The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-10 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

(From the Malta Times of the 25th.)
MALTA, MARCH 20.—The P. and 0. Company's iron steam-
packet, Lotus, (John Moody, Commander), is worthy of a
particular notice. She is only thirty-four tons burden, and
twenty-four horse power. She draws only two feet of water.
She was built by Messrs. Ditchburn and Mare, of London ;
the engines are by John Penn and Son, Greenwich. These
engineers and shipbuilders also built the celebrated iron stea-
mer, the fastest boat in the world, going at the rate of 13
miles an hour !---the Father of the Thames. The engines and
boilers of the Lotus are of very superior construction, having
oscillating cylinders, well known and valued for the exceed-•
ing small space which they occupy, as well as their lightness.
simplicity and elegance. Indeed, the whole construction of
this steamer is a miracle of art and mechanical skill. The
Lotus is, perhaps, the smallest steamer in the world which
made so long a voyage at sea. She encountered the dreaded
Bay of Biscay, and got safely across ; from Gibraltar she was
towed by the Oriental to Malta; she leaves here shertly for
Candia, thence she will proceed to Alexandria and the Nile,
the place cf her destination. On Tuesday noon the Lotus
cruised in the Great Harbour, and about its mouth, attracting
the attention, and commanding the admiration of every body.
She made eight knots an hour ; she went as smooth through
the water as a duck, or rather an arrow shot through the wa-
ter. Outside the harbour the Lotus was saluted by " the
monsters of the deep," a shoal of porpoises, who frolicked and
gamboled about her prow, reminding one of Venus sailing in
her shelly car across the briny wave, with all the finny tribes
in gay and silvery attendance.
The Natives at Syracuse are interdicted from visiting the
British ships of war which go over there to water, without
applying at the Police-office for a permit. Very few, there-
fore, go on board, fearing that a mark may be set against their
name !

The Inconstant and Wasp sailed on the 18th inst. for
Beyrout, the former calling at Syracuse for supply of
water. The Implacable will sail for Syracuse to-morrow
morning to water, having transferred the supply she brought
from thence to other ships in port. The Vanguard,
Revenge, Hastings, Hazard, and Weazle, were at Suda,
Candia, on the 14th instant. The Hecate is expected
shortly from Beyrout, with the remainder of the British force
employed in Syria. The Elizabeth, of Hull, was delivering
coals at Marmorice on the 10th inst., and the Maitland, of
Malta, was taking is ballast and would proceed to Alexandria.
The Apollo troop-ship arrived at Corfu on the 26th ult. ftom
Cork, with the 97th Regiment, to relieve the 2nd Battalion
60th Rifles, which will proceed to Jamaica. The Apollo was
to leave Corfu for Malta, shortly, up to the 10th inst.
The Carysfort.—lt has been found necessary, after having
given her Majesty's ship Carysfort a new plain topmast, in lieu
of one shot through at Acre, to take out her bowsprit, in con-
sequence of having a shot eight inches into the wood, which
so weakened the spar that it was found to be very badly sprung.
This must have occurred in that heavy gale of wind off Alex-
andria, although the vessel herself, as we are told, behaved most
admirably well, and did not strain a top yarn. The Carysfort
at Acre appears to have had several shot in her hull, part
of her standing, and a great part of her running rigging, and
sails cut up, and one of her boats shot through in two pieces.
But all the repairs aloft being completed the same night, we
had never before heard, and should not now have found out if
it had not been for the bowsprit, having been induced to make
some inquiry respecting her.
The small vessels, drawing less water, were enabled to get
nearer the batteries and consequently suffered most.
The Stromboli arrived yesterday from Beyrout the 12th and
Marmorice the 13th inst. Commander James J. Stopford and
Mr. Beale, late of the Zebra; Licuts. Winthrop and Shad-
well, and Messrs. Foley and Hoare. of the Castor, . came passen-
gers in her. The Stromboli fell in with the anguard near
Cape Matapan on her way to Malta.
PLAGUE ON BOARD B.M.S. CASTOR.—The Mediterranco
of the 17th inst. having stated that there is a man on board
H.M.S. Castor about to fall a victim to the plague, we are
authorised to contradict this statement in the most absolute
manner. Our Correspondent adds—" the man has been quite
well for flit last fortnight."
It is exceedingly injurious that such unfounded statements
should get abroad on so perilous a subject, but as far as our ex-
perience goes we are convinced that the public are to blame,
for when an editor in Malta applies for information he is either
insulted, or very imperfect information is given to him. The
public, therefore, most righteously deserve to be misinformed.
There have been no more cases, and all the convalescents are
nearly well.

It is reported that Mr. Macready has made an
offer to rent Drury-lane Theatre for the ensuing season,
but such aone as, it is feared, the committee cannot ac-
cept, it being too low even to admit of a hope that the
shareholders will obtain a dividend.
BRISTOL AND EXETER RAILWAY.--We
have been informed, on good authority, that the line from
Bristol to Bridgwater will be ready to open for traffic on
Whit Monday, 31st May.—Bristol Standard.
In reply to a letter, which appears in our co-
lumns of yesterday, signed " Churchman," a member of
the University suites that such an association does exist,
and that Messrs. Keble, Pusey, Hook, Newman, and Pal-
mer, are members of its Committee of Management. The
Bishop of Calcutta's name appears merely as that of a
subscriber. The Oxford rumour respecting Mr. Mait-
land, we gave as we received it.—Morning Chronicle.
Lord Ward, after leaving Mivart's Hotel, pro-
ceeded to Himley Hall, Staffordshire, and has since gone
to inspect his recently-purchased estates in Aberdeenshire,
formerly in the possession of the Marquis of Huntley. '