The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-04 00:00:00

DAILY WEATHER TABLE.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1848.
State of the wind and weather at each of the following
places at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The stations
are arranged in order of latitude.
HASTINGS—E., gentle breeze—rain.
SOUTHAMPTON-- S., strong breeze—rain.
TUNBRIDGE—E., stroll breeze—rain.
BASINGSTOKE—N.B., strong breeze—scud—rain.
GREENWICH—E., gentle breeze— heavy rain.
SWINDON—E., fresh breeze—rain.
CAMBRIDGE—N.B., gentle breeze—cloudy.
LEIGirroN--S.E., gentle breeze—rain.
YARMOUTH—S.E., gentle breeze—foggy.
The returns from the following places indicate the state
of the weather on Monday morning at nine o'clock
HASTINGS—E.N.E., fresh breeze—cloudless.
SOUTHAMPTON—S.E., strong breeze—overcast.
FOLKESTONE—N.E., gentle breeze—overcast.
TUNBRIDGE—S.W., gentle breeze—cloudless.
BASINGSTOKE—N.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
GREENWICH—S.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
STROOD—E., strong breeze—partially cloudy.
SWINDON—S.E., fresh breeze—partially cloudy.
CAMBRIDGE—E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
LEIGHTON—S.E., gentle breeze—cloudless.
YARMOUTH—E., gentle breeze—foggy.
HOLYHEAD—S.E., strong breeze—overcast.
DARLINGTON—E., strong breeze—partially cloudy.
SHAP— S.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tam Dar —Morning 0 min. after 0 I Evening 56 min.aft. 11
To-Moaßow—Morning 17 min. after 12 1 Evening 38 min.aft. 12

THE WEATHER.—Stm Onnca, MAT 4.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
57—highest since noon yesterday.
52—lowest this morning and during the night.
57 this day at noon.

BAROMETER, 30'14.
WIND, E. to E.N.E.—Light breeze, and dull, cloudy
weather.

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1853.

It is wonderfully instructive to watch the pro-
gress made in their inquiries by the Committee
(now sitting) on Dockyard Promotions and Ap-
pointments. Seldom has the country, at any rate
of late years, enjoyed the opportunity of any such
amusing, but at the same time melancholy revela-
tions. For once we are admitted behind the
scenes at the Admiralty. We hear for once the
official whisper. We observe for once the
" aside"—generally inaudible to the vulgar com-
munity. Confidential remarks, uttered within
closed doors, are reported before Committee, and
noted down verbatim et literatim by the attendant
short-hand-writers. Confidential letters have
their seals broken, so to speak, in the mar-
ket-place, and their contents flaming in the
printed columns of the newspapers. At
one moment we are standing at the elbow of the
late Secretary to the Admiralty, listening to his
candid confession—" There's no use blinking the
question ; I can't help myself, I am so pressed by
the Government." At another we are watching
Vice-Admiral PARKER, as lie tosses behind the
fire that important missive in which Sir BALDWIN
WALKER, as Surveyor of the Navy, takes the
liberty of respectfully tendering his resignation to
the Lords Commissioners.

Already we have commended the really sur
prising lucidity of the evidence given by Sir B.
WALKER. before the Committee of Inquiry into the
subject of Dockyard Promotions and Appoint-
ments. It is deeply to be regretted that
the evidence subsequently " taken down "
from the lips of Mr. AUGUSTUS STAFFORD,
is by no means comparable either in coherence or
explicitness. Throughout his replies there is a
painful sense of hesitation, if not indeed of actual
reservation. Beyond which, while there is not a
link wanting in the whole chain of evidence given
by the late Surveyor of the Navy, there is per-
ceptible here and there in the evidence given by
the late Secretary to the Admiralty a hiatus at
once suspicious and bewildering.
Another remarkable witness was examined
before committee only yesterday—one Mr. JOHN
BRIGGS--who during the last twenty-seven years
has been reader to the Board of Admiralty. His
evidence, it must be allowed, is sufficiently enter-
taining from its delightful preciseness. Witness
—as we learn from one part of these amusing
revelations—remembered distinctly the notable
interview which took place between Sir BALDWIN
WALKER and Mr. AUGUSTUS STAFFORD, in refer-
ence to the former official's memorable latter of
resignation. In fact, he seems to have blundered
in upon them during their conference. "On
my entering the room," remarks the wit-
ness, " the Surveyor of the Navy appeared
to be labouring under great agitation of mind,
"2s. if something very unpleasant had occurred."
That, at least, is the surmise of Mr. JOHN BRIGGS,
reader to the Admiralty. Thereupon his curiosity
became naturally excited, more particularly when
he adds, "I heard some words [delightful indefi-
niteness !], and was about to retire [bashful
BRIGGS !], thinking something had taken place"—
marvellous instance of..
,y
astuteness in ratioci-
nation ! Can it pl 3
friend, Mr. BR/Gas 0,1 be our dear old
Punch--the beloved
of JOHN LEECH, and " the bright particular
of the London Charivari ? To return, however,star"
from idle surmises to this delectable evidence, wit-
ness adds, "The Surveyor was standing at th:tale
folding up his papers and I beard him say these
words Very well, Sir, I will go to Somerset.
house, and return by and by.' Seeing that he
was much agitated, I said to Mr. STAFFORD [we
presume by this time
Sir BALDWIN WALKER had
quitted the apartment], I hope the Surveyor
has not resigned.' He [meaning of
course
Mr. STAFFORD] said 6No : he has re-
signed.' I said, ' What do you mean ?' "
' reply
was let it be observed that Mr.
" D
aS
wwas" No : he has resignedpy
to any ordinary izliAd aspla.ll4 a skoltai; 13ut
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