The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-14 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

Tl.e following mates, having previously passed is
seas anship, passed their college examination for
lieutenants on Wednesday :—Messrs. W. T. C. Sul-
lirsn, Thomas B. Legh, C. A. Broadhead, H. H.
Sainsbury, A. R. 0 wen.
Messrs. Morgan and Phillips also passed, but their
names are not on the mates' list, so we are not certain
whether they have passed for seamanship.
PORTSMOUTH, TUURSDAY.—The flag ship Excellent,
Captain H. D. Chads, C. 8., commenced firing minute
guns at half past eleven to-day, which were continued
by the Blenhvim, Illustrious, and Victory in succession,
as give❑ in our programme yesterday. The garrison
then took up the firing, and the platform battery
saluted until sunset. To-morrow the port will re-
assume its wonted appearance.
The Serpent, 16, Commander C. Barker, arrived
at Madeira on the 26th ult., en route to Rio and the
Cape, for which she sailed nfxt day. She was kept in
qurantine on arrival. The United States corvette
Portsmonth and the English packet Brlliant lay in
the road 3, the former about to sail on the 27th for the
coast of Africa.

The Fairy yacht, Commander Crispin, embarked
Prince Albert and suite at Cowes this morning,
about half-past eight o'clock for this port, en route
to Windsor. His Royal Highness did not hoist his
flag, there were no guard of' honour, band, saluting,
or such like usual honours conferred on this occasion
in obedience to the Royal desire. His Highness re-
turned in the Fairy to Oe.borne in time for dinner.
The Eurydice, 26, Captain Anton, was paid off
into ordinary this day. Toe following gratuities were
granted Gn the occasion :—Robert Shaw, boatswain's
mate, 151. and a medal, fur good conduct ; John
Friend, boatswain's mate, 71 , for good conduct ;
Pennell, carpenter's mate, 71., for good conduct ,
William Shields, second-class petty officer, Si. for
good conduct.
Mr. James Purcell, mate, R.N., died on board his
father's ship, Superb, 80, at Queenstown, on the 11th
instant, after a painful illness contracted in the service
whilst in the Pacific. He was a highly promising
young officer.

FUNERAL OF TILE LATE QUEEN DOWAGER.
WOOLWICH, DEC. 13.—Sixty minute guns were
fired from the mortar battery in the garriion to day,
commencing at half-past 1 rat.; 60 minute guns
were also fired from the Fisgard frigate in the harbour,
commencing at 240 P.M. The royal standard con-
tinued raised half-mast high on the flagstaff of the
dockyard, the garrison. the royal arsenal, and on the
mainmast of the Fisgard during the day.
Commodore Superintendent Henry Eden left yes-
terday on leave of absence for six weeks, and Captain
Austin, C. 8., arrived in the afternoon from Ports-
mouth, and this morning commenced his duties as
Acting Superintendent, which he will continue to
perform during the absence of the gallant Commodore.
Captain Collinson, C. 13., visited Woolwich dockyard
yesterday afternoon, and it is understood he is to
have the command of the Enterprise, now fitting, to
proceed round Cape Horn towards Behring's
Straits, in search of Captain Sir J. Franklin and the
officers and crews of the Erebus and Terror. Accord-
ing to present arrangements, the plan to be adopted
with the Enterprise and Investigator is, to dispatch
these vessels from Woolwich with the least possible
delay ; they are to proceed round Capa Horn, and
take up a station at the Sandwich Islands until they
receive further orders, which will be sent out by a
steamer proceeding to the Pacific station. The
steamer will not leave this country until it is ascer-
tained in the early part of next season if there be any
intelligence of the missing navigators, and the in-
structions which she is to take out to the Sandwich
Islands will depend on the news received up to the
period of her departure. In the event of no intelli-
gence of the missing vessels being received by that
time, the steamer will proceed with the least possible
delay to the Sandwich Islands, and after coaling there
will take one of the vessels in tow in the direction of
Behring's Straits, and instructions will be sent to the
Admiral on that station to allow one of the steamers
under his command to tow the other, that they may
arrive at the destination appointed for their next
winter quarters before the season is too far advanced.
The voyage now to be undertaken is termed the
" forlorn hope," but we trust it will be a " successful
Enterprise." It is gratifying to know that there are
numerous officers of the royal navy volunteering
their services in the hazardcus undertaking,' and
some of them striving—if we may use the term—to
proceed in search of their gallant absent countrymen;
this desire is not confined to officers who have pre.
viously served in the northern regions, as it extends
to those who have served on the coast of Africa.
The launch of the Enterprise, when she went
down the river yesterday, made six runs nt the
measured mile, three up and three down, and averaged
a speed of 5i knots per hour. The trial was made
in order to ascertain her speed exactly, as Captain Sir
J. Ross has recommended that the launch engines
should be placed in a larger boat. The engines were
made by Mr. Beale, East Greenwich, and worked
very well yesterday. When fitted to a larger boat
they will be tried again at the measured mile, and
the result given.
The Samson steam-frigate arrived yesterday evening
from Devonport, and her seamen riggers have been
transferred to the Archer steam-sloop, under orders
to proceed down the river to -morrow morning to have
the new brass screw-propeller, recently turned by
machinery at the factory, tested during two days
runs between the Nore and Mouse lights.
The Archer, after the trials, will proceed to De-
vonport, to remain there ready for commission.
The Violet, Dover mail-steam-packet, arrived on
Tuesday from Dover, and is now in the basin to haves
her defects made good.

DIAMOND DUST.
(From Eliza Cook's Journal.)

There are lives, the bloom of whose beauty would be
spoiled by the trammels of description: too lovely, too
delicate, too sacred for words, they should be only kuown
through the sympathy of hearts.

Boars are the 'mind incarnate—the immortality of the
.fe that is.

Virtue is made for difficulties, and grows stronger and
brighter for such trials.
A great deal of pride obscures or blemishes a thou.
sand good qualities.
Excellence is providentially placed beyond the reach
of indolence, that success may be the reward of industry,
and that idleness may be punished with obscurity and
disgrace.
As the sword of the best-tempered metal is most
flexible, so the truly generous are most pliant and mut%
;ems in their behaviour.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'S.—YESTERDAY.
The Chester Cup transactions do not call for a word
of observation; and of the Derby it is only necessary to
state that at least 400/. was laid out on the Knight of
Avenel, at 12 to 1, his backer offering to go on, and that
20 to 1, laid twice in hundreds, was afterwards offered.
The betting, apart from these investments, was extremely
dull. Closing prices:—

_
CHESTER CUP.
50 to 1 eget Mr. St. George's Whim colt
50 to 1 eget Lord Chesterfield's Lady Evelyn
50 to 1 agst Capt. Hervey's Liemahago—taken and
afterwards offered
1,000 to 15 agst Captain Haworth's The Baroness
2,000 to 25 agst Mr. J. Godwin's Hotspur—taken
2,000 to 25 agst Mr. Disney's Sir Richard—taken
1,000 to 10 agst Mr. Charlton's Kissavray—taken
1,000 to 10 agst Mr. HowHu's Shilmalier West—taken
DERBY, 1850.
9 to 1 apt Mr. W. Edwards na Bolingbroke—takA
and afterwards offered
11 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Ghillie Callum—t
12 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Knight of Avenel—
taken freely
20 to 1 eget Mr. Gratwicke's The Nigger—taken tO
200/. and afterwards offered
25 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Mildew—taken
25 to 1 agst Lord Zealand's Voltigeur—take 30 to I
30 to 1 agst Duke of Bedford's John o' Groat—taken
35 to 1 apt Lord Eglinton's Mayors—taken
40 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Garforth—taken and
afterwards offered
2,000 to 30 agst Major Martyn's The Swede—taken
1,000 even between Mayors avd Blarney
2,000 even between Mayors and Pitaford
DERBY, 1851.
10,000 to 180 eget Lord Eglintotea Hippolytus—takes