The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-25 00:00:00

THE SUN,

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE NEW STEAM SQUADRON.

PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY.-" There is a general
movement among the steam-ships of the navy. Or-
ders have been received at Woolwich for the Acheron,
Driver, Minx, Niger (screw), Pluto, Prometheus,
Rattler, Sphynx, Spiteful, Trident, Blazer, Triton,
and one or two other steamers, to be got ready for
commission and for sea with the utmost dispatch.—
Nautical Standard. _

In addition to the above we add the steam-frigates
Retribution, 800 horse-power, and the Centaur, of
540 horse-power, fitting with the utmost possible
alacrity at this port. The Centaur is already rigged.
If steam is to be used as an auxiliary in any offensive
or defensive future warfare, there can be no doubt
about the expediency of trying, in time, the best
means of applying that auxiliary, and proving to
what extent it may be relied on in an emergency.
The Arab, 12, Commander W. Morris (b), has
completed her complement, and will be inspected and
paid advanee on Tuesday, and sail most probably
on the following day. Besides Mr. Main, as assis-
tant to the Astronomer at the Cape, the Arab takes
out to that colony Deputy-Commissary-General
Miller, Assistant-Commissary-General Ingli3, and
Commissiariat Clerk Robertson.
The Comet steam-vessel, Commander Johnson, in
spite of the threatening appearance of the weather,
left the harbour this morning with the dredging-vessel
in tow, which she is ordered by the Admiralty to
convey to Port Patrick. That she can make any
progress through the Needles, unless the weather
materially alters, is not to be calculated upon. She
is not sufficiently powerful to make head against
wind and sea with such an unwieldy craft in her
rear. Nevertheless, the attempt to execute the orders
given is highly praiseworthy; and, if the same
diligence had been used on board the Cambrian, we
think that ship would have been clear of the British
Channel by this time, whereas she returned to St.
Helen's again yesterday morning or the previo us
night, and is at present anchored there.
Another of those fearful accidents which happily
are not so frequent at the contract works for the
steam basin as their stupendous nature might lead us
to expect, took place yesterday morning between six
and seven o'clock. A man named Fleming, about
55 years of age, fell off the " traveller," a scaffolding
with tramways used in placing the stones into the
basin, and was killed on the spot. He had been a
petty officer of a man-of-war, and was in the receipt
of a pension of 28/. per annum for long servitude.
The plan of fitting the lower rigging of ships with
Lieutenant Rigmaiden's iron shrouds is highly ap-
proved of on board the St. Vincent, to which they
were fitted when last in dock. They are clear of the
tire of the guns, and possess numerous other highly
important advantages over the old system.
The forces landed in the Tagus from Sir Charles
Napier's squadron were mostly disembarked and
afterwards embarked in the paddle-box boats of the
steamers, which were most particularly efficacious in
that work, combining double stowage for the men
with almost infallible safety, it being next to impos-
sible to swamp or capsize them. Sir Charles Napier
was highly delighted with them, and writes, we be-
lieve, that no steamer may be sent outtohim not fitted
with them.

The Flying Fish, 12, Commander Dyke, was at
St. Helena on the Bth of September, all well, ac-
cording to letters received on Saturday.
The Waterwitch, 8, Commander T. Francis Birch,
was at Kabenda on the 11th of July, about to pro-
ceed to join the Benguela division of the coast of
Africa cruising squadron. Subsequent letters from
her to the 6th of August have been received, at
which date she was cruising in 3.38 south latitude,
rid on the 31st of July had taken and burned a
slaver brig of 97 tons. On the 6th of August she
made prize of a fine brigantine of 120 tons, which
she sent into St. Helena for adjudication. At the
date of our first letter (11th of July) the Styx
steam- sloop, Commander Chads, was about sailing
for St. Helena.

- -
Wind W. by N., fresh breezes.—Weather cold and
hazy, with rain.-5 o'clock P.M.
The following are the promotions and appointments
of the past week :

PROMOTIONS.

Mates—Reginald Bateman (1846), Stapleton John
Greville (1846), John Henry Howard (1847), N.
D. Blennerhassett (1831), Edward F. Dent, acting
mate (1844), Henry D. Hickley, acting mate (1846),
and the lion. Arthur Leopold Cox Cochrane (1845),
to the rank of Lieutenant.

A)sistant Surgeons—Alexander Browning and
Evan Evans (1842), to the rank of Surgeon—the
latter promoted and appointed to the Bellerophon, for
his services in the s Gorgon steamer, while in the
Parana River.