The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-23 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTD, MONDAY.—The Bittern, 16, Com-
mander Hope, arrived at Spithead this afternoon, from
the west coast of Africa. She sailed from Sierra Leone
on the 26th of December, with mails, and Lieutenant
Crowder, of the Rapid ; Dr. Negus, surgeon of the
Waterwitch ; and Lieutenant Page, of the Sealark,
passengers. There were remaining at Sierra Leone,
the Sealark, Ranger, refitting after being ashore ; the
Snap tender, and the Adelaide, prize tender to the Sea-
lark. The Bittern has taken four prizes and shares
in another. The squadron's officers and men
were healthy, and the slave-trade more thriving
than ever. Several captures were made between
the interval of the Rapid sailing from Ascen-
sion and the Bittern from Sierra Leone. The latter is
ordered to Sheerness, to be paid off. The Commodore
had Inside up his mind to come to England forthwith,
and may be expected at Spithead in a few days. He is
reported ill.
The Malabar coal depot was removed this morning
from the basin, and has since been placed at her moor-
ings on the west side of the harbour, opposite Cold
Harbour, Gosport.
Wind—N.W. by W. Fresh gales, and hazy weather.
PLYMOUTH, JAN. 20.—Her Majesty's steam-sloop
Driver arrived to-day, with supernumeraries from
Portsmouth, and is appointed to return thither this
afternoon.
Her Majesty's troopship Apollo was warped to her
sailing moorings yesterday, and will be ready to go out
of harbour on the Ist of February.
The Confiance steam-tug will be masted on Monday.
Her Majesty's steam guard-ships Forth and Seahorse,
lying off the Dockyard New Basin in Hamoaze, are
ordered to be moored head and stern for the reserve
steam-vessels to lie alongside, without sheering with the
tide, and thereby obstructing the passage of the harbour.
Three lift hammers are to be erected in the south
smithery in the Devonport Dockyard.
Wind southerly, light breeze and foggy.
MALTA, JAN. 12.---MOVENENTS, &C., SINCE JAN. 5.
The Terrible, which arrived from Naples on the sth,
left,. on her return to the Admiral thereat, on the 9th,
with stores and provisions, which would seem to indi-
cate that his Excellency does not contemplate making
Malta this year his winter quarters. The Vanguard
arrived from Palermo on the 7th, and the Rodney from
Naples on the Bth; the former had a narrow escape from
getting on shore as she was leaving Palermo, and but
fur the opportune aid of the Terrible, the consequences
might have been very serious. Both the Vanguard
and Rodney leave next week to join Sir Charles Napier's
squadron at Lisbon, for which same destination, calling
at Gibraltar, the Sidon took her departure on the 9th.
The Sultan, Peninsular and Oriental Company's
steamer, arrived from Southampton and Gibraltar
on the afternoon of the Bth in some hours short
of ten days, including stoppages at the last-
mentioned port to coal, under quarantine, and notwith-
standing the prevalence of strong contrary gales of wind
for no less than 350 miles of the voyage, which all cir-
cumstances considered, is the quickest passage on record,
this vessel is, however, noted for her astonishing speed,
and for the superior seamanships of her Commander
(Captain Brooks), who, as the senior of the company's
officers, carries a commodore's broad pendant. She left
again for Constantinople on the morning of the 9th, and
may be looked for back to carry on the Indian mails and
passengers to Southampton about the 24th. The Seid
(Tunisian brig of war), sailed for Tunis.on the sth; and