The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-20 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 18.—The Nautilus, transport,
Lieut. W. C. Saunders, agent, arrived yesterday,
loaded with unserviceable stores, from Monte Video,
the Falkland Islands, and Ascension. She sailed from
Ascension on the 6th of November. The island has
been particularly healthy of late. There is abun-
dance of water, and the finest description of vege-
tables, the cultivated land having been much increased
during the last twelve months. There were above
two hundred turtles in the ponds, which is unusual
at this time of the year. The cattle were increasing,
and the arrival of sheep from the Cape of Good Hope
gave an ample supply of mutton to the cruisers on their
visits. A bakery has been established, which was
much required, and is a great benefit to all. New
stables have also been recently erected, and many im-
provements made in the various public buildings, and
the roads much improved. The Dart left Ascension
on the 21st October for Sierra Leone ; and the Siren
(after being re-fitted), on the 26th, for Kabenda. The
Geyser arrived from Lisbon on the 27th October, and
after coaling sailed again on the 28th for St. Helena
and the Cape. The Commodore had not been at
Ascension for five months, but was expected about the
middle of November; as also was the Amphitrite
about the same time from Lisbon. The squadron
(with the exception of the Siren, who had lost Lieu-
tenant Probert and nine men at the Bahama Islands),
has been very healthy although on shore,.particu-
larly at Sierra Leone, the season that has just passed
has been the most unhealthy known for ten years.
The slave trade is carried on with increased vigour
by the slave agents, and the greater the obstacles the
more contrivance is used to elude the vigilance of
the cruisers: Fifty vessels have been taken during
the last twelve months.. None but the best sailing
craft should be sent on the station, as frequently the
slavers get away by'superior sailing, even from the
very best. We understand that steam vessels escaped
with full cargoes from the southern part of the sta-
tion in September. The Tortoise was the only ship
at Ascension when the Nautilus lefty When the
Nautilus left the Falkland Island, Aug. 14, the
islands were in the most abject state of distress. She
lay at the islands three weeks before she could get a
bullock. All the improvements contemplated for
giving character and employment to the place were
stopped, the Government not having hands, or any-
thing for them. The islands, in short, were in a fair
way of being deserted.
The Rolla, 10, Commander Ellicombe, arrived
yesterday from the Coast of Africa. She sailed from
Sierra Leone on the 17th of November, leaving there
the Amphitrite, 26, Captain T. R. Eden ; Favourite.
14, Commander Murray; , and the Dart, brigantine,
Lieutenant E. A. Glynn. The coast, at the time of
the Rol la's departure, was healthy ; but Sierra Leone,
a short time previously, had suffered much from
fever. The Growler steam-sloop, Commander Pot-
bury, sailed from Sierra Leone on the 13th of No-
vember, on her second trip, ss ith free labourers, to
Trinidad. The Rolla has brought home Lieutenant
Mansfield, and that portion of the crew which took
charge of a slave vessel, captured by that ship, to
Sierra Leona, three of the crew of which slaver, it
will he remembered, rushed on deck and dangerously
stabbed Lieutenant Mansfield whilst his men were
aloft. The Rolla also brought home a negro woman
passenger, by order of Government, as a witness in
Captain Denman's case, with regard to burning down
tne Spanish slave barracoons, on the coast of Africa.
There were six other witnesses named, but they were
not to be found within the limits of the colony. The
Rollo came into harbour to day, to be paid off.
The Bellerophon, 78, Capt. Baynes, C. 8., with the
reserve battalion of the 76th regiment on board,
sailed on Tuesday for Corfu.
Sailed on Tuesday last, the Maria Smiles transport,
Lieutenant John It. Black, R.N.. agent in charge,
with the second division of the reserve battalion of
the 69th regiment on board, for Malta, consisting of
10 officers and 274 rank and file ; officers names em-
barked, Major Coote, commanding officer; Captains
Mackirdy, Law, and Robertson ; Lieutenants Begot
and O'Shea ; Ensigns Daniel, Gillbonre and Smith ;
Assistant-Surgeon Wilcocks ; Mts. Major Coote and
two children. The transport has put into Plymouth.
The Cockatrice, tender to the Asia, also sailed yes-
terday for Devenport.
The Cygnet, 6, fitting at Sheerness, is ordered to
the coast of Africa, and is to call at this port to be
paid. The Sealark, 10, at Chatham, is also commis-
sioned for the coast. _

The Cormorant, steam sloop, Commander Sey-
mour, was paid off on Monday. She is ordered to
be reported on as to the most expeditious method of
repairing her hull and engines for further sea service.
The Gorgon and Cyclops, steam vessels, when com-
pleted at Sheerness, are to proceed to this port, to be
commissioned. _ _

vv
The Admiralty, on Wednesday, again called for a
report of the state and condition of the Centaur,
Retribution, Rifleman, and Sharpshooter steamers,
and the block ships—if their tanks and other heavy
stores were on board, or in readiness—and in how
short a time they can be equipped for sea. The an-
swer to this was, that the equipling of them can be
soon done, but that there are no seamen to be ob-
.tained to man them. The Prince Regent has only
entered a few. It is known that a great number of
seamen are waiting the commissioning of the Helena,
Frolic,- Champion, and Serpent, preferring brigs to
ships of the line or steamers.
in Harhaur—Victory, Blenheim, Excellent, Prince
Regent, Victoria and Albert, Rolla, and Nautilus.
Terri'le, Cuckoo, Firefly, Undine, Fairy, and Echo
steamers.

At Spithead—Nautilus transport.
PROMOTIONS.

Rear-Admiral—Sir Charles Richardson, K.C.8., to
be Vice-Admiral of the Blue.

Captain—Edward Harvey, to the rank of near.
Admiral.

Clerk—D. Stapleton, to the rank of Paymaster and
Purser.

APPOINTMENTS.

Commander—W. B. Money penny, to the Sealark.
Lieutenants--A. R. B. Carter, to the Excellent;
F. A. B. Cranford, to the Hydra ; Elphinstone
D'Oyley D'Auvergne Aplir., to be flag-lieutenant to
Rear-Admiral Prescott, C.B. ; C. J. Didham, to the
Sealark.
Masters—W. J. W. Burney, to the Coast Guard ;
It. T. Saunders, to the Hercules.
Acting Masters—R. Stokes to the Prince Regent ;
A. Balleston, to the Victory ; W. H. Fetch, to the
Sealark.
Paymasters and Pursers—Wm. Weaver, to the
Nerbudda ; H. W. Hollinworth, acting, to the Sea-
lant..
Surgeons—J. Bankier, to the Bellerophon; J. C.
Bowman, to Inconstant; J. L.Clark, to Hydra; G.
Burn, to Prince Regent.
Chaplain and Naval Instructor—Rev. H. Jones, to
Trincomalee.
Second Masters—J. M. Pridham, to Acheron; D.
Hall, acting, to Prince Regent; J. M. Share, an,:l,
W. K. Freeman, to Hercules ; Charles C. Scot:„, to
Vindictive; H. D. Beach, to Blenheim.
Assistant-Surgeons—W. Patrick, to Hydra ; W.
L. Gorton, to Prince Regent.
Clerks—S. E. L. Wright, 40 Hercules; W. 0.
Naylor, to Sealark.
Naval Cadets—F. W. 7eyni, to Asia ;W. B. Mason,
to St. Vincent ; Arthu
Richard B. Coulthr
.dpe, and John Leslie Gilley, to
Prince Regent.- Masters 7G. Annesley, to Inconstant;
C. Na,,9; -Assistants—C. Stevenson, to Plover ; J.
to Inconstant; S. Libby, to Swift; F.
T1'..7;10r, to Poictiers ; P. C. Moss, to Porcupine.

TILE NEW POOR-LAW COMMISSION.—Mr. Charles
Buller on Saturday took his seat at the board-room of
the Poor-law Commission-office, Somerset-house. as
President of the new Board of Poor-law Commissioners.
lie was received by Mr. Nicholls and Mr. Chadwick, the
former of whom took his seat at the Board as one of the
secretaries, and the latter of whom transferred his ac-
counts as secretary to the previous Board. The subor-
dinate officers we re re-appointed.
The British North American Royal Mail Steam
Service, in active service, will shortly comprise the fol-
lowing vessels :—America, Captain C. 11. E. Judkins;
Niagara, Captain A. Ryrie; Europa, Captain E. G.
Lou; Canada, Captain W. Douglas; Hibernia, Captain
N. Shannon; Cambria, Captain W. Harrison; Britannia,
Captain W. J. C. Lang; Caledonia, Captain J. Leitch;
Acadia, Captain J. Stone.

_ .
SUICIDE.—An inquest was held on Saturday, by
Mr. Bedford, at the Lord High Admiral, Vauxhall -
bridge-road, as to the death of Lucy Sparrow, aged 42.
The deceased woman was the wile of a drayman, in the
service of Messrs. Thorne, the brewers. She had been
in a very bad state of health lately, and was attended by
the landlady of the house. On Thursday morning her
husband went to his work as usual, at five o'clock, and
it would seem that the deceased got up and fastened the
room door, for on the landlady going at eight
to see if she would have her breakfast, she could
obtain no answer. Her husband went up, but was
afraid to break open the door, and though he got
a ladder he could see nothing through the window,
as the blinds were down. He sent to the police sta•
tion to say that he sespected something wrong, but the
answer was, if he broke open the door it would be
at his own risk. Ultimately the husband was sent
for from Chelsea, and on his arrival about ten o'clock,
the door was forced, and the deceased was found lying
in the bed with her throat cut in a dreadful manner.
She had been dead some time. A knife was found near
her right hand, with which she inflicted the wound; and
on her left was a steel, which she apr eared to have used
for sharpening the weapon. Mr. Atkinson, a surgeon,
who was called in, was of opinion that she had sat up
in the bed to inflict the wound, and then, from loss of
blood, had fallen back. He had seen her professionally,
and had no doubt her mind was affected from the pain
she suffered. The Coroner said it seemed very strange
the police did not interfere in the matter, and there was
a possibility the life of the deceased might have been
spared. He hoped that some inquiry would be made,
and that a report should be had. The inspector said
that he was not on duty at the time, and could not tell
what the message sent was, but it should be inquired
into. The jury returned a verdict of " Temporary in-
attnity.".