The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-02 00:00:00

`1

with the declared intention of the Govern-
it of the United States to suffer no abuse of
r flag, it is probable that the Queen's procla-
on will soon cease to be of any very great in-
it, even to the naval profession, in case war
tot be avoided.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 1.
The Diamond, 28, Captain W. Peel, sailed from
Spithead yesterday morning, for the Mediterranean.
The Basilisk,' 8, paddle-wheel sloop, Commander the
Hon. F. Egerton, was placed in the steam factory basin
yesterday morning, to have her defects repaired.
The Frolic, 16, Commander No'loth, was paid advanoe
yesterday at Spithead.

The 'Fairy and Elfin Royal yachts hauled into the
steam factory basin yesterday,morning.
The Sealark, 8, brig, bent sails yesterday afternoon.
She will speedily be commissioned as an instruction-brig
for naval apprentices.

The Diligence store-ship arrived at Spithead this after-
noon from the eastward. It is supposed she will take
out supplies to the fleet in the Dardanelles.
The Dauntless, 24, screw•frigate, was commissioned
this morning by Captain Alfred Phillip Ryder.

PLYMOUTH, JAN. 1.

Her Majesty's frigate Pique, 36, was commissioned
yesterday by Mr. Carr, the Master, for Captain Sir
Frederick W. Nicholson; Bart. On Tuesday a party of
Royal Marines, under command of Lieutenant M'Cul-
lum, consisting of two sergeants, two corporals, one
drummer, and
.43 privates, will commence duty on board.
The paddle-wheel steam-ship Sidon, 22, Cap Lain
George Goldsmith, has arrived from Portsmouth to take
stores for the fleet in the Mediterranean, calling at
Lisbon.

The screw steam-vessel Rifleman, 8, Lieutenant-Com-
mander H. Christian, having had repairs made good,
went out of harbour yesterday, and is appointed to sail
to-day for South America.

The steam-vessel Avon arrived yesterday from Ports-
mouth.
The brig Nautilus, manned by naval apprentices,
sailed yesterday for Falmouth.

Letters from- the St. Jean d'Acre, at Lisbon, state
that she arrived from Plymouth in six days, during two
of which there was a dead calm, when she got up steam
and attained an average rate of 101 knots.
The merchant brig Mariner, of London, was off this
port yesterday morning, three months and two days from
the Mauritius, with sugar.

SHEERNESS, DEC. 31.
The Monarch, 84 guns, guard-ship of ordinary, Capt.
Charles Hope.—The officers and crew of this ship were
paid off yesterday, her three years' commission having
expired. The principal part of her blue-jackets volun-
teered for her again, and she has this day been recom-
missioned by Capt. Charles Hope, Captain-Superin-
tendent of her Majesty's dockyard here. The following
officers have been re-appointed to her—Capt. Charles
Hope, Commander Josiah Thompson, Lieut. George
13, Williams. For Service in Ordinary—Lieutenants
Timothy Macnamara, Thomas Cartwright, and Pecceval
Baskervil;e; Master Peter Francis (additional). For Ser-
vice in Myrtle—William S. Bourchier, Paymaster John
Williams. The late surgeon, Jason Lardner, is not re-
appointed. James Bankier. M.D. (Dec. 12, 1834), is
ordered to join. Assistant-Surgeon William James
Hamilton (additional), for service of ordinary, and Mark
Hamilton, M.D., Second-Master Augustus F. Mug-
ford, recently appointed to the steam frigate Cyclops,
will remain doing duty in the Monarch until a Second-
Master joins. Second-Master (acting), Charles Anstey.
Alfred Wood and Edward W. Gordon, clerks, are also
reappointed. She is to have the same number of men
she bad during her former commission.
The Cressy, 80 guns, new screw steam-ship, Captain
Henry J. Codrington.—Thefollowing officers have taken
up their commissions and joined :—Commander John
W. Doville (February 25, 1853), Master John J.
Brown, and the Paymaster, Walter Burke. The seamen,
gunners, marine-artillery, and marines for this ship,
have arrived, and are at present borne out on the books
of and victualled trom the Waterloo, 120 guns, flag-ship.
The Cressy having had all her fitments connected with
her screw, feed pipes, &c., completed in No. 3 dry dock,
was put out of dock yesterday, and berthed in the fitting
basin.

The Waterloo, 120 guns, flag-ship, Captain Lord F.
H. Kerr.—First Lieutenant Thomas B. Christopher
has taken command pro tent, of the Hart, and proceeded
to Harwich and other ports on the east coast to enter
volunteers for the navy under the new Admiralty regu-
lations. Captain Lord F. H. Kerr has, by Admiralty
order, been doing duty as Captain-Superintendent of the
dockyard during part of the period Captain Charles
Rope was on leave of absence. Yesterday the officers
and the entire staff of this yard underwent their quar-
terly muster in his presence.

WOOLWICH, DEC. 31.
APPOINTMENTS.

Lieutenant -Edward A. tlackett (1847), recently
serving in the Duke of Wellington, 131, screw steam-
ship, to the Cressy, 80, screw steam-ship at,, Sheerness.
Master—Genrge Henry Blakey (1840), to tho Gladi-
ator, 6, paddle-wheel steam-vessel, of 430-horse power,
ready for service as an advanced war steamer, at Ports-
mouth.

Mate--James A. Forbes (1853), to the Cressy.
Midshipman—George Parsons, to the Dauntless, 24,
screw steam-frigate, at Portsmouth.
Assistant-Surgeons—Charles F. William (1846), to
the Cyclops steam-frigate, fitting at Sheerness for the
Mediterranean station. .

Acting Assistant-Surgeons—Thomas Daly (1853), to
the Boscawen, 70, fitting at Chatham for the flag-ship
of Rear-Admiral Arthur Fanshawe, C. 8., on the North
America and West Indies station ; John Caldwell (1853),
to the Euryalus, 50, screw steam-frigate, at Chatham ;•
W. H. Cruise (1853), to the Pique, 40, at Devonport ;
Wm. S. Roche (1853), to the Dauntless screw steam-
frigate ; Henry G. Ruby (1853), to the Impregnable
flag-ship, at Devonport.
Commodore Henry Eden having had his broad pen&
ant on board the Fisgard flag-ship taken_ down on Fri-
day, at sunset, Commodore John Shepherds his sue-
cessor, arrived here about 10 o'clock a.m. to-day,
.and had his broad pendant hoisted on the Fisgard,
and assumed the duties of Commodore-Superintend-
ent of Woolwich Dockyard. The whole of the
heads of the department attended at the Commodore's
offices; and were introduced by Commodore Henry
Eden to Commodore John Shepherd, and the past and
present commodores subsequently visited all the depart-
ments and works in the yard. The new commissions of
the officers whose names will be borne on • the books of
,
the Fisgard were received in the course Of the forenoon,
and entered accordingly for service under Commodore
John Shepherd. Among the offices now borne on the
Books of the Fisgard are--Capt.-Superintendent Robert
Smart, K.H., stationed at head-quarters in London ;
and Capt. Craigie, Capt. James V. Baker, Capt. Henry
Broadhead, Capt. Witham L. Sheringharn, Capt. Arthur
W. Jerningham, and Capt. Peter Fisher, the command-
ing officers of the six out-stations of the Royal Naval
Coast Volunteers ; Lieut. Robert Robertson (1840), in
charge of the steam reserve afloat, and the engineers on
check on shore ; Master-Commander John E. Petley,
and the officers of the Black Eagle ; Master-Commander.
Henry W. Allen, and the officers of the Lightning ;
Master Edward K. Calvet., for service in the Speedwell ;
Master John C. Giles, for service at Somerset-house ;
Mr. John Dinnen, Inspector of Steam-machinery, for
service at Somerset-house ; the officers for service in the
Asp, Woodlark, and Gossamer surveying vessels, and a
number of officers borne in addition for surveying ser-
vice. There are also seven paymasters—George W..
Pickthorn, James W. P. Foord, Julian A. Messum,
Edwin J. ForSter, Henry N. Scaife, Richard Curgenven,
and Henry T. Nettleton—borne for service at the seven
stations of the Royal Naval Coast Volunteers.
Mr. R. Millar is appointed to be agent for sick and
wounded at Stornoway.
Mr. Thomas Jamieson is appointed store-receiver at
Deptford.
Captain Ramsay, Second-Lieutenant Lane, 1 sergeant,
1 corporal, 1 drummer, and 46 privates of the Woolwich
division of Royal Marines left head-quarters here at 2
o'clock p.m. to-day; and proceeded by the North Kent
Railway to Strood, en route for Chatham, to embark in
the Euryalus, 50, for service in that screw steam-frigate.
The remainder of her compleMent of Royal Marines will
be made up by 1 sergeant, 1 corporal and 17 gunners of
the Royal Marine Artillery, from their head-quarters at
Portsmouth.

THE INIADAGASCA.B.—The following is an extract of a
letter from her Majesty's ship Madagascar :---" St. yin-,
cent, Cape de Verd, Nov. 13, 1853. Here we are, only
14 days from Plymouth, and pretty well half way on
our passage ; no thanks to any one but a merciful Pro-
vidence, !Or they sent us away fearfully undermanned,
and if we had had a gale of wind, which was not im•
probable at this time of year, I don't know what we
should have done, for the few we had consisted of 21
able and ordinary seamen, including 10 seamen from the
President, and a few additional marines and boys. We ,
are comfortable, however, and our skipper is a ' regular
brick.' * * When we make snug for the night, we
do it by stoppering all the haulyards, tacks, &c., audit
is death to start them.• We leave here to-morrow
morning for Rio. The President, 50, with the flag of
Rear Admiral Price, sailed the day before us, but we
have not met, as she was going to Teneriffe."

BUCKINGHAM PALACE IMPROVEMENTS.—The move,'
tion of the exterior of the new front of Buckingham
Palace having been completed, the scaffolding has been,
entirely removed, and the principal front of the royal
edifice now presents a very much improved and impos-_-
ing appearance. The additions which have been made
to the palace at the south side, forming the south
which comprises new ball-rooms of considerable extent, 30
and a riding-house for the use of her Majesty and the g
royal family, with numerous other apartments for their -
use, and will add greatly to the comfort and convenience r
of the illustrious inmates, at the same time that -they
vastly improve the appearance of the palace from the ex-
terior. The grand central gate of the principal entrance
is being elaborately carved, the solid stone pillars on
each side being cut with emblematical figures and orna-
ments of an appropriate character, which will add con.
siderably to the decorative beauties of the new front,
and complete the intended improvements. One of the
pillars is already finished, .and presents a very pleasant'
effect. The stone pillars of the gates on either side of
the grand entrance are being caved in a somewhat sitni- •
lar manner. We believe that these elaborate and'beau-
tiful carvings in stone-work are executed by foreign
artists engaged specially for the purpose.

THEATRE ROYAL DRTIRT-LASE,
Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith.
THIS EVENING, JAN. 2,
Will be performed the entirely new Drama of interest, entitled
THE BEGGING LETTER.
To conclude with KING HUMMINGTOP ; or, Harlequin and the
Land of Toys.
The New Drama having been received with universal approbation
will be repeated every Evening until further notice.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Under the management of Mr. Bnckstone. r
THIS EVENING, JAN. 2,
Will be performed THE HOPE OF THE FAMILY. Characters
by Messrs. Chippendale, Compton, Bnckstone, and W. Farren ; Mrs.
Buckingham, Mrs. Poynter, Mrs. Fitzwilllam, and Miss E. Grey.
After which, the Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, called
HARLEQUIN AND THE THREE BEARS ; or, Little Silverhair
and the Fairies. Columbine, Miss M. Brown; Harlequin, Mr. J.
Marshall : Pantaloon, Mr. W. A. Barnes; Clown, Mr. H. Marshall.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. Citara.ss KEAN.
THIS EVENING, JAN. 2,
After which, Lord Byron's Tragedy of SARDANAPALUA, con-
siderably abridged for stage representation. Principal characters by
Mr. and Mrs. C. Kean.
After which will be presented the new Grand CHRISTMAS PAN-
TOMIME, entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE MILLER AND
HIS MEN; or, King Salamandar and the Fairy of the Azure
Lake. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huline ; Pantaloon,
Mr. Paulo; and Columbine, Miss Desborough.

LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Management of Madame Vestris.
THIS EVENING, JAN. 2,
Will be performed A BACHELOR OF ARTS. Characters by
Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Baker; Miss F. Hughes.
After which, an original Fairy Extravaganza, called ONCE
UPON A TIME THERE WERE TWO KINGS. Principal cha-
racters by Mr. Wright and Madame Vestris.
To conclude with PATTER VERSUS CLATTER.