The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-31 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE

PORTSMOUTH, JULY 30.—The Dixonport Independent
of Saturday gives the following account of the Alert's
action with the.piratieal slave felucca, which appears the
only detailed account of -the disastrous affair yet pub-
blished:—
" Extract of a letter from an,officer on board her Ma-
jesty's brig Alert, dated May 18, 1849:--
"' On the 30th of April, at half-past three o'clock, P.M.,
a sail was reported from the masthead (we being then at
anchor between Cassa and Golabah), standing in towards
the land of Seabar. At half-pest four we could make
her out to be a felucca. We kept at anchor until dark,
when we weighed, and stood along the land until mid-
night, when we haled off a little. At six o'clock, P.m. we
could see the same vessel under the land, sweeping
towards Cape Mount; the wind being very little, in fact
just sufficient to give steerage. At seven we sent the
two gigs and pinnace, after her, but she- crept along
almost as fast as the boats. At 11, pinnace and first gig
were about half-a mile astern; second gig about a mile
and a half. When they came close to the vessel they
were fired on, and first gig being ahead attempted to board,
and in doing so the officer, Mr. Henry D. Saunders,
acting lieutenant, received a shot through the windpipe ;
but, although he had received his death wound, he
waved his sword over his head to encourage his men to
board. The gig having lost an officer and two men, and
all the rest except two wounded, she went back to the
pinnace for more men, but before they could catch up
with her again the wind sprang up and she walked
away from us. The ship then picked up the boats ;
but, by the time they were on board and hoisted up, the
felucca was nearly out of sight.
" ' The following is a list of the killed and wounded:—
‘" Killt henry D. Saunders, acting-lieutenant ;
John James, A. B. ; and John Barnelough,
" Wounded—F. Glanville, A. 8., severely, three
wounds in the back, recovering fast ; Henry Hill, A. 8.;
John Collins, A.B. ; Samuel Turner Ord ; and W.
May, A.B.
" Slightly wounded—J. Reardon, A. 8.; J. Lens-
downe,R.M.; and Philip Kidd, R.M.

" The felucca had two guns, and was firing everything
they could lay their hands on. In one of the boats a
piece of chain of six links was found. She ran her guns
through the stern, to get at the gig as she was re-
treating."' _ _

The'Victoria and Albert Royal yatch, Captain Lord
Adolphus Fitzalarence, G. C. IL, went out of harbour to
Cowes this afternoon. Rear-Admiral Dundas, one of
the Lords of the Admiralty, and Mr. J. Parker, M.P.,
Secretary to the Board, took passage in her to Cowes.
The Lightning steam-tender went to Cowes 'this
afternoon. The Right Hon. Sir Francis Baring,
First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Charles Wood,
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rear-Admiral Dundae,
and Mr. Parker, embark in her this evening for the
Channel Islands. •

The Sphynx steam-sloop, Commander Hewlett, went
to Cowes this afternoon to join the Royal squadron.
The Stromboli steam•sloop, Commander Lord A melius
Beauelerk, went to Cowes this afternoon to join the
Royal squadron.

the cuckoo steam-vessel, Commander Dumaresque,
went to Cowes this afternoon to accompany the Light-
ning thence to the Channel Islandy.
Rear-Admiral Superintendent Prescott, C. 8., com-
menced his periodical survey of the ships in ordinary at
this port this morning.
The Sidon steam•frigate was hauled alongside the
factory jetty in the basin this morning, for the greater
convenience of getting out her boilers, guns, &c. She is
ordered new boilers, increase of armament, masts to be
differently stepped, &c.
The Retribution steam•frigate will be removed from
the steam-basin on Thursday, prior to being navigated
round to Woolwich to have 400-horse power engines
substituted for those of 800, with which she is now
supplied. We believe the vessel will remain a paddle.
wheel frigate.

The Ajax; 60, steam guard-ship, will be taken out by
Commander Stephens, of the Blenheim, on Friday
(weather, &c., permitting), for trial, with all her
weight in. _ _

The Southampton, one of Wigram's fleet, after getting
under weigh at Spithead yesterday for Calcutta, brought
up in the evening in St. Helen's Roads, where she re-
mains (6 P.m)._ _ _ _

The -Fire 'Queen stearn-tendcr, Mr. Allen, Acting
Master Commanding, embarked the Lords of the Privy
Council this morning at Gosport, and conveyed them to
Cowes.

The Blazer steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander
Smith, was officially mustered, and her crew exercised
in gunnery, &c., this morning, by Captain Purcell, of
the Superb, for the Commander-in•chief, after which
came into harbour to prepare for being paid off.
Wind S.W., fresh breezes and fine weather.

PLYMOUTH, JULY 28.—Her Majesty's steam-vessel
Vesuvius, from Chatham, in charge of Mr. C. P. Bel-
lamy, having called at Portsmouth for a party of marines,
arrived this morning, and went up harbour for coal and
stores. She deposits here luggage for Mr. Ward, Go-
vernor of the lonian Islands, and sails again on Wed-
nesday with the marines for Pembroke, to relieve the
detachment on duty there, and will then return to this
port.
The Niger and Basilisk steamers, which sailed on
Sunday for an experimental cruise, returned on Thurs-
day, and are preparing for another trial.
The steam-ship Growler, 6, Commander P. Stoddart,
had her compasses adjusted in Barnponl on Monday.
was inspected and paid advance on Wednesday, and
sailed on Thursday for her destination, the Mediter-
ranean.

Her Majesty's ship Queen, having received all her
guns, was placed at her sailing moorings on Thursday.
The iron sream-vessel Jackal was taken into dock last
Monday; she is much crowded.
Orders were received this morning from the Admiralty
to prepare for commission her Majesty's frigate Daedalus;
she will be masted on Monday.
Wind—S.W., occasional showers.