The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-21 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY. - The Birkenhead
iron steam-frigate, Commander Ingrain, is having the
damages caused by her collision with the brig Ho-
ratio repaired in dock. She seems to have bad her
starboard sponson stove in, and a portion of the wheel
next it carried away. The Birkenhead is receiving
a coat of composition to prevent the adherence of rub-
bish on her bottom.

The Comet steam-vessel, Commander Johnson,
will tow the dredging machine to Portpatrick, should
not the Myrmidon be ready or considered equal to
the work.

Since our remarks appeared relative to the recently
promulgated order from the late Surveyor's office,
touching the seasoning of the timbers of all new ships
before building and launching, Mr. Fincham, the
master shipwright of this dockyard, has received
orders or permission to proceed with his new sloop
the Plumper in this yard.
The Amphion, screw, 36, Captain Williams ; the
Arab, 12, Commander Morris ; and the Recruit,
iron, 12, Commander Slade, await orders at Spithead
as to their future movements, as does the Nautilus,
8, Lieutenant-Commander Rivers, in Blockhouse-
hole. The Arab wants a few petty officers and
seamen.

Half a dozen mates in the Excellent have just been
promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, but the second
officer in seniority of that rank serving on her books
has been passed over. The reason alleged is that a
mistake was made in sending up the seniority of the
officers advanced ; if this be true, we hope the First
Lord will immediately promote Mr. Veitch.
The Cambrian, 40, Commodore J. H. Plumridge,
returned at sunset last even to St. Helen's, for what
reason we do not know, as the wind, though contrary,
was moderate, and the tide had just made in her
favour. She finally sailed to day just after noon.
The Maria Somes transport, Lieutenant Matthew
Back agent, with the second division of the 81st
Regiment on board, from Quebec, arrived last night
at the Motherbank, and came to Spithead this morn-
ing. The troops are to be disembarked at Dcvonport.
Wind W. by S., moderate, and fine weather.

The Duke of Wellington arrived at Apsley House
yesterday, at half-past nine A.M., from a visit to her
Majesty at Windsor Castle, and left town in the afternoon
for Walmer Castle, where his Grace is expected to remain
until early next month.
SOUTHAMPTON, OCT. 20.—The Oriental Company's
steam ship Paella, Captain Olive, arrived here at 10
A. M. this day, from Italy ; she left Naples, Oct. 4 ; Ci-
vita Vecchia, sth ; Leghorn, 6th ; Genoa, 9th ; and
Gibraltar, 14th. The Pacha has brought 10 passengers,
and a full valuable cargo, consisting of silks, macaroni,
oil, bark, steel, marble statues, works of art, almonds,
gum, leeches, and packages of sundries. Distribution
of ships at Genoa—Her Majesty's steamer Bloodhound.
in quarantine. At Naples—two French steamers of
of war. At Civita Vecchia—one French steamer. At
Gibraltar—Her Majesty's steamers Atlanta, from Erg-
land; and Volage,:from Malaga ; one Danish corvette,
and one American. Passed about 250 sail beating to
the westward, between Cape Palos and Gibraltar, most
of them British. The Pacha's letters were forwarded to
London by the eleven o'clock train. The same Com-
pany's steam ship Indus, Captain Soy, left the docks at
3 P.M., for Alexandria, with the East India and China
mails, under charge of the Admiralty agent. She
takes out 112 passengers, and a very full cargo of bale
goods. The Washington, from New York, and the
West India mail, are hourly expected.
MIDDLESEX HOSPlTAL.—Yesterday the usual meet-
ing of the governors and subscribers of the above hospital
was held in the Board-room of the institution, for the
purpose of transacting general business; the Hon. Capt.
Maude in the chair. The report stated that there were
210 in-patients, and 600 on the weekly list of out-patients.
During the past year the out-patients, by accident and
otherwise, were about 11,000, making a total number of
in and out-patients, within the last ten years, of nearly
100,000. The finances, owing to a variety of causes, are
on the decline, more especially during the past year. A
Samaritan fund is attached to the hospital for the relief of
convalescent and other patients, of which the income was
193/. 135., the expenditure 1191., leaving a balance of
74i 13s. The usual routine business having been gone
through, thanks were voted to the chairman, and the
meeting separated.
THE NEW COUNTT COURTS.—The officers of the
new County Courts have not as yet been placed on
salaries. All that has been done is to issue a Treasury
minute of the intention of Government to take the
subject into consideration. By the eighth provision in
the Act no Order in Council can be made without a
month's notice, and it will require an Order by her
Majesty in Council to fix the salaries of the judges,
clerks, and other officers of the new Courts. The salaries
of the judges and clerks are not to exceed 1,200/. and
600/. a year. The judges of some of the Courts have
continued their sittings to very late hours, on some occa-
sions to past ten o'clock at night, with the view of dis-
posing of the business appointed.
THE BERKELEY TROOP OF YZOMANRY.—We un-
derstand an application was made on Monday se'nnight,
by the Hon. Grantley Berkeley, to the magistrates of
Dursley, for a summons against J. N. Balme, Esq., his
sergeant, for penalties incurred by Mr. Balme, in dis-
obeying the order of the Hon. Captain to resign his
situation in the Yeomanry. The Bench, thinking the
order should have emanated from the Colonel, as com-
manding officer, and not from the Captain, declined to
issue the summons as applied for.—Gloucester Journal.
DESTRUCTION OF CHARTLEY HALL, THE SEAT OF
EARL FERRERS.—ShortIy after twelve o'clock on Tues-
day morning a fire broke out at the above seat, which
(with the exception of the servants' apartments) has
been reduced to a heap of ruins, together with the fur-
niture, library, and armoury. The fire was first dis-
covered by Mr. Leadbetter, the butler, who was awoke
by hearing a sort of crackling noise as if some persons
were attempting to break into the mansion. He dressed
himself as hastily as possible, and upon going from his
bedroom he discovered that the house was on fire, and
that the flames were issuing from the drawing-room
windows. Expresses were immediately sent off for the
fire-engines from Uttoxeter and Stafford, and about
three o'clock the Stafford engine, with Inspector Wol-
laston and assistants, arrived, but the fire had gained such
an ascendancy that all that could be done was to save
the servants' apartments, and it appeared that no engine
was kept at Uttoxeter. It is reported that the property
is insured, but to what extent could not be ascertained.
The mansion had lately been under repair, and the noble
Earl was expected down in about a fortnight, from
Staunton Harold.
ALARMING EXPLOSION OF GUNPOWDER AND SE-
RIOUS ACCIDENT.—On Wednesday afternoon, between
the hours of fire and six o'clock, a most alarming oc-
currence took place near the Fox and Grapes, Pensuett,
in the parish of Kingswinford, by the explosion of a
quantity of gunpowder, which was being conveyed in
quarter-barrels, four in number, with some oil and other
things, to Bromley, in a cart, from Mr. Cooke's, iron-
monger, of Dudley. The explosion was attended with
such force that one side of the cart was torn away, and
two men, named 'I homas Bishop, a porter to Mr. Cooke,
who was in care of the cart, and John Austin, a watch-
man at Mr. Gibbon's works, Shutt End, were blown to
a considerable distance. The sufferers were sadly burnt
about their heads and hands, but some hopes are enter-
tained of their recovery. The poor men were riding in
the cart when the accident occurred, and how the powder
ignited is yet a mystery.—Birmingham Journal.
HORN FAlR.—This scene of annual amusement in
the pleasant village of Charlton, near Blackheath, com-
menced on St. Luke's day (18th of October), and closed
yesterday. The origin of this fair is too well known to
require explanation. It was formerly a mart for all
sorts of articles made of horn. Course jokes were
passed off among the visitors ; but at the present day
there is an improvement in public mariners. On the
first day the pleasures of the fair were nearly suspended
by showers of rain. Tuesday and yesterday
being re-
markably fine, a deal of company
carne from Lon-
don, and partook of the
prepared for
them. There was an agreeable display of rural amuse-
ments, flowers, and sports of all kinds. The fair was
more interesting this October than it has been for some
years pot.