The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-31 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

We find in some of our contemporaries the following,
dated Devonport, May 29 :
" Nine p.m.—(By Electric Telegraph).—A telegraphic
dispatch was received here this afternoon from the Admi-
ralty, summoning Admiral Sir John Ommanney to proceed
to London with the utmost haste, in consequence of which
the Sprightly steamer was ordered to be got ready imme-
diately to take him to Portsmouth. Sir John struck his
flag on board the Impregnable, and left at six o'clock."

This is absurd on the face of it. Sir John Ommanney,
it is pretended, was summoned to London " with the
utmost haste," and yet, instead of leaving by the half.
past six o'clock mail train from Plymouth, by which he
would arrive in London yesterday morning, he is said to
have gone in the six-knot an hour steamer the Sprightly
" to Portsmouth."—Morning Herald.
Captain the Hon. G. C. B. Elliott takes the Sybille,
40, to the East Indies, as soon as she can scrape up a
crew of 350, about which we fancy there will be some
difficulty, if we may judge from the fact that the Queen,
116, in Plymouth Sound, is at least 300 blue jackets
short, with her men cutting away at every opportunity ;
that the St. Jean d'Acre wants some 700 blue jackets ;
the Duke of Wellington about 280 ; whilst almost every
other ship at home is short of men, and there are not a
few vacancies in Rear-Admiral Corry's squadron. The
Sybille was commissioned on Sunday.

PORTSMOUTH, MAY 30.
The orders for the Banshee, steam dispatch-vessel,
Lieut. Commander Hosken, that came down yesterday,
were for her to be ready for sea—and ready she is—to
go to Lisbon to pick up Rear-Admiral Corry, if required.
That gallant officer is not gone to the Mediterranean,
but for a six weeks' cruise, touching most likely at
Lisbon, where he will find the Agamemnon, 91, screw,
Captain Sir T. Maitland.
The Duke of Wellington, 131, screw three-decker,
Captain H. B. Martin, C. 8., bent sails this morning,
and crossed topgallant and royal yards.
The Vulcan steam troop-ship, Commander Von Dollop,
hauled alongside the dockyard and jetty to-day. She is
expected to embark troops to-morrow.
The Rhadamanthus steam-vessel, Master-Commander
Belano, arrived in harbour this morning from the eastern
ports, with stores, which having discharged, she left in
the evening for Devonport, also with stores.
Captain W. H. Henderson, C. 8., of the Blenheim,
60. screw two-decker, returns from leave on the 10th
proximo. The Blenheim came out of harbour to Spit-
head at a quarter to 6 this evening.
The Dauntless, 32, screw-frigate, is under the charge
of a guard from the steam-reserve force.
The Gorgon, 6, paddle-frigate, finished her external
painting last week, has new fittings for her pivot guns,
and will probably be taken out to Stokes'-bay for trial
this week.

The Conflict, 9, screw corvette, will make another ex-
perimental trial in a few days with the ordinary and the
boomerang propeller in turn. She has the appearance
of a crank vessel, but is, nevertheless, improved since
last in commission.

The Stromboli, (5, and Bulldog, 6, paddle-sloops, are
reported ready for service.
The Hecla, 6, and Gorgon, 6, paddle-vessels, when
ready, are reported to be under orden to join the steam
squadron in reserve at Devonport, but we doubt the
report.

The fine frigate Indiaman Blenheim, Captain Close,
passed this port yesterday from India. She left Cal-
cutta on the 12th of February, and St. Helena on the
21st of April. She has a full list of passengers. The
Harlequin, 12, Commander Wilmot, was at St. Helena,'
when she left.

SHEERNESS, MAY 30.

The Horatio, 24, screw steam guard-ship, is ordered to
leave here on 'Vednesday morning next, under charge of
Captain the Hon. S. T. Carnegie, for Devonport. Her
orders are to join the steam squadron at Spithead, which
has also orders to proceed to Devonport, to be present
at the opening of her Majesty's new steam-basin at Key-
ham-lake, near New Passage. It is currently reported
that her, Majesty, with his Royal Highness Prince Albert
and the senior Princes and Princess Royal, will be pre-
sent at the opening of this magnificent new steam-basin
for the use of her Majesty's Dockyard at Devonport.
The Horatio is fully manned and equipped, victualled
and stored, ready for any service that occasion may re-
quire, and always ready to leave port as soon as steam
can be raised to propel her machinery.

WOOLWICH, MAY 30.
APPOINTMENTS.

Captain John Kingcome (1838) at present in com-
mand of the Simoom, 18, iron-screw steam troop-ship, to
command the St. George, 120, guard-ship of ordinary at
Devonport ; Captain Henry Smith, b. (1846), to the
Simoom, at Portsmouth, vice Kingcome.
Chaplain—The Rev. Josiah Thompson, B.A. (1843),
to the St. Jean d'Acre, 101, screw steam-ship, at
Devonport.
Naval Instructor—Charles Osbourne (1838), to the
St. Jean d'Acre.

Midshipmen—The Hon. Charles Crofton, G. H.
Wilkinson, and G. R. S. Lampeer to the St Jean
d'Acre.

Clerk—Edward Faulkner (1847), to the St. Jean
d'Acre.

DEATH OF VICE-ADMIRAL SIR FRANCIS
MASON, K.C.B.

The death of this gallant officer, Vice-Admiral of the
Red, has been reported, in the 75th year of his age. He
entered the navy in 1793, and served afloat during a
distinguished career of 24 years. He was in the glorious
Ist of June action—was in many of Sidney Smith's
dashing affairs—was posted in 1806 ; commanded the
Daphne, 20, at the capture of Monte Video ; com-
manded the Fisgard, 38, under Sir R. Strachan, at
Walcheren ; and was subsequently senior officer in
the Scheldt ; commanded the President, 38, and
was at the storming of San Sebastian ; commanded
,tll2
_Blanche, 46, and the Blonde, 46 ; was commo-
dore in the West Indies, and -succeeded ,to the
command-in-chief on the death of Sir M. Seymour • at-
tamed his flag rank in 1838, was appointed second in
command in the Mediterranean, with his flag in the Im-
pregnable, and for some time was Commander-in-chief,
with 12 sail of the line, until the arrival of Sir Edward
Owen; in 1843. This gallant and distinguished officer
married in 1805, Selina, youngest daughter of Viscount
Hood, by whom he had 12 children. As a captain, he
held the good-service pension, and was A.D.C. to the
Queen. He became a Vice-Admiral in May, 1849.
By the death of Sir F. Mason the following promotions
take place :—The Hon. Sir Fleetwood B. R. Pellew,
C. 8., K.C.H., Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies,
becomes Vice-Admiral of the Blue.
By the removal of Vice-Admiral Brian Hodgson to
the reserved half-pay list with a service pension, vice Sir
T. Fellowes, deceased, Sir Charle,s Napier, K.C.8., there-
fore now becomes Vice-Admiral of the Blue ; vice Sir
E. Tucker, K.C.8., Vice-Admiral of the White ; vice
John Ayscough, Vice-Admiral of the Red.
Captain James Ryder Burton, K.H.. (February 23,
1824), becomes Rear-Admiral, but not having served his
time as a captain in consequence of a severe wound, he
is placed on the reserved half-pay list, and Captain Wm.
Fanshawe Martin (June 5, 1824) becomes Rear-Ad-
miral of the Blue, vice Sir John Hill, who becomes
Rear-Admiral of the White, vice Sir Joshua F. Rowley,
Bart., to be Rear-Admiral of the Red.
On the reserved half-pay list Rear Admiral William
Ward becomes Vice-Admiral, being senior as captain to
Sir Charles Napier.
On the retired list Captains William Henry Smith
(February, 1824), and Richard Saumarez, (April 17,
1824), become retired Rear-Admirals, without increase
of pay, being senior as captains to Rear-Admiral W.
P. Martin.

of A.D.C. to the Queen is relinquished(lB32), and
A captain's good-service pension and an
baypptohientamboevnet
promotions. Captains C. Wyvill, A.D.O. .
sand
L 11. Williams (1832), become senior captain
Captains J. J. Stopford and W. J. Williams (1841),;
come within the 12s. Gd. half-pay list.
ralTPh.euze-voisn,uinsannodwert-iinieesehniciofla, tofQhuise.mstonvn,
Lords of the Admiralty ; the Hon. R. S.Dundas, C. 8.,
is the senior captain on the active list.Rear-Admi-
It is due to Itear-.Aduairal Ryder Burton to say, that
grade, and one of the
it is to him the country is mainly indebted for the con-
Ruch as the
DO ; and the Imperiense, 51.t0n, 131 ;the Agamemnon,

send their directions to the different parts of the king-
dom by this evening's post. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DISRAELI said he would not object to that
course, but he 'vas desirous that the Government should
inform the house what would be the probable course of
business generally.

Mr. BRIGHT inquired of the President of the Board
of Trade whether he had received any information as to
the imposition of a duty on the importation of opium
into China, and also as to licensing the growth of opium
in that country ; also whether, if he had any papers on
the subject, he was prepared to lay them before the
house, seeing that it was a matter intimately connected
with the finances of India ?

Sir C. WOOD was not aware of any information of
any sort or kind having been received by Government
relative to the matter. If, however, he received any,
he should be quite ready to lay it on the table.

Mr. D. SEYMOUR wished to know whether the
noble lord (Lord J. Russell) still persevered in his in-
tention to bring.in a permanent bill for the government
of India before the house had had time to consider the
evidence taken with respect to the home goveimment ?

Lord J. RUSSELL said he would first answer the
question of the hon. member for Buckinghamshire as to
the course of public business for the next few days.
The Government should propose on Thursday, before
any other business, to recommit the bill on the income
tax, and he trusted there would be no objection to
its passing through the next stage on Friday, so that
it might be read a third time on Monday. On Friday
the President of the Board of Trade, according to the
notice given, would propose the measure for the govern-
ment and regulation of India. It was unnecessary for
him (Lord J. Russell) to reply to the hon. member who
asked the second question (Mr. D. Seymour), because his
right hon. friend would, on Friday next, of course enter
into arguments with respect to that being the proper
time to propose the bill.
DISMISSAL OF JUDGES IN THE SUDDAR.
In reply to Mr. OTWAY,
Sir CHARLES WOOD said he would lay the papers
connected with the dismissal of the judges before the
house at the proper time. The reason why it was not
thought advisable to produce them at present was that
the reply of one of the judges was expected in two or
three days.
Mr. PHILLIMORE inquired whether the President
of the Board of Control had received any communication
respecting a recent court martial at Madras, on an officer
who had been guilty of cruelties to some Sepoys.
Sir C. WOOD said he had made inquiries, but he
could find no report on the subject.

DISFRANCHISEMENT OF WORKMEN IN
DOCKYARDS.

In reply to Sir J. SHELLEY,
Lord J. RUSSELL said it was not his intention to
proceed with the bill for disfranchising dockyard work-
men on Thursday next. There was a great deal of pub-
lic business before the house which would prevent it
coming on for a considerable time.

THE SUN, LONDON, TUEJSDAY .EVENIN'G, MAY 31, 1853.