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

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

RETIREMENT OF REAR-ADMIRAL SIR
F. BEAUFORT, K.C.B.

We have to announce the retirement from his post of
hydrographer to the Admiralty of Rear-Admiral Sir F.
Beaufort, K.C.8., after a period of service, in which all
his great faculties have been kept exercised to the ut-
most stretch, almost unprecedented. When it is known
that he entered the navy in 1787, it will be readily con-
cluded that the gallant Admiral has reached that age
when men fall into "the sere and yellow leaf." But not
so with Sir Francis, for up to the present moment his
great powers of mind and body are very little impaired,
but still he has wisely given way to one of his pupils,
who, younger in years, brings at the same time with him
to the vacated office the great experience he has ac-
quired under so distinguished a director for a quarter of
a century.
Like most of the talented marine surveyors of the
Royal service, Sir F. Beaufort ran a most gallant career
during the war. He was in the Aquilon, 32, on the
"glorious Ist of June," and while attached to the Phae-
ton, 38, commanded in succession by the latter officer
and Captain James Nicoll Morris, was present in Corn-
wallis's celebrated retreat, June 17, 1795 ; assisted, in
the course of the same year, in driving on shore on Ile
de R 6, and destroying L'Echou4, of 28 guns ; took part
in the capture, March 10, 1796, of La Bonne Citoyenne,
of 20 guns ; fought in a partial action, March 23, 1798,
with the French 36-gun frigate L a Charente ; was in-
strumental, September 8 following, to the capture of La
Flore, 36 ; and witnessed the taking, on various occa-
sions, of nine privateers and other armed vessels. On
October 20, 1800, Lieut.-Beaufort, who had been pro-
moted to that rank May 10, 1796, and was now first of
the Phaeton, performed an exploit of great spirit and
gallantry, in boarding with the barge and two cutters
under his orders, and capturing, after an obstinate resist-
ance, the Spanish polacre-rigged ship San Josef, carrying
14 brass guns, 34 seamen, and 22 soldiers, moored under
the protection of five guns on the fortress of Fuengirola,
near Malaga, and flanked by a French privateer. For
his zeal, judgment, and determined bravery in this
very dashing affair, in which the enemy had 19 men
wounded, and the British one man killed and four
wounded, Lieutenant Beaufort, who, forming one of the
latter, had received a wound in the head and several
slugs through his left arm and body, was, on the 10th of
the following month, deservedly rewarded with a com-
mander's commission ; but for his severe sufferings was
only awarded a pension of 451. 12s. 6d. During two
years he was actively engaged in a survey of the coast of
Karamania, in Asia Minor—an employment he was
obliged to relinquish, in consequence of a desperate and
nearly fatal gun-shot wound he received from the hands
of a fanatical Turk, June 20, 1812. Captain Beaufort,
who had previously contributed to the extirpation of a
band of pirates from the southern part of the Morea,
then returned home with convoy, and on Oct. 29 in the
same year was paid off. His acceptance of flag rank
took place Oct. 1, 1846.

After 19 years active service afloat, chiefly during the
war, he became hydrographer to the Admiralty in 1832,
and from that period the country has had the great ad-
vantage of his devoted service in almost every depart-
ment of marine science, but especially with regard to
our harbour s, shores, and rivers. Sir Francis carries
with him into retirement the respect and esteem, and
indeed, we may add, the affection of the officials of all
grades at Whitehall. To his old colleagues of his own
and other departments he is endeared by having, in con-
junction with them, worked out many an important
measure, and overcome many a crooked and almost in-
surmountable difficulty.—Morning Herald.

WOOLWICH, MARCH 2.

APPOINTMENTS.

Lieutenant William Wood (1845), to the St. George,
21, at Devonport. _

Clerk-in-Charge.—Edward S. Cooke (1849), recently
serving in the Torch steam-vessel, serving as tender to
the Herald surveying vessel, in the South Seas, to the
Lightning steam-vessel, commissioned by Capt. Sulivan ;
Edward Faulkner (1847), Secretary's Clerk on board the
Impregnable, flag-ship, at Devonport, to the Janus,
commissioned at Woolwich, by Lieutenant-Commander
Colin C. A. Kane.

Chaplains and Naval Instructors.—The Rev. George
A. M. Litle, M.A. (1843), to the Monarch, 84, at Sheer-
ness ; the Rev. John M. Edward, 8.A., chaplain of
1825 and naval instructor of 1844, to the Conway, 26,
fitting at Portsmouth for service as flag-ship at Cork.
Clerks.—Adderley W. Chimmo (1848), from the Ma-
gicienne, 16, paddle-wheel steam-frigate, at Devonport,
to the Royal George, 121, screw steam-ship at Devon-
port ; John Seldon (1848), from the Vulture paddle.
wheel steam-frigate, at Devonport, to the Ajax, 58,
screw steam-ship, at Cork ; Thomas C. H. Shears (1849),
from the Amphion, 34, screw steam-frigate, to the Pro-
metheus paddle-wheel steam-sloop, at Devonport ; F.
J. Lory (1852), from the Ajax, screw steam-ship, at
Cork, to the Conway, 26, at Portsmouth, fitting for the
Cork station.

Clerks' Assistants.—H. P. Creak, to the James
Watt, 91, screw steam-ship, at Devonport ; A. P. Cox,
to the Magicienne, 16, paddle-wheel steam-frigate, at
Devonport ; E. S. M. Power, to the Vulture, paddle-
wheel steam-frigate, at Devonport ; William Ward, to
the Amphion, 34, screw steam-frigate ; James N.
Robinson, to the Princess Royal, 91, screw steam-ship,
at Portsmouth.