The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-20 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE BRIG SQUADRON.

PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY.—The Amphion, 36, screw '
steam-frigate, Captain W. J. Williaies, returned to
Spithead yesterday afternoon, after trying her sailing
properties in company with the Recruit (iron), 12,
Commander Slade ; the Arab, 12, Commander Mor-
ris ; and the nautilus, 8, Lieutenant Commander
Rivers; which all retu-ned to Spithead last night
and this morning, the Recruit being last, and the
Nautilus first of the brigs.
This squadron beat out in company with the Howe,
120, Captain Sir J. Stirling (having the Queen
Dowager on board), yesterday morning week, being
ordered by the Admiralty to knock about in the
Channel, and compete in sailing, &c., for a week. The
squadron parted company with the Howe off St.
Helen's on the morning of sailing, and made their
own way down channel, when their trials imme-
diately commenced, running free, under all plain sail,
wind moderate. After four hours' trial the results
were adjudged by the senior officer (Captain Wil-
liams) to be nearly equal between the Amphion and
the Arab. The Nautilus was astern, the two former
having run the latter out of sight.
Tuesday—No trial. The Amphion went into
Plymouth.
Wednesday—A trial under all plain sail, off the
Lizard, stiff breeze, working to windward. The trial
lasted about five hours. In this trial the Arab beat
the Amphion nearly three miles dead to windward !
Thursday—The Recruit, 12, Commander Slade,
joined off the Lizard, and competed in the trial, off
the wind, with a strong breeze. At the conclusion,
the Amphion and the Arab were nearly equal ; the
Recruit considerably astern ; and the Nautilus " no-
where."

Friday—Squadron still in the channel, working
up for the Lizard ; very strong breeze. Important
trial to-day. The Amphion under double-reefed
topsails; the Arab, the Recruit, and the Nautilus,
treble-reefs ; with a very heavy head sea on. In this
trial the Arab showed a decided and great advantage
over all on every point; the Recruit proving herself
equal to the Amphion ; the Nautilus showed also
very well in this trial, but still was astern.
Saturday—The brigs parted company with the
Amphion. which made for Spithead; the brigs follow-
ing easily.
The Amphion, during this short and partial cruise,
showed some very valuable sea-going qualities ; with
wind abeam she goes along most beautifully. In
" running" she is reported to have had the advantage
over the others.
The Arab, like all Sir W. Symonds' small craft, is
a " clipper," and ran away easily from her com-
petitors in the above trial under all circumstances.
She is a very handsome, roomy vessel, well manned
and officered, and very skilfully commanded. She
is in remarkably good order considering the short
time she has carried the pendant. She has five months'
provisions, and stores complete on board for her term
of commission on a foreign station, which makes her
deed of course ; therefore her performances in her
brief trial with the above vessels are the more cre-
ditable to her and her commander, the other vessels
being, in good trim, with well exercised crews, and
sundry other important advantages. The Arab will
proceed to the Cape of Good Hope station in a few
days, and will take out to that colony Mr. W. Main
as an azsistant to the astronomer there.
In common fairness, it must be stated and con-
sidered in judging of the merits of the Recruit, that
her bottom is exceedingly foul, having weeds ad-
hering to the starboard side of it, nearly a foot long,
in some places, notwithstanding which, it seems, she
" held her own" with the Amphion, and outsailed the
Nautilus. _ _ _

The Nautilus is a very still little brig. She was
first at the anchorage after parting company with the
Amphion, and came into harbour this afternoon.
The Cambrian, 40, Commodore Plumridge, sailed

this forenoon for the East Indies, to relieve the Fox.

.
The Lightning steam-tender was paid off yesterday,
and re-commissioned to-day by Master Petley, to
serve out his time.

Orders have been received here to expedite the
outfit of the Centaur steam-frigate as much as possibh
and on her completion to set the same men on t) fit
out the Retribution steam-frigate. _ _

It is expected the Amphion will come into harbour
again to have fresh alterations made.
Wind S.W., moderate breezes ; weather fine— five
o'clock,
PLYMOUTH, OCT. 18.—Three French men -of- war
have been off this port since the 13th instant. They
consist of a 60-gun frigate, a sloop-of-war of about
20 guns, and a brig carrying 16 or 18 guns. At
eleven o'clock yesterday (Sunday) morning the
frigate, under topsails and topgallant sails, was off
the eastern entrance to the harbour, between the
Mewstone and the Shagstone, about a musket shot to
the eastward of the latter. The water was quite
smooth, there being scarcely any wind. The frigate
was not lying to, but remained nearly stationary for
about an hour, with her maintopsail and maintopgal-
lant sail shivering. The lead was working all the
time. The French Consul went into the Sound in the
expectation of the entrance of the strangers. The brig
was on the same tack, to leeward of the frigate, and
the sloop was between the two.
Between four and five o'clock in the afternoon the
frigate, with all her sails set, royals and flying jib,
was reaching to the south-east, the wind casting a
little from the southward. The sloop and brig, under
similar canvass, were to windward of the frigate, on
the same tack.
Among other shipping hanging off and on at this
port during the last week, in consequence of contrary
winds, was the barque David Clark, from Jamaica for
\aondon. She was in sight on Tuesday the 12th, and
upplied with provisions by a pilot on Wednesday,
the 13th. On Saturday, the 16th, she was compelled
to come in, and is now lying in the Sound.
WOOLWICH, OCT. 19.—The William aad Mary
yacht is ordered to be paid off here on Saturday next,
when her present commander, Commodore Sir Gordon
Bremer, Superintendent of the Woolwich Dockyard,
will hoist his broad pendant in the Fisgard, recently
returned from the Pacific, which will now be per-
manently stationed here. Captain Austen, C. 8.,
_ _

with a party of about fifty men, will be accommo-
dated en board the Fisgard, to be ready when their
services are required to attend and navigate vessels
ordered for experiments down the river, and there will
be ample room on board this fine 42-gun ship to ex-
ercise the riggers of the dockyard and others in the
large ship gun exercises, in connexion with the dock-
yard battalion, in case their services should be re-
quired for the defence of this important naval port.
The Onyx steam-vessel, after having undergone a
thorough examination, has been taken out of dock,
and left Woolwich yesterday for Dover, to resume
her duties as a packet steamer at that station.
The Acheron steam-vessel, recently commanded by
Lieutenant Dunlop, was recommissioned yesterday by
Commander Stokes, and when ready for sea, will
proceed to New Zealand to be employed in the sur-
veying service in that quarter of the world. The
Acheron is at present in the basin under the shears,
having her masts put in.
The Perseus, stationed at the Tower, under the
charge of Lieutenant Greet, is ordered to be paid off
on Saturday next.

The Hecate steam-vessel, Commander Moorman,
is under orders to leave Woolwich on the 25th inst.
for Spithead, where she will be paid in advance.
The Sinbad is loading for Portsmouth.

TUE RECENT CASE OF HIGHWAY ROBBERY AND
SUSPECTED MURDER IN WESTMINSTER. -- Yesterday
Mr. Bedford, the coroner, held an inquest at the
Grosvenor Arks, Kensington-place, Westminster, on the
body of Mr. John Belleharabsrs, aged 57, an engineer,
lately residing at No. 44, Wilton-street, Vincent-square,
who, it will be recollected, was robbed and most brutally
ill-used by a gang of thieves on the morning of the 11th
instant. Mr. H. F. llolt, surgeon, 30, Abingdon-street,
Westminster, stated that he knew deceased well, and
rMtn two or three days prior to the occurrence, and
was then in excellent health. Witness was called to
attend hies at six
- o'clock in the morning of Monday
week, and found
temple. him quite insensible, with a wound on
the right
,I. of about an inch and a quarter in
length, a geria,
under the left e the right cheek, with a small cut
Yuen; both eyes were blackened above the
orbits. From
concussion of the brain. By
he was sure there was
to think that the wound nn
the Coroner—Was inclined n
the forehead was the t ffect
of some deadly weapon. Saw
deceased three times a day
from this period till his death, lie never tallied, and
By
expired on Sunday evening.the Coroner—Consi-
dered the wounds were the result of more than one blow.
idion, in answer to the
Inspector Taylor, of the B
VhuThomas Doyle
Coroner, said that George M
next, as
were in custody, and remanded );(a
then ob-
served, concerned in the affair. The Coroner
served, that the case still being in the hnaenrds
police, he thought that some mischief might be of the
done by
t
proceeding with it any farther at present in that (the
-
Coroner's) court, and especially as all the parties
voted were not yet apprehended. The inquest was then
adjourned fur a fortnight.
THE BALLANTRAE SYSTEM OF HERRING FISHING.
The destructive Ballantrao fishing, practised on the
spawning ground off that place, early in the spring, has,
and is yearly, injuring the quantity and quality of the
Loclifiae herrings, the take of which is gradually dimi-
nishing, and in a very few years will be one of the
things that were, it' the Legislature do not interfere and
grAnt, rrotcetion, zis is done in the cases of salmon and
game. Last session, I'..irliatnent was busily engaged in
eivacting lew, for reoalating and pretectine, muscles and
oysters, and surely the protection of the herring is not
less worthy of their at'ntion. The Campbelton fisher-
men, at last election, brbught the matter before Lord
James Stuart, M.P., who pledged himself to bring it
before the House of Commons. Tee fishermen in the
other parts of the coast are also determined to send peti
lions, s 9 that this all important subject may come before
Lt House tire incoming session.—Ayr Observer.
JIRCIIII.XCTIIRE AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.—The
,elr,st, of architecture and construction at University
„`' 'O(6 'MIMI HiCed on Tuesday, and will continue every
kielith ty and Thursday, fur the first year's class, et six,
acd rot the settond year's class, at a quarter past seven.