The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-22 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY.—This being— the 44th
anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar, the flag-ship
Victory, in this harbour, was, in accordance with
annual custom, decorated with garlands of laurel, &c.,
at each mast head, and her crew received additional
rations and grog in commemoration of the memorable
day.

ADMIRALTY APPOINTMENTS.
Lieutenant—M. Breen, to the Queen.
Master—G. Tyler, to the scourge.
Clerk —H. Motley, to the Crocodile.
Second Master—N. G. Stent, to the Lucifer.
Gunner—NV. Sparkes, to the Ganges.
Midshipmen—C. R. Maberley, to the Conflict ; C.
Franklin, to the Ganges.
Coast Guard—J. A. Pritchard, to be chief officer.
The Stromboli steam-sloop, Commander Lord
Amelius I3eauclerk, arrived this morning from
Woolwich.
The Hydra steam-sloop, Commander Skipwith,
sailed from Rio on the 20th of August on a cruise
after slavers.
The Trincomalee, 25, Captain Warren, sailed from
Halifax on the sth inst. for the Gulf of Mexico.
The Raleigh, 50, Commodore Sir Thomas Herbert,
K.C.8., on her arrival from the River Plate, is or-
dered to be paid off at Chatham, internally all
standing.
The following dockyard appointments are conse-
quent upon the decease of Mr. Thomas S. Vinall, first
class clerk at Chatham yard :—Mr. Charles Slade,
from second to first class ; Mr. H. Alens, from third
to second class; Mr. Finmore, from extra to the third
class ; Mr. Wood, appointed extra clerk.
THE SAILORS' HOME AT THIS PORT. Admiral
Sir Francis Austin has given Si. to the Sailors' Home
at this port, and has consented to become one of the
Vice-Presidents ; Admiral Lord Radstock 101. dona-
tion, 1/. annual subscription ; Commander William
Moorsom, 201. donation, 11. annual subscription ;
Captain David Price, Si. donation ; Rear-Admiral
Sir Francis Collier (by Lady Collier), 101. donation ;
Messrs. Shaw and Maxwell, 3/. annual subscription ;
Mr. Edmund Stokes, 51. donation, 11. annual sub-
scription. The above have been received during the
past week, besides minor donations and annual sub-
scriptions.
THE COAST DEFENCE BRIGADE.—The Controller-
General of the Coast Guard has issued orders for the
cessation of the great gun exercise for the season, and
Commander Jerningham has returned to her Ma-
jesty's ship Excellent, having been engaged since the
winter in carrying out on the coast Captain Stewart's
(the Controller-General) instructions, daring his
absence on a tour of ir.spection and minute examina-
tion of the coast of Ireland and Scotland, owing to
the reductions in the protection to the revenue that he
has thought it necessary to recommend. Whilst
50,000/. per annum will be saved by these reductions
the efficiency of the coast-guard. will be improved by
an addition to the force on shore. Twenty revenue
cruisers are now for sale, which were a class of
vessels well adapted for the purpose for which they
were intended ; but it is to be hoped, if ever it
should be found necessary to increase this arm of the
service, that one more suited to coast defences will he
adopted in their stead.
Upwards of 2,600 men are now fit for service,
ashore or afloat, at a moment's notice, embracing
nearly half the entire force of the coast-guard of the
United Kingdom, and all lying within six hours' sail
of our Government ports. These are the crews of the
districts and revenue cruisers between Lynn and
Norfolk and Milford Haven, out of which about 250
have served as petty officers, upwards of 1,000 as able
seamen, and the remainder as seamen of revenue
cruisers promoted into the coast-guard, and 400 as
seamen and boys now serving in cruisers. Out of this
number of 2,600 drilled men, something short of 250
exceed the age of 40, though the mean average age is
30 to 35. The same good spirit exists among them
to keep up their efficiency, and they are indebted to
men selected from among themselves, and who were
instructed in her Majesty's ship Excellent, for the
high state of gunnery proficiency they have displayed.
Considering the general good character of the men
and their professional value as seamen, certainly a
force of 5,000 such (for they are picked men) might
prove of some importance on an emergency. The
expense has not exceeded 5001., and the expenditure
of ammunition has been considerably less than is
allowed for the same number of men in her Majesty's
navy. The inspecting commanders and other officers
in the coast-guard have displayed great zeal and
perseverance in carrying out the Controllor•General's
views, and Commander Jerningham has conducted
the whole service with judgment and energy.
PLYMOUTH, OcT. 19.—Her Majesty's ship Superb
arrived from Portsmouth on Wednesday, and sailed
on Thursday for Queenstown, to relieve La Hogue
steam block ship. The Superb is many hands short
of her complement.
Her Majesty's steam-vessel Trident went into the
Sonnd, and was paid wages on Wednesday. She has
since sailed for Liverpool and Holyhead for seamen.
Her Majesty's steam-vessel Conflict was taken out
of dock yesterday and warped to the coal depot.
Her Majesty's steam-vessel Spiteful, having had her
copper examined, was taken out of dock to-day.
Her Majesty's packet Seagull, having had her
copper repaired, was undocked yesterday.