The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-17 00:00:00

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val of two years. He was born Feb. 18, 1802, is uncle
of the present Earl of Munster, brother of Lord Augus-
tus Fitzclarence, rector of Maple Durham, county of
j Oxford ; and brother-in-law of Lord De Lisle and Dud-
! ley, Lieut.-Colonel Charles Fox, of .the Grenadier
Guards, the Earl of Errol, Lord John Frederick Gordon
Hallyburton, Captain R.N., and Viscount Falkland.
j " His lordship entered the navy May 26, 1814, as
first-class volunteer, on board the ImpregnabJe, 98, Cap-
' tains Hon. Henry Blackwood and Charles Adam, hear-
ing the flag of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cla-
rence, in which ship he shortly afterwards escorted the
Allied Sovereigns from Calais to Dover. He then, as
midshipman, joined the Newcastle, 50, Captain Lord G.
Stuart, on the North American station ; on his return
whence, in 1815, he proceeded to the Mediterranean in
the Tagus, 38, Captain J. W. D. Dundas, and there con-
tinued to serve on board the Rochfort, 80, flag ship, of
Sir Thomas F. Fremantle, and Glasgow, 50, Captain
Hon. A. Maitland, until the receipt of his first Commis-
sion, bearing date April 23, 1821. lie joined Oct. 22
following, the Euryalus, 42, Captain Augustus .
James Clifford, fitting for the station last mentioned, and
attaining the rank of commander, May 17, 1823, was
next appointed, Dec. 26, in the same year, and Feb. 28,
1824, to the Brisk sloop, and Redwing, 18, on the North
Sea Station. Captain Fitzclarence, who acquired his
present rank, Dec. 24, 1824, was subsequently appointed
-Feb. 9, 1826, to the Ariadne, 26, in the Mediterra-
nean ; July 2, 1827, to the Challenger, 28, in which
frigate he brought home the Earl of Dalhousie, late
Governor-General of Canada, and then visited Lisbon ;
and August 28, 1828, to the Pallas, 42, employed in
conveying the latter nobleman and the Bishop of Calcutta
from Portsmouth to Bengal, General Viscount Comber-
mere from India home, and Colonel Fox from Halifax.
Since July 22, 1830, his lordship has been in uninter-
rupted command of the Royal George and Victoria and
Albert yachts.

"He was appointed Groom of the Robes to William
IV., July 24. 1830 • granted, May 24, 1831, the title
and precedency of the younger son of a marquis ; nomi-
nated a G.C.H. Feb. 24, 1832 ; and created a Lord of
the Bedchamber in Ordinary Jan. 5, 1833."

PORTSMOTJTH, APT. 16.
The Edinburgh, 58, screw gunnery ship, Captain
Hewlett, left Spithead last evening, at sunset, on a
cruise.
The Barracouta, paddle-sloop, Commander George
Parker, was undocked to-day, after purification by Mr.
Hay; and the Encounter, screw, 14, Capt. O'Callaghan,
was hauled in to have some defects repaired.
In Harbour—The Victory, Neptune, Excellent, Vic-
toria and Albert, Barracouta, Stromboli, Fairy, Elfin,
Sprightly, Fire Queen, Ceres, Fanny, Portsmouth, and
Echo.

In Dock—The Nelson, 120 ; Princess Royal, 90 ; Al-
fred, 50 ; Encounter, 14 ; Scourge, 6 ; Growler, 6; and
Harpy, 2.

In the Steam Basin—The Dauntless, 24; Dragon, 6;
Gladiator, 6 ; Geyser, 6 ' • and Sphynx, 6.
On the Stocks—The Marlborough, 131 ; Prince of
Wales, 120 ; Royal Sovereign, 120 ; and Royal Frede-
rick, 116.

At Spithead—The Prussian corvette Amazone only.
The fitting basin has been drained, and is being cleared
of deposit.

PLYMOUTH, SEPT. IG,
The Lords of the Admiralty commenced their duties,
at 9.30 yesterday morning, by inspecting the police force
of the Devonport Dockyard, under the command of Lieu-
tenant T. Williams, R.N. They then proceeded in the
Commodore's barge to the Banshee, and, steaming into
the Sound, landed on the lighthouse steps, at the west
end of the breakwater. The members present were—Sir
James Graham, Admiral Dundas, Captain Milne, and
Captain O'Brien ; Colonel Greene, Mr. Walker, civil
engineer, and Mr. Cooper, civil engineer. Their Lord-
ships were accompanied by Commodore Superinten-
dent Michael Seymour and Mr. Thompson, Queen's
Harbour-master, and were received on landing by Mr.
Stuart, superintendent of the breakwater. This gentle-
man had performed the same duty 20 years previously
for the First Lord, who greeted him most cordially.
Their lordships went into the lighthouse, where the en-
gineers exhibited several plans and models of different
parts of the works, and then commenced their inspec-
tion by examining the south buttress at the west end,
which is being strengthened. Proceeding along the
breakwater, their attention was called to the mode
adopted for securing the outer parts where they have
been disturbed by storms, in two places on the western
arm, and one on the eastern arm. This is done by
dovetailing large blocks of granite, horizontally and ver-
tically, on what is termed the "toe of the foundation."
Their lordships, notwithstanding the heavy rain, passed
along the whole extent of this wonderful structure,
nearly a mile, and after minutely examining every por-
tion, descended into the commodore's barge, at the inner
part of the east end, and were pulled outside, where
they had a full and satisfactory view of the powerful
resistance given by the breakwater to a considerable
sea which was then rolling against it. Embarking
again in the Banshee, they returned to the dockyard at
12.30, and proceeded to their quarters, at Moorshead's
Royal Hotel, where a board was formed for the dispatch
of business.

At 3 p.m. they went on board the new screw steam-
ship St. Jean d'A_cre, 100 guns, Captain the Hon. Henry
Keppel, in Hamoaze, and steam being up, she cast off
and made an experimental trip into the Sound, with top-
gallantyards across. Since the last experiment 100 tons
of provisions have been sent to this ship from the Royal
William Victualling-yard, and 100 tons of water have
been discharged from her. She is to be supplied with
the patent distilling apparatus.
Their Lordships dined with Commodore Superinten-
dent Michael Seymour yesterday. To-day they will
probably inspect the Royal William Victualling-yard,
the Royal Marine Barracks, and the Naval Hospital,
after which they dine with Major-General Sir Harry
Smith, Commander of the Forces in the Western Dis-
trict, and patronise a ball at St. George's-hall, Stone-
house, in favour of the Female Orphan Asylum. On
Saturday they give a dinner to the heads of the public
departments.

It is reported here that the steam-sloop Medea, 6,
Commander John C. Daily, which was commissioned
only in December last, is ordered home to Spithead to
be paid off. Lieutenant Thomas D. Williams, the First
Lieutenant, between whom and Commander Baily an
exchange of courts-martial took place, has been removed
from the Medea, by Admiral Sir George Seymour, into
the flag-ship Cumberland, 70, Captain George H.
Seymour.

The General Screw Steam Shipping Company's mail
packet Lady Jocelyn, Captain Benson, sailed yesterday
afternoon for the Cape, Mauritius, and Calcutta.

WOOLWICH, SEPT. 16.
APPOINTMENTS.
Mates.—Henry Berkeley (1853), from the Queen,
116, to the Desperate screw steam sloop, at Devonport ;
John A. F. Luttrell (1853), to the Arab, 12, sloop, at
Chatham.

Acting Mate.—Hastings St. John de Robeck (1853),
from the Waterloo, 120, flag-ship at Sheerness, to the
Philomel, 8, sloop, at Devonport.
Second Master.—William G. Aldrich (1849), from the
Imaum, 72, receiving-ship, at Jamaica.
Masters'-Assistants.—Arthur Morphy, to the Strom-
boli steam sloop, at Portsmouth ; F. C. Piper, to the
Dolphin, 3, brigantine, at Sheerness ; E. C. Roberts, to
the President, 50, fitting at Chatham as flagship for the
Pacific station.

The following is the ultimate decision arrived at rela-
tive to the intended alteration to be made on the Royal
Victoria and Albert steam yacht :—She is to have her
present engines of 430-horse power taken out, and will
then be lengthened 65 feet ; she will afterwards be fitted
with oscillating engines, by John Penn and Son, of 600-
horse power, and new paddle-wheels on the feathering
principle ; and the requisite alterations are to be made
with all possible dispatch.
THE CHANNEL FLEET IN CORK.

The Cork Constitution of Thursday contains the fol-
lowing intelligence respecting the Channel Fleet :
" Her Majesty's Channel Fleet steamed out of Bantry
Bay on Tuesday, but up to a late hour last night it had
not arrived in Queenstown. The London, 90, which
forms part of Admiral Corry's squadron, arrived in
Queenstown at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, and at 11 the follow-
ing (yesterday) morning, the local harbour-master (Mr.
Verling) received orders to direct all vessels in the har-
bour to fall in, and to allow space for anchorage of the
fleet when they should arrive. These orders were at-
tended to ; but as yet no further message has been re-
ceived."
The Cork Reporter says :—" The London, 90 guns,
arrived in the harbour on Tuesday evening, but though
the other ships had put to sea, none had reached Queens-
town till this morning. The Imperieuse and another
have just come in, and all are expected before night."
The inhabitants of Cork are making all the necessary
preparations to give the Lords of the Admiralty a cor-
dial and hearty welcome to their city. Their lordships
are to be entertained at a public banquet, and it is in-
tended to present an address to Sir James Graham. The
Cork Constitution, states, that a subscription will be set
on foot during the presence of the Channel Fleet in that
harbour, the proceeds to be applied to the " Sailors'
Home," about being established in Queenstown.

THE POTATO IN IRELAND.—SeveraI letters received
in the course of Thursday from various quarters of the
country speak rather despondingly of the progress of the
potato disease. It was not, of course, ever expected
that the produce of this year would altogether escape
the ravages of the old blight, and even still there is
good reason to believe that the crop had reached such a
state of maturity before the bad symptoms had appeared
as to justify the opinion that the greater portion will be
ultimately saved. It is said that the poor man's
potato, the "lumper," has, as usual, suffered most.—
Times' Dublin Correspondent.

A RAPACIOUS BEAR.—A showman, four days ago,
took a bear to Biarritz, department of the Basses-
Pyr4n4es, with the intention of making it dance for
money. He fastened it up in a stable in the night, but
by some means the animal escaped, and took to flight.
A general battue was organised, but the only trace that
could be discovered of the bear was that he had killed
and eaten great part of an ass near Anglet.

Tit
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TR REARM AFTER pnorr -
spector Field, it will be remembered, was Ivashc.4l.l
Art 6 the witness box during the famous trial at the
Glouoester Assizes, when "Tom Provis," of Warminster,
attempted to prove that he was Sir Richard Smyth, of
Ashton Court ; and it has been said that the public thus
lost an interesting tale. But though the officer might
have told the facts of his search after the truth, the bye-
play by which they were obtained would have been kept
out of sight, if possible ; while the clue which led to the
detection of the conspiracy would have been concealed
under the phrase "from information received." The
writer of this article is in a position to lift the veil which
gives the interest of mystery to the case ; and, though
the following narrative may diminish Mr. Field's repu-
tation for wonderful sagacity, it will show that he is a
man of great shrewdness, coolness, patience, and perse-
verance. When the fictitious baronet first made himself
known, the parties assailed were taken by surprise, as
well they might be, his story being a pure fiction. They
kne,v nothing of him—who he was, what he was, or
where he came from ; and, in a word, were quite at a
loss what to do. The fictitious baronet's story, how-
ever, began gradually to leak out, and it came to the
ears of the Smyth family that he described himself as the
olispriag of a concealed marriage, who had been brought
up in boyhood under the name of Provis. This was
the state of their knowledge when Mr. Field's services
were retained. Having been made acquainted with this
solitary fact, which was one of the supports of the fic-
titious baronet's case, in his hands it became the mas-
ter-key to the conspiracy. Scratching his ear when he
was instructed, or rather not instructed, by the solici-
tors of the family, he said, "Well, we'll see what can
be done," and immediately set to work in his own pecu-
liar way. Taking nothing for granted, his first step
was to ascertain whether Provis was a myth, and, if
not, who Provis was. He searched all the directories
relating to all parts of England, and found many
Provises ; but England is a wide place, and at first he
was quite at a fault as to the right one. In the mean-
time the fictitious baronet's story continued to transpire
bit by bit, and Warminster was mentioned as the place
in which had spent his childhood. To Warminster Mr.
Field went, and, in a quiet, incidental way,made inquiries.
The Provises, he found, had disappeared, but there was an
old woman living in the outskirts of the town who was in
some way related to them. Now it would never have done
for Mr. Field to go to the old lady in propria persona ; ifhe
had questioned her about family matters, without say-
ing who he was, she would have repulsed him for an
impertinent fellow ; while, if he had said be was a "de-
tective," the old woman would have been very cautious
in what she had said, and, perhaps have been frightened
out of her wits. Mr. Field, therefore, assumed a
character which might win the old woman's heart, and
thus enable him to extract its inmost secrets. He ap-
peared at her gate one day, an invalid, broken down
by bodily sickness, brought on by family trouble, who
had come to Warminster for the benefit of the Wiltshire
air. The old lady was fond of a gossip ; and she was
highly pleased with the sick visitor—he was such a nice,
civil, well-behaved gentleman ; while he, in turn, was
delighted, for the old lady reminded him so much of his
mother ! Indeed he was, (so said he,) so much struck
by the resemblance, that he should like to lodge in the
old lady's house during his stay—it would remind him
so much of old times. The old lady said she had never
takenway---
think for, thanks
s ah
el o
could
ogbue
elr before—itsheacaccommodate
orn couldm
wlti citeocu
wto
oui
utt ;of
os she
enough
didhw.a ybn but
o dwdle
there—if he would take it in the rough, and live a' ssh
lived, why she did not mind taking in him or la
week orr
so. Mr. Field soon installed himself in the cottage, and
those who know him will not wender that he was also
soon installed in his landlady's good graces. He chatted
with her about the news of the place, not forgetting the
famous Warminster onions ; told her many funny
things, and quite won her heart, when, on going to bed
at night, he said that he had not felt so comfortable for
many years. The old lady, of course, with the curiosity
proverbial of the sex, and prudential in a landlady,
wished to know who and what her lodger was ; and he
was only too glad to tell her, in a friendly way. He had
had, he said, a bad family, who had been the plague of
his life, and reduced him to his present condition. Ah !
she could feel for him—so true it is " a fellow feeling
makes us wondrous kind " for she had had family trou-
bles too. "Why," she exclaimed, " one of our family
Tom Provis, is the greatest rascal living." And now the
detective seeing " land a head," set about reaching it.
He should like some tea, he said, and fetching from his
room a half a pound of the best gunpowder, which—
thoughtful man—he had brought from London with him,
he asked her to make a "nice dish," and hoped she would
join him. The invitation was accepted with pleasure, and
as the tea-leaves opened, so did the old lady's heart ;
indeed she said it did her good, to tell her troubles to one
who had gone through so much himself. "That rascal,"
she declared, "had ill-used his father, disgraced his
friends, gone under a false name, and was always in
some mischief or other." Our visitor, for the benefit of
the Wiltshire air, now became troubled with pains in
his stomach ; he was subject to them, he said, and al-
ways carried a little gin in his box for a remedy. Would
the old lady just put on the kettle and make the water
warm ? Would she mix it for him ? Would she take a
little drop with hint, as his mother used to do? Won
by these gradusl approaches to a little dissipation, of
course she would do anything to please him ; and as her
talkativeness increased, Tom Provis became a greater
rascal than ever. Why, she had heard say that he had
been in some gaol for horse stealing. He had also
married the aunt of a man named Ingram, and served
her very badly, but who Ingram was, or what he was,
or where he was, she knew no more than the dead. In
this way the old lady went on talking until the clock
struck ten, when, with many a "decry me," at being
up so late, she went to bed. The next morning Mr. Field having taken a walk, returned to the cottage
much disturbed. He had received letters, of course,
calling him home on unpleasant business, and must fore-
go the benefit of the Wiltshire air, much to his annoy-
ance, and it need scarcely be added, the regret of his
old friend. The next thing to be done was to discover
Ingram. Mr. Field returned to London, set several
persons to work about the Ingrains in town and country,
but for some time without success. Back he went to
Warminster ; picked up a vague story that Ingram had
something to do with a gaol in Somerset ; posted oft' to
Taunton, where he heard that there was one Ingram employed at the Bath gaol ; and, coming to Bath,
lighted on the very man he was searching for. From
Ingram he learnt much more concerning Tom Provis,
and Bath now became the sphere of his labours. While
Mr. Field pursued his inquiries here, Ingram took an
opportunity of throwing himself in the way of Sir
Richard, who had taken up his residence at the Priory,
Clifton ; a mutual recognition ensued, and Ingrain re-
ceived an invitation to tea with the great man. Sir
Richard, however, sometime afterward called at the
Bath gaol, and requested Ingram as a particular favour,
to know nothing about him, should questions be asked.
In the meantime, Mr. Field had ascertained that Provis
had been married at St. Michael's Church, in his pro-
per name, in the presence of Ingram's father; and that
he had kept a school here. He now sought for some
persons who had known Provis ; a local schoolmaster,
a pupil, and some others, were traced, and a precious
story they told about him. In the year 1815, it ap-
peared, Provis had been charged with feloniously
assaulting one of his pupils ; the magistrates
bad committed him for trial, but liberated him
on bail ; and he then absconded, leaving his
bondsmen in the lurch. Proof of this story was
at once sought ; the papers in the magistrate's office at
the Guildhall were disinterred from the dust in which
they had lain for nearly forty years ; and the official
documents relating to the proceedings against Provis
were found, "Why, this beats cock-fighting I" exclaimed
Field, on seeing the proof that Provis was really a great
rogue, and, therefore, all the less likely to be the was
he said he was ; and satisfied that the game
was
all up with " Sir Richard," Mr. Field added, " Well,
now I'll go to dinner." These documents we may here
state, would have been used against Provis on the trial
if he had not been condemned out of his own mouth,
P. George, Esq., the Town Clerk, having been sub-
pcenaed to produce them. We need not detail the rest
of the story, how the fabrication of the family seals
was exposed by the maker having read in the newspaper
the first day's proceedings at the trial--how the family
Bible was subsequently traced, by the same means to
the bookseller who had sold it to Provis---.813 these
things are already known to the public. Our object is
simply to show how Provis was traced through his
career in this neighbourhood. Mr. Field, it will be
seen, arrived at a great result through very simple
means ; and we have no doubt that many persons will
think they could have done as well as he-- now they
have been shown the way. The officer's skill consists in
bitting out the way. The value of the facts collected by
Mr. Field, it may be observed, consisted not so ranch
in proving that Provis had been a scoundrel, but in con-
tradicting the story which he gave of his career. For
instance, if he were keeping school in Bath, in 1815, as
he was, he could not have been travelling on the
conti-
nent with Lord Knox, as he declared he had been.
We may mention as a proof of Provis's audacity,e returned
that,
umed
some years after absconding from Bath,
-
under the name of Dr. Smith, and gavheilla, series of
nletoc-
tures. He lived in a cottage on Sion-hill,
deep distress. It was, indeed, so palpable,
of the neighbours compassionately furnished___eving
hitmhaant some
of
family with food ; while other persons,
made a
for him. Before he left Bath, we believe his real cha-
racter began to be known ; at all events, nothing more
subscription thathe
was a man of education and talent,
was seen of him by any of those
who had befriended
him, until he appeared in the Assize Court at Glouces-
ter. One of his benefactors,
e
happening to be in the court whenn esteemed clergyman,
withSirßicahamrdocstampoeliiten
to look round, he was recognised
how, and a condescending sweep of the arm.—Barth
Chronicle.

A FREE FIGHT. —The following is a description of a
free fight in Western 1
rirginin, as related by one of the
eynt e -witnessesl)
Premising that there Was but
okhoeyn
thereof.
in answer to an interrogatory as to
.low struck,
who was hit, the narrator replies :—" I reckon he Was
orneGuur onn as °clmayl'all:kr. . h ojs se—s i asre
war
ad down
chap
v rode
he was Messinger stock, a scrowgin amemii,
a leetle
blind o' both eyes—a peett-looking chap enough—an'
when he got fernent the place, says he, 'ls this a free
fight ;' and they told him it war. ' Well,' says he,
Bitting off an hitching his ole claybank to a swinging
limb, 'count me in !' He hadn't more'n got it out,
afore some one fetched him a lick, an' he drapt. He
riz dreckly with some defichulty, and sea he, 'ls this a
free fight ?' an' they told him it war. ' Well,' sea he,
unhitchin' his boss, and puttin' his left leg over the back
leather, ' count me out !' an' then he marveled."—Neto
York Tribune.

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