The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-06 00:00:00

NAVAL IN TELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY.-Tho Comet steam-vessel
was c,rnmissioned this morning by Commander Thomas
Smith (1846) for surveying service.
The Sparrow ketch has also been commissioned here
by Commander Frazer for surveying service.
The improved galley or cooking apparatus of Mr.
Grant's invention on board the Reynard has answered
more than expectation, and although nearly every other
feature in the vessel has been deranged from the violence
of her knocking about by the waves, this most vital part
of her internal economy has remained in full effect,
much to the health and satisfaction of both officers and
s
men, who prefer the water distilled by its agency to that
actually in tank from the dockyard sources. The
Plumper, sister ship to the Reynard, is to be supplied also
with an improved ceoking and distilling apparatus,
which is the only item she needs to be the moat useful
vessel and perfect of hera ctLii
sesadi
adjuncts commission.net s fitted
h Arrogante
wantshg
i
o ut x
500 iat
men.ry
'frigate, Captain Fitzroy, is
also adimmira
FATAL ACCIDENT TO AN OFFICER OF HER MAJES•
TI'S SHIP CHAMPION.—Letters have been received,
tava
oneil o the steam-frigate,
under date Jan. 6, from ber Majesty's ship Champion,
Captain Hayes, having touched at the island, then on
her passage to Valparaiso; the officers went on shore
shooting. when the assistant-surgeon having killei a
buck. trii ped in running after it, and the other barrel of
his gun went off by accident and shot him through the
neck. He died instantly. The ship sailed on her return
to Valparaiso on the 6th of January.—Hanipshire
Guardian.
Wind, S., light breezes and fine weather.
PLYMOUTH, APRIL 4.—Her Majesty's ship St. Vin-
cent, 120, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Charles
Napier, K.C.8., Commander-in-Chief, Captain Sidney
Colpoys Decree, hove in sight from the westward at halt-
past 12 this afternoon, wind south-easterly, blowing
strong, under double-reefed topsails, courses, and fore-
topmast staysail (no jib), and shorlly after anchored in
the Sound. She left Gibraltar on the 16th ult., at which
time the Polyphemus and Janus steamers were the only
British ships of war at port. Her Majesty's ship Sidon,
Plumper, and Reynard left Gibraltar for England in
company with the admiral. The St. Vincent has expe-
rienced moat awful weather on her passage home, and
has lost one man overboard. Admiral Napier, shortly
after arriving, wont to Devonport to visit Port-Admiral
Sir William Hall Gage, Government House, Mount
On the 2d inst. the lower yards and topmast of her
Wise.
Majesty's ship Impregnable, 104, Captain Sir T. Mait-
land, were got up for the summer.
Dockyard—Mr. Precious, timber-receiver at Pem-
broke, is appointed store-receiver here, vice Mr. Gott-
lieb, who goes to Woolwich. Oa Monday, twenty-
four ropemakers and forty-three labourers were entered
on the establishment; one of the latter is the lad Morley,
wrecked in the Avenger.
Wind S. E. blowing strong, with heavy rain.
and will be tried
her,
us to her trial with
down the river on Saturday, previo
WOOLWICH, APRIL s.—The Niger, steam-vessel, has
had some alterations made in
the Basilisk. - -

The Basilisk will not be ready to be taken out of the
basin before Monday next.
The Gladiator s'eam frigate is under the shears in the
basin, having a new funnel put up.
The Elfin steamer is fitting rapidly with her engines,
and expects to have her steam up on Saturday, and
when finished hero, which it is expected she will be by
this day week, she is to be taken to Chatham to be com-
pleted for s-a.
The Randolph hired convict-ship was towed from
Deptford to moorings opposite the royal arsenal yester-
day, to receive on board 300 male convicts for convey-
ance to Por
of Mr. William Dale.
t Philip. The Randolph is under the charge
Cir.Fruast, APRIL s.—The Columbia steam-vessel was
commissioned on Wednesday, the 4th inst., for the sur-
veying service, by Commander Shortland, and she is to
have a complement of 70 men. She is a vessel of 100-
horse power.

The Castor, 36 guns, is ordered to be brought for-
ward for commission. This ship will be sent to Sheer•
ness to be docked as each dock in this yard is oc-
cupied. After the Castor is fitted she will return to
Chatham to be rigged, and receive her guns and stores.
The Cleopatra, 26 guns, is removed from her moor-
ings in ordinary, and taken under the shears, and re-
ceived masts in place yesterday. She is ordered to be
brought forward for commission without delay.
At the Port—The Falmouth is loading for Portsmouth,
and the Aid, from Plymouth and Portsmouth, is dis-
charging her cargo.
Mr. Moore, master shipwright's assistant; Mr. James
Babb and Mr. J. Wyatt, foremen of the yard; Mr. W.
Biested, foreman of joiners ; and Mr. LI. Carter, in-
spector of joiners, with the whole of the men ordered
to be superannuated and discharged, were dismis3ed on
Saturday last—in all about 180 men. The Admiralty
have not yet decided on the amount of pensions to be
gran`ei, either to the officers or men. On the 2d inst.
the smiths commenced on the factory system of working
ten hours a day, and they are to be allowed one-seventh
more pay for their labour. The hours of working in
this department are to 13.3 the same during the winter
months as the summer, viz., ten hours.
The workmen who were under the superintendence of
Mr. Babb, foreman of the yard, previous to his giving
up his official duties presented him with a very hand-
some silver snuff-box and a silver pencil-case, as a small
token of their esteem fur him.
In the Cressy, SO guns, building in this yard, a sad
accident occurred to a boy of the name of Spenceley,
employed in the ship, who fell from the gun-deck into
the hold of the ship, a distance of nearly thirty feet.
He was much injured about the head, but upon exami-
nation at the surgery it was found that no bones am
bwken.