The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-13 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, APRIL 12.

001:01T-MARKAL.
A Court-martial—comprising Captain H. D. Chads, C. 8..
of her Majesty's ship Excellent, President; Captain H. B.
Martin, C. 8., of the Duke of Wellington ; Captain Sir
Thomas Maitland, C. 8.. of the Agamemnon ; Captain
Mundy, of the London ; Captain E. H. Scott, of the Nep-
tune; Captain Henderson, C. 8., of the Blenheim; Captain
Goldsmith, of the Sidon ; Captain Watson, C.B. of the
Imperieuse ; Captain O'Callaghan, of the Encounter ; Cap-
tain Moore, of the Highflyer ; Captain Crispin, of her
Majesty's yacht Victoria and Albert; and Mr. G. L. Great-
ham, Deputy-Judge-Advocate of the Fleet—assembled this
morning on board the flag-ship Victory, in this harbour,
to try Mr. Francis Rhodes Hartwell, Mate, R.N., of the
steam-frigate Vulcan, for breach of discipline in refusing
to obey orders on the 31st day of December last, at sea.
Commander Von Donop, of the Vulcan, prosecuted for
the Admiralty.

It appeared by the evidence of Mr. John Trevenen, Se-
cond Lieutenant of the Vulcan, that on the afternoon of
the day named in the charge he was officer of the watch,
and Mr. Hartwell was mate of the watch. At about a
quarter past 4 the. commander called him (witness), and,
after asking him what steps he had taken to get relieved,
called Mr. Hartwell, and told him it was the duty of the
mate of the watch to call the officer of the next watch
himself. Mr. Hartwell replied, the officer of the next
watch was a midshipman. He was then called on the
poop by the commander (prosecutor), and ordered to
call the officer of the next watch, whoever and what-
ever he might be. Prisoner replied he would be very
happy to call a senior officer, but begged to decline
calling a junior. The First Lieutenant was then called
on the poop, and the same dialogue was repeated. Pri-
soner was then put under arrest. This witness's testimony
was corroborated by the First Lieutenant, but both
officers said the prisoner had always done his duty to their
satisfaction ; also that it was customary for the corporal of
marines to call the officer of the next watch. This being
the case against the prisoner, he solicited a quarter of an
hour to prepare his defence, at the expiration of which time
his " friend," Mr. James Hoskins, solicitor, of Gosport,
put in an eloquent and elaborate appeal on his behalf,
which embodied that, notwithstanding the utmost efforts
of the prisoner to give satisfaction by discharging his
duties faithfully and with propriety to his officers, Com-
mander Von Douop would not be satisfied, and endeavoured
to degrade him in the eyes of his brother officers, as he
considered, in the instance contained in the charge ; that
it had been proved his conduct to the commander was not
disrespectful—he only objected to calling an inferior
officer ; that he hoped the Court would take into considera-
tion his having been already three months under arrest ;
that he was entirely dependent on the naval service for
support ; and hoped the sentence of the Court would not
blight those prospects, but enable him to continue the
career he had commenced. The Court, after due delibera-
tion, decided that the charge had been fully proved, but,
under the peculiar circumstances of the case, they only
adjudged the prisoner to be dismissed from her Majesty's
ship Vulcan, and not to be eligible for promotion for one
year.

The same Court then proceeded to try George, alias
Joseph, Child, seaman, for desertion from her Majesty's
ship Agamemnon. Captain Sir Thomas Maitland prose-
cuted. It appeared the prisoner had only been on board
the ship two months, and having been granted leave, took
the opportunity at its expiration (on the 16th of January,
last) to desert. He ultimately gave himself up as a de-
serter. In consequegce of this and the short time he had
been in her Majesty's service, coupled with his youth, the
Court only awarded him three months' imprisonment in
the county gaol of Winchester.
Odin, 16, paddle, Captain Francis Scott, left Spithead
at sunset last evening, on a cruise to the westward, in con-
sequence of the sickness on board.

Duke of Wellington, 131, Captain Henry Byam Martin,
got under weigh this morning at noon, and steamed about
to try her expansion gear ; after which she came into har-
bour at 2 p.m., and took up moorings opposite the shears
jetty. The interest crested to see this noble ship come into
harbour was nearly equal to that of yesterday. The people
rushed in crowds on the platform, and every available po-
sition where they could get a sight. She steamed into
harbour most majestically against the first of the ebb. She
will now receive her armament, and complete for sea.
The Basilisk, 6, paddle, Commander the Hon. F. Eger-
ton, hauled into the angle dock this morning to examine
her copper ; she will be dry to-morrow.
The Vulcan, 6, iron screw-steam troop-ship, Commander
Von Donop.--We had an opportunity of closely inspecting
the bottom of this ship, and do not hesitate to pronounce
it in excellent order, considering the length of time she has
been afloat, and having had Hay's composition on for ten
months. There were a few duck barnacles on the after-
part of her run, within six feet of the false stern-post, but
when brushed off showed that the iron was not affected ;
her bilge was most perfect, and as fine as possible. The
three streaks below the water-line at the time of her being
light showed a little rust, and this is the worst that can be
said of her. She was built by contract at Mr. Mare's es-
tablishment at Blackwell-

PLYMOUTH, APRIL 12.
Her Majesty's screw steam-ship Sanspareil, 81, Captain
Sidney C. Dacres, steamed out of harbour yesterday after-
noon at three o'clock with royal yards across, and against
a strong flood tide. She will make a trial trip to-day.
The Vengeance, 84, Captain Lord Edward Russell, sailed
on Sunday to join the squadron undo Vice-Admiral Dundas
in the Mediterranean. Only seven or eight of her crew were
left bebind.

Inside the Eddystone at seven o'clock this morning a large
ship-rigged paddle-wheel steamer was observed going clown
Channel under full steam and all canvas. Wind northerly,
light breeze.

WOOLWICH, APRIL __ 19 .

APPOINTMENTS.
Second Master Thomas C. Jones, to the Dasher steam-
vessel, at Portsmouth.
John Richards, William F. Rowe, and George W. Atkin-
son have been selected from Greenwich School to be Mas-
ters-Assistants.

The Undine iron paddle-wheel steam-packet, of 110-horse
power, Second Master Edmund Lyne, has come round from
Dover to have some repairs effected at this dockyard.
The Phoenix screw steam-sloop, Commander Edward A.
Inglefield, had her steam up to-day at moorings in the
river to try her engines, and they continued working from
half-past 7 a.m. until late in the afternoon. She will soon
be ready for sea, and will complete her crew at Peterhead,
where she will obtain a number of hardy sailors inured on
former occasions to an Arctic winter.
SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. LANG, MASTER-SHIPWRIGHT.
—Mr. Oliver Lang, master-shipwright at Woolwich
Dockyard, who was quite well and cheerful and on board
the Royal Albert screw steam-ship and Terrible steam-
frigate on Monday afternoon, inspecting the progress of
those vessels, died shortly before 1 o'clock on Tuesday
morning. Mrs. Lang observed at about 12 o'clock at night
that her husband breathed heavily, and sent for Dr. Browning
surgeon of the yard, but before he arrived, Mr. Lang had
almost ceased to exist, and died in a few . minutes after-
wards. The deceased served his apprenticeship at Devon-
port Dockyard, and when he had completed his time was
placed over the workmen employed in constructing the tele-
graphs used during the war along the coasts of this coun-
try. He was subsequently overseer of the shipwrights
employed in building a 74-gun ship, and on his return to
Devonport Dockyard was appointed quarterman in charge
of a company of shipwrights, and was shortly after removed
to Deptford as foreman of the shipwrights at that yard.
From Deptford he returned to Devonport on being ap-
pointed assistant to the master shipwright there. From De-
vonport he was removed to Somerset-house, where he offi-
ciated as assistant-surveyor to the Navy Board. In 1823 he
was promoted to be master-shipwright, and appointed to
Sheerness Dockyard, where he remained three years, until
removed, on the 22d of July, 1826, to Woolwich. Mr.
Lang
was 75
.years of age, 27 of which he served as
master-shipwright at Woolwich, and his loss will be se-
verely felt by the poor, to whom he was a great, although
unostentatious, friend. He was a great favourite with
George IV., and so pleased that Monarch when superin-
tending some works at Virginia-water that his Majesty
offered to knight him, but Mr. Lang respectfully declined
the honour. He was also a great favourite of William IV.,
and received numerous presents from the Emperor of
Russia, the King of Prussia, and the King of Denmark.
Mr. Lang introduced a great number of improvements into
the construction of ships and steamers, and the strength of
vessels of his construction is evident to all who have in-
spected. the Royal Albert, 131, screw steam-ship, and the
Terrible steam-frigate, both at present at Woolwich, the
former nearly ready for launching. Mr. Lang was the
first to design a steam-vessel for the Royal Navy, and the
Comet paddle-wheel steam-vessel, of 80-horse power, built I
under his superintendence at Deptford, is still in the ser-
vice, and employed on the west coast of Scotland in pro-
tecting the fisheries.

MANNING THE NAVY.--REFORM OF THE
NAVAL CODE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING HERALD.

SIB, —One of the questions that most attract the at-
tention of the public at this time is the method in which
the personnel of the Royal Navy shall be obtained, suffi-
cient in numbers, and • suitable in quality, to meet the
exigencies and requirements of the state. To obtain this
desirable result three things are necessary, viz. :-
1. An alteration in the naval code.
2. An enlisted navy.
3. An alteration in the system of paying wages.

1. The naval code in use at the present date was
framed in the comparatively barbarous days of George II.;
and it is high time that its provisions should be altered
to such as are more consonant with the feelings
and ideas of the nation in the present era. "A Na-
val Officer " has re-suggested through the medium
of the columns of your influential paper, the in-
troduction of ship courts-martial, which will ne-
cessarily involve the re-construction of the present
Mutiny Act. This opportunity shouli be taken
to introduce into the naval code the three descriptions of
courts martial that have worked so well in the army,
under the designation of general, squadron, and ship
courts-martial.
General courts-martial should be convened under the
authority of a warrant from the Commissioners of the
Admiralty, and should be composed of no less than 13
officers of the commissioned ranks—viz., flag officers,
captains, commanders, lieutenants, masters, mates, and
second masters of the navy, and field officers, captains,
and subalterns of the marines. The president never to
be under the degree of commander in the navy, or field-
officer in the marines ; the officers of the navy and ma-
rines taking their seats according to the dates of their
corresponding commissions. On occasions when ma-
rines are tried, the president or majority of the members
should be from the corps. This court should take cogni-
sance of grave offences laid down by the acts of Parlia-
ment, and should have a prosecutor and officiating judge
advocate.

Squadron courts-martial should be convened under
authority of a warrant from the commanders in chief of
stations, or flag officers of squadrons, and should be
composed of no less than seven officers. The president,
except under peculiar circumstances, not under the de-
gree of commander in 'the navy, or field officer in the
marines. This court to take cognisance of crimes of a
certain degree laid down by articles of war.
Ships courts-martial should be convened by order of
the captain or commanding officer of any ship, and
should be composed of no less than five officers, except
under peculiar circumstances, when three may be
sufficient. The president not under the degree of
lieutenant or master in the navy, or captain in the
marines. This court should take cognisance of minor
offences laid down by articles of war. All sentences
should be submitted to the convening authority for con-1

firmation. Neither squadron nor ship courts-martial
require either prosecutor or judge advocate.
2. An enlisted Navy. —By enlisting men and boys
from the interior of the country, between 14 and 21
years of age, and men who may previously have been
at sea, up to 26 years of age, first for a period of 12
years, and a second period of 10 years, the personnel
of the navy would be kept up to the annual rate, with
the same facility as that of the army. Commodious line-
of-battle ships, no longer fit for sea, but still efficient
for this purpose, might be moored to wharves, and com-
fortably fitted as barracks for the recruits, where they
would pass through a course of great gun and small arm
drill, and they should be permitted to pass to and from
them, when not required for duty, in the same
way that troops are permitted to pass in and out
of barracks. When a ship from a foreign sta-
tion is dismantled, her crew should be turned over to
these barracks, allowed a reasonable furlough, and then
would be ready to take their turn to embark in any ship
commissioned for service. While in these barrack-ships
the men should pay for their rations in the same way as
troops pay for theirs, so as to render it some advantage
to embark in a ship commissioned for service.
3. Alteration in the Payment of Wages.---It would
conduce much to the benefit of the service, and satisfac-
tion of the men, if when in harbour they were regularly
paid twice a month by the lieutenants of divisions ; and
if on arrival at the end of any passage they were paid
the full sum that may have accrued in the interval, and
also if they were permitted to allot the whole, instead of
a portion of the sum due to them, to their families.
After 22 years' service they should be entitled to a fixed
pension, unless forfeited by sentence of a court-martial ;
and for every good-conduct badge they might be pos-
sessed of on discharge, one penny a day extra.
It is better to anticipate discontent and remove cause
thereof before effect is exhibited. To this end marines
serving on board ship should have their rations free. On
board ship the marine looks round him, his shipmates of
every other class, even his own officers, receive their
rations free, while he pays for his. He knows that if
his fellow-soldiers of the line were embarked to serve as
marines, they would receive their rations free. Ever
loyal in times of mutiny and danger, ever brave when
his services are required against the foe, on the ocean
or on the land, why should not his advantages be equal
in this respect to the soldiers of the army and the sailors
of the navy.

REFORMATOR.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

NEWMARKET CRAVEN.-TUESDAY,

SWEEPSTAKES of 100 sovs. each, h ft, for fillies, Bst 71b
untried stallions or mares allowed 31b ; only one allow-
ance. D.M. 4 subs.
Lord Exeter's Phrygia, by Phlegon, Bst 41b...(Norman) 1
Mr. Payne's Estrella, sister to Sidus, Bst 71b (Flatman) 2
The betting opened at 5 to 2 and closed at 6 to 4 on
Estrella. The non-favourite made play throughout, and
won very easily by three lengths.
PLATE of 501. for two-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 71b ; and fillies,

Bst 41b.

First half of Ab,

Mr. Gulliver's Village Lass, by Pyrrhus the First, Bst
41b (H. Crickmere) 1
Lord Exeter Margaretta, Bst 41b (Norman) 2
Mr. Raine's Mary, Bst 41b (Sly) 3
The following also ran :—Mr. Downe's The Uncleared,
Bst 71b (Basham) ; Mr. Stephenson's c by the Sea, out of
Margaret, Bst 71b (G. Mann) ; Mr. Wigram's Thekla, Bst
4.1 b (Rogers).
Betting-5 to 4on Village Lass, 4to 1 agst Mary. The
Uncleared and Mary made the running half the distance,
Village Lass then took it up, carried it on, and won easily
by a length. Margaretta came when halfway in the cords
and deprived Mary of second place by half a length.
SWEEPSTAKES of 10 soya. each, for three-yr-olds, 7st ; four,
Bst 41b ; five and upwards, Bst 111 b. The winner to be
sold for 80 sous., if demanded, &c. First half of Ab. M.
6 subs.
Mr. Rogers's Leybourne, by Epirus, 5 yrs .... (S. Rogers) 1
Mr. E. W. Hughes's Sophistry, 4 yrs (Flatman) 2
Mr. Raine's Plunkett, 3 yrs (Goodman) 3
The following also ran :—Lord Exeter's Walnut, 3 yrs
(S. Steggles) ; Mr. Delamere's Miss Delamere, 3 yrs (Wells);
Duke of Bedford's Ernestine, 3 yrs (Esling).
Betting-7 to 4 agst Ernestine, 3to 1 agst Walnut, 4to
1 agst Leybourne. Plunkett, lying wide, made the running
to the dip, where Leybourne caught her and deprived her
of the lead, which he maintained to the end, winning
easily by two lengths, Sophistry obtaining second place by
a head.

The TWENTIETH TUESDAY RIDDLESWORTH STAKES of
200 sovs. each, h ft, for three-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 71b ;
fillies, Bst 41b ; mares or stallions that never bred a win-
ner allowed 31b ; if both, 51b. D. M. 7 subs.
Duke of Bedford's Diomedia, by Weatherbit, 7st 131 b
l 1
Mr. Knowles's Talfourd, Bst 71b (Barham(Petti 2
Mr. Payne's Glenalvon, Bst 41b (Flatman 3
Lord Exeter's Phrygia, Bst llb (Norman) 4
Betting-6 to 4 agst Diomedia, sto 2 agst Talfourd, 7to
2 and 3 to 1 against Glenalvon, 4 to 1 agst Phrygia.
Phrygia made the running to the cords ; Talfourd then
went on with the lead, but when half way up was collared
by Diomedia, and at last beaten by a head; three lengths
between the second and third.
SWEEPSTAKES of 100 sovs. each, h ft, for three-yr-old
colts, Bst 71b ; untried stallions or mares allowed 31bs;
only one allowance. D.M. 8 subs.
Lord Exeter's Filbert, by Nutwith, Bst 71b (Norman) 1
Lord Exeter's Cobnut, Bst 41b (G. Mann) 2
Duke of Bedford's Petrel, Bst 41b (Pettit) 3
Mr. Payne's War Whoop, Bst 71b (Flatman) 4
Betting-5 to 4on WaYWhoop, sto 2 agst Filbert. Cob-
nut with Petrel‘ lying up made the running to the dip,
where Filbert took the lead, and won easily by a length ;
same distance between second and third.
Renewal of the NEWMARKET HANDICAP of 25 soya. each,
10 ft, and only 5 if declared, &c., with 200 added (50
from the Town Race fund, and 150 by the Jockey Club),
for three-yr-olds and upwards. The second horse to re-
ceive 100 sovs, out of the stakes. Clermont Course.
The winner of the Northamptonshire Stakes, or of the
Metropolitan Stakes, to carry 71b ;- of both, 101 b extra.
88 subs, 38 of whom pay 5 sovs. ft.
Mr. Knowles's Talfourd, 3 yrs, sst 31b (Oliver) 1
Mr. Oliver's Ethelbert, 3 yrs, sst 101 b (T. Sherwood) 2
Lord Glasgow's Doublethong, 3 yrs, sst (F. Bates) 3
The following also ran :—Mr. Megson's Weathergage, 4
yrs, 9st (Marlow) • Captain Delme's The Little Savage, 4
yrs, 7st 41b (Harding) ; Mr. E. Parr's Sanita, 4 yrs, 7st
(Hiett) ; Duke of Richmond's Antigone, 5 yrs, (Garvey) ;
Mr. H. Boyce's Herbert, aged, Est 121 b (Charlton) ; Mr.
Wigram's Peacock, 4 yrs, 6st 21b (S. Steggles ;) Mr. C.
Liley's Tavistock, 3 yrs, sst 91b (Corderoy) ; Mr. F. Eglin-
ton's Llanforda, 3 yrs, sst 41b . Steggles); Mr. J. M.
Stanley's Contentment, yrs, sst 31b, carried sst 71b (Wells);
Lord Glasgow's sister to Caracara, 3 yrs, sst, carried sst
61b (Carroll) ; Captain Lane's Charley, 3 yrs, 6st 21b (Rook) ;
Captain Bastard's Tittle Tattle, 3 yrs, sst 41b (W. Cowley);
General Anson's Nerva, 3 yrs, 4st 101 b (J. Edwards); Mr.
Gurney's St. Faith, brother to St. Fabian, 3 yrs, 6st 21b
(Palmer).
Betting-5 to 4 agst Ethelbert, 3to 1 agst Contentment,
6 to 1 agst Llanforda (offered), 12 to 1 agst Talfourd, 20 to
1 agst any other. After the first hundred yards Charley
took the lead, and with Ethelbert, Herbert, Doublethong,
Contentment, and Talfourd lying in front of the ruck he
pastmad e play to
him, and
te turn
mhaking ofh
the the lands,where
rest
ofthe
runn Talfourd
ing,wo shot
won easily
by three lengths ; two lengths between second and third ;
Contentment was fourth, Herbert fifth, Weathergage
sixth.

The morning train brought down a large accession of
company, and the assemblage on the heath was much in-
creased by the usual muster of market folk and peasantry
from the surrounding villages. The ring was not crowded,
and its enlargement enabled the betting brotherhood to
pursue their calling" without inconvenience or interrup-
tion.

The card contained six events. The principal race, the
Newmarket Handicap, terminated the proceedings. It
was won by Talfourd, who only an hour before had been
beaten by a head for the Twentieth Riddlesworih Stakes
by Diomedia. He was not advanced to a prominent posi-
tion in the betting on the Handicap until after his defeat,
when at the last moment he was very spiritedly supported
by his party. He is the property of Messrs. Bell and
Knowles, and was included among the animals lately pur-
chased by them of Lord Ribblesdale.
The weather was very fine, but the keeness of the air
was a sharp admonition to " keep moving."

BETTING AFTER THE RACES.—Six o'cLoos.
TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES.
3 tc:l agst West Australian (t) 18 to 1 agst BarbatiTA9 tot)
10 to 3 Sittingbourne

CHESTER CUP.
18 to 1 agst Talfourd I 30 to 1 agst Anne Page (t)
Talfourd was backed at 20 to 1 for upwards of 1,0001.
DERBY.
4 to 1 agst Scott's lot (5 to 1 t) I 40 to 1 agst Barbatus.
30 to 1— Talfourd (offered) I