The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-24 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH, W EDNESDAY.—A court-martial was
ordered to assemble tomorrow morning, at nine o'clock,
on board the St. Vincent, to try Commander Patten and
the oXlic,!rs of the Osprey, for the loss of that vessel, but
the inquiry has been postponed in consequence of the
non-arrival of some important witnesses.
The Comet steam-vessel,Lieutenant-CommanderJohn-
ston, took fe.rty sacks of biscuit and forty sacks of Indian
meal from Westport to Dugort, on the 18th. A letter
from her, dated Westport, Dec. 19,
says :—"Her Ma-
jesty's ship Comet has now anchored at Dorench, some
six miles from the anchorage at Nana-head, our usual
anchorage, having returned from Achill-bay, whither she
had been with biscut and meal. The town of Westport
was convulsed on the evening. of the 18th by some two
or three thousand of the country people,
who assembled
before the houses of the principal merchants, demanding
a reduction in the exorbitant price of flour and meal,
also of provisions generally, especially of oats. After
an harangue with some of the millers and merchants of
the place, they returned to their b tuning families very
much dissatisfied. The shops were closed, and a good
deal of alarm was experienced. The military were
under arms at the barracks, but did not make their ap-
pearance. Indeed, the multitude were peaceable, and
paraded with the stipendiary magistrates. They prin-
cipally assembled from a place called the Irish • Ough-
sowe,' about three miles out of Westport, to the south-
ward. . • . A few more parishes' are expected in
shortly—all as hungry as people living in the mountains
without anything to eat may needs be expected to be."
The Resistance troop-ship, Commander Lowe, was re-
move d from the basin this evening.
The Drake lighter arrived to-day with stores from the
eastward.
The Penelope steam-frigate has taken on board her
powder and shells to-day ; her present armament is as
follows :
On the upper deck—Two 42-pounders, 10 feet long,
84 cwt. ; eight 421 b. carronades.
On the main-deck—Eight 68-pounders, 9 feet long,
65 cwt. ; two 681 b. carronades; and two 421 b. carronades.
Boat guns—Two 241 b. carronades ; one 121 b. carro-
nade ; and one 61b. long brass gun.
Total for ship's armament „22
Total for boats' armament 4

Grand total 26
Gra
The Sidon steam-frigate, Captain W. H. Henderson,
C. 8., arrived this morning from Woolwich. She is
ordered into the harbour to have some alterations made,
and has come in this evening.
WooLwICH, DEC. 23.—The Mastiff surveying vessel,
Master-Commander Thomas, and her tender, the Wood-
lark, will be paid off in a few days, and recommissioned
by Commander Becher, R.N., of the surveying service,
and for some time past employed in the Hydrographer's-
office at the Admiralty.
The Sidon steam- frigate, Captain W. H. Henderson,
C. 8., left Greenhithe on Friday last, for Portsmputh.
The Amphion steam-frigate, Captain Williams, is
nearly rigged, and will be ready for trial in a few days,
previous to proceeding to sea.
The Medea steam-vessel, Comander Hammond, will be
completed about the Ist of January next ; and it is ex-
pected she will proceed to the Mediterranean, for duty at
that station.

The Geyser steam-vessel, Commander Brown, will
leave Woolwich soon, being now ready for sea. Her
destination is not known.

The Rosamond steam-vessel, Commander J. Foote,
has nearly completed her refitting, and is reported to be
the vessel destined to relieve her Majesty's steam• vessel
Thunderbolt, Commander Boyle, at the Cape of Good
Hope ; the latter having been upwards of four years in
commission.
The Rhadamanthus, steam-vessel, for troops, Master-
Commander Aylen, left Woolwich on Monday for Ports-
mouth, where she is to receive hor final sailing orders, it
being uncertain whether she will proceed to Malta, the
coast of Scotland, or the coast of Ireland.
The Centaur steam frigate went down the River on
Saturday, and returned on the following day, although
the trial was satisfactory, as she requires to be fitted
here with spare gear. It is now expected these fittings
will occupy about ten days, when she will be navigated
to Portsmouth by Mr. 11. Davy, master-in. charge, and
the crew who brought round the Encounter steam-
frigate. _

The La Hogue steam-guard-ship was towed from
Blackwall to Deptford, yesterday, to receive her steam
machinery.
The Fearless steam-vessel, Master-Commander Wells,
left Woolwich on Monday, for Chatham, having had a
thorough repair of her hull and machinery, in addition
to new boilers.

The Monkey steam vessel, one of the first steam-
vessels employed in the British Royal Nary, has been
undergoing great repairs during the last three months,
and is now nearly ready again for service. The per-
formances of this vessel on many occasions have re-
flected great credit on her designer and constructors,
and it is probable she will outlive and be of equal,
if not greater, service than many of more modern con-
struction.

Vessels in Harbour—The William and Mary yacht,
bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Sir J. Gordon
Bremer, K.C.B. and K.C.H.; the Ceres tender, Black
Eagle, Lightning, Amphion, Porcupine, Teazer, Minx,
Charon, and Centaur steam-vessels ; the Mastiff sur-
veying-vessel and her tender, the Woodlark, the Cocka-
trice victualling transport, and the Sulphur, depot for
the Royal Marines.

In the Basin—The Growler, Medea, Rosamond,
Geyser, Avon, Gorgon, Dwarf, Monkey, Tartarus,
Niger, and Janus steam-vessels.
In Dock—The Vixen steam-vessel.
Colonel John Hewes, Royal Marines, has accepted the
retirement, which promotes Major Wearing to the rank
of Lieutenant-Colonel.

In consequence of an alteration respecting the trans-
porting of convicts to Van Diemen's Land, 200 will
shortly be sent to Woolwich, in addition to the present
number, for labour in the dockyard.