The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-15 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 12.—Captain Dwyer's pay-sergeant of
the 6th company of the Royal Marine Artillery absconded
on Friday last with a considerable sum of money in his pos-
session. It is suspected, however, he has met with foul play,
or that some unfair means have been used to cause his ab-
sence, as he had on the previous Wednesday a much larger
sum in his possession. Hitherto this man has borne a most
excellent character, having served in the corps upwards of
19 years. He has seen some considerable service, and re-
ceived decorations of the Cross for the relief of Bilboa, 1836,
and the Cross of Isabel 11. for his services in the field.

The Frolic 16, Commander Hamilton, was at San Bias on
the sth of December, with a freight of bullion on board,
ready to sail in a few days for England, touching at Val-
paraiso.
The Fisgard, 42, Captain Duntze, was at San Blas on the
14th of December, collecting freight, and was to leave for
Valparaiso, Rio, and England, on the 15th of February.
The Moieste, 18, Commander Watkins, was expected there
daily.

The Avon, surveying steam-vessel, Commander IL C. Otter,
sailed last evening for Scotland to resume her survey.
We are informed that the weight of the gun and pinnace
on the deck amidships of the Birkenhead steam-frigate is so
great as to have caused the deck beams to sink so much as to
press upon the cross-beams of the machinery, so that when
the engines were stopped they could not be set going again!
And that with only 500 tons of coals on board she swims two
feet deeper than was intended!
The African steam-tug proceeded to the wreck of the
Sphynx to-day with the Drake lighter in tow, and a gang
of riggers on board to rig out a " derrick" for getting out
her boilers and heavy machinery. Each boiler weighed 15
tons. The Drake is to take the machinery on board, but
not the boilers. The Echo went in the same direction at
noon to-day, taking a gang of shipwrights, and towing a
mooring-lump, the two original camels, which have been re-
paired and strengthened, and one of the paddle-box boats
formerly belonging to the Retribution, the whole loaded with
empty casks, and other stores to be used in the attempt to
float off the wreck. Another and larger punt has been
decked over, and fitted with a frame work of bulk timber, to
be used at the Sphynx's stem; one end of the punt is to be
brought against the stem, where a notch is fitted to receive
it, and the punt firmly braced with chains to the vessel,while
at the other end is a strong upright frame fixed about 12
feet high, over which, in notches prepared for the purpose
and lined with sheet iron, the chain-cables to be used in
heaving off are to be carried, which will give increased buoy-
ancy to the whole. It fine weather lasts we have great
hopes, in the success of the experiment. A party of men
(50) of the Victory, under the command of Lieutenant
Thompson, will go down to render assistance. All the offi-
cers having been brought from the wreck to the court-mar-
tial, Captain Austen, of Woolwich, has been left in charge of
her, and Dr. Burns (awaiting passage to join the Dido in the
East Indies) has relieved Dr. Clarke, of the Sphynx, of the
medical charge.
In harbour—The St. Vincent, Victory, Excellent, and
Belleisle; the Rattler, Birkenhead, Echo, Myrtle, and Afri-
can steamers.
At Spithead—None.

In dock—The Prince Regent, Ajax, Victoria and Albert,
Leander, Serpent, and Champion.
In the Basin—The Edinburgh, Dauntless, Sidon, and
Kestrel.
The second division of the 56th Regiment arrived by rail-
way this morning, and immediately embarked on board the
Belleisle.
The Sidon steam-frigate, Captain Henderson, C. 8., had
her fore and main masts taken out to-day.
FEn. 14.—Thu Belleisle, 72, Captain Kingcome, dropped
out to Spithead this morning with the reserve battalion of
the 56th Regiment for Gibraltar, with whom she sails after
shipping her powder, &c.
The Herald, 26, Captain Kellett, was at San Blas on the
29th of November, having just returned from the survey
of the Columbia River and Vancouver's Island. She would
sail for Panama to refit early in December. All well on
board.
The Rattler steam-sloop (screw) Commander Moorman,
went out yesterday to try her screw, &c.
The Rapid, 10, Commander Galwey, was spoken with on
the 3d instant off Cape Finisterre, bound southward.
A vote of thanks has been sent down from the Admiralty
to the officers and mcn employed from this dockyard upon
the Sphynx, expressive of the warm and entire approbation
of their Lordships of all the measures adopted for her extri-
cation. and stating that their claims should be all attended to
as soon as the work is completed.
PLYMOUTIL—The:South-Western Steam Navigation Com-
pany's packet Transit, Captain Michael Whitworth, under
charter by Mr. Hislop, her Britannic Majesty's Vice-Consul
at Carril, arrived at
.Plymouth on the 11th inst. with about
700 sacks of Indian corn in sacks and bulk ; 40 and 50 cases
of eggs, and 18 bags of chestnuts. The corn is very much
heated, owing to the long and boisterous passage experienced.
She completed her lading :about the 23d of January ; left
Carril, the 29th, returned the 31st, departed again the Ist
inst., and having made about 30 leagues north of Cape Finis-
terre, put back to Corunna for coal on the 3d, and finally
left the coast of Spain on the sth. They first had very heavy
weather from the N.E., then a calm, followed by a severe
gale from the N.N.W. On reaching Plymouth their coal was
all consumed, and water nearly expended. In the Sound
they touched on the Batten Reef, but came off with the flood
about three o'clock A.M. The cargo will require to be landed
and stored immediately.
The Transit reports "her Majesty's ship America, 50,
Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, and her Majesty's frigate
Thetis, 36, Captain Codrington, to have left Corunna, with
the wind at S.S.W. on the 3d inst. At Corunna about eight
or ten British, and the same number of foreign merchant
vessels; one-half of the former bound to Carril. A great
quantity of large timber floating about near Cape Finisterre
and in Corunna Bay, apparently the cargoes of wrecked
vessels. Saw several homeward-bound ships in the chops of
the Channel.

DEATH OF PROFESSOR NAPIER. —We regret to
have to record the death of Macvoy Napier, Esq., Pr
took
place • Conveyancing in the university of this whicheity,
place at his house about five o'clock yesterday morning.
For some time past, we understand, Mr. Napier had not fully
enjoyed his accustomed health, but his indisposition was not
so severe as to prevent him from attending his official duties.
He delivered a lecture on Monday, as usual, to his class and
lie
though he had since that day taken unwell, yet his friends
did not anticipate that his
dissolution was so near. Besides
the distinguished place which he occupied in our university,
Mr. Napier was well known in literary circles on account of
his connexion with the Edinburgh Review, of which he was
editor for nearly twenty, years, and also with that great
literary undertaking the .Encyckpadia Britannica, the whole
of the seventh edition of that noble work having been issued
under his superintendence.„ as well as a supplement to the
previous one. Mr. Napier was also one of the principal
clerks of the Court of Session. We have not heard his pre-
cise age, but vve be lieve ho had attained his seventieth or
;seventy-first year. The
.death of the tale9ted Professor has
,caused a blank in the literary world which will be exten-
oively felt.—Etlinbiagh Advertiser.
ASTLETS.---1) ESTITUTE IRISH AND SCOTCH
tENEFIT.-- We regret to state that the entire evening's
✓ eceipts ot the benefit given by
.Mr. Batty last Thursday tor
he destitute Irish and Scotch did not amount to more than
ti
5' 71. is. which sum he. has entirely appropriated to their
• .lief without any deduction whatever for the expenses of
extensive establishment,. and whiFh has been forwarded
itA ;Ike Committee of the British Association for the ;distressed
i;tricts, South Sea House. Ate are sorry the sum was so
'amall, as every effort WAS made on the part of Mr. Batty
to ensure success.
The Duke of Wellington entertained a party of
peers at dinner on Thursday last, at Apsley House.
;