The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-21 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

We have authority to announce that the prepara-
tions for the reception of the Court at Windsor
Castle render it necessary to discontinue the admis-
sion of visitors with orders to view the private apart-
ments after Thursday next, the 23d inst.
His Excellency the Austrian Ambassador trans.
acted businesss yesterday at the Foreign-office.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

SIR CHARLES NAPIER'S SQUADRON.

PORTSMOUTH, SEPT. 20.—8 y the arrival of the
Howe, 120, Captain Sir James Stirling, and the
Vixen steam-sloop, Commander A. P. Ryder, we are
put in possession of letters which enable us to follow
up our details of the movement of Sir Charles Na-
pier's squadron, consisting of the St. Vincent, 120
(flag), Captain Milne; the Howe, 120, Captain Sir
James Stirling; the Queen, 110, Captain Sir H.
Leeke ; the Vengeance, 84, Captain Lushingtor. ; the
Canopus, 84, Captain oresby, and the steam frigates
and sloops, Sidon, Odin, Avenger, Dragon, Vixen,
and Stromboli, which put to sea from Lisbon on the
morning of the 10th inst., for a cruise of exercise and
evolution, as did also a Spanish corvette and a French
brig of war, leaving in the Tagus the Caledonia, 120,
Captain Dixon, America, 50, Captain Sir T. Mait-
land, and the Jackal iron steamer, Lieutenant Com-
mander 'Western; also the Spanish commodore's ship,
one corvette, a brig, and a steam sloop ; the French
gunnery ship Iphegenia, and a steamer, and the Por-
tuguese flag-ship, a two decker, a frigate, and two or
three corvettes and smaller vessels of war.

By 7 A.M. the squadron was under weigh and
standing down the Tagus in gallant style, the St.
Vincent leading ; the Howe, Vengeance, Canopus,
and Queen following in the order in which they are
named, accompanied by the steamers, the Stromboli
bringing up the rear. The St. Vincent and Howe
stood into Caxia's bay ; the Vengeance, Canopus, and
Queen kept their wind. At 7.30 the signal was
made to " shorten sail, and prepare to be taken
in tow by the steamers denoted.' Wind then about
S.S.W., moderate breeze. At 8 the Canopus, taken
in tow by the Dragon, passed the Vengeance, and
went ahead at a good rate. The Vengeance was
taken in tow by the Vixen ; the St. Vincent fol-
lowed in tow of the Sidon ; the Howe of the Odin ;
and the Queen of the Avenger. The Howe had
her sails furled ; the other ships had their topsails
on the cap. At 9.20 A.M. the rate of towing, by
signal, was—Canopus, 6+ knots ; Vengeance, 41 ;
St. Vincent, 5f ; Howe, 5i ; and Queen, 5 ; moderate
breeze and smooth water. At 10 cast off from the
steamers, and set topsails, jib, and spanker. At
sunset the squadron were excercised in reefing top-
sails and courses. _ _

" Saturday the 11th—light winds and calms.—
At 3 P.M. the Howe parted company for England.
The Avenger was ordered to get her steam up and
proceed in shore to look out for the packet from
England.
"Sunday the 12th.—The Avenger rejoined and
signalled ' Have not seen packet.' In the afternoon a
steamer's train of smoke was descried merging above
the horizon. The Avenger was immediately sent in
chase; she returned about six P.M., with letters for
the squadron from England. The signal was quickly
flying, ' Send for letters,' at all times a joyful one.
" Monday the 13th.—The line-of-battle ships were
underw topsailsade to
and form l
iexercised at general quarters, each ship laid out her
target and commenced firing shot, but a dense fog
topgallantieof-
Canopus, put a stop to it for half an hour or more. When the
a n weather
epue cleared
, a ndQueen,
theuee
ns i, gna l as m
battle in single column and pass between the targets.
The St. Vincent led, followed by the Vengeance,
sails ; each ship, as her guns were made to bear on
the targets, commenced firing from both sides six
rounds from each gun in rapid su • ccession, with spirit
and good aim. The firing was admi •
rablygood, not
a shot having been fired but
had would have struck a ship
had one been in the targets' l p ace; as it was they
were riddled. In the meantime the Vixen had been
ordered to Lisbon, eth and
signal was made, that
there would be an •
si
opportunity for sending letters to
England by her when she returned. The steam
squadron were then ordered to unship their floats
and try their rate of sailing. They started about
ten A.M., and returned at four r.M. in the following
order :—Sidon, Dragon, Avenger, Odin, and Strom-
boli, the wind right southerly, a royal breeze, with
smooth water. At 4.30 P.M. the inclination of each
was demanded, and given thus :—Sidon, 4 degrees;
on 2 degrees ; Odin,
Avenger, 21 degrees ; .Drag ,
ees. This evening
3 degrees; itnd Stromboli, 2 de gr
the captains of the steam squadron dined with Sir
Charles. Napier. ,
" Tuesday the 14th. The Vixen rejoined last
night at 10.15 P.M. We have a moderate breeze
from the south-east standing along the land off Cape
Roco. The Vixen leaves at half-past one P.M. for
England. The squadron continues cruizing. The
time occupied by the steamers unshipping their floats
pr
ior to their trial of sailing yesterday, as given by
signal, was--Sidon, 80 minutes; Avenger, 61 minutes;
1
Stromboli, 60 minutes ; Dragon, 55 minutes ; and
Odin, 50 minutes.
When the Vixen parted company for England the
squadron were off the rock of Gibraltar.