The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-26 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

INCREASE OF OUR ACTIVE NAVAL FORCES.
In addition to the ships enumerated last week—Juno,
26, Diamond, 28—the Admiralty have commissioned
two of the four screw line-of-battle ships we announced
some days since as intended for active service. These
are the St. George, 120, screw, at Sheerness, and Prin-
cess Royal, 91, screw, at Portsmouth—the former to
be commanded by Capt. Codrington C. 8., and the
latter by Lord Clarence Paget. The reinforcements
that have proceeded, or are under orders for the Medi-
terranean, are Queen, 116 ; Agamemnon, 91 ; Leander,
50 ; Highflyer! 21, screw • Terrible, 21 ; paddle; Leo-
pard, 18, paddle.

APPOINTMENTS.

It was inadvertently stated yesterday that Captain
Fremantle was appointed to the Victoria and Albert ;
o his
father it should have been to the Juno, 26, at Chatham.
Captain Henry J. Codrington, C.B. (1836), has been
appointed to the command of the St. George, 120, at
,so son of
in the
l 82 1a
3, teaAdmiral
n d
has
he Sir
en E
afloatdw a rd
about
Sheerness ; and Commander J. M`Neil Boyd (1850),
has been appointed commander to that ship. Captain
Cod-
rington, G.C.8., is one of the youngest 'officers of his
was severelp lentuactecl in the battle.; was made
a oft
Nagaev.arinHoe,
s
i
fa
teetwntednenrdr fly' idggtt hi nne
yearsservice h.
enavy y
was beingwith only 45 years
er
H
a lieutenant in 1129 ; was made a commander :in-
-1831 ; commanded the Orestes, 18, in the Mediter-
ranean ; and was promoted in 1836. As captain he
commanded the Talbot, 26, at Acre ; the Queen, 110,
and St. Vincent, 120, as flag-captain to his father ; and
lastly the Thetis, 36, in the Mediterranean, and during
the late convulsions in the Italian States, where, by his
firm and discreet conduct, he prevented a great deal of
bloodshed. Commander Boyd entered the navy in
1825, and has served more than twenty years afloat. He
was in the Niger expedition, served with Captain Cod-
rington in the St. Vincent and Queen, was • made a lieu-
tenant in 1841, served as first of the Winchester, 50
then flag-ship at the Cape, and as first of the Thetis, 36,
again with Captain Codrington, from which ship he was
promoted. The Royal George is one of the old-class of
three-deckers that have never been to sea, or, we believe,
in commission. She has been most inexpensively fitted
with screw engines of 400-horse power, without half re-
building her, as they did the Blenheim, Hogue, &c., and
thus she is converted into a heavily-armed serviceable
*oast defence ship, with a speed perhaps of between
eight and nine knots. Captain Codrington is senior to
Sir Thomas Maitland, Hon. H. Keppel, W. H. Hender-
son, Hon. F. P. Pelham, S. C. Dacres, John Shepherd,
L. T. Jones, who have been, and now are, in command
of line of battle-ships.
sCaptain the Right Hon. Lord Clarence Paget (1839),
on of the Marquis of Anglesey, whose last service was
In the Belvidera, 38, has commissioned the Princess Royal,
91, screw ship, at Portsmouth. The gallant officer was
M.P. for Sandwich, before the last general election, and
was private secretary to his father, when Master Gene-
ral of the Ordnance. The ship will be ready to take her
trial at the measured mile on Monday.
Captain Nicholas Lefebvre, who has been just pro-
moted from the command of the Dasher, steam-
vessel has been re-appointed to that vessel, as cap-
tain, for further service at the Channel Islands, This
officer, who was the senior of the four commanders
'promoted, and has served about 22 years afloat,
entered the navy Jan. 13, 18] 1, as a voiunteer, on
board the Victory, 100 Captain Philip Dumaresq, bear-
ing the flag of Sir James Sauniarez, in the Ratio ; and
in the following December was on his passage home, in
company with the St. George and Defence, when those
ships were lost. Becoming midshipman, in July, 1812,
of the Ethanol], 3G, Captains Edmund Heywood and
William Hugh Coble, he was, for some time prior to
December, 1814, employed on the North American and
Irish stations. He then removed, as master's mate, to
the Zenobia, sloop, Captain Nicholas Charles Dobree,
and while in that vessel had the misfortune, during the
war of 100 days, to be taken prisoner by the French.
Contriving soon to effect his escape, he rejoined the
Zenobia, and was in her when she escorted Napoleon to
St. Helena. Previously to the return of the latter
vessel to England he landed, it appears, at Ascension,
with a party of marines, from the flag-ship, and was for
some length of time employed on shore. On Jan. 8,
1826, nearly nine years after he had passed his examina-
tion, Mr. Lefebvre was promoted to the rank of lieu-
tenant. In the course of the ensuing month he obtained
an appointment to the Britannia, 120, flag-ship of Sir
James Saumaraz, at Plymouth, where he remained until
April, 1827 ; and he was lastly, from June 9, 1834,
until paid off, in October, 1838, employed as first lieu-
tenant, in the Zebra, 16, commanded by Captain Robert
Contort M'Crea, on the East India and South Sea
stations. For his gallant conduct during that period,
and more especially for the zealous perseverance he
exhibited in the boats when in quest of pirates, Mr.
Lefebvre, on the earnest reconnnendation of the com-
mander in chief, Sir Thomas Bladen Capel, was pro-
moted to the rank of commander, by commission, dated
Dec. 27, 1838. Commander Lefebvre has been pre-
sented by the Royal Humane Society with a medal, as a
reward for his conduct, in having frequently saved the
lives of seamen.

"TO TkrE HON. THE COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS OF THE
CITY OF LONDON.
"Sewers-office, Guildhall, Oct. 25.
"Gentlemen,—ln reference to the complaint made to
you of the inconvenience and annoyance suffered by the
inhabitants of the Crescent, Bridge-street, owing to the
opening made into the Fleet sewer at that spot to enable
certain works of reparation to be performed therein.
" Some weeks have elapsed since I mentioned to your
hon. Court that a portion of the Fleet sewer between
Fleet-street and Blackfriars-bridge was in such a condi-
tion as to require extensive and immediate repair ; to
perform this reparation I then received your instructions.
" The reparation, which consisted in putting in a new
invert and underpinning the side walls, was commenced
by beginning to construct a dam across the sewer, so as
to enable the bed of the sewer to be laid dry. The dif-
ficulties attending this preliminary operation have been
of no ordinary kind.
"The Fleet sewer is well known to you as the largest
in the metropolis. An area of land six or seven times
the size of the whole city of London is drained by it,
the waters of that area being carried into it by many
hundred collateral sewers. At the point where the re-
paration is needed the accumulated waters of this large
area and of these hundreds of sewers run, and the flow
is probably from 18,000 to 20,000 gallons per minute
during the day in dry weather ; with but slight rain the
flow is so much increased that no man can stand against
it. With a very moderate quantity of rain falling uni-
formly over the drainage area, I question if a horse
could maintain its footing against the current of the
sewer ; with heavy rain the sewer is half filled.
" The sewer is also within the tidal influence, and,
with these difficulties, as regards the water, to contend
with, the work has been commenced.
" I beg also to state that, in order to give as little
occasion for public complaint as possible, the works in
this sewer have been performed hitherto without opening
any portion of the sewer itself, the only portion of in-
gress and egress being one small hole in the branch
sewer in Crescent-place. The hole complained of is but
three feet wide, and three feet long, and 27 feet distant
from the nearest dwelling. Down this small orifice the
workmen have descended and conveyed very bulky mate-
rials, at great labour, and, therefore, at considerable
cost. Moreover, mechanical appliances, which are used
with so much advantage in works similar in their nature,
and by the aid of which, with sufficient space, an
amount of work 500 times in extent to that done in the
Fleet sewer could have been performed in the same
space of time with ease, cannot be used, owing to the
insufficiency of space, and manual labour, applied at im-
mense disadvantage, is all that can be used. I will fur-
ther state the men have been working frequently with
two-thirds of their bodies immersed in the sewer waters,
amid an uncertain light and a deafening roar of water,
and, at times, with but little chance of their lives if they I
had once lost their footing.
" With regard to the length of time the hole has been
opened, it should be known that, even in fine weather,
the hours when men can work are very limited. Half
tohrekse
of the rt hhoenmraenthceantiwdaitlhwdaifficnity
water is in
wo
rk three er;
hourswhen
it is
the oumorning,
especially on Saturdays, and at other
times, if any rain comes down, the work has to be sus- PORTSMOUTH, OCT. 25.
pended at once.
Jean
' The possibility of proceeding, there-St. d Acre, 101, Captain the Hon. H.
The
fore, it will be seen, depends much upon a conjunction Keppel, is coming into harbour to have Mr. Grant's
of fortunate conditions ; and, unfortunately, the wea- distilling galley, now on board the Duke of Wellington,
ther has been very bad indeed during the whole of the fitted to her ; the Duke to have a new one. This galley,
months of September and October (usually months in it is calculated, will produce 1,200 gallons of twice die-
which there is a large portion of settled weather), and tilled water daily, during the period the galley is neces-
during which I fully anticipated I should have been sarily in operation in cooking the ship's company's pro-
enabled to prosecute the work quickly and well. I he- visions. The St. Jean d'Acre's chain lockers are also to
lieve I may assert.that the sewer has never been entirely be shifted forward. She steamed into harbour minus
free for 24 hours either from rain actually falling or the powder, provisions, &c., this afternoon.
drainage waters from the upland districts after the rain ; The Amphion, 34, screw-frigate, Captain Key, sailed
and actual progress has only been made in one tide out into harbour yesterday, from Spithead, to have her de-
of every three or four. Two or three times, when dams fects made good.
have been all but complete, heavy floods of rain have The Caesar, 90, new ship, was taken into the steam
washed the larger portion of them away. factory basin yesterday, to ship and fit her machinery ;
"I venture to think that it will be obvious to your she went into dock to-day.
hon. Court that the ordinary difficulties, even in fine wea- The Tribune, 30, Captain the Hon. S. T. Carnegie,
ther, are great, and that they are very much increased steamed out of harbour yesterday afternoon, and anchored
in wet weather, and that they have been increased, more- at Spithead ; to-day, at 2 o'clock, she proceeded to try
over, by carrying on the work from so small an aperture, her machinery and speed at the measured mile in Stokes-
When, therefore, the time this hole has been opened is bay.
complained of, it should be known that to prevent larger The Lizard, iron steam-vessel, came into harbour yes-
inconvenience that has been done. terday morning from the eastward, having on board a
"As to the time when this work will be completed, it large number of supernumeraries and general service
depends almost entirely upon the weather, and it is im- men for the ships at this port and Plymouth.
possible to name any time that can be relied upon. The Arab, 12, Commander Ogle, shipped supernu-
" I have directed the hole complained of to be closely meraries, &c., yesterday, and sailed to-day for the coast
boarded in, and deodorising powders to be used ; beyond of Africa station.
this nothing can be done except closing it altogether. The Medea steam-sloop, 6, Commander Bailey, was at
" With regard to the suggestion that an opening might Halifax on the 13th inst., and may be expected at Spit-
be made for the work near the late site of the Fleet Pri- head early next month.
son, I beg to observe that the sewer at that spot is not Mr. Grant, the Controller of Victualling, was at this
of sufficient width to allow workmen to pass each other port yesterday. The baking for the fleet at the Royal
with materials ; and the cost, labour, danger, and time Clarence Victualling Establishment, Gosport, under o
‘" e
consumed would probably be doubled, as everything direction of Captain Superintendent Courtens yaY,
n would have have to be carried over wooden stages nearly 500 is at present stopped, a sufficient supply
for
of the es-
feet in length, which would first have to be built pur- gency being in store, although the resources
now,
posely. The difficulty in carrying on the works from tablishment are victualling
8,000 men per
joined theer
this spot would be exceedingly great, although there is Captain Mends and Secretary Cleeve day
little engineering work in the present day that can be , Agamemnon at Devonport yesterday.
said to be impossible with sufficient outlay of money.
of Africa.
s atnodthveoMlunedteiteerrsrafonre
" There is, however, a working hole in Bridge-street, Webber, sailed to-day for the.
f coastate, Captain 1/Tlevert
37,
south of the Obelisk. This might be opened, and that by The Terrible, 21, paddle- rig ,
The Dolphin, 5, brigantine, Lieutenant Commander
out Rear-Admiral S.
the Crescent closed ; but the disadvantages and cost of arrived to-day from.evQeue.eoncsatorresyn, but is ordered to
performing the work at this spot will be greatly increased, Devonport, we believe
in
command,t
ly steam-tender, Mr. George an.
as, unless wooden stages are put up to travel over, the E. Lyons, as hsete° d
only means of conveying the men and the materials to
commanding, leaves this - ,
ter evening for
the working spot will be by floating them down a large AcTtihneg.mSparsig
with
Plymouth, supernumeraries
their
punt, which must be constructed for that purpose.
is fitting at that port.
" I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen, your most 8h
it The ..._ti
ssian frigate
obedient servant, " WILLIAM HEYWOOD."
the fitting-basin to-day, and Aurora, 44 3 has been placed in
will be docked to-morrow
The MEDICAL OFFICER said that, from personal in- to have her copper and false keel repaired. ,
spection, he was able to bear evidence to the extreme ----...._,
There 'WOOLWICH, OCT. 25.
mechanical difficulties described by the surveyor.
Lieutenant Christian a
could be no question that the opening of the sewers was
hoisted the pendant on rrived at Woolwich to-day, and
a source of offensive and unwholesome effluvia, though, board the Rifleman screw steam-
sloop.ewhat over-estimated Captain R perhaps, the degree might be somewhat a/may, of the 'Woolwich Division of Royal
works were unnecessary, Marines,
and a de
by the neighbours, and if the tachment of the same division, have of immediately been.named
there could be no doubt about the fitness, for. embarcation for service in the Royal
l might be, a George, commissioned closing them. Whatever the present e •
The Ph • ioned to-day, at Sheerness.
condition of the Fleet sewer would cit cenix screw screw steam sloop,-Captain
. Edward
unsound .
permanently A. Inglefield
allowing soakage and undernnn- , was paid off to-day, at Woolwich. Pre-
be a much greater evil,
vious to
Assuming that the works werenecessary en__ s a
the crew being paid off, the officers, petty
ing houses.un:er , an men all assembled in front of the pay-office,
these kinds of mischief, it was of great ! when for preventing i Captain Inglefield read a letter, of which the fol-

Commander John B. Cragg has been appointed to
Devonport ordinary, vice Edmonstone, promoted. This
officer entered the navy in 1809, was 12 years a mate,
and was made a lieutenant in 1828. As a lieutenant,
he served long in all climates, and commanded several
steamers, in 'one of which, the Hecla, he suffered much
from a devastating fever. He was promoted in 1842,
and in 1846 was appointed to the command of the
Sphinx, 6, steam sloop. Whilst this vessel was running
from Devonport to Portsmouth, she went ashore on the
Isle of Wight, and on investigation of the circumstances
by court-martial, Commander Cragg was placed at the
bottom of the list. It was the opinion of most naval
men at the time, that Commander Cragg was severely
dealt with, and no one will now begrudge his re-appoint-
ment to active service.

Commander Matthew S. Nolloth (1846), who some

„
time since paid off the Plumper, 12, screw, from the
Brazils and the West Indies, has been appointed to the
command of the Frolic, at Portsmouth. He entered
the navy in 1824, passed his examination in 1830, was
promoted in 1838. As a lieutenant, he served in the
Childers, 12, in the operations in China of 1842, and in
the Bittern, 16.

Lieutenant E. F. Dent (1846), to the Sybille, 40,
East Indies, vice Coles.

Mate—B. S. De R. Hall (1852), from the Excellent,
gunnery-ship, to the Diamond, 26, Sheerness.
Cadets—John S. Gregory, to the Imperieuse, 51,
screw, Devonport ; A. M. Byam and J. R. Carr, to the
Juno, 26, Chatham.