The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-27 00:00:00

into Sierra Leone, we learn by the latest .advices
that the slave trade was very brisk to the northward.
The Undine steam tender, Master Commander
Allen, has not taken the First Naval Lord of the
Admiralty to the Isle of Wight, as stated by a con-
temporary. She has not moved from her moorings
since Tuesday. Admiral Dundas has not yet arrived
at this port.
The Swallow steam-vessel, of 70 horse power,
lately employed as a tender to the Madagascar meal
ship, is ordered to be broken up at this dockyard. She
was an old Dover packet.
The Cygnet brigantine, Commander Kenyon,
which arrived on Friday from Sheerness, will take
the first mail, under the new arrangement most libe-
rally and considerately made by the Admiralty, to
the coast of Africa; also 10,0001. in small silver and
copper specie to St. Helena.
We are glad to perceive that Admiral Sir John
West, the Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth, has re-
scinded his lately published obnoxious order relative
to the transmission of letters through his office to the
men and officers of her Majesty's ships on foreign
stations. Letters may now be sent, as well as par-
cels, through the but recently closed channel.
The Diligence transport (Martin, master) arrived
on Thursday evening at Devonport, from Pembroke,
bound to Chatham.
The Sinbad, lighter (Follett), arrived at Devonport
the same evening, with stores from Woolwich.
The Gorgon, steam-sloop, arrived at Portsmouth
on Friday from Sheerness, and went into harbour.
byShe was navigated round the crew of the Fisgard.
She is to he kept ready for hoisting the pendant at an
hour's notice.
The Sphynx and Driver steam-sloops, fitting at
Woolwich for the pendant, are ordered to have the
following armament—viz., one 63-pounder gun, of
90 or 95 cwt., 10 feet; one 10-inch gun, of 85 cwt.,
9 feet 4 inches, on pivot slides and carriages ; and
four 32-pounder guns, of 42 cwt., on Hardy's com-
pressor carriages.
The Avon, steamer, Commander Otter, which ar-
rived at Portsmouth on Thursday, and went into
harbour to refit, having been employed during the
summer in surveying the coast of Scotland, will go
to Ireland—Commander Otter and the surveying-
officers remaining to map and complete time works of
the survey.
PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY, 5 P.m.—Wind, a moderate
breeze from the E.N.E., with thick hazy weather.
FATAL ACCIDENT TO CAPT. I-TAMELY (1841). On
the 19th inst., a melancholy accident occurred at El-
ferdtown, Roborough, Down, from which Captain
Peter Sampson Hambly, formerly of Longbrook
House, Plympton, met his death. It appears that the
deceased had recently taken lodgings at the above
house (Elfordtown), and on the morning of the above
day he proceeded in a phwton drawn by one horse, to
Buckland Church, about two miles distant, accompa-
nied by Mrs. Hambly and a servant maid. After
the conclusion of the service the parties returned
home, the horse going very quietly until they had
come to the lodge gates. Here the servant maid got
down to open the gate for the vehicle to pass, and,
fortunately for herself, did not get up again. As soon
as it had passed the gate, the horse set off at full speed
down the hill leading to the house, and the deceased
(who drove) seems to have lost all command cf it.
An empty cart happened to be standing in the avenue,
and against this the phaeton struck, and immediately
capsized, throwing Mr. and Mrs. Hambly out on the
path. The former was killed on the spot, while Mrs.
Hambly escaped with only a few bruises. The de-
ceased was a stout, heavy man, about sixty-three
years of age.
; Commander Walter Kendall (1845), died on the
15th inst., at the age of 33.
Lieutenant Thomas Hare (1815), who was sub-
lieutenant of the Exertion, and served in her boats at
the capture of several armed vessels in the North
Seas in 1811, for which his name appeared in the
Gazette, died at Plymouth on the 20th inst., aged 62.
THE TREATMENT OP THE SICK BELONGING TO
THE SQUADRON AT LISBON.--A correspondent, whose
rank and position in the navy are sufficient guarantee
that any statement emanating from him is scrupu-
lously faithful, has written the following from Sir
Charles Napier's squadron in the Tagus :—" Tagus,
Nov., 1847. I have read, in more than one news-
paper, some very incorrect remarks about the Naval
Hospital here, and I herewith send you a refutation.
I can vouch for the truth of all I state, as I have
visited the hospital sometimes each day successively,
and generally every second or third day. The Naval
and Military Gazette says (copying from a morning
paper) The few cases of typhus which manifested
themselves on board the St. Vincent, Avenger, and
Canopus, the Admiral had sent to the Portuguese
Naval Hospital—a step which has caused much dis-
satisfaction throughout the squadron, among the
officers, as well as men ; for although the hoi-
pital is not very dirty, yet the attendance is
bad, the method of treatment and the very idea
of the surgeons of the !fleet not being allowed to
attend their own men has caused a general
feeling of annoyance. It is hoped the representa-
tion of this fact in the proper quarter will cause a
better state of things.' The truth is, information was
given that sick quarters were provided on shore.
Two men from the Avenger were sent. The surgeon
of the Dragon then sent three patients—two men and
a boy. None from the St. Vincent or Canopus.
Those from the Dragon were sent because it was
deemed that the quiet, and order, and regimen of an
hospital would tend much to their recovery. One
of the men was labouring under a heart disease, the
other some chronic stomach affection, and they have
both left this for England, having been' invalided.
The boy, as well as the men from the Avenger, are
daily improving. Either the surgeon or the assistant-
surgeon from the Dragon went to the hospital every
day. The surgeon saw the treatment, and approved
of it. I can answer for the fact of the whole party
of sick people having always expressed the most entire
satisfaction at their treatment. The hospital is most
clean and orderly. I have visited many hospitals in
England, and I never saw any one I should have
preferred for myself to the Naval Hospital at Lisbon.
I have never heard any officer or any man express
the least disapprobation at the step that had been
taken from the best of motives. I am certain that
it was open to the medical men of the fleet to see
the book kept at the hospital, in which the symptoms
and treatment of the cases are recorded."
THE PASSAGE OP THE COLUMBIA STEAM SUR-
VEYING- VESSEL.— We have already announced the
arrival at Devonport of the Columbia, steam survey-
ing-vessel, Lieut. Commander Shortland, from North
America, with Captain (since Rear-Admiral) and
Mrs Owen—the gallant captain having been in com-
mand of the surveying expedition in the Bay of
Fundy during the last five years. The Columbia
had been long expected at Portsmouth, but, inde-
pendently of the length of time she was on her pas -
sap, it was impossible that she could have reached
this country in a shorter period since she received
her orders, in consequence of the time required for
calling together and collecting the different surveying
parties belonging to her which had been detached
to many points at considerable distances from each
other. With reference to her voyage home, we may
say that the condition of the ship, on reaching Devon-
port, afforded evidence palpable enough of the cause
of delay. Indeed, we scarcely remember to have
seen a vessel actually afloat so much of a wreck, and
we cannot but admire that feeling of gratitude which
induced the captain, officers, and crew of the Columbia,
on Sunday week, at the Royal dockyard chapel, pub-
licly to offer through the chaplain (the Rev. T.
Briggs) their thanks to Almighty God for the pre-
servation of their lives. The following accurate
details of the voyage will show that their presence at
Divine worship on the 19th instant was indeed an oc-
casion for devout thanksgiving. The Columbia is a
steamer which has seen better days and considerable
service in the navy, and most especially so when in
command of Mr. Henderson, now master attendant at
Devonport dockyard. She is one of the old gun-brigs
which were cut in two by Sir Robert Seppinga above
twenty years since, had a pair of engines put in amid-
ships, and was converted, not Penelope fashion, but
according to common sense and " rule of three" cal-
culation, into one of the meat efficient men-of-war
steamers of the day. She had run so long, howevsr,
that in May, 1842, when commissioned for survey-
ing service, there was little faith placed in the
soundness of her condition, notwithstanding which
she proceeded to North America. and was there up
to Sunday, the 21st of November last, when she
left Halifax for Portsmouh. After receiving a
temporary refit, having landed her armament,
and taken on board 115 tons of coals, 18 tons of them
on deck, she arrived at Sydney on the 26th, left there
on the 28th, and steamed for two days and a half,
until she got off the banks of Newfoundland, en-

countering heavy weather at the commencement.
Nov. 29. in lat. 47 11, long. 51 20, she unshipped
her paddle-floats and proceeded under sail, the
wind blowing a fresh gale from N.E., accompanied
with snow, but shifting to the N., with drifting ice,
the vessel was hove to. Nov. 30, the ship proceeded
At noon the sky became overcast, with snow, and
heavy squalls with rain succeeded, and the wind
in-
creasing to a hurricane at 2 r. 31., the vessel was again
night the
hove to under main trysail. Dec. 1, at 6 A.M., she.
shipped so heavy a sea that the first gig was
.stove in.
In the night th-.t head of the funnel was carried away
by the heavy rolling of the ship, "and
.the funnel
was found so corroded that it was not repairable. At
8.15, the force of the wind being 8, the ship
bore away, and the weather moderated. Dec. 2, at
11 P.M., the force of the wind increased to 9, the ship
making a great deal of water, and each watch en-
gaged in pumping. In the course of the
force of the wind increased to 11; and at 11.45, on
December 3, the ship rounded. to under single-refed
main trysail, and. continued until 11.30 P.M., when
again increased, with squalls,. up to 4 A. 3/. on the sth,
when bore
its awayferc e awgaas.i nl.O, Decemberwith a
they were obliged to steer the ship by the sea. About