The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-24 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

MALTA, APRIL 14.—The affairs of Sicily being
brought to such a termination as warranted Lord
Minto to return to Rome and Vice-Admiral Sir
W. Parker to leave the waters of Naples (at which
place he arrived from Palermo on the .sth inst.), the
British fleet—composed of the Hibernia, 104, Capt.
P. Richards, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir
W. Parker; Trafalgar, 120, Captain C. Hope; Van-
guard, 80, Captain G. F. Rich ; Rodney, 92, Captain
C. Collier ; Superb, 80, Captain Corry; Vengeance,
84, Captain Lushington ; and Terrible steam-frigate,
Captain W. Ramsay—left Naples. on Sunday and
Monday last, and after rendezvousing off Marittimo,
arrived in Malta harbour on Wednesday last in beau.
tiful style and in their order of seniority. The Ter-
rible accompanied the fleet under sail, having discon-
nected her engines, and proved a beautiful vessel
under canvas.
A portion of the squadrort yet remains on the Sici-
lian and Italian coast, and is thus divided :
At Naples— Sidon and Porcupine steam ships.
At Palermo—Gladiator steam. frigate.
At Messina—Thetis, 36, and Hecate steamer.

At Syracuse—Harlequin brig.
The news brought by the fleet is not of any impor-
tance, and nothing, not known before, has transpired
as to the political causes which led to its departure.
On the flag-ship arriving off the mouth of the
harbour, her Majesty's ship Queen exchanged salutes
with Sir W. Parker.

On Monday a signal was made for the Vanguard,
Superb, and Vengeance to try rate of sailing ; the
weather was beautiful but the wind very light, yet
after eight hours the Vanguard was the victor in the
struggle, beating the Superb by about eight knots,
and the Superb paid a similar compliment to the
Vengeance, which was thought to have stood a chance
of being first at the winning post. The Superb was
not in very good trim.
We hear of the following changes that have taken
place, or are about to be made, in the personnel of
the fleet :

Lieutenant Boys to the Hibernia, from the Tra-
falgar ; Lieutenant Parker, from the Hibernia to the
Superb ; Lieutenant Charles Sullivan, from the
Superb to the Trafalgar ; Lieutenant Fead, from the
Hibernia to the Superb, vice Simpson ; Lieutenant
Reynolds, from the Trafalgar to the Terrible, vice
Need. Assistant-Surgeon R. E. Smart, from the
Trafalgar to the Hibernia, vice Wells promoted.
It is also said that Lieutenant G. 0. Willes, son
of the late Captain Willes, will receive the appoint-
ment to the Spitfire steamer, vice Macdonald pro-
moted ; and Mr. Auret will be promoted to the rank
of Paymaster and Purser, vice Milner deceased.
A melancholy accident happened to a sailor of the
Trafalgar on her passage to Malta—he fell off the
foreward arm and was killed instantaneously.
We learn that her Majesty's steamer Trafalgar will
be the first to leave the Mediterranean. She will
convey Rear-Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis to England,
and will sail at the end of the month. Her departure
will be much regretted on this station.
The French mail steamer Lougsor, arrived here on
tbe. 7;ll,4ist.from Marseilles direct, and proceeded on
the following day to Alexandria and Beyrout.
The French mail steamer Leonidas, from Mar-
seilles and ports of Italy and Sicily, arrived here on
Saturday last, and on the following day proceeded to
the Levant.

Her Majesty's steamer Locust left port on the Bth
instant with dispatches for her Majesty's British Con-
sul-General at Tunis. She is hourly expected on
her return.

Her Majesty's surveying ship Volage left port on
Saturday last for Athens, whence she will proceed to
the Levant and rjoin the research cutter, commanded
by Lieutenant Lord J. Brown, and continue her
surveys.

The French steamer (Rost. Comp.) Boaphore ar-
rived here on the 11th inst. from the Levant, and on
the evening of the same day continued her route to
Marseilles, touching at Leghorn.
Her Majesty's steamer Oberon, which left port on
the 6th inst. with dispatches for Sir W. Parker, re-
turned on the night of the 11th inst. She is destined
to proceed to Marseilles with the India mails expected
to-morrow per Hindostan.
The Egyptian frigate Shiarkie, from Alexandria,
arrived here on the 12th inst. She was 17 days out.
The United States' corvette Marion arrived here
from Marseilles on the 12th inst.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Hindostan, with the India mails and passengers, is
expected here to-morrow.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Tagus, with the outward India mail and passengers,
together with London dates of the 3d inst , is hourly
expected.
On arrival, the Tagus will put her mails and pas-
sengers on board the Ariel, which steamer will pro-
ceed to Alexandria, and the Tagus to the Levant and
Black Seas.
Her Majesty's steamer Ardent, with that part of
the India mail sent through France, and London dates
of the 7th instant, arrived during the night.
The Neapolitan steamer Maria Christina, from
Naples, arrived this morning.
The French mail steamer Mentor, from the Levant,
arrived this morning.
The French mail steamer Caire, from Beyrout and
Alexandria, is hourly expected.
PORTSMOUTH, APRIL 23.—The Fairy royal yacht,
Master Commander Welch, embarked her Royal
Highness the Duchess of Kent and suite at half-past
twelve yesterday afternoon, and conveyed them to
Osborne on a visit to her Majesty. The usual honours
were paid to her Royal Highness by the Government

authorities of the port.
We stated that the Earl of Auckland would pay a
visit to Portsmouth on Monday. We believe his
Lordship will call on Lord Palmerston, at Broad-
lands, whilst in the neighbourhood. Rear-Admiral
Dundas, C. 8., M.P., left the Admiralty on Saturday,
for Birkenhead, where he will be joined this day by
Mr. Secretary Ward, M.P. The gallant Admiral
is not expected to return to town before the Ist of
May. In the meanwhile, it is probable that he will
take a trip to Cork, to hare a look at the squadron
there. The Hon. Captain Berkeley, C. 8., M.P., is
spending the Easter holidays in Wales. Captain Lord
John Hay, C. 8., M.P., is staying at Redlesham Rec-
tory, Woodbridge, Suffolk. Captain Milne and the
Hon. W. F. Cowper, M.P., remain at the Board,
with Captain W. A. B. Hamilton, the Second Secre-
tary. Captain Henry Eden, private Secretary to
Lord Auckland, is on a visit to his sister, Lady
Graham, at Hampton Court.
The Bellerophon, 78, Captain Baynes, C. 8., ar-
rived at Spithead from Gibraltar, on Saturday,
at noon, the Admiralty orders countermanding her
proceeding to Quebec with troops having reached
her in time. Orders were awaiting at Portsmouth,
directing her to come into harbour to be refitted, to
take on board all her guns, to embark her additional
marines, fill up her complement to 650, officers and
men, and wait further orders. No doubt she will
ultimately join Sir C. Napier's squadron, as will also
the Powerful, 84, Capt. the Hon. R. S. Dundas, C.B.
as we have before stated.

The Colossus, 80, is ordered to be launched at
Pembroke, on the Ist of June. We stated last week
that she is to be navigated to Portsmouth and fitted as
an advanced ship.
The Dido, 18, Captain Maxwell, is ordered home
from New Zealand to be paid off on the arrival of
the Havannah, 20, Captain Erskine, on that station.
The Comus, 16, Commander D'Eyncourt, on her
arrival from Brazil, is to be paid off at Sheerness.
Tie Seagull, 6, Lieut. Commander Dicken, at
Devonport, will be ready by the 26th. An explana-
nation is demanded by the Admiralty respecting the
extraordinary defects of this vessel.
The Termagant, new screw steam frigate, now at
Messrs. Young's, of Limehouse, is to have the alter-
ations in her stern completed as soon as possible, when
she is to be coppered by them and sent to Portsmouth
to be fitted for sea service.
The Sharpshooter, steam. vessel, at Portsmouth,
Lieut. Commander John C. Bailey, will not be ready
for sea until the 26th. She is ordered to be employed
in conveying newly-raised men, and in protecting
the fisheries on the coasts of Sussex and Kent. She

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uh her
o n
Friday
Master
a
Commander
Madeira and the Cape, touching at Devonport for
supernumeraries and officers waiting a passage. She
takes out orders for the Rosamond, steam-sloop,
come
Commander Foot, to home.
The
abovemTlial s:i'lauEfracAdm India
Tiahas
INDIAN SQUADRON.
brought us letters from
the
Commodore Plum. ridge had not proceeded to China
byllthoeNcla..ktoasclovi:ces but was about doing
Commander WilleFo'Bß. arrivedh7a.—i'r hereh Furyon
thesteam-sloop,sos. th, nin
time, which she weathered most days from Singapore,,
steamed all the way
against the north-east monsoon,ng
blowingobly This vessel
passage out sfr nobly.
England,fgales all the
made a splendid
Kong in less than six months from the under
datecfor hge;
sail nearly the whole distance, from
reached
being commissioned—one-half the time some
steamers which have been sent to this station,and
six weeks less than the quickest. The Furynd a can
steam a distance of 2,470 miles in eight days
h.s!f, and on the lowest step of expansion 3,262 miles
in 19 days, which could be made more of if a chain
of operations had to be carried out. The full power
was never put upon her (515 horse• power) except
by way of experiment, but usually averaged from
10 6 to 11 knots on the second step of expansion
after her coal is reduced to 300 tons. She is
considered the best and most efficient vessel in the
China seas; her rig answers admirably, her sailing
qualities being such that she could cruise with any
lui,dron, and wi, 1 ' 11' • ~ bhae. So La,y !,
bile hi a sea wity 11...1k, 1.., ilv.o, j guns ivere friqu;:n:iji.
worked with an inclination of 12 to 15 degrees. Her

captain is trying a plan (an invention of his own)
which will, if successful, prove highly important in
the service with regard to steamers, by which, at any
time of tle night or day, at sea or in harbour, he can
get the immersion of the ship at the midship section
and both extremes to the eighth of an inch or less, so
desirable in a steamer, to work the coals off to keep
her in proper trim, to ascertain the immersion of
paddles, and in shoal water or up rivers to know imme-
diately what to lighten the vessel to if necessary, and
many other advantages. It is most simple, and in a
few hours may be fitted to any vessel in the service.
The Daedalus, 20, Captain P. Maquhe ; Childers,
12, Commander Pitman, and Medea steam-sloop,
Commander Mason, were at Hong-Kong on the 6th
of February.
The Columbine, 12, Commander J. C. D. Hay, is at
Whampoa, and the Hon. Company's steamer Pluto at
Canton.
The Melampus, 42, Captain J. N. Campbell, and
the Royalist, 10, Commander Gordon, arrived at
Hong-Kong on the 14th of February, and Captain
Campbell hoisted a broad pendant as senior officer in
China.
The Daedalus sailed three days after for Singapore.
The Ringdove, 12, Commander Inglefield, is at
Penang.
The Scout, 14, Commander Johnstone, is at Amoy.
The Childers, 12, Commander Pitman, was at
Shanghai February the 27th.
The Espiegle, 12, Commander Campbell, is at
Ningpo.
The Medea steam-sloop, Commander Mason, is
under orders for Whampoa to relieve the Columbine,
and will sail in a few days.
We hear the Inflexible steam-sloop, Commander
Hoseason, has been aground in the Paramatta River
at Sydney.
A French frigate, the Bajonnaise, was at Hong-
Kong on the 27th of February, with the French
Ambassador to China on board. She was going to
Manilla in a short time.
The Vulture steam-frigate, Captain M`Dougall,
left Singapore on the Bth of February, and passed
Anjer on the 12th on her way to the Cape of Good
Hope and England to be paid off.
PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY, 5 p.m. Wind, INT:E.;
moderate breezes and fine weather.
CHATHAM, APRIL 21.—The Waterwitch, 10 guns,
Commander R. R. Quin, is alongside the Tartar
hulk ; she has got her topmasts on end. Her guns
were put on board yesterday.
The Ranger, 8 guns, Commander J. Anderson,
from the coast of Africa, where she has been em
ployed since 1844, is ordered to this port to be paid
off, without her bulkheads or internal fittings being
disturbed.
Arrived—the bark Eliza Ann, J. Blyth, Master,
from Savannah, with pine timber for the dockyard,
and the Aid, Sinallman, Master, from Devonport.
The following persons have been this week super-
annuated, viz., Henry Heard, fireman of smiths, at
281. per annum; John Hawkins, lead man at metal
mills, 34/. ; Joseph Bailey, engine-keeper, at ditto,
24/. ; and Thomas. Gardner,•workman, at ditto, 231.
;Per annum. •
The foundation of an official residence for Captain
Mould, Royal Engineers, Director of Works, is being
laid between the Pay-office and the officers of the
yard residences.