and strict officer,
and liked by all smart officers and good men.
Rear-Admiral Chads, C. 8., left Portsmouth for the
Admiralty yesterday afternoon.
The following promotions in the Somerset-house Ce-
partment of the Admiralty took plce consequent on
the retirement, from ill health, of Mr. D. S. Smith :
Mr. Thomas Weigall to be clerk of the first class ; and
R. C. Richardson to be clerk of the second class,
vice Weigall.
The Banshee steam despatch yacht, Lieutenant-Com-
mander Reynolds, left Spithead on Friday night for
Constantinople, with despatches from the Cabinet for the
British Ambassador and Vice-Admiral Dundas. She
would put in at Lisbon for coals and speak Rear-Admiral
Corry.
Lieutenants John James Kelling (1812), Robert Lee
Stephens (1826), and Patrick Campbell (1835), of the
Coast Guard service, to the rank of commander, being
the annual promotions in the Coast Guard.
We are informed an increased expenditure for labour
in the steam factory in the dockyard, to the extent of
501. per week, has been lately ordered by the Admiralty,
in order to forward the progress of the engine works
required for sea service.
Rear-Admiral John William Andrew, C.B. on the
retired list of 1846, died on the sth inst. at Chudleigh.
The Rev. Dr. Woolley, D.D., Inspector-Geeeral of
Dockyard Schools, has proceeded from this port to
Devonport, to hold an examination to-morrow of candi-
dates qualified for inspectors, leading men,
wanted to fill up vacancies in Devonport Dockyard.
The Termagant, 24, new screw frigate, &C., who
is to land half are
her boilers and furnaces, and to lose one-half of her
nominal horse power (620 1-220 more than given to the
131-gun three-decker Royal Albert). This is considered
likely to make her a good auxiliary power vessel, but it
is believed she will never prove a vessel of any great
merit.
The Blenheim, 60, screw guard-ship, Captain the Hon.
F. T. Pelham, is undergoing a thorough refit. Her fore-
mast is not replaced, having been found very rotten.
Wing passages are to be constructed between her coal
bunkers and the ship's side, no possibility having yet
existed of stopping any shot holes that might be made in
those vulnerable positions along the orlop deck. Addl.