The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-18 00:00:00

THE LISBON SQUADRON.

Her Majesty's screw steam-ship• Desperate, 8, Captain
William W. Chambers, which le ft. Lisbon at 4 p.m. on
Monday, the 6th, arrived in Ply caouth'Sound yesterday
morning. She left in the Tagus I 'she flag-ship Prince Re-
gent, 90, Captain Hutton ; screws `team-ship Duke of Wel-
lington, 331, Commodore Martin, a32(1 St. Jean d'Acre, 101,
Captain H. Keppel ; screw frigate 1 Imperieuse, 50, Captain
K. B. Watson ; the Arrogant, 47, Captain H. R. Yelver-
ton ; the Amphion, 34, Captain A. Cl. Key; the Tribune,
:30, Captain the Ffon. S. G. Carnegie ; and the paddle.
wheel steam-frigates Valorous, 16, Ca p tain C. H. N. Buckle;
and Odin, 16, Captain G. Scott. The western squadron
h.la 10 (lays' trial of sailing only, :and returned on the
29th ; the Tribune had the advantag a on every point. The
Arrogant arrived on the 29th ult., mu 1 the St. Jean d'Acre,
0.. the sth instant, both from Gibraltss The crews of all
the ships are in good health. There ivas no direct indica-
tion np to the 6th of a return home,. The recal of the
Desperate, though not unexpected, -vs -as sudden. On the
13th of January she went to assist awheat-laden English
vessel from Odessa, stranded near Fs,:rt Hugen, the crew
of which (Russian seamen) had deserted her. The heavy
surf prevented any approach, and she -went to pieces. The
Desperate grounded on a reef, and snipped two anchors,
but recovered the best bower. She is to go into dock for
examination, and will be supplied wi tll new mainmast.
On the 14th, lat. 49, long. 14, she' exchanged colours
with the Circassian, outward bound. She has brought as
passengers, Mr. de Crespigny, Mate of the St. Jean
d'Acre, promoted Lieutenant of the James Watt ; Mr,
Arthur Thomas, 'Second Master of Clio Odin, promoted
Master ; Mr. Johnstone, Mate of A xrogant. promoted
Lieutenant ; Mr. Nicholls, late clerk or the Tribune ; and
fifteen invalid seamen from the Tribunes., Imperieuse, and
Odin.

The Queen held a Privy Council at I Cuckingham Palace
this afternoon (Saturday.)
The Duke and Duchess of Wellingtons, we hear, intend
to return to this country from Italy a L the close of the
ensuing month, when his grace will pesume his official
duties at Court as Master of the Horse to, the Queen.
The Duke of Alba and Berwick, ne: Lrly related to the
Empress. Eugenie, has just arrived in Paris from Madrid,
to visit his brother, the Count de Galv 8, secretary to the
Spanish legation.
The Marquis of Titchfield has arrived. at Harcourt-house
from the Duke of Portland's, AVelbeck: Abbey, where the
venerable duke is staying in good health.
The Earl and Countess of Jersey; and Lady Clamentina
Villiers, return to Berkeley-square to-clay for the season.
The Earl and Countess of Wilton are entertaining a se-
lect party at Egerton-lodge, Melton Momrbray. The noble
earl will continue his hospitalities until after Crouton-park
races,. when the family will arrive iu Cr osvenor•square for
the season.

Lord and Lady Blantyre and family, -who are staying at
Genoa, return to England early in April.
. Lord and Lady Canning will receive a select circle at
dimier this evening in Grosvenor-square.
Sir Win. Heatbcote, Bart., M.P., refju rned to town yes-
terday, from visiting his constituents at, Oxford. Sir Wil-
liam was entertained at a sumptuous dejeuner in New
College.
Mr. BRI4COE.—Some excitement was occasioned las
ev,ning within and about the House of Commons by the
painful circumstance of Mr. Briscoe, M.P., having fallen
down, in the men hers' vestibule, in an. apoplectic fit. For-
tunately, Mr. Brady, the member for Leitrim, who is a
physician, was at hand ; and by his care Mr. llriscoe was
slowly recovered, and then removed to his residence.

11A.p.mome Ugiox—ExETEs HALL "Acise
Galatea," which was performed fbr •.the first time with
Mozart's accompanvists last Monday, is announced for re-
petition on Thursciay next, the 23d inst., with Mr. Sims
Reeves as Alis, and,Signor Bolletti asyolypheinus.

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.—The following is cor-
rected list of the vessels taken rip by the Government for
the conveyance of cavalry horses and stores to the Medi-
terranean :—The Resolute, her Majesty, the Palmerston,
the Pyrenees, the Countess of Loudon., the John Master-
man, the lon,,the Alipore, the St. Hilda' the Blake, the
Malgerton, the. City of Carlisle, and the Earl of Shaftes-
bury.
THE FRAUDS 05 THE LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN
RAILWAY COMPANY.—Yesterday William Caitcheon, late
csAier at the Liverpool station of the London and dorth-
'We. tern Railway, 'Lime-street, was re-examined before
the Liverpool magistrates and committed for trial, charged
with having misappropriated a large sum of money be-
lnnßing company. Evidence was given to prove
that a deficiency had been found in the prisoner's accounts
to the extent of 4,145/. Mr. Humphreys, who attended
for the prosecution, stated, that at the trial Goalen, whose
name had been mentioned in connection with the fraud,
woi id Le indicted with the prisoner Caitcheon as an ac-
ce,sory before and after the fact.
EITROPEAN GAS COMPANY.--At the usual half-yearly
meeting of the proprietors of the European Gas Company
held this day, at their offices, 3, Moorgate-street, a report
on the operations of the nine months ending 31st Decem-
ber last, was laid before the meeting, and gave general
satisfaction. The report recited the improvement in the
extent of business, and also that the state of the accounts,
as far as ascertained, had fully justified the directors in
paying a dividend of 10s. per share, on the Ist, inst., not-
withstanding the increased price of coal and freight. The
report was received and adopted unanimously, and the
bn-iness concluded with votes of thanks to the chairman,
diiectors, &c.
IMPROVEMENTS AT WHITEHALL.—During the last few
days an ornamental iron column has been erected at
Whitehall, in the centre of the road, by directions of the
Boaril of Works, which has*the supervision of the road from
Charing-croaa to Parliament-street. It has four large lamps,
with gas-burners, at the extremity of iron supporters, pro-
from thatop, and which give a very brilliant light.
It s situated nearly opposite the rooms occupied by the
1 faic.,rs of the Guards and Blues, at the Horse Guarda,
`little `above 'the entrance to St. James's-park. Six iron
ptut' Are Placed above the base of the column (three on
I either side, north and B,3utli); and yesterday large flag-
! stones‘weie beng•laid down between them, by direction of
theiliPaiiitindng.ooal:rleoeftSiotn; lolfartaitinis. column a 's4n-the-Fields. The public
w
great accommo.
datiOn,, as,. at all times; 'the crossing here is most dan-
gerous, owing to the immense traffic of carriages and" °Wei '
vehicles, but more particularly during the Parliamentary
session.