The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-01 00:00:00

NAV AL IN TELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY.—Tho Hastings, 72, ad-
vanced ship, was unducked again yesterday, and to-day
the was again replaced at her moorings. The Fairy was
taken into the dock from which she was removed.

The Royal yacht Victoria and Albert was removed to
her proper moorings from off Weevil Creek yesterday,
from which we may infer that her Majesty's aquatic ex-
cursions for this season are concluded.

The Retribution steam-frigate, Captain S. Lushington,
arrived yesterday from the squadron. She has come
home in consequence of some defect in the fitting of her
engines, by which she is constantly, when her fires are
lighted, in danger of catching fire. A survey has been
ordered by the Board of Admiralty, which is now taking
place by Rear-Admiral Parker, C. 8., and Captains
Pasco and Chads, who went out to her in the Myrtle
steamer for that purpose. So imminent does the danger
appear to be, that the floors, and every part near the en-
gines, are obliged to be kept flooded with water while the
ship is under steam. The flooring and engine-room have
sunk two inches since this defect was discovered.
The Comet steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander
Johnston, left Cork on the 19th inst., and proceeded for
Tralee, but was obliged, in consequence of heavy seas
and foggy weather, and having no pilot on board, to put
into Bearhaven, where she obtained a branch pilot, and
the weather having moderated, she left for the Shannon
on the 23d, and after a propitious run arrived in that
river on the 24th, and on passing up observed a steam-
vessel at anchor at Kilrush. She arrived at Limerick
on the 24th, and after landing 20 boxes of money, each
containing 5001. sterling in small coin, completed coals
and proceeded to Tralee, thence to alway, Westport,
and Sligo.
The Alban steam transport, Master-Commander
Burney, and the Pluto steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Com-
mander Lowe, were at Limerick on the 24th inst. ; and
the Dee steam transport, Master. Commander Driver,
was weather-bound about 20 miles from Limerick.

Tho Ringdove, 16, Commander Sir William Hoste,
arrivol at the mouth of the Borneo River on the 28th of
July, and was to sail immediately to join the Admiral at
Hong-Kong.
By a private letter from the Actaeon, 26, to the 10th
of August, we are informed that Captain Mansel is com-
ing home invalided.

THE RECENT IliaLsToßm.—Tuesday, an auction
and basaar for the sale of plants and flowers, in aid of
the funds for the relief of the sufferers by the recent
hailstorm, was held at the Hall of Commerce, Thread-
needle-street. The sale proceeded very languidly.
Mr. Gesner, of Prince Edward's Island, has made
a discovery of some interest. During a geological exa-
mination of the colony, he obtained from the Indians
two kinds of farinaceous roots " as promising in their
appearance as were the indigenous potatoes of Virginia,
carried to Ireland by Sir Walter Raleigh, from which
the common kind was derived." These roots are called
by the Indians respectively " mus-qua-sete," and " san-
gaa.ban." Mr. Gesner says of the former—" As an ar-
ticle of food it is excellent, and as such is highly
esteemed by the Indians, who generally remove every
root as soon as the habitat of the plant is discovered. It
contains much nutritive matter, is wholesome, and, I
have no doubt, if properly cultivated, it will prove to
be prolific." The other root is less liked by the Indians,
but Mr. Gesner says, " I have eaten some of the roots,
and found them dry, meally, and palatable."
CAST-IRON GATES FOR CANALS AND LOCKS.—
,
At the last meeting of the Industrial Society of Mul-
hausen, M. Louis Audran, in the name of the Mechani-
cal Committee, presented a report on the new cast-iron
lock-gates recently fixed at the lock No. 39, on the canal
joining the rivers Rhone and Rhine, executed under the
direction, and from the plans of M. Detzem, the engi-
neer of the canal, residing at Mulhausen. They are
proved to be far superior to wood, or any other descrip-
tion of lock gates hitherto introduced in France and
England, as very slight repairs are required ; and, when
means have been discovered to prevent oxidation, which
there is little doubt will soon be obtained, as many me-
thods have been proposed by scientific men in England
and on the Continent, they will become universally
used. These gates are very durable, and are being ge-
nerally adopted on the canal of the Rhone and Rhine,
being less expensive than any others.—Mining Journal.
An inquest was held at the Lord Hill, Wharf-end-road,
Paddington, by Mr. Mills, deputy coroner, on the body
of William Loder, aged 54, carpenter, of Nightingale-
street, Lisson-grove, found drowned in the Grand Junc-
tion Canal, Paddington. It is supposed the deceased fell
in while in a state of intoxication, and as he was passing
under White's-bridge, which was described by witnesses
as a dangerous place for even a sober man. The jury
L returned a verdict of "Found drowned in the Grand
Junction Canal, near White's-bridge." And attached
to their verdict, "That the place is exceedingly .clangt r-
; ous, and it would be advisable for the Canal Campany
l to devise such precautionary means as would prevent
accidents there in future.