The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-01 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 28.
The Thomas Arbuthnot, freight-ship, with the head-
quarters of the 48th Regiment on board, sailed last
night from the Motherbank for Corfu.
The Black Eagle, Admiralty steam-yacht, Master-
Commander Petley, returned this afternoon with the
Ordnance inspection party from the Channel Islands.
The London, 90, Captain Mundy, sent up topmasts
and topgallantmasts this morning, bent sails, and crossed
royal yards in readiness for going to Spithead to-mor-
row.
The Duke of Wellington, 131, Captain H. B. Martin,
C. 8., has been docked to-day to be coppered.
Her Majesty's yacht Victoria and Albert, Commodore
Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, G.C.H., Captain Crispin
second in command, was docked to-day to undergo her
annual refit.
The Illustrious, 72, was docked to-day for conversion
into a block-ship.

PLYMOUTH, FEB. 28.
The screw steam-frigate Desperate, Captain W, Cham-
bers, which left Plymouth at one p.m. on Thursday, for
Cork, was 25 miles north of the Longahips on Friday at
12, with the wind at W.N.W., when a sea struck her,
and knocked in her stern ports and window sashes, and
destroyed the contents of the captain's cabin, washing
the stores, Vic. about in all directions. It was with con-
siderable difficulty that a temporary planking was fixed
inside, and this only partially stopped the leakage. We
are afraid that the Desperate must be classed among the
already large number of useless ships in her Majesty's
navy. Her stern gun, 95 cwt., was removed after the
experience of her insufficiency in towing the ships of the
Arctic Expedition from Scotland. She now has six 68's
and one 95. Her machinery is excellent. The great
disadvantage of the Desperate appears to arise from defi-
ciency of beam ; the length is about 182 feet, and breadth
only 36 feet ; her quarter falls in, and, having a screw
weighing 7 or 8 tons, the stern is plunged deeply into
the water, whenever a heavy sea is encountered. She
was built at Pembroke, from designs furnished by the
School of Naval Architecture, and was fitted at Sheer-
ness.
The Nimrod, 18, was taken out of No. 5 dock last
evening, and the Australian, mail packet, was taken in
the same tide. This morning two waggon loads
bags have been taken out of her and conveyed to Ply-
mouth, where they will be properly dealt with. They
appeared to be completely drenched with water.
with
The Diligence, transport, bound Devonport,
stores from Pembroke, will load at once again with iron
ballast ; 800 tons will be required for the James Watt
by the end of March.
Mr. William Browett, mate of the Devon, lighter,
has been appointed master of the Tortoise, vice Harris,
superannuated.
In the Sound—The Queen, 116 ; Vulture, 6 ; and
Argus, 6.
In Harbour—The Impregnable, St. George, 120 ;
Vengeance, 84 ; Edinburgh, 58 ; Hogue, 58 ; Valorous,
14 ; Desperate, 14 ; and Sylph, Avon, Nautilus, Con.
fiance, Devon, and Tortoise lighters.

VICE-ADMIRAL ATSCOITGEL—This gallant officer was
taken alarmingly and dangerously ill on his journey from
his residence at Southampton to Folkestone, en route to
Paris, but succeeded in reaching Boulogne, where he ob-
tained the eminent services of Sir Robert Chermside
and Dr. Lucas, and though the life of the admiral was
for two days' despaired of, we rejoice to state he is so
far recovered as to give great hopes to his friends and
anxious family of his perfect recovery.—Naval and Mil-
-1 tary Gazette.