The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-06 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE,

PORTSMOUTH, Nov. s.—The Fairy lroyal yacht,
Master Commander Welch, was taken out yesterday
under the superintendence of Mr. Murray, Civil En-
gineer, to try her speed.
The Diligence naval transport, and the Aid naval
lighter, arrived this morning from the eastern yards,
with stores.
Tne practice of paying off ships at the time that they
are in the very highest state of discipline and the most
precise war trim we are glad to see giving way to a
more sensible and economical encouragement. There is
more money wasted in materials destroyed in the pre-
mature dismantling and paling off her Majesty's ships
than in any other department of the navy, or indeed
in all the other departments put together. The Superb,
80, Captain Corry, is, according to an official report
made to the Admiralty by Sir William Parker, from
under whose command she Las but lately been de-
tached, in such excellent condition in every respect
that she is fit for another commission without being
previously dismantled. The Rosamond steam-sloop,
Commander Foote, just returned from two years'
foreign service, is also to be kept in commission.
And why not all ships longer than three
years, the usual term ? It is a well•admitted
Net that, on a ship's return from three years' service,
if properly officered, she is in the highest possible con-
dition for service—every man and everything well ac-
customed to his and its place. The ship on arrival at the
homestead is even painted and decorated as if but just
going out. She is inspected, her crew mustered and exer-
cised, and then—to rack and destruction goes every-
thing; rigging is hewn down, spars stripped with
ruthless carelessness; all in haste, without regard to
value of materials, to get the craft quickly stripped
and paid off; and if quickly, that is called "smart."
The ship undergoes an expensive tearing to pieces to
see if she is sound, which entails an expensive process
of re-adjustment; and then, after other overhaulings,
too various and too numerous to mention, she lies in
harbour for a few years, to be again brought to the
dockyard, again overhauled and probed, and ultimately
again commissioned, to undergo the whole of the above
process when sent to sea, and when again paid off. It
is to such matters the " Revision Boards" and " Com-
mittees of Reference" should direct their attention and
inquiries, and not to how many men they can reduce and
threw upon the parish.
The Juno, 26, Captain Blake, sailed from St. Blas on
the 3d of August, with 2,000,000 on board on mer-
chants' account, which it was believed she would tranship
into the Sampson steam-frigate, Captain Henderson, for
carriage home.
Wind—West by south, fresh breezes and squally
weather, with rain and snow at intervals.

The Earl of Auckland has returned to the Admiralty,
from Bowood and Windsor Castle.
Captain Charles Eden, of the Victory, is not, as stated
a brother of Captain Henry Eden, or of Captain Rodney
Eden. He is younger brother of Sir William Eden,
Bart., and is brother-in-law of Rear Admiral Hyde
Parker, C.B. Captain St. Vincent King is not a son
of Vice-Admiral Sir E. D. King, K.C.H. The only
son of the gallant Admiral is an officer in the army.
Captain the Hon. H. Drummond, who was once Flag-
Lieutenant to Sir B. Capel, is also a candidate for the
command of the Victory. As we stared on Saturday,
the nomination rests entirely with the Commander-in-
Chief, and it is generally believed that Captain F. I'.
Blackwood, who commanded the Fly in surveying
Torres Straits, and who was a candidate be'ore Cap-
tain Eden was appointed, will have the vacancy. Sir
B. Capel and the late Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood,
Bart., father of Captain Blackwood, both commanded
frigates at Trafalgar, and, it appears, were most inti-
mate friends.

THE CHANNEL SQUADRON.—The 17th is the day
named for Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Napier proceeding
to sea with the Channel squadron. It is likely that the
Amazon, Daphne, and Orestes, will juin the Admiral for
a little exercise before they proceed to their respective
stations, the Cape, the Pacific, and the Brazils.