The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-22 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH. APRIL 21.—The Victory, aO4, Captain
Pasco, was visited last evening by the newly-appointed
Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth and Commander-in-
Chief of the South West District, Major-General Lord
Frederick Fitzclarence, G.C.8., Lady and the Hon.
Miss Fitzclarence; attended by Brevet Major Harvey,
A.D.C. The distinguished party were escorted over the
ship by Captain Pasco, who paid every respect to his
gallant visitor, saluting him with 15 guns on leaving the
ship, with which he bad previously expressed his deep
interest. This morning his Lordship trooped the guard
(comprising detachments of the 42d Highlanders, 43d
Light Infantry, the 56th, 91st, and 97th Regiments), on
the grand parade, for the first time, in the presence of a
numerous and brilliant assemblage of spectators. In a
few days his Lordship will go on leave pending the re-
pairs of the Government House. At present his Lord-
ship resides and transacts all his official business at the
George Hotel.
The news of the loss of the Thunderbolt steam-sloop,
Commander Boyle, created a most lively feeling of ap-
prehension amongst all in this neighbourhood who have
relations or friends on board, as, although Lloyd's re-
ports no lives lost, it is feared, from the frightful nature
of the seas where she has gone ashore, that a loss will
inevitably have taken place either by the wreck or the
endeavour to save some of her materials. She was a
very fine steam sloop of the first class, being of 1,055
tons burden, and 280 horse power; built at this dock-
yard in 1841, on the design of Sir William Symonds,
surveyor of the navy. Like the Sphynx, this was her
first service at sea. She was commissioned first on the
28th of November, 1842, by Commander G. N. Broke
(son of the hero who fought the Shanno❑ in her memor-
able engagement with the Chesapeake), promoted, after
being three years in her, to the rank of captain ; her
present commander succeeded to the appointment on tho
Ist of January, 1846. She has been absent from Eng-
land five years and four months, during which time she
has done her work well. She was under orders for
England to be paid off.
The Geyser steam-sloop, Commander Brown, was
ordered into harbour to coal for temporary service, which
order she completed on Monday; but yesterday morning
another order was issued for her to proceed with re-
plenishing fuel, as her services will be wanted for a spe-
cial purpose.
The Eurydice, 26, Capt. Talavera Anson, sailed from
Simon's Bay for Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, on the
Bth of February._

The defects of the Dee steam-transport, which were
very great, there being nearly 50 plugs or patches in
her boilers alone, have been, at the urgent order of the
Admiralty temporarily repaired, and she has been
coaled, watered, and made ready to proceed to Scotland
with provisions, which she is now shipping.
The Britannia, 120, received a new bowsprit and
mizen-mast in the basin to-day. When the Recruit
comes out, she will be docked to have her waterways
repaired, and other defects made good, which will occupy
about a month.

A nautical mile has been measured, and is being
marked out by sight posts, on the beach at Stokes' Bay,
for steamers to test their rate of speed by. It was sug-
gested by Captain Sherringham, of the Dasher, and has
been executed under the direction of Mr. Murray, Chief
Engineer of this dockyard, Mr. Charles Brown, Master
Attendant, and Capt. James, Royal Engineer, Director
of Works.

WINDSOR CASTLE IMPROYEMENTS.—The comple-
tion of the extensive improvements of Windsor Castle, pro-
jected by his late Majesty King George the Fourth and his
favourite architect, Sir Jeffery Wyattville, were commenced
on Tuesday last, by the sale and demolition of the old houses,
erected in the reign of James the First for the accommodation
of five additional poor knights; but which houses, though
they have long since fallen to decay, have been suffered to
remain, blocking up all prospect from the Castle, and hiding
a great part of the Castle, and the whole of the Chapel of St.
George, from the surrounding country. At the special sug-
gestion of her Majesty and the Prince Consort these ruinous
places have been sold by auction, and are now in a course of
removal, the purchasers having contracted with the Com-
missioners of the Woods and Forests to have them cleared

away by the 4th of May next. The apace they have/own-
pied will then be converted into a public terrace walk, in-
tended eventually to be continued all along the western front
of the Castle wall, until it joins the celebrated North-terrace,
erected by Queen Elizabeth, and so universally admired by
all persons of taste. The next obstruction to the carrying
out of this grand improvement is the mass of miserable huts,
originally constructed in the reign of Edward 111., appa-
rently of mere lath and plaster, patched with old packing
cases, and which have been so long suffered to block up and
disgrace the great western entrance of St. George's Chapel,
under the designation of the Horse-shoe Cloisters; and as
these hovels are now in a state of miserable decay, and can-
not much longer serve for the dwellings of human beings, it
is expected that the Dean and Chapter will consent to their
almost immediate removal in furtherance of her Majesty's
wish ; and in order that the much-desired improvement of
the castle and chapel may not be wilfully impeded.
ROYAL SOUTH LONDON FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY.
—The first flower show of the above society for the present
season was held at the Horns Tavern. Kennington, yester-
day. The number of flowers on show was very numerous,
and of the highest order, chiefly consisting of ericas, azaleas,
auriculas, and cinerarias. There was also a small
quantity of fruit and vegetables, comprising some
very fine strawberries, and a small lot of choice
beans. Among the prizes awarded were the Royal
Adelaide Cup, presented by her Majesty the Queen Dowager
for the best collection of miscellaneous plants, Mr. W. P.
Ayres; gold Adelaide medal for the best collection of miscel-
laneous plants, 18 pots (orchideous plants excluded), Mr.
Bruce ; ditto, second class, Mr. Pawley,'; large sil-
ver Adelaide medal for the best collection of six
auriculas, Mr. W. Sandilanda ; small silver Vic-
tuns medal, for the best pair of auriculas, Mr.
W. S. Ginger; small silver Victoria medal for the best
eighteen heartsease (dissimilar), Mr. J. Edwards; large
silver Linrce in medal (offered by 11. Wooler, Esq.), for the
best six Indian azaleas (oistinct varieties),•Mr. Ayres; small
silver Victoria medal (offered by Mr. W. lverv), for the best
twelve cinerarias (in pots), dissimilar, Mr. Robinson. Extra
prizes given by the Society :—To Mr. Hemp, for eighteen
miscellaneous plants; to Mr. Sandi:ands and Mr. Chapman,
for collections of auriculas; to Mr. Pawley, for collection of
azaleas • to Mr. Wood, for Alpine plants; to Mr. Willis, for
a dish of strawberries; to Mr. Parsons, fora pineapple; to
j Mr. Young, for Fri licit beans ; to Mr. Curtis, for a brace of
cucumbers; to Mr. P. Muunock, for six miscellaneous plants.
The show was well attended by a numerous and fashionable
company.
CATHOLIC INSTlTUTE.—Yesterday the annual meet-
ing of the members of the Catholic Institute of great Britain
was held at St. Edward's Roman Catholic Schools, Great
Windmill-street, Haymarket. The society has for its objects;
the education of poor Roman Catholic children, and afford-
ing grants of money towards improving and supporting
schools. The Earl of Shrewsbury in the chair. The report
was read by the Rev. T. T. Fergusson, the secretary. 'The
receipts during the past year were 1,8221. 15s. 11d., being
considerably less than the preceding year. The report was
unanimously adopted. It was then moved and seconded,
" That this meeting, deeply impressed with the outrage
offered to the rights of conscience by the declaration of her
Majesty's present Government, that Catholics are to be ex-
cluded'from a participation in the grant of 100,000/. to be
voted by Parliament for all other religious communions,
call upon all classes of their fellow-Catholics to unite in one
ery of indignant reprobation at this insulting exception from
a public grant paid out of the public funds, under the admi-
nistration of a 111inistry who have appropriated to themselves
a title of liberal, but whose shrinking policy is that of a
bigoted sect, who have countenanced the worst features of
religious intoleratien." This resolution, moved by the Hon,
C. Langdale, seconded by Bishop Wiseman, was carried
amidst much applause. Other resolutions of a pro forted
character were also adopted, when the Noble Chairman hav-
ing vacated the chair, read the draft of a petition to both
houses of Parliament against the proposed Government mea-
sure, which was adopted. The thanks of the meeting were
cordially voted to the Noble Earl for his presidonry on the
occasion, and the meeting broke up.
ALARMING FIRE AT BLACKFRIARS-DRIDGE.--
Last night, between eight and nine o'clock, a fire that caused
great alarm along the water-side, but which did no consider-
able damage, broke out in the premises known as Albion-
wharf, Holland-street, Blackfriar's-road, the property of Mr.
Crosier, lime-merchant, &c. It commenced in a large
wooden shed filled with cement and lime, and very speedily
the flames burst through the sides and roof, so that for some
time a most serious conflagration was apprehended. The
light thrown out was so great that the fire was distinctly
visible from the several bridges. In the course of a few
e stf
Society Eng-
land nfogr-
lmaninduatetsteennt
attended,
and of
shoe t
hLeo ne
sclgoanp
ebrigadee and West of Eng-
land attended, and also the escape of the Royal
the Protection of Life from Fire. An abundant supply of
water was obtained, and the Farringdon-street engine was
set to work, and in the space of half an hour the flames were
entirely extinguished. The cause of the fire could not be
ascertained, but it is supposed to have originated from some
lime slacking.
FIRE IN HANOVER.—HILDENSHEIM, APRIL 10.—•
Yesterday evening, during a most frightful storm, the town
of Bockenem was reduced to ashes; only a few out of 330
houses remain standing.
One of the largest silk manufactories in Brussa
caught fire last week, and was almost wholly destroyed.
The damage is estimated at 250,000 piastres.
SUICIDE IN A HOUSE OF ILL-FAME.—MY. W.
Payne and a jury of nineteen inhabitants of St. George's,
Southwark, assembled last evening at the Angel Tavern,
o
Webber-street, Blackfriars-road, to investigate the death
la af
Louisa Barnard, aged 22 years, who destroyed
the
circumstances briefly described in the
.f 11
house of ill-fame on the morning of Tustc)iwaiynglasehtviudenndceer
ad, proved having
been called, to see deceased _ about
34, ast three o'clock ou
Herbert's-buildings.
Mr. Bateson, surgeon, of Waterhloomf.roop
the morning of Tuesday 1 t
Cox,
of Princes-street, Lambeth, was
cation. Mr. Henry
She was quite dead, and appaseLed to have died from sutfo-
next ca •
lled He had known deceased twelve months, and
was with her on Monday night. They went to bed together
about eleven o'clock. He went to sleep in about ten minutes.
lie awoke about three o'clock, and, missing deceased from
his side, looked up, and by the light of a candle which was
burning in the room, saw her hanging at the foot of the
bed. He immediately jumped out of bed, cut her down,
and then called for medical assistance, which arrived in
about ten minutes, Witness could not at all account for the
deceased's act. They had had no quarrel. On the contrary,
they were on the best terms, and it was perfectly true that
he contemplated marrying her, though the day was not yet
fixed. It was further proved by the deceased's own mother
that she had made frequent previous attempts on her own
life, and, after a few remarks, from the Learned Coroner on the
melanchy nature of the case, the jury returned a verdict to
the following effect :—" That deceased had destroyed herself
while labouring under temporary insanity."
CHATHAM, APRIL 21. ARRIVAL OF TROOPS
FROM INDIA.—At eight o'clock last evening a detachment
of the 9th Regiment of Foot arrived at the invalid depot,
Fort Pitt, from Gravesend, at which port they disembarked
from the ship Southampton, 970 tons burden, Captain W.
A. Bowen, commander. These troops, consisting of 1 quar-
termaster-sergeant, 2 sergeants, 3 corporals, and 56 privates,
were inspected by the chief medical officer, Dr. French,
when it was found necessary to place 19 of them, sick and
wounded, in hospital. The remainder were removed to
Mary's Barracks at Brompton, to be discharged on pensions
according to length of servitude, Six women and 15
children, with a drummer of the 53d, came with the detach-
ment. The passage was completed in three months and 21
days during that Corporal Thomas Eccles, of the 9th
Foot, died of dysentery. These troops left their head-quarter*
at Meerut on the 4th October last, and embarked at Calcutta
on the 31st of December, under the command of Captain D.
M. Bethune, of the 9th Foot. Twenty men out ofalie num-
ber come home have seen 21 years' service.. The -wholest
those that are come home were engaged in the late war wilt'
the Se ha, under tho-ovralaaid of Ou• Hugh Guuflu