The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-03 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

_
PORTSMOUTH, MAY 2.—The St. Vincent, 120, Captain
Milne, received her crew from the Victorious hulk yes-
terday, and hoisted the flag of Admiral Sir Charles
Ogle, Bart., the Commander-in-Chief. This ship has
been refitted in a most smart and admirable manner,
presenting at this moment as fine and splendid an ap-
pearance of what a British three-decker ought to be as
was ever exhibited afloat. Her captain, master, indeed
every officer and man in her, deserve great praise for
this perfection. Sir Charles Ogle attended Divine ser-
vice on board this morning.
The Alert, 6, Commander Ellis, arrived this morning
at Spithead, from the west coast of Africa, whereon sbe
has been employed in the suppression of the slave trade.
Although not included in the regulations with regard to
saluting, being rated only as a 6-gun sloop, she saluted
the Commander-in-Chief, which was duly returned by
the St. Vincent. She left Tobaccany (we understood)
on the 3d of March, at which time the Penelope steam-
frigate, Captain Giffard, bearing the broad pendant of
Commodore Sir Charles Hotham, K.C.8., Commander-
in-Chief ; the Devastation steam-sloop, Commander
Crouch; and the Rolla, 10, Commander Ellicombe, were
there, all well; left Sierra Leone on the 24th of March,
at which time the French Admiral was there, but no
English man-of-war. Since she has been on the coast
the Alert has captured eight slavers, only one of which,
however, had slaves on board when taken. The station
generally was healthy when she left. She has brought
dispatches from the Commodore, and letters from the
squadron. She will now be paid off.
Two courts-martial are ordered to be held to morrow;
one upon the officers and crew of the late Thunderbolt
for the loss of the vessel, the other upon the carpenter
for drunkenness.
The Avenger steam-frigate, Captain Deere, arrived
yesterday morning from Ireland, having completed her
" relief service," and came into harbour to be fitted up
for foreign service.
The Star, 6, Commander Selwin, sailed last night for
Sheerness, to be paid off.
The Daring, 12, Commander Matson, was at Vera
Cruz on the 12th of March, a letter of which date
says :---
" The packet which left England on the Ist of Jan-
uary, itis feared and believed, is totally lo,t, nothing
having been heard of or from her since she left Havannah
for Vera Cruz. The American forces now number ten
thousand men before Vera Cruz. They have cut off all
communication, but in consequence of some gross mis-
take in the department of the quartermaster, they are
totally without shelter, being unprovided with tents,
consequently they have to remain on the scorching sand
hills the whole of the day and are saturated with deadly
heavy dews all night, which at this p:aiod are most fatal.
They made another most disheartening discovery last
night only, namely, that the whole, or nearly the
whole, of their artillery train has been left behind (at
Matamoras). It may fairly be presumed that, under
these circumstances, it will be some time before the
Americans can make prize of this place, if at all, and
they must suffer fearful loss in the attempt. Some skir-
mishing has already taken place ashore between the
Ranchero cavalry and the American outposts, with the
result of a loss to the latter of a colonel and eight men
of the Tenessee Volunteers. The Mexicans only had a
very few wounded, aad those only slightly, scarcely
anything to mention. The troops landed on the 9th
and 10th of March, and the first division (about 2,000)
got all their ammunition saturated in the surge, and re-
mained four hours without a cartridge; fortunately for
them the enemy did not make any descent upon them,
or awful would have been the carnage among the troops
of Jonathan. The Mexicans have about 2,500 infantry
and 600 cavalry in the town, and 2,000 well armed and
trained patriots in the castle. A stiff norther is now
blowing, which will commit sad discomfort and annoy-
ance among the Yankees in the sand hills by the drift.
To a looker on these features present a most engaging
and deeply interesting aspect. The issue remains. to be
seen, but to us there appears no apprehension on the
part of the Mexicans of defeat. At present the advan-
tage is incontestably on their side, but the struggle will
be a frightful one whenever it comes."
Captain Booth, late of the Columbine, arrived here on
Friday evening in a pilot boat from the Australasian
packet from Cadiz; he was left at St. Helena by the
Cleopatra, 26, in consequence of suffering severely from
the effects of old wounds received in action with pirates
in 1813, for his gallantry on which occasion he was pro-
moted to the rank of lieutenant. Captain Booth took a
passage from St. Helena to Cadiz in the Najaden, a
Swedish corvette, of 16 long 24-pounder guns, of whose
discipline he speaks highly. She may be expected at
this port, en route to Sweden, about the 10th hut. We
are glad to find Captain Booth, although lame, much
recovered.

The good-service pension of 3001. per annum, which
reverted to the Admiralty on the death of Admiral Sir
Davidge Gould, has been bestowed on the Admiral of
the Wnite, the Hon: Sir J. Talbot, K.O G., who was,
according to the record of his services in Allen's' New
Navy List, " Senior Lieutenant of the Astrea at the
capture of the French frigate Gloire in 1795 ; Captain
of the Leander in 1805 ; and captured the Villa de
Milan, of 46 guns, and retook the Cleopatra, her prize.
Was Captain of the Thunderer, and attacked the
Turkish squadron under Point Pesquier, in the Dar-
danelles, 1807. Was wounded when commanding the
Victorieuse, in 1812 ; and received a gold medal for the
capture of the French 74, Rivoli. Gazetted 1795,1805,
1807, 1812."
The Wolverine, 16, Commander Hay, called at the
Western Islands (as above stated) on her way home, and
found great distress prevailing there.
The Childers, 16, Commander Pitman, was at Wham-
poa on the 25th of Februry, a letter of which date says,
" The affairs of the new year have progressed very
smoothly at the city (Canton), the Commissioner
Keying having acted with much decision and sound
justice, according to the Chinese mode of administering
it, haying cut off the heads of no less than 129 of the
rioters in one morning (the 11th instant), and 37 the
next morning. You have, doubtles4, heard of the death
of Commander Gordon, of the Wolf sloop, and of
Lieutenant Vansittart having been promoted by Sir
Thomas Cochrane, and put in command of her to take
her to England. But perhaps you have not heard of the
death of 30 men of the Iris. 26, Captain Mundy, from
fever caught at Labuan, off Borneo."

During the past week the Admiralty have made the
following promotions and appointments :