The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-25 00:00:00

MAY 25, 1848.
s
7

deplewndi
' tween the troops and the people wholly unknown in
this country.
allegiance, Oh, hut you will receive a large arma-
ment from France. So says not M. de Lamartine in
il in ign
oan fut.
ht ue rdeelfeetctteiro
defection
hoof virt h
ey
militarycu t hea bfsruormd i
his reply to the address from the Irish Confederation.
You seem to forget the existence of the British navy,
and whilst you appear to think that your insular posi-
tion is in itself a safeguard, does it never occur to
you, that round your coasts a powerful
their
allegiance,
fleet will hover, matchless in prowess, and
admitted by the nations of the world to be the uncon-
querable masters of that watery element which forms
the home of the rough British tar ? I have already
written at too great length, but I will resume the
subject at an early period.
Recollect '9B—remember the floggings, the uni-
versal slaughter of which that insurrection was the
parent.

- The last century closed in blood, the consequences
resulting therefrom were that liberty
.received a
shock, from the effects of which Lou long seriously
suffered. You are now approaching
ythoeupresent
y century,
paeifie during
means,t he latter v
under
ea rtsh ofl whichd
the middle of
ship of that great man whose impulsive mined. leader-
ship of
your energies, won the splendid
es
of Catholic Emancipation and Parliamentary ir;.nftoor.
Do:not blast all the good effects of Cieonne.'s laebOnars.
by rushing madly into a rebellion, which, as sure as
to-morrow's sun rises, will terminate like that of
'9B—in blood, ruin and defeat, when the unfortu-
nate Irishman May, with a slight alteration in the
words of the • great Scottish poet, appropriately
exclaim—
" Weep Erin, to death, to captivity led,
Oh weep, but your tears cannot number the dead, •
For a merciless sword on old Ireland 'shall wive—
Old Ireland, which reeks with the blood of thebrave."
May that God who, I trust, looks with.a pitying eye
on thoeyleorveidt
hlayndthoef
unholy niybi
designs
saigvenrst
ofth theevoisles impend-
ingnow
de-
sirous of obtaining a damning immortality, by fan -
ning a flame which can only be extinguished in the
blood of Ireland's most chivalrous sons, united with
the tears of her fairest daughters, is the fervent
prayer of; Fellow-Countrymen, your faithful friend,
THE SON OF AN UNITED IRISHMAN.

AVAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE NEW BASIN AT PORTSMOUTH.
MAY 24.—A1l in and around this neighbourhood are full
of expectation for the great event ofThursday—the opening
by her Majesty in person of this important national
structure. Ne'exertion is being spared, nor consistent
expense to render the ceremony one of attraction com-
mensurate with the character and purposes of the work.
Upwards of twenty booths are in course of erection
around the basin to accommodate the public, and the
standing space allotted is being staked out for 20,000
spectators, besides the Elite, who are to be accommodated
in the covered booths.

Eight military bands will be stationed around the
basin, and about 4,000 soldiery, including the battalions,
will be present.
It is expected that her Majesty will leave Osborne
about half-past two o'clock on Thursday, so as to arrive
off the King's-stairs in the dockyard a little after three.
At this point the royal yacht Fairy will pass through
two lines of boats from the fleet in commission to be
drawn up to escort her Majesty to the basin. The first
boat on the right of this lino will be the Admiralty
barge with the whole of the Board, followed by Rear-
Admiral Sir Charles Napier, and six or eight captains of
the navy in commission at the port in their boats. The
first boat on the left of the line will be that of the Com-
mander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, with his
Flag-,Lieutenant and Secretary, followed by the boat of
Captain Sir James Stirling, of the Howe, 120, and the
boats of six or eight other captains or commanders of
the fleet in commission, according to seniority. In this
order the flotilla will follow the Fairy into the basin.
On the pier head of the basin Rear-Admiral Prescott,
C. 8., the Superintendent of the Dockyard, with Lord
Frederick Fitzelarence, G.C.H., the Major-General
Commandant of the Garrison and District, surrounded
by their respective staffs, will salute and receive her
Majesty, and the Artillery Company of the Dockyard
Battalion will fire a salute from their 9-pounder field-
pieces as the Royal standard is hoisted when the Fairy
enters the basin, followed by the flotilla before described.
It is understood that the Fairy will then proceed to the
stairs leading to the spot where lies the last stone of the
grand work ready for setting by the Royal hand, and
that she will land and witness the ceremony of laying
that stone, or perform the office of chief mason on the
occasion, amidst the ceremonies and enthusiasm inci-
dental to such occasions.
The contract for the basin was signed on the 29th of
May, 1843 ; the work was commenced on the 10th of
June, 1843 ; the first stone was laid by Rear-Admiral
Hyde Parker, C.B. (then Superintendent of the Dock-
yard), ,on the 13th of January, 1845, at which kime
Lieutenant Beatson was the officer of Royal Engineers
in charge of the Government works. He was succeeded
by Captain Brandreth, Director of Works ; Captain
Denison (now Governor of New South Wales) ; Captain
James (now in office in the establishment, under whose
superintendence and that of Admiral Prescott and' Mr.
Edmund Smith, the chief agent of the contractors the
accommodations for the opening are being organizkl) ;
and lastly by Colonel Irvine, the Director-General of
Engineering and Architectural Works to the Admiralty
at the present time.
The materials consumed in the work amount to an
enormous aggregate, which will give some idea of its
stupendous character and proportions.
Quantity of stone received :
Cube feet.
From Cornwall and Devonshire ... 588,797
From Guernsey .• • 8,319
From Jersey... ... 7,790
From Herm ... •.• 2,580
Prom Portland ... ..• •.• 264,720
From Purbeck ... 283,000

1,155,206

Timber :
Memel ..• ... • 543,7®
Birch, from the Duke of Richmond's
estate
•.• •.• 200,000
Bricks (number) ... 7,696,000
Earth excavated (tons) ... ••• 959,500
Clay in the dam (tons) ... ..• 25,000
The mean dimensions of the basin are as under :
Feet.
774
400

Length
Breadth
Depth
•.. ,
There are two inlets on the east side of the3blasin,
each 300 feet long by 70 wide and 30 feet deep from the
coping ; these are to enable vessels whose refitments
must be completed in a great hurry to be worked upon
by the artisans on both sides at once.
The area of water in the basin and inlets is el acres;
the basin alone, 7 acres.
In the south-west corner is a large graving dock, 80
feet wide at the entrance, and 305 feet long " over all,"
with a width of 101 feet between the coping.
basin
On the west brink of theis a great factory of
most handsome architecture, 687 feet long, 48 wide, and
51 high; this is partially roofed in, and the window
places are filled up with seats for the multitude to view.
the opening. In the south-west end of this building the
contractor will feast his men, to the number of 1,600,
after the opening.
Ou the south wall is a new brass foundry. 90 feet by
110. This has been, for some time, in par6;il working.
The basin is considered capable of accommodating
around its sides as many as nine steam-frigates of the
first class. It has employed, on the average, as many as
1,500 men since the commencement: and if we consider
the immense body to whom it has given 'work off the
premises—the quarries, forests, iron work, &c., we have
an army of labonrers to whom this structure alone has
afforded subsistence. Besideethe above materials, there
have been used in various parts of the whole about 2,500
tons of cast iron from Staffordshire. The rough cost of
the labour already turned out of hand is 400,0004
The day of opening will be a gala day such as never
before has been equalled. The commanders-in-chief,
naval and military, the corporate body, the heads of
department, all entertain festive_ parties on. the occasion.
The Dockyard Battalion, to the number 'of 2,030, will
be feasted together in the hew boathouse in the dock-
yard; the contractor will entertain a select circle at the
George Hotel, and in short, universal festivity and
general holiday will be the order of the day.
The Howe, 126, Captain Sir James Stirling, was Un-
docked last evening, and got out of the basin to-day.
She will complete refitting and be at Spithea d by tho 30th
ROYAL MARINES.
Her Majesty having been pleased to direr .t by an Order
in Council, dated the 18th inst., that an'adelition be made
to the present strength of the corps of one Lieutenant-
Colonel and 12' divisional companies, tbn following will
be the new establishment:--112 divisional companies; 10
artillery companies; each divisional con iipany to consist
of 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 5 sergeants„ 5 corporals, 3
drummers, 90 privates-106. -Each artinery company
to consist of 1 captain, 4 lieutenants, 7 s. tt geants, 7 cor-
porals, 3 bombardiers, 3 drummers, 125. gunners--150,
making a total strength of divisional cot a parries, 11,872;
artillery companies, 1,500-13,372. Of the 12 new com-
panies three are attached to each divisio ti.
Detachments from Woolwich and Ply 'mouth, amount-
ing to 230 rank and file, are ordered to Portsmouth, to
embark in the Howe, 120, for passage to j sin the ships in
the Mediterranean, to complete them t. the new estab-
lishment.
A detachment consisting of 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, and
38 privates embarked to-day in the Ho i ve, to complete
her complement.
Wind, south, moderate breezes; and hr 13 ;31 weather.
All the ships in commission at this port were "dressed"
to-day, in honour of her Majesty's bi rt hday, and the
royal standard was hoisted at the ICin{;'s -rooms and on
all the Government offices. At twelve o'clock royal
salutes were fired, and a feu de joie •by the troops in
garrison,
,as nsuLl.
Mr. Russell, Master of the President:, .50, flag-ship on
the' Cape station, is appointed by the, 'Commander-in-

_

[PRICE SD.

Chief to command the; Seringapatam store depot at
Simon's Bay, vice M'Creight, invalided.
Three courts-martial were held on board the President
on the 22d and 23d of March—one on an engineer of
the Rosamond steam-sloop for knocking down a boat-
swain, for which the prisoner was reduced. The second
count was upon a seaman, upon a similar charge, in
knocking down the boatswain of the President, for which
he was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. The
third was on a marine, of the President, but the charge
and result we are not furnished with.

......_ _ _
Mr. John F. Rees, Master of the Brilliant, is appointed
to the President, vice Russell; Mr. Olive, of the Nimrod,
is appointed to the Brilliant, vice Rees; and Mr. George
L. Carr, Second Master of the Seringapatam, is appointed
to the Nimrod.
The Powerful, 84, Captain the Hon. It S. Dundas,
C. 8., was officially inspected to-day at Spithead, by the
Commander-in-Chief.
Wind, south, light breezes, and fine weather.
BERMUDA, MAY 6.—A court-martial was held to-day
on board the Wellesley, 72, flag of Vice-Admiral the
Earl of Dundonald, to try Mr. Black, fitst engineer of
the Vesuvius steam-sloop, on three charges of drunken-
ness. The Court consisted of Vice-Admiral the Earl of
Dundonald, President; Captain Seymour, of the Vin-
dictive,
flag of Vice-Admiral Sir :F. Austin (senior
officer); Captain -Goldsmith, of the Wellesley; Com-
mander Sir William Wiseman, of the Vindictive; Com-
mander Schomberg, of the Wellesley; and Mr. G. P.
Ricord, secretary to the Earl of Dundonald, deputy-
judge advocate of the fleet. The charges were preferred
cl:rimevmioiuttselyd:h
by Commander H. G. Austin, of the Vesuvius. After
a trial of six hours the Court eclared the charges proved,-
and sentenced the prisoner to be dismissed her Majesty's
aimndselofradgeareind, tobe bweas
service. He will return to England in the Vindictive.
Mr. Nicoll, a master's assistant, was also. dismissed the
same day, alter a court of inquiry, which sat a fortnight ,
dictive, far the consideration of the Lords of the Ad-
miralty,.but having since, that resolution of the Court
I
the servict
dismissedh e Vine. and ordered a • the Vindictive. ,
passage in
At anchor-
-Tile Vindictive
and Wellesley.
' -4-longide the dockya
out; the Vesuvius steam-sloop T.he Viper schooner, clearing.
the Gleaner Stearn eam-sloop making good,detects, and
peremptorilysent
i n
England. . er fitting out by the Kite's crew :for
Mr- Campbell, the naval •
are coming to England vil chaplain here, and family,
Belano, who brought out thel the Gleaner, as also tar.
Mr. Dicken, acting-mat Medway convict-ship.
acting-lieutenant of the FI has just been appointed
mail-agent to the ' ectra, 14, - vice Cook, as
dead. Great We stern packet, vice —,
Bermuda is very healthy; the
has been among the convicts, who
onlhy mortality of note
average of about twelve per month. ave died upon the
MALTA, MAY 15.—Commander Lowe
ante troop ship, was invalided yesterday morning, and
; of
the
Resist
Lieutenant Julian, First of the Hibernia,
the command. The Resistance sails to-morrowapoillted to
Gibraltar to embark the 79th Regiment for for
Halifax or
Quebec.