The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-12 00:00:00

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NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
-P-oxismoirm, TxuusnAT. —The _Fairy,, royal yacht,
Commander Crispin, came into harbour this afternoon from
Osborne,-with-his Serene Highness Priace. Edward of Saxe
Weimar, who has been sojourning with-his august relative
Prince Albert and her Majesty since Tuesday. His High-
ness landed at Gosport -beach, and left for Winchester, for
the half-past two o'clock train- of the South Western
Railway.
Lady Caroline Somers Cocks, Maid of Honour in Waiting
upon her Majesty at Osborne, also returned from her duty
to-day, with Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, and left in
the same train for London, having been relieved by the Hon.
Miss Napier.
The Curlew, 10-gun brig, fitted with a 13-inch mortar,
upon the plan of First-Lieutenant Julius Roberts, of the
Royal Marine Artillery corps, was towed outside Spithead
this morning to make another trial, under official inspection,
of the merits of the important invention. The vessel had not
returned when this dispatch was closed.
The African steam-tug, Mr. Barker, master, returned this
afternoon from Weymouth, whither she had been to return
the surf-boats and their crews, hired for use at the wreck of
the Sphvnx.
The Centaur steam •frigate, Mr. H. Davy master com-
manding (acting), is loading provisions with all possible de-
spatch from Clarence-yard.
The Portland, 60, Commander C. F. Sehomberg, having
been fitted in a great hurry at Plymouth, it has been found
requisite to refit her here; and her crew have been employed
in this necessary duty ever aince she arrived. They are
likewise repainting her, she having been previously in the
ordinary (drab) uniform.
The Collingwood, 80, Captain Smart, flag of Rear-Ad-
miral Sir G. Seymour, Commander-in-Chief in the Pacific,
and the •Carysfort, 26, Captain Seymour, were at Valpa.
raiso on the 27th of December; the only men-of-war in
the bay.

The-Constance, 50, Captain Sir 13. Walker, was at Callao
on the 7th of January, about to sail for the northward.
The Sampson steam-frigate, Captain Henderson, was at
Callao on the 9th of January.
The Endymion, 44, Captain Lambert ; the Alarm, 26, Cap-
tain Lock; and the Daring, 12, Commander Peel, were at
Vera Cruz on the Ist of February; also, two French brigs
and a Spanish corvette. The first two named were ordered
up to Port Royal, in order that their-captains might sit on
a court-martial ordered to try Lieutenant Cawley, of the
'annul, upon a charge of drunkenness. Commander Tarle-
ton, late First-Lieutenant of the Endymion, came home in
the Medway. • • _ _
_

At the above date the Americans had at Antinuzado (?)
the Raritan, 54; the Princeton steamer; and two smsmallsteam-vessels. The John Adams corvette, and the Porpoise
brig, were blockading off Vera Cruz. The remainder of the
squadron were supposed to be at Carnpeachy.
By private letters we are informed that it was reported
that an attack was intended by land on the city of Vera
Cruz. General Taylor was to fall back andlorm a junction
with General ScottAt Tan.pico, when the united forces of
those generals would amount to about 10,000 men. Santa
Anna was a&san Luis Potosi, which he had fortified, and had

free port for American 'bottoms only ; 'freight goods might
also be admitted,haiing seen iDrevldusly cleared from one of
the United• States..
Captain Maitland, of thetlectra, has come home invalided,
leaving the vessel in cemmaud of First Lieutenant Cooke it
Bermuda.

Captain Haniond, of the Salnmander steam-sloop, has also
come home from Antigua. Her boilers being so defective as
to preclude the possibility of her steaming home, she has left •
under canvas.

Mr. Brenton,:payraaster and purser of the Endymion, also
came home in the Medway, Mr. Hockings, of the Alarm,
being appointed to the Endymion.
It was supposed that if the city of Vera Cruz was assaulted
by escalade, a great loss would result to the assailants.
Commander Rawstorne (1846) is appointed additional to
the Belvidera, Captain Layton, to distribute meal amongst
the islands of Scotland. . _

First-Lieutenant A. C Murray, of the Terrible, is appointed
to the Royal yacht. Lieutenant Murray was mate of the
Dolphin, and dangerously wounded in her boats at the cap--
tura of a pirate on the coast of Africa in 1841.

DESTITUTION IN LAMBETH.
The continued severity of the weather, combined with the
high price of provisions, and the difficulty of finding work
for the able-bodied poor belonging to the suburban districts
of this extensive union, have placed the guardian board in a
position of very great embarrassment. The subject has
already engaged the attention of several vestries, but with-
out being able to devise any remedy adequate to the emer-
gency. The poor-rate, at all times excessively high, has
during the last two quarters advanced to the extreme point
of endurance, considered with reference to the capability of
the inhabitant householders, very many of whom are little
removed from absolute pauperism ; and although an extra
rate has been lately made, the collectors find it impossible to
get in the money in time to meet the imperative•demands of
the guardians, to whom the overseers of the severaPpariabes
are responsible for the funds necessary to the maintenance of
the poor. The accommodation within the house is barely
sufficient for the aged and infirm, whose support constitutes
a large item of fixed expenditure, there being no return in
the shape of productive labour. This, however, is trifling
when compared with the constant outlay, in bread, meat,
and money, to what are termed " casual poor"--a class
which this inclement weather has more than quadrupled,
owing to the dearth of employment in the out-
districts, to the • great influx of agricultural labourers
from the circumjacent counties of Surrey, Sussex,
and Kent, where the continued frost has suspended
husbandry operations far beyond the usual time; and also to
the very large number of excavators, who have heretofore
found employment on the several railways which have their
termini within this union.- The allowance to trampers is
Ilb. of bread per diem, which is for the most part greedily
devoured at the gate. To the resident poor relief in bread and
meat is afforded, proportioned to the number of the appli-
cant's family, the medical officer having first certified that
the pauper is unable to work at his usual trade. In this way
upwards of 600 quartern loaves of bread and 80 stone weight
of meat have been distributed daily during the last two
months; and this is irrespective of relief to the casual poor.
Where relief in money is granted, the allowance to single
men is 10d. per day, and .to those with families Is. 4d. per
day, on the performance of a given amount of work on the
roads or at granite-hretking. This is the test of actual des•
titution, and the readin..s.s with it ,is submitted to by
_lba_..arplicanis affords auulle evidence- cf tile_ extent an
this and other nietripcilitili Aistrieo,c' TR doors are besieged,
from morning till might bv,fannshett ..Ix,iog,s, who have be-
come so clatuourous tha.t,t,le guardians have been compelled
to call in the.aid of the police_to preserve order, and to assist
in the distribution of biead. and meat. Should the demands
continue much longer, the want of funds will render it wholly
impossible to grant out-door relief, and thousands of meri-
torious persons would in such case be deprived even of that
scanty subsistence.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD, MARCH 11.—In a convocation held this day, the
Rev. W. Jephson and the Rev. E. Roy, Masters of Arts,
C.C.C., Cambridge, were admitted ad eundem.
In a congregation held at thesame time, the following de•
grees were •conterred:—

MASTERS OF ARTS.
T. B. Yonge, Exeter.
F. Temple, Fellow of I3alliol.
H. Lambert, Balliol.
E. Perceval, Brasenose.
Rev. E. H. M`Lachlan, Scholar of Pembroke.
Rev. W. C. Jowett, Magdalen Hall.
Rev. T. Bearcroft, Quoen's.
Rev. W. F. Stirling, Trinity.
. • BACHELOR OF MUSIC.
Charles W. Corfe, organist of Christ Church.
THE LATE CONTEST FOR THE CHANCELLORSHIP.
CAMBRIGE, MARCH 11. —Earl Powis has addressed the
following circular to his supporters on the occasion of the
late contest for the Chancellorship :
" Rev. Sir,—l hasten to acknowledge with my warmest
thanks the exertions you have made in my behalf during_the
contest, now concluded, for the Chancellorship of the Uni-
versity of Cambridge.
"It will always be a source of pride and gratification to
me that so large a portion of the Senate have given me their
independent support, and have done me the honour to record
their votes in my favour, many of them making great sacri-
fices for that purpose. The numbers polled for me justify
the contest in which we have been engaged, and would ott
most occasions have insured success.
"The election being over, .I dismiss all feelings but those
of the deepest gratitude for the kindness of my friends, and
I beg to assure you that I shall be always ready to assist in
the maintenance of the rights and privileges of the University.
"I have the honour to be, Rev. Sir,
" Your faithful and obliges servant,
" POWIS.
" Berkeley-square, March 1."

DRSTRUCTIVE FIRE AT CnAntam.—Yesterday
morning, at three o'clock, a fire broke out at the house of
biThr.eSfitere .was Mr.Stenner,
plumber
br
observed ail dglazier,
issuing from liilitarkerocnealiarChatham.
and it soon communicated itself to the next house, window,
occupied
by Mr. Day, the "Recruiting Sergeant.' The flames spread-
ing
with frightful rapidity, and the wind blowing strong front
the east, both houies were soon in flames from top to bottom,
and in less than half an hour the walls fell with a frightful
crash, burying every vestige of property. The fire speedily
communicated to the houses right and left, one occupied
by Mr. Bottle, tating-house, and, Mr. Thompson, pastry-
cook; and so rapid was its progress that it was with diffi-
culty that the children of Mr. Bottle could be rescued, and
not a vestige of furniture or clothing could be saved. The
adjacent houses, occupied by Miss Stigent, milliner, and
Mr. Thornton,tailor and draper, shared the same fate, and
those of Mi. Tadman, hair dresser, and Mr. Winder,
_the
Rising Sun beer-shop, are partially destroyed. The safety
of the latter house is attributable to the exertions
of the dockyard police, with their engine, under the
direction of Lieutenant Wise, R. N'. At the commencement
of the fire there was great difficulty In obtaining water although
several engines were on the spot, and a body of topst to the
number of 2,000. The officers placed the men , for
the.purpose of passing buckets of water to the engines, in ad-
alition to which beer butts filled with water were brought to
the scene of conflagration in drays, from Colonel Best's
brewery. By six o'clock the fire was got under. The majo-
rity of the tradesmen whose-property was destroyed are in-
sured—Mr. Day, in the Sun; Mr. Bottle, Royal Exchange;
Mr. Thompson Phcenix ; Mr. Tadman, Royal Exchange;
Mr. Winder Thompson,
Exchange ; and Mr. Thornton, in the
Alliance. iheir, insurances, however, will not cover their
loss. The Commandant, Colonel James Simpson, with his
Major of Brigade, Captain Wood, was present during the
whole time of the fire, assisting in giving ',directions to the
troops. One of the Royal Marines received a serious injury
by a portion of the wall of one, of the houses falling on hi in,
and was taken off to the barracks.
ANOTHER GANG OF BURGLARS.--On Wednesday
Rochester the mayor and magistrates of were engaged
nearly five hours in the investigation of a case involving a
series of depredations in which many farmers in the nei4h-
bourhood have been the victims, barns and granaries having
been robbed, and the doors still exh • drif
thekr having been opened. Some exhibiting no appearance of
corn having been sold by
a bernfactor named Charlton, li • ving in Strood, to Mr. Joy, a
miller in Chatham. has led to an investigation, and two men.
muted Burgess and Smith, were in consequence
From the voluminous evidence apprehended.
tte corp was lodged at the House of a widow in Ordnance-
Vace,Chatham,
. , by a man named Gilbert, accompanied by
Smith and Burgess, and sold by them to Charlton. who re-
moved i '
tp a cart, and afterwards sold it in the neighbour-
, .
neighbour-
hopd. 114.,the house of Smith a jacket was found belonging to
him, in Itch were 24 skeleton keys, some of which have
been foun open barn and granary doors at Horsted,
.Upper
and,, ower Deice, and the Parsonage Farm at St.
Mitgaret'so torn all of which corn has been abstracted.
Frlftn the le ter a sack of new and old wheat was taken, and
this corresponds with the mixture sold to Joy. 'A man
mailed Jenkins was also examined, at whose house at Ro-
chester two sacks belonging to Mr.
SmWith ickhandam, at
Jenkins, were
Deice, were
found. The three men, 13urgess, ,
committed for trial.