The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-11 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PLYMOUTH, .DEPT. B.—The Penguin picket-brig ar-
rived this morning from Falmouth, and went up harbour
to refit.

The crew of the Linnet were paid wages at the office in
the dockyard this nifirning, and the brig sailtd this
afternoon tor Fain:l.llth.

The Board of Ordnance having granted the use oc
tents for cholera patients at Tavistock and Beer Alton,
they were on the 6th inst. forwarded to those towns from
the gun-wharf.

The Brightman emigrant-ship, of 600 tons burden,
Captain C. G. Cowley, bound to Australia, having
grounded at Worthing, on ber passage from London to
this port, was on Thursday, through the instrumentality
of Messrs. Luscombe, Driscoll, and Co., plAced in charge
of the dockyard authorities. The Spartan frigate was,
in consequence hauled out of the north dock yesterday
(Friday) morning, and the Brightman hauled in. The
Government artisans were employed a few extra hours,
the water pumped out of the dock, and the bottom of
the Brightman (which ship draws fifteen feet) was care-
fully examined, when it was found that only a small
portion of the copper of her false keel had been rubbed
off. That trifling defect having been made good, the
water was again admitted, and this morning the Si,
Francis Drake steamer, Captain Sadler, towed the
Brightman from the dockyard to her sailing moorings in
the Sound. By this judicious arrangement the emigrants
were spared the great inconvenience of landing and re
embarking, the expeme of unloading cargo hag been
saved, and the tedious and unpleasant delay caused by
the other modes of examining a ship's bottom completely
avoided.

Wind—Easterly; smart breeze and fine weather.
WOOLWICH, SEPT. 10.—Commodore Henry Eden has
joined from leave, and hoisted his broad pendant on the
Fisgard frigate.
Mr. Richard Graves, shipwright at Woolwich dock•
yard, has been appointed carpenter to the exp, dition
which sailed on Friday last from Bristol to survey the
Lagoons in the Bight of Benin, under the charge of Mr.
Ferdinand Struve. A large Ist- bof tomed boat has been
built and fitted out with every n.-cessary convenience fo
the purposes of the expedition by Mr. Thompson. 01
Rotherhithe, and was forwarded by railway to Bristol.
The Bosphorus, belonging to the General Screw- pro•
peller Shipping Company, arrived at Liverpool from
London on -the 7th instant, after an excellent passage
making the voyage to Liverpool from the Downs in
three days and two hours. She left the Downs who
moderate wind ahead, which continued till off the Isle
of Wight, when she had a fair wind to the Land's End
and her average rate of speed to that point was ten knots,
having made 310 miles in rather less than thirty-one
hours. At the Land's End she experienced a strong
north-easterly wind, against which sko steamed in
gallant style.
A very interesting trial of speed took place on the
river on Thursday last, the 6th of September, between
the Manchester and Sheffield steam vessels, having bows
and stern alike, and fitted up with excellent deck ac
commodation, being intended to run between Hull and
New Holland, to convey the passengers of the Manches
ter, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway across the
Humber. Messrs. Robinson and Russell built the Man-
chester, and also fitted her with her engines. The
length of keel of the Manchester is 167 feet, and her
breadth of beam 22 feet, and she is fitted with oscil-
lating engines of 150 nominal horse power, the cylinders
being 4 feet diameter, and the stroke 4 feet 6 inches.
The Sheffield was built by Mr. Smith, of Gainsbo-
rough, and her length of keel is 150 feet, with a breadth
of beam of 22 feet. Her engines were constructed by
Messrs. George and Sir John Rennie, under the superin-
tendence of Mr. Humphries, now chief engineer at
Wool rich Dockyard, and they are on the oscillating
principle, of 156 horse-power, with cylinders 4 feet
diameter, and 4 feet stroke. Both vessels arrived at
Blackwell about twelve o'clock, when Mr. A. Robinson
went on beard the Sheffield, and requested that the race
should commence from Erith instead of Blackwell, as
was at first intended. This was agreed to, and the
Manchester started, followed at about three boats'
length by the Sheffield. When opposite Erith the
Sheffield had to stop twice in consequence of craft in the
river, and the steering becoming jammed in the sheave.
When the Sheffield arrived at Erith the Manchester Wa,
about a mile ahead, and instead of stopping there for the
former, as Mr. Robinson proposed, she went on straight
ahead, and from Erith to the Nore light gained nearly
another mile. When the Manchester rounded the light,
Mr. Fowler, engineer to the railway company, and um-
pire of the race, ordered the Sheffield to turn, which gave
her a start of nearly two miles, and that distance was in •
creased all the way to Blackwell, and she was three
miles and a half a head of the Manchester when she
arrived at the Brunswick pier. Taking the race as com-
mencing at Erith, the Sheffield beat the Manchester by
about a little more than half a mile, a very close race
considering the distance run by the vessels. The engin- s
of both worked well—those on the Sheffield making 35
revolutions per minute, with paddle-wheels 1,8 feet in
diameter, and floats 11 feet by 11 feet. She had no hot
bearings nor any accident whatever, and kept blowing eti
steam both going and returning. The average speed at-
tained was nearly 16 miles an hour. The Manchester
lett the river for the Humber on Friday last, and the
boats are highly creditable to their constructors.

NEW ARMAMENT of the FRENCH
FLEET.
(From the Nautical Standard)
Sven first-rates, to carry 112 guns, viz , four 80-
pounder howitzers (a); six howitzers (b); six 50-
pounders (c); twenty-two 30-pounders (d); twenty-
eight 30 pounders (e); thirty-lour 30-pounders (f);
twelve 30-poun ters (g).
Twelve second-rates, to carry 90 guns—four 80•
pounder howitzers (a); six howitzers (b); s x 50-
pounders (c); twenty-two 30-pounders (d); twenty-
eight 30 pounders (e); twenty-eight 30-pounders (f).
Eleven third-rates (new model), to carry 82 guns—tour
80-pounder howitz,rs (a); six howitzers (6); six r.O
pounders (c); twenty 30-pounders (d); twenty-six 30
pounders (e); twenty 30 pounders (f).
Five third-rates (old model), to carry 80 nuns—four
80-pounder howitzers (a); lour howitz?rs (6); twenty-
six 30 pounders (d); twenty-eight 30-pounders (e);
eighteen 30-pounders (g).
Four fourth-re es (new model), to carry "4 guns—
four 10-pounder howitzers (a); four howitzers (b); four
50-pounder guns (c); twenty 30 pounder guns (d);
twenty-six 30-pounders (e); sixteen 30-pounders (f').
Eight fourth-rate ships (old model), to carry 70 guns—
four 80-pounder howitzers (a); twelve 30-pounders (g);
twenty-tour 36-pounders; thirty 18-pounders.

FRIGATES.

Sixteen 50-gun frigates, to carry two 80-pounder
howitzers; two 50-pounder guns; twenty-eight 30-
pounders (d); eighteen 30-pounders (f).
Twenty.three second-class, to carry 46 guns—two
howitzers (6); two 50-pounder guns; two 30 pounders (d);
twenty-four 30-punders (e); sixteen 30-pounders (g).
Eighteen third-class, to carry 33 guns—two howit•
zers (6); two 50-pounder guns; four 30-pounders (d);
twenty-four 40-pounders (e); two 30-pounders (g).
CORVETTES.
Eighteen corvettes, to carry 20 guns—two howit-
zers (6); two 30-pounders (d); two 30-pounders (e);
fourteen 30 pounders (f).
Eight second-class, to carry 16 guns—two 30-
pounders (e); fourteen 30-pounders ( I).
Twelve third-class, to carry 16 guns—two 12.
pounders, fourteen 18-pounder carronades.

BRIGS.
Twenty-seven brigs, to carry 12 guns, 30 pounders (g)
Twenty-seven brigs, to carry 10 guns—two 12
pounder carronades; eight 18-pounder carronades.

SCHOONERS.
Twelve schooners, to carry eight 18-poundcr car.
ronades.

GUN BRIGS.

Nine gun•brigs, carrying four 30-pounder howitzers.
TRANSPORTS.
Fourteen transports from 600 to 800 tons, to carry
two 30-pounder howitzers.
The rest of the fleet are to remain armed as they are
at present.

(a) Howitzer, 80-pounder, 8 2-3 in, bore, Bft. 9in. length, 72% cwt.
(5) ditto ditto ditto 71t. bin. length, 53% cwt.
(c) 50-pounder Frenc:i 1
1011. 2in. length, 81% cwt.
55 •ditto English
(d) 30-ditto French Bft gin, len^th 60 cwt.
33-ditto English
' 6 '
(e) 30-ditto French}
Bft. 21n. length, 50% cwt.
33-ditto c nglish
(I) 30. ditto French i
7ft. 4in. length, 42% cwt.
33-ditto English
(g) 30-ditto French}
7ft. length, 36% cwt.
33-ditto English
(h) 36-ditto French} Bft. 10in. length, 70% cwt.
40-ditto English
(1) •, ki-di? to Bft. 2in. length, 40% cwt.
(j) Howitzer, 30-pounder, 81t. 10in. length, 30% cwt,
(k) Carronade, 18-pounder, 21t. Bln. length, 6% cwt.
(1) 12-pounder ion, 6ft. 10In. length, 22% cwt.
A French 80-pounder w..uld be equal to an English 89.pouader,
did it exist.

INVASION OF CUBA.—Armaments are in course of
preparation in the United States for the invasion of Cuba;
and they are still carr3iiig on, in defiance of the strong
prohibition of the President. Various explanations of
this strange movement are given. According to some,
the United States merchants have large capital invested
in Cuba, and they are preparing fur a revolution, by
which the yoke of Spain shall be thrown off, and Cuba
shall be attached to the great Republic. According to
others, the people of the Southern Slave States wish to
annex Cuba, to strengt :en the slavery cause in Congress.
According to others, the object is to command the Gulf
of Mexico, and to aggrandize still further the vast Anglo-
Saxon republic. It is said that the President is resolved
to intercept the armament ere it reaches Cuba. Should
it arrive there and succeed in revolutiouizing the island,
the United States will be awkwardly embroiled with
Spain.—Leeds Mercury.