The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-09 00:00:00

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTEL-

LIGE NC E,

PonTimm:Tit, TIIESDAY.—The Terrible steam frigate, 20
guns, Captain Ramsay, arrived at Spithead this morning
from the Thames. She saluted the Commander-in-CirieN
flag with 17 guns, which circumstance alone stamped her as
something above the common order of steam-vessels ; even
the Retribution (her alleged sister ship), although having
10 guns on board, not having performed a similar ceremony,
whether from incapacity or not remains to be seen; but the
fact of her not having done so looks suspicious. The Terrible
is certainly the most complete looking man-of-war steamer
we ever remember to have seen, with the exception of the
funnels—these spoil the "ship-shape" effect ofhe other
warlike features of the noble vessel. Being ship-rigged gives
her another vast advantage in appearance over every other
steamer now at Spithead. The Retribution looks meagre in
comparison, although nearly the same sized hull as her
rival, but 200 tons lighter in build. The only feature
in which the Retribution appears to possess the advantage
over her rival is in having only one funnel, the Terrible's
four giving her more the appearance of a floating bridge than
a floating battery. But the Retribution, notwithstanding
her deficiency of tonnage, stows properly upwards of 100.
tons more of coals than the Terrible. With regard to Z'ffl-•
ciency as men-of-war, we shall have a fair opportunity of
judging in the forthcoming trials; until that, we defer our
opinion upon the merits of the respective vessels. But there
is one feature connected with the efficiency of these huge
steamers, we cannot permit to pass unnoticed, as it 'nay be
the means, under Supreme guidance, of saving the lives of
hundreds of men—need we say, we allude to the absence of
the paddle-box boats? With the melancholy experience of
the past years before our eyes of the fate of large steamers,
we look upon these monstrous floating furnaces as little bet-
ter than coffins, if permitted to put to sea without such in-
dispensable auxiliaries to the salvation of life as Captain
Smith's invaluable invention.
The Eurydice, 26, Captain Elliott, was inspected yester-
day by Captain Corry, of the Superb, for the Commander-
in-Chief, and was towed into harbour to-day, but whet jicr
to be paid off or refitted to join the experimental squadron
t being one of Admiral Elliott's construction), is not yet
ordered.

The Wanderer, 12, Commander Somerville, only wants her
guns to be ready for sea.
The Electra, 18, Commander Maitland, will not proceed to
the coast of Africa, the Admiralty having yesterday altered
her destination to the Pacific, to join the sqhadron under
Rear-Admiral Sir George Seymour, Commander-in-Chief.
The Crocodile, 26 Captain Maxwell, took a quantity of
Provisions for the squadron on the Irish station, from the
Clarence yard, and sailed this day fur Cork, calling at
Plymouth.
The Phcenix steam-sloop, Commander Dennis, went out
to Spithead this afternoon.

The Scourge steam flOmb, vessel, Commander Catlin, went
out of harbour to join the squadron at Shithead this after-
noon, with a distinguished party of officers and ladies, friends
of Sir Charles Ogle, on board.
The Athol troop-ship, Commander Pearn, sailed this after-
noon for Woolwich with the Royal Artillery companies she
brought home.

ROTA L MARINE ARTILLERY.

n i ells e'srl i a3lfl abj ees at yd
dead
atbilvios
hamd del:li tti oonfatlh.icso mmpoas ;
" strength" of the corps. The distribution will be as
toco themn apnr edseedn t thatest
important arm of the naval service, without increasing the
fol-
lows:-94 divisional companies, each consisting of I captain,
2 subalterns, 5 sergeants, 5 corporals, 3 drummers,
each
84
privates—total,loo;
con-
sisting of I captain, 4 subalterns, 7 sergeants, 7 corporals, 3
and 7 artillery companies,
bombadiers, 120 gunners—total, 145 ; the strength of this
branch of the Royal Marine Corps will then be 1,015. The
appointment of officers has not yet taken place, but will be
made out in a few days.
A detachment of Royal Marine Artillery will embark ou
Saturday for service on board the Terrible steam-frigate.
Lieutenant Williams will be the officer for this important
duty, a gentleman who, by his zeal and activity since he has
been in the corps has evinced talents of no ordinary kind for
his arduous profession, and who is looked upon as likely to
arrive at the highest dignities of the service.
The 43d Regiment, which arrived from Halifax in the
Blenheim transport on Sunday, marched yesterday to Fort
Moncton, according to orders from the Horse Guards; lint
to-day they received counter orders, and are to proceed on
Thursday by sailing for Dover.
The Bth (King's Own) Regiment, about to quit this gar-
rison for India, will be succeeded by the 3d Buffs, at present
quarted at Gosport, in which quarters the 3d will he suc-
ceeded by the lath Regiment from Weimer or Deal.