The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-20 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

ADMIRALTY LEVEE.—The following officers attended
the levee of Sir James Graham, at Whitehall, on Satur-
day :—Vice-Admirals : Lord Aylmer, C. 8., and Lord
Radstock, C.B. Rear-Admirals : Ryder Burton, K.H.,
Purvis, commander-in-chief at Queenstown; N. Duff,
W. P. Wallis. Captains : W. Willis, J. Johnson, T.
H. Mason, J. Reeve, C. Smith, J. Steven, Sir E. Stan-
hope. Commanders : W. Whimper, F. Edwin, Lord
A. Beauclerk, W. Burdon, J. Tudor, H. Ingram, P. De
Saumarez, E. Pierse, E. Woolecombe, H. Ellicombe,
Thomas Wilson. Inspector of Hospitals : Dr. J. Wil-
son. Chaplain : Rev. W. G. Tucker. Lieutenants .
T. Eyton, W. Mould, Mr. R. Wilson.
The Brisk, screw-sloop, at Devonport, will proceed to
the West Indies ; the Comus, 18, at Sheerness, to the
East Indies station ; and the Nerbudda, 12, to the Cape
of Good Hope.
Commander Wilson and the officers of the Hecla
steam-sloop have been appointed to the Vesuvius, steam-
sloop, at Portsmouth, and as many of the crew of the
former ship may be entered as may feel disposed again
to serve.

We hear that the Argus, 6, steam-sloop, Commander
Purvis, arrived at Halifax from Devonport, and four
days before the Basilisk, 6, steam-sloop, Commander
the Hon. F. Egerton, and that under very little steam.
It appears, too, that before the flag captain of the sta-
tion paid a visit to her, the topmasts were struck and a
refit had been commenced, and when Captain Seymour
arrived on board the commander was on shore transact-
ing business, and the lieutenants were on the tops over-
hauling the state of the rigging.
THE SCREW FLEET.—Another line-of-battle ship has
now been added to the screw fleet at Spithead by the
arrival of the Agamemnon, 91. The screw fleet now
includes the Duke of Wellington, 131 ; Agamemnon,
91 : Hogue, 58 ; Ajax, 58 ; Blenheim, 58 ; Edin-
burgh, 58 ; but only two of the list are fully manned.
THE SCREW-SHIP ST. JEAN D'ACRE.—This magni-
ficent screw-ship, ' the first two-decker on record that
has been classed a first-rate, is progressing rapidly in
equipment, and already begins to make a good show
aloft. She has pointed her topmasts, and will in a few
days send up her lower yards. But, alas ! here, as
everywhere else, is heard the cry for men. Were the
sinews of war to be obtained, there is no doubt she
would in a very short time be ready to swell the line of
the gallant fleet that has been called into existence by
the lowering aspect of the Eastern sky.

PORTSMOUTH, JUNE 18.
A trial of Sir Thomas Mitchell's Boomerang propeller
took place at half-past 7 a.m. to-day, in Stoke's Bay,
along the measured mile, on board her Majesty's ship
Conflict, under the command of Captain Henderson,
C. 8., of her Majesty's ship Blenheim. The wind was
strong at the time the Conflict reached her trying
ground, amounting to from 6 to 7, or equal to about a
quarter of a knot. The tide was opposed in one direc-
tion of the course, the wind in the other. After a run
of eight times along the measured distance, the results
were, on an average, 9.125 knots, with average revo-
lutions of 63t. This was somewhat surpassing in speed
the result of the last trial with the common screw, with
eight revolutions less, and a saving of one-eighth of the
coal, and Sir Thos. Mitchell appeared to entertain no
doubt that,had the pitch of the Boomerang screw been the
same as the pitch of the common screw, a higher speed
would have been the result. The reduction of the vibra-
tion ordinarily experienced on board either screw or
paddle steamers, and frequently a distressing annoyance,
was noticed approvingly by all on board the Conflict.
This comparative absence of vibration is one of the com-
fortable characteristics of the Boomerang, saving at once
the wear and tear of the ship and the passengers' rest.
The Conflict, however, is not a vessel the construction
of which admits of her rapid propulsion either by steam
or canvas, as her trials in Commodore Martin's squadron
as set forth in the• official report sufficiently testify.
This heaviness of the Conflict clearly accounts for the
less brilliant result as to speed obtained with the Boome-
rang than was formerly obtained with it at Liverpool
and Sydney on board vessels built on lines better adapted
for speed. We were informed by one of the owners of
the Genova, a Liverpool merchant ship, that on a recent
voyage home from Quebec to Liverpool, the Genova
had averaged a knot more per hour with the Boomerang
propeller than he had ever previously attained with a
common screw, with not half the customary vibration.
The name " Boomerang" propeller has incited many in-
quiries as to what affinity, in nature as in name, this
screw of the scientific Australian engineer and discoverer,
Sir Thomas Mitchell, claims with the familiar, though
little understood, missile of that name, of which such
marvellous stories are told. In the hands of a native
the Boomerang certainly performs marvellous feats,
while in those of a European it is inert or intractable.
The savage, by practice, knows precisely how to poise
as well as project his familiar missile, and in this secret,
we apprehend, consists Sir Thomas Mitchell's applica-
tion of ,the principle of the Australian missile to
the propulsion of vessels. The balanced centre, as we
understand, is all that Sir Thomas Mitchell's screw has
to do with the Boomerang. But we anticipate mighty
results from the scientific application of this simple prin-
ciple. This balanced centre is of the highest importance,
as suggesting a means of adapting a surface revolving
round a centre, so that it presents to equal pressure
uniformity of resistance, because the spaces described by
a body in falling are proportional to the squares of the
times. When the same surface is placed vertically, and
set in rotary motion through fluids, it is subject to a
similar law, and when in the plane of a screw it is equally
poised obliquely. Thus we have in this form equilibrium,
and equal resistance, and equal strength, the propeller
being balanced when it is first formed on its axis. Hence,
under any degree of velocity, centrifugal action is con-
verted into concentric action by the peculiar manner of
balancing the surface round the centre of the rotary
motion. Herein, we believe, consists the secret of Sir
Thomas Mitchell's screw, upon which, however, we will
write more fully after witnessing further trials which will
probably take place at the end of the week.

JUNE 19.
The Agamemnon, 91, screw two-decker, Captain Sir
Thomas Maitland, anchored at Spithead yesterday after-
noon from a cruise, last from Lisbon. She left Lisbon
on the 28th of May, and put in again on the 11th inst.,
on which day Rear-Admiral Corry's squadron entered
the Tagus. It consisted of the Prince Regent, 90,
Captain Hutton ; the London, 90, Captain Charles
Eden ; the Imperieuse, 50 (screw), Captain Watson,
C.B. ; the Amphion, 34 (screw), Captain Patey ; the
Leopard, 12 (paddle), Captain George Giffard ; and
the Valorous, 16 (paddle), Captain Buckle. These
were to sail for Spithead on the 12th. The Sanspa-
reil, 70 (screw), Captain Dacres, bad been previously
detached from the squadron and bore up for the Medi-
terranean. The Agamemnon left the Cruiser 14 (screw),
Commander the Hon. G. H. Douglas, at Lisbon, to
await further orders. The Agamemnon has proved her-
self a most comfortable ship at sea, and a fast steamer.
On the passage to Spithead she steamed two days, on
one of which she ran 9, and on the other 11, knots per
hour.

The Arrogant 46 (screw), Captain Fremantle, came
into harbour yesterday morning from Spithead, and will
haul into the steam basin on Monday to receive new
boilers.

A court-martial will be held on board the Victory on
Tuesday morning to try a prisoner for theft.

PLYMOUTH, JUNE 19.
Her Majesty's steam-frigate Vulture, 6, Captain F.
H. Glasse, arrived this evening from the Mediterranean.
She left Malta in company with the steam-vessel Obe-
ron, on the sth of June, and arrived at Gibraltar on the
11th. Having coaled and made good defects in the
machinery of the Oberon, they left the bay on the 12th,
at 8 p.m., and experienced strong contrary winds until
the 17th. The Vulture brings home 88 officers, seamen,
and marines, chiefly invalids from the fleet. Among
them is Captain Spalding, invalided from the Arethusa,
50. She has also some stores for Devonport dockyard.
The Oberon has in all 72 persons, including six women
and five children, military invalids, chiefly from the 41st
Regiment, in charge of Captain Spalding. Surgeon
Davis, of the 49th, comes home in her, invalided. The
Oberon is taking in coal from the hulk in the Sound,
and proceeds immediately for Spithead. The Vulture
brings dispatches from the Commander-in-Chief to the
Secretary of the Admiralty.

SHEERNESS, JUNE 18.

The Nerbudda, 12-gun brig, Commander Boyd, got
under way yesterday at •10 a.m., and, on passing the
Waterloo, saluted the flag, which was returned by the
flagship. The Nerbudda proceeded for Portsmouth,
where she will receive her despatches and supernumera-
ries for the squadron serving in the Pacific.
The Archer, 14 guns, screw steamsloop, Commander
James N. Strange, arrived here yesterday at noon from
Woolwich. She was taken in charge by Mr. R. Harvey,
Queen's pilot here for the Thames and Medway, and
conducted to Saltpan Reach to complete her stock of
coals from the naval depot Fortitude. She has this day,
at 10 a.m., left for Leith, where she is to be stationed
for the protection of the fisheries on the coast of Scot-
land. Mr. Harvey is one of the masters in charge who
have passed their examination at the Trinity-house,
London, for piloting Her Majesty's vessels up and down
the rivers Thames and Medway by a recent Admiralty
order to the port-officers here.
The Cyclops paddle-wheel steam-frigate (transport) is
ordered to leave here on Monday next for Woolwich,
where she is to take in steam machinery, boilers, &c.,
for the Princess Royal, 90 guns, screw steamship,
building at Portsmouth. The Cyclops will be manned
by seamen riggers from this yard, and supernumeraries,
stokers, &c., from the steam squadron of reserve, and
proceed uner the command of Mr. Charles Pope, As-
sistant Master-Attendant of this yard.
The Waterloo, 120 guns, Captain the Hon. Montagu
Stopford.—An order has been received here for the
entry on board of this ship (for service in the St. Jean
d'Acre, 101 guns, now fitting at Devonport) of petty
officers and seamen. It will be optional for seamen
joining this splendid ship to avail themselves of the ad-
vantages proposed by the new regulations for manning
the Royal navy. There will be no objection to the well-1
grown watermen who have not been to sea before.
The Comus, 14 guns, ship-sloop, Commander W. A.
Fellowes, was put out of the fitting basin this morning,
and is now moored at the swinging buoy ready for hav-
ing her compasses adjusted by swinging ship.
The Horatio, 24 guns, screw steam-frigate, Com-
mander RobertJenner.--An entry is now open for 100
able-bodied, intelligent young men, from 20 to 23 years
of age, of good character, who are to be instructed in
the duties and trained up for able seamen. There is
also an entry open in this frigate for 20 thorough good
A.B.'s, who will be expected to exert themselves in
training up landsmen on board this ship. None but
men-of-war's men with very good characters will be
entered for thit4 purpose, Lieutenant William E,l

Fisher, December 6, 1845, First Lieutenant of this fri-
gate, has taken up his commission and joined to-day.
The Cressy, 80 guns, screw steam-ship, building at
Chatham, and now nearly ready for being launched.
Orders have been reeeived to prepare masts, spars,
sails, and all other fitments for this ship ready for her
on her arrival here, which will take place immediately
after she is launched.

The revenue cutter Scout, Isaac Saxty in command,
has arrived here from Aberdeen and the north coast of
England, with ordnance stores returned from the various
coast-guard stations, each of which has been supplied
with ammunition, shot, and shell for their respective
stations from Upnor and the ordnance department at
Chatham. The Scout has this day sailed for Harwich.
The Miranda, 14, screw steam-sloop, will be ready for
the pendant on Monday next, except the preparation
necessary for fitting Grant's patent cooking and distil-
ling apparatus.
The steam transport Rhadamanthus, Master-Com-
mander John Belam, arrived here at 5 p.m. yesterday
from Devonport and Plymouth, and, after communi-
cating with the Commander-in-Chief, proceeded for
Chatham at 7 p.m.

WOOLWICH, JurrE 18.

APPOINTMENTS.

Chaplain—Rev. S.K7itothert—(lBs3), to la Hogue,
60, steam guard-ship, at Devonport, vice Rev. Henry
W. Taylor, to the Terrible steam-frigate at Woolwich.
Surgeon—John H. Patterson (1845). recently serving
in the Spiteful steam-sloop, to the Vesuvius paddle.
wheel steam-sloop at Portsmouth.
The Simoom, 18, iron screw steam troop-ship, Cap-
tain John Smith, arrived at Greenhithe at half-past 6
p.m. to-day from Portsmouth, to take on board stores
from the Royal Arsenal for conveyance to the Mediter-
ranean.

MALTA, JUNE 12.
On the afternoon of the 7th instant her Majesty's
steam-ship Caradoc, the arrival of which from Marseilles
had been anxiously expected for some days previously,
was telegraphed, and shoitly after she entered port.
All was immediately in a state of activity, officers of
every rank hastening to convey orders or messages
according to their instructions, and before long the anti-
cipated signal was made, "Fleet, prepare for sea." No
time was lost, and by ten o'clock every steamer had its
steam up, and the Arethusa frigate was taken in tow by
the Tiger, and got out. In the meantime the wind,
which was fair, blew with some violence into the har-
bour, and it was impossible in the darkness of the night
to incur the risk of towing out the ships.
On the following morning, at 6 o'clock, the Caradoc,
which had been employed in coaling during the night,
got under weigh for the Levant with important de-
spatches for Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, and before she
was well out of the harbour the ships were all ready for
sea. By 8 o'clock all had left their moorings, at the
time and in the manner following :-
6 30 a.m., Albion, towed by Sampson.
630 a.m., Vengeance, „ Retribution.
6.45 a.m., Rodney.
7 a.m., Bellerophon, towed by Fury.
745 a.m., Britannia (flag), „ Tiger.
8 a.m., Trafalgar, Inflexible.
And before 11 o'clock every vessel, all of which had
shaped their course for the Levant, was out of sight
from the signal tower.
In endeavouring to get out on the previous evening
the Britannia had carried away her flying jibboom, which
was the only accident.
Captain Graham, of the Rodney, beat out in beautiful
style. He thought it a discredit not to be able to find
his way out without the aid of a "smoker," and refused
to be taken in tow.

The departure of the fleet has created a sensation al-
most indescribable, although the events in the East had
led to the conclusion that such an event was unavoidable.
The Admiral carried with him a moderate breeze from
the west-north-west, which was quite fair.
As the fleet was going out a signal was made that a
steam frigate was in sight, from the north-west ; she
shortly after reached port, and proved to be the Fire-
brand, Captain Hyde Parker, from Lisbon.
This last•named vessel was, I believe, to remain in
port to convey any dispatches to Admiral Dundas that
may reach him from Marseilles ; but she has since
sailed.

On Sunday last Rear-Admiral Houston Stewart ar-
rived in Malta by the French steamer Mentor, from
Marseilles, and shortly afterwards hoisted his flag on
board the Niger steam-frigate, and received the salute
due to his rank.

Admiral Stewart relieves Rear-Admiral Harvey as
superintendent of the Malta Dockyard, and at present
occupies a part of the palace of his Excellency the Go-
vernor, who is living at his country residence.
Admiral Harvey, who proceeds to England by the
Bengal, is at present living at Dunsford's Hotel.
The Dutch frigate Soembing, from Plymouth and
Gibraltar, also arrived on the Bth inst. She is bound
to Constantinople, with a view, it is said, of seeking re-
paration of the Sultan on account of a merchant vessel
of that nation having been some time ago plundered
when in the neighbourhood of that city.
The Swedish brig Eridano, from Cagliari, arrived here
yesterday, and saluted the forts.
A steam yacht for the Pasha of Egypt also arrived
here yesterday; her name is Faid Rabani.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

CUSTOM-HOUSE, JUNE 18.

ENTERED INWARDS.—The City of Boulogne, from Bou-
logne ; City of London, Dunkirk ; Citizen, Bordeaux ;
Seine, Boulogne ; Jane Mary, Lisbon ; Haabet, St. Peters-
burgh ; Panther, Ostend ; Mead, Cadiz ; Juffer Grietz,
Carolinensiel ; Vere, Jamaica ; Emanuel Geibel, Peters-
burgh ; Earl of Hardwick, Bombay ; Orion, Dantzic ;
Sophie, Stettin ; Narcissus, Ceylon ; Trident, Arracan ;
Saffo, Bahia ; Henry Holman, Smyrna.
ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.—The Breeze, for
Dunkirk ; Panther, Ostend ; City of Boulogne, Bonlogre ;
City of London, Dunkirk • Les Armis, Rouen ; Caroline,
Cherbourg ; Christabel, dape of Good Hope ; John Bull,
Harnburgh ; Ocean, Rotterdam ; Reubens, Mauritius ;
Bertha, Rio Janeiro - Sydney, Adelaide and Port Philip ;
Vriendschap and Goede Moderen, Stavanger ; z.•:antipore,
Cape of Good Hope.
CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO.—The Agincourt,
for Calcutta ; Pen with, Rouen ; Wellesley, Calcutta ;
Shamrock, ;Cape Coast Castle ; Hermann, Hamburgh ;
Samuel Appleton. New York • Marmion, Quebec and
Montreal ; John Brookes, St. 'lda ; Perdeguero, Cuba ;
Packenham, Madeira • Commodore, Naples ; Victoria,
Adelaide • Palmyra, Demerara ; Echo, Antwerp • Cathe-
rine Eliz :bath, St. Vincent ; British Tar, Hong Kong and
Canton •. Kaffirland. Callao ; Louve Van Nyenstein, Port
Adelaide; Albion, Boulogne; Baron Osy, Antwerp; City
of London, _Dunkirk; Batavier, Rotterdam ; Soho, Havre ;
Lord John Russell, Harlingen ; Earl of Auckland, Rot•
terdam.