The Sun.
London, England, 1824-07-03 00:00:00

ROYAL NAVY.

- PORTSMOUTH, JULY 2; 1024.--Tho.Arrow, cutter, Lieut
John Powney, commando, made a seizure of a vessel called
the Fox of Rye, having art board tiO kegs of spirits of brandy,
on 23d June, in Rye Buy,
Harry Munro, Es q. late Secretary to Vice-Admiral Sir
Graham Moore, '
.(1.11., has been appointed secretary to Vice-
Admiral Laid Amelitts Beauclerk, 1i..C.11., commander-in-
Chief of his 3lajesty'sships and vessels in the river 'Pacras.
The Mangles, convict ship, put into this port on Monday,
for the purpose of receiving 100 convicts from the receiving hulk
in this harbour, for conveyance to New South Wales.
The Speck, transport, Lieut. Decourdeaux, agent, Proceeds
with the 24th regiment from this port to Plymouth, anti
is intended to convey the Guards now at Plymouth to Ports-
mouth.
The Starling cutter arrived from a cruise on Monday, and the
Viper, tender, on Tuesday.
The Nimrod passed through Spithead on Wednesday, on
her way to Leith.
The Basilisk cutter sailed on Wednesday for Chatham ; and
the Scorpion, tender, for Plymouth. •
The Quail, tender, arrived from a cruise on Thursday.
The Cambrian will he paid off at this port and re-commis-
sioned immediately.
It is reported that Capt. Hamilton, CM.,
will again command her, and that she will refit with all dispatch
for the Mediterranean station.
The Valorous, Capt..3lurray, has sailed for Plymouth to be
paid ofil

---
Ships in liarbour.—Victory, Wellesley, Albion, Bulwark,
Royal George, Seringapatam, Niemen, Charnpion, Orestes,
Cambrian, H
evening, erald, Britotnart, Linnet, Quaili anti Viper.
Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, Part. M. P. azuled, on Saturday
upon a new principle, for which the worthy Admiral has re-
for Jersey, to introduce the mackerel fishery there
cently obtained a patent.

Up to the first of June, the number of vessels
that had arrived at Cronstadt was 360—and the
sailing' 74.

Hors I CORONERS'oieridre.ltiNtrcieteuto: T.— A n adjourned
at
the
egiuneacskt
(BmiTtihnelleodwayiof Mary Win.
tViera:tyheesr;ildaydisreo7o7ricat i in'etrt;(rwleilliel‘ossier;'btxly had given rise to a SUS.
stomach poisoned,
aannadlyi
analysed
ewdatsh tabtrtitei
npgutrptesots
we on
was
having the
preceding day. In the meantime all St.
adjourned from the . .
tewomidinotatioknin,ganaiblolunteyerydsetereenestedgi:o2:
pic 1 o n that
csohnet
ebnauid
obfeednie
o(t
lififlei y)cemo did'BPllve were"no ti thi eatsoisttabKteteentolopetualtsdosrebittetlialoaln aolccifeeoanubniti Ic;
f bt murdered.iyiea,
pirlioTnrtrhei
"horrid
aelltahi :le!
was confirmed by the
ltitolnitiges biroddsyreopfrellsleantiVoinnotefrai"e first part of the
Seventamedtr? l i e Disk,
ac om In
onis 133u:eland:
scandalous
inquest, even going so far as to assert that the dui:tibn
before the Coroner, had made signs that the, woman was mur-
dered by Ridley, with whom she cohabited, and that lie had pur_
do;lliieli
broughteon
chased and administered to her a doseUf arsenic. In cense_
genes of these reports, the house where the Inquest was hell
was surrounded by an immense number of the inhabitants
•f that populous district, whose fears happily proved 'unfound-
cd, as It appeared from the testimony of Mr. C. Starkey, and
three other surgeons, who had examined the contents of the
stomach, that no reason existed for believing the woman to
have died otherwise than a natural death. It appeared she had
o f been
intoxication
and Saturday,
was
fo found
dd
deadthat
in went
bedt
e bedtl illswelled, following
lnaodwstate
morning. Shortly after her death the tonguee
{body
assumed a livid appearance, and it was to these circum.
n
stances that the Tumour was to be ascribed. Verdict...." pied
by the Visitation of God." Ridley, who had been taken into
custody the preceding day, was liberated immediately on the
verdict being known.

DINPEItATE APTILAY.---About half-past eleven
o'clock this morning, a most indescribable scene
of confusiim took place in Devonshire Mews
West. Au itinerant dealer in greens, potatoes,
&c. in passing through the Mews, drew on him the
ire of some coachmen, who began what is termed
larking with him. Wright and Redding, the
beadles, were called in' to protect the poor
when Wright's skull was fractured, and
one of his arms broken, in addition to other
severe injuries. Wright was taken to the Infir-
mary, without hopes of recovery. Redding is
also much bruised. Two men, named Stark and
Bolt, are in custody, until the fate of Wright is
known.

FOR THE SUN.

CORAL REEFS.

Mtt. EDITOR-.-I hope the following account of
a Coral Reef, extracted from the very interesting
voyage of Capt: 13.tztt, HALL to the Loochoo
.Islands, may prove, aniusipg
_to such of your
readers as have not read the work itself :

" The examination of a Coral Reef, during
the different stages of one tide, is particularly
interesting. When the tide has left it for some
time it becomes dry, and appears to be a com-
pact rock, exceedingly hard and ragged : but as
the tide rises, and the waves begin to wash over
it, the coral worms protrude themselves from
holes which were before invisible. These animals
are of a great variety of shapes and sizes, and in
such prodigious numbers, that, in a short time, the
whole surface of the rock appears to be alive and
in motion. The most common worms is in the
form of a star, with arms from four to six inches
long, which are mosed about in"rapid motion, in
all directions, probably to catch food. Others
are so sluggish, that they may be mistaken for
pieces of the rock, and are generally of a dark
colour, and from four to five inches long,
and two or three round. When coral is broken,
about high-water murk, it is a solid hard
stone, but if any part of it be detached at
a spot which the tide reaches every day, it is
found to be full of worms of different lengths
and colours, some being as fine as a: thread, and
several feet long, of a bright yellow colour;
others resemble snails, and some are not unlike
lobsters in shape, but soft, and not above two
inches long.

" The growth of coral appears to cease where
the worm is no longer exposed to the washing of
the sea. Thus a reef rises in the form of a cau-
liflower, till its top has gained the level of the
highest tide, above which the worm has no
power to advance, and the reef, of course no
longer extends itself upwards. The other parts,
in succession, reach the surface, and there stop,
forming, in time, a level field, with steep aides
all round. The reef, however, continually in-
creases, and being prevented from goitig higher,
extends itself laterally in all directions. But
this growth being as rapid at the upper edge us
it is lower down, the steepness of the face of
the reef is still peeserved. These are the cir-
cumstances which render coral reefs so dangerous
in navigation ; for, in the first place, they are
seldom seen above the water ; and, in the next
place, their sides are 80 steep, that a ship's
bow may strike against a rock before any change
of soundings has given warning of the danger."
i natural
el And yet
ie
Itappears that the accumulation of habitations
thus formed by these apparently insignificant
tribe of animals, sometimes attain to an immense
extent, and constitute in part the basis of many
islands, within the China Seas, and in the Pacific
Oceane Thus to rear a stupendous fabric from
the very depths of the ocean, and some feet above
its surface, is a task which might well_ appal the
most powerful and civilized
is performed with ease by an insect small, and to
planned
e odf
the
anlulmaei:opueasriannscteasnceswhi ci zi helpless
andtrianl co s
us,He roef thetl)
infinitee' wisdom "'e meet
whh another
i
has history I lt
affords
ib
universal creation, and watched over the formation
of every one of the parts of this truly stupendous
whole. In preparing their own habitations, in-
sects prepare a future abode for man. When the
coral reef is once raised above the reach of the
tide, and is thus secured from the inroads of the
sea, the insect leaves its labours in this direction,
and now extends the mass it has raised laterally.
Sea-weeds are thrown upon the bale and barren
mass which decaying, and aided soon after by
biterns,form the ground-work of future vegitation.
Mosses succeed, birds are attracted ; manure and
seeds are brought at the same time, and by the
same individuals,and at length,in process of time,
a bed of vegetable mould is formed, which is
capable of producing larger plants. This simple
causes that spread fertility and life throughout
the earth employ to enlarge the land, and to
prepare a place upon which 018.11 may fix his re-
sidence.

A. P.