The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-16 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

_ .
POR*SMOUTH, FEB, 12.—Captain lAyer's pay-sergeant of
the 6th company of the Royal Marine Artillery absconded
on Friday last with a considerable sum of money in his pos-
session. It is suspected, however, he has met with foul plan,
or that some unfair means have been used to cause his ab-
sence, as he-bad on the previous Wedneday a much larger
sum in his possession. Hitherto this mari_ has born Vmoit
excellent character, having served in the corps upw2lrls of
19 years. He has seen some considerable service, and re-
ceived decorations of the Cross for the relief of Bilboa, 1836,
and the Cross of Isabel IL for his services in the field.
The Frolic 16, Commander Hamilton, was at San Bias on
the sth of December, with a freight of bullion on board,
ready to sail in a few days for England, touching at Val-

paraiso.
The Fisgard, 42, Captain Duntze, was at San Blas on the
14th of December, collecting freight, and was to leave for
Valparaiso, Rio, and England, on the 15th of February.
The Modeste, 18, Commander Watkins, was expected there
daily.
The Avon, surveying steam-vessel, Commander H. C. Otter,
sailed last eveniaig for Scotland to resume her survey.
We are informed that the weight of the gun and pinnace
on the deck amidships of the Birkenhead steam-frigate is so
great as to have caused the deck beams to *sink so much as to
press upon the cross-beams of the machinery, so that when
the engines were stopped they could not be set going again
And that with only 500 tons of coals on board she swims two
feet deeper than was intended I
The African steam-tug proceeded to the wreck of the
Sphynx to-day with the Drake lighter in tow, and a gang
of riggers on board to rig out a " derrick " for getting out
her boilers and heavy machinery. Each boiler weighed 15
tons. The Drake is to take the machinery on board, but
not the boilers. The Echo went in the same direction at
noon to-day, taking a gang of shipwrights, and towing a
mooring-lump, the two original camels, which have been re-
paired and strengthened, and one of the paddle box boats
formerly belonging to the Retribution, the whole loaded with
empty casks, and other stores to be used in the attempt to
float off the wreck. Another and larger punt has been
decked over, and fitted with a frame work of bulk timber, to
be used at the Sphynx's stem ; one end of the punt is to lee
brought against the stem, where a notch is fitted to receive
it, and the punt firmly braced with chains to the vessel,while
at the other end is a strong upright frame fixed about 12
feet high, over which, in notches prepared for the purpose
and lined with sheet iron, the chain-cables to be used in
heaving off are to be carried, which will give increased buoy-
ancy to the whole. It fine weather lasts we have great
hopes in the success of the experiment. A party of men
(50) of the Victory, under the command of Lieutenant
Thompson, will go down to render assistance. All the offi-
cers having been brought from the wreck to the court-mar-
tial, Captain Austen, of Woolwich, has been left in charge of
her, and Dr. Burns (awaiting passage to join the Dido in the
East Indies) has relieved Dr. Clarke, of the Sphynx, of the
medical charge.
In Harbour—The St. Vincent, Victory, Excellent, and
Felleisle ; the Rattler, Birkenhead, Echo, Myrtle, and Afri-
can steamers.

At Spithead—None.
In Dock—The Prince Regent, Ajax, Victoria and Albert,
Leander, Serpent, and Champion.
In the Basin—The Edinburgh, Dauntless, Sidon, and
Kestrel.

The second division of the 56th Regiment arrived by rail-
way this morning, and immediately embarked on board the
Belleisle.

The Sidon steam-frigate, Captain Henderson, C. 8., had
her fore and main masts taken out to-day.,
FEB. 14.—The Belleisle, 72, Captain Kingeome, dropped
out to Spithead this morning with the reserve battalion of
the 56th Regiment for Gibraltar, with whom she sails after
shipping her powder, kc.
The Herald, 26, Captain Kellett, was at San Blas on the

Njruasnte
oreturnedls f rnodm. the
Shes
would2o9f tthheofC
sail for Panama to refit early December.
All well on
board.
The Rattler stean-sloop (screw) Commander Moorman,
went out yesterday to try her screw, Sm.
The Rapid, 10, Commander Galwev, was spoken with on
the 3d instant off Cape Finisterre, bound southward.
A vote of thanks has been sent down from the Admiralty
to the officers and mea employed from this dockyard upon
the Sphynx, expressive of the warm and entire approbation
of their Lordships of all the measures adopted for her extri-
cation. and stating that their claims should be all attended to
as soon as the work is completed.
Ptermouvr.--,The South-Western Steam Navigation Com-
pany's packet Transit, Captain Michael Whitworth, under
charter by Mr. Hislop, her Britannic Mal esty's Vice-Consul
at Carril, arrived at Plymouth on the 11thi inst. with about
700 sacks of Indian corn in sacks and bulk ; 40 and 50 cases
of eggs, and 18 bags of chestnuts. The corn is very much
heated, owing to the long and boisterous passage experienced.
She completed her lading about the 23d of January left
Carril, the 29th, returned the 31st, departed again the Ist
inst., and having made about 30 leagues north of Cape Finis-
terre, put back to Corunna for coal en the 3d, and finally
left the' coast of Spain on the sth. They first had very heavy
weather from the N.E., then a calm, followed by a severe
gale from the N.N.W. On reaching Plymouth their coal was
all consumed, and water nearly expended. In the Sound
they touched on the Batten Reef, but came off with the flood
about three o'clock Aeki. The cargo will require to be landed
and stored immediately.
The Transit reports her Majesty's ship America, 50,
Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, and her Majesty's frigate
Thetis, 36, Captain Codrington, to have left Carmine, with
thewi,
wind at on the 3d inst. At Comma about eight
or ten British, and the same number of foreign merchant
vessels; one-half of the former bound to Carril. A great
of large timber floating about near Cape Finisterre
quantity
and in Commie Bay, apparently the cargoes of wrecked
vessels. Saw several homeward-bound ships in the chops of
the Channel.

DEATH OF___ VICE-ADMIRAL YOUNG.—Died at
Denmark-hill, on Thursday evening, after a short illness, in
the 68th year of his age, Vice-Admiral William Young, an
officer better known to the mercantile marine of the country,
when Captain Young, for many years in the Transport-office,
Deptford, than any other officer in the navy. Vice-Admiral
Young was one of the few surviving original directors of the
Dreadnought Hospital Society,
" pet claildxen which, with the Marine
Seeley, he dealguated hie ."