The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-17 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 16.
The Penelope, 16, paddlewheel steam-frigate, Captain
Henry Lyster, flag of Rear-Admiral H. W. Bruce, late
Commander in-Chief on the West Coast of Africa sta-
tion, arrived at Spithead this day at noon, and was
saluted by Rear-Admiral Martin, Superintendent of the
Dockyard. She left Sierra Leone on the 23d of Feb.,
and coaled at Madeira on her way horns). The Admiral
and his officers and crew are in perfect health, and ap-
parently none the worse for their 3 years' sojourn on
the coast of Africa. The coast continues to be remark-
ably healthy ; hostilities between the rival chiefs in and
about Lagos have ceased, and there appears now every
probability of the people turning their attention to com-
merce. To use the words of a resident, " The country
is swimming in palm oil."
The African mail-packet Waterwitch arrived at Sierra
Leone on the 18th ult.
The Juno, 26, Captain Fremantle, arrived at Madeira
on the Bth inst., having had light and contrary winds on
her passage from England.
When the Penelope sailed from Sierra Leone the
squadron was distributed as follows :
The Tortoise receiving-ship, 12, Captain W. H.
Kitchen, senior officer, at Ascension.
The Athol, 4, store-ship, Lieutenant W. Pearse, on
the south coast. This vessel is ordered home imme-
diately.
The Britomart, 8, Commander A. Heseltine, senior
officer, at Sierra Leone.
The Waterwitch, 8, Commander A. H. Gardner,
Sierra Leone division, cruising. This vessel is ordered
home.

The Dolphin, 3, Lieutenant E. Webber, on the Sierra
Leone division, cruising.

The Ferret, 8, Commander R. J. Macdonald, expected
daily at Sierra Leone from Ascension.
The Myrmidon, 3, steam-vessel, Lieutenant W. K.
Jolliffe, was en route to Ascension. She is ordered
home.

The Arab, 12, Commander G. Ogle, senior officer, was
in the Bight of Benin.
The Plumper, 12, Commander J. L. Wharton, was
on the Gold Coast. -

The Antelope, 3, Lieutenant C. H. Young, was in
the Bight of Biafra.
The Teazer, tender to the Penelope, Lieutenant F. D.
Rich, was cruising on the South Coast. She may be
expected home in May.
The Philomel, 8, Commander Skene, senior officer,
was on the South Coast.
The Crane, 8, Commander Miller, was cruising in the
Bight of Benin.
The Linnet, 8, Commander Meed, was cruising on
the South Coast.
The Alecto, 5, Commander Crofton, was on the South
Coast. She is ordered home.
The Polyphemus, 5, steam -sloop, Commander Phillips,
was cruising on the South Coast.
The Pluto, 3, steam-vessel, Lieutenant Bedingfield,
was about to proceed from the Bights of the South
Coast.

Lieutent Bitrgoyne, late acting of the Britomart, has
come home in the Penelope, on promotion ; and Captain
Gray, R.N., from Madeira, and Mrs. Burlee, from
Sierra Leone, as passengers.
Mr. Staples, mate of the Arab, has been appointed
acting lieutenant of the Britomart.
Mr. W. H. Clyma has been appointed secretary's
clerk in the Penelope, which is ordered into harbour, but
whether to pay off or refit for further service is not yet
known, but we should thiuk the latter. The crew, if
not the ship, are in splendid and eminently serviceable
condition, and 300 fine first-class seamen at this June-.
ture will be no unimportant addition to the personnel of
the fleet.

PLYMOUTH, MARCH 16.
The Propontis, Captain Maynard, left this morning
for the Cape of Good Hope and Calcutta. She will not
return to England, as it is intended to put her on the
line between Mauritius and Ceylon.
The Russian merchant ship Oden, of Brahestad,
Captain Wickander, from Moulmein, October 3, with
teak for Falmouth,tfor orders, arrived here yesterday.
On the line she spoke the ship John Moore, from Bom-
bay for Liverpool, and off the Canary Islands the ship
Protomela, Captain Lodwyick, from Bombay for
London.