The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-28 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, FRIDAY.—Her Majesty, Prince Albert,
and the Royal suite will, according to present arrange-
ments, land at the King's-stairs in this dockyard on
Tuesday, and proceed to Arundel Castle, returning to
Osborne on the Friday following.
The Polyphemus, steam sloop, Commander A. PCleverty,
is refitting with all dispatch alongside the dockyard.
_ _

The Crocodile was re-commissioned this morning by
Lieutenant S. R. Protheroe, 1826, as commander. It is
reported she will proceed to Cork and take the flag
again of Rcar-Admiral Sir Hugh Pigot, until some more
respectable craft can be spared for that duty, when she
will be converted into a coal depot.
The Naiad, fitting for a coal del:4A for Callao, is pro-
gressing rapidly under the directions of that experienced
master, Mr. Flynn, of the Victory, who has the fitting
her out. Commander Maisingberd, appointed to the
Alecto, and Lieutenant Tomlinson, appointed to com-
mand the Harpy, in the Parana, take passage in the
Naiad as fur as Rio.
The Penelope, steam-frigate, Captain Giffard, is
ordered to try her qualities with the Sidon.
The Belleisle troop-ship remains at St. Helen's in
consequence of the thick fog prevailing. Commander
Sir W. Wiseman, appointed to the Vindictive, flag-ship
on the West India station, takes passage in her.
The Herald, 26, Captain ICellet, is according to private
letters, expected at Panama, from Vancouver's Island, at
the end of this month; accounts, therefore, will probably
be received from her per the Mexico mail of the 7th of
January.
The Fisgard, 42, Captain Duntze, is not expected in
England before the autumn of 1847, according to a pri-
vate letter just come to hand.
The Mutine, 12, Commander Tryon, was towed into
harbour today to have her compasses adjusted. Com-
maader D'Eyncourt, appointed to the Comus, 16, and
Lieutenant Shurburn, appointed to command the Griffon,
3, in the Parana, take passage in her to join their re-
spective ships, the Mutine 'being ordered to the same
station.

The Favourite, 18, Commander Murray, was at Ascen-
sion on the 6th ult., on which day the Contest, 12, Com-
mander M`Murdo, arrived from England. At the above
date the Actaeon, 26, Captain Mantel, had sailed from
Ascension for St. Helena, and the Flying Fish, 12, Com-
mandor Harris, was refitting. The Favourite sailed on
the 7th ult. for the Bights.
In Harbour—The St. Vincent, Victory. Excellent,
Vengeance, Rattlesnake, Mutine, and Victoria and
Albert, Penelope, Polyphemus, Fairy, Myrtle, and Echo
steamers.

in Dock—Edinburgh, Ajax, Prince Regent, Leander,
Resistance, Champion, and Serpent.
In the Basin—Naiad and Crocodile.
At Spithead—Apollo.
At St. Helen's—Belleis

PLYMOUTH, Nov. 2G.—Her Majesty's steamer
Scourge, Commander E. Coffin, arrived here yesterday
from Portsmouth, bound to the squadron in the Tagus,
with supernumerary marines. Captain Sir Thomas
Maitland, appointed to Tier Majesty's frigate America,
.50, goes out herefrom in the Scourge, to replace Cap-
tain the Hon. G. Gordon, who has accepted the retire-
ment.

The Penguin packet came up yesterday from Fal
mouth.

Her Majesty's ship Queen, 110, Captain Sir 11. Lock,
was this morning, at ten o'clock, towed down harbour
from Hamoaze by the Confilnce and Sphynx steamers.
At one o'clock Port Admiral Sir John West shifted his
flag ft (ma blue to white on board her Majesty's ship
Queen, then at anchor in the Sound.
SHEERNESS, Nov. 26.—The Terrible steam-frigate,
Captain Ramsay, arrived at the Nore on Sunday, and
haviiig discharged her powder, came into harbour on
Monday, where she remains, awaiting further orders.
The Birkenhead steam troop-ship, Commander In-
gram, was hauled out of dock on Tuesday, and is now
under the sheers, to be masted.
The Seringapatam, 42, receiving-ship, which had
been towed to Woolwich for a hulk, has been conveyed
back here, and been taken into dock to be fitted as a
coal depot for the Cape of Good Hope—the only thing
she is fit for.
The Euryalus, 44, convict depot for Gibraltar, is
ready for sea, and the Dragon steam-frigate, which
vessel does not now appear to be wanted, notwithstand-
ing all the haste that was made in her equipment.
The Rose, 18, Commander Pelly, was paid off on Sa-
turday. She will he reF.tted for commission as soon as the
other works of the yard will admit.
The Duck and Drake lighters have arrived with stores
for the dockyard.
hear-Admiral Richard Arthur, C. 8., the late Captain.
__ _

Superintendent of the dockyard, 'took his final departure
from the establishment on Punday, having then em-
barked, with Mrs. and Miss Arthur, on board the
African steamer, for conveyance to Devonport. The
gallant officer, we believe, takes with him the sincerest
and be=t wishes of all the officers and men over whom
he has presided with impartiality and justice during the
last two years.
Woomicu, Nov. 27.—The Right Hon. the Earl of
Auckland, G.C.8., First Lord of the Admiralty; Vice-
Admiral Sir Charles Adam, 1C.C.8., First Naval Lord;
Rear-Admiral J. W. Deans Dundas, C. 8., and the Hon.
W. F. Cowper, Lords of the Admiralty, remained on
board the Sidon yesterday, with Rear-Admiral Si'
Francis Collier, C. 8., and proceeded in the vessel when
she left her moorings at a quarter past three o'clock.
until nearly opposite Frith, when their Lordships re-
turned in the Black Eagle steam-vessel. Amongst the
naval and military officers on board the Sidon at the
time of *her departure, were Major-General Parker,
C. 8., Lieutenant-Governor of the Royal Military
Academy at Woolwich; Majur Dupuis, Royal Horse
Artillery; Captain Austin, C. 8., Captain Wel.
lesley, Cuptain Knox, and Captain Jones, of the
Ryal Navy. The Earl of Auckland and the Naval
Lords minutely examined the engines, and their working
principles were explained by Mr. Lloyd, chief engineer
at Woolwich Dockyard, and Mr. Seaward, of the firm of
Seaward and Capel, who constructed them, and Mr.
Brunet. Their Lordships went upon the paddle-boxes
with Captain Henderson, C. 8., her commander, to have
a commanding view of her progress. From 80 to 100
of the man were ordered to move from one side of the
vessel to the other, and from the fore to the stern part,
to test her stability, and it was evident she is not yet
deep enough in the water, as she yielded considerably
according to the stations where the. men were placed.
The Pottinger steam-vessel, belonging to the Peninsular
and Oriental Company, was reported when she went
down the river first to leas to a side to a greater degree
than the Sidon, but the former vessel was subsequently
found to be of a superior description, and a false keel,
although it may counteract the speed of the Sidon, would
render her perfectly stable and a fine war steamer. The
river was very crowded with vessels from Woolwich to
Greenhithe, which rendered it a difficult task to pilot a
vessel of such magnitude through them; she, however,
arrived at Greenhithe shortly after six P.m., where she
east anchor. Captain Henderson retained Mr. Stewart,
the
pilot, on board, as it was his intention to proceed 60
or 70 miles to sea to test her fully, and then return to
Greenhithe, to have her compasses adjusted by Captain
Johnson. The dense fog which prevailed during the day
on the river prevented the Sidon leaving her anchorage.
Rear-Admiral Sir C. Napier, with Mr. Seaward and
Mr. Brunet, remained on board to witnesa her capabili-
ties. The engines make considerable noise, but that
might easily be remedied by giving them an eccentric
instead of the tappet motion. The waste steam-pipes
have now been carried up alongside the telescope fun-
nels, and carried the steam off most effectually, without
any moisture being generated in the vessel, as was the
case when the waste steam was discharged at the sides
and stern of the vessel. A small steam-engine, " the
stoker's friend," has been placed to work the
pumps, and
were another of similar power applied to work a fan to
cool their stations, they would have reason to be grateful.
CHATHAM, Nov. 27.—The Albatross, 16 guns, Com-
mander Farquhar, is in harbour fitting for sea ; she has
her full complement of men on board, with the exception
of a carpenter.

The Rose, 18 guns.--A detachment of Royal Marines
from this ship has joined the Chatham division, consist-
ing of one corporal and 16 privates.
The supernumerary Marines who recently joined this
battalion, to the number of 200 men, from the ships of
the experimental fleet, assembled at the pay-office
in this dockyard, and were paid wages, this moraing.
The following military officers at Chatham garrison
have obtained leave of absence from Major-General Sir
Thomas Wilshire, K.C.B. :—Lieutenant John Elliot,
18th Foot, from the Ist of December next to the 28th
of February, 1847 ; Captain T. Faunce, of the 4th,
King's Own, from the Ist of December to the 27th of
February, 1847 ; Captain Frederick G. Ainslie, 21st
Foot, from the Ist of December to the 14th of February,
1847 ; Captain R. Thompson, 51st Light Infantry, from
the Ist of December to the 14th of Rbruary, 1847.
Captain Edward Scovell, of the 96th, is ordered to rejoin
this garrison, from Sheerness.
APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTION.

Nov. 25. John J. Lindsay, Clerk, to the Queen.
Nov. 26. Alexander Gunn, Boatswain, to the Thetis.
Nov. 25. Mr. Marmaduke Cremour French, Assistant-
Surge on, to be Surgeon.

ALTERATION IN COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.—It is
proposed wholly to take down the audience part of the
theatre, from the ceiling to the top of the walls under the
pit, and including the walls under the galleries and
boxes throughout their whole height, and to rebuild the
latter so as to increase the size of the pit aneihe area
between the fronts of the boxes, and from the fronts of
galleries to the proscenium. Two new stone staircases
will be formed from the level of the corridor behind the
ground or pit tier of boxes to the height of the highest
boxes. The floor of the pit tier corridor will be made
wholly fire-proof, and communicating with the pit itself,
as well as with the pit tier boxes on one side, and with
the ground level saloon by means of a double flight of
stone stairs. The grand staircase from Bow-street, and
the royal and other private-box staircases on the other
side of the house, will remain, these being capable of
assisting in the relief of the audience part of the house at
all times. Mr. Benedict Albano has the diriction of the
alterations.—The Builder.

The Earl of Romney has been unanimously elected
Chairman of the West Kent Quarter Sessions, in the
room of Joseph Berens, Esq., resigned.