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

NAVAL IN TELLIGENCE.

THE ADMIRALTY LEVEES.—The first levee of the
new First Lord of the Admiralty, the Hon. Sir F. fr.
Baring, M.P., was held yesterday, when the followirkg
officers made official acquaintance with the Right Hon.
Baronet:—Vice Admiral Sykes, Rear-Admirals Sir G.
F. Seymour, C. 8., G.C.H. (recently returned from com-
manding in chief in the Pacific); Sir Thomas Fellow es,
C. 8.; and Peter John Douglas. Captains Percy Gracte,
Sir Henry John Leeke, E.H. (formerly of the Queon,
110); Sir H. M. Blackwood, Bart. (late Commodore ih
the East Indies); John M.Wougall (formerly of the
Vulture, steam-frigate); Sir Edward Belcher. C. B.;
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 Waterwi tch);
G. Lavis (late of the Earner); 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 had
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 ♦ery distinguished character,
although his only decoration was one 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 she 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 EUROPE.—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 coffee for 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. Mattison 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 Liver-
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 ques-
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
conclusive, but happily conveys the announcement that no
lives are lost. The disaster occurred at five o'clock on the
morning of the 14th ult. The Forth, as perhaps it may be
known, received at St. Thomas's, on the 2d ult., the rrr!al,
taken from England by the Avon, which put into Madeira,
andrmeetua
nrinnfoarl l t
hl likelihood, ew
observationsl therefore,ieheok:o—de,:deianng rie,aedbhiirboggiuthsoetieihs Forth,
en route to Vera Cruz and Tampico at the time ofT hheer disaster.ocial
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
which
is issued from
the Royal Observatory at Greenwich givesf,the barometer for the
dry, 49.6; lowest,
week, 30.492 ; thermometer,
lowest in the grass,
observations
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3algareYe°:r;ituthpheoSenPriir d. 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 stills,
&c., in respect of which they may have received infor-
mation, the Customs Board have issued directions that
the several officers in the waterside and waterguard de-
partments in G reat Britain, be apprised accordingly, and
the same has beets notified to the principal officers of
the department, at the several ports and places through-
out the kindom, for their future government.
STONE LETTERING IN CEMENT. Your corres-
pondent.on " Antiquarry " recommends the
Sir Hans Sloane's monument to be
the stone," as it is nearly obliterated.
cut, instead
of that instead
would beg to suggest, after they soareethey
should be filled
"Irfeluiltee lettering,
redipno gin
done,
Into
of merely blacking the letter inshidee
bii;styurttoacaell
stone
ellheitst,eri.f
up with a cement, flush with t
adopted, would insure more durs., ,
r.
ing.—Correspondent of The Ruilae