The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-15 00:00:00

NA VA L INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY. -- Mr. Biddlecombe,
master (1835), of the St. Vincent, 120, will be offered
the mastership of the royal yacht Victoria and Albert.
The recent report of teat post having been conferred
upon Mr. Brown, Master of the Agincourt, is incorrect.
THE COAST OF AFRICA.—The Centaur steam frigate,

Capt. Buckle, bearing the flag of Commodore Arthur
Faushawe, C. 8., to succeed Commodore Sir Charles
llotham, K.C.8., in the command on the west coast of
Africa, was to sail for Plymouth Sound yesterday morn-
ing, for her destination with the mail. The Penelope
(Commodore llotham) is daily expected in England.
The Rattler, 6 gun screw schooner (the best steam -
man-of-war ever built, according to the most competent
official authority) hoisted the pennant of Commander
Cumming at Devonport yesterday morning, and, with
the exception of one or tr. o judiciously-kept vacancies,
she was manned in a few hours afterwards. She is to
be employed in slaver hunting on the coast of Africa.
The Confiance, the Plymouth steam-tug, commanded
by Mr. Martin, arrived here to-day from Chatham and
Sheerness. To the latter port she had been with officers
and seamen belonging to the Ocean, who had been ex-
ployed in taking the Spiteful steam sloop from that port
to Piyinouth. She called here fur passengers and parcels,
and sailed again this afternoon for Devonport.
The Arrogant, 43, is now reported not to be commis-
sioned until the arrival of the Rodney or Vanguard.
The Rulla, apprentices' brig, is again all ataunt for the
summer exercise.
Wind, S.W., moderate breezes and fine weather.
THE ROYAL WAITING-ROOBI AT GOSPORT.—SOIIIO
months since a building was commenced in the Royal
Clarence-yard, to form the reception. room at the ar-
rival or departure of royal trains of the Court, or other
illustrious bodies. The site selected for this much .needed
erection was immediately contiguous to the slaughter,.
house, so contiguous that that highly scented edifice was
obliged to come down, and be removed to an opposite
portion of the yard. After months and months of
labour the new reception house reared its walls, and
presented the appearance of finish; but lately the bad-
ness of the work-, and the ill-judged insignificance of the
structure, have shown the thing up in such a contemp-
tible light, that we yesterday hoard it was to come
down altogether, or, at all events, partially, as um.
suitable to the loyal purpose with which it has been
built.
WOOLWICH, FEB. 14.—The following circular has just
been issued for the information of flag officers, captain!:
and commanding officers of her Majesty's ships and
vessels:—

" ACqUIREMENTB REQUIRED OF ENGINEER&
6, Admiralty, Jan. 26.
" My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
p I 1847 (No.
by their circular order of the
Ist OfBc4e" nof engineers,
32), relative to the examination, pay! e .1; a having,
sbfalaeltbooryp,ro.or
directed that ' certificates of ssereviwcorik,,
proof of acquaintance with engine
duced before an assistant-den
rank of chief engineer; the attention of my Lords
theo difficulties
ffics w h ohwa
dhinc ho
not Served
ebeen
n
gmeer be promoted to the
g the capabilities and acquire-
having been called to .
of the -young men
experienced ei
in
creeels
pi
deficiency among
in°hsiseeervice), in that mechanical
the junior
e non
o_itansoecefetrrhott aeh
factories, likewise to t
(especially
grades of g
brought up
skill and knionwledge so essential to qualify them
to undertake the responsible duties of engineers
in charge of machinery; my Lords are therefore
pleased to direct that a shop be appropriated at Wool-
, inch and one at Portsmouth, under the superintendence
of the chief engineer officers
dockyards, in order that the engineeacquiringrsmay,
factorieso n
check,i in thosemny
have the opportunity
use of such tools as thoefy
use when afloat; and • • P
heprerauntoicnacl alslkedillupinonthtoe
will
instruction, when necessary,
be afforded by a skilful mechanic who will be selected for
the purpoie.
"A means will be thus afforded to enable engineers to
acquire the requisite mechanical skill, no assistant-engi-
neer will in future be advanced to the rank of chief en-
gineer, or to that of first-class assistant, unless he pro-
duces a certificate of servitude in a factory, or of his
competency as a workman from the engineer officer of
Woolwich or Portsmouth Dockyard.
" It is further distinctly to be understood that in fu-
ture the periods of service required by the regulations
as part of the qualifications of assistant•engineers for
promotion to the higher classes, are to comprehend only
the periods an officer may be in receipt of full pay; but
on a certificate of good conduct, and of reasonable im-
provement in mechanical requirements being produced
from the chief engineer of one of her Majesty's factories,
halt of the time employed in receiving instruction in the
workshops will be allowed to reckon as sea time.
" By command of their Lordships,
1' 11. G. WARD,"
There have been during the last 18 months about from
40 to 50 engineers on check at Woolwich Dockyard, to
whom the above circular would apply, and employment
in the manner proposed will prove beneficial to them,
and ultimately to the service.
—66.6

the share-
holders town, was held yester-
dayUNlON MILL.—The annual meeting of
holders of the Union Mill. i
(Tuesday), when a dividend of 12i per cent. was
declared ter the past year.—Wolverhampton Chronicle.