The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-10 00:00:00

NAVAL IN TELLIGENCE.

Ponrsmouzu, FRIDAY.—The Comet steamer, Lieutenant- I
Commanding C. R. Johnson, returned to-day from Plymouth.
This indefatigable officer has actually made two voyages to
Plymouth and back in two hours under four days, including
a stoppage in this harbour of seven hours. The distance
traversed is about 650 miles, and this has been accomplished
by one of the oldest steamers in the service, and one generally
held to be a very slow coach.
The Athol troop-ship, Master-Commanding E. Pearce, was
towed into tho harbour last evening, and is to be grounded,
we believe, alongside the dockyard, to have her copper ex-
amined and repaired, there being no dock vacant.
The slight repairs required by the royal yacht in conse-
quence of her late accident have been completed, and she
was hauled off to the buoy opposite Clarence-yard this
morning, ready for her Majesty's use, should she think fit to
employ her.
The ships dressed in flags this afternoon at a quarter past
one, and the pier at Clarence-yard has been decorated in like
manner, as from the lateness of the hour at which her
Majesty has appointed to arrive, it will be low water, and
she will be obliged to use the barge.
In Harbour—Excellent, Victory, Victoria and Albert,
Nautilus, Athol, and Seaflower cutter ; Gladiator, Dasher,
Comet, Fairy, and Echo steamers.
At Spithead—Contest and AurCra, Sardinian corvette.
In Dock—Prince Regent, Leander, Cambrian, Naiad,
Rattlesnake, and Rifleman.
In the Basin—Neptune, Edinburgh, Penelope, Trincoma-

lee, and Amphitrite.
PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY.—Captain A. L. Corry, of the
Superb, 80, has not proceeded to sea in his ship this last
cruize, but left her at Cork, on Admiralty leave, Mr. Corry
being dangerously ill. Commander W. K. Stephens (acting)
has command of the Superb pro tem. Captain Corry states
that the fleet is much improved in efficiency—an improve-
ment which could not possibly have been attained without
sending the shipi to sea. This opinion, upon a question
which has been much agitated and disputed, formed by an
officer of Captain Corry's experience, is very valuable.
The Inflexible steam-sloop, Commander Hoseason, takes
out a large amount of ammunition, 2,000 stand of arms, six
field officers, and a number of supernumeraries, for service at
the Cape of Good Hope. She makes her trial trip to-
morrow, and will sail on the day we have already named
(the 12th), for the Cape. Commander Hoseason intends
steaming direct for the Cape, without calling at any inter-
vening port for fuel, and as the gallant commander has a
thorough knowledge of the use of the expansive gear, we do
not despair of his success, which will be one of the most ex-
traordinary feats ever recorded in navigation.
Captain the Hon. William Gordon, M.P., late. one of the
Lords of the Admiralty, is now staying at Anglesey awaiting
the arrival of Captain the Hon. John Gordon, in command
of the America, 50, hourly expected from the Pacific with an
enormous freight in specie.
The Rattlesnake, 26, Captain Owen Stanley, wilt not be
ready for the pendant so soon as was expected, and as she
requires so much work to make her fit for her new commis-
sion, it is contemplated to bring forward the Volage, 26, at
Devonport, to take her place.
The Contest, 12, Commander M'Murdo, is detained at
Spithead for the want of lieutenants. When they join, she
will sail immediately for Sierra Leone. She takes out mails
and dispatches. Her sailing orders do not hold out any
prospect of a trial of sailing with the Recruit, as was antici-
pated. The circumstance is much canvassed, and looks like
fear for the result of such a " contest" with the iron craft.
The Contest has five months' provision under hatches. It
is stated she can stow six. If she can, why does sic not?
Commander Douglas, son of Sir Howard Douglas, goes out
in the Contest to join the Pantaloon, 10, on the coast, vice
Wilson, invalided.
The Columbine, 16, Commander Booth, is coming to this
port from Chatham to receive advance wages. Her destina-
tion is the East Indies. She will take out dispatches, which
are lying ready for her, for Rear-Admiral Dacres. the Co►n-
mander-in• Chief on the• Cape of Good Hope station, and
Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, Commander-in-Chief
on the East India station.
The Formidable, 84, at Sheerness, recently the flag-ship
in the Mediterranean, is the ship selected to take the place
of the Agincourt, 72, as flag-ship in the East Indies and
China.
First Lieutenant H. C. M. Hawkey, of the Royal Marines,
joined this division this morning for duty.
The Griffon, 3, Lieutenant- Commander Wilmot, arrived at
Santa Cruz, Teneriff, from Madeira and England on the 29th
of June.
The Athol troop-ship, Master-Commander Pearn, was
grounded alongside the dockyard last night, and the copper,
which was defective, put to rights. She was hauled off again
as soon as she floated.
The Nelson, 120, advanced-ship, was removed to her
moorings off the north end of the yard yesterday.
The Penelope, 22, steam• frigate, was removed from the
basin yesterday and placed alongside the jetty.
The Seaflower cutter, Commander Roepel, sailed yesterday
"for Jersey.
The Daphne, IS, Captain Onslow, was at Valparaiso on the
18th of May.
The Sampson steam-frigate, Captain Henderson, arrived
at Valparaiso from England on the 19th of May.
PROMOTIONS.

Lieutenant G. Williams (1831), of the surveying service,
to the rank of commander.
Clerk—E. B. Robins, to the rank of paymaster and
purser.
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