The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-19 00:00:00

N.dI7AL INTELLIGENCE.

_ -
The navy generally, and a large circle of friends of all
classes, will learn with the deepest regret that- our worst
fears for Captain Matson have been realised. By accounts
received from the West Indies, by the Royal Mail
steamer, Parana, we are informed that the gallant,
distinguished, and universally esteemed captain of the
screw-frigate Highflyer has been carried off by the
dreadful yellow fever. This is, indeed, afflicting intel-
ligence. A more skilful, able, spirited, gentleman..
like officer never commanded a ship than Captain
Matson.

The accounts from the Dauntless, 33, screw-frigate,
Captain Halsted, are said to be conflicting ; but it is be-
lieved that no more deaths have occurred on board that
ill-fated ship at Barbadoes,

We have-also to report the melancholy intelligence of
the deaths, by yellow fever, of Lieut. Inglis, one of the
Admiralty agents in a royal mail-packet, and Lieut.
Lyster, Admiralty agent on board the royal mail-packet
Great Western.

We fear that many other good and gallant fellows are
yet to be 'added to the yellow fever obituary.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 18

The Russian man-of-war Pallas, 50, Captain Unkov-
ski, the Dwina, 22, Captain Beserabsky, and the steam-
tender Vostock, took their departure from Spithead
this morning, at 7.30. The Pallas, on leaving the an-
chorage, saluted the garrison with 21 guns, but this com-
plement was not returned until past 10 o'clock, when
the Russian squadron was out of sight of the battery,
and doubtless very many miles out of hearing. Such
laxity as this did not exist in Port imouth garrison when
Lord Frederick Fitzclarence was Lieutenant-Governor.
The Sidon, 22, paddle steam-frigate, Captain Gold.
smith, having repaired the damage to her engines much
sooner than was expected, steamed out to Spithead this
afternoon, saluted the flag of Rear-Admiral Fanshawe,
the acting Commander-in-Chief, and then ran the mea-
sured mile at Stoke's Bay, after which she brought up at
Spithead.

The Pyrenees, prison-ship, arrived at Spithead last
night from the Thames, to embark transports for
Australia.

The Avon steam-tender, called in here on her way to
Plymouth to-day, from the eastward, and embarked su-
pernumeraries for that port.
Mr. Leeke, son of Commodore Sir Henry Leeke,
K.H., Commander-in-Chief of the Hon. East India
Company's navy, is appointed High Sheriff of Bombay.
The salary is about 1,0001. per annum.

PLYMOUTH, Jex. 17.

This day we have fine weather. Wind N.E.
Sailed the Tortoise, lighter (Wood, master of the Ha-
moaze, lent in charge), with stores for Cork ; the Ro-
chester, Savage, master, with stores for Pembroke.
Hogue, 58, screw steam-guard-ship, Captain Ramsay,
went out this morning to exercise her engines. This
being the first time she had been out of harbour, she
sa-
luted the flag, which was returned by the Impregnable.
She returned to the Sound at four p.m.
Vulture, steam-frigate, Captain Glasse, sailed on Sa-
turday evening for Torbay, and returned on Sunday,
and is now in Barnpool.
Vengeance, 84, Captain Lord E. Russell, is off the
port beating ; but the tide being against her, she is not
expected to anchor by daylight.
A great number of merchant-ships, which were hero
windbound, have left the Sound to-day. The Edward,
convict-ship, has had to fill up with provisions, and will
no doubt sail to-night.

SHEERNESS, JAN. 18

Phaeton, 60 guns, Captain George Elliot.—Vice-
Admiral the Hon. Josceline Percy, Commander-in-Chief
at the Buoy of the Nore, at 10 a.m. yesterday left
here in the steam-vessel Wildfire, tender to her Ma-
jesty's flag-ship Waterloo, and proceeded to the Nore
for the purpose of inspecting this frigate. After sa-
luting, the entire ship's company were put through
their various evolutions at target practice, gun exercise,
beating to quarters, fire alarm, &c. The target practice
was most excellent. Shot, grape, and shell were fired.
One gun was laid with a single shot, which, on being
fired, cut the flagstaff from off the target, and after a full
broadside was fired, with each gun concentrated on
the target, the target was destroyed altogether.
The gunnery, for precision, has not been equalled
here for some time. After the departure of
our gallant admiral, arrangements were made for
discharging her powder, shell, &c., which was not com-
pleted until 3.45 p.m. At 4 p.m. she was under
way, it blowing a strong wind at the time from the
north-west. She came into harbour in splendid style,
having at the time three reefs in her topsails, jib
set, fore tack on board, spanker sheeted aft, and her
mainsail dewed up, and anchored off the Black-
stakes. In consequence of the strong wind she wus
not berthed at the Docking Buoy, as intended. If the
Weather proves moderate she will be brought down
to-morrow ready for being taken into the fitting-basin to
be paid off. Mr. Joshua Taylor, the Queen's pilot
here, being on the sick list, the Phaeton was piloted in
here by Mr. Millbank, one of our Trinity plots. The
steam-vessels Adder, from Chatham, and Myrtle, from
here, went to the Nore, in the event of their services
being required, which were found unnecessary.
Immediate arrangements are being made here for
laying down a new screw'steam-corvette. She is to be
built on the lines of the screw steam-frigate Highfiyer,
of 21 guns, with a greater breadth of beam at her water
line, thereby giving considerably more buoyancy and
greater facilities for stowage in the hold.
She is to be of the following diMensions

eet. n
Length of keel between the perpendiculars F I
192 0
Length of keel for tonnage 165 0
Breadth exrreme 3B 4
Breadth for tonnage 3B 0
Breadth moulded 37 4
Depth in hold 23 11
Burden in tons, 1,267 32-94.

She is to be built with all possible dispatch, and it is
expected the shipwrights will work what is termed job
and task work on her at a certain rate of prices for their
work, as laid down by the Admiralty.

WOOLWICH, JAN. 18.

APPOINTMENTS.

Assistant-Engineer Brice H. Budding, to the Blen-
heim, 60, screw steam guard-ship at Portsmouth.
Acting Assistant-Surgeon W. J. Baird, to the Leander,
50, at Portsmouth.
The Rhadamanthus, steam troop-ship, Master-Com-
Mander Belam, having taken on board stores at Dept-
ford, came down to Woolwich to-day in order to take on
board a brass or gun metal screw propeller, about 17
feet in diameter, made for service in the Edinburgh, 58,
screw steam-ship, of 450 horse-power, at Plymouth.
The Rhadamanthus will also take round to Plymouth
two paddle-box boats for the Valorous, 16, steam-frigate.