The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-07 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, TVESDAY.—The Earl of Ellenborougb, First Lord o
the Admiralty, accompanied by Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, the Com-
mander-in-Chief, went on board the Excellent gunnery ship, Captain
Chads, this morning as early as half-past five o'clock, to witness the
effect of firing of Mr. Hale's rockets and other gunnery manoeuvres,
with which the First Lord and the scientific officers present ex-
pressed themselves highly gratified. A number of Captain Norton's
concussion shells were also fired ; they exploded in every case with
the greatest effect immediately on striking. A solid shot was dis-
charged at the same time from the same gun, the shell being in ad-
vance of the shot. After this, shot practice at the steam funnel was
exhibited, and the seamen and marines were put through various
exercises with small arms, concluding by boarding with scaling lad-
ders, &c. His Lordship expressed himself highly gratified with the
state of efficiency exhibited by the crew of the Excellent, and highly
Complimented Captain Chads and the officers.
At eight o'clock his Lordship returned to the George Hotel to
breakfast, and left for town by the express train at 124 by the
South. Western Railway.
Admiral Sir George Cockburn visited the new works of defence
erecting at Blockhouse this morning at ten o'clock. His Lordship
returned to town at half-past twelve.
Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, Bart., inspected and musters c.
the crew of the Childers, 16, Commander Pitman, this day at
Spithead.
The Serpent, 16, Commander (now Captain) Nevin, was paid of
this day.
The squadron of evolution will, we believe, sail on their summer
cruise on Monday next. The line-of-battle ships will victual for Ave
months and the steamers for three. The squadron anchored last
night in a line bearing from the Commodore about west north-west
in the order of sailing, the St. Vincent being the easternmost, then
the Vanguard, Albion, and Trafalgar, composing the van division;
next, the Queen, Rodney, and Superb, composing the rear division.
The steamers anchored in a line to the northward of the line-of-
battle ships, Commodore Bremer struck his pendant on board the
Queen as that ship passed the St. Vincent to take up her berth in
the place allotted to her. The Queen, Rodney, and Superb carried
the white (Commodore Bremer's) ensign yesterday.
The Brilliant, 22, Captain Watson, came into harbour this after-
noon to have 50 tons of additional ballast put on board.
Mr. Egerton, mate of the Raleigh, 50, has been promoted by Lord
Ellenborough to the rank of Lieutenant.
Vice-Admiral Sir William Hall Gage, one of the Lords of the Ad-
miralty, arrived here this evening, at a quarter past six o'clock, and
will, we believe, conclude the inspection of this port,
.begun on Satur-
day by the other members of the Board.
Wooevricit, Max 4.—The Blazer steam-vessel has been refitted at
Woolwich and returned to Harwich to resume her surveying duties.
Captain Owen Stanley, the gallant officer who has con:mauled her
since the appointment of Captain Washington to be a member of the
Tidal Commission, is about to hoist his pendant on the Rattlesnake,
rbrmerly a troop ship, but now fitted for the surveying service. The
Rattlesnake, under the command of Captain Stanley, is to be em-
ployed in surveying the coast of New Guinea, or Papas, in the
South Pacific Ocean, situate to the north of New Holland, from
whieh it is separated by Endeavour Strait. Considerable interest is
attached to the contemplated expedition of the Rattlesnake, as it is
intended to combine two very important purposes—to survey' the
coasts of a large and fertile island, and await the result of the ex-
pected passage of the Erebus and Terror, the vessels that proceeded
on the North Polar expedition or, in the event of a north-west pas-
sage being found impracticable, the arrival of Captain Sir John
Franklin, the enterprising explorer of the frozen regions, with a por-
tion of his officers and crew, as It is contemplated to accomplish the
object of a north-west passage over land, if not possible by water.