The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-21 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE ADMIRALTY LEVEES.—The first levee of the
new First Lord of the Admiralty, the Hon. Sir F. T.
Baring, M.P., was held yesterday, when the following
officers made official acquaintance with the Right Hon.
Baronet:—Vice Admiral Sykes, Rear-Admirals Sir .G.
F. Seymour, C. 8., G.C.H. (recent!' returned from com-
manding in chief in the Pacific); Sir Thomas Fellowes,
C. 8.; and Peter John Douglas. Captains Percy Grace,
Sir Henry John Lecke, K.H. (formerly of the Queen,
110); Sir H. M. Blackwood, Bart. (late Commodore in
the East Indies); John M'Dougall (formerly of the
Vulture, steam-frigate); Sir Edward Belcher, C. 8.;
Patrick Blake (of the Juno, 26, just paid off); W.
J. Williams (late of the Amphion, screw-frigate);
W. Neville (promoted from command of the
Serpent sloop), H. Layton, W. H. Jervis, J.
Simpson. Commanders F. Patten, John Hay (for-
merly of the Prometheus, steam-sloop, coast of Africa);
J. E. Bingham, (late of the Acorn, sloop); H. J.
Matson (of the Waterwitch, and subsequently of the
Daring); F. W. Horton (formerly of the Kingfisher;
F. A. Campbell (of the Espiegle, just paid off); Thomas
Miller, E. H. Beauchamp Proctor (formerly in command
of the Harpy); T. F. Birch (late of the Waterwitch);
G. Lavis (late of the Flamer); P. H. Dyke (formerly
of the Flying Fish); Charles Barker. Lieutenants
W. Sawley, C. R. Carter, and John Saunders.
Above fifty officers also had interviews with Rear-
Admiral Dundas, C. 8., M.P., the senior naval member
of the Board.

Captain John Simpson (1809), the senior captain of
Greenwich Hospital, died at his official quarters at the
Royal Hospital yesterday. This Gallant Officer bad
been in excellent health, although at the advanced age
of eighty-two, up to Monday, and on that day took his
accustomed walk at the establishment. His services in
the navy were of a very distinguished character,
although his only decoration was oue of the newly-
awarded medals which he received a few hours before
his death. He was a lieutenant of 1793, commander of
1803, and captain of 1809.

Among the candidates for the vacant appointment, we
have heard the names of Captains Wallis and Walcot
mentioned.

The repairs of the Fairy, Royal yacht steam-tender,
at Portsmouth are ordered to be expedited. The time
of re-fitting was originally stated for the 20th March;
but sho is now to be out of the hands of the engineers
and shipwrights by the 28th inst., and to be ready to
convey the Court to Osborne on the 2d of March.
The Fearless, steam-vessel, arrived at Devonport, with
seamen and marines, paid off from the Juno, and is to
remain at Devonport, as a tender to the flag-ship. The
commander, engineers, and stokers are to remain in her;
but the remainder of the crew who navigated her to
Devonport are to return to the Ocean at the first op-
portunity.

Mr. Cow, foreman of shipwrights at Woolwich dock-
yard, has made a handsome present of books to the
dockyard libraries, and for which the Admiralty have
officially thanked him.

TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AMERICA
AND EuaorE.—Amongst the miscellaneous proceedings of
the United States Congress are projects to establish a tele-
graphic communication across the Atlantic to Europe, to
form a similar line across the American continent, and also
a project to form a line of railway from the Lakes of Michi-
gan to the Pacific.
IMPORTATION OF SOLE.SKINS..--The vessel City of
London, from Rotterdam, has brought 18 packages of sole-
skins as a portion of her cargo. This importation has been
preceded by others of a similar character from Holland.
The article, when thoroughly cleansed and dried, is used
for refining coffecaPr use during the process of boiling the
article.
His ExcellenCy Count Collaredo, Ambassador from
the Emperor of Austria, accompanied by the Countess Col-
laredo and suite, arrived yesterday at Mivart's Hotel, from
Austria, via Brussels.
THE HAYMARKET THEATRE.—HamIet was played
again last night at the Haymarket Theatre. With the im-
personation of the Prince Mr. Kean thoroughly identified
himself. There was no elaboration—no attempt at stage
trick. Hamlet was read and played by a gentleman and a
scholar. The soliliquies are half the " part." Mr. Kean de-
livered them so that the most fastidious critic could not find
a fault. He declaims admirably. In the more highly-
wrought scenes the genius of Mr. Kean developed itself
thoroughly. We have not space for another remark.
Mr. Pattison paired in favour of Lord John
Russell's motion for leave to bring in a Bill to alter the oaths
to be taken by Members of both Houses of Parliament, with
Colonel Powell.

LOSS OF THE STEAM-SHIP FORTH.--Our Live&
pool correspondent writes:—" The loss of the West India
mail-steamer Forth has excited much regret on 'Change..
For a considerable time the truth of the statement was Ties"
tioned, partially in consequence of the steamer's name being
given as the Avon; but now little doubt exists. A letter
from New Orleans, under date the Ist instant, appears to be
on the
conclusive, but happily conveys the announcementthat no
lives are lost. The disaster occurred at five o'clock
___ be
morning of the 14th ult. The Forth, as i!el11., re 'Liu
known, received at St. Thomas's, on the 2d
hut Tata
was
plaeeddeiirnga,
taken from England by the Avon, which
t the time of her disaster.
and in all likelihood, therefore, thea F
en route to Vera Cruz and Tampico
lONS. The official
METEOROLOGICAL OBSEB:VAth,
17 which is issued from
return for the week ending Freeb
Greenwicb, gives the following
_ at
mtheeanßoe
Mmeaneter, highest dry, 49. G ; lowest,
week, 30.492; thermo
-x observations corrected, 40.7 ; de
32.0 • mean from F!
observationsyal Observatory
:
the 500, 60.3; lowest in the
w
9 3 • hit in grass,
point, 36. , 5.W.5 and S.W.
25.9. Wind W.
EN —Yest
COURT or ALliz" ' erday a Court was
h of public bus'
held for the dispatc mess. In the Sheriffs'
returns of the state of the City prisons, it was represented
that several convicts who had been ordered by the Secretary
of State for the Home Department to be removed from New-
gate to the Penitentiary. at Milbank were sent back to the
former prison by the Milbank gaol
governor, as not being in
a fit state to be received. After some conversation, it was
agreed, upon the suggestion of the Recorder, that the Lord
Mayor, Sheriffs, and Town Clerk, should request an inter-
view with Sir G. Grey upon the subject; and the most con-
fident belief was expressed that the Right Hon. Gentleman
would make regulations calculated to improve the existing
system with regard to the detention and removal of convicts.
FRENCH POTATOES.—Very numerous arrivals of
potatoes have taken place from the French ports within these
few days. They have principally been from Rouen, but
have also comprised very considerable importations from
Calais, Havre, Dieppe, Gravelines, Dunkirk, and some others,
and have included several thousand tons weight in bulk of
this esteemed vegetable, the whole the production of France.
SEIZURE OF ILLICIT STILLS.—The Commissioners
of the Excise Department having stated to the Customs
Board, that the officers of the Customs in Great Bri-
tain, being unprovided with Excise commissions, should
secure the attendance of an Excise officer before they
enter houses, or other places, in search of private still°,
&c., in respect of which they may have received
._infor-
mation, the Customs Board have issued direction:
,Lir
the several officers in the waterside and watequ,;:tid
de-
partments in Great Britain, be apprised accordinf'
i ()ulcers, o
the same has been notified to the princip
s
laces through-
f
the department, at the several ports and pi
out the kindom, for their future govrer e,x„'
our Correa-
STONE LETTERING IN CEMErein s
d the lettering on
pondent " Antiquary " recotutton3
be "recut deep into
Sir Hans Sloane
's
mpgronivurabellterated. If this be done, I
the stone," as 1
it is 11----° °they are so cut, that instead
would beg to suggest,
letterafter
r inside, they should be filled
of merely blacking the
h with the surface; and this, if
up with a cement, gush more durability t 9 Au atoms latter'
adopted, would insure
~
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.. _
ilig."..clarePPOdeat 01 4U Mower,