The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-07 00:00:00

The Medina, Mediterranean mail steam-packet, Lieut.-
Commander Louis R. Reynolds, was paid-off here to-
day, and several of her crew left in the afternoon, for
Cahtham, to join the Imperieuse, screw steam-frigate,
Captain R. B. Watson, C. 8., fitting at that port.
The Megera, steam-frigate, Commander John A.
Johnson, will leave Woolwich on Monday, it is expected,
to proceed to Cork, to embark troops at that port under
orders for foreign service.
The Firebrand, steam-frigate, Captain Hyde Parker,
will soon be ready for sea, and a number of convicts were
employed all day yesterday and to-day in coaling her.
The destination of the Firebrand is not yet known, but
it is expected she will proceed to Portsmouth, and then
to Lisbon, as four carpenters are wanted for service in
the Sanspareil, 81, Captain Sidney C. Dacres, now at
Lisbon, whose names are to be borne on the books of
the Fisgard, flag-ship at this port, and they are to apply
on board the Firebrand.

Mr. Taplin, second assistant to the chief engineer at
Woolwich Dockyard, went down the river to-day to wit-
ness the trial of two schooner-rigged war screw steam-
vessels of about 300 tons each, and each mounting two
32-pounder guns on traversing platforms, built and fitted
with engines of 70-horse power each by Messrs. Bligh of
Limehouse. Captain White, superintendent for the
PortugUese Government, and Mr. Alfred Bligh were on
board the steamers, and the result of the repeated trials
was an average speed of nearly nine knots per hour,
without any symptom of a warm bearing, although the
engines, on the horizontal direct action principle, made
from 90 to 96 revolutions per minute.

THE SCREW PROPELLER.
TO THE EDITOR OP THE MORNING HERALD.

SlB,—Having observed a correspondence going on in
your valuable paper during the last few days regarding
the merit of placing the screw propeller outside the rud-
der instaad of inside, as is usually the practice, we have
thought it due to those interested in this important ques-
tion to state that a patent was taken out for this very
application of the screw by Mr. Beattie, C.E., about
two years ago. We ourselves built a steamer on the
principle, and we are glad to say fully bear out all that
your correspondents appear to prognosticate respect-
ing it, for she has been constantly running between
this port and the Mediterranean since she was built
(now about eighteen months) with the most perfect suc-
cess ; and we are so satisfied with its efficiency, and the
great improvement there is over the old plan, that we
have had it put into two other steamers, in one of which,
the Osmanli, built at Dumbarton about six years ago, it
has given an addition to her speed of fully two knots
per hour, as tested on her voyage to the Mediterranean.
The other (Rattler) is only just now being completed,
and is to be put on the Portugal line from Liverpool,
add we have no doubt will prove herself equal to the
others. The great speed of the Frankfort, joined to the
fact of the remarkable absence from all vibration, has
caused her to command a preference from passengers
everywhere. There is no doubt as to the great value of
the improvement.—We are Sir, your most obedient
servants,

VIANNA, JONES, AND CHAPPLE.
Liverpool, Feb. 4, 1851.

ROYAL MARINES, SHEERNESS.— The second lieuten-
ant of Marines, of the Waterloo, 120, flag-ship, some
short time since had a court of inquiry held, at his own
request, to investigate a circumstance which, if proved,
would most seriously affect his character as an officer
and a gentleman. The said lieutenant recently applied
to the Admiralty to know the decision of the court, and
on Friday last, the 28th ult., an order arrived here for
the commander-in-chief to try him by a court-martial,
on Thursday, the 3d inst. On the intelligence being
communicated to him, he immediately resigned his com-
mission which has been accepted at head-quarters. No
court-martial will, therefore, take place, he having left
the ship.—Portsmouth Times.

NEW ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS.

Commander Inglefield, who commanded the Isabel,
screw steam-vessel, last year, during her enterprising
search up Smith's Sound, where he discovered a great
expanse of open water, received a letter, on Thursday
morning last, appointing him to the command of the
Phoenix, screw steam-sloop, at Deptford, which we stated
last year had been taken up from Woolwich to that
dockyard to be prepared for a voyage to the Arctic re-
gions. The Phoenix, screw steam-sloop, was built at
Chatham in 1832, of 809 tons burthen, from a design by
Sir R. Seppings, and she was amongst the earliest Go-
vernment steamers fitted with a screw propeller and oscil-
lating engines, byJohn Penn and Son, of 260 horse-power.
She can stow 210 tons of coals, and has good accommo-
dation on board for the comfort of the crew, with ample
room for a large supply of stores. When brought down
to Woolwich in the course of next week, she will
have her boilers (now at this yard) put on board, and be
made ready to leave in the first week of May next for
the Arctic regions. It is not yet decided upon, but it is
fully expected that the Lady Franklin sailing vessel, for-
merly purchased by Government for Captain Penny's
expedition, and now at Chatham will accompany the
Phoenix as a store ship, and be also well supplied with
coals for the use of the Phoenix, and the vessels of Cap-
tain Sir Edward Belcher's expedition. The intention of
sending out Commander Inglefield's expedition is, in the
first instance, to proceed to Beechy Island with a fresh
supply of provisions and other stores, which will be
turned over to the North Star, Commander Pullen, ex-
pected to be found stationed there as a rendezvous for
the vessels of Sir Edward Belcher's expedition. The
Phoenix having accomplished that part of the object in
sending her during the present year to the Arctic regions,
will then be under a kind of discretionary power at the
command of Commander Inglefield, to proceed to Smith's
and Jones's Sound, and follow up the discoveries he made
in the former, in 1852, leaving the Lady Franklin,
sailing-tender to the Phoenix, at the Carey Islands, or
other eligible winter harbour at the part of Baffin's Bay,
at the mouth of Smith's Sound, as a rendezvous for the
officers and the crew of the Phoenix to fall back upon in
the event of any unforeseen accident to the steam-sloop.
Lady Franklin, the devoted wife of Sir John Franklin,
still entertains the fond hope that ber long-absent hus-
band will again be restored to her, and her whole ener-
gies at the present time are directed to the sending out
the Isabel, screw steam-vessel of 16 nominal horse-power,
but, being on the high-pressure principle, capable of
working to a much higher power. Mr. Kennedy, who
commanded the Prince Albert in her recent voyage to
the Arctic regions, visited the Isabel, at Woolwich, on
Thursday last, and made a minute inspection of her, as,
if it is finally decided that she will proceed to Bel:ring
Straits, he will have the command, and be accompanied
by Mons. Bellot, the Frenchman who was with him during
the last voyage, and has again volunteered his services
most generously and gratuitously in any further service
Mr. Kennedy may enter upon, in compliance with the
wishes of Lady Franklin in search of Sir John Franklin.
Mr. Bardin, who accompanied Commander Inglefield
last year in the Isabel, as angineer of that vessel, has
also offered his services to proceed in her with Mr.
Kennedy. Mr. Bardin kept a diary of the voyage in
the' Isabel with Commander Inglefield, and his account
is the most satisfactory refutation of the story of Adam
Beck, with reference to the murder of Sir John Franklin
and his crews, that has yet been given to the public. The
following is an extract from the diary :—" Sunday—
.

It came on to blow very fresh, when we stood off

from the land, and reached in towards the afternoon
when the wind abated, and we rounded Cape Dudley
Digges. While running along the land observed some
natives on a glazier, which Sir John Ross has ren-
dered celebrated by a description of it in his first
voyage. At six p.m. ordered to get steam up whilst
Commander went on shore with Mr. Abernethy and
boat's crew, where they met eleven natives, four men,
four women, and three children, and had a conversation
with them through Mr. Abernethy, who told them of
the statement Adam Beck had made, that Sir John
Franklin, with his officers and crews of the Erebus and
Terror, had: been murdered by the Esquimaux. When
the steam was up, run in shore to pick up the boat.
One of the females made a plan of the coast on the land
for Mr. Abernethy. The females appear to be generally
of a more intellectual standard than the men. Passed
one or two patches on the cliffs, but did not observe in
any place the least discolourment of the snow. We now
enjoy the blessing of uninterrupted light, as the sun did
not set to-day until half-past 10 p.m., and rose above
the horizon again at 1.30 a.m. Those jovial spirits wh,
are wont in England to communicate to all the inhabi
tants in their locality that it is not their intention to g
home " till morning," would hero have a very good apo
logy for not going home at all, as it would be a difficult
matter to determine when it was night.
"Monday—This day our search commenced in
earnest. At 4 a.m. made Wolstenholm Island, when
the commander drew my attention to the inaccuracy of
the chart, as laid down by Mr. Saunders, Master of the
North Star, who has laid down Wolstenholm Island as
entirely blocking out from view the Saunders' Island,
whereas it can be seen most distinctly, and forms quite
a prominent object, from its formation being totally dis-
tinct from that of Wolstenholm Island. The other
clearly shows its volcanic origin, as in fact so does the
whole of the sound, particularly Mount Dundas. At
the south-east end of it we ran along the east side of the
bay, looking at every part of it in a most searching man-
ner, nothing like a cairn being visible in any part
of it. The whole of the above part of the Sound con-
sists of bold perpendicular cliffs, except towards the
south end, where the land gradually slopes until it
reaches a very fine sandy beach, where the North Star
wintered. After having carefully viewed it all round,
we bore away for the scene of Adam Beck's statement,