The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-03 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

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MALTA, OCT. 24.—Since my last there has been no
event of local or naval intelligence of any moment.
His Royal Highness Prince Henry embarked on Wed-
nesday last on board his frigate, the Prins Van Orange,
under royal salutes from the forts and flag-ship. Im-
mediately after his Royal Highness's squadron stood
out to sea, steering east. Alexandria is the place of
destination.
For many days past the non-arrival of the French
steamer Mentor from Marseilles, due on the 17th inst.,
has created a strong feeling of alarm. Yesterday, how-
ever, the Neapolitan boat arrived, bringing up the Men-
tor's letter bags and some passengers. She had received
a little damage, but nothing to prevent her continuing
her voyage, and had arrived at Civita Vecchia, where
she had been detained by the Ambassador, and is again
reported ready for sea. She went out yesterday at noon,
and remained out till evening. Her engines appeared to
be in order, bur I have not learned her speed.
A less event that this will set all our local news-
mongers by the ears, therefore are there a thousand as-
signed causes afloat as to the why and the wherefore of
such detention; the most absurd of the very many being,
that the Pope was expected from Rome at Civita
Vecchia, and the French mail boat was detained to
salute him!
All the packets due, with the exception of that above
alluded to, and which is not now expected, have arrived,
and those outward bound are ready to pursue their re-
spective routes.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SQUADRON.
In Malta Harbour—The Ceylon, 12, receiving ship,
bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir L. Curtis, Bart.,
second in command and Superintendent of Malta Dock-
yard ; the Siren, 16, Commander H. E. Edgell ; the
Fantome, 16, Commander Le Hardy; the Hecla, war-
steamer, Commander C. Starmer; the Locust steamer,
Lieutenant-Commander Power ; and the Wee Pet
steam-tug.
On Surveying Duty—The Bonetta, Commander T. S.
Brock, and the Research cutter, Lieutenant Sprett.
At Sea—The Hibernia, 120, Captain Peter Richards,
C. 8., bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir W. Parker,
Bart., G.C.8., the Commander-in-chief.
At Gibraltar—The Pbomix steam.vessel, Commander
Dennis, and the Virago war-steamer, Commander J.
Lunn.

At Corfu—The Meteor, Lieutenant. Commander
Buttler, and the Tyne, 28, Captain W. N. Glascock.
At the Pinata of Athens—The Jackall steamer,
Lieutenant-Commander W. M. J. G. Pasco, and the
Amazon, 19, Captain J. J. Stopford.
At Beyrout—The Inconstant, 36, Captain C. IL Fre-
mantle.
At Constantinople—The Bloodhound steamer, Lieu.
tenant R. Phillips.
At Smyrna—The Harlequin, Commander Carry.
MAIL STEAM-PACKETS.

At Malta—The Spitfire, Lieutenant J. A. Macdonald,
and the Trident, Lieutenant C. E. Rigge.
En route from Malta to Marseilles—The Volcano,
Lieutenant Craig.
En route from Malta to the lonian Islands and Greece.
—The Flamer, Lieutenant Lavie.
PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY, Nov. 2.—Much consternation
was created here last night by the arrival of the news
that her Majesty's steam-frigate Cyclops, Captain W.
F. Lapidge, was ashore on the Isle of Wight.
The Myrtle and Echo steamers were dispatched im-
mediately on the receipt of the intelligence by the Com-
mander-in-Chief to render assistance, those vessels being
well supplied with halsers, and hands to assist in case of
need.

The Cyclops left Spithead yesterday morning about
half-past eight, the fog, which had been very dense all
night and until that time, having cleared away. ; she
proceeded for the Needles. Shortly after it became very
thick again; and when a little to the westward of Cowes
the fog became so dense that Captain Lapidge thought
it most prudent to round to, his head to the ebb tide,
with the intention of anchoring. At this moment,
however, the fog began to clear away, and the helm
was put a port to proceed, Captain Lapidge con-
sidering his ship to be in mid-channel, being in 12
fathoms water. In an instant she shoaled to 7,4, and
3 fathoms. The anchor was instantly let go, but
she grounded before she could be stopped with a full
turn aback. Her gallant and experienced captain took
every precaution to prevent her falling over, striking
topmasts and lower yards, and getting shores over the
side ; however, her great weight carried away the top-
mast and the timber head that the after shore was prin-
cipally secured to, and the ship consequently fell over to
her bearings 15 degrees. Twenty tuns of water were
immediately started, and 20 more were blown out from
her boilers. Owing to these skilful arrangements, and
the advantages derived from Captain Lapidge's ex-
perience and coolness of proceeding, we are happy to
state that the frigate was got off on the flow of the tide,
,00n after 7 P.M., and 9 P.N. proceeded on her passage
to Lisbon, without sustaining the slightest damage in
her hull.

Soon after the news of the above disaster was received
another alarming report arrived, that the Pottinger
Peninsular and Oriental steam-ship, with the India mail
and passengers on board, was also ashore on the Isle of
Wight, which likewise proved too true. She went on
about the same time and very near the same place, as
the Cyclops, but was less fortunate in getting off, having
to lighten by discharging 60 tons of dead weight, which
however, did not release her from her dangerous posi-
tion, until the next tide after the Cyclops floated ; she
consequently remained aground the whole of the night,
and did not get off until about nine this morning.
The Echo tug, on board of which was Mr. Bellamy,
the experienced assistant master-attendant of this dock-
yard, and a party of efficient seamen from the St. Vin-
cent, under his command, tendered most valuable as-
sistance by remaining with the Pottinger all night ;
which served materially to allay the fears of the appre-
hensive.

The spot where both these vessels went ashore is
called Gurnet Ledge, a dangerous reef of hidden rocks
about three miles to the westward of Cowes, on the
island side, between Thorny-bay and Newtown. Both
vessels having grounded so near each other, and under
the same circumstances, leads to the belief that a strong
ebb from the Southampton water operates powerfully
against vessels taking the Needles passage.
We have not heard whether the Pottinger sustained
any damage..
The St. Vincent, 120, Captain Milne, flag of Admiral
Sir Charles Ogle, Bart, Commander-in-Chief, is ordered
to go out to Spithead to-morrow, whence she will sail
immediately for the Tagus, in pursuance of Admiralty
orders communicated by telegraph this afternoon. She
is perfectly ready for sea, except the shipment of her
lower deck guns and ammunition.
Wocamicu, Nov. 2. The Sphynx steam-frigate,
Captain Cragg, with Commander Smith, of the William
and Mary yacht, and Mr. Atherton, Assistant to the
Chief-Engineer of the Woolwich Dockyard, went down
the river this morning at half-past nine o'clock, to try
her speed and the working of her engines,—the largest
ever tried on Messrs. Penn's oscillating principle. This
flue frigate, as she proceeded down the river, had an
imposing appearance, combining great strength with
elegance of form ; and, being 15 feet 2 inches immersed
aft, and 14 feet in front, her paddlewheels had a good
purchase, and she acquired a speed of upwards of 10
knots. The engines worked with the greatest ease, and
with a freedom from vibration which was the admiration
of all on board. The Sphynx returned to Woolwich at
four o'clock, p.m., and will leave to-morrow (Tuesday)
for Portsmouth, where her compasses will be adjusted,
as she is required for service with the least possible
delay.

The Grappler steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander
Hawker, proceeded down the river to-day, on a pre-
liminary experimental trip, and Mr. Murray, chief-
engineer of Portsmouth Dockyard, attended to witness
the working of her engines. The engines are two of
110 horse power each, on the double action principle
of Mr. Field, of the firm of Maudslay, Field, and
Sons, with Hall's condensers. Mr. Hall's condensing
principle is to insure, if the boilers are charged
with fresh water in the first instance, that a con-
tinuation of fresh water only will enter the boilers, how-
ever lengthened the voyage may be at sea. This is ac-
complished by condensing the steam after its action takes
place, and returning the condensed liquid to the boilers,
and is intended to obviate the serious injury boilers sus-
tain by the incrustations deposited upon them when sea
water is used. The engines worked smoothly to-day,
and scarcely any vibration was felt. The engine-room
is very cool, although the vessel is an iron steamer, and
the air below is quite pure, an object of great import-
ance to the engineers and stokers, who all declared that
they had never been in a steam-vessel in which they
could perform their duties with such satisfaction and
preserve their health. The speed of the vessel was not
taken, the object of the trial being to ascertain that the
engines were properly adjusted and worked well.
Commodore Sir Francis A. Collier, C.B. and K.C.H.,
has returned from leave of absence, and resumed the
duties of superintendent.

ADMIRALTY, OCT. 31.
PROMOTIONS.
Henry Robinson, gußner, to the first ohm John