The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-04 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, FRIDAY.—The Apollo came into harbour
this afternoon, in tow of the Echo tug, to refit.
A bold attempt at smuggling was made at the mouth of
the harbour this morning by a watermau named John
Martin, who had got 291bs. of manufactured tobacco (Caven-
dish) in the boat; he was, however, suspected, and boarded
by two officers from the Gosport Coast-guard station, but
Martin resisted their endeavours to secure the tobacco, which
was concealed under the head-sheets of the boat, and took
up a pig of ballast (an iron mass, weighing about 701b5.),
and dashed it into the bottom of his boat with the intention
of staving and sinking her; the officers of the Nelson cutter,
however, having witnessed the scuttle, sent assistance in
another boat, who succeeded in making good the capture.
Martin and a boy (his son) were taken before the magistrate,
and the former was remanded to await instructions from the
Commissioners of Customs, and the latter was discharged.
The wherry in which the smuggled tobacco was seized
was taken to the Custom-house and given into the charge
of Mr. George Dudley, her Majesty's warehouse-keeper,
but while the boat was being formally delivered into the
custody of that gentleman, a mob which had collected on
the Custom-house quay on hearing of the capture of the
smuggler, among whom were many more reckless characters
of the same description, endeavoured to prevent this being
carried into effect by attempting to rescue a lad named
Butcher, who had been given into custody by Mr. Dudley
for obstructing the officers in the execution of their duty, cre-
ated a riot, and attempted to throw the Custom-house officers
into the water ; but fortunately, with the assistance of the
commander of the Nelson cutter and a gentleman named
Collins, who was on the spot at the time, the prisoner Aladin
was secured and taken before Major Travers, one of the
justices of the peace for the borough, and after hearing the
evidence he was remanded for seven days. Other parties
recognised in the transaction are being sought after, war-
rants having been granted for their apprehension. The
offence is punishable with seven years' transportation, or
three years' imprisonment.
The Adventure naval transport, with stores on board for
Plymouth and Milford yards, went out of harbour to-day
and anchored at Spithead, the wind blowing too strong from
the westward, with heavy squalls, to allow of her proceeding

further.
The Sparrow surveying-vessel, Commander Otter, hauled
out of Blockhouse-hole this morning into the fairway, and
is now taking in water. She has been supplied with a tender
here (a line-of-battle ship's launch), which has been neatly
fitted and rigged like herself, but so outrageously overmasted
that very great care and skill will be requisite in the ma-
nagement of her, to prevent her from "turning turtle," and
forming a coffin for her crew.
The Rapid, 10, Commander Gallaway, was at Madeira on
the 21st ult.
The Viper brigantine, Lieutenant Commander Gray, sailed
from St. Michael's for Bermuda on the 16th ult.
The Agincourt, 72, Captain Johnstone, flag of Rear-Ad-
, miral Sir Thomas Cochrane, Commander-in-Chief on the
China and East India station, was at Hong-Kong on th

30th of January.
The Pilot, 16, Commander Jervis, was at Aden on the
20th of February, all well.
The Vestal, 26, Captain Talbot, was at Hong-Kong on
the 31st of January.
A mail, brought from Madeira by the Dart packet, was
landed here this afternoon. She left Madeira on the 2let of