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

SV N 7 MAY 25, 1848.

tween the troops and the people wholly unknown in
this country.
allegiance. Oh, but you will receive a large arma-
deplewn
di liln
gi n
oan fut
htue rdeelfeetctteironshoof wt h ,(e
I)nuiltithaeryabfsruormd ittyh
their
merit from France. So says not M. de Lamartine in
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
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 you long seriously
suffered. You are now approaching the middle of
the present century, during the latter Years of which
you have, by pacific means, and, under the leader-
ship of that great man whose impulsive mind called
forth your energies, won the splendid victories
of Catholic Emancipation and Parliamentary Reform.
Do:not blast all the good effects of a Connell's labours
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 wave—
Old Ireland, which reeks with the blood of the brave."
May that God who, I trust, leoks with a pitying eye
on the lovedero t by
imy
unholy designs
birth, avert
o f those the evilsse now de-
sirous
iznpend
in
g ea
damning immortality, by fan •
ning a flame which can only be extinguished
blood of Ireland's most chivalrous sons, united
over
v ofi
b landan
it ogf
the tears of her fairest daughters,
iitsthlefrifeenrdvent
in
withthe
prayer of, Fellow-Countrymen, yourfahf
THE SON OF AN UNITED IRISHMAN.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE NEW BASIN AT PORTSMOUTH.
MAY 24.—A1l in and around this neighbourhood are full
ofexpectation for the great erentofThursday--the opening
by her Majesty in person of this important national
structure. No 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 di*, 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 eipected 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,
the Superintendent of the Dockyard, with Lurd
Frederick Fitaclarence, G.C.11., 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-
dentoj to such occations.
The'contract for the basin was signed on the,29th of
U.-. 1441 If) r. work wag core.....uoca *Lott-.
durCe, 184 d ; tiab tabu ',wilts was laid by Tear-Admiral

Hyde Parker, C.B. (then Superintendent of the Dock-
yard), on the 13th of January, 184, at which time
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 Smith 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 contractor, the
accommodations for the opening are being organized) ;
and lastly by Colonel Ir►ine, 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

1,155,20 G

Timber :
Memel ••• ••• ..• 543,700
Birch, from the Duke of Richmond's
estate •••
•••
,••
••• 200,000
~0(10
Bricks (number) ... 7 696
Earth excavated (tons) ... ... 959,500
~. ,
Clay in the dam (tons) 25 000...
The mean dimensions of the basin are as under :
Length ... Feet.
Breadth . " ••
• • • 774
Depth ••• ..• 400
•• •••
•••
1
There are two inlets on the east side of the basin,
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 gi acres;
the basin alone, 7 acres.
In the south-west corner is a large
feet wide at the entrance, and 305 feet
graving dock, 80
with a width of 101 feet between
the
coping.
long
"ping over all,"
.
On the west brink of the basin is 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.
On the south wall is a new brass foundry, 90 feet by
110. This has been, for some time, in partial working.
Thehasin 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 labourers to whom this structure alone has
_afforded subsittence. Besides the 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 400,000/.
The day of opening will be a gala day such as never
before has been equalled. The cominanders-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 new 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, 120, Captain Sir James Stirling, was un-
docked last evening, and got out of the basin to-day.
She will oomph rte refitting and be at Spithead by the 30th
ROYAL MARINES,
ller Majesty having been pleased to direct by an Order
in Council, dated the 18th inst., that an addition be made
to the present strength of the corps of ono Lieutenant-
Colonel and 12 divisional companies, the following will
be the new establishment:-112 divisional companies; 10
artillery companies; each divisional company to consist
of 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 5 sergeants, 5 corporals, 3
drummers, 90 privates-106. Each artillery company
to consist of 1 ,;:aptain, 4 lieutenants, 7 sergeants, 7 cor-
porals, 3 bomb, trdiers, 3 drummers, 125 gunners-150,
making a total strength of divisional companies, 11,872;
artillery comps aies, 1,500-13,372. Of the 12 new com-
panies three art s attached to each division.
Detachments from Woolwich and Plymouth, amount-
ing to 230 ran k and file, are ordered to Portsmouth, to
embark in the Howe, 120, for passage to join the ships in
the Mediterran can, to complete them td the new estab-
lishment.
A detachmei it consisting of 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, and
38 privates em barked to-day in the Howe, to complete
her complemei it.
Wind, south , moderate breezes, and hazy weather.
All the ship: i in commission at this port were " dressed"
to-day, in hoi lour of her Majesty's birthday, and the
royal standard was hoisted at the King's-rooms and on
y
all the Gore nment offices. At twelve o'clock royal
salutes were fired, and a feu de joie by the troops in
garrison, as u sual.
Russell„ Master of the President, 50, flag-ship on
I the Cape scat ion, is appointed by the Commander-in-

[PRICE on.

Chief to command the Seringapatam store depot at
Simon's Bay, vice McCreight, 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,
appointed to the Brilliant, rice Rees; and Mr. George
L. Carr, Second Master of the Seringapatam, is appointed
to the Nimrod.

1 --
The Powerful, 84, Captain the Hon. R. 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; Corn
mender Sir William Wiseman, of the Vindictive; Com-
mander Schoenberg, of the Wellesley; end Mr. G. P.
Ricord, secretary to the Earl of Dundonald, deputy-
judge advocate of the fleet. The charges were preferred
by Commander H. G. Austin, of the Vesuvius. After
tm ier ai committedl t
n y
g, i butde
h the i
himself
a trial of six hours the Court declared the charges proved,
and sentenced the prisoner to be dismissed her Majesty's
service. He will return to England in the Vindictive.
A oanchor—The Vindictivohph"teeemuah.
Mr. Nicoll, a master's assistant, was also dismissed the
out=
fcns
dockyard—The
eYgaaalii
the Gleaner steamer fittnndinc—sgellTlt
same day, alter a court of inquiry which sat a fortnight
Mr. Campbell, the naval
previously, and ordered to be sent home in the Vin-
dictive for the consideration of the Lords of the Ad-
are coming to England in
mB eail England.al
-naog,ewn th who
to broughtthe . out the
on, acting-mate, h
the service and ordered a passage in the Vindictive.
Great W
acting-lieutenant of the Electra,hesamtteaaatesvespnadrbprGkide.
wyneapsil
riaenoweltneyrlagh4r
au
packet,nees,
convict-ship.
ol oeKohrt
veno:noosi
eirvedl
ot,eioioenl
cydfy:aets.
evr-ntcfis,hacdec hoclearingdismissedandrt
family,s.,
BMerr.mpudiackis very healthy; the
have died upon the
justonly
been .appointed
de:fib:ye, morning,
appointed to
dhaLveai aces
rdu
a MALTA,l3tenan t
Julian, MAY 15 15.—Commander
FirstC o m
ofmtahne
geeenoafmaobnogtit thtweecivoenvpiecrtsm, who have
amo,oerftatlhitey
Resist
fesniostte
the command. The Resistance sails to
ance troop ship, was invalided
and
Gibraltar to embark the 79th Regiment for to-morrow for
Halifax or
Quebec.