The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-14 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

rORTSMOUTH,FRIDAY.—THE LATE CAPTAIN MAR•
RYAT, C.B.—This celebrated nautical novelist's services
in the navy are thus recorded by Allen, in the New Navy
List :—" Midshipman of the Imperieuse, in co-operation
with the Patriots, on the coast of Catalonia, under Lord
Cochraae; served in the attack on the French fleet in
Aix Roads, and in the Walcheren expedition in 1809;
Lieutenant of the Newcastle, and in her barge cut out
four vessels from Boston Bay, 1814; commanded the
Larne in the Burmese war, being part of the time senior
oaser. Gazette(' 1808." By his death a good service
pension falls into the gift of the Admirelt,y.
The Lightning steam-vessel embarked the Cabinet
Ministers from Gosport this morning, at eleven o'clock,
and conveyed them to Cowes, being called by her Ma-
jesty to a Council at Osborne.
The Fairy, royal yacht, Commander Crispin, em-
barked the Duchess of Kent and the Princess Hohen-
lohe from the Clarence-yatd at a quarter to three o'clock
this afternoon, under the usual ceremonies, and con-
veyed them to Cowes, where the Duchess of Kent has
taken a residence for a short period. The Princess Ho-
henlohe, we believe, will be her Royal Highness's guest.
The Dauntless, screw steam-frigate, of 1,496 tons and
580 horse-power, arrived from Glasgow to-day. She
sailed from this port on the 27th of February, 1847,
and has, consequently, been absent nearly 18 months.
She is intended to carry either 22 or 24 heavy guns.
Her speed is said to be very unsatisfactory, never
exceeding 74 knots. On the measured mile in Stokes-
bay, on which she was tried this morning before
coming into harbour, it was respectively, 7 mm. 40
sec. with the tide. and 10 min. 4 sec. against it.
This gives an average of 9 minutes to the mile, or 6 2 3
knots per hour. The weather on this occasion was par-
ticularly favourable, being nearly a dead calm. She has
on board about 500 tons of iron ballast to bring her
to her supposed sea bearings, with guns and stores
on board. Her draught of water, on coming
into the harbour, was 17 feet 2 inches aft
and 15 feet 1 inch forward, but it is said to have been
nearly an even keel on leaving Glasgow, the difference
being occasioned by the expenditure of coal and water. It
is understood considerable alterations will bo made in
her before she is finally commissioned; among other
things, that the step of her mainmast will be moved for-
ward G feet. Her main fault appears to be her enor-
mons counters, which squat down in the water and im-
pede her movements, while they diminish the force of
her screw and make her steer badly.
IN COMMISSION AND FITTING.
In Harbour—The Victory, flag-ship the Illustrious,
ordinary guard-ship; the Blake' hulk, temporary. guard •
ship of steamers; the Excellent
, Echo, and gunnery-ship; the
Lightning, Undine, Adelaide steamers; the
Fanny and Portsmouth yachts.
At Spithead—The Powerful, 84; the Virago, steam-
sloop; and the Rolla, excise-brig.
In the Steam-basin—The Retribution, Centaur, Sala-
mander, Jackal, Dwarf, and Gleaner steamers.
In the Ship-basin—The Malabar, Orestes, anacei
Ph
In Dock—The Pembroke, 72 ; Ajax, se ; Y Car
fnox.
26; Encounter, Cormorant, and Sharpshooter steamersrt ,
In Cowes-roads —The Victoria and Albert, and the.
Fairy.
CHATHAM, AUG. 11.—The Southampten, 50 guns,
Captain Nicholas Cory, received on Tuesday last, from
the African steam-vessel, 90 seamen, whom she brought
from Portsmouth and Sheerness.
The Acorn, 16 guns, Commander John E. Bingham,
was paid off into ordinary on the Bth instant. Orders
have since been received to bring this vessel forward for
sea again as soon as possible.
The Iris, 26 guns, a new ship launched at Pembroke,
is ordered to be brought forward for service immediately.
The Spy, 3 gun brigantine, was commissioned on the
oth instant., by Lieutenant and Commander George
Western. This vessel is to be got ready to take out the
September mail to the coast of Africa.
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF FOR THE CAPE.—Rear-