The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-01 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 1, 1854.

1 'HE MAIL STEAM SHIP for AUSTRALIA.
JUNE 4, 1854.—The Magnificent Screw Steam-ship LADY
JOCELYN, 1,800 tons, another of the fine eet belonging to the
General Screw Steam Shipping Company, will be despatched with
her Majesty's Mails for Adelaide, Port Philip, and Sydney, on the
4th June neat. This truly noble ship has maintained her high re-
ptration for rapid sailing and runctuality, and as a sister ship to the
Argo, which has made the quickest voyage to and from Australia
ed
of
any ship ap to this time. The Lady Jocelyn has been employ
carrying the Mails to and from England and Calcutta, and after a
voyage of about 27,000 miles, calling at orts outward and
eight homeward, has reached Plyrnauth two days before her time,
and from her super or sailing and steaming qualities, it may be fairly
assumed that she will make the run to Australa in 60 days; Rates
of passage from 30 to 100 guineas. Full particulars as to Freight
and Passage money at the Company's Offices, 1, Adelaide-place,
London-bridge.

THE WAR.

-
NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
Rear-Admiral Hope Johnston is appointed to the
command-in-chief on the South-east Coast of America
station, and will leave, per Brazil mail-packet, to re-
lieve at Rio Rear-Admiral Henderson, C. 8., who is
desirous of coming home.
The St. Vincent, 101, ordinary depot-ship at Ports-
mouth, carrying the flag of Rear-Amiral Martin, super-
intendent of that dockyard, changes her captain this
week, Captain Scott having requested to be superseded,
owing to increasing infirmities. The St. Vincent's new
captain is George Augustus Eliott (1838), K.R.G.,
grand nephew of General George Augustus Eliott, after-
wards Lord Heathfield, the defender of Gibraltar ; he
was first lieutenant to Captain Sir John Franklin in the
Rainbow, 28, and to Captain Edmund (now Rear-Ad-
miral Sir Edmund) Lyons, in the Madagascar, 46, in
the Mediterranean, in 1833.
The Powerful, 84, sailing-ship, was ordered to be
commissioned at Portsmouth on Saturday, to join the
Baltic fleet. She will have a crew of 750 men, and be
commanded by Captain George Mansell, who had lost
the Actaeon, 26, on the coast of Africa. The Powerful
carried Sir Charles Napier's broad pendant on the coast
of Syria, and is a fine roomy, efficient; sailing two-
decker. She will, no doubt, be a welcome addition to
-the Baltic fleet.
The Scourge, 6, paddle-wheel steam-frigate, Commo-
dore Adams, is progressing very fast in her external
equipment at Portsmouth. She has lower and topsail
yards across, and topgallantmasts on end. She has about
70 hands entered, but might have been manned twice
over had she been allowed to enter all who presented
themselves, her captain and station (the coast of Africa
flag-ship) being both popular.
The store-ship Tyne, Master-Commander Tucker, has
been filled up with victualling stores from the Royal
Clarence yard, and will sail in a day or two for the Baltic
fleet.
The Alecto, 6, steamsloop, Commander Crofton, is
ordered from Portsmouth to Woolwich, to be paid off
and refitted.
The Simoom, 18, screw transport, Captain Smith, is
ordered to embark the 79th Highlanders at Portsmouth
Dockyard for Turkey on the 4th instant. This fine and
efficient regiment was officially inspected in quarters at
Portsmouth, on Saturday, by Major-General Simpson,
commanding the troops in that fortress.
In anticipation of the casualties of the war, new store-
houses are being built in the front of Haslar Hospital, to
enable sundry storehouses that held sick wards before to
be readapted to their original use as receptacles for sick
and wounded.
The Medea, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Phillimore,
went out of Portsmouth harbour on Friday evening, and
left for the north.
The Pigmy steam-vessel was commissioned 'at Ports-
mouth on Friday evening by Lieutenant Hunt, to attend
the Baltic fleet as a gun-boat. She is to carry one long
32-pounder swivel, and two long 18 ditto ; crew of 35 ;
no midshipmen or boys, but all able men.
The Stromboli, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Robert
Hall, has returned to Spithead from the Downs, not
having fallen in with any prizes.
The Sealark, 8, Lieutenant Fenwick, in charge, has
returned to Spithead, from the Channel.
The hired freight-ships, Harbinger, Negotiator, Mo-
narchy, Mary Anne, and Culloden are chartered to con-
vey the 13th light Dragoons from Portsmouth to
Turkey.
The depot of the 95th Foot crossed from Southampton
to Cowes on Saturday in her Majesty's steam-tug Echo,
to occupy Parkhurst Barracks.
A paddle-wheel man-of-war steamer and a large mer-
chant ship with passengers, from New York for Ant-
werp, passed up Channel inside the Eddystone about 6
o'clock yesterday morning.
The Phoenix screw steam-sloop, Captain Edward A.
Inglefield, and the Talbot, Commander Jenkins, are both
reported ready to proceed to sea, and convey the stores
they have on board to the Arctic regions for the relief
of Captain Sir Edward Belcher's Expedition.
Forty-eight newly raised men arrived at Plymouth in a
Dublin steamer on Saturday afternoon, and have been sent
on board the Impregnable, flag-ship. They will probably
be drafted to the Algiers, 90, screw steam-ship, fitting
out for active service. The Algiers got her steam up
on Saturday afternoon for the purpose of testing her
machinery. ,f,,Her engines worked admirably. Fairbairn
is the maker of them.
His Brazilian Majesty's screw steam-sloop Mage, 7
guns, arrived in the Sound on Thursday from the
Thames, where she was built. Captain Portugal takes a
passage In her to the Brazils.
The Belleisle, Commander Hoskin, fitting out as a
hospital ship for the Baltic fleet, will be ready to proceed
to sea about Wednesday next. Her stores have been
nearly all taken on board.
Brigade-Major J. H. Purves, of Portsmouth garrison,
is about to leave that post, where he has been very
actively employed of late in attending to the accommo-
dation provided for troops on board transports, for what
is considered more congenial (the kid glove) service,
being appointed equerry to the Duchess of Cambridge.
Mr. Philip C. D. Bean, who has been reappointed to
the Fisgard, flag-ship of Commodore John Shepherd, at
Woolwich, has resumed his duties as Master, and also
acts as Flag-Lieutenant. Under Mr. Bean's directions,
with the able assistance of Mr. Warner, gunner of the
Fisgard, the landsmen who have lately joined have be-
come very proficient in their drill and other exercises ;
and about 40 of them are now ready for being draughted
into vessels for service at sea. A statement had ap-
peared in some quarters that it was not intended to enter
any more landsmen for service ; but such is not the fact,
as the Fisgard is still entering healthy young lads of 18,
19, or 20 years of age, if 5 feet 6 inches in height,
although they may have never been at sea.
Lieutenant-Colonel Fox Strangways, Royal Horse
Artillery, Brigade-Major Adye, and Captain and Adju-
tant Gordon, left London on Saturday morning, pro-
ceeding via Paris and Marseilles, for the seat of war in
the East. The gallant Colonel will command the Royal
Horse Artillery of the British Army.
The following changes of companies at home stations
have taken place :
Captain Cannon's 7th company of the 13th battalion
to Shoeburyness, relieving Captain Longden's No. 5
company, 13th battalion, and the latter proceeded to
Bristol to relieve Captain Dennis Pack's company, Ist
battalion, that company being under orders to return to
head-quarters at Woolwich.
The remaining divisions of Captain Swinton's field-
battery of Royal Artillery embarked on Saturday in the
Lady Macnaughten and the Kenilworth, horse transport
ships, and were taken out of Woolwich basin in the after-
noon. The Blake, horse transport-ship, is in the basin,
and has also a portion of a battery of the Royal Artil-
lery on board, and will be taken out at the early hour of
3 o'clock in the morning, and proceed down the river
on her way to the Mediterranean.
The Wilson Kennedy, transport, Captain Simpson,
hired by the Government to convey troops to the
Mediterranean, is now in the hands of the artisans of
Plymouth Dockyard, and her repairs will not be com-
pleted before Tuesday. The head-quarters and last
troop of the Bth Hussars arrived at Plymouth from Exe-
ter on Friday, in the expectation of embarking on board
her on Saturday. She left Liverpool on the 16th, and
entered the Sound on Wednesday, the 26th. During
the passage strong gales were encountered from south-
west, south-south-east, and from that to east-south-
east. One heavy gale from north-north-east was ac-
companied by a tremendous sea. The ship at times
pitched her forecastle under water, and was much
strained. On entering the harbour, Lieut. Keating,
R.N., the active superintendent of transports, made his
survey, and reported that the ship was not furnished with
a complete second suit of sails, according to what is
termed the " Admiralty indent," and orders were
instantly received for her to be supplied with them,
and be put in a proper state of repair. Private sail-
makers not being able to supply the whole of the sails in
time, part of them are being made in the Government
sail depots. Besides the insufficiency of her sails, some
of which were weak, the ropes of them chafed, and the
blocks were not large enough. Admiral Stopford, Ad-
supported by Mr. Mills, Master-Attendant,
miral-Superintendent of Plymouth dockyard, who is
effectively
Mastereetively Shipwright, and Mr. Turner, Assistant, is ,
losing no time in expediting the repairs. The artisans '
commenced on Thursday morning, and work daily until
9at night. They were busy on her all yesterday, and
she will probably be completely ready for sea by Tues-
day morning. The Wilson Kennedy is a full-rigged
ship, and registers 1,129 tons. She has been supplied
at Plymouth with above 30 tons of additional iron bal
last. Her capacious 'tween decks are fitted with stalls
for 85 horses—namely, 70 troopers, and 15 officers' ; the ,
bottom of the stalls is of stout plank, crossed over with
two-inch battens, and on these the horses will stand.
The accommodation for the troops, 85, is forward, on
the same deck, under the topgallant forecastle. The II
head quarters of the Bth Hussars consists of Lieutenant-
Colonel Shewell, Captain Chetwode, Lieutenant Adu-
tant Seager, Cornet Clowes, and Surgeon Andersjn.
On her poop, from her mainmast aft, the ship will carry
a flat-bottomed boat, 27 feet lon.gor-General Sir Harry
, constructed for the
purposesm Smith
and
nodf
Admirallauding troops:
Superintendent Maj Stopford inspected
her yesterday.
The Miranda, 15 guns, screw steam-ship, Captain
Edmund M. Lyons, was put out of the fitting basin,
Sheerness, on Friday. Her crew have been paid their
advance, under the superintendence of Capt. Christopher
Wyvill. She is to take on board 40 tons of shot, and
an extra supply of powder for the Baltic fleet, and is
under orders to leave to-day. Her number of blue-
jackets has been increased by 25 A,B.'s, in addition to

her former complement. Mr. William Spouse proceeds
in the Miranda as Baltic pilot. Mr. Spouse has for
many years commanded merchant ships in all parts of
the Baltic, and was for two years and upwards in com-
mand of a fine Russian Finland clipper schooner, draw-
ing two feet more water than the Miranda does at pre-
sent. Mr. Spouse acted as pilot on board this ship on
her late trip out to reconnoitre the Russian ports—
Port Baltic and Revel.

The weather being more moderate on Saturday, the
shear hulk was got along the Nile, 91, screw steam-ship.
The crank shaft was hoisted out and put on board
the steam-vessel African, which left Sheerness at
noon for Messrs. Stewards' factory to have the neces-
sary repairs effected. On the Nile coming to an anchor
for the night, on her passage round to Sheerness from
the Downs, a target was placed at a distance of 800
yards for practising the crew, which, however, did not
afford much opportunity, for the third shot fired passed
completely through the target (a cask) and sunk it.
Before another could be got out the evening set in.
It is well worthy of notice,'and does credit to the ship's
company, that since the pendant has been hoisted there
has not been a single instance of punishment having
taken place ; and the same can be said on board the
Miranda, Captain Edmund M. Lyons. Both ships being
here at present, and lying near each other, they are
styled by the blue jackets on board each, "The Happy
Couple," and they hope before long to have a chance of
daring the enemy to separate them whilst they have a
shot in either of their lockdrs.

The Tartarus, 4, paddlewheel steam-vessel, Lieuten-
ant-Commander Richard Risk, has been put out of
the fitting basin at Sheerness, and taken in her powder,
shell, &c. She is to proCeed to the entrances of the
Elbe and Weser to look after Russian merchant ships.
The Columbine, armed 'sailing coal depot, the armed
water tank, and the cutter Gossamer, were all put out
of the Sheerness fitting basin on Saturday. The Gossa-
mer is to be fitted as a revenue cutter, and will also pro-
ceed in search of Russian merchant vessels homeward
bound.

Lieutenant Simpson H. RickettS, of December 1, 1851,
from the Waterloo, 121, is in command, pro tem., of the
Cuckoo, 3, paddlewheel steam-vessel, and she is now
being fitted in dry dock at Sheerness, and is to proceed
round the Orkney Islands to look after Russian prizes.
The revenue cutter Stag, 6, Lieutenant Frederick L.
Cotton, sailed on Saturday morning for her cruising
ground to look after Russian prizes.
The Hannibal, 91, screw, at Chatham, is progressing
fast in her fitment, her lower and topmast rigging is be-
ing set up, and she is entering some smart, able, and
good ordinary seamen.
_ _

Mr. Joseph Whittall, clerk, the 9th of July, 1852,
serving in the office of Vice-Admiral the Hon. Josceline
Percy, has been promoted to the rank of Paymaster.
He will still retain his present appointment under the
Admiralty regulations.

DEAL, APRIL 29.

The French frigate Zenobie anchored for the Baltic.
Sailed the Majestic for the Baltic. Two Prussian men-
of-war passed at the back of the Goodwin Sands, to the
eastward, at 5 o'clock this morning.

APRIL 30.
Arrived and passed, the Lady M‘Naghten (36),
,ransport), London to Malta.
THE FRENCH FLEET.— On Saturday the French fleet
.00sed sails, but subsequently stowed them again. No
.ess than twenty boats were ashore at Deal, on Satur-
day, taking off supplies and necessaries for their ships.
The utmost good feeling prevailed between the officers
and men of the allied forces.

taken away—the balance of the 240 or 250 she will
carry on the deck below. The Himalaya was to have
been immediately on her arrival fitted in the same way,
and perhaps still is, unless her breaking down one engine
prevents. She would carry, at the same rate of space
allowed, nearly double the number—say, however, 450.
We calculate, in this way, it takes 229 feet of the
Jason's length to carry 172 horses on one deck, and that
deck is under (considerably under) 300 feet long. The
Himalaya, if properly fitted, would have length of deck
for stalls say 320 feet, or about one-third more ; so on
that deck, and carrying only two rows, she would put
away conveniently 250 horses, and below 200 more.
But, taking the Jason's practice, it is quite clear that
nine such vessels might long ago have taken out the
2,000 cavalry talked of in 15 days from shipping. The
horses already sent, we are to suppose, are those belong-
ing to the artillery and the staff ; for, as far as the public
have been made aware, no great number of the actual
cavalry soldiers' horses are even yet gone.
It may be said, and no doubt truly, that the steamers
employed in carrying the foot soldiers in such numbers
could not be spared for this other equally important
duty. Why not then have taken up other steamers ?
Why not have laid violent hands on the Great Britain,
which sailed on Saturday for Australia, if her owners
were not sufficiently loyal to offer her ? That ship could
have carried nearly, if not quite, 3,000 men, and on her
two cleared passenger decks we are afraid to say how
many horses. She, being five feet wider than the Hima-
laya, could have carried four clear rows en a deck length
of nearly 300 feet ; also, in fact, the number she could
have carried over 800 would only have been controlled
by coal and forage stowage.

Altogether, although great things have been done, and
we admit it, we do think there has been some blunder-
ing, and no wonder, when five or six different office rou-

tines have to be gone through before the simplest move
can be made—the Cabinet, the Colonial, the War, the
Admiralty, the transport, &c. Time there was one war
minister.—Morning .Herald.