The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-23 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

APPOINTMENTS.
Chaplain—L. Bell, to the Vengeance, 84, in the Medi-
terranean.
Mate—J. Trevenen, to the Southampton, flag-ship on
the Cape of Good llope station.
Midshipman—F. H. Collingwood, to the Arrogant,
46, at Portsmouth.
CHINA AND THE SQUADRON.

HONG Kowa, JAN. 29.—There has been much gaiety
both in the squadron and on shore since the last mail.
I went up to Canton on the 23d, for the purpose of wit-
nessing the rejoicing with which the Chinese usher in
their new year, which commences on the 24th of
January. The shops were all shut early on the
evening of the 233, and the people, already
dressed is their holiday attire, thronged the narrow
streets in gay groups, exchanging salutations with each
other. Atter nightfall I repaired to the fair, which
is held " for that night only " in the outskirts
of the suburb, where the foreigners reside, where, at
countless stalls, brilliantly illuminated, we saw an
• infinite variety of Chinese manufactures displayed
or sale, generally of a coarser description than those
uff•red tiir purchase in the shops. Toe. awls midnight
the crowd had increased so greatly that it was with much
(litiieulty we could make any progress at all; but about
that time a smart shower dispersed them for a time as
speedily as the Chartists vanished from Kennington• com-
mon on a memorable occasion, from a similar cause. As the
gongs sounded the last hour of the old year, a simul-
tane.,us explosion of fireworks took place all over the
pity of Canton and the suburbs, and from that time until
daylight the noise of crackers was incessant, while the
air seemed filled with rockets and other fireworks of
:every imaginable hue, constituting altogether a curious
and not unimposing spectacle. As no business is ever
transacted by the Chinese during the first week of the
year, the shops were all shut next day, and the
streets thronged with their owners in rich and pie
turesque silk dresses, of various colours and descrip-
tions, according to the rank and eh gree of the wearer.
When passing one of the gates of the city, I en-
deavoured
to enter, but was immediately repulsed by
persons stationed there for the purpose of prevent-
ing strangers from entering under any circumstances.
They were, however, very civil; nor did I, during
several days' stay, remark anything in the demeanour
of the people towards myself or my friends with
which we could have reasonably felt offended. Perhaps
they remember how often and how dearly they had to
pay for the indulgence of their impertinent propensities
on former occasions, and are not unmindful of the ap-
proach of April, when it is just possible that they may
call down on themselves chastisement once more. While
pulling round the flower boats on the river, we were fre-
quently saluted with cries of " fanqui" (foreign devils),
and other complimentary phrases from the children, with
which we were Not a little amused.
It would appear that there is no immediate prospect of
the abolition of the punishment of death in China, no
fewer than 146 individuals have had their heads cut off
at Canton alone since the Ist of this month.
We left the Hon. East India Company's steamer
Phlegethon anchored off the Factories, and at Whampoa
(13 miles down the river) we left the Arab, 16, Comman-
der Morris; and the United States men-of-war Plymouth,
22, Commodore Geisinger, and Preble, 16, Commander
Glynn. The Fury steam-sloop, Commander Willcox,
towed the Arab up to Whampoa.
The Inflexible steam sloop, Commander Hoseason, ar-
rived from Singapore and Labuan on the 25th; and on
the 26th the Medea steam sloop, Commander Mason, ar-
rived from the northern ports.
The Mariner, 16, Commander Mathison, is still at
Shanghai.
The Scout, 16, Commander Johnstone, is refitting at
Foo Chow, preparatory to coming here en route for Bom-
bay, where she will undergo a thorough repair.
About the 10th of next month Mr. Bonham, the
Governor of Horg-Kong, and General Staveley, com-
mander of the Forces, will embark in the Hastings, 72,
flag ship of his Excellency Sir Francis Collier, the
naval Commander-in-Chief, and accompany Sir Francis
up the Canton river, where the Hastings will anchor in
Anson's Bay, below the Fort of the Bocca Tigris. The
object of their visit is to communicate with the Chinese
authorities respecting the formalities to be observed at
the opening of the gates of Canton, and other matters
which have not yet transpired.
The Pilot, 16, Corn. Lyons, and the Albatross, 16,
Com. Farquhar, are daily expected here to augment the
squadron.

Th© Inflexible leaves here to-morrow for Cochin
China, in search of the Kelpie, a clipper, supposed to
have met with some very serious disaster, in the ty-
phoon of October, as she has never since been heard of.
The Meander, 44, Captain the Hon. Hon. IL Keppel,
is at Singapore.

. TheCitnibriun, 40, Commodore Plumridge is at Bo -
bay, with the Childers, 16, Cora. Pitman, and m
the Ring-
dove, 16, Com.
MALTA, MARCH 12.—The news of the island is en-
tirely confined to incidents connected with the navy.
The French steam trigate Panama has quitted Malta
for Triesto and Venice, after having undergone a
thorough repair of the injuries received in her machinery.
The Locust went to the islands with the last mails,
under command of Lieutenant-Commander Glin, of the
Triton, and is expected to-morrow on her return.
The Indian mails may be expected here to-morrow,
or at the outside by the 14th, by the Ripon steamer,
trom Alexandria.
The screw-steamer Osmanli arrived here from Con-
stantinople on the ith, and on the 9th proceeded on her
homeward route. News having reached the island that
her owner had suspended payments in Liverpool. she was
arrested here, and not liberu.ti,d till her c iptaiu had
given security for the debt owing. Fearing a sin.ifir
detention at Gibraltar, she will push through the straits
without touching.
The Sultan steamer arrived here yesterday, and is de-
tained in port iu consequence of her inability to dis-
charge several 32-pounders she bas on board, as it is
blowing a stiff gale. SOll3O say the guns are for our
batteries, others for the Sicilians. The agent here pre-
serves a prudent silence.
The Ardent, Lieutenant-Commander Nowell, from
Trieste and Corfu, arrived on the 6th, and is coaled
ready to proceed to the fleet. After the loss of the
Minnie she was employed in getting up her stores, and
succeeded in obtaining the best bower and sheet anchors,
and half another snapped in two at the fluke, 90 fathoms
of hemp cable and 60 fathoms of chain, all the gun car-
riowginegs'tose
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to ,o aloneod sold
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anc
some thing was made by break ing her up.

PORT/YOUTH, THIIRSDAY.—A list of 84 names of
workmen and labourers from the different departments
of the dockyard has been transmitted to the Admiralty,
with a recommendation to be superannuated. The list
was sent up on Tuesday, and will, without the slightest
doubt, be carried into, effect.
The electric telegraph will, in the course of this week,
be, completed into the Admiral's office in the dockyard.
The posts are all up from Fareham into the yard, and
workmen are engaged in fitting the wires.

The Hermann steam-ship passed through Spithead this
morning, from Bremen to Southampton and New York.
The Panama, of Glasgow, from Penang and China,
passed the Wight this morning, for London.
The Caraatic, Captain Hine, one of Green's fleet, ar-
rived this morning from the River, bound to Mauritius
and Madras; passengers embark to-morrow.
The Independence, for New York, and the Hong-Bong
packet, to embark passengers, are expected into this port
from the River.

The remnant of Sir C. Napier's squadron is expected
daily at this port, when his flag-ship will be paid off.
Wind, E.; moderate breezes, and hazy weather.
WOOLWICH, MARCH 22.—The Diligence store-ship
has unloaded a cargo of timber at Woolwich dockyard,
and will be towed to Deptford to-morrow to have some
repairs effected and load for the western ports,
The Gladiator steam-frigate, lately paid off here, was
taken into dock yesterday to be again made ready for
commission.

The Firebrand steam-vessel, in the adjoining dock,
is in a forward state, and will shortly be ready for
service.

The Vulcan iron steam-troopship fitting with engines
and a screw propeller at Blackwall, is progressing
rapidly.
The Bombay steam-vessel, recently detained by the
Custom-house officers on information that she was to be
employed as *Ea war steamer on the coast of Sicily, and
was to take out troops and arms to that quarter, has
been relieved of the embargo laid upon her, and yester-
day again hoisted the Sicilian flag at her foretopmast.