The Sun.
London, England, 1823-02-10 00:00:00

ROYAL NAVY.

POUTSstOWIIf, Ftn. EL—The statement which
has appeared in some of the London Papers this week, that
orders bud been received at Portsmouth to prepare seven sail
of the line for Commission, and to 'complete the full maple-
ment of the crow.; of the Guard-ships, is not true. The
four sail of the line, and the two frigates, ordered to b
gradually put into a state of Commission, under the chem.,
stances suited in our last Paper, are proceeding with bUt
slowly, having only about ten mechanics employed on each
ship. The Cressy, 74, and.Chsrence, 74, have been selected.
this week, from the annual return made, to be docked, anti
likewise fitted ready for commission, when wanting. None of
the orders yet given can properly be construed to mean that our
Government are making preparations to go to war ; they have
only gone forth in the ordinary course of preparing for that
event. Ministers, it should seem, have wisely determined, so
long as a hope remains of a their mediating an amicable ter-
mination of the differences between France and Spain, not to
shew any disposition contrary to that of intending to preserve •
the peace.
The St. Vincent, Malabar, and Canopus, of the lino; Java,
Lavinia,_ and Boadicea frigates, will be prepared for conunis-
sion at Plymouth, as, ships may be wanting for service.
On Wednesday the Pheasant, 13, Captain Clavering, arrived-
from the Coast of Africa station, last from New York, in :t1
days. She left the coast about ten months since, being spe-
cially appointed to convey Captain Sabine, 'ILA. (who accom-
panted Captain Parry in his first voyage), to various parts of
the globe, to make scientific experiments, tha principal object
of which was, to ascertain the true figure of the Earth, from
the motion of the Pendulum. An elaborate and valuable col-
lection of instruments, for this purpose, were landed, and ex,
periments made, at the following places :—Sierra Leone, Island
of St. Thomas (on the Line), Ascension, Bahia; Maranliam,
Trinidad, Port Royal, and New York.—ln South America,
and in the United States, every attention was shown to Capt.
Sabine, by the Portuguese and American Governments. Oh-
Nervations were also made at the Ilavannah, but the instru-
ments were not landed. Capt. Sabine, on landing, set off for
the Admiralty. The Pheasant sailed this afternoon for Dept-
ford, to be paid off, and to deliver the instruments, and some
collected Botanical subjects, at Greenwich. •
Rear-Admiral Sir George Eyre, K.C.B. is appointed to suc-
ceed Commodore Sir Thomas Hardy, Bart. h.C.8., as Com-
mander-in-Chief in South America.—The Isis, Ail, is fitting at
Woolwich, for his flag. Mr. Napier, from the Tartar, has
been appointed master; Mr. Woolcoek to be master of the
Tartar.

We understand one 'of the frigates on the South American
station, is to proceed to ilehring's Straits, on the opening. of
the season, to endeavour to discover the track of Captain
Parry. Iris expected by those who best understand the
culties this able Navigator has to overcome, that be may be
obliged to pass two, if not three winters in the Arctic clime.—
The ships are victualled and stored for four years.
Yesterday the Seringapatam, 46, Capt. 8. Warren, C.B. and
the Redwing, 18, Cant Bon. George Trefusis, sailed on their
return to the Havamiali; but the wind setting in from the
Westward, they were obliged to anchor at St. lielen's.—They
were prevented from sailing on Thursday by a snow-storm.
The Eden, 26, Capt. J. Lawrence., C. 8., is attached to the
West India station ; and the Ringdove, 18, Capt. Rich, will
proceed shortly thither ; making one line-of-battle ship, five
large frigates, five smaller, anti ten sloops and brigs of war on,
that station.
Sir William Hope, we understand, lias declined taking the
Mediterranean command. The present Candidates are—Lord
Araelius Beauclerc, Sir Pulteney Malcolm, and Sir Edward
Codrington.
PLYMOUTH, FEn. 6.—The Fly and Vigilant came into
harbour yesterday to refit. Yesterday sailed the Tartsr, 42,
Capt. T. Brown, for the South American station. Lord Am-
herst is expected shortly; his baggage is arrived from Dept-
ford, and shipped In the Jupiter.