The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-05 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

Lieutenant Howard Moore's death has been reported.
He was Master of the Alcesto at the capture of the
French frigate Pomono, t.nd was promoted to the rank
of Lieutenant in 1814, for his gallantry in the boats of
the Alceste at the capture of five armed feluccas in the
Adriatic. Ho was most seriously wounded in this ser-
vice, and was in the receipt of a pension of 711. ss. per
annum for bis wounds.

Surgeon—Obadiah Pineo (1805), on the retired list,
died on Sunday morning last, suddenly, at Southsea, of
disease of the heart, aged 68. He was one of those
officers who had served 30 years afloat, and was in receipt
of 15s. per diem. Latterly he was employed as superin-
tendent in charge of a convict-ship.
ROYAL DOCKYARD BRIGADES.—The Admiralty have
ordered that the staff of the dockyard brigades is to be
reduced one-half; that the adjutants be retained; and
that one-half the drill-aerjeants be dismissed on the Ist
of April next. The most efficient of those now em-
ployed are to be retained.
THE BASILISK 'STEAM-SLOOP.—This steam-sloop, de-
signed by Mr. Oliver Lang, the experienced master
shipwright of Woolwich Dockyard (the constructor of
the Terrible, Medea, Black Eagle, Comet, and other
celebrated steam-vessels), with engines by Miller, Ra-
venhill, and Co. (the engine-makers of some of the
fastest and most economical vessels in her Majesty's
service, as well as of many vessels of approved character
in the mercantile marine), was tried down the river yes-
terday for the first time, Lieut. Robertson in charge, and
several Government officers on board. The vessel is of
990 tons, and she has oscillating engines of 400-horse
power. The trial, which was only a preliminary one,
was most satisfactory to every one on board. At the
measured mile at Long Reach she attained a speed
of about 12 knots or 14 statute miles an hour. Suffi-
cient was ascertained in this trip to establish
_her
class character as that of first-rate, and to enhance still
further the fame of Mr. Lang. For her engines we may
aay that every one admitted them to be most excellent—
so much so, that no further trial will be necessary be-
fore she competes with the screw-sloop Niger. She has
a stroke of six feet, and without any heating or disar-
rangement of the slightest kind of any portion of the
machinery, she made from 20 to 22 strokes per minute.
If the squadron of steam-sloops in the service were all
like the Basilisk the very estimate would not be so
heavy as they are. The relative advantages of the
screw and paddle-wheel now remains to be tested in
the forthcoming trials between the Niger and Basilisk,
ships of the same tonnage, and constructed by
the same architect. A very handsome smart
little craft, called the Express, also went down the
River yesterday, with the Basilisk, both vessel and en-
gines by the firm of Miller, Ravenhill, and Co. She has
been built for the Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Company, and is a sister vessel to the Old Reekie and
Thane of Fife. She has two 60-horse engines, is 150
feet long between perpendiculars, 24 feet beam, 12 feet
deep, and 4151 tons old measure. With an extraordi-
nary small consumption of coals, she attained a speed
nearly equal to the fastest of the Gravesend boats. It
is a high compliment to Thames naval architects and
engineers for Scotch companies to order vessels and
engines of Miller, Ravenhill, and Co., of Blackwell.
The seaman of the Wellesley, 72, flag-ship of Vice-
Admiral the Earl of Dundouald, G.C.8., who deserted
at Halifax, taking with him the book of gunnery in-
structions, &c., has been captured, and is, we believe,
in custody at Portsmouth.
The Sanspareil, at Devonport, is not to be converted
into a " block ship," but is to be made a regular sea-
going screw steam-ship.
The It resistible, 80, ordered to be built at Chatham,
has had the keel laid on the blocks, and is to be ad-
vanced a stage in building.
The Majestic, 80, building at Chatham, and in frame,
is ordered to be advanced a stage, and hands are again
put on her for that purpose.
The Vernon, 50, is still waiting at Chatham the deci-
sion of the Admiralty. The greatest probability is that
she will be repaired.
_ _

The Adventure, transport, has been recommissioned
at Devonport, by her former commander—Mr. Welling-
ton, master. Her complement is to consist of a master
commander, a second master, an assistant surgeon, a
clerk, a master's assistant, a boatswain, a boatswain's
mate, 22 seamen, and 2 boys—total, 31. Her crew are
made up by volunteers from the general service-men of
the flag.ship, who, having been paid off from various
ships with " very good" and " good" certificates, entered
on board the flag-ship, and availed themselves of the
privilege of six weeks' leave of absence.
The Netley, tender, has been out of commission at
Devonport, and her crew has been absorbed with the
flag-ship Impregnable's complement.
PLYMOUTH, JAN. 3.—Tbe Apollo troop ship was
commissioned on Monday by Lieutenant W. H. Stain-
forth. Her marines embarked yesterday. Her corn-
hoisted his flag on board
pleAmdemntiris altsoirbeWlillBliammen.
Gage
the Impregnable on Monday. The San Josef will serve
as a hulk to the Impregnable before she is ready, which
will be about the end of the month.
The Teazar steamer was paid advance on Monday.
Some marines were embarked iu her yesterday. She
took her mail on board on Monday, and is now ready to
sail for the Coast of Africa.

The Havannah, 20, Captain J. Erskine, ran the dis-
tance (13,987 miles) from Plymouth to Sydney, in 56
days (sailing.) The Havannah left Plymouth Sound on
the 6th April, 1848; remaining at Lisbon 18 days, Ma-
deira, four days, and at the Cape, 44 days; arriving at
Sydney and the Bass's Strait on the 7th of August fol-
lowing; making 164 f miles per day from Plymouth to
the Cape, and averaging 200 miles from the latter place
to Sydney. She expedenced several gales, but had not
a single accident.