The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-05 00:00:00

ROYAL MARINES.

Her Majesty, by Order in Council, dated the 24th of
April, 1847, has been graciously pleased to direct that
three Artillery companies shall be added to that branch
of the Royal Marines, and that each of the ninety-four
divisional companies shall have a further number of

privates.
_ The re-distribution of the corps is therefore to be as

follows :

_ .
A divisional company, to consist of 1 captain, 2 sub
alterns, (two-thirds first, and one-third second-lieute
nants), 5 sergeants, 5 corporals, 3 drummers, 94 privates
—112; and 10 artillery companies—each to consist of 1
captain, 2 first-lieutenants, 2 second, 7 sergeants, 7 cor-
porals, 3 bombardiers, 3 drummers, and 125 gunners-
-150 ; making the whole establishment of Marines, both
officers and men :
Divisional companies ... ... 10,434
Artillery companies ... 1,500
Staff ... 67

Total ... ... ... ... 12,001
The appointment of officers consequent on this aug-
mentation will be hereafter notified.

WOOLWICH, MAY 4.—The Blenheim, 72 guns, was
taken out of the basin at a very early hour this morning,
for the purpose of being docked but the tide did not
rise sufficiently, and she will have to remain in the har-
bour, owing to her great draught of water, until the next
spring tide, a fortnight after this date.
The Terrible steam-frigate, Captain Ramsey, is still in
the harbour here, and her officers and crew have left
the Dragon steam-frigate and resumed their duties on
board. Captain Hall, in command of the Terrible, during
the absence of Captain Ramsey with the Dragon, con-
veying provisions to Ireland, is to be barns on the books
of the William and Mary yacht for the present.

WRECK OF HER MAJESTY'S
STEAMER THUNDERBOLT.
PORTSMOUTH, MAY 4.—The inquiry into the circumstances
attending the wreck of her Majesty's steamer Thunderbolt,
in Algoa Bay, in February last, commenced yesterday by
court-martial, ordered by the Admiralty to try Commander
A. Boyle, and the officers and crew, for their conduct on the
occasion.
The members of the court consisted of Rear-Admiral
Parker, C. 8., president; Captain Pasco, Victory; Captain
Chads, C. 8., Excellent; Captain Milne, St. Vincent; Cap-
tain S. C. Dacres, Avenger. Mr. G. L. Greetham officiated
as judge-advocate.
It appeared by documentary and oral evidence that the
Thunderbolt was proceeding to Algoa Bay, in pursuance of
orders from Rear-Admiral Dacres, to convey from thence
to Simon's Bay part of the 90th Regiment; that on Feb. 3,
about noon, while entering the bay, and rounding a reef, she
struck on a sunken rock, and received such severe injury
that Commander Boyle deemed it advisable to use his
utmost endeavours to run her on shore to save the lives of
the crew, the leak being so extensive ; that having done
so, he tried, with his own crew and the assistance of some
troops from the shore, to land the stores and pump the
vessel dry, and, if possible, repair the damage, and was
subsequently aided in his exertions by seamen from the
President and the Eurydice, when those frigates joined,
nineteen days after the accident; but finding all their
efforts fruitless, and the executive officers giving as their
opinion that if afloat she could not be repaired in Algoa Bay,
the senior officer determined on abandoning her to the
Government authorities on shore, which was done accord-
ingly, and they were instructed to sell her to the best ad-
vantage. The officers and men, with great part of her stores,
were then embarked in the Eurydice, and she carried them
to the Cape. The reading of the narrative of Commander
Boyle, the reports of Rear-Admiral Dacres, Captain Stanley,
and Captain Anson, and the examination of witnesses as to
the track of the Thunderbolt, the precautions taken
to navigate her in safety, and other matters relat-
ing to the transaction, and such as are customary in
inquiries of this nature, occupied the Court all the
day, when, it being four °clock, the Court signified to
Commander Boyle, and Mr. Milne, the master, that they
were prepared to their their defences, and on those officers
requesting until this morning to prepare, the Court complied
with their wishes and adjourned. The Court assembled at
ten o'clock this morning, when Commander Boyle and the
Master produced their statements of the occurrecce, which
were read to the Court, and afterwards placed with the
proceedings. The attention of the Court yesterday was
most pa ticularly directed to the circumstance of a com-
pliance with the Admiralty sailing instructions, which
direct that in entering Algua Bay all ships should give
the reef on which the Thunderbolt struck a clear offing
of two miles; in this instance the Thunderbolt was steered
within one mile, and the officers admitted that if she
had been kept acccording to the sailing instructions she
would not have been lost. This departure from a most
important regulation evidently influenced the Court in their
judgment, for, after it had been cleared to deliberate on the
sentence, and the public admitted to hear it read, the Judge-
Advocate, after reciting the usual form, pronounced the
opinion of the Court to be, that her Majesty's late steamer,
Thunderbolt, had been wrecked through inattention and
neglect, and .sentenced Commander Alexander
.Boyle, and
Mr. J. D. Milne, master, to be dismissed her Majesty's ser-
vice; but, in consequence of the production of high testi-
monials of former character and ability, recommended them
to the favourable consideration of the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty. After the conclusion of this Court-Mar-
tial, the same members were sworn to try the carpenter of
the Thunderbolt for drunkenness, subsequent to leaving her,
and while on board the Eurydice taking a passage to Simon's
Bay. The charge was fully proved, and he was sentenced to
be dismissed the service.

THE LORD-LIEUTENANT OF

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, MAY 3.—We are happy to perceive by the
following, that up to a late hour last night his Excel-
lency was not worse, but was rather in an improving
condition:— " Eleven o'clock, Sunday night.
" Sir Philip Crampton has just left, and the answer
was, Excellency is nothing worse, but rather im-

proving.' "
The following is the bulletin issued this morning at
nine o'clock:— " May 3.
" His Excellency passed another good night, and
feels much refreshed this morning.
" P. CRAMPTON.
" W. STOKES.
" P. F. PURCELL."
" Half-past Three o'clock, P.M.
" His Excellency continues without any change since
the morning."

HIGHLAND SOCIETY.—A general court of this
corporation, of which his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch,
is the President, is_ announced to be held on the 15th inst.,

at the FreemasOn'a Tavern.
MORPHIA VERSUS ETHER FOR SURGICAL OPERA
TlONS.—Excision of the mamma was performed here lately
by Dr. Chisholm, assisted by Dr. Ross, Cambusmore,
Sutherlandshire, Dr. Wilson, and Mr. Manford, the patient
being placed under the influence of morphia instead of ether,
with the moat satisfactory result. The patient underwent
the operation with the greatest firmness and composure, stat-
ing afterwards that it was not nearly so severe as she anti-
cipated. She has felt no pain whatever since the part was
dressed after the operation, and she has been able to go home
to the country within a fortnight from that period, quite
well, the cure having taken place in the most favourable
manner by what surgeons term the first intention. Dr.
Chisholm is of opinion that morphia will be found safely to
supersede ether in all the cases to which it is at present in its
new character applied.—lnverness Journal.
SALE 01' THE RARE COLLECTION OF OLD ENG.
LISH POETRY OF J. H. Pworr, EsQ.—On Monday the sale
by auction of the rare and curious collection of Old English
poetry belonging to J. Hugh Smyth Pigott, Esq., of Brokley
Ball, Somerset, was commenced by Messrs. Sotheby and
Wilkinson, the auctioneers, of Wellington-street. Many of
these curious and rare books consisted of only a few leaves,
and the following were worthy of notice :—" The Scourge or
Venus, or the Wanton Lady, with the rare birth of Adonis,"
by H. A.—first edition, and believed to be the only copy
known—sold for 101. "Christine of Pisa, Fayttea of Armes,
and of Chivalric," translated and printed by Caxton in 1489,
the fourth xear of the reign _of Henry Vll.—sold for 301.
"Wits Bedlam," one of the rarest productions of John Davies,
of Ilereford, printed in 1617—sold for 31. 91."
A" Dntiociinees
and Saveings of the Philosophers," translated by
Wydev il le, Erle Ryngeres Lord Scales," and printed by Caxton
e
—sold for 311. 10s. " The Tragedy of Gorbudic, sometime
King of this Land, and of his two S'onnes,
for 4/. 103.
rax " by Norton and Sackville, 1590—soldntlewomen, or a Glasse
Terrax and or-
" QUippes for Upstart new-fangle Gentlewomen,
;"
ttoieev,iellsv9tsh—e
sPerlifidefeorf vain-glorious
of firstG a Garlands
1 aenddl
and Songs, in one volume, date 1749—501 d for Si. 7s. 6d.
Gentlewomen
A Collection
gguilrine°asas.
The " Oxford Drollery" and the " Windsor Drollery," con.
,isting of a collection of songs of the date 1671-2—sold for
ten guineas. " Penelope's Complaint, or a Mirrour for Wan-
ton Minions," by J. R., 1684—sold for four guineas. " Wit a
Sporting in a pleasant Grove of new Fancies," by IL Bold,
1657--sold for 61. 18s. The other books sold were equally
curious, and fetched good prices.
_

GAnuisoN.—On Thursday morning the depot
of the 89th Regiment of Foot, which has been stationed here,
consisting of 470 persons, including officers and females,
under the command of Major Kenny, left this town by rail-
way en route for Weeder', Northamptonshire. This regiment
has been succeeded by a detachment of the 40th from the
same place, lately returned from India, consisting of 53 men
and two officers, who have just arrived from Birmingham.
This gallant regiment is under the command of Lieut.-
Colonel Ilibbert, Companion of the Bath, who was highly
distinguished at the battle of Waterloo, and carries on his
colours, in commemoration of his distinguished services, the
following honorary distinctions :—" Talavera," " Badajoz.:
Robeia," Monte Video," " Viencera," "SalnisTfil
" Peninsula," "Candahar," "Toulouse," " Ghttztlee,
harajpore," " Caubul," ‘Ece,--guilracket.