The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-02 00:00:00

STEAM. VESSELS.

GUARD-SHIPS AND FRlGATES.—Blenheim, 450 horse-
power, 55 guns, 200 men ; Cyclops, 320 horse-power,
6 guns, 195 teen. Total, 770 horse-power, 61 guns,
485 men.

SLOOPS.—Gorgon, 320 horse power, 6 guns, 160
men ; Driver, 280 horse power, 6 guns, 160 men ;
Plumper, 60 horse power, 12 guns, 110 men; Reynard,
60 horse power, 12 guns, 110 men. Total, 720 horse
power, 36 guns, 540 men.
GUN-VESSELS, &c.—Rifleman, 160 horse power, 8
guns, 80 men ; Sharpshooter, 202 horse power, 4 guns,
80 men ; Teezer, 50 horse power, 2 guns, 35 men; Tri-
dent, 350 horse power, 2 guns, 65 men ; Pluto, 100
horse power, 3 guns, 60 men ; Shearwater, 160 horse
power, 2 guns, 50 men ; Dwarf, 90 horse power, 1 gun,
36 men ; Sprightly, 100 horse power, 1 gun, 34 men ;
Dee, 200 horse power, 4 guns, 65 men ; Lucifer, 180
horse power, 2 guns, 55 men. Total, 1,532 horse power,
29 guns, 560 men.
PACKETS.—The Banshee, 870 horse power, 2 guns,
31 men ; Llewellyn, 350 horse power, 2 guns, 35
men ; Caradoc, 350 horse power, 2 guns, 35 men ; St.
Columba, 350 horse power, 2 guns, 35 men; Triton, 260
horse power, 3 guns, 65 men ; Medina, 320 horse
power, 4 guns, 65 men ; Medusa, 320 horse-power, 4
guns, 65 men ; Merlin, 320 horse-power, 4 guns, 65
men ; Vivid, 150 horse power, 1 gun, 14 men ; Undine,
100 horse-power, 1 gun, 17 men. Total, 2,800 horse-
power, 25 guns, 417 men.
The above is as accurate a statement of the naval
force disposed of during the last year as could be com-
piled, and by it it wid be perceived rithat the number of
ships and the force of guns commissioned does not bear
a respectable comparison with those put out of commis-
t•ion in the same time, thus :

PAID OFF.—Guns, 1,482 ; men, 15,076 ; horse-
power, 8,428.

COMMISSIONED.—Guns, 904 ; men, 8,954 ; horse-
power, 5,142.
Less number of guns commissioned than paid off, 578.
Less number of men entered than paid off, 6,122.
Less amount of horse power employed than laid up,
2,276.
PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY.—The news of the death of
the Earl of Auckland, G.C.8., the First Lord of the Ad-
miralty, was received here this afternoon, and naturally
created much consternation in naval circles. _

The Centaur steam-frigate was commissioned to.day a
little before noon, by Mr. Thompson, Master of the
Victory, for the broad pendant of Commodore Fanshawe.
She is still in the steam-basin, haying a poop put on her.
The commencement of the new year does not indicate
any signs of that activity which used to characterize this
arsenal. Roles work is nearly at a stind•still. Bramble's
dock is still progressing, but very slowly. This latter is
about one-third finished. On the slips are the Princess
Royal, 90, in the course of alteration; the Royal Frede-
rick, 110, in an advanced state; the Prince of Wales,
110, keel laid, stem up, and one pair of floor timbers
in; Argus steam-sloop, in frame (on the two last only
thirty shipwrights and a few labourers are at work);
Furious, steam-sloop, keel laid, stem up, and most of
her floor timbers in. No one at work on this last. In
the docks are the Princess Charlotte, 104; the Colling-
wood, 80; Vindictive, 50; the Devastation, steam-sloop,
and the Flying Fish, 12-gun brig; all these are under-
going a thorough overhaul and repair. The Fire Queen
steam-tender is in dock, baying her water-closets put to
rights, and a coating of Hay's composition laid on her
bottom. The greatest signs of activity visible in the
pervade everything, and all is in as much
yard are in the steam department, where Mr. Murray's
spirit seems to
bustle as if no such person as Cobden existed.
The Superb is to have new lower rigging, that which
she had having been found on examination to be in a
very defective state. It bad previously done duty three
years in the Vanguard.
Wind, E. by N.; fresh, breezes, and dark hazy wea-
ther. _ _ _

The following ships and vessels have served the usual
period of commission, and will shortly be paid off:—
The Alarm, 26, Commander Loch, C. 8., West India
station. Date of commission, Oct. 1845.
The Alban, 4, Commander Bradshaw, Home station.
Ditto, Dec., 1845.
The Alecto, 3, Commander Massingberd, Brazils sta-
tion. Ditto, Nov. 1845.
The Athol, 2, Commander Pearne, particular service.
Ditto, July, 1845.
Coast of Africa.
DiTttho,e NBoitvt.e,rlnB4ls2., Commander Hope,
The Calliope, 26, Commander Stanley, Devonport
station. Ditto, 1845.
The Calypso, 18, Commander Worth, Pacific station.
Ditto, Dec., 1845.
The Electra, 14, Commander Bouverie, West India
station. Ditto, Jan., 1846.
The Espilgie' 12, Commander Campbell, East India
station. Ditto, Sept., 1844.
The Gladiator, 6, Commander Robb, Mediterranean
tation. Ditto, Dec., 1845.

The Grecian, 12, Commander Tindal, Brazils station.
Ditto, March, 1845. _ _

The Harpy, 2, Commander Tomlinson, Brazils station.
Ditto, Nov., 1845. _ _

The Herald, 22, Commander Kellett, Pacific station.
Ditto, Feb., 1845. _

The Hibernia, 120, Commander Wise, Mediterranean
station. Ditto, March, 1845.

The Juno, 26, Commander Blake, Pacific station.
Ditto, Sept., 1845.
The Locust, 2, Commander Power, Mediterranean
station. Ditto, Dec., 1844.

, •
The Melempus, 42, Commander Campbell, Ease India
station. Ditto, March, 1845.