The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-19 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.
Master —James G. H. Thain (1845) to the Penguin, 6,
packet-brig, at Devonport.
Midshipman—C. Hawkins, to the Shearwater, steam-
vessel, on the coast of Ireland.
Master-Assistant--R. B. Richards, to the Tenzer,
screw gun-vessel, at Woolwich.
Boatswain—James Maynard, to the Agincourt, depot
ship of Devonport ordinary, vice Downs, appointed
master rigger at Portsmouth Dockyard, vice .Andrews,
appointed boatswain of Devonport Dockyard; vice
Chatfield, superannuated on 954 per annum, after nearly
ten years' service in the dockyard.
SIR CIIARLES NAPIER'S SQUADRON.—PORTSMOUTII,
MONDAY.—We have a fine bretze from the south to east
this morning. No doubt the ships of squadron got a
good offing last night, in which case this would be a
leading wind down Channel.
The Gange., 84, Captain H. Smith, C. 8., manned by
her advanced complement, 496, and with a draft of sea-
men riggers from the Poictiers and Wellington, to assist
in the navigation, sailed from the Nora, on Sunday, for
Cork, where she will remain until further orders, but
with all her provisions and stores on board fur her full
complement of 750, ready to proceed to sea at the shortest
notice on making up her crew.
The Formidable, 84, will ;be the next advanced ship
commissioned at Sheerness, to supply the place of the
Ganges. The Formidable has been in dock above a
twelvemonth, the workmen having been employed on her
only at intervals. She will be ready now in a few days,
but as times go it is altogether uncertain when she
will hoist the pendant.
The Nile, 92, has been undocked at Devonport, having
had her copper examined, cleaned, and repaired, and
has been removed to her moorings among the advanced
ships.
The Fairy, screw-tender, went to Osborne from
Portsmouth early yesterday morning, and conveyed
the Prince Albert on his promised visit to the Excellent.
The Camel, lighter, Faber master, left Devonport for
Dartmouth on Sunday, with the necessary rear for
raising the schooner Marianne, of that port, laden with
Indian corn, &c., now sunk in the harbour.
The Tortoise, lighter, left Devonport on Sunday, with
stores for Pembroke.

The Cadet, convict-ship, left Plymouth on Saturday
evening for her destination.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

OPENING OF THE TORQUAY EXTENSION OF

THE SOUTH DEVON.

Yesterday the public opening of this extension line
took place with great éclat and public rejoicing. The
weather was most favourable, and thousands of the in-
habitants were abroad to be spectators of the first steam
caravan careering through the valleys and ravines of that
picturesque neighbourhood.
At five minutes past twelve a special train left the
Exeter station, containing Sir J. Y. Buller, M.P., chair-
man of the Bristol and Exeter Railway; Sir J. Duck-
worth, M.P., Sir T. D. Acland, M.P., with the directors,
Mr. John Woolcombe (banker) chairman • Col. Harris,
Dr. Miller, Mr. Pratt Barlow, of the Great Western
Railway; Mr. Tothill, Mr. Buller, Mr. Jones, Mr. Brunel,
the eminent engineer; Mr. G. Carr, the secretary, and
others. The train, which also contained a large number of
the gentry of Exeter, was decorated with flags and ever-
greens, and so were the stations along the line. Mr. Mart-
ley, C.E., the head of the locomotive department, drove the
engine; and upon it were Mr. Margary, the resident en-
gineer; Mr. Herbert Clarke, chief superintendent ;
Messrs. Harrison and Dowley, the constructing engi-
neers; and Mr. Hennett, the contractor. As the train
proceeded at a rapid pace to Torquay it was cheered by
several thousand people; in fact nearly the whole length
of the line was hedged in by the inhabitants of the dis-
trict. On arriving at the Torquay terminus the directors
were met by a procession, consisting of the commission-
ers, principal tradesmen, townspeople, and coast-guard,
with bands and banners. Amongst the gentry were the
Rev. Archdeacon Froude, Rev. Dr. Sutherland, Mr.
Vivian. and a large number of the fashionable frequent-
ers of Torquay. The procession got into marching
order at the Royal Hotel at about half-past ten, and
consisted of upwards of 1,000 persons. The shops were
closed, and business was entirely suspended. The pro •
cession arrived at the terminus at twelve, when
Sir J. Y. BULLER, M.P., for the southern division of
the county, who spoke from the centre of the platform,
briefly addressed the assemblage, congratulating them
on the events of the day. The Hon. Gentleman con-
cluded by presenting an address from the inhabitants of
Torquay to the directors of the South Devon Railway,
Mr. J. WOOLCOMBE (who succeeds Mr. Gill, M.P
as chairman of the board of directors) acknowledged
the presentation of the address. The directors had, in
common with other railways, had to encounter difficul-
ties, and he could assure all those who were inseresm te d
in the welfare and working of the South Devon re,
that the parties who at present had the managementdaiffind.
care of the undertaking were not appalled
culties before them, and would not blench) the before
any
kind of obstacle. They would pursue a firm and tem
rate course, and they hoped to merit that public appro-
bation which was always readily accorded to a gene-
rous, deliberate, and cautious policy. The Hon. Gen-
tleman concluded amidst loud cheers,' which were' fol-
lowed by a renewed round for Sir J. Y. Buller.
The line, the works of which have been in hand since
the commencement of 1847, is nearly six miles long, and
turns off at a distance of 214 miles up the main line at
Newton Abbot, in the neighbourhood of the river, and is
expected to prove a valuable auxiliary to the main line.
It is at present what is called a single way, but will be
doubled to accommodate the traffic. It has been built
by Mr. Brunel for the moderate sum of 80,0001.; there
being no expensive engineering works. It terminates
within little more than a mile of the heart of Torquay,
into the centre of which it will be speedily extended.
There is a station at a place called Kingskersall, midway
between Newton and Torquay.

-.Nea;ly26ol. were subscribed to carry out the enter-
tainments of the day. The poorer portion of the inha-
bitants had distributed amongst them in the market-
place bread and meat, &c. Trips were made throughout
the day to Newton and back, and in the evening there
was a sumptuous dinner at the Royal Hotel, and a ball in
the assembly rooms.

The opening of yesterday places Torquay within one
hour's ride of Exeter, and 5} of London.

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN.-THE
FARES.
_ _

A meeting of parties residing in the suburbs along this
line of railway was held at the Hero of Waterloo Tavern,