The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-26 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.

Mates.—G. A. W. Welsh, to the Powerful, 84 guns,
at Portsmouth ; C. C. Day, to the Vengeance, 14 guns,
at Naples.
Assistant-Surgeon.—Thomas Breen, to Ganges, 84
guns, at Sheerness.
Midshipmen.—C. Atkins, to the Fisgard flag-ship, at
Woolwich; G. H. Broadhead, to the Vengeance; Mr. T.
Parks, to the Kingfisher sloop at Portsmouth; R. Morris,
to the Fisgard, at Woolwich; Viscount Guillamore, to
the Victory flag-ship, at Portsmouth; G. R. Bell, to the
Driver steam-vessel.

Masters' Assistants.—W. Long to the Medina steam-
vessel, at Woolwich; J. G. N. Millet, to the St. Vincent,
120 guns, at Spithead.
Naval Cadet.—The Hon. J. B. Vivian, to the Victory.
PLYMOUTH, OCT. 24.—Her Majesty's steam-sloop
Hermes, 6, came in from Portsmouth on the 22d inst.
She is ordered to receive on board jurymast and gear for
her Majesty's frigate Arethusa, 50, at Pembroke.
The riggers at Devonport Dockyard are t• mast and
rig her Majesty's frigate Amazon, 26, ready fur com-
mission.

LOSS of the VELOCITY STEAMER.
ABERDEEN, OCT. 23.—The Velocity, John Stewart
master, which has for several years past traded regu-
larly between this port and Newcastle, is now a total
wreck, having gone to pieces last evening off the
mouth of the harbour. The following is a brief nar-
rative of the unfortunate occurrence :—The Velocity
left Newcastle at nine o'clock on Saturday, with a
general cargo and seven passengers, the crew num-
bering 20, making in all 27 souls. She got over the
, bar at Shields about 11 P.m., a strong easterly run-
ning, and the wind blowing rather fresh, veering
from E S.E. to S.E. At four A.M. a strong wind
blew from the S.E., with a heavy sea to eastward.
The vessel had, however, a favourable run, and at
four r.ai. was off Aberdeen harbour. The tide not
serving, she stood out to sea, and laid off until a suffi-
cient depth of water admitted the vessel going over
the bar, which was about six P.M. The helm was
then put about, and she bore direct to the harbour.
On nearing the bar betwixt the two breakwaters
a heavy " freshet" out of the harbour caught
the vessel on the larboard bow. A strong sea
running at the same time caught her on
the starboard quarter, thus destroying all command
of the helm. The master, in this critical position,
ordered the engines to be backed, but the effort was
useless, the tide having so much power on her lar-
board bow, that it was impossible to get her hove
round. At this juncture a sea struck her and threw
her on the point of the breakwater; a second sea
turned her further round, and a third threw her
athwart the rocks. The vessel then parted in the
centre through the engine-room, and,her head canted
to the southward, with her stern towards the harbour,
when she settled down on the rocks, and immediately
began to break up. On the vessel first striking all
hands were called to get out the boats, three in num-
ber; the starboard boat was then lowered, and the
steward, stewardess, carpenter, second mate, two
seamen, and the two apprentices got into it, and
succeeded in getting ashore. The ship's life-
boat was then attempted to be got out, but un-
fortunately it was found that the tackle had been
cut, which rendered it impossible to get her afloat.
Ia this distressing situation, the quarter deck,
on which the remaining crew and passengers stood,
broke away from the hull and providentially floated,
in comparatively smooth water. A scene of painful
excitement took place among the large crowd of per-
sons who had by this time assembled on the pier. The
life-boat belonging to the harbour had been sent for
on the alarming danger becoming apparent, but an
hour elapsed before it was launched, owing to the
neglect of the person having the keys in his posses-
sion. The door of the boat-house was at length
broken open, and the boat quickly manned by the
harbour pilots. They proceeded to the wreck and
took off the remainder of the crew and passengers,
the master being the last to leave the ill-fated vessel,
No injuries were sustained by any of the passengers;
the master was severely bruised by the falling of the
mainmast, which also struck a seaman, injuring his
head to a frightful extent. The whole of the pro-
perty of the passengers andcrebwoilit on the
s lost, and the
entire cargo. The Velocity was
about 20 years since, and was, we believe, thetofirasnt
steamer laid on at Aberdeen. She was insured
average amount.

We regret to find that one of the French National
Guard was yesterday robbed of his purse, containing
money to the value of 501., by some of the thieves who
infest our public places, particularly on all occasions of
bustle and crowding. The victim had gone by a steam-
boat from Westminster to London• bridge, and on his
arrival at his destination discovered his serious loss,
having barely sufficient money left in his pockets to take
him back to Calais, where he resides.