The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-18 00:00:00

EXCHANGE.

Gibraltar.. • ...........
Leghorn ........ ••.. •• 31 40
Genoa ................ 2G 65
.......• •

Naples ...... • • ...... 409
ealermo, peroz ........ 121
.............. 121;4
Oporto.. • • .... 53ye
Rio Janeiro ........ • •
Inenos Ayres ...... • •
New York, 21 days'slght

Ci 3 Or BULLION, TEA ('Z.
Foreign Gold in bars.. £3 17 9
Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 0 0
3panizt.Doubloon3 .. 0 0 11
New Dollars ...... 0 4 10
ln bars ........ 0 4 11

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY .—The Fire Queen steam-
yacht, Acting Master Allen eommrznding, conveyed
Admiral the lion. Sir Blade,. Capel, the Com-
mander-in. Chief, to Cowes this afternoon to dine with
the members of the Royal Yr.cht Squadron Club.
The L'zird iron steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander
It ft Spithcal this morning at 10 30 for
Woolwich, to be paid off.
The Ajax steam guardship, 60, was hauled alongside
the South- jetty this morning to have her additional bal-
last removed.

The Vesuvius steam-sloop passed through S.pithead
early this morning for Plymouth.
The Castor, 36, Commodore Wyvill, arrived at
Madeira from England, on the 3d ult., en route for the
Cape of Goud Hope.
The Constants, 50, Captain Courtney, was at San
Bias at the latter end of June, with freight on board for
England to the amount of 2,000,000 dollars.
Wind W., fresh breezes, and cloudy weather.
ROYAL MARINES.
PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.

First Lieutenant and Quartermaster Edward Pellew
Hammett Ussher, of the Plymouth division, to be cap-
tain, and appointed to the Chatham division, vice Lee,
placed on half-pay, dated August W.
First Lieutenant George Drury, of the Chatham divi.
sion (acting pay and quarter-master at Pembroke dock),
to be lieutenant and quarter master at Pl 3 mouth (dated
August 11), vice Ussher, promoted.
Second Lieutenant Osborne Frederick Charles Frastr,
of the Portsmouth division, to be firot lieutenant, and
appointed to the Chatham division, vice Drury, dated
August 11.
First Lieutenant James Ainslie Stewart, of the Ports-
mouth division, to be acting pay and quarter-master at
Pembroke-dock, vice Drury.
Commissions dated the 14th of August, 1849, will be
laid before the Queen, appointing the following gentle-
men to be second lieutenants in the corps of Royal Ma-
rines:—

James Conway Travers, gent., to be second lieutenant,
and attached to the Portsmouth divisicn.

Frederick Lewis David, gent., to be second lieutenant,
and attached to the Portsmouth division.

The ( ffect of the mock night attack upon this fortress
last night will long dwell in the remembrance of the
many thousands of spectators of the spectacle. Soon
after 9 o'clock the Duchesses of Cambridge and Meck-
lenburg Streli'z, with their attendants, having arrived at
the King's Rooms, where the other guests of the
Lieutenant-Governor were assembled, the signal
was given for the commencement of the attack.
The advancing assailants then opened their fire of small-
arms and field-pieces, advancing steadily at the same
time from the beach towards the ramparts, the gun-boat
brigade on the water, under Major Davies, and the boats
of the Excellent, under Lieutenant Burrows, R.N., also
keeping steadily along the beach in line with the ad-
vancing troops on the common, and covering their ad-
vance with the fire from their great guns; a part was also
taken on the land site by the Royal Marine Artillery.
Gradually the fire came nearer the glacis, and as it did
so the illusion became more vivid as to the character of
the spectacle. The small-arm men scattered over the
Common blazing away at the imaginary enemy towards
the fortifications, lighted up at almost every step by
the greater flash from the artillery, was an introduction
to the grand coup d'ceil, which, to be done justice to,
should ho pictured by one whose familiarity with such
scenes in real warfare would insure that no point of
the dazzling whole should be omitted. Eventually
the attacking party came within the limits prescribed
for the besieged within the fortress to open upon
them, when suddenly the ramparts were lighted up with
blue fire, and the besieged began their part of the night's
display. This was the grand moment of the " night
attack," and a more vivid picture of the horrors of a siege
could nowhere else have been represented; the troops
upon the glacis pouring in their fire in smart and rattling
volleys, the great guns and field-pieces lighting up their
positions, as every instant they were discharged at the
supposed invaders, the fire upon the heights, the cheers
of the troops as ever and anon they seemed to be re•
pulsed, and again returned to " th'imnainent deadly
breach." combined with the effect produced by the lights
upon the myriads of spectators, lending with their won-
dering faces another feature to the scene, formed a mag-
nificent illusion. At length the besiegers and besieged
having expended their ammunition, the trumpet sounded
" Cease firing," when instantaneously the apparent
dreadful strife ceased, and a lull succeeded the " busy
din of war."

The firing of the boat brigade and the gunners of the
Excellent, as also the marine artillery, was kept up with
most admirable spirit. An excellent display of fireworks
succeeded the military operations. A thd dunsant con-
cluded the entertainments of the day.
This morning their Royal Highnesses. attended as
yesterday, were present at the trooping of the Guard
and the Queen's colour on the Governor's parade field
within the garrison, at which nearly all of the distin-
guished guests of the preceding day were also present.
At ten minutes to one o'clock the Royal party left the
Government-house, escorted by Lord Fitza!arence and
staff, under royal salutes from the platform battery, the
Superb at Spithead, and the flag ships in harbour, for
the terminus of the South-Coast and South-Western
Railway at Landport, where a special train, in charge
of Mr. Superintendent Sutton, was in waiting to convey
them to London, starting at ten minutes past one. The
other noble guests of the Governor also departed after
the royal party had left.
PLvatouTer, Auc. 15.—This morning the First Lord
of the Admiralty held a levee at Moorshoaa'e Royal
Hotel, at which upwards of 100 officers of the Royal
Navy and Royal Marines had the honour of being pre-
sented. During the levee Lord John Hay and other
members of the Board visited the dockyard, and in-
spected several of the departments. At twelve o'clock
the people were mustered in the saleroom, and dismissed
from duty for the day at one o'clock. Their Lordships
then proceeded on board the Agincourt, 72, where they
mustered all the officers and crelvs belonging to the
ships in ordinary. They afterwards inspected the ships
composing the steam squadron recently established here.
This evening their Lordships give the official dinner,
which is to be on a largo scale, in the ballroom of
Moorshead's Royal Hotel. Their Lordships on Monday
partook of the hospitalities of Port-Admiral Sir William
Hall Gage, and on Tuesday dined with Major General
Murray, Commander of Forces of the Western District.
Captain Milne, R.N., Secretary to the Admiralty, had
on Tuesday evening a slight spasmodic attack, which
confined him to his bedroom. The gallant Captain is
occasionally subject to such attacks, after having under-
gone great exertion. We are happy to announce that
by the last accounts the cemplaint was subsiding.
The ball in aid of the funds of the destitute female
orphans of seamen and soldiers, announced for Thurs-
day, is postponed in consequence of the prevalence of
the cholera.
Captain Wise, her Majesty's ship Queen, arrived per
train this morning from Bristol.
The copper has been taken off her Majesty's ship Royal
Adelaide, and she was lifted on Tuesday to have her gar-
board caulked.
Her Majesty's frigate Alarm was yesterday warped
alongside the shear-hulk, where she is to be masted,
preparatory to her being put on commission.
The Linnet packet came in this morning from Fal-
mouth, and went up harbour to refit.
The Lords of the Admiralty, on the application of the
parochial authorities at Davenport, have, in consequence
of the prevalence of the cholera, granted them the use
of a hulk, which is to be moored off Richmond-walk,
near Mutton-cove, with direct communication from Bul-
lock's wharf to the ship. This accommodation is in-
tended for the unattaekcd inhabitants of such filthy and
overcrowded places as Geake's-alley, at the back of
Marlborough-street, where the disorder is producing the
most direful effects.

THURSDAY MORNING.--Iler Majesty's steam-frigate
Dragon, from Cork, entered the Sound at hail-past four
yesterday afternoon by the Western Passage, under
studdingsails alow and aloft, and about five o'clock
dropped anchor to the eastward of her Majesty's ship
Queen.
Her Majesty's steam block-frigate LA HoguT, 60, en-
tered the Sound at eight o'clock last night, and this
morning saluted the flag of Port-Admiral Sir J. W.
Hall Gage, which compliment was duly acknowledged
from Mount Wise,

On irquiry tbis morning we find that Captain Milne
has passed an easy night, and will probably leave his bed-
room in the course of the day.
Sir Francis Thornhill Baring, the First Lord of the
Admiralty, resumes his levee this morning at ten o'clock,
at Moorsbead's Royal Hotel.
Wind—S.W.; blowing hard, with rain.

WooLwicu, 'Auo. 16.—The Desperate stram-vessel,
fitted with engines by Messrs. Mandalay, Sons, and Field,
was brought down the river to Woolwich to-day from the
East India Docks. '

M. Drouyn de Lhuys, Ambassador from France,
with Madame Drouyn de Lhuys, visited the dockyard
to-clay, and afterwards proceeded to visit the Royal
Arsenal.

PORTSMOUTH, Atm.' 17.—The Port Admiral returned
from Cowes in the Fire Queen steam-tender this morn-
ing, and went cut to the eastward in her again this after-
noon, with his band and a party of distinguished ladies
on board.
A royal salute was fired to-day at Cowes as the Rus-
sian steam-frigate Kampsehatka passed, with the Grand
links Leutehtenburg on board, for Madeira.

The Persian, 16, Commander Bullmsn, arrived at
Spithead from the river this morning, to embark super-
numeraries and dispatches ter the %Vest Indies.
The Stromboli steam• sloop, Commander Lord Amelius
Beauclerk, returned to Spithead from the royal squadron
this afterauon.

We beg to call the attention of Mr. Cobden to the fact
of the Superb, 80, at Spithead, having been at that an-
chorage about sevt n months, doing nothing. She has
been fit for any s'ation for months; her crew (although
300 short of its proper number) is in the most forward
state of discipline, and up to their work. On Tuesday,
at 11 o'clock r.m., when all were snug in their berths and
hammocks except the watches, Captain Purcell, without
any previous intimation to any one on board, hed the
drum beat to quarters and clear for action. From the
time the officers and men jumped out of their berths,
got on deck, cleared for action, and went through all the
movements of loading and firing, only 5 minutes and 55
seconds had elapsed.—Times.
The Flying Fish, 12, Commander Patey, is proceed-
ing rapidly with her outfit.
Wind W.; fresh breezes and cloudy weather.
CHATHAM, AUG. 17.—The Melampus, 42 guns, Cap-
tain T. H. Mason, has returned her stores to the dock-
yard, she is stripped for paying off. Her crew is now
assisting the Meauee, SO guns, in returning stores she
has brought from Bombay. Both these ships were to
have been paid off last week, but owing to the Mcanee
having on board a vast number of packages, furniture,
&c., she has not been able to get clear of them. It is
now expected that both ships will be paid off on Wed-
nesday next.
The Juno, 26, preparing for commission, will be put
out of dock on Monday next.
The Hood, 80 guns, and the Severn, 50, ordered to be
built at this yard, have both been taken in hand this
week. These ships are to be built in the new slips, at
the east end of the yard.
The Ist company of Artillery and the Royal Dock-
yard battalion commenced ball practice, firing with
their field pieces, on Wednesday, the 15th instant,
down by Gillingbam•bridge; and the 2d company of
the Artillery practised at the same place in the afternoon
of the 16thhh instant. Their firing on each occasion was
very good.
WooLwrcer, AUG. 17.—The L;zard steam-vessel,
Lieutenant-Commander llollingworth, arrived at this
port at one o'clock P.M., from South America, to be
paid off.