The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-22 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, TTJESDAY.—Prince Albert and Prince
Waldemar of Prussia inspected the fleet at Spithead this
afternoon.

The Spiteful steam-sloop, Captain Sir William Hoste,
Bart., arrived at Spithead last evening, about six o'clock,
from the East India and China station. Her dates are—
Bombay, March 6; Point de Galle, April 5; Cape of
Good Hope, May 29; St. Helena, June 9; and Ascen-
sion, June 19. The Presi-lent, 50, flag of Rear-Admiral
Dacre-, the Rosamond steam-sloop, Commander Foote,
and the Iris, Captain Munday, were in Simon's Bay
when she left, the latter to proceed two days after for
England. The Belle Poule, 60, flag of Rear-Admiral
Des Fotssii, was at St. Helena, en route to Brest. The
Penelope steam-frigate, Captain bearingGiffcarhda,rlesHo ain
ththe,
broad pendant of Commodore Sir
Ii
were. C . Ba .t Ascension,
, and t e
which Mariner,
island
a In2d,
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royd Commodore Mathison,healthy,
wtwater
very scarce, but turtle plentiful. The coals at the depA t
at Ascension (ashore) had ignited while the Spiteful lay
there, and created great consternation; they were nearly
all consumed before the fire was extinguished. Lieute-
nant Mends, on promotion from the Fox, Captain
Priestly, of the 25th Regiment, from the Cape, Lieute-
nant Spencer Pickard, from the Fox, and Mr. Hutton,
nheapvheecwomoef Chomapetaiinn
theil usttpointe,fuGcbvyerwnhoormofweAlesacernnstihoant,
the Agincourt, 72, flag of Rear-Admiral Sir T. Coch-
rane, was to sail from Penang two or three days after
the departure of the Iris. The Spiteful has been in com-
mission four years and seven months, and was first com-
manded by Commodore Maitland, who recently died on
the station. She has had two acting commanders besides
Captain Sir W. Hoste, Bart., who has brought her home.
She sailed in company with the Fox, 42, from Bombay,
and kept company with her under canvas to Goa, parting
company at Cannanore on the 18th of March. From
the latter place she went to Colombo and Trinco-
malee. The Sapphire troop-ship was at the latter
place when she left, where, also,,,the:Peterel, 16, was
daily expected. The Spiteful has been much employed
in carrying troops, in disembarking and embarking
whom her paddle-box boats have been of the most
eminent service. She was employed in the expedition
against the pirates of Borneo in July last. She left the
Cape with 230 tons of coals in her bunkers, and took in
100 tons at Ascension. She made the passage to Ply-
moll+ in fifty days, a strong head wind blowing the last
five; she steamed (exclusively) for thirty-one days, with
a constant succession of light winds. The following
shows how cheaply a steamer may be navigated with
judicious management and scientific application of the
means at disposal in making passages of great distance:—
Total amount of coal expended, 361 tons.
Total cost of vessel, 5971. Os. bid.
Total cost of coals, 5701. 2s.
Total number of miles run, 4,378.
Ditto oil and tallow, 261. 18s. 61-d.
Under steam, 746 hours.
Average distance, with one ton, 13 miles 9-10ths.
Average expenditure per day, 10 tons 9 cwt.
Cost per day, 191. 4s. Id.
This was with one boiler and three fires, and the
constant use of the expansive gear, and reflects very
great credit upon the perseverance and economy of
Sir W. Hoste, as well as proving to the ma-
ritime world generally, how far that little means,
when properly applied, will take the steamer. The
Spiteful is in admirable order and condition,
so far as discipline and accessories imply ; but
her machinery and boilers, of course, require repair.
She is a Surveyor vessel, but monstrously under powered,
being of 1,050 tons, but of only 280-horse power. She
will proceed to Woolwich to be paid off after replenish-
ing fuel. The Hindostan, which arrived also yesterday
at Southampton, reported the Spiteful at Ascension on
the 29th of June, together with the Penelope and Iris.
The latter may have been there, but the Spiteful left the
Hindostan for that island, not vice versa.