The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-21 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE

APPOINTMENTS.
Captains.—H. Stewart, C. 8., to be Acting Commodore
Superintendent of Woolwich Dockyard, vice Captain Lord
John Hay (appointed a Lord of the Admiralty). vice Captain
Sir Francis Collier, C. 8., in command of the Channel
squadron ; Sir W. 0. Pell, to be a Commissioner of Green-
wich Hospital.
Commander.—W. N. Powell, to the Cherokee, steam-sloop,
on the lakes of Canada.
Lieutenants.—C, B. Strong, to the Recruit; G. W.
Preedy, to the Trafalgar; J. M‘Neil Boyd, to the Eurydice;
B. G. 11.owles, to the Avenger; J. B. Willoughby, to the
Cherokee; J. Tyssen, to the Mohawk; J. Harper, to the
Minos.
Master. —T. Brown (acting), to the Recruit.
Surgeon.—C. Coffee, to the Recruit.
Paymasters and Pursers.—T. Goddard (1793), to the Vic-
tory; G. H. L. Wise, to the Recruit.
Mate.—R. H. Hallowes, from the Excellent to the Con-
test.

Assistant-Surgeons.—C. Grier, to the Cherokee; J. Forbes,
to the Mohawk.
Second Master.—J. Fiddes, to the Avenger.
Clerks in Charge.—J. C. Riccalton, to the Cherokee; T.
S. Haward, to the Mohawk.
Masters' Assistants.—P. E. Moss, to the Caledonia.
Naval Cadet.—S. Babiogton, to the Avenger.

COAST GUARD.
Appointments.—Lientenant Delany, to Ballymacaw sta-
tion, in command; Lieutenant H. A. Finncave, and Mr. J. C.
Pegus, a retired officer of Royal Marines, to be in command
of a station.
Removals.—Lieutenaut J. Millet from Rosclarc to Arklow
station; Lieutenant Alexander from Carrickfergus to Casher-
dall; Lieutenant Campbell, R.N., from Blackhead to
Carrickfergus; Lieutenant Harris, R.N., from Wells to
Palling station.

THE GOWN AND WIG.
(From the Colombo Observer of May 7, 1846.)
In England, as it is pretty generally known, all judges and
bar risters, who appear in Court, must be dressed in their robes
and wigs. On the first day of term, and on a few other par.
ticular days, such as the Queen's birth-day, the judges and
Queen's counsel wear what is called full-bottomed wigs which
not only cover the head, but extend a con:iderable distance
down the back and upon the chest on either side, leaving
scarcely more of the face of the person wearing one of theca
to be seen than eyes, nose, and mouth, and which produce a
very singular effect. The judges and Queen's counsel also
wear their full-bottom wiss in the House of Lords (when it
sits in its judicial character) and in the Privy Council. But
the gentlemen behind the bar, or junior counsel, as they are
termed, have not two sorts of wigs—they wear the one sort
always, when in Court. It is an old proverb, that "there is
wisdom in the wig ;" and which would almost appear
to be considered a reality in England, because as we
have said no judge is allowed to sit, nor advocate to plead,
unless he is csvered with the wi-r. It is now, we believe,
thirty years since a learned gentleman wore the wig in this
colony, but Mr. M‘Christie, who is an English barrister, and
a member of Lincoln's Inn, was on Tuesday last admitted as
an advocate to practice in our courts, and on that occasion he
afforded to our friends who happened to be in, and in the
neighbourhood of the Supreme Court, an opportunity of
seeing the gown and wig worn a l'Anglais, as he appeared
in them in open court to take the usual oaths and be called.
We almost. wish it was the custom of our judges and gentle•
men at the bar to wear the wig also here, for it certainly
does impart a dignity and solemnity which they who do not
wear it fail to conursind to the same extent as they who do
wear it. It is said that our climate is too warm to admit
of its being worn here. That observation was certainly ap
plicable to to the old-fashioned wig, which required, on being
dressed, to have smeared over it, every other day, about a
quarter of a pound of pomatum and half a pound of flour;
but the barristers' wigs are now made upon a very improved
principle—they are manufactured from light-coloured horse-
hair, and are so constructed as to admit of evaporation from
the head, very light, and require nothing in the shape o
grease or powder to be put upon them on being dressed.
It is gratifying to hear of au English practitioner of cha-
racter being called to our bar. We heartily wish that we
had inducements sufficient for a few more of our learned
friends from home to come amongst us; if we bad, probably
many of the complaints that daily reach us of the practices
at the bar, and which are unheard of in England, would
soon likewise cease to be heard by us. For instance, no gen-
tleman at home could be allowed to hold such offices as our
district judges hold, or even those of stipendiary magistrates,
without having been previously and for years regularly edu
cated for the bar, and in practice at the bar. But here, mans
of our important judicial offices are filled by men who have
never undergone that preparatory and necessary course of
education to qualify them for such offices; and is it to be
supposed that those who are put into them, in that un
qualified manner, can possibly administer jus'ice, in the
satisfactory way which might be looked for, were the
selection of our functionaries made either as in Eng-
land, or from the English bar. We very much
regret that we have not greater encouragement to
hold out to English barristers to make the required
sacrifices they would have to make in coming to reside here ;
and we much regret also to have reason to believe that Mr.
*Christie has not come among us with a view permanently
to remain here, but that he intends to return to London as
soon as an important legal question has been decided in this
colony, upon which he has been specially sent out by the
plaintiffs at home. We have heard that his acquirements
are very varied, that his knowledge of business is extensive,
and tigt he comes to us recommended V persons of the
highest distinction in England for his attainments and
strictly honourable and upright character. He is likewise
known to be one of the most expert, if not the most expert,
short-hand writer in London ; and we only express that,
Which we are sure. many who m•i.k7 .(„m..,
yet become acquainted with Mr. *Christie, will cordially
join .us in expressing, namely,. that he may yet be ittkuteed to
claaage run a 44 Tasla
•

PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY.—The Royal Yacht, Victoria and
Albert, is now ready for service, and on inspection we cannot
grumble at the time she has occupied in refitting. She is in
as perfect order as it is possible for any craft to appear in.
lier decorations exhibit a display of the most refined taste,
yet have comfort and convenience been most amply studied.
A more beautiful vessel, or one more complete in all her ap-
pointments, there cannot be afloat, and it is but bare justice
to Commander Crispin ( who has made her what she is) to
state that he well deserves his pest, and that honour, which
we have no doubt will be conferred upon him fur his thought-
ful consultation of his Sovereign's pleasure, comfort, and con-
venience—her Majesty's thanks.
Both the royal yachts are going to Liverpool to attend
upon the Prince Consort; the Fairy will convey the Court
from Osborne to Gosport to-morrow on the return to London.
On Thursday morning, about seven o'clock, as a man
named James Bradford, seaman, was casting loose the trap-
ping of the jolly-boat on the starboard quarter of the Naiad,
46-gun frigate, in ordinary in this harbour, under the com-
mand of Lieut. J. W. Finch (186), the boat swung or heeled
over, and the man fell over the bows into the water, at a
time when the tide was running with unusual strength out
of harbour, and the wind blowing nearly half a gale. The
cry of 6' a man overboard " was instantly raised, when Lieu-
tenant Finch, who was in his cabin dressing at the time,
looking out, saw the man struggling in the tide, threw off
what few garments encumbered him, and plunged through
the port into the water, at which time Bradford had
sunk twice, and was going at a rapid rate from the ship,
being no swimmer. Mr. Finch, however followed, and per •
severed in his humane endeavour to save the man's life, in
which he happily succeeded, after being in the water a quar-
ter of an hour, and got his man (to all appearance dead)
on board a victualling boy-boat, which was going from the
Clarence yard to the ship with a supply of water. The com-
mon remedies were applied, and the man is now perfectly
recovered and (king duty on board his ship. Lieutenant
Finch was much bruised and torn in plunging naked through
the port-hole and clearing the side of his ship. This is not
the first time Mr. Finch has similarly risked his own life to
save that of his fellow-creatures, although he is married and
has a young family looking up to him for support. He has
seen considerable service in the navy, and especially during
the last war under that distinguished Admiral Sir B.
Hallowell Carew on the ceast of Spain and Catalonia, while
serving in the Fame, 74, and in the gun-boats manned by that
ship during the siege of Tarragona. As the late Board of
Admiralty promoted Lieutenant Tatham, of the Raleigh, to
the rank of Commander, for saving the life of a seaman who
fell overboard at Chatham, a few months since, we sincerely
trust the present -Board will mark their sense of the services
and gallantry of Lieutenant Finch, by rewarding him in a
similar manner.
The court-martial ordered to assemble yesterday morning
on board the Victory, to try Mr. Sanderson, of the Dasher,
for absenting himself from duty without leave, was deferred
until Tuesday morning.
The Hampshire Tel; aph states, that " Orders have been
received to assemble a court-martial on board the Victory,
iu this harbour, on the arrival of the America, 50, now on
her way to England from the Pacific, with an enormous
freight, to try Captain the Hon. J. Gordon for leaving that
station without orders. This order for a court-martial ema-
nated from the late Board of Admiralty. Captain Gorden is
brother of the Noble Lord the late Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs. . The Daphne, 18, Captain Onslow, has been
ordered by Admiral Sir G. Seymour to take this specie from
Valparaiso to England."
We believe it is ordered that quarter-masters are, after
less than five years' service as ,such, to be allowed to retire
upon 3s. per diem ; after upwards of five years, upon 55.;
after upwards of fiteen years, ss. 6d.; after upwards of
twenty years, upon 6s. ' • after more than twenty-five years,
upon Ts.; and after above thirty years, upon Bs. These
officers entitled to the four last-mentioned rates must have
served ten years as quarter-master. After thirty years' ser-
vice the right of retirement is to be absolute.
The paymasters and pursers of less than three years
standing, are, in future, to receive the same half-pay as at
present ; after above five years' service, they will receive 6s.
per diem ; above ten years, Bs. ; above fifteen years, Ioe. ;
above twenty years, 13s. ; and above thirty years, 15s.
The Rochester lighter sailed yesterday with stores for the
eastern yards.