The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-18 00:00:00

NAVAL IN TELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY.—The Arrogant, 46, Captain
Fitzroy, was docked this morning, to be examined, 1001
the extreme end of her screw shaft was found to be defec-
tive. This vessel has been reported "ready for sea," whereas
some vital parts of her machinery are at Blackheath. Serr
part of her small engine gear broke when on trial last week,
in consequence of cast iron having been used for its con:
struction in lieu of wrought. The vessel was to have startea
for Cork tomorrow, but here she is in dock, and whether
she will he trusted out in the present defective state of the
screw-shaft before mentioned at once, or remain in dock to
repair damages for about a month, we are at present unin-
formed. All that can be done for her will be done by Mr.
Murray, the Superintendent-Engineer, who will go the length
of putting to sea in her present state, if necessary.
The pay-books of the St. Vincent, 120, Captain C. Dacres,
were returned from the Admiralty yesterday, but bwing, It 1
is said, to some very serious errors made by the Somerset- •
house officials, had to be sent back again last night for cor-
rection. As no further work can be found for the men to
perform, the ship being untwisted, her hold clean swept soa
whitewashed, and stores all returned, general leave has been
granted to-day for 48 hours, by the expiration of which time
it is hoped the pay.books may be again returned correct.
The gentlemen whose carelessness or ignorance has occasionen,
this inconvenience and expense would look rather foolish 11
they had to,make good the loss.
A number of convicts from the hulks at this port were pit!
on board the Randolph this morning, and that vessel got
under way immediately for Cowes.
The Penelope steam .frigate and the Polyphemus steara-
sloop were placed in the steam-basin.
Wind N. W., fresh breezes and squally, with snow Showell.
WOOLWICH, APRIL 17.—1 t having been decided that the
Basilisk should have a preliminary trial, in order to ascertain
the working of her engines previous to her trial of speed,
and other qualities, with the Niger steam-vessel, the former
left Woolich this morning -at 6.30 A.M., in charge of Lieute •
nant Robertson, assistant to Captain Austin, C. 8., and having
ox board Captain Halsted, R.N. several of the officers study',
isg steam at the factory at Woolwich, Mr. Humphries, Wei
Engineer at Woolwich Dockyard; Mr. Casey, engineer 10,
Captain Austin's department; and Mr. Miller, of the firm 0'
Miller, Ravenhill, and Co. the constructors of her engines.
The Basilisk, on starting from her moorings, made 17.6 row;
lutions per minute, having 6 feet stroke, and her draught et
water being 14 feet 8 inches forward, and 15 feet 10 inches'
aft. The true speed of the vessel, as ascertained by folf,
runs made between the Nore and Mouse light-vessels, lot
10.598 knots per hour; the mean revolutions of the ensine:
being 18.6, or nearly the full contract number, which is le.
During the whole of the trial, from the time the Basilisk
left Woolwich until 'her return, the engines had not all
bearing, but in every. respect worked as satisfactorily as 1
they had been years in the service. The engines are of 400
horse power, on the same principle as those fitted by •
the same firm in the Bombay and Ganges steam-vesselt
with the air pumps between the cylinders on an inclined
plane, which were patented by Mr. Miller, and are
now generally used in steam-vessels. The engine-beams ar°
not fixed to the deck, as they used to be, detached plate!
only being fixed to the deck, and the beams of the engine'
secured in such a manner as to yield in the event of the
vessel touching the ground or straining so as to be liable to
injure engines fixed on the usual plan. One of How's soli'
nometers has been put up in the engine-room, to show the
degree of density of the salt water in the boilers; the pull
is very simple, being merely to have a common hydrometer,
with a graduating scale calculated for water at 20U degree:
of heat, 1,32 d being the designation of pure salt water, sun
up to 4-32ds, denoting when it cannot be used without en
crusting the boilers.

The Basilisk has all her guns and a quantity of shot on
board. Her armament consists of 1 10-inch gun of
1 68 pounder gun of 95cwt. mounted on pivot slides and
carriages, and 4 32-pounder guns of 42cwt. each. She re-
turned to Woolwich of a quarter-past six o'clock r.M., After
a very satisfactory trial. 84cwt..!

THE FRENCH GALLEYS.-According to the static'
tical returns of the Bagnes, lately distributed to the
Members of the National Assembly, the galley slaves,
confined on the Ist of January, 1848, in the Bagne of
Toulon amounted to 3,911 ; in that of Brest, 1°
2,997; and in that of Rochfort, to 1,045—in all, 7,953'
Of these 7,456 were natives of France and the French
colonies, and 497 foreigners. 166 were from 16 1°
20 years of age, 2,246 from 21 to 30, 2,461 from 31
„to,
40, 1,937 from 41 to 50, 862 from 51 to 60, and 27'
from 61 to 69. 4,700 were unmarried, 760 were mar
ried, with children ; 656 married, with one child;
1,359 married, with several children; 165 widowers'
without children; 133 widowers, with one child; and 180
with several children. 4,326 could neither read not
write, 2,813 read or wrote imperfectly, 695 read and
wrote well, and 119 had received some education. 39
had learned to write since their admission into the
Bagne. The professions which supplied the greatest
numbers of convicts were—the gardeners and agricul-
tural classes, 1,254; bootmakers, shoemakers, and cob'
biers, 266; carpenters, wheelwrights, &c., 174; earrneT
coachmen, and postilions, 123; nailers, smiths, &c., 19u
servants, 248; cabinet workmen, &c.,187; field labourers'
1,082. Among the galley slaves belonging to 431
classes were 10 medical men, 5 brewers, 3 actors,
clergymen, 3 public functionaries, 2 literary men,
lawyers, &c.

CANADIAN CHURNING.—In Canada, butter is
churned by the agency of a dog. The machine is worked
much on the same principle as a treadmill, and is exceed'
ingly disliked by the poor dog. Goats are sometinles
made to perform the same service.

On the 14th inst., at Guy's, the Wife of Dr. Gull, of
daughter.
On the 13th inst., at Beaumont-street, Mrs. Hampton► fo
a daughter.
On the 13. h inst, at Llanblethian•cottage, near Co%
bridge, Glamorganshire, the wife of Birt Jenner, Esq., °
a son.

MARRIED.
On the bth inst., at St. George's, Hanover-square, Mr:
Donald Chrisholm, of Inverness, to Se rah Tenbrocke Deeble,
eldest daughter of the late Mr. E. R. Deeble, of London._,

DIED.
are,
On the 18th inst., in George-street, Portman-squ
Camilla, relict of the late John Underwood, Esq., Member
of the Medical Board, Alitdrai, aged :3.
On the 12th inst.. at Bath, Lucy Atherton, wife of CaPtlllll
Cracknell.

London Printed and Publishtd by PrILTRDO 0"U;1,
No. 112, Strand, Printer, at eke Sun Office, Nc'• nt
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the cOtUlli
Middlesex, Wednesday, April 18, 1849.