The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-13 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

WOOLWICH, FEB. 12.—The Basilisk steam-sloop is in
the basin under the shears, having her mainmast put in.
The lines of the Niger and the Basilisk being the same,
the former fitted with engines for a screw-propeller, and
the latter with engines for paddle-wheels, it was found
that the boilers of the Basilisk when placed came so
close to the position of the mainmast as to render it
dangerous to have the timber so near the furnaces. To
obviate the difficulty an iron shaft, about eight inches
in diameter and twelve feet long, has been attached
with an iron plate at the bottom of the hold, and the
mainmast is made to rest on the top of the shaft above
the level of the upper part of the boilers, and is held
securely on three iron claws attached to the shaft. From
whatever cause the difficulty originated the plan to re-
medy it is very ingenious. The bottom part of masts
are liable to the dry rot, in consequence of being al-
ternately wet and dry when the bilge water is pumped
out, and it will be seen, by the result of the trial, if an
iron base for the mainmast of the Basilisk will prove
advantageous.
CHATHAM, FEB. 12.—The Majestic, 80 guns, building
in this yard. The workmen who built the Elfin steam •
boat are put upon this ship, and they commenced this
morning planking her with nine-inch wales. This ship
is not to have the stern designed for her by Sir William
Symonds; she is to have one that is approved by the
Admiralty.
The Horatio, 42 guns, in dock, fitting as a steam
guard-ship. A melancholy and fatal accident occurred
on Saturday to a young man who was at work, with
others, engaged in getting a boom over the dock for the
purpose of building a stage or berthing across the stern
of this ship. The deceased, Thomas Knight, was on the
boom (which was a ship's yard), in readiness to cast off
the lashings, but owing to the labourers slacking the
tackle without giving him notice, the boom swang round
and the young lean fell head-foremost into the bottom
of the dock, a distance of nearly 30 feet. On his being
picked up, the blood gushed out of both ears, and life
was soon extinct. Ho was taken to the surgery in the
yard, and examined by Dr. Henry Peacock. There was
no appearance of any external injury, but the base of
the skull was fractured internally. The deceased is
about 21 years of age, and was on the point of being
married; he was a steady and respectable man. The
body was afterwards removed to his father's residence,
Ordnance-place, Chatham.

RONERT HOUDIN'S ENTERTAINMENT AT THE ST.
JAMES'S THEATRE.—The entertainments of this Prince
of Necromancers continue to draw crowded houses.
The St. James's Theatre, which, on the evenings of
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, is a Temple of
Music, is transformed on those of Tuesday,- Thurs-
thy, and Saturday into a Temple of Magic, and
never did magician wield wand more potent
or do his spiriting more gracefully than Robert Houdin.
It is a moot point whether or not Robert Houdin is a
mere mortal ; for ourselves, we incline to the opinion
that he is, but there are those who contend that he is
neither more nor less than " the Gentleman in Black "
himself, and who quote Shakspere in support of the
theory—" The Prince of Darkness is a Gentleman."
says the Bard of Avon; and it would be difficult for
Robert Houdin to prove any essential difference in this
particular between the Prince of Darkness and him-
self. To-morrow, however, this great question may,
perhaps, be set at rest, as we shall have an opportunity
of seeing this mysterious personage by daylight. He
gives a morning performance at half after two o'clock.
and there cannot bo a doubt but that the levee of the
"most polished Necromancer in Europe" will be excel-
lently well attended.
MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE IN CANTERBURY.—.OII
Thursday last the Hon. Francis Charles Drummond, of
Dunkeld, Perth, N. 8., son of Viscount Strathallen,
was united to his cousin, Charlotte Mary Athol Oakeley,
daughter of the late Sir Herbert Oakeley, Bart., and
great niece of the late Duke of Athol. The ceremony,
ich was performed by the Very Rev. the Dean and
Dr. Russell, took place at the cathedral after morning
service. There were twelve bridesmaids, and a great
concourse of spectators. The bride being, as we under-
stand, a ward of the Dean, and the wedding party assem-
bling at the Deanery, matting was laid down thence,
across the lawn to the cathedral. The gay party re-
paired to the Deltnery immediately after the nuptials, and
the happy bride and bridegroom shortly after left for
Folkestone.

THE LATE EscariiißOM WAKEFIELD PRISON.—
We understand that the man who so dexterously escaped
a week or two since from Wakefield Prison, has sent a
lettor stating that he is thankful for. the loan of tho pri-
son dress, and that he is now on the wide ocean, and the
•
authorities may catch Mm if thei can.
THE LATE -FIRE IN SPITALFIELDS.—Mr. Baker
resumed the inquest on the bodies of the five sufferers
yesterday morning. A person, was seen to come out of
the slum just as the alarm was given, and the Coroner
adjourned the proceedings till Wednesday next, saying
it would be impossible to close the inquiry without
discovering, or trying to discover, who that party waltt,
DESTRUCTION OF SPARROWS.—On Alcnd_eay between thirty and forty members of the Bracki yd
killed during
third anniversary. The number of
Vol/amp:on Herald.
Spar-
row Club met at the Red Lion Inn tros celebrate their
the year was stated to be 4,809.-- ~.,
now terminated, and,
roL.—The London rehearsals fnon
Tau AMATEUR THEATRICALS AT
doubt of the success
judging from them, we enterstetes.
The troupe has evi-
dentlylDATH AND BEI/Il-
se
4c•esrszls have appeared more
cast, and latterly the r
than amateurs. Much credit is
ofti
bepeenriCarrmeafflyes
like those of "regulars tlheewted, uad the parts judiciously
i for having drilled them into
due to Air. Georg
e flits
itshat the dresses in Lichelieu will
having been accurately
such order.
picturess(l),a3lenociWldideahned
correct,
of the time; in fact, money
he veryf
copied i
lust consideration with these amateurs,
stboef the w.ek's amusement are estimated at
%Ire trust, therefore, that they will meet with
4001.
;heceruesxptoenhses
liberal patronage and support from all classes of play-
goers at Bath and Bristol, and that the various charities
may. be proportionately bencfitcd. The whole company
will again assemble on Friday next at the York House,
Bath, and the labours of rehearsal will recommence.
THE PoFE.—On Sunday an address, prepared by
Dr. Wiseman, Roman Catholic Vicar-Apostolic of the
London District,
and expressive of sympathy and con-
dolence with the sufferings, and attachment to the per-
son, of the Pope, was read from the altars of the various
chapels in the metropolis; and it was announced that it
would lie for signature by the laity on the approaching
Sabbath. A collection is also to be made on the same
day, the proceeds of which will be transferred to the
Pontiff; and it was further stated that addresses and
pecuniary assistance would be sent from all parts of Eng-
land on the most convenient opportunity to Gaeta.